to the other expences which the Republick is oblig'd to in cleaning the Canals of Venice and for the maintenance of such as Lie Commodious and useful to the City there are certain Summs arising from several Impositions that are to this purpose given and particularly applied to these matters Beâ—ides the Inhabitants of the Country are all oblig'd by some Light consideration to so many Days Work each man The Summs which the Republick pays for interest of money upon the Zecque or Treasury Chamber are comprehended within the Calculation of Ten Millions but since the Peace of Candia the Republick hath discharg'd her self of the great Interest she payed for Sums lent upon the Bank of Venice by Incorporating them into the Constitution at three per cent but as they only payed the half of that Interest by Reason of the great Necessities of the State during the late War so they have turn'd the Arrears into Principal for which is allowed two per cent The Republick hath moreover reduc'd to five all other Summs that were formerly at six seven and eight per cent There being a great deal due to the Officers that had served the Republick in the late Wars they thought fit to Publish a declaration importing that no Officers should be payed but those whose accounts were admitted and even they were only to receive the half of what appeared in their accounts the Republick did not only thus avoid taking notice of the damage she did to particulars by these sorts of Retrenchments that so much Augmented her Treasure by considerably diminishing her charge but they likewise order no payment that is not ballotted in the College and Senate so they are sure to be oppress'd with charges that prosecute their debts for her custom is to pay no more than a very moderate part at a time By these means the Republick in times of Peace does every year bring several Millions into the Coffers of the Treasury Which is the more easy by reason their Treasury is not only manag'd with an exact fidelity but likewise because there can be no new Employ made without having a General consent By this it appears that it will be do difficult matter for the Republick to acquit her self in a very small time of all the debts she contracted in the late War although they were esteem'd at above fourscore Millions of Livers End of the Second Part. OF THE CITY AND REPUBLICK OF VENICE The Third Part. Of the Customs and Manner of Living of the Venetian Gentlemen and Ladies as likewise of other Secular and Regular Persons with the Description of the Publick Diversions of Venice LONDON Printed for Charles Brome at the Gun at the West-End of St. Paul 's Church-Yard 1699. OF THE CITY AND Republick of VENICE The Third Part. Of the Education and Manners of the Young Nobility IF it be true That Education does not contribute less to the Improvement of Youth than the Natural Disposition to Good one ought not to wonder at the young Noble Venetians who not being restrain'd by those Considerations that usually engage Young People to the Principles of Vertue or at least that preserves them from Vice should Live so Irregularly and shew so little Moderation in their Conduct I pretend to speak now only of the Young Nobility as not designing to engage my self here to a General Description of the Customs and Inclinations of the Venetians which will be sufficiently shewn in the course of this Account The Fathers and Mothers here are so infinitely Fond of their Children that they never lay any restraint upon them for whom they have so great a Complacency as never to deny them any thing they desire They are no sooner able to go but they begin to Cloath them with the Richest things and at Five or Six Years Old they put them into the black Habit and Cloak ruffled with Gold or Silver-Laces their fondness even reaches the Shoes for they are then rais'd with very high Heels which are to make them look Taller than they really are and doubtless this may be one reason of their Walking so very ill as they do ever afterwards It is not anly this blind Affection of the Parents that first begins to corrupt the Manners of their Young People by rendring them Haughty Imperious Lascivious and violent in all their Passions but the sordid Flattery of their Domestick Servants does strangely help to increase the Ill For those Creatures think to establish their Fortunes by getting these Young Gentlemen to be their fast Protectors for which purpose they use their utmost endeavours as being well assured that there is nothing that they may not hope for at Venice when they are under the protection of one of their Powerful Houses upon which Considerations these Children are Ador'd and Regarded as the certain hope of their rising Fortune These Gentlemen being thus early accustom'd to be Treated like Princes and finding no opposition to the Career of their Desires do insensibly possess themselves with the thoughts of being Superior to all other Persons of Quality but when they begin to perceive that they are the only Mighty in the State they then elevate the Notion to that degree as to become Insupportable to all others For which Reason it is very rare for Strangers to find much Civility from those People unless it be among those that have learn'd the Rules of good Breeding in other Countries of which number such as have seen France do much distinguish themselves from the rest One may vainly imaginy that if this Young Nobility is not engag'd to the Study of good Letters by the Natural Inclination join'd to a great disposition of Learning there cannot be many expected to penetrate very far into the knowledge of the Sciences insomuch that whatever Care is taken about the Instruction of these Gentlemen either in the School or their Houses yet they are not to be prevail'd upon to exceed what they themselves think fit In the mean time the Parents do not much trouble themselves about the matter for they are contented with the hopes of seeing them Venetian Politians at last However in this numerous Nobility there are some Gentlemen that Naturally take to Study which they follow with great Success So soon as these Young Gentlemen are Sixteen or Seventeen Years Old they begin to Associate with those of a more advanc'd Age and to pursue their Pleasures with the amplest liberty As they do not want Precedenrs in the Company they keep nor for Opportunities in this Famous City of Venice so it may easily be imagined without any farther Instances what sort of a Life they lead Such as have Money commonly spend it in Pleasure for they are not contented with one Courtisan but employ it to the Support of several Their Parents are so far from opposing the Libertinism that on the contrary they usually contribute to the Excess or at best but shut their Eyes to the Extravagancy of their Conduct The Son of a
a mighty Number among which few could be said to be either beautiful or agreeable but especially the last of these Charms was generally wanting There are several of those that are allowed by their Husbands to appear abroad who are Agreeable Gentile and very Handsome However they are strangely Accoutred through the great desire they have to follow the French Fashions for they always run beyond the Rules of the Mode by the ill Judgment of their lamentable Taylors In former Years they Dress'd themselves with great Bunches of Ribbans on each Shoulder and when the Men left off those Knots of Ribans for large Tufts of Silver and Gold the Ladies did the same wearing great Knots of that Work upon their Shoulders and Tossels at their Girdles tagg'd with great Points As the Old and Deform'd love to spruce themselves no less than the Young so they Curl Powder and cover themselves to that degree with Ribans so ill suited to their Age and Complexions that in reality one cannot see a more extraordinary Figure than one of these antiquated Ladies usually make In coming from France to Venice one finds so great a difference between the Air of these Ladies and those of France as one would not believe that the Eyes should ever be able to Fancy them But having seen the other Parts of Italy one soon acknowledges that the Venetian Ladies appear very well and if the Severity that is observed upon their account did not restrain them they would always appear in that Magnificence they are sometimes seen when they are permitted to shew themselves in their Pearls and Jewels Next to their fine Points and magnificent Gowns of Gold or Silver Tissue they have nothing that does adorn them more or better becomes them than the Flowers they wear especially those on their Heads they have an extraordinary Fancy in disposing of them in their large Commodes As these Flowers have an admirable good effect in their Dresses so they have of them for all the several Seasons of the Year It is the most agreeable Present that a Lover can make to his Mistress and he in return takes it for a most peculiar Favour to have that Flower bestowed upon him that hath had the preference of the rest by having been worn in the middle of her Bosom which they ever have very much exposed to view When a Lady goes into the Church she moves very slowly her Gown is very long and large training upon the Ground The use of Pages or Footmen being utterly unknown at Venice she is forc'd to choose her own Place which she does with the greatest Air of Haughtiness dispossessing both Citizen and Gentleman without shewing any Demonstration of Civility for the Place she takes from either As their Parents when they are Children nor their Husbands after they are Married do much regard if they can make the Reverence customary with other Ladies so there are very few that know how to acquit themselves of it when they are indispensably obliged to receive the Salute or to return the Civility to any Person of great Consideration they are then out of Countenance for they perform that Civility by three several Motions bending the Knees lifting up the Belly and nodding the Head to each Gesture all which is done with Eyes and an Air that sufficiently explain the Confusion they are under The Venetian Ladies are attended to the Church by as many Waiting-Women as they have who do not stir one step from their Mistresses for they usually stand in the greatest Crowds both before and behind their Ladies not a little proud to wait upon Persons of that Quality Nothing can be more inconvenient than these Troops of Waiting-Women in such great Crowds yet the Nobility are no ways backward in Civility to them by reason of the good Offices they are able to do them but more especially to those that wait upon the more beautiful Ladies These Waiting-Women part of whom being hired only for Days of Ceremony are all clad in Gowns of black Serge and great Taffeta Scarfs they are usually so familiar with their Ladies that Strangers do wonder not without reason to see them upon their Knees leaning against their Ladies but such ought to know that these Women are all the Company they have at home with whom they pass their time in working of Point de Venise and consequently are fallen into the Custom of Laughing and Talking familiarly with them The Unmarried Ladies never see the Light in Publick but through a great Veil of fine white Gause which comes down before to the bottom of their Gowns the two corners are tied with Knots of Ribbans that hang just above the Ground This Veil being thus cast over them covers their Arms and Face which they sometimes remove with their Hands yet only so far as is requisite to see before them In this manner the Young Ladies of Quality go to Church upon Holy-days and as for other occasions of going abroad they are Strangers to them This Veil hath something of Majesty in it and becomes them very well that do not cover their Faces with it The Young Ladies of Quality that design to be Religious wear it in that manner some time before they renounce the World the same Veil is the usual Dress of the City Ladies The Courtisans are forbid the Use of it however they sometimes wear it to counterfeit the Honest Women and deceive Strangers The Venetian Ladies wear it sometimes en deshabillee especially when they are performing their Devotions I remember some Eminent Preachers exhorted them to the Use of it at least in the Time of Passion Week during which they frequently go to the Sermons that are Preach'd upon that extraordinary Occasion The Reports of those prodigious high Shooes or Pattins that the Venetian Ladies wore not long since are really true for the Daughters of the last Doge Dominica Contarini were the first that freed themselves from this intolerable Fashion Some of them were at least two Foot high so that they seem'd like the Statue of Colossus rather than Women as not being able to set one Foot before the other without the help of two Women to lean upon It is much to be supposed that the Policy of the Husbands introduced this Fashion with which they are said to be very well pleased for an Ambassadour discoursing lately with the same Doge and some of his Counsellours at the Assembly of the Palace before they went to the Chappel fell upon the Use of these extravagant Engines designedly alledging That these little Shooes were undoubtedly much more Commodious to which one of the Councellors replied with an Austere Meen and twice repeated it They are indeed too Commodious Pur tropo Commodi pur tropi How the Noble Venetians wait upon the Ladies THE Young Nobility have usually no other Business than to go if they think fit upon Sundays and Holy-days to the Great Council as also to appear at the Broglio if they have any
middle of these overflown Plains which seems to have been the design of Nature as contributing to its Beauty Security and Conveniency not less to the great Power and long Continuation of this Republick And whatever part of the Town you arrive at either from Terra Firma or from the Sea this City shews it self equally Peculiar and Majestical Yet you have the prospect of the most Beautiful part in coming from Chiosa by the Lagunes For at Ten Miles distance you begin to have the Prospect it there seeming to float upon the Surface of the Waters environ'd with a Forest of Barques and Ships which by degrees permits you full of Admiration to behold the Magnificent Buildings of the Palace and St. Mark 's Place * The Church Della Salute and the Palace of Cornaro as likewise some others of the most sumptuous Edifices upon the Great Canal which you have on the Left Hand The draught of the Situation of Venice does much resemble the shape of the Turbot and the Eastern extremity being the Arsenal makes the Tail The City is wholly built upon Piles whose Foundations are not only laid in those places where the Earth appear'd above the Water but likewise driven into those considerably under it by which means they have in a manner brought together a great number of little Isles that encompass the principal which being join'd by Bridges forms the Body of this vast City that does not only seem to be the Queen of all the Islands in the Lagunes but likewise absolute Mistress of the Gulf to which Sovereignty she pretends In short her greatness Situation her external Majesty join'd to the great number of her Inhabitants the great concourse of Stangers and her method of Government render her admir'd by all the World Sannazar one of the most excellent Wits of the Age made formerly these six Verses which gives Venice the glorious Preference and to the Author the honour of having them engrav'd on Marble Viderat Adriacis Venetam Neptunus in undis Stare Urbem toto dicere jura Mari. I nunc Tarpeias quantum vis Jupiter arceis Objice illa tua Maenia Martis ait Si Tiberim Pelago confers Urbem aspice utramque Illam homines dices hanc posuisse Deos. There is computed to be in Venice about One Hundred and Fourscore thousand Inhabitants notwithstanding it is open on all sides without Gates or Walls having no other Ramparts than the Houses and Palaces of particulars neither Fortification nor Citadel and without Garison yet it assuredly is one of the strongest Cities of Europe Although the Island of Zueque is perfectly separated from Venice yet La Zueca it continues to be part of it It seems to be a great half Moon and a Counter-guard that covers more than half the City towards the South reaching from over against the Place of St. Mark even to the most Western extremity from which places it is separated by a large Canal of above 300 feet over This Island was formerly inhabited by the Jews which occasion'd it the name of Judaic and since by corruption that of Zueque It is of an equal breadth being about 300 paces over there is a Key on that side of it which looks towards the City nobly built with magnificent Churches as likewise abundance of noble Houses with spacious Gardens behind them that reach even to the Lagunes This Island being divided by 7 or 8 Canals that cross it there are as many Bridges which continue the Key from whence the prospect of the City is not less agreeable than that of La Zueca from the City and if the smallest gust of Wind did not continually hinder the Gondolo's from crossing the great Canal La Zueca would undoubtedly be the most charming part of this City Of the Canals and Bridges THE great number of Canals by which one may come into this City from every side and that cross it in every place divides it into an incredible number of small Islands insomuch that there are several single Houses that are on all sides wash'd by the Waves From whence it happens there is no place in Venice but to which one may come by Water as likewise on Foot by the means of about 500 Bridges that facilitate the Communication of a great number of little Streets c. that cross the City and almost as many Keys that are built along the Canals The greatest part of the Canals in the heart of the City are very narrow and have no Keys which evidently shews that the first Founders of Venice were mighty Husbands in managing the Ground that was so precious or that they had not in their thoughts the Idea of what this City hath since attain'd Some of the other Canals have but one single Key and others Il Fundamento two but so narrow that two People can hardly walk together yet there are some very spacious and convenient but without either Rails or Balusters open and made into Stairs over against each House which descend very low for the more easie use of the Gondolo's at all times of the Tide by which means those frequent descents or stairs have so La Riva straitned the Keys that all Passengers more especially in the Night are oblig'd to keep close to the sides of the Houses or otherwise at almost every step expose themselves to the dangers of the Canal The depth of these Canals are different but when the Tide is at the highest it is in most places 5 or 6 Foot excepting the great Canal of which the depth is very considerable it is nothing less than a worthy Subject of admiration but more in those parts of the Town most frequented by the poorer People to see the great numbers of little Children playing upon the very sides and edges of these Canals which in all other places would affect the Parents with the perpetual apprehension of their falling into the Water yet it no ways troubles them here neither is it scarce known that any such accidents happen in these places Most part of the Bridges of Venice are made of Stone and Brick so delicately Built that the Arch is not above 8 Inches thick but the sides and middle are of a very hard sort of free Stone the Arches are so high that the passage is no ways incommodious to the Gondolo's and other Vessels that are continually passing the Canals You ascend these Bridges on either side by 4 or 5 steps of white Stone that is much like Marble which in time become so smooth and polish'd that in a Rain or Frosty weather it is very difficult to keep from falling as these Bridges are without Rails or any other security so one ought to have a special regard to their Feet for the white Stone is one of the 3 things that the Venetian Proverb recommends to the care of all Stangers Of the great Canal NOthing contributes more to the beauty of Venice than the great Great Canal Canal which beginning
thick and made hollow for the more easie play of the Oar. The Gondolier behind stands on the Poop to see over the Tilt or Covering that so he may have a right Steerage He is upon a long Board that reaches above four Fingers beyond the Left side of the covered part of the Poop insomuch that he is quite out of the Gondola holding the end of a long Oar that is supported on the Right side by a piece of Wood like to the other at the head but about Two Foot high After this manner he Rows keeping stroke to the Gondolier before without which the Gondola can neither go right or even It is very agreeable to observe the Air and Grace these Men affect in the management of their Gondola's they stand most an end upon their Right Leg with the Left stretch'd out behind them their Body bending down and quite out of the Gondola whereby if it happens that they run foul of one another at the turning of any corner for want of giving timely notice or by the breaking of an Oar they are certain to fall into the Water which is no great trouble or inconveniency to them unless it chance to fall out at the course where the mighty number of Boats and the swiftness of their motion does not seldom occasion them the utmost danger As the Gondoliers have not their Oars any ways fastned to the Gondola so they make their stroaks either shorter or longer according to the breadth of the Canal or the multitude of Gondola's that are frequently seen together Nothing can be more charming than the easiness of this passage you Eat and Drink quietly Read Converse Sing Play upon all sorts of Instruments without any manner of inconvenincy or probability of Danger One cannot without admiring behold them pass so direct smooth and fast avoid in a moment such obstacles as one not us'd to them must think impossible turn the corners of the Canals with so great exactness and expedition that it is no ways capable of a description stop short in their full course turn or go back with an equal facility In short they govern those Boats with the utmost dexterity which are the effects of an Address that cannot but surprize all who see them The Gondoliers do constantly every night take away all that is loose or not fixed to their Gondola which they carry home with them they take down the whole Tilt or Covering La Caponera together which they call La Caponera afterwards whatsoever else is not safe to leave abroad in the Morning early they Equip their Gondalo with the same ease and expedition The conveniency of having at Venice all things necessary to a great City BEsides those Advantages here common to all Maritime Cities the City of Venice hath a more peculiar one which comes from her being situated in the middle of the Lagunes For she is the Center in which several Rivers do end as the Po the Adige the Brente and the Piave besides a great many Canals this Republick hath made in their Territories for the conveniency of bringing whatsoever is necessary by the Brente which the remotest Provinces of Tuscany produce The Vessel you take at Turin brings you to whatever House you please in Venice without which conveniency of passage it would be a very difficult Matter to see that mighty abundance there is at Venice of all things necessary to a great City Few particulars would be able to build the fine Houses one sees here The Wood is floated down hither Stone and Marble are brought partly upon the floated Timber and partly upon those great Pontons that cross even the Adriatick Gulph In this manner all sorts of Materials are brought hither by an admirable ease from a thousand different places into all the several Quarters and House of this City The great expence of Venice is what they are obliged unto in the foundation of their Buildings for besides the great quantity of piles and great Stones necessary to that work the Damms only they are forced to make against the Water to bring the place into a condition of being work'd upon lies them in very considerable Sums A Procurator of St. Mark offered lately Eight thousand Ducats which is about Fourteen hundred pounds Sterling to stop the Water sink and raise about 60 Foot in length to the surface of the Water La Procurator Bon. the Front of a Palace which he was at that time going to build upon the great Canal By the conveniency of Boats they cry about the City their Fruits Roots Wood Wine Provisions and all sorts of Houshold-Ware whereby a poor Man that is but able to purchase an Oar is sufficiently qualified to get an honest Livelyhood You see Old Men Women and Children managing all sorts of Boats as likewise many begging Monks who implore your Charity in the Boats they work But what is most admirable is to see little Children alone managing of great Boats laden with Merchandize that contain more than Twenty Carts would be able to draw which is of mighty conveniency to such as must remove their Families for one Man can carry at once all their Goods without the least damage Of the Trade of Venice VEnice is so advantagiously situated for Commerce that since the foundation of the Republick to the present Age there hath been scarce any City in Europe more known for it Formerly the Venetians were the only Traders into the Levant and Eastern India for their Vessels received at Aleppo and Alexandria such Commodities as were brought from Egypt Syria and the Red Sea which they afterwards Transported into all the Ports of Europe selling them at such prizes they were pleas'd to set upon them The Spaniard discovering the Riches of the West-Indies through the bold attempts of Christopher Columbus which inspiring the Portugueze and some other Nations with the courage of passing the Line and doubling the Cape of Good-Hope did the Venetians undoubtedly more damage than all the chargeable Wars they have had with the Turks But of all those who have gained by the New Discoveries none have done it with a success equal to that of the Hollanders who have found the means of making themselves the Masters of all Trade The most considerable Trade that remaineth now to the Venetians are only those of Constantinople and Germany For which reason the vending of their rich Silks and other principal Manufactures is of the last importance to them therefore they continue these Trades with the greatest application Besides these they furnish Germany Italy and Spain with Chrystal and Looking-Glasses France with Velvets and Brocades and all places with their Points excepting France where they are prohibited and Manufactures established for the making of them yet notwithstanding that perfection they have attained they continue to value most those of Venice It is hardly to be believed what great quantities of Brouards Damasks and Cloaths of Gold that the Turks and Armenians do continually send From
Line and Tropicks in which places the Flux hath the most considerable effects From hence it comes that the Tides make but a small impression upon the Mediterranean which not being able to move the Waters causeth in them only Currents in many places as may be observ'd in the Sea of Genoa the Phare of Messina and several other Islands of the Archipelago But as the Adriatick Sea is a Gulph of the Meditarrenean and the most Northern part of it so consequently the impression it suffers being neither interrupted or stopt by such Coasts at the mouth of the Gulph that hinders its flowing in most other places so it must indubitably occasion the Waters to fall in here keeping their course along the Coasts to the very utmost end of the Gulf where being stopt they must necessarily rise until they have attained a moderate height This is exactly what is observ'd in this Sea for upon the Coasts of Calabria and the Kingdom of Naples you can only remark a setting of the Water without any manner of Elevation but in the middle of the Gulph and at Ancona the Flood begins to be visibly apparent which becomes infinitely more sensible at Rimini Ravenna upon the Lido of Venice and at Aquilea which lies directly in the very bottom of the Gulph The Flux of the Ocean is greater as it is distant from the places where it begins which is between the Two Tropicks consequently causing the Tides to be much higher upon the Northern than upon the Southern Coasts so the Tide of the Adriatick Gulph making only a small impression in the beginning by degrees appears at the lower end of the Sea a very considerable Tide and the more by reason this motion ever gains new force by its continuation So I am at present to give my reason for the Tides being much higher in the Lagunes and Canals of Venice than they are even in the Gulph it self I attribute it to the nature and disposition of the Place which I have already describ'd in the beginning of this part shewing them to be Plains that the Sea overflow'd when she made those Breaches in that Neck of Land which formerly denied her entrance For that little the Flood is in the Sea is by these natural Dikes which sustain the violencies and afterward permitting an open passage into the Lagunes mightily increas'd especially after having pass'd those Channels formerly mention'd it comes to be of so much consideration by many reasons more palpable than those I have alledg'd that what is not but little considerable in the Sea occasions of course a very considerable Flood in the Lagunes In short there is Six hours Tide of Flood which being stopt by the Coasts of Terra firma it then commonly rises to the height of Four foot in the Canals of Venice so takes its Course to the Sea through the Waters being fallen by the Ebbe of the Gulph which affords it the requisite means of returning in the same space of time and through the same places that the Flood brought it into the Lagunes One may in a Calm Season at the Mouth of the Lido observe with much pleasure the making of the Tide you see of a sudden and from time to time behold certain great Waves that mount themselves above the smooth surface of the Water which after having for some time held a murmuring and impetuous Course do at length loose themselves in the Lagunes at considerabe distance from the place where they first appear'd In this manner the Water is rais'd by the Flood and the Lagunes Swell'd like a great Sea whose Islands in the middle seem to be as many Sands and half drown'd Cities At or about half Ebbe you begln to see the Lagunes lie uncover'd of Wâ—ter which then seem to be about the City so many fine Meadows cross which the Tide hath made several Canals for the discharge of the Waters which are at all times deep enough for the greatest Barque to which purpose the most considerable of them are as hath been observed set out with Piles by which they keep on their Way when the Lagunes are cover'd without any danger of running aground It is nothing less particular than agreeable to behold the Canals of this City that seem to be so many Rivers change the Course of their Stream every Six hours which is more remarkable in the great Canals but especially in such as are long straight and whose extremities lie to the Sea they receive the Water directly without any circulation which must always diminish something of that Force attending the motions of the Ebbe and Flood of these Tides It is observable at Venice that the Canals after the Winter Solstice and espcially in February are drain'd so very low that they are frequently not able to make use of their Gondola's for several Hours between the times of Ebbe and Flood excepting the great Canal which by reason of the great Currant there both in the ebbing and flowing of the Tides does always preserve a sufficient depth without being ever cleansed which they are frequently oblig'd to do with extraordinary charges in the other Canals of Venice Upon the blowing of the Syroc which is the South-east Wind the Tide flows so high as to cover with Water all the Keys of the City the quarter from whence this Wind comes does directly answer the Situation of the Gulph and so mightily augments the strength of the Tide that the Sea did once overflow all the Streets and Places and fill'd with salt Water all the Wells of Venice End of the First Part. OF THE CITY AND Republick of Venice PART II. Of the Foundation of the Republick of Venice and their Form of Government The First Rise of Venice THE Manner of Peopling the Isles of the Lagunes and the Qualities of their first Inhabitants are variously represented Some bring them from the City of Vannes in Britany by reason they were called Veneti in Caesar's Commentaries others will have it that they were Originally only Fishers As if the best Provinces of Italy such as those are in the State of Venice could probably want Inhabitants and that the Advantagious Situation of these Islands was not likely to draw to them some considerable Persons as well as so many Poor Eugitives in that Calamitous time which furnish'd this Countrey with Inhabitants For my own part I shall not detain my self here to assert my Opinion as being contented to follow the most probable Conjectures and such which best shew us the true beginnings of the City and Republick of Venice After the Emperour Constantine the Great had remov'd the Seat of the Empire to Constantinople Italy was afflicted with a long continuance of mis-fortunes and frequently harrass'd with the Invasions of the Barbarians In the Year 407 the Goths under their King Radagaisius over-run Italy putting all to Fire and Sword The Neighbouring People to the Lagunes found their safest Protection in those Maritime Islands in the most part of which Isles were
only a few Fisher's Cottages But after the Army commanded by two Generals of the Emperour Honorius had defeated their enemy Radagaisius these Refugees return to their habitations upon Terra firma as not having made any considerable Establishment in the little time they remained in those Islands of the Lagunes In the Year 413 the Incursions of the Westgoths under Alaric and the horrible ravages they committed all over Italy made these People betake themselves to the Sanctuary that Protected them Six Years before insomuch these Islands of the Lagunes was this Second time the Ark that saved them from the Inundation of those Barbarians But Alarick remaining longer in Italy than Radagaisius these People begun to build Houses of Wood and Reed in order to Accommodate themselves with some sort of conveniencies The Paduans who were Lords of these Islands of the Lagunes had a Port at that of Rialto where their River then Terminated They resolv'd upon making this a considerable place not only as an Asylum but likewise to Protect their Commerce at Sea To which purpose in the Year 421. The Senate of Padua sent thither three Consuls and declar'd Rialto a place of Refuge to all sorts of People which occasioned it to be Peopled in a very little time as well by Persons of all conditions that retired thither from the Terra firma as by those that were dispers'd in the other several Islands of the Lagunes The third Irruption of the Barbarians under Attila King of the Huns reduced Italy to a most miserable condition This scourge of the Almighty having ravag'd Germany Italy and France return'd again hither in the Year 453. adding to the Destruction of Pavia Milan Padua and several other great Towns the Famous City of Aquileia which after a siege of three Years was at length constrain'd to fall under the mercyless hand of this cruel Enemy The miserable remainders of so many Cities compleated the inhabiting with all sorts of People not only the Islands of Rialto but likewise all those in the Lagunes and near the sides of the Sea particularly the Lido of Malamoco there being no hopes left to these People of returning to their former habitations they now begun to lay the foundations of what were to be their future abodes fetching away the stones and Marble of the Demolished Palaces upon Terra firma to build themselves others more safe in these Islands so in about Fifty Years time both the People of Quality and those of the lower Ranks were conveniently accommodated according to their Respective Conditions Padua having in the mean time Established her self and that the Senat perceiving the Rialto to become considerable through the Multitude of Inhabitants send down Tribunes to govern these People with more dignity Yet in some Histories of these beginnings it is observed that such who were most Powerful and Rich in these Islands were in process of time acknowledg'd as Protectors of the People by Reason of the occasion they had for their Assistance in this manner each Island had their particular Tribunes who continuing to increase their Authority either by Force or the Voluntary Submissions of the People they came in time to be the little Potentates of these very mutinous Bodies There are yet to be seen near the Rialto some Fragments belonging to the ancient Family of the Badouaire's which is yet in being at Venice who from those times unto the Election of the first Doge that is to say for 300 Years continued themselves Successive Tribunes at the Rialto In the Year 709 the Tribunes of the twelve Principal Islands of the Lagunes Judging it Necessary to enter into a better Method of governing these Islands that were so Extreamly Populous thought fit to compose a Republick and choose one amongst them for chief But as they perceiv'd they could not proceed in this manner without prejudicing the Rights the City of Padua had in these places to which they had resorted for safety so they sent Deputy's to the Emperour who was Sovereign Lord of the Countrey as likewise to Pope John the fifth to obtain Permission of choosing a Prince to whom they gave the Name of Duke or Doge This Circumstance is observed by their own Historians who have it that after the Tribunes had obtain'd this grant they met in Heraclea a City of the Lagunes of which there remains only some Ruines near the place where the River Piave discharges it self into the Lagunes there they Elected Paul Lucio Anafeste for their first Doge in the Year 709 being two hundred eighty eight years after the proclaiming of the Rialto by the Paduans for a City of Refuge Yet although it seems that the Republick of Venice should denie her beginning from the day of this Election The Venetians do nevertheless compute it from the Proclamation made at the Rialto the 25th of March in the Year four hundred twenty and one as we have already observed and accordingly upon that day do Solemnize the Nativity of the Republick pretending their's hath three singular advantages over all other State being founded in Freedom with the Benefit of Christianity and at the same time with that of France Until this very time there was no Mention made of Venice for as then there was no City of that Name Heraclea was the first Seat of the Republick and so continued until the Death of the third Doge whom the People murthered for his cruelty resolving to have no more Princes whose absolute powers easily degenerated into Tyranny This occasioned an Interregnum of Five Years during which the Republick was governed by the Eldest Knights annually Elected But the People growing weary of this sort of Government desire for the future a Doge who was Elected at the Lido of the old Malamoco being half a League farther into the Sea than the present Malamoco which former was totally swallowed up without leaving the least Appearances where it had been The Doges continued to reside at Malamoco until Obelerio the eleventh Prince of this Republick found himself oblig'd to abandon the Dogal Dignity retiring to Pepin then Established King of Lombardy by his Father Charles the great who had destroyed the Kingdom of the Lombards You find in the Annals of Venice that Pepin was the Sovereign of all these provinces in which quality the Republick payed him an Annual Tribute who then resolving to visit the Maritime Islands within the Jurisdiction of his Demesne but being refus'd entrance by the Doge Elected in the Room of Obelerio by reason of those suspicions he had of the Kings being Instigated by the Counsel of Obelerio to disturb the quiet of the Republick Pepin irritated upon the refusal took Arms against these People ruin'd Heraclea and went on the other side to Attack Malamoco then the Capital Island But finding it abandon'd by the Doge and all the Inhabitants who had saved themselves at the Rialto he resolv'd to go through with what he had begun which was to Attack them by Sea
whatever There are some who have reported in their writings that it is Lawful to affront or kill him upon finding him out of the City and that he hath not the Liberty to go out of his Palace It is true that there hath been formerly very severe Regulations as to this matter but things are not carried to that Exiremity at present however he goes not out of the City without asking in a manner leave of his Councellors Dominico Contarini went frequently to see his Daughters and Nieces that were in several Nunneries as likewise very often every Year to his Country House to enjoy the Air of the Continent When the Doge goes out of the City he is not attended with any External Marks that may distinguish him from any other Venetian Gentleman his apparel is then a gray close Bodied Coat and his sword by his side if any Noble happens to meet him he seems not to know him to avoid rendring those respects that are due to him when he is with the Republick who are the same thing in his absence as when he is present upon any particular Visits that the Doge makes in the City he is only attended like another Noble with a Valet de Chambre and two Gondalo's neither is that discernable from another but by a Carpet and two flower'd Sattin Cushions against the Back-board which small marks of Dignity are so far from being exposed that the Gondaliers most an end cover them all with the black Curtains of the Gondalo His Dress is on these occasions like those of the Counsellors which is Purple but he wears a General 's Cap of the same Colour with his Vest it is round made of Paste-board only four Fingers high the Crown flat and the circumference of the whole double to what the Entrance of the Head is They give the Doge the Title of your Screnity and Most Screne Prince and that he may be sensible that these Titles do not belong to his Person all Embassadors take care to use the same Expressions when they speak to the College seldom saying your Screnity without adding your Excellency's being confus'd Titles among which no difference ought to be made in this Assembly where the Majesty of the Republick is dilated upon all the Members that compose the College Altho all Dispatches are made in the Name of the Prince as likewise the Answers of Embassadors are address'd to him yet he cannot open them which may be done and answer'd without him and that he may continually remember that he only lends his Name to the Senate they forbear the Examination of all Propositions made to the College by Embassadors or other Ministers until such time as he and his Councellors are withdrawn then the Business is examin'd the Opinions of the Sages are taken upon which they draw the Deliberation into Writing which is delivered at the next Assembly of the Senate in the Presence of the Doge and his Counsellors where he hath only a single Vote with the other Senators to confirm or reject what was done in his Absence The Money of Venice bears the Name of the Doge but it is not made with his Impression upon the Coin as it was formerly in the time when the Doge had the absolute Power of the Government there being now instead of his Effigies a Doge in his Ducal Habits upon his Knees to St. Mark to shew that the Prince is the Subject of the Republick of which the Picture of St. Mark is the Hieroglyphick Yet in the Mint where the Money is Coin'd all private Persons upon paying the Duties to the Prince have the Liberty of Coining what Sums they please the Doge gives the Permission and enjoys the Advantages proceeding from it The Doge is allowed by the Republick fourteen thousand Ducats per Annum to defray his Houshold Expences and the Charges of treating four times in a Year all Embassadors the Seignory and such of the Senators as are assistant at those Festivals The ordinary Retinue of the Doge consists of two Valets de Chambre four Gondaliers and some other Servants the Republick discharges all other Officers that only wait upon him at publick Ceremonies He hath the Sellings of the Offices of Commanders of the Palace who are a sort of Serjeants as also the Ecuyers or Squires of the Doge which are 25 in number from these Profits and the Gifts of all Benefices belonging to St. Mark 's arise the principal Advantages of his Dignity The Republick hath not only invested the Prince with all the apparent marks of Sovereign Dignity but they have also obtain'd for him from the Popes and Kings the real Prerogatives of Royal Majesty and the preference next to Crown'd Heads of all other Princes in general It is to be admired that they should as it seems go contrary to these Advantages of Pre-eminency by reducing of him to the degree of all other Princes in respect of the Cardinals for when a Cardinal hath Audience he sits on the Right of the Doge in his own Chair that is made larger upon these Occasions and upon any particular Visit the Doge goes to receive him at his Gondalo These particular Visits as also those of Embassadors upon extraordinary Occasions are made with the Permission of the Senate which is desired at the College for the Doge hath it not in his Power to see whom he pleases and he lives so retired that one may say Solitude and Dependance are the most Essential Qualities of his Condition neither are these Visits very agreeable to the Senate who never give their Permissions but for want of a civil Excuse to avoid it The Count D' Avaux was the first that undertook to visit the Doge Dominico Contarini in his Sickness to which the Senate consented In this Occasion the Gentleman of the Doge and some other Officers are at the Landing-place of the Palace to conduct the Ambassadour to the Doge The Senate are sure in these Junctures to be punctually informed of the most insignificant Words that pass in the Discourse Altho the Marquis de la Fuente Ambassador of Spain was vex'd for being preceded in the Visit by Monsieur D' Avaux yet he demanded leave of the Senate to see the Doge esteeming that an Advantage which few Ambassadors receive in the whole Course of their Employs The Doge can only give general Answers to Embassadors upon the Propositions they intend to exhibit to the College for if he should word it so as to bring the Senate into the least Engagement he would not only meet with the Confusion of having it disown'd but would likewise expose himself to the most sensible Mortifications However if the Propositions of an Embassador are prejudicial to the Dignity of the Republick the Doge is not only supported in such a Juncture by answering in the Name of the Republick with all the Rigour of an incens'd Prince but he is moreover oblig'd to act in that Nature if he
very Considerable Offers As this Libertinism cannot be particular to the Nobility only without infusing the Contagion into all other Conditions so it comes to pass That all Citazens Tradesmen and Strangers have in regard of their Pleasures full Liberty at Venice to do what they please yet they are to avoid all such Places which the Venetian Gentry reserve to themselves for by doing otherwise they might chance to be made sensible of that Intrusion But the Nobles agree very well among themselves as to the matter of Keeping for if Two of them are not able to Maintain a Woman they like which Society is term'd Farcasa than each of them brings in his Friend to the Partnership that so they may render the Charge more easie I have known Three Gentlemen in Treaty about a Woman for a Year together before they could settle the Conditions of the Bargain yet what is more Extraordinary one of these Nobles was Marry'd to a Gentledonna of one of the best Houses of Venice and is likewise one of the Richest of all the new Created Houses However he Associated himself to the others which looks as if he did expect to find those Pleasures more agreeable being divided than in particular Their whole Society usually consists in these sorts of Extravgancies They meet at the Courtisans where they Divert themselves by all manner of means pretending That by Living thus in Common they have no reason to be jealous and consequently enjoy their Pleasures with less inquietude But as it is difficult for such a Licentious Voluptuousness to be contented with one sort of Excess so it is not hard to believe those who affirm That the Courtisans are employ'd to such Infamous uses that notwithstanding all the Charms of Ensnaring by their extraordinary Laciviousness such as frequent them yet it is impossible but that so much Lewdness must create in most the greatest of Aversions Where there is so much Disorder and such a general Corruption it is not to be admir'd that the Distemper which usually follows this Vice should be generally spread I do not say only among the Courtisans who are almost all infected with it but likewise among the Marry'd Women of which number I must less except the Gentledonna's than the Wives of the Commonalty The reason of it is the Young Nobility and the Marry'd Nobles being equally addicted to this excessive Lewdness so they must necessarily share among them the Trouble which this Disorder produces As the one makes no scruple in communicating to their Ladies what they have acquir'd by their Ungenerous Proceedings so the others pay the Favours they receive from their Mistresses with Presents of the same nature whereby it happens this Corruption is in a manner here Universal It may be easily imagined from what has been said That there is scarce a City in Europe where this Distemper is so common I am certain by my own particular knowledge that several New-marry'd Gentledonna's mistaking this Distemper for Indispositions usual to Women have been reduc'd to a most Deplorable Condition without knowing what it was until the virulency of the Illness and the nature of the Remedies they took did at length acquaint them with the truth of their Distemper The Republick does not think She ought to Rectify these Disorders or stop the progress of so much Libertinism But on the contrary She esteems it for an Evil that is advantagious to the State which like a Lethargy stupifies the boiling Blood of their Youth not only enervating the Vigour of them whose Impetuous Natures might be dangerous but it likewise empties the Purses of such Strangers who come in great numbers to Venice for the love of Her Lascivious Pleasures Moreover the People being educated in Softness are not desirous of any alterations in Government So the Nobility being intirely addicted to the pursuit of their Pleasures are not distrusted of meditating Novelties that might be prejudicial to the State but expect without impatience the Places and Dignities which Age and their Qualities Intitle them to in the Republick As there is nothing more certain That without the particular favour of the Almighty the Vices of Youth follow Man to the Grave so it is no wonder if the most Venerable Heads of the Venetian Nobility do continue to observe the same Habitude They are so little Circumspect in things of this nuture and so extremely open in these Practices that the Husbands make no difficulty to say they are to Dine with their Courtisans that Day and their Wives are to send them what they order to be brought upon such occasions I shall rather leave it to be imagin'd than to express here those Base and and Extravagant Artifices that these Reverend Heads use as Incitements to those Pleasures which the natural weakness of their Ages yet deprive them from tasting To conclude this Matter at the Place where I begun it I shall add That the Condition of a particular Courtisan is so little prejudicial to her Reputation who only Abandons her self to one Person that if such a Young Woman retires from that Life and Marries she is afterwards esteemed free of all Reproach In these Hope 's several Young Caeatures deliver themselves to their Inclinations but it is rare to see them retire for their Lewdness join'd to that Liberty which they so much esteem as being free from the Constraint they were forc'd to under their Parents are indissoluable Bonds engaging them to a Profession that is actually Honoured by Daughters of Noble Families Of the Publick Diversions of Venice IF all that has hitherto been said may be allowed to be a true Idea of the City of Venice the Government of the Republick and the Customs of the Venetians I am in hopes the Subject I am at present entring upon will not only give the finishing Touch to this Portraiture which I have endeavour'd to draw with the greatest Exactness and Resemblance but I am in hopes it will illustrate the rest by shewing in their most lively Colours the Wit and Genius of the Venetians Therefore as Venice has hitherto appear'd singular in all things so She will much more in the nature of her extraordinary Diversions There are various sorts of Diversions for the several Seasons of the Year I will say something of all those that agreeably Divert such Persons as are only at Venice upon the account of their Pleasures Yet to observe some order in this matter I will begin with the Carnaval by describing all the Diversions that render it so Famous Afterwards I will speak of those that are perform'd in the Summer concluding with the Publick Rejoicings which frequently happen upon many Occasions Of the Carnaval THE Carnaval of Venice is so Famous all over Europe that those of other Countries who are desirous to see Venice wait this Opportunity at which time this City is usually full of Strangers of all Nations but the greatest part of them whom Curiosity brings hither find themselves deceiv'd in
their Expectations for the Beauties of the Carnaval doe not as they imagine consist in the Magnificence of the many Publick Shows or in the Pompous Masquerades that are oftentimes seen in several other Parts of Italy Therefore it is something difficult to say precisely from whence proceeds that esteem which is so generally conceiv'd of the Carnaval yet I am perswaded that an infinity of things concur to the rendering of it Famous particularly the Custom of assuming any sort of Disguise the great Liberty which all Masques every where enjoy the inviolable Respect that is shewn them and the great number of Diversions which are then at Venice Nothing can be more singular than to see in a manner all the City in Masquerade the Mothers carrying in their Arms their little Children in Disguise Such of both Sexes as go to the Market or to the Haberdashers for Six Penny-worth of Tape are sure to be in Masque The Place of Saint Mark is the great Theater upon which is to be seen the chief Appearance of the Carnaval for there is scarce a Masque in Venice that does not come here about an Hour before Sun-set insomuch that the great Capaciousness of the Place is barely sufficient to receive them and others that come to see them The Gentledonna's do not only Disguise themselves to partake of the Diversions in the last Days of the Carnaval but such as have Intrigues do at this time by a Thousand different ways deceive both Husband and Guards For there is hardly any or House which is not in a manner open to the Masques whereby this time of Carnaval seems to be the Season in which the Gallants get in the Harvest of their Amours for in this juncture are gather'd all the Fruits of those Intrigues that have been in suspence during the other less favourable Seasons New Correspondences are settled even with the Ladies most narrowly watch'd by taking the exactest and most probable means for the long Continuance of them The length of the Carnaval which begins after Christ-mass Holy-Days is one of the things that contribute most to render it agreeable 'T is likewise impossible to express what a Consternation there is throughout the whole City especially of such Persons that wait with impatience the various Advantages of this Season when One of the Presidents of the Council of Ten either through Capriciousness or possibly some other Motives forbids the use of Masquerade or at least restrains the appearance of them to the last Days of Carnaval only As this Order takes away the greatest part of the Pleasures of the Season so it may be said That it is very rare notwithstanding the frequent threatnings to accomplish the Execution of it especially if some Reason of State do not particularly oblige the Council to it However they are always permitted to go in Masques to the Banque's the Opera and Comedy The Carnaval is likewise the principal Season of the Courtisans They Dress themselves very Neatly in their Disguises in which they appear upon the Place of Saint Mark where they endeavour to Contract new Familiarities Yet a great part of them are Hired or retain'd for the whole time of the Carnaval seeing he cannot expect to pass for a Man of Gallantry that has not such a Companion in this time of Diversion in which it is accounted Honourable to appear with a Lady at the Opera Play-House Ball and all other Places of Diversion Of the Ridotti or Basset-Banque's WHen the Evening puts an end to the Diversions of the Place of Saint Mark those of the Ridotti begin these Places being so call'd where the Venetian Nobility keep an open Bank against all such as are desirous to try their Fortunes at Play There are several of these Banks at Venice which the Nobility frequent all the Year round but the Great Ridotti of the Carnaval is in a House near the Place of Saint Mark to which resorts a great deal of Company when the Diversions of the aforesaid Place are over They scruple at letting any enter that are not in Masquerade for that Privilege is reserv'd to the Venetian Nobility However a counterfeit Beard Nose or any other thing that causes an alteration in the Face is sufficient and such as are not desirous to Play may take it off if they please when they are in There are a great many Sconces c. in a Hall and several other Rooms of the same Floor round which are plac'd a great many Tables to each of which there is a Noble who sits on that side next the Wall to keep the Banque Before each of them there are Two Candles several Packs of Cards a Cup full of Gold-Pieces and another of Silver-Ducats In this manner they sit ready to receive all such as are willing to Play either Masques or Venetian Gentlemen The Crowd is so great that very often one can hardly pass from out of one Room into another nevertheless the Silence here observ'd is much greater than that in the Churches Strangers are much surpriz'd at this Spectacle which is infinitely more admirable for the Singularity then diverting in its Pleasures The Game play'd here is Basset only which was unknown in France until Signior Justiniani now Ambassador for that Republick very lately brought it into fashion at Paris Since which it is become so common as to need no Description here it being only used with this difference at Venice that neither the Noble who deals or the Masques that Play do ever exchange any Words with each other The Young Venetian Gentlemen commonly choose rather to Play than to keep the Banque but to see in how much Tranquillity and Gravity very Considerable Summs are lost is really so very Extraordinary that one would almost think this is a School to learn the Art of behaving one's self with Moderation in the Alternatives of Fortune rather than a Place of Diversion and Gaming A Noble Man very rarely continues to keep the Banque for a whole Carnaval so the Tables are successively undertaken by different Gentlemen who are not all equally good Gamesters for some lose and others get Considerably but those that love Play and are well acquainted with Venice do generally know which are the Nobles that have the Reputation of being the fairest Gamesters For however equal this Game seems to be yet there are several Gentlemen so very dextrous in cutting and drawing the Cards that the most intelligent and quick-sighted Player may be sometimes deceiv'd As the Person who Plays may heap what Summ he pleases without any exception by the Noble that Deals so he may leave off after he has acquir'd a considerable Summ at once or by length of Play to which the Noble has no other remedy than biting his Fingers and saying to himself La maledetta Maschara The Gentledonna's frequently Play at the Ridotti without any other Disguise than that of a Velvet-Visard whereby such as know them Unmask'd have not much trouble to do it here