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
old Halbards others with great Scymiters some with Pikes and others with old fashion'd Spadons which they carry naked between both their Hands When the Seignory comes down into a great Room that is even with the Galleries of the first Floor of the Palace this pleasant Militia passes in a Re-view before the Doge and the Ambassadors The variety of their Arms and Habits join'd to the Irregularity of their March occasions a Sight the most extraordinary in its nature that I ever yet beheld For some run others march gravely some make their most profound Reverences to the Seignory and others strutting by without taking notice of them All this is perform'd with the Sounding of Trumpets that run a Foot at the Head of each Company in short this whole Ceremony resembles more some Popular Emotion than any Publick Rejoicing From hence they pass to the Piazza that go's out upon the Place where they are no sooner arriv'd but he of the Butchers to whom the Honour of the Execution is design'd with one flourish of his Sword strikes off the Head of the Bull in presence of almost the whole City the Place the Palace the Procuratories and several Scaffolds erected on this occasion being all full with an infinite number of People that come hither to see the Ceremony as likewise to partake of the Diversions that attend it of which the Fire-works at two in the Afternoon seem the most singular To all these is usually added that most agreeable Spectacle to the People of seeing a Man fly down a Cord which is fastned to the Steeple of St. Mark at one end and the other to the Galley that lyes between the two Columns At this time all the City seems to be in a terrible Confusion which continues the rest of the Week every one being Jours gras permitted to wear in his own Defence excepting some Arms what sort of Weapons he pleases which is by reason of the great many Bulls that are Baited in several Places and afterwards run through the City One sees the Populace glittering with Axes Sabres naked Swords great Forks and Iron-headed Clubs insomuch that one can hardly believe but that all the City of which the Shops are shut must be in some dreadful Sedition so all such as are any ways apprehensive of Enemies are sure to be upon their Guards these last tumultuous Days of the Carnaval Of the Fresque THE Diversion of the Fresque is not only the first of all those which the pleasant Weather brings in but it is likewise the most agreeable to the Ladies and Gentlemen as it is also the most singular and the most surprizing thing that a Stranger can see at Venice for so they call the Cours and the Evening-Diversions upon the Waters It is certain one cannot give it a more proper Name than that of the Fresque for in the greatest heats of Summer one is sure to be free from those sultry Heats and clouds of Dust that are so troublesom in other Places on the contrary you are during those Heats here sensible of a charming Coolness for it would be even impossible to take this Diversion in any other Seasons than that of the Spring and Summer They regularly begin the Fresque upon the second Holy-day of Easter which continues unto Saint Jerom's Day being one of the last in September But as the Ladies do not dress themselves every Day by reason most of them live very retir'd so it comes to pass that the Fresque is only us'd upon Sundays and Holy-days and some particular solemn Days of Churches which the Gentledonna's frequent or upon the occasion of any Publick Rejoycings to which the Ladies are Invited For during the good Season all these Diversions are ended with the Fresque which is taken towards the end of the Great Canal over against the Church of Saint Jerom being this Place is less frequented with Barques and other Vessels Besides such as are desirous to see this agreeable Diversion may conveniently see it upon one of the two Keys which are at this Place of an indifferent length upon each side of the Great Canal They begin to appear at the Fresque about the three and twentieth hour that is a good half hour before Sun-set The Company comes by degrees and the Gondoliers shew not their vigour in the beginning but make an easy way by turning backwards and forwards in the length of eight hundred Paces but these Men by insensibly putting on or the emulation that always reigns amongst them animates them to excite each the other it so happens at length they pass with so much force and swiftness that it is hardly to be credited and the Sweat that comes through their Sattin-Doublets which they who are in Liveries do generally wear shew plainly they are not less wet than if they had been dipt in the Canal It is not long since this Diversion of the Fresque was introduc'd or at least brought to what it is at present For the Gentleman that first establish'd it do's yet enjoy the satisfaction of his Invention who for having been the Author of this agreeable and singular Diversion do's certainly deserve to have his Statue erected in the middle of the Great Canal Such as are not accustomed to the Gondalos do not at first relish the Pleasures of this Recreation for when they see this part of the Great Canal covered with three or four hundred Gondolos that continually pass by each other with an inconceivable dexterity and swiftness their Heads run round and they imagine they are just upon the point of being crush't in pieces and inevitably lost In reality the Sight of a great many Gondolos that are working one way and just ready to run upon others that steer an opposite course both of them making such good use of their Oars that the Water is all in a froth from the swifness of their motions is enough to make one imagine that either the one or the other must be broke into a thousand Pieces Yet by the Agility and Experience of these Gondoliers upon which the most timerous repose themselves without fear of Danger these thin and nimble Boats do pass like Lightning without hurting each other The worst of it is one is sometimes a little wet for the Water being so violently agitated and press'd between two Gondolos holding a different Course do's frequently fly over so unexpectedly that it is almost impossible in those occasions to avoid the small inconveniency of it As the Salt-Water is apt to spot any coloured Silks so the Ladies provide against those Accidents by turning up their uppermost Petticoat They are generally alone and attended only by one or two Waiting-Women at most But those that are particular Friends do oftentimes take this Diversion together and leave their Women behind them When there are four of 'em they place themselves at the Corners of the Gondolo regarding each other like speechless Statues for their principal Employ is to observe the
but feebly repeated as likewise the whole medly of this Confusion which composes the principal part of the Feast So that by this means it sometimes happens that the Thriftiness of the good Management is visibly apparent through the whole Course of the Transaction Such a Rejoycing is not ended in one Forenoon but the Diversion is for three Days continued by Balls at the House of the New Procuratour where the great Resort of People the number of Masques the Riches of the Furniture the cooling Liquors which are not in these Occasions less abounding than at the Marriages of the Nobility during which there are not only Fire-works and Bonfires before the House of the Procuratour but likewise throughout the whole City before those of his Friends and Relations which Rejoycings being ever accompanied with the frequent Discharges of Powder-Boxes render this Feast not less Great and Magnificent than if the Republick had gain'd some notable Victory over her Enemies Of their Boxing or Fights at Cuffs Il Pugni THE City is divided as it has been observ'd into Six several Quarters three being on this side and as many on the other side of the Great Canal Yet the People are divided only into two Factions each of which has three Wards or Quarters in their Parties The Castelani are the first who have that Name from the Quarter of Castelo in which is the Patriarchal Church at one of the extremities of this City The others are the Nicoletti's so call'd from the Church of St. Nicholas at the farthest end of the Quarter which has the greatest number of Common People and Fishermen who are the bravest and those that make the best Sport in these Engagements So the Party of the Nicoletto's has commonly the Advantage over their Adversaries the Castelans The Animosity of the People seems so great in these Occasions which I am at present upon Describing That one would think a People brought up in these Partialities and in this manner so strangely divided should never be able to live in that Union and Tranquillity which is necessary to the preservation of the State There are among these sorts of People several Heads of the Factions who really believe That they cannot be esteem'd as Men of Worth if they engage into the opposite Party Insomuch that they had rather miss a good Opportunity of providing for their Daughters than to marry them to a Man of the contrary Side These Partialities are not found to affect the Common People only but even in some measure to reach the Nobility who declare themselves of the Faction of the Quarter they live in yet with this Difference That they esteem these Boxing-Matches for Diversions which the meaner People convert into an Affair of Importance and Reputation And among the rest even the Strangers are Engag'd into the Parties For such as come to Venice from Chiosa are esteem'd as Castelans and those who arrive here by Mestre or by Fucine are reputed Nicholettis There is no doubt but that the Republick can without much trouble disperse these Partialities by continually preventing the two Parties from coming to Blows as it sometimes happens But the Senate is of the Opinion That if the People should form a Conspiracy against the State or the Nobility that it would be almost impossible for two such opposite Factions to unite so far as to joyn in a Design of this nature By which means they think themselves secure of one half or at least to oppose the Designs of the other by the ready Succours they might expect from the contrary Party And the rather by reason that the Castelans esteem themselves for a more civiliz'd People than the Nicoletti's as also more engag'd to the Nobility and zealous to the Government Therefore the Republick do's not only tolerate this Division already reigning in the People but they likewise encrease it by permitting of it to be observ'd in that manner it is acted If the Presidents of the Council of Ten who are the principal Officers of the Civil Government should permit the full Liberty of these Fights to the People so great is the Animosity as likewise the desire of acquiring the Reputation of being a Man * Che fa ben i pugni that uses his Fists well so strong among the Gondoliers and Populace That these Exercises would not only happen upon every Holy-day as they frequently do upon certain Bridges of the City but they would undoubtedly become common to the Day even throughout all the Seasons of the Year The difficulty which is found in preventing these Fights when any of the Presidents of the Council of Ten are against it may be admitted as a very good Instance of what is here said For the Captain of the Sbirri's and his People are scarce able to get those Orders obey'd being the Guard that is placed upon Saint Barnaby's Bridge which is the usual Field of Battel and do's only prevent them at that Place for they are sure to seek others more remote rather than to be depriv'd of the pleasure of Fighting Such of the Gondoliers as have acquir'd the Reputation of good Boxers will not hire themselves unless they are permitted by the Agreement to signalize themselves in these Famous Occasions Even the little Children that accidentally meet in the Streets do demand of each other who they are for and if they are of contrary Factions they are certain not to part without Blows The Humour runs strangely upon this rough Exercise for the people do ever stop to behold and encourage them even to such a degree that the most general Diversion of this City is the Sight of the Pugni as they are practis'd in almost all the Seasons of the Year being sometimes seen even when the Ice is in the Canals The order that I did propose to my self has not permited me to speak of it in any other Place so I shall Conclude the Description of the Publick Recreations with that of these Fights which are of three different sorts viz. La Montre La Frotte and the Battel-Array La Montre is that sort of Fight which is perform'd Hand to Hand between two Men but with very singular Circumstances The Bridge of St. Barnaby is usually the Theater of these Tragy-Comedies for this Bridge hath an equal number of Steps on each side as likewise two Keys almost of an equal bigness which is possessed by the Parties of the two Factions so that the Advantages in all respects are equal on both sides Moreover the Canal is long and directly straight whose Houses are by this means conveniently scituated for the great number of Spectators that flock hither from all Parts of the City so soon as these Boxing-Matches are known The Houses and Windows are not only fill'd with them but likewise the tops of the Houses the Keys and Neighbouring Bridges are cover'd with 'em as also the Barques and Gondolo's in the Canal Yet the particular Matches are not begun until the
of the Winds by a mighty Dike which runs from the South to the North for the space of about 35 Leagues and 5 or 600 Paces in breadth which defends the Country from being easily overflown but the Sea having forced this Neck of Land hath made it self six Passages in so many several places which overflowing all the low Grounds beyond this Bank gave occasion to this The Lagunes Name of Lagunes leaving in this great District several Islands about 5 or 6 Miles in compass which are not much above the surface of the Water The Lagunes lie from South to North against the * Continent or Terra firma main Land from the Polesin towards the Po and Adigè from the Padouan to the Brente from the Themisan and Friuli towards the Mouth of the Plavis or Anassus making a great Demi-Oval which is closed towards the Sea by the before-mentioned Remainders of the Neck of Land being so many natural Defences against the Adriatick and whereby the Sea hath here made the same number of distinct Islands as she hath opened Passages to drown the low Country and form the Lagunes The six Passages by which the Sea falls into the Lagunes are the only Ports by which one passes from the Sea to this City The first to begin at the most Southern part is the Port of Brondolo which being almost stopt up with the Sands by reason of the Adigè and the falling in here of the new Brente is now no more frequented The second is the Port of Chiosa an Episcopal City situated 24 Miles from Venice and is something like it by reason of the Situation and Canals The third is the Port of Malamoco from the Village of that Name here all the great Ships come as being deeper than any of the other Ports the Road is very good and capable of containing a great number of Ships The fourth is the Port of the Lido over-against the most Eastern Point of Venice and only a Mile from it Through this Port the Gallies and other great Vessels after having unladed at the Lazaret of Malamoco pass on to St. Mark 's Place as also to several other places of the City by the means of the great Canal which crosses it There is above the Lido the Mouth of St. Erasmus and something further that of the Three Ports so called by reason of the three Openings pretty near one the other but the Water is so low in these places that they are only frequented by the Boats of Fishermen It may be seen by what is here said that Venice is naturally defended against all the Attacks of a Naval Force being the Ships cannot come any nearer than the Port of Malamoco for those that would pass on to Venice by the Lagunes are obliged after being unladed to be towed up through certain Passages where the deepness of the Water sufficient for Ships of Burthen is marked out by great Piles or else to return to Sea taking the same course that the Gallies do and come in through the Port of the Lido For the great Currant of the Water hath preserved here by means of the Flood a deeper Channel than is found in any other part of the Lagunes Of all the Ports that of the Lido is most in their Eye being the nearest to the City and the easiest to be approached but the Republick hath taken care of it by a well fortified Castle with Water-Batteries on the right on the left is only a Wall for Musketiers whose Discharges must be of very good effect being the entrance of the Port is nothing near Musket-shot over Notwithstanding this advantagious Situation of this City Experience hath shewn that if a Naval Army should get the Possession of one of these Passages the City of Venice would be in a little time reduced to great Extremities as it happened in the year 1380 in the War between the Venetians and Genoueses who by the taking of the Port of Chiosa under their General Doria struck the City into such a Fear that it was debated in the Senate if they should abandon the Town and transport themselves to Candia This Deliberation had been followed with the Execution of it if they had not at that time received the News of the Victory they gained at Sea by a General Victor Pisani under the Doge Andre Contarini there in Person which came so opportunely as to deliver the Republick from the most terrible Fear they ever knew Wherefore as the Entrances of Malamoco and the Lido are the most important and a Descent made at the first of these Ports would easily render the Enemy Masters of the second by possessing the whole Isle between them which is not above 5 Miles long and 4 or 500 Paces broad so the Republick hath caused it to be cut near the Lido by a * A deep Ditch Fossè that crosses it fortified with Bastions their Casemats and Courtines faced with Brick towards Malamoque which is the most dangerous Part. Venice enjoys more Security towards the side of the main Land for in all that compass of Ground which borders upon the Lagunes towards the West there are only two principal Ways that lead to the City the one is a Village called Mestre where all things are brought which come out of Germany to go to Venice by the means of a Canal that goes into the Lagunes The other is called Lizza Fusina here ends the old Canal of the Breute This Water is prevented from falling into the Lagunes by a Sluce by reason of the Prejudice it might occasion Whatsoever comes from Padua and from the greatest part of the Territories of Venice is brought to Fusina if it does not go down the before mentioned Rivers The Passages that lead from these two Places to Venice as likewise some others less considerable are not direct but marked out at certain Distances by high Piles which the Republick are sure to have cut in any pressing Necessity rendering the City inaccessible to all Enemies on that side For however small their Boats may be yet it will be impossible for them to make their passage of Five Miles without running on ground besides with the help of certain Boats and Machines of Defence in the Arsenal of Venice they will according to their own Opinions easily render ineffectual all attempts of an Enemy King Lewis the XII in Confederacy with most Princes of Europe that Pope Julius the 11th had Armed against the Venetians after having beaten their Army advanced to Fusina from whence the City of Venice is plainly seen Here he intended to attempt the passage of the Lagunes in order to render himself Master of the City but the Pope having recovered Romagnia that was not only usurp'd from him but the chief occasion of the war became unwilling to see the entire ruine of the Republick and the too powerful establishment of the French in Italy withdrew himself from the Ligue which gave the address of the Venetians opportunity
this Permission must be supervis'd by one of these three Senators who terminates it to what time he pleases and all lay Sisters or Women without doors executing the Commissions of the Nuns are oblig'd upon pain of Corporal Punishment to have a written Permission sign'd by one of these Magistrates To take care of the execution of all Ordinances relating to the external discipline of the Convents of Nuns these Magistrates have a Captain of the Sbirris who often Visits their Parloirs as likewise a great many hired Spies that inform them of the Persons that most frequent the Convents But the Young Venetian Nobility esteeming the commerce they have with these Nuns as one of the greatest of their diversions contemn the orders keeping both Captain and Spies in such fears that their informations only fall upon those of the lower degrees besides this seeming Rigor is only in Ostentation of a very exact Government and to prevent the Ecclesiastical Superiours from medling any further than meerly to endeavour the cure of an evil which seems not less necessary to them than it is little Capable of a remedy Of the Spies and secret Informations INformers have ever been esteemed as the most Infamous Instruments of Tyranny but the Republick hath found the means to conceal the shame of so much baseness by receiving Informations from Mouths of Stone The places into which they throw these Informations are certain hollow Trunks or Conveyances in the thickness of the Wall the mouths of these extorted Faces swallow down all letters brought hither which they convey to an unknown place The Palace of Saint Mark and all other Places of the City that have any Courts of Justice are full of these Dangerous Mouths with the Inscription of what Informations belong to the Cognisance of that Magistracy if the Informer does not scruple at shewing himself he receives in Person the reward mentioned by the Ordinance or if he is he need only send the other part of the Torn Piece of Paper upon which was the Information whereupon the Tally is compar'd with the letter and the Money paid without any further Trouble As the Republick is perswaded that the safety of the State depends upon the intire knowledge of what is said and done against their Authority in both City and Country so they have laid a Trap that is very difficult to be avoided however little one passes the bounds of their Duty For by the means of these secret Informations he that is asham'd to play the Spie or that dares not be a Publick Informer against his Enemy that he knows guilty of any Crime need only to acquaint them by a letter in which he is not oblig'd to Name himself but mentions two Witnesses of the revealed fact and he may be assured the Information will have the expected Effect the rather by Reason of those Witnesses being separately examined dare not deny the Truth least they should be made partakers in the Punishment Whereby if one does escape the Reports of the Spies yet it is very rare to avoid the Informations of these Mouths where even the worthiest People if they have the Misfortune of being accused by them although in things of little or no Moment can expect at best but to get off for a pecuniary Punishment The Republick does not only openly maintain a great Number of Spies who are all distributed under several heads of business which they are exactly to observe and Report but they have likewise a great many of the secreter sort in the Houses of particular Persons especially in those of Embassadors of whom she is perpetually Jealous So by the means of these People which the Republick Caresses and Punctually pays she is sure to be inform'd of even the very meanest words that regard her Interests Of all the Pensionary Spies none of them are better us'd than those of the Inquisitors of State although this Profession is esteem'd as the greatest indignity a man is able to resolve upon for the greatest affront you can offer any one at Venice is to call him Spia di Inquisitori yet it is most certain that there are Spies of all qualities as likewise of all sorts of Nations Professions Citisens Officers of the Army but what is more surprising even the Nobility themselves are not asham'd to be payed for services of this Nattre I shall not go on with a Repetition of the many Tragical examples occasioned by the Reports of the Spies to the less Prudent sort of People and such strangers as have inconsiderately taken the liberty of speaking ill of the Government or of Persons who are in Authority there For whoever goes to Venice may be sure to return with his head full of these Tragical Accounts I shall only Mention an accident that I know to be True and although the Consequences were not Prejudicial yet they do not less demonstrate the Diligence of the Spies than the small Likelihood there is of escaping such Informations Two Citisens and intimate Freinds being alone with their Wives out of Venice and having sent a shore the men belonging to the Gondalo one of the two who had a few days before received some reprimand from the Magistrates of the Pomp for having lately made a Vest with the Sleeves shorter than they usually are thought he might safely open his mind in that place by expressing his Resentment and his sensible displeasure against such an unjust proceeding But the next day one of the first of the Council of Ten took of one side the Person to whom this discourse was address'd and said admonish your Friend to speak hereafter in other Terms of his Superiors for if I had not that esteem for you which I have or if the business had been reported to any body else your Friend would have had but an indifferent bargain of those improper expressions he Yesterday used at such a place Of the Podestats Captains of Arms and other Officers that the Republick sends into the several Provinces After having taken a view of the inside of the Government of this Republick it will not be amiss to observe how it is manag'd without for the Preservation of the Provinces and to keep the People to their Duty and Obedience I do not design to give an account of all the particulars relating to this part of the Government but succinctly to Mention what the Persons are to whom the Republick confides the Administration of the States upon Terra Firma as likewise those she Possesseth on the other side of the Adriatick Sea She sends into all the considerable Towns upon Terra Firma two Nobles one in the quality of Podestate the other with the Title of Captain of Arms these two Officers who do equally represent the Majesty of the Publick the first by Administring Justice to the People the Second to command the Souldery and to keep them to their Duty are ever Gentlemen of the first or Second order at least As there are frequent disputes between the