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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A48578 The city and republick of Venice in three parts / originally written in French by Monsieur de S. Desdier. S. Desdier, Monsieur de. 1699 (1699) Wing L2306; ESTC R34981 188,059 407

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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