I saw my person being a Creature of the Popes advanced to the dignity of a Hat so I moumed to the degree of a Cardinall wherein I stand now Now if my voice had strength to unmask every particular thing you would be struck with amazement to discover a life so impious in the persons of them who glory in the title of Christs Disciples I 'le tell you in a word that from the time I obtain'd the Cardinallship I never kept Lent I never recited my houres I never confess'd to God till now in these extream agonies of my sicknes Such being the custome almost of all Cardinalls who finding themselfs in a posture to aspire to the Keyes of Heaven doe think perchance to be able one day to find a way to enter there without any necessity of good workes But woe is me I perceive now to have deviated from the wayes of Heaven I discern too well by the light of Divine grace which I know not by what excesse of mercy may please to save me for all this that to lead an ecclesiasticall life is an now accustomed is nothing at all to live a Christian But if Pagans yea Atheists preceiving their own errours have hopes to be sav'd why should I dispair This is the onely argument of my hopes although I think the salvation of an Infidell more easy than that of a perverse Christian because my soul finds at this very moment that the understanding is more easily illuminated than the will humbled and rectified being too tenacious of her delights in those pleasures which she must now relinquish with the Hat But father my spirit failes me give me an absolution for I feel my self upon point of expiring S. Paul having absolv'd the Cardinall upon his departure thence he met with an Angell who after som salutations fell to relate unto him what he had overheard in a Parlatory of Nunnes as followeth You know allredy O Apostle of God that I am of those Angells which never descended before on Earth and if in strange Countrys the curious mind of the passenger desires to satisfy it self I confesse that among other things which I coveted to see one was a Monastry of Nuns who were so much spoken of in Heaven that I took them to be Angells on earth Being come therfore to one of the prime Citties of Italy I took the form of a strange youth and entred at the privatest hour I could into a Monacall Parlatory I found at the windows a young Nun which had no other busines it seemes but to attend the comming of som body I was scarce spyed by her when she asked me an account of my Country and what fancy took me to traverse the World up and down in that maner I bethinking my self of Heaven answerd my Country most gentle Sister is too far distant from this place and whereunto few of this Region arrive Touching the fancy that leads me to traverse up and down the World it is no other than curiosity which often draws youthfull lightnes to neglect their own profit and to regard others Foolish youthfulnes which canst not learn how to value thy Countries good but a far of then I added happy are they who never departing from within the Paradise of these holy walls seem as so many Angels alwayes appearing before the face of God She being as full of Spirit as She was of beauty answered thus O how many of us would willingly change our Paradise for your peregrination wherfore then doe you complain so causelesly of your travels which being no other than the motions of a civill life it cannot chuse but be so much the sweeter to elevated minds by how much the higher the movements of their souls are Behold the Sun behold the Planets which never staying still in one place delight to be continuall travellers in the Univers I being much taken with the vivacity of this femal spirit replyed It is true Lady that the Sun and the Planets are in a continuall peregrination but there are in Heaven fixed Stars also which because haply they are more noble are superiour to the other and consequently nearer the throne of the Almighty These Nuns then who to serve God are always permanent in one place like the fixed Stars may more than any other mortalls comfort themselves with an assurance that they are nearer God The beauteous Maiden sighed at these words and then answered God I deny not dwels nearer to the fixed Stars but not to desperate souls And now you discover your self to be a stranger that you are not acquainted with our condition The cruelty of our Parents and the rigour of our destiny hath pend us in here for ever the Church of Rome concurring hereunto by admitting any pretext whatsoever bear with me Sir that I speak thus It is a hard fate to be born to a perpetuall prison while it is seen that all other living creatures have the whole World to solace themselves in And that Prison which it seems the very infants fly from when they sally out of their Mothers wombs before they have as it were any sense of life we are constrainde to endure after that nature hath given us the perfect use of our sense and life and the knowledge of our miseries The destiny of that mortall must needs be a hard one who is born to live in restles infelicity This Cloyster which surrounds our Liberty is not as you imagine a Paradise for in Paradise there dwels no discontentment It is rather a Hell wherein the flames of inextinguible desire the naturall affections of our humanity are condemned to be tortured every minute I will not stand to expresse the cause why our Parents are so inhumanly cruell unto us for it is too well known that for to spare that dowry which is due to our Sex they condemne us twixt these walls to be deprived for ever of any worldly delight for no other cause but because we are born Women yet you must know that the shutting us thus by force between these stones cannot deprive us of those carnall affections which may well be covered but not quench'd in that religious habit that you see about us Nor can this kind of life conduce to Heaven considering ther 's no concurrence of the will which is so acceptable to the all-knowing Lord we are rather destinated to an Abisse by a course clean contrary to our genius being bereft also of that common privilege which other souls use to have to go to Hell what way they please In ancient times it was the custom to slay the Victimes first and then Sacrifice them to God because haply the principall seat of the corporeall affections lying in the blood 't was not held convenient to offer his Divine Majesty any holocaust which was not first purg'd by effusion of that bloud from all earthly passions But this is not observ'd in us by our Parents who do make Sacrifices of us with all our blood and passions
S. P Q. V. A SURVAY OF THE SIGNORIE OF VENICE Of Her admired policy and method of GOVERMENT c. WITH A Cohortation to all Christian Princes to resent Her dangerous Condition at present By JAMES HOVVELL Esq. LONDON Printed for Richard Lowndes at the VVhite Lion in S. Pauls Churchyard neer the West end M. DC LI. TO THE SUPREME AUTHORITY OF THE NATION THE PARLEMENT OF ENGLAND Most Noble Senators LEngth of Age argues strength of Constitution and as in Naturall bodies so this Rule holds good likewise in Politicall Whence it may be inferrd that the Signorie of Venice from Her Infancy was of a strong Symmetry well nursd and swadled with wholsom Lawes which are no other than the ligaments of a State or the Arteries whereby the bloud is directed and strengthened to run through all the veines in due proportion though Nature allowes som to have a greter quantity than others To this may be attributed Her so long duration for having bin born a Christian and Free from the beginning She hath continued a pure Virgin and an Independent but only upon Her-self neer upon 13 Ages She hath shind in Her VVatry Orb among all other Republiques upon Earth as the Moon doth in the Heavens among the rest of the Planets Though She hath cop'd with the gretest Potentats of the World and particularly with the huge Ottoman Emperour Her Neighbour having not only scratchd his face and oftentimes cut off those tuffs of hair wherin his strength lay for the time but peeld his beard and somtimes pluckd him by the Mustachos She is now in actuall luctation and hath bin any time these six yeers at handy-gripes with that monstrous Giant who this yeer intends to bend and bandy all his Forces both by Land and Sea to ravish and ruin Her Therfore it imports all Christian Princes to resent Her condition She being both the Key and Bulwark of Europe that way And with humble leave I speak it it may well becom England now that she is more formidable at Sea than ever to be sensible of Her case That Republic having bin her antient Confederat ever since the association of the Holy Warr and having for this last Centurie mingled interests and run the same cours of state with Her Nor is it a Quaere altogether impertinent but may very well admit of a debate whether a warr against the Turk might not prove more advantagious to England than his wares Moreover if likenes may beget love England hath reson to affect Venice more than any other for in point of security ther is much resemblance between them being both seated in the Sea who is their best Protector The one preserves Her-self by her Gallies the other by her Galeons The fairest flower of England is the Dominion of the Narrow Seas the gretest glory of Venice is the Dominion of the Adriatic Gulph 700 miles in extent Venice had the chiefest hand in framing the Rhodian Lawes for Sea cases by which all the Levant parts are guided and England was the busiest in constituting the Maritim Lawes of Oleron whereby the Western World is governd This following Survay which is like a Frame indented with sundry peeces will I beleeve make the Reder both outwardly and inwardly acquainted with this Mayden Republic for it shewes Her policy and power Her warrs exploits and confederacies Her interests of State together with Her advantages and defects and how farr She hath trodd in the stepps of old Rome Therfore most humbly under favor the Author deemd it a peece of industry not alltogether unworthy to be presented unto that Noble Assembly by Their daylie Orator HOWELL The famous Hexastic which Sannazarius made upon the Citty of Venice for which he receavd 100 Zecchins for evry verse amounting neer to 300 sterling in lieu of reward by decree of the Senat. VIderat Adriacis Venetam Neptunus in Undis Stare Urbem toti ponere jura Mari Nunc mihi Tarpeias quantumvis Iupiter Arces Objice illa tui maenia Martis ait Sic Pelago Tibrim praefers Urbem aspice utramque Illam Homines dices Hanc posuisse Deos. WHen Neptun 'mong his billowes Venice saw And to the Adrian Surges giving law He sayed now Iove boast of thy Capitoll And Mars his Walls This were for to extoll Tiber above the Main Both Citties Face You 'l say Rome men Venice the Gods did trace A short Analysis of the whole Peece A VENICE LOOKING-GLASSE Wherin that rare and renowned City and Signory is represented in Her tru Colours with Reflexes I. UPon Her Constitutions and Government wherin ther may be divers things usefull for this Meridian II. Of the extent and distance of Her Dominions III. Of Her Interests of State with the rest of the Princes of Italie and others IV. Of Her imitation of old Rome in most things V. Of Her advantages and defects VI. Of Her power by Sea and Land VII Of Her 98 Dukes Doges or Souverain Princes In whose Lifes is involvd the Historicall part which looks upon the Greek Empire and Turky as well as upon most Countreys in Europe in whose Councells tending either to Peace or Warr the Republic of Venice hath had as great a share as any other Christian Prince THe Author desires to prepossesse the Reder with this advertisement That he would not have adventurd upon this remote Out landish subject had he not bin himself upon the place had he not had practicall conversation with the peeple of whom he writes As little had he presumd upon the Life of the last French King and Richelieu his Cardinall in the Story calld LUSTRA LUDOVICI unlesse he had bin Spectator of most of his actions And herin the Author desires to be distinguishd from those who venture to write of Forren affaires and Countreys by an implicit faith only taking all things upon trust having Themselfs never trodd any part of the Continent Upon the Citty and Signorie of VENICE COuld any State on Earth Immortall be Venice by Her rare Goverment is She Venice Great Neptunes Minion still a Mayd Though by the warrlikst Potentats assayd Yet She retaines Her Virgin-waters pure Nor any Forren mixtures can endure Though Syren-like on Shore and Sea Her Face Enchants all those whom once She doth embrace Nor is ther any can Her bewty prize But he who hath beheld Her with his Eyes These following Leaves display if well observd How She so long Her Maydenhead preservd How for sound prudence She still bore the Bell Whence may be drawn this high-fetchd parallel Venus and Venice are Great Queens in their degree Venus is Queen of Love Venice of Policie I. H. OF THE REPUBLIC OR SIGNORIE OF VENICE The PROEME WEre it within the reach of humane brain to prescribe Rules for fixing a Society and Succession of peeple under the same Species of Goverment as long as the World lasts the Republic of Venice were the fittest pattern on Earth both for direction and imitation This Maiden City
a Spurrier to Queen Elizabeth To speak of the sundry sorts of Antiquities Monuments and ingenious Epitaphs which are in the Churches up and down Venice wold afford matter enough to fill Volumes I will only produce an instance of one extraordinary odd kind of Epitaph upon Peter Aretin in S. Lukes Church Qui giace l'Aretin Poeta Tosco Chi disse mal d'ognun fuor che di Dio Scusandosi dicendo n'ol conobbi Englished thus The Toscan Aretin lies in this Grave He who at all excepting God did rave And if the reason you desire to have He knew Him not Having thus endeavourd to sett forth this Mayden Cittie in Her tru colours and made the narrowest inspection into Her Water we could the close of Her Character shall be som peculiar Epithetts that are given to Her among the rest of the fair Towns of Italy as followeth Fama tra noj Roma pomposa santa Venetia riccha saggia signorile Napoli odorifera Gentile Fiorenza bella tutto il mondo canta Grande Milano in Italia si vanta Bologna grassa Ferrara civile Padona dotta Bergamo sottile Genoa di superbia altiera pianta Verona degna perugia sanguigna Brescia T'armata Mantoa gloriosa Rimini buona Pistoia ferrigna Cremona antica Luca industriosa Furli bizarro Ravenna benigna Et Singallia de l'aria noiosa Et Capoâ—…a l'amorosa Pisa frendente Pesaro giardino Ancona bel Porto al Pellegrino Fidelissimo Urbino Ascoli tondo lungo Recanate Foligno delle strade inzuccarate Et par da'l cielo mandate Le belle donne di Fano si dice Mà Siena poj tra l'altre più selice Among all these Citties we find that Venice is rankd next Rome and hath three as it were proverbiall attributs given Her higher than any of the rest viz. to be Rich Wise and Ladylike or Stately wherunto I shall add another saying Venegia Venegia chi non Ti vede non Ti pregia the Eye is the best Judg of Venice Having now don with the Topography and local description of Venice together with Her method of Goverment and Magistracy both Urban Rurall Having allso given som touches of her wealth power and extent of Dominion with other singularities peculiar to Her We will now make som reserches into Her Annalls and speak of Her Martiall Exploits up and down the World as allso of the transactions and traverses of State twixt other Princes and Her which are various and very remarkable She having allwayes bin one of the most politic and pragmaticall'st Republics on Earth Therfore in Her 's the Story of many parts of Christendom and other Regions may be sayed to be involvd All which shall be don in a regular way of succinctnes and a speciall care had to avoyd trivialties and impertinencies as well as that no materiall passage may be omitted OF THE PRINCES AND DUKES OF VENICE PAULUTIO ANAFESTO THE FIRST DOGE OR DUKE OF VENICE VNity is as much requisit for the well-being of things as Entity is for their being the Philosophers as formerly was said call it the highest point of perfect on all bodies incline and propend towards it by a secret instinct of nature as to their Center The Republic of Venice therefore finding som inconveniences or half a kind of confusion if not a deformity to have two heads upon one body grew weary of the Tribunitial Power and so resolv'd to reduce the Soverain Authority under one to which purpose a notable Speech was made to this effect That there was no more hope to be had of the Venetian Common-wealth nor yet of their Liberty which had bin pourchased and maintain'd by their Progenitors with such generosity unlesse the fury of the Tribunes expired that their self-same Ancestors had in times past for the sweetnesse of Liberty abandoned their most pleasant Countrey their Houses and all other matters which men commonly esteem most dear and were com into barren Ilands where there was nothing that might invite them to dwel That if they could have dispens'd with their Liberty they might with all safety have remain'd in the City where they were first born and brought up and with this losse alone might have liv'd peaceably among the Barbarians but being full of innated courage they suppos'd that they ought not to lose their Freedom but with their lives wherefore divers of those that were there present following the example of their Predecessors came only into those places to live at Liberty To what purpose then was their designs what profit had they by their dislodging why had they so many Churches Buildings and so many public and private Houses why did they forsake the firm land to eschew bondage and yet meet it in the midst of the waters by the insolency of a few whither it was likely that the barbarous enemy who was so near them wold take any rest till he had found som means to â—…uinat this new Domicile of Liberty seeing that Tyrants hate nothing so much as that Name and undoubtedly 't was his wish to see the whole Venetian State destroy'd by civill discord which he could not shake by any other means Hereupon they suddenly resolv'd to elect a new Duke who shold represent the Honor and Majesty of the whole State and have power to Assemble the General Councell to choose Annual Tribunes in the inferior Ilands from whence the Appeals should come before him and moreover if any had obtain'd any dignity oâ—… Prelatship by the suâ—…rages of the Clergy he shold not enjoy the same without the ratification of the Duke Upon these Deliberations PAULUTIO of Heraclea a man of integrity evperience and courage was chosen Duke after the Cities foundation about 276. He took an Oath well and faithfully to provide whatsoever should be fit for the honor of the Common-wealth and the Venetian Name hereupon he was adorn'd with divers Noble Ensigns to make the Dignity the more illustrious Being instal'd Duke his first care was to free the Republic of the War that was than afoot with Luitprand which he did and he extended the limits of Heraclea from the River of Piâ—…vo unto the little stream call'd Piaricolle and brought the Equilines under his Dominion In his time those of Tourcedes built a Magnificent Temple to the honor of the Virgin Mary which is yet standing and in good repair to this day MARCELLO TEGALIANO succeeded PAULUTIO who swayed o're the Signory twenty years and upwards this Duke MARCELLO got more repute by Peace then Warre and governed nine yeares HORâ—…O call'd URâ—…US HYPATUS succeeded MARCELLO the Longobards at that time had taken Ravenna and the Exarch flying to Venice for refuge by the intercession of the Pope the Venetians rais'd a considerable Army and took Ravenna again and restor'd it to to the Exarch in which exploit PRODEUS of Vicenza a person of renown was slain this Duke was of a spirit more haughty then ordinary and
how that if they had bin desirous to possesse Towns belonging to other men they wold not have refus'd the offer of those of Furli and of other Cities of Romania who sought much to be under their obedience nor wold they have defended or maintain'd with such extraordinary cost and danger the City of Bologna with others belonging to his Holiness nor have kept them from him and that those Cities had bin taken at such time as the Pope had quitted the League and that they might justly now detain them for the same occasion moreover they had spent a great masse of Tresure in that warr which those Cities were not able to recompence they desired that the King wold take it into serious consideration how much it might import him if those so commodious Cities shold be quitted by his friends and confederats to be given to the Pope who stood so coldly affected to the Crown of France nay even into the hands of the Imperialls seeing that it was apparent how the Pope either by his own proper motion or through fear did wholly depend upon the Emperour that he was besides to consider of their interest and the wrong which wold be offer'd their confederats viZ. the Florentines and the Duke of Ferrara whoquestionlesse wold be greatly distasted hereat and wold cool that heat which pusheth them on to the affairs of the League and moreover how that these Towns did serve for a bridle to contain the Pope within his bounds seeing that without them he wold already have shewed himself an open friend to the Emperor A little after the Republic lends the King of France the Duke of Milan a considerable sum of money Chastillon coms Ambassador to Venice and Brundusium in Apulia is taken by her Admirall Herup on a Treaty of peace was appointed by all parties to be at Cambray and the Republic employ'd Lodovico Falieri to the King of England to entreat him That since he had ever shew'd himself a royall friend to the Republic his Majesty wold be pleas'd as at all other times to take into his protection and to procure that in those affairs which were handled at Cambray nothing might be concluded to the hurt and prejudice of the Republic nor to the liberty of Italy whereof many years before he had to his immortall praise taken upon him the defence while preparations were made on all fides to disturb her if not destroy her About the fag end of this Dukes government Solyman makes warre upon the Hungary and takes â—…uda he warr'd also with the Venetians but against them he had not so good successe for they took Scardona from him and 〈◊〉 in Dalmatia upon this a solemne League was struck 'twixt the Pope the Emporor and the Republic against the common enemy In this Dukes time the Republic sent to the Pope that she might have the nomination of her own Bishops for which he had made divers proposalls formerly but could get no definitive answer herupon ther was a seizure made of the temporalities of divers Bishopricks which the Pope had collated wherat his Holiness was much incens'd The Senat considering the importance and difficulty of the business did deliberat theron in open Councell where opinions were very different but for the present it was decreed that in favour of the Pope the temporalities of those who had bin promoted by his Holiness shold be surrendred them in the Cities under their jurisdiction yet nevertheless they did not give over their demands saying that what they had then done was for the extraordinary respect and reverence they bare to Pope Clement hoping that herafter they wold grant them more than they crav'd The Pope nevertheless who at first made shew that he demanded nothing els but that stood after upon greater difficulties Solyman having made peace with the Persian intended to assail Christendome on all sides by Sea and Land hereupon he entertain'd Barbarossa the famous pyrat and sent word to the Venetians that they shold usâ—… him no more as a Pyrat but one of his own Port. To bear up against Solyman the Senat thought fit to levy the Tenths upon the Clergy but they could not obtain it of the Pope who made answer that he had a purpose to levy two Tenths upon the goods of all the Italian Clergy to employ them for the relief of the Cantons of the Catholic Swissi against the other apostat Cantons who threatned them with war A little after Venice made her self Mistresse of a Town in Dalmatia call'd Obrovatza a place of considerable strength and advantage PIETRO LANDI succeeded Gritti who had continued Prince nere upon sixteen years Guy Vbaldo Duke of Vrbin the old Duke being dead was chosen Generall of the Republic by Land he was allow'd ten Captains pay and four thousand Ducats yearly Salary besides The Senat at that time decreed that four hundred Artificers of the City shold be inroll'd with whom four times a year the Gallies appointed for that purpose shold be mann'd that they might all of them row together which they commonly call'd Regater and pensions were appointed them who had serv'd so thrice This decree pass'd to the end they might be assur'd to have men alwaies fit and ready to mann any nomber of Gallies Ther happen'd a mighty dearth of corn through all Italy in this Dukes time which lighted more heavy upon Venice then any place among other causes which necessitated her to make peace with the Turk but the Marquis of Guasto Governor of Milan and the Lord of Annebalt Marshall of France and her Generall in Piemont came to Venice to divert her they had extraordinary magnificent entertainment both for the quality of their own persons and of the great Princes that sent them The Marquis of Guasto coming to the Senat told them that he was sent by his Imperiall Majesty to acquaint them as his trusty and inward friends with the enterview that he intended to have with the French King and in Flanders with King Ferdinand his Brother and the Queen his Sister who govern'd ther for him assuring them that in the same Assembly of Princes affairs wold be handled concerning the universall good of Christendom and the particulrr advantage of that Republic which the Emperour did as much desire as well as of his own Estates and that now they were ready to assail the Turks with very great Forces The Emperor therefore was desirous to know the Senats will and intentions therein what provision they wold judge to be necessary and what they wold have him to do for his part towards the better managing of this great design Marshall Annebalt spake to the same effect protesting his Kings good will to the common peace of Christendome amd particularly of the Common-wealth of Venice Answer was made by the Senat to the Marquis and the Marshall that their arrival was very pleasing and acceptable as well in respect of the Princes whom they represented as for their own persons for which
their Dominions specially the I le of Candy hereup on she rigs up her Gallies again but in the interim a Chiaus coms from Constantinople in quality of Ambassador extraordinary from Amurath to confirm the former peace This year 1573. The Duke of Aniou having bin newly elected King of Poland and scarce setled in the Throne and understanding his brother Charles was deceas'd in France and fearing to lose the 〈◊〉 for a Thistle viz. France for Poland got away surreptitiously from Cracovia accompanied only with three followers and passing through the Territories of divers Princes came at last to Italy with a curiosity to see the admired City of Venice being come upon the Confines he was met by a gallant troup of Noble men with eight hundred well arm'd soldiers the next day sour of the Senators came to him from Venice in quality of Ambassadors the Dukes of Ferrara and Nevers came also to visit him so being attended by infinite nombers of peeple he came first to Murano where the next day he was visited by the Prince and Senat with fourteen Gallies and being conducted thence to Lia he entred the Bucentoro together with the Prince and Senat from thence with mighty magnificence he transported to Venice all the channell 'twixt the City and Lia thronging with Boats made in fashion of Sea Monsters wherin were all the youth of Venice richly attir'd with infinite nomber of Gondolas which row'd before and on ev'ry side of the Bucentoro which was gently tow'd to the Palace stairs where he remain'd divers daies and was entertain'd to the height of all magnificence and here began that great League of Love which hath continued so firm 'twixt France and Venice ever since but presently after the Kings departure ther happen'd an ill-favor'd disaster for the Prince celebrating the day of his Election the Ducall Palace was like to be all consumâ—…d by a casuall fire and a fearfull plague remov'd it selfe from Trent to Venice where it began to rage fearfully thereupon no humane remedy appearing the Prince and Senat had recourse to God Almighty and meeting in the highest postures of reverenee at S. Marks Church the Prince in all their Names made a solemn Vow to God to build a Church and dedicat it to the worlds Redeemer imploring his Divine Majesty with heart and mouth that it might please him of his infinite mercy to hear them and appease his just wrath it pleas'd God that this furious contagion did thereupon cease in a wonderfull manner The Church was suddenly built at La Zuecca whither the Prince and Senat go in solemn procession every year ever since Baromeo did also as they write strange penances in Milan for asswagement of such a contagion the same year SEBASTIANO VENIERI succeeded MOCENIGO in the principality the peeple with extraordinary acclamations extoll'd this Election to the very Starrs in regard he had done such exploits while he was Generall so long at Sea both in the battail of Lepanto and elswhere but that which seem'd most strange was that among such multitudes of all sorts of peeple who went to congratulat his new Dignity ten Turks who were then in Venice came and kiss'd his feet saying aloud This is that invincible Generall who by defeating our Fleet and Us hath justly pourchas'd to himself this deserved Crown of honor unto whom we wish a long and happy life Pope Gregory the thirteenth sent him a little after a Rose of Gold which useth to be one of the greatest favors that the Pope useth to confer upon Princes Alexander the Third sent the like in the year 1177. to Sebastian Ciani for preserving him from the fury of the Emperour Barbarossa Old VENIERI had scarce govern'd nine moneths but being strucken deeply in years and having lost much bloud in the warres he payed nature her last debt the Arch-Duke of Austria with other Princes desir'd to have his picture and about the same time Anno 1578. Don Iohn of Austria died in the Netherlands having bin both Generalls in the battail of Lepanto NICOLO PONTE a grave and learned Senator succeeded VENIERI in the Dukedome being aged eighty eight years Francisco de Medici great Duke of Toscany a powerfull Prince in those daies was desirous to marry Signora Bianca daughter to Capello a Venetian gentleman to which end he sent Maria Sforza to acquaint the Senat the Senat sent for Capello and his Son Vittorio whom they Knighted then they adopted Bianca who was to be Gran Duchesse daughter to the Signorie in the same manner as they had done Catharina Queen of Cyprus This year divers new Constitutions were enacted against lux in apparell 1. The use of all sorts of Perl tru or counterfeit was prohibited onely women might weare a small coller about their necks 2. Costly Skins and Furrs were wholy forbid to be worn 3. All gold and Silver Lace was prohibited upon garments 4. No Courtezan must wear any Jemms or Jewells or use any Tapistry 5. Excessive expences were forbidden at womens Churchings and the extraordinary invitation of friends except nere kinsfolk was restrain'd 6. A decree was made against all super fluous diet and that no double dish of fish or flesh shold be serv'd in These Laws are exactly observ'd to this day In this Dukes time and partly by a hint given from him the Calenlendar was reform'd for Pope Gregory the XIII finding by consultation with the best Astronomers that because the Solar motion had not bin rightly observ'd the Vernall Equinoctiall had gotten ten daies before â—…he course of the Sun whereby the Feast of Easter whereon all other moveable Feasts depended was not celebrated at the just time appointed in the Primitive Church by the Councell of Nice the incongruity thereof was were it not reform'd that the Festivalls of Winter will be celebrated in Sommer and those of Sommer in Winter hereupon the chiefest Mathematicians of Europe were summon'd to Rome to confer their speculations about this point and commanded after an exact calculation of the course of the Planets to refer the Vernall Equinoctiall to the twenty one of March as it had bin in old time decreed by the Fathers of the sayed Councell of Nice and so to find out some rule that the same inconvenience might be for ever remov'd These learned men did what the Pope commanded by referring the Equinoctiall to its true place and by taking for once ten daies from October the Pope concurring with them in opinion and being a great Theorest himself enjoyn'd this computation to be observ'd all Christendome over Lodovicus Lilius a famous Astronomer was one of the chiefest instruments in this businesse 1581. In this Dukes time ther happen'd a contrasto 'twixt the Republic and the Knights of Malta because they had taken some Turky Vessells in the Venetian Seas whereat Amurath did thunder out a revenge the Republic complain'd to the Gran Master intreating him to forbear the taking of any Turkish Vessells in her Seas while
essayed all kind of wayes to engage that Court unto him And when he waged any warr though the merit of the cause was meer civill yet he gave out t was for Religion wherby he still engaged Rome to be his Partisan as he did against the Germans and English and in favor of the Guysards Nor was he short-handed in distributing his gifts up and down with collation of honors upon their Nephewes and other of their Favoritts wherof he hath plenty in Naples and Calabria which he enjoyes by paying a Heriot evry yeer Nor is ther any Prince that 's tied in more observances to the Pope than the King of Spain in regard that he payes him homage for most of his Kingdomes nor is the Pope of late yeers tied for more variety of respects to any Prince than to the Spaniard He complies also with the Colledg of Cardinalls endeavouring mainly to have a strong party there to out poise the French though in the election of Urban the eighth the last Pope his power fayld him among them which Pope was Fleurdelizd all over having bin raysd by the French faction that then was predominant in the conclaves which made this pasquill among others to be scatterd up and down cur Petrus negat Dominum quia Gallus cantat Nor was Urban the eighth averse only to the Spaniard but to the whole house of Austria in so much that when the Emperour sent to sollicit him for a sum of money to support the War against the Swed and the Northern peeple that had hurld themselfs into the Territories of the Empire he wold not part with a peny of S. Peters patrimony to that use which made the Spanish Souldiers up and down the streets to call him Lutherano And others to give out that ther was secret intelligence twixt Him and the King of Sweden that when he had don his work in Germany he wold assist him to recover his right to the Kingdom of Naples but indeed his aversnes to the Emperour was because a little before he had disturbd the common peace of Italy about the quarrell with the Duke of Savoy This present Pope Innocent the tenth is as much an Austrian as the other was a Bourbonian which hath not a little advantagd the Spaniard as it hath appeard by som successes since his creation He is more Catholic than Christian whereas his Predecessor was vice versa TOuching the interests and disposition of the Dukes of Toscany in regard they were first introduc'd and establishd in that Dutchy by the Armes of the house of Austria they hold their chiefest interest to be a dependency upon that House adhering allwayes to that party with money Armes yet this tie was not so strong but it slackned sometimes when public liberty was at the stake wisely considering that the oppression of their neighbours wold not exempt them but reserve them for a more certain ruin Whereupon Cosmo the first stuck not to assist the Genoways in a quarrell that was abetted by the Crown of Spain And after him Duke Ferdinand with great sums of moneys assisted Henry the third and Henry the fourth of France perswading the latter to break with Savoy that by possession of the Marchisat of Salucces France might alwayes have a gate open to Italy And Cosmo the second to the same purpose supported the Duke of Mantoua against him of Savoy But this present Duke Ferdinand although he makes shew to breath nothing els than a kind of religious observance to the Austrian Family yet he hath utterly refusd at present to engage against France whereupon in policy he disarmd those Gallies wherewith he was usd formerly to scowr some of the Mediterranean and Greek Seas to prevent that neither Kings shold desire his assistance TOuching the interests of the Republic of Genoa since by meanes of Andrew Doria She drew her neck out of the French yoke and put Her self under the protection of Spain She hath still mingled interests with that Crown Charles the first finding that the Citty of Genoa stood very commodiously for him to convey his forces to Italy sollicited often Andrew Doria to consent to the erecting of a sortresse which notwithstanding that he was movd thereunto by the Emperour both with menaces and money he wold never agree unto whereupon the Emperour thought upon another new and more ingenious way to engage that Citty by putting a bridle of Gold into her mouth insteed of that Iron one he thought of at first for ever since Genoa serves Spain for a scale to convey her treasure to high and low Germany whereby her bank of S. George hath so swelld and the whole Citty hath so enriched her self that it is wonderfull for it may be sayed that most of the Indian Gold hath pass'd ever since through their fingers so that much thereof must needs stick unto them by the use the Spaniard gives them when they advance any sum by way of assiento as they call it untill his fleets com from the Indies So that they have a saying in Spain that the Genoways did use to carry their consciences in thin Pocketts but the weight of the Indian Gold hath broken thorough so that now ther is neither bottom or bounds left in them Now ther is no state in Italy that 's more capable to incommode the Spaniard than that of Genova and to put him in a hazard to lose Milan and consequently the other territories he enjoyes in Italy which She may do if She denies Him her ports and hinder the landing of his Ships upon her coasts or by shutting the passages in that long list of Land which is calld the River of Genoa Therefore the Spaniard because he wold not depend soly upon the affection of that City raysed up a Fort at Monaco and another at Finale thereby if it were possible to reduce the Republic to an entire dependence upon Him In the last War with Savoy the Genoways felt the benefit of the Spaniards protection which by way of diversion preservd them from much danger Therefore in point of interest Genoa may be sayed to be an inseparable confederat of the King of Spaines both for profit and preservation She is in relation to him like a Partridg under a Faulcons wings as the little Republic of Luca is to the Duke of Florence who can seize upon her when he list but that he finds it more advantagious unto him to permit Her to continu an industrious Republic still of Herself TOuching the Dukes of Savoy their interest hath bin allwayes to keep good intelligence with France therfore they never swervd from Her friendship but once in the time of Charles the fifth when by the inducements of a Portuguez Wife Charles Emanuel refusd passage to the French King which cost him afterwards very deare And it had cost him much more unlesse he had comported himself with extraordinary cunning and artifice which made Him to be termd the little Fox of the Mountaines THe Dukes of Mantoua
as the rest of the Minor Princes of Italy were usd to professe a totall dependence upon the house of Austria yet Duke Ferdinand a wise Prince knowing that in the first motions of Monferrat the designes of Savoy were fomented by Offices underhand from the Spaniard for his own advantage he chose rather to defend himself from Savoy without the Spaniards help but D. Carlo succeeding he was forcd to adhere to the King of France for his safety in regard of divers Garrisons he had up and down Monferrat THe Dukes of Parma though thrust out of Piacenza by Charles the 5. and having bin beaten by him in Parma they had good reason to follow the interests of France by whom they had receavd both their conservation and restablishment more than once yet they thought safer still to stick unto Him that was Duke of Milan till now of late that this present Duke is much Frenchified TOuching the politicall interests and inclinations of the Duke of Modena and the State of Luca they have more confidence in the House of Austria than in the French and so they apply themselfs accordingly in point of respect and compliances Nor indeed can it be denied but all Italie is beholding to the Spaniard in divers respects as for the introducing of Tresure and increse of Trade as allso that his outpoising power keeps the inferior Princes in peace and from encroching one upon the other lest if he shold strike in by way of Auxiliary he might swallow up both parties yet it may be observd that the Italians respect the Spaniard out of meer politicall interest not out of any affection so that all of them would restrain his power if they could but like the Mice in the Fable they cannot find any that will venture first to hang the Bell about the Catts neck HAving by these short expatiations given a few touches of the rest of the Principalities of Italy in point of politicall interests we now return to poursue and perfect the survay of the Signorie of Venice in this particular allso which taking her power by Land and Sea conjunctly is acknowledgd to be the strongest knot of strength in Italie if we consider the reaches of her Dominions with the firmenes and solidity of her establishment as allso the prudent and cautious conduct of her proceedings Now touching her interests and disposition towards the two great Kings forementiond all her counsells and designs ever since the entrance of forren Armies into Italie have tended to conserve her own liberty and greatnes It being an old observation that all States do retain still the humor of their first Founders as ambition and desire of warr appeerd allwayes in the Citty of Rome because her first Founders were full of that humor But those of Venice being not transported with such exorbitant thoughts but addicted to peace trafic wealth and repose having bin formerly harassd by the long calamities of Italie and the inundation of barbarous peeple when they had gott into those safe retirements the first and fundamentall maxime of policy they proposd to themselfs was to maintain their common freedom and live secure And herin the Republic of Venice may be sayed to differ from the late States of Holland allso whose first foundation was layed in bloud by Armes and Warr Now it is a Rule that Eodem modo Res conservatur quo acquiritur By the same meanes things are conservd wherby they are gott In so much that if Holland follow the humors of her first Founders She will love warr better than peace and happly be incited therunto by an old prophecy that runns of her Marte triumphabis Batavia pace peribis Holland by warr Thou shalt encrease Thou wilt destroy Thy self by peace Now one of the wayes wherby the Republic of Venice hath endeavourd to preserve her Maydenhead and freedom so long hath bin to keep the power of the potentst Princes in a counterpoise wherby She hath often adapted her designes and accommoded Her-self to the condition of the times and frequently changd thoughts will frends and enemies She hath bin allwayes usd to suspect any great power to fear much and confide little to be perpetually vigilant of the operations of others and accordingly to regulat her own consultations and proceedings wherby She hath bin often accusd of exces in circumspection Therfore when that impetuous shock was given Italie by Charles the 8. She only lookd on a good while and kept Her self Neutrall but afterwards seeing the common freedom of Italie floting among the French armes She made head against them at last freeing Milan from that imminent danger which hoverd visibly ore her head and so forcd that King to find his way back ore the Alpes and to leave the Kingdom of Naples to the Aragonians To free Her-self from the stratagems of Morâ—… and to joyn Cremona to her Republic She favourd the designes of Lewis the 12. upon the State of Milan But this conjunction was like that with the Lion who useth to snatch all to himself For Lewis afterwards to thrust Venice out of Cremona colleagud himself with divers other Princes inciting them to invade Her Territories on firm Land In so much that he introduc'd the Pope the Spaniard and King of the Romanes but while they thought to rush into the Venetian Territory they were cunningly excluded by the Spaniards their Confederatts who gathering the fruit of other mens labours impatronizd himself of som Townes to recover which the Venetians betook themselfs to the frendship of Francis the French King by which League they recoverd what formerly had bin taken from them But afterwards finding that the French for their disorders had lost the Duchy of Milan and that by continuing that League they exposd to som hazard their own liberty the Republic with fortune changd Her frend and entred into League with Charles the Emperour But upon that monstrous successe of fortune in Pavia when the French King was taken Prisoner to preserve the common liberty of Italie which was like to be swallowed up by the Emperour She re-entred into a new League with Francis not without extreme hazard because in the peace of Cambray he had quite abandond Her so She was left alone to wrastle with the Emperour and the formidable Armies he had then afoot against whom She bore up with much generosity a good while wherby together with the peace of Bologna She procurd the restitution of Francesco Sforza to the Duchy of Milan An accord which She observd with such candor and punctuality that although She was invited by many favourable conjunctures to unite again upon high advantagious termes with the Crown of France to thrust the Spaniards out of Milan whereof they had rendred themselfs Masters after the death of Francis Sforza yet she wold never lend any â—…are therunto meerly out of her filial affection to Italy that she might not be plungd again in new troubles as allso finding how unlucky the French had often