deluge of waters on a sodaine as the Riuer Adice which runnes through the Citie of Verona being miraculously swelled did almost couer the highest toppe of S. Zenos Church which stands neere to the Riuer in the Citie Where it was obserued for a miracle that albeit the windowes thereof were open yet this violent floud did not enter into the Churche respecting as it were that sacred place Helie caused a Church to bee built in the honour of the glorious Virgin called at this day Barbana Then certaine yeares after Padua being taken and spoiled by the Lombards the Citie which daily encreased was verie much augmented They gaue the fugitiues that parte of the Citie to dwell in which is called Embragola betwixt the common Ouens and the Arcenall It is reported that they built two Churches which at this day are to be seene at that place the one neere to the other to S. Iohn Baptist the one and the other to S. Martin And because the Venetians should haue no time to rest Fortunatus of Aquileia strengthned with the Lombards forces came and stole away all the treasure and ornaments of the Church of Grada which at that time was the Metropolitane To the which being by this losse destitute of a Pastor Pope Honorius at the request of the Emperour Heraclius appointed first fruits and gaue it afterwards great store of golde and siluer to buy vessels and ornaments for diuine seruice with the Shrine of St. Marie brought from Alexandria This Pope being tolde in a dreame that the bodies of St. Hermagoras and Fortunatus wete buried in a little field belonging to Alexandra of Aquileia a verie deuout woman hee transported them to Grada and did shut them vp there verie religiously in a secret place Almost the same time the Citie of Vderzza was destroyed by Lotharius King of the Lombards Those who fled from thence came with their Bishop called Magnus a man of an holie life and rested in the territorie of the Iesulans where they built a Citie which they called Heraclea in honour of Prince Heraclius but the Moderns haue called it Villanoua It is at this day almost ruined to the ground There are to be seene certaine signes of a verie ancient Church which those first founders of Heraclea doe say was dedicated to Saint Peter At the same time also Paul Bishop of Altina fearing the Armies of the Lombards and amazed by the spoile of his neighbours came with his Reliques and Iewels being accompanied with a great multitude of people to Tourcelles The Episcopall See of Padua likewise was by the authoritie of Pope Seuerine translated to Malamoc Diuers Churches were built neere to Tourcelles by the inhabitants thereof who were very deuout people the which Burrough some write was called by the inhabitants Constantiaca by the name of Constantius sonne to Heraclius who going to Rome landed there But the Citie of Heraclea in the meane time being greatly encreased by the concourse of so many people as the place was not sufficient to contain them the Shepheards flying from the incursions of the Barbarians did driue away a great heard of oxen mares euen to those shoares who not being able to dwell in Heraclea they did neere thereunto fortifie a place for themselues which they named Equiline of the thinge it selfe as Bonitendius saith I know that some thinke Equiline to be the same which is now called Iesulune but the Authors whom wee follow make diuers mention of them both as of two sundrie Cities This is that we can learne concerning the ancient Venetians their originall and encrease of the Citie which we haue collected with great labour and trauaile I will now set downe how they created the first Duke For although this manner of gouernment haue beene at times interupted yet notwithstanding it is maintained euen till now as good and holesome for the Common-wealth The Tribunes of the Islands abusing their office had so troubled the State by ciuill dissension as there was some likelyhood that the bodie of this new Citie would be soone dissolued vnlesse a remedie were applied Luitprand who with title of Duke commaunded the Prouince of the Carnons called now those of Forli perceiuing this discorde and supposing as it came to passe that this Venetian State might through ciuill diuision be easily ouerthrowne the encrease whereof he thought would bee ouer-dangerous for him and his neighbours did resolue to assaile them I knowe not vpon what ground It is certaine that at the same time the Lombards did verie much trouble their Countrie where at the Ilanders grew angrie hauing found out the cause which was their owne dissension for which their neighbours contemned them wherby it would vndoubtedly soon come to passe without speedy remedy that the Common-wealth would receaue a notable losse by this enemie who did daily seeke occasion to disquiet the peace of this new Citie All men thus complaining the generall assemblie of all the Islands was published at Heraclea Christopher Bishop of Grada held the cheife place there being accompanied with great numbers of the Clergie and there after the celebration of diuine seruice at the first proposition which was made concerning the Common-wealth euery man beganne to murmure and some said That there was no more hope to be had of the Venetian Common-wealth nor yet of their libertie which had beene purchased and maintained by their Ancestors with such generositie vnlesse the furie of the Tribunes might haue an end That their selfe-same Ancestors had in times past for the sweetnesse of libertie abandoned their most pleasant Countrie their houses and all other matters which men commonly hold most deare and were come into barraine Islands where they found nothing that might inuite them to dwell there That if they could haue dispensed with their libertie they might haue remained in all safety in the Cities where they were first borne and brought vp and with this losse alone haue liued peaceably vnder the dominion of the Barbarians But being full of courage they supposed that they ought not to loose their libertie but with their liues Wherefore did diuers of those that were there present following the example of their Predecessors come into those places the precedent yeares but onely to liue at libertie To what purpose then was their designes what profit by their sodaine dislodging why had they so many buildings Churches and so many publicke and priuate houses why did they leaue the firme land to eschewe bondage and yet meete it in the middest of the waters by the insolencie of a fevve Whether it was likely that this barbarous enemie would take any rest till he had found some meanes to ruinate this new dvvelling place of Libertie Seeing that Tyrants hate nothing so much as that name That vndoubtedly it vvas his wishe that all his desire vvas to see the Venetian State ouerthrovvne by ciuill discorde â—…hich he could not by any other
great troopes and retired themselues to Malamoc and to Rialto But it seemeth that the Authors doe greatly differ concerning the destruction of Heraclea and the troubles of those times Bonitendius disposeth the affaires of those dayes in such sort as hee saith that Prince Mauritio in whose time Charles King of France had wholly abolished in Italie the power and ancient Kingdome of the Lombards enemies to the Pope by reason whereof he was made Emperour the affaires of the Venetians not being verie safe neither at home nor abroad amiddest those tumultes of Italie had drawne in to the gouernment of the Common-wealth by hauing wisely appeased the quarrels of the Citizens and brauely defended their frontiers rather by sufferance then approbation of the people a new and pernicious example in taking Giouanni his sonne for Colleague in the Principalitie which fell out vnhappily not for himselfe who was old and dyed soone after but for his sonne which furuiued him and his sonnes sonne associated by his father after the Grand-sires example ¶ GIOVANNI the eighth Duke of Uenice BEcause in the gouernment Giouanni did not follow his fathers steps and that besides his other mischiefes committed in his place hee sent Mauritio his sonne with a mightie Sea-armie to assailâ—… Giouanni Bishop of Grada a vertuous man in those dayes He 〈◊〉 yet the rest doe not set downe the occasion of this warre And it is to bee supposed that they did expresly conceale it because there was none at all For it comes often to passe that when a wicked man will hurt any one hee neuer regardes the occasion why This naughtie sonne hauing obeyed the commaundment of his bad father and taken this Bishop threwe him head-long downe from an high Tower Fortunato the Triestine who soone after succeeded him resoluing to reuenge the vnworthie death of Giouanni did secretly practise with certaine chiefe men of the Citie to depose yong Mauritio and his father likewise from the Principalitie who without occasion at all had committed so cruell a murther But the enterprise beeing discouered hee with certaine of his adherents withdrew himselfe to Treuiso among whom were Demetrio Marmani Foscaro de Georges and Obellerio of Malamoc who at that time were Tribunes Fortunato departed from Treuiso and went into France to the Emperour Charles at whose suite saith Bonitendius the Emperour commaunded his sonne Pepin who by Pope Adrian was named King of Italie to make warre vpon the Venetians and that in the meane time in hatred of the murtherer Maâ—…ritio and his father it hapned that Obellerio of Malamoc who as hath beene said did follow the Bishop Fortunato to Treuiso being declared Duke both the father and sonne were driuen forth of the Citie the one being oppressed with olde age went to Mantua and the other into France by meanes whereof Heraclea as the place of their birth was wholly with the places adiacent destroyed Some say that Iohn was sent by the first Mauritio to assaile Grada to reuenge the death of Bishop Giouanni slaine in that place in which charge not bearing himselfe faithfully It is supposed that Fortunato was displeased with him Neither is it certainly knowne how long these three commanded one after another Yet Bonitendius sets it briefly downe thus That the first Mauritio gouerned three and twenty yeares accounting nine wherein his sonne was his Colleague who after that commaunded as long alone and after hee had associated the young Mauritio they were both expulsed the seuenth yeare of their association Some hold that in the time of the first Mauritio the Church of Oliuolla called afterwards the quarter of the Castle was by Pope Adrian erected into an Episcopall Seeâ—… the Islands of Rialto Lupria and Dorsse-dura which were called twinnes being vnder the iuridiction thereof Some doe besides set downe that at the same time the Scopares an ancient Family as then in Venice builded the Church of Saint Moses of an excellent structure according to the Cities abilitie in those dayes and enriched it with goodly presents And moreouer that Saint Michaels Church which at this day hath many markes of antiquitie neere to Brundula was repaired and enriched by a stranger named Sergius who hauing a long time beene sicke of an incurable disease was in the night time diuinely warned in a dreame that if he did visit a Church which was neere to Brundula he should be healed of his sicknesse And because it came to passe according to the prediction he did sumptuously repaire the same Church and bestowed on it many rich presents ¶ OBELLERIO the ninth Duke of Uenice LEt vs returne to Obellerio who in his absence being created Duke as hath beene said comming to Malamoc hauing for a time commanded with the peoples great good liking did associate his brother Beato for Colleague This man went to Constantinople to the Emperour Nicephorus where he was nobly entertained and honored with certaine markes of the Empire In the meane time Valentin his younger brother was by the people giuen to Obellerio for his Colleague But we finde the Historians so much to varie concerning the occurrents of these times as wee can hardly iudge which of them best deserues to be followed There be others which say that Obellerio beeing expulsed by his brother Beato had recourse to the Emperour Charles whose daughter he married promising to the King to betray his countrie and that the French being fedde with this hope did sodainely marche against the Venetians that hauing in a moment seised on all the Sea-frontiers he came to Malamoc which he found not inhabited from whence he sought to passe ouer to Rialto by boate whither hee had heard the Prince and people were retired but being there beaten by a furious tempest he lost the greatest part of his Armie and was enforced to retire without doing any thing worthie of note Touching this and the rest which may easily be refuted all of them almost doe affirme that Charles was not the chiefe leader of this enterprise but his sonne Pepin And the easier to vnderstand how it hapned we must search the matter from farre to the end we doe not too much straie from the Venetians From thence we will continue our historie where it behoues vs lightly to passe ouer that which diuers haue left in writing in a long and prolix stile more than needed The Lombards Kingdome being extinct as wee haue said and the affaires of Italie setled by Charles or Pepin his sonne who was afterward installed King the Venetians being in the meane time freed by the agreement betwixt Charles and Nicephorus there hapned strife betwixt the two Empires about Dalmatia It is reported that by the same agreement whereof we now spake it was expresly mentioned that Dalmatia should be a Prouince of the Grecian Empire The Romans not well digesting that such a maritime Prouince so neere Italie should be cut off from their Empire after they had a long time debated thereon both
built likewise at the same time two Churches in the Islands in those daies called the Twinnes one to Saint Seuerus and the other to Saint Laurence Not long after his sonne Vrsus made a Monasterie of Nunnes of Saint Laurence his Church I finde in some Authors that he did likewise builde to the honour of the Prince of the Apostles the Church of Oliuollo which stands in that part of the towne which at this day is called the Castle and that at the dedication thereof the relicks of Saint Sergius and Bacchus were brought thither About the same time likewise diuers of the chiefest of the Citie conspired against these Princes Giouanni Talonico and Bono Bragadino chiefe of the conspiracie were put death Monetario one of the complices of this bad designe saued himselfe by flight but all his goods were confiscate Some Authors doe likewise affirme that vnder this Princes gouernment Vlric Bishop of Aquileia accompained with certaine of the chiefe of Friuli were vanquished by the Venetians in a fight at Sea This Vlric was a little before condemned for an Hereticke by Pope Alexander This man for despight that the Church of Grada was preferred before his of Aquileia being assisted by troopes of the Forlani came on a sodaine and assailed the Bishop of the Island The Venetians Fleete came as sodainely to his reskew who hauing drawne the enemie to fight did easily breake and defeate him and tooke Vlric with diuers other Gentlemen prisoners Then the victorious Venetian pursuing this scattered troope euen to the firme Land did put all the Sea-coast of the Forlani called at this day the Friuli to fire and sword and destroyed likewise certaine towns by their sodaine incursions Diuers that escaped from the battaile not knowing the waies after they had strayed a long time through the marishes of Caorli fell at last into the hands of the victors The Venetians to purchase the name of meeke and gentle did set Vlric and all the rest of the prisoners at libertie on condition that they should send yearely to Venice on the same day that the victorie was obtained twelue wild Boares with as many loaues of one size which with a Bull should be killed before the generall assemblie And they should beside ouerthrow with their Pikes Castles of wood All this is yet at this day obserued with great preparation as yearly sports in the market place on the sameday as the battell was fought This is that which hapned as well at home as abroad during the gouernment of Angelo Partitiatio who after that he had transported the Ducall state to Rialto did there beginne his gouernment with better augurie than did in times past Paulutio at Heraclea or Theodato since that at Malamoc For since the limits of the State were mightily enlarged the whole honour and maiestie of the Common-wealth hath there remained as in a settled and sure place ¶ IVSTINIANO the 11. Duke of Uenice IVstiniano after his fathers death gouerned the Commonwealth alone Soone after he persuaded the State to send to Michael the Easterne Emperour for the perpetuall conseruation of their friendship with the Grecian Empire certaine armed shippes to aide him against the Saracens who at that time did ouer-runne most of the Islands of Europe and chiefly Sicilie but not meeting the enemie they soone returned to the Citie And because we haue spoken of the Saracens it shall not be impertinent to saie somewhat of the originall of the name For it was then verie new and brought in according to the opinion of some in the daies of Mahomet who in his detestable Sermons whereby he hath almost diuerted the whole East from the true light folding them vp in such darkenesse as they could neuer since free themselues off was wont to call all those Sarracens by the name of Sara Abrahams lawfull wife who had embraced his sect as if those which followed his Doctrine had beene by a Diuine oracle the onely lawfull successors and heires of the Diuine promise I will not likewise denie but that this name may be deriued from Sarraca a Citie in Arabia Foelix But all Historians doe in a manner hold the first opinion for true This Nation hath made manie and diuers Roades into Affricke and Europe and manie likewise into Asia but they haue beene ouerthrowne and defeated as well by the French Armies as by those of the Venetians Let vs now returne to the Venetians affaires which of themselues succeeding happily in those daies did afterwards receiue a great encrease by the bodie of St. Marke brought to them from Alexandria after this manner The king of that Countrie caused a magnificent Palace to be built and for the erecting thereof had commaunded to take all the faire and rarest stones from the ancient Churches and other buildings as wel publike as priuate and S. Markes Church in Alexandria being built of the same matter it was thought that it would not bee spared the which Stauracius the Monke and Theodore the Preist both Grecians fearing who did not only celebrate Diuine Seruice there but as Sextens did heedfully keepe that sacred place were in great care But it luckily came to passe that Bono of Malamoc and Rustico of Tourcelles arriued there being driuen by tempest into that place contrarie to the publike appointment with ten ships These men comming for deuotion sake into the said Church and perceiuing the sorrowfulnesse of those two enquired the occasion of their sadnesse and vnderstanding that it proceeded from feare least the Church should bee destroied they assaied to winne them by many goodly promises assuring them that if they wold deliuer vnto them the body of S. Marke that both of them should be greatly honoured of the Venetians At the first they reiected this demaund as holding it a sacrilegious matter to remoue the holy bodie out of his place But it came to passe by the diuine prouidēce that whilst they were talking about the matter some of those who had cōmission from the king to seeke such stones came into the Church caused diuers stones which were fit for the building of the new-begun Pallace to be taken thence greatly therby disfiguring the Church These two Sextens being incensed hereat and vehemently vrged by the Venetians to cōdiscend to their request seeing some likelihood of the Churches ruine did consent to their demand But to the end that the Towns-men who were much addicted to the name of the Saint to the holy place in regard of the many miracles there wrought should not on a sodaine perceiue any thing they did vnrip the cloth behind wherein the holy body was wrapped not medling with the seales which were on the forepart therof did put the bodie of S. Claudina into the sheet in stead of that which they had taken awaie It is reported that at the same time there came such a pleasant sweete smell forth of the Church as euerie one ranne to taste it And the matter
vp new troubles for his reentrie into the gouernment Partitiatio did forthwith arme a mightie Fleet and went to meete him before he had time to attempt any thing and at his first arriuall surprised him In the meane time diuers of Malamoc incited by their ancient loue towards Obellerio who being of their Citie had beene their Prince did flie forth of the Towne Giouanni being heereat moued did sodainely breake vp his campe and being with his armie returned to Venice came in hatred of those which were fled tooke Malamoc and burnt it Then hauing taken new forces he returned with all speed to Veggia which being taken he caused Obellerio his head to be stricken of Not long after diuers of the Nobilitie conspired against him by the meanes of Carrosio son to Bonico and being driuen thence by reason of this sodaine conspiracie he fled into France Carrosio in the meane time without the consent of the people seized on the Dukes Palace Against him thus brought in by himselfe into the gouernment arose a companie of the chiefe Citizens whose names were Basilio Trasimondo Giouanni Marturio and Dominico Orcianico These men were followed by thirtie other gentlemen who from the beginning did mislike of Duke Giouanni his bannishment They assailed Carrosio tooke him put out his eies and afterward bannished him They slue moreouer Theodato Cyâ—…ri Marini Patritio Dominico Monetario with diuers others of Carrosio's faction The gouernment of the Common-wealth was in the meane time committed to Vrsus Bishop of Oliuollo Basilio Trasimondo and Giouanni Maturio vntill Giouanni were returned out of France who being come home they willingly restored it vnto him This man hauing in proces of time much to doe to appease many secret hatreds against those of the familie of Mastalici being at that time one of the chiefest of Venice was on a day surprised by the contrarie faction neere to S. Peters Church whither he went to heare Diuine Seruice and being despoiled of the ornaments of soueraigne dignitie so soone as they had cut the haire of his beard and head they confined him to Grada in the 8. yeare of his gouernment where entring into holie orders he died soone after ¶ PIERO TRADONICO the 13. Duke of Uenice PIero Tradonico was chosen in his place He was borne at Pola and being driuen out of Equiline in the time of the French-mens warres came to Rialto Pola is an ancient Citie in the confines of Italie and built as Callimachus saith in a gulph of the Sea in forme of an Hauen by the Colchians sent to pursue Medaea Tradonico tooke his sonne Giouanni for Colleague He caused a Church to be built in the honor of Saint Paul the Apostle of the Gentils as costlie as the Cities meanes in those daies would permit and in that place where it is at this daie to be seene with signes of great antiquitie It is said that he made some attempts on their enemies the Narentines but not with great successe Others saie that he sent his sonne against them at times who fought with the Sea-Pyrats with better fortune than his Father The Ambassadors of those of Verona came at the same time to Venice to craue helpe against the inhabitants of the Lake of Benac whom it was to bee thought they could not ouercome without forraine aide Some write that those of the Lake craued this aide The most curious Authors neuerthelesse doe affirme that it was those of Verona who hauing by the aduice of the Venetians furnished the Lake with shippes of warre did the more easily ouercome their enemies For which they did not only thank the Venetians but sent them rich and costly presents to Venice Others saie for there is nothing wherein the Authors doe not almost disagree that after that losse receiued on the Sea of Crotona whereof we will heereafter make mention the Venetians did succour the Veronois the which is scarce credible For there is no Nation how warlike soeuer but would haue beene daunted after so great an ouerthrow In this state stood the affaires of the Venetians beeing more prosperous within the Citie and the places neere to the firme Land than abroad when Theodosius of Constantinople Generall of the Sea-armie of Michael the Greeke Emperour against the Moores arriued at Venice where he laboured with Tradonico to haue the Venetians to send forth a mightie armie against the Barbarians which spoiled the coasts of Apulia They freely graunted his request in honour of the Emperour and they armed threescore Gallies against the Moores In regard whereof Theodosius intituled Tradâ—…nico Protos-pater of the Grecian Empire which dignitie was next to the Emperours Saba the Captaine of the Moores for it will not bee impertinent briefely to speake somewhat of the incursions of this Nation who are reported to be descended from Mauritania at his arriuall in Italie tooke the Sea-port in Tuscanie now called Ciuita Vecchia others terme it Centochiese by the name of a Towne neere thereunto which the Emperour Adrian did very sumptuously build as witnesseth Plinie in his Epistles I dare affirme these men to be the ancient Pirgues the which the name of their Citie doth seeme to shew which is called Vecchia and I would call it the Hauen of Pirgues were it not that hard by as yee goe to Ostia there is a place which the Inhabitants call Pyrgues at this day Now Saba hauing landed his men in that place and left a sufficient Garrison for the Guarde of his Ships marched with his Armie to Rome who after hee had first of all taken the Vatican and spoyled the most renowned Church of the world dedicated to the Prince of the Apostles did besiege the Citie But hauing intelligence of Guido's comming whom Pope Gregorie the fourth had called out of France for the Cities safetie he did on a sodaine dislodge thence and tooke his iourney betwixt Via Appia and Via Latina putting all the Suburbes to fire and sword not sparing the noble Church of S. Paul two miles distant from the Citie The Barbarian turned towards Via Latina and being come to the Forrest of Cassina he tooke by force the Citie which stood therein spoyling and ruinating it The new Citie which was since then builded there is at this day called Saint Germans There is also hard by the same place a very famous Monasterie renowned for the ancient Religion and wealth thereof This did the Barbarians likewise take and burnt the greatest part of it Marching from thence along the Riuer Liris called Garillano at this day they ranne to Sea ward like a storme falling from the Mountaines and driuen by the force of the winds into the neighbour plaines they put all places by which they passed to fire and sword and after they had stuft their Ships which they had sent for forth of Tuscanie with rich spoyles they departed into Mauritania It was not long ere they returned againe For being puffed vp with the
Syria But all those attempts pâ—…oued vaine and fruitlesse of which wee determine briefly to speake as occasion shall serue not interrupting the course of our Historie During the aboade of Prince Michaeli in Asia or soone after his returne the Hospitall of the publike charitie was builded with all that which stands neere to it The bodie of Saint Donato brought from Pera to Venice was laid in a Church newly built by the diligence and cost as some Authours say of one called Marco Iuliano Michaeli after hee had gouerned the Common-wealth eleuen yeares did fortunately decease His funeralls were followed by great multitudes of people His tombe is to be seene at this day in the porch of Saint Georges Church right ouer against the Comcell-Hall on the left hand as ye enter into the Church The end of the sixt Booke of the first Deâ—…ad THE SEVENTH BOOKE OF THE FIRSâ—… DECAD OF THE HISTORIE Of Venice The Contents of the seuenth Booke of the first Decad. THe voluntarie submission of the Faneses The institution of a new Religious Order in the Church of Saint SALVATORI The erecting of the Church of Saint CLEMENT The Paduans are defeated on the turning of the Riuer Brente The Venetians warre against the Normans in fauour of the Emperour EMANVEL The building of the great Tower before the Market-place Diuers people of Histria made Tributaries The building of the Church of the Crossed Friers How greatly the conspiracies of the Neighbour-people did trouble the Venetians The originall of the plaies made at Shrouetide What the Emperour EMANVEL did to the Venetian Merchants ouer all his Empire in one day The Venetians mightie Sea-armie against EMANVEL The familie of the IVSTINIANI are almost extinct through the malice of their enemies The miserable death of Prince VITALIS slaine by his owne people at his returne from Greece Two huge Pillars of a wonderfull workemanship erected in the Market-place by an Artificer of Lombardie An Ambassadour of Venice is abused by the Emperour EMANVEL The cause why the Emperour EMANVEL hated the Venetians At what time they beganne to shut vp in the publike Treasurie the money of particular persons vnder colour of loane Pope ALEXANDER flies to Venice in disguise The Venetians make warre against the Emperour FREDERICK BARBAROSSA in fauour of the Pope The Emperours Sonne defeated at Sea by the Venetians with his imprisonment and the Emperour FREDERICK his comming to Venice The Honours and Titles giuen by Pope ALEXANDER to the Dukes of Venice The agreement betwixt FREDERICK the Pope and the Venetians made at Venice The Venetian Prince hauing accompanied the Pope to Rome returneth to Venice honoured with rich presents And lastly the description of the magnificent Church of St. MARKE ¶ PIETRO POLLANI the 36. Duke of Venice PIetro Pollani succeeded his deceased Father-in-law Michaeli At his entrance into the gouernement the Faneses submitted themselues to the Venetians authoritie promising to aide them when neede should be to giue yearlie the quantitie of a thousand pound weight of oile for the vse of S. Markes Church and to pay them besides a yearly pension of money in manner of Tribute It seemeth vnto mee that this tribute proceeded from some aide which they had receiued from the Venetians in their warres the which some Historians haue noted albeit they set not downe against whom it was Bonfiâ—…io Michaeli Administrator at that time of the Church of S. Saluatori and all those which accompanied him tooke a Religious habit vpon them instituting a new order which was afterward authorised by Pope Innocent and after him Pope Alexander the fourth consecrated their Church Pietro Gathilaso caused the Church of S. Clement to be builded on the Canal Orphano It is reported besides that at the same time a great strife arose betwixt the Venetians and the Pisans occasioned by a brauado rashly made vpon them in the Hauen of Rhodes by Michaeli Vitalis the Princes sonne Generall of the Venetian Armie where the Pisans being ouer-come and loosing the greatest part of their Armie did receiue a great disgrace which afterward caused diuers and sundrie murthers on either side And these two States would haue beene more sharply bent one against the other had not the Pope by his wise mediation sodainely pacified their strife Diuers cities of Dalmatia insinuating themselues into the Venetians fauour promised each of them in her owne name to waite on the Prince with one armed Gallie as often as he should put to Sea with fifteene Gallies The Polani likewise a people of Histria offered them all aide with all necessaries for the furniture of the Gallies at any time when the Prince marching against the enemies should arriue in their Countrey I finde about the same time the Venetians fought a cruell fight with the Paduans who would haue cut off the Riuer Brente neere to Saint Hilaries Church Guido Monticulano Generall of the Venetians Armie by Land in that warre hauing incountered them neere to Tumba the bickering was verie bloudie on either side but the enemies being ouercome and put to flight three hundred and fiftie of them were brought prisoners to Venice who neuerthelesse at the entreatie of the chiefe of their Citie laying all the blame on some audacious persons among the Common people and not on the Nobilitie were all freely sent home againe Vrso Badoario left to Giouanni Throno of Mayorba diuers goodly Lands seated neere to Muriana and Maiorba to build an Hospitall in the name of Saint Iames which being since much augmented and enriched was giuen to the Religious sisters of the order of the Cistercians But whilest the Citie was thus at quiet the Venetians because they would not liue idely did set set forth an Armie at the request of the Emperour Emanuel against Rogero sonne to Guiscard King of Sicilie This Prince departing from Ottranto with a great Fleete came to the Isle of Corfu bordring vpon the Adriaticke and Ionian Seas And hauing seized thereon hee sailed into Morea where betwixt the Promontorie of Mailla and the Gulphe of Argiers and Laconia he executed diuers hostile actions Returning thence towards the Sea of Sarrona neere to the Hauens of Cenchrea and Corinth hee put all the Countrie adioyning to fire and sword Then passing forward without any resistance at all and being come to Istmos vulgarly called at this day Heximilia he filled all Achaia with feare and terror He tooke likewise the Citie of Thebes where it is reported he shewed himselfe ouer-couetous in his curious seeking for gold In the end he neither spared the Countrie of Nigrepont nor Beotia called Phocides And being puâ—…t vp by this happie successe he sent one of his Lieutenants with threescore Gallies to crosse the Hellespont called at this day the streight of Gallipolis euen to the Bosphorus of Thrace at this present called Saint Georges Arme who with great boldnesse vsed such speed as being arriued on the sodaine before Constantinople he set fire on diuers
delay counsailed Vitalis to send his Ambassadours to Constantinople assuring him that he knew of a certaine that Emanuel would rathet choose a shamefull and discommodious peace than warre The Bishop of Equiline who spake good Greeke and Manasses Badoario were sent thither Vitalis in the meane time went to the Isle of Chios where hee soone reduced the Citie with the whole Island vnder his obedience And because the cold grew alreadie verie sharpe hee resolued to spend the winter there and to expect the returne of his Ambassadours And for that after the taking of Chyos there was some hope of peace hee absteined from making any more incursions on the lands of the Empire Emanuel in the meane time being cunning and polliticke so soone as the Ambassadours arriued made shew in publicke to desire peace sometimes crauing such things then refusing others now approuing the Ambassadours demaunds and on a sodaine saying that he would communicate them to his Councell and so of set purpose by these delaies hee mocked the Venetians At the last the Bishop of Equiline and Manasses returned to Vitalis hauing effected nothing at all accompanied with the Ambassadours of Emanuel who arriuing at Chios and alleadging now one matter and then another caused a meruailous delaie Whilest these things were doing the contagious sicknesse seizing on the Venetian Armie did in a short space carrie great numbers of them into another world The rumour was that the wells and fountaines from whence the Venetians drew their water were poisoned by the Emperours commandement and that the contagion in the Armie proceeded from the drinking of those waters Some thinke that Emanuel came with a great Armie to the rescue of the Islands but not daring to assault the enemie he returned after hee had caused all the waters to bee poisoned It is reported that the whole family of the Iustiniani was wholly extinct by this sicknesse For all the males of this familie that were able to beare Armes did follow the Prince to these warres The Citie did meruailously bewaile the losse of this family But calling to minde that there was one of the same house yet liuing called Nicholas who hauing taken holy orders on him did serue in Saint Georges Church right ouer against the market-place or as others say in Saint Nicholas Church on the shoare messengers were by the Common-wealth sent to the Pope to intreate him to permit the young man to leaue his profession and to marrie that hee might haue children Which being granted the race of the Iustiniani which hath produced since then so many learned men and great oratours was preserued in the Citie Although Vitalis was greatly vexed with this losse and perceiued the matter to be delaied by the malice of Emanuel yet would not he seeme to keepe his Souldiers idle Therefore at the beginning of the spring he departed from Chios and came to Lesbos and from thence to Lemnos then to Scyros But because the sicknesse which was begun in the winter time did still increase and that the Souldiers and Marriners did sodainely fall downe dead in the streetes being frighted with the cries and slaunders of his owne people hee refolued to bring backe the remainder of his Armie to Venice after he had lost the greatest part thereof Some Authours write that Trahu Spalatra and Ragusa did reuolt and yeeld to the Greeke Emperour which neuerthelesse diuers doe denie whilest the Venetian Armie was on the Coastes of the Islands Ciclades and that Michaeli at his returne recouered them The Armie being returned to the Citie the sicknesse followed soone after which waxing more contagious at home than abroad diuers thousands of persons died in few dayes Whereupon the people being called into the assemblie all men laid the blame of that losse on Michaeli calling him traitour to the Common-wealth and to his owne Souldiers who seeking to please Emanuel enemie to the Venetian people had suffered the opportunitie of so godly a victorie to be snatched forth of his hands hauing abandoned his Armie to the treacheries and deceits of the Greekes whereunto as hee was readie to answere and to alleadge his excuses there arose a sodaine noise among the people which was intermingled with reproaches Hee perceiuiug it dangerous to make any stay there stept aside out of the thronge hauing no man in his companie and went along the shoare the nearest way to Saint Zacharies Church Thus escaping he met with a certaine man who fell vpon him and gaue him many dangerous wounds whereof he shortly died hauing beene deuoutly confessed the seuententh yeare of his gouernmeut Others alleadge diuers other causes of his death But it is sufficient to knowe that enuie alone procured the same And nothing did him so much harme as the ouer-great desire hee had to peace the which sincerely pursuing he hid greatly endanger the Common-wealth As concerning other matters he was a vertuous man and at the beginning greatly beloued of euery one for his wisedome His funerals did manifest the good will and affection which the people bare vnto him who in great multitudes were present at the same So soone as he was buried the whole companie came into the Cathedrall Church where to cut off those troubles and seditions which seemed to threaten the Citie being yet in an vproare for the Princes murther they chose ten from among them who did sweare at that instant to elect no Prince but such an one as should bee for the profit of the common-wealth Diuers are of opinion that these ten were not appointed to elect a Duke but only for to punish the murther and not then only but likewise euer after when any one should offer outrage to the soueraigne Magistrate whose authoritie they would haue to be sacred and inuiolate Others affirme that fortie were appointed to proceede to a new election in the place of him that was deceased Now so soone as they entred into discourse concerning a new Duke it is reported that they all with one accord named Auria Maripietro a man of singular wisedome and ripenesse of counsaile and who at that time was one of the ten But he bearing an incredible affection towards his Countrie perswaded them at the same time to make choise of some other who would be more for the profit of the common-wealth than himselfe and in so saying hee named Sebastiano Cyani a man of threescore and ten yeares old and exceeding rich protesting that he was fitter for the common-wealth being one who was not able alone to helpe it in those dangerous times with counsaile but with meanes which it did chiefly want By this mans modestie wee may easily see how free those ancient Fathers were from ambition and how zealous they were for their Countries well-fare neglecting their owne priuate profit for the good of the publike According to his aduice his fellowes declared Cyani for their Prince who was forth-with receiued by the people with great applause And because diuers
Whereupon they bethought themselues of a subtile stratagem to tie counterfeit letters to the Doues feeâ—…e instead of those which Dachines had sent to the Tyrians which imported Not to expect any succour from the King And therefore they should doe wisely seeing their affaires stood so as they must needs yeeld to giue place to the time which they were chiefely to thinke on and by a timely yeelding to prouide for themselues and their meanes These Letters being publiquely read for the Pigeon being let loose flew directly into the Citie the Tyrians being wholly discouraged did yeeld themselues the fifth moneth of the siege I know of a certaine that many will hold this which wee haue reported of the Pigeon for a fable thinking it to be against nature and so consequently vnworthie of beliefe that a bird transported into a farre Region should at a flight returne to her former nest But it is vndoubtedly true that it was so The which hath beene of ten times knowne by experience For diuers doe witnesse that the ancient Romans made vse sometimes of birds for the same purpose Plinie makes mention of a Pigeon which brought letters to the Campe before Modena I finde that Fabius the Roman Historian and Cecynna Volateran haue sometimes vsed swallowes in such like businesse But let it be granted that it may be so it is no lesse strange that these birds flying in the ayre should fall to the ground by a suddaine noyse For some doe affirme the same to haue hapned in the assembly of the Ismenians as oftentimes in other places at such time as by the meanes of Titus Flaminius all Grecia did recouer her ancient libertie Plutarch a man of singular learning hath taught the same to come to passe by the clearing of the aire because that by a suddaine crie ascending vpwards the aire is forcibly cleft leauing no support for the birds for waxing more soft and slipperie the birds fall as though they were come into an emptie place without any stay at all whereby they fall downe being stricken with the noyse as if it were with an arrow It may bee likewise according to the same Authour that this noyse engendreth in the aire a violent by-turning like to the tempest of the Sea wherewith birds being touched fall downe amazed Now the Tyrians hauing yeelded there were set vp on the Towers and highest places of the Citie the ensignes of Varimond and of the Venetians vnto whom were giuen the third part of the Citie according to the agreement the prowesse and valour of whom according to the saying of Chronicles was greatly admired in that siege The like was giuen to them in the Citie of Ascalon Baldwin returning from his imprisonment at the same time did not only approue all these things but did likewise at the ratifying thereof highly honour the Venetian Prince It is to be seene in some Authours that he vsed this preface Dominico Michaeli Duke of Venice and Dalmatia Prince of the Kingdome of Ierusalem who after he had defeated a great Armie of the enemies on the inaccessible shoare of Ascalon slaine and taken many thousands of those Barbarians and deliuered those of Ioppa from the siege where with they were shut in did enter victorious into Ierusalem Some others adding greater matters than these say That besides these things graunted at the same time to the Venetians in Syria it was confirmed vnto them ouer and aboue all the rest that whilest the Duke of Venice should make his aboad in Ierusalem hee should enioy the same honours and prerogatiues as the King did Whereas there is mention made that the enemies were defeated before Ascalon and not before Ioppa the same proceedeth from the varietie of Historians During the Venetians prosperous successe in Syria Caloianes sonne to Alexis some set downe Emanuel for Caloianes enuying that the Christians had obtained so notable a victorie and chiefely the Venetians vnto whom was ascribed all the glorie of whatsoeuer had beene then done in Syria resolued to make open warre against them In regard whereof there was some likelihood that the Venetians if they respected their owne priuate affaires would wholly leaue Syria as indeed it happened For the Prince being speedily called home vpon the first commotion of the Greekes did depart out of the Prouince who being come to Rhodes and the Townesmen refusing to furnish him with victualls he tooke and spoiled the Citie I beleeue hee had some other cause so to doe For that had beene to haue drawne a kindnesse from them perforce But it is most likely that it was done in hatred to Caloianes who had alreadie declared himselfe their open enemie which some Authours affirme or else certainely because the Venetians had in times past receiued some notable iniurie of the podians they would then at the instant call it in question hauing so fit an occasioâ—… Prince Michaeli from thence commâ—…g to the Isle of Chyos wasted it likewise and carried from thence the bodie of â—…int Isidore to Venice which was laid in Saint Marks Church in the Chappell â—…ich we haue elsewhere said was builded by Narses with the spoiles of the enemâ—…s The fleet made some staie there in regard of the great sharpnesse of the wiâ—…er From whence finding that place fit for the affaires of warre they would noâ—…slodge vntill they had taken all the neighbour-Islands from the Greekes Wâ—…eupon departing thence on a sodaine they first tooke Samos then Lesbos Aâ—…dros and all the other Islands of the Greeke Empire Hauing performed these â—…oloits neare to the Islands Ciclades they sayled into Peloponessus where he sâ—…ed on Methon at this day called Modona and left a garrison there Then commâ—…g into Dalmatia he recouered Zara as some write which had before driuen tâ—…nce the Venetian Magistrate and being thus recouered to the end that her destâ—…ction might serue for example to the neighbour Cities how in time to come to fâ—…ifie their faith so religiously sworne vnto they did for the most part ruine it Ten they recouered Spalatra and Trahu by force But other Authours haue pâ—…sed ouer in silence that which we haue now mentioned to haue beene done by hâ—… in Dalmatia All these great atchieuements luckily finished after that he had â—…amed one part by Armes and protected the other from al wrong from the Seacoast of Syria euen to Dalmatia he brought backe his Armie entire to Venice wâ—…ere hee was receiued with generall ioy And so soone as he had related what he hâ—…d done in that voyage the whole Citie did highly praise him The affaires of the Christians in Syria still declining by little and little did euery day wax worse vnâ—…ill the time of Baldwin the fifth From whom Saladine King of Egypt recoâ—…ered Ierusalem the fourescore and eighth yeare after the Christians had taken â—…t There were diuers and sundrie warlike preparations made aswell in Italie as iâ—… other parts of Europe for the conseruation of
place to the victorious Venetian But tbe better to continue the discourse of these warres which the Venetians had afterward with these proud people we must first of all set down certain matters which some Historians haue formerly mentioned to the end we may be the better enabled to quote the times which the cōfusion of Authors maketh otherwise doubtful and withall to reduce those things to our memorie which haue formerly beene spoken vpon this subiect Gradonico at the same time commaunded Histria when hee was chosen Prince of the Common-wealth Being called home to Venice hee tooke possession of his charge which hee beganne with diuine matters commanding the day and feast of Saint Katerine to bee yearely solemnized vnto whome when he was but a priuate person he was much deuoted I beleeue that the Senat in fauour of the Duke did make a decree for this purpose by meanes whereof this holie Virgin was afterward highly reuerenced in Venice her feast beeing before that time but a working day But it may be that he did it not so much for particular deuotion as because he was as some thinke chosen vpon the same day It is reported that about the same time Andrew King of Hungarie sonne to a Venetian woman of the familie of Morosini and to Stephen the Kings sonne came to Venice where he was so farre off from contemning his mothers house because it was a priuate familie in a free Citie as hee would needes appropriate to himselfe the ancient Armes of the familie by adding thereunto onely a white Crosse with a circle to the end that by that difference those of the same familie might bee knowne from the other Morosini Stephen his father was borne in Ferrara whither his mother daughter to the Prince of Ferrara after the death of her husband had retired herselfe being left with childe but being come to age hee could neuer recouer his fathers Kingdome which was possessed by his neere kins-men And being desirous as I thinke to put himselfe vnder the Venetians protection he married Thomasina Morosini by whom he had this Andrew who in time got title of Gouernour of the Kingdome and afterward that of King Some Authours referre the ruine of Ptolomais to these times but the greatest part of them affirme that which we haue reported thereof in the precedent booke The truce being expired the warre against the Genoueses was more fiercely than euer renued But the Venetians good fortune was not so apparent in the next Lygustick warre as disastrous by the occurents of the yeeres ensuing For by how much more the power of both these people were alreadie manifest to euery eie by so much greater were the warlike preparations made by either partie It was likewise euident that this their contention was not about the simple possession of Ptolomais nor for a street or Church onely but to acquire the absolute command or dominion at Sea In this quarrell the Venetians were the first in field But I thinke it was not in respect of the Genoueses assailing the Pisans at that time who after they had taken the hauen of Legorne from them and burnt it suncke diuers shippes of burthen full of flint stones and grauell in the hauen thereby to take the vse of the Sea from them For the Pisans forces had beene alreadie before that time greatly weakened chiefly by that notable losse which they sustained in the Isle of Lamel where twelue thousand of their people were slaine or taken by the Genoueses with the losse of fiue and twentie Gallies Now the Venetians to draw the Pisans forth of this danger who had in times past so faithfully releeued them in the first Ligusticke warre and to alter the course of the Genoueses victorie made hast to get before them with a great Fleet as some say of threescore and six Gallies which sailed into the Ponticke Sea vnder the command of Rogero Morosini to spoile and destroie whatsoeuer belonged to the Genoueses Others make mention of fortie six onely and others affirme that there were no Gallies in this Fleet but diuers shippes of all sorts Their first charge was against those of Pera. This place neere to Constantinople which I thinke was at the same time but a village had beene fortified by the Genoueses and was much frequented by Genoa Merchants trafficking the Ponticke Seas who for the neere neighbour-hood thereof to Constantinople and for transportation of their merchandize to and fro had the commodiousnesse of the place in singular recommendation Whether they had then determined to doe that which afterward they did to wit to enclose that place with ditches and walles knowing how fit it was not onely for the vse they then made of it but likewise for the warre I confesse my selfe ignorant This place therefore being not yet fortified was soone taken by the Venetian and consumed to ashes From thence the Armie sailed to the old Forts which the Genoueses held which being takē were for the most part burned The Genoueses in the meane time laie quiet without action Giouanni Souranza the next yeare following was commanded to holde the same course with fiue and twentie Gallies At his arriuall hee tooke the Citie of Capha by assault in Chersonessus of Tauris where being ouertaken by winter he was constrained to tarrie In this countrie being extreame cold for it doth not onely incline to the northward but lieth directly vnder it he lost nine companies of Souldiours with the extremitie thereof and the residue of his Armie likewise was greatly afflicted The fennes Meotides which are not far thence together with the Cymerian Bosphorus are so congealed with extreame cold as it is most certaine that in those places where in Sommer men fight with Gallies in Winter they combat on horse-backe on the Ice The Genoueses likewise thinking it time to be stirring sailed into the maine with threescore and six Gallies or threescore and ten according to some Authors vnder the conduct of Lampadio Doria who desirous to reuenge the losses receiued on the Pontick Sea entring tumultuously into the Gulph of Venice had directly come to the Citie if vpon report of the comming of so great a Fleet they had not bin encountred by the Venetians with greater forces than at any time before The Venetians at the same time hauing fourescore and fifteene Gallies and vnderstanding that the Genoueses were at Corfu sailed thither with an intent to fight with them For now being in number of vessells superiour to the Genoueses they would not refuse the fight being thereunto also encouraged by remembring what had passed in former expeditions They knew well enough that they were to fight against the same enemie whom they had vanquished in the battaile betwixt Tyre and Acre And the remembrance of that notable victorie at Trapani did more animate them where though they were much inferiour to the Genoueses yet in a manner they had broken them neither did they forget how often
was afterward giuen to Marsilio but he whom they nominate had no recompence Whilst these things were done at Venice Rossis tooke certaine Townes in the Territorie of Padua from the enemies and then bringing his troupes neere to the Citie he set fire on one of the Gates called al-Al-Saints Moreouer those of Mestra daunted a while after with a new siege wherewith they were enuironed yeelded From thence comming to Treuiso he burnt in a night two of the Citie gates The Inhabitants were so amazed in this night-assault as diuers running fort ' of the Citie in the darke on that side where the enemie was not saued themselues by flight but many of them hauing lost their way fell into the enemies hands among whom the noble wife of Caminensis was slaine in the habit of a seruant This being done they made no farther attempt against the Citie I know not whether it were because they despaired of taking it being ignorant of the great feare and amazement of the Citizens or rather because they would speedily goe to take Serrauall which according to some came at that time vnder the Venetians obedience Mastin and Albert his brother hauing vnderstood that besides the losse of so many Cities in short space their associates likewise had forsaken them and taken armes to offend them for it was reported that Luchin Visconte hauing attained to the principalitie of Milan by the death of Accion his kins-man and Phillip Gonzaga were alreadie in the field against them or else in a readinesse so to doe being enuironed with so many michiefes knew not what to resolue on nor what they ought chiefly to follow or in what place to oppose themselues against the enemies desseignes or by what meanes to relieue their Citties But in this great incertaintie of their affaires not being able to conclude on that which was most expedient for them Mastin on a sodaine with the greatest part of his forces left Padua committing the guard of the Citie to his brother Albert and came to Verona In the meane time Marsilio Rossis after hee had passed the Riuer Adice marched with those troupes which hee had receiued from his brother directly towards Mantua where ioyning with Philip Gonzaga and Luchin Visconte they consulted together of the whole matter and after marched into the field resoluing first to assaile Verona Now hauing forraged the Countrie they entred the Territorie of Verona where they made great spoyle round about the Citie which with great clamours they besieged bringing thither all things necessarie for a siege It is reported that Charles sonne to the King of Bohemia lay at the same time before Feltre with a great Armie of Germans by meanes whereof those of Escalla were at one time affailed in three seuerall places Mastin being thus vncertaine by what meanes to oppose himselfe against the enemie after hee had a while ruminated with himselfe determined like a mad man to doe it by Armes and to fight with any that hee should meete with But before he would giue battell he Knighted his sonne Francis who was yet very yong Spineta Marquis Guiao Corregiario and Paulo Aligerio the Gouernour of the Citie after which hee marched with great noyse and furie towards the enemies and in their view put his Armie in order of battell being resolued for his part to fight Rossis made a retreat so did the rest not meaning to fight thinking it more auaileable for them to draw the Warre out at length the which by all likelihood Mastin could not long maintaine than to hazard the whole by the euent of a battell In this sort making a faire retreate not giuing shew of any manifest flight they held on their way towards Mantua Mastin as proude of this retreate as if hee had wonne the battaile returned speedily with three thousand horse and certaine foote companies to Padua and from thence to Bubulente where the Venetians Fleete lay At his arriuall hee surprised twentie small Venetian vessels left for the Guard of the munition and made an attempt to take the Castle the which being brauely defended hee was constrained to depart thence and hee encamped two miles beneath the Riuer with an intent to shut vp the passage of the victuals which came from the Citie by water It is thought that he might with more ease haue executed his determination if hee had encamped betwixt Bubulente and Mestra Rossis to cause him dislodge commanded a great quantitie of woad an hearbe belonging to Fullers to be pounded and to be throwne into the Riuer to make it vnsauorie and bitter to be drunke by those of Escalla But victuals waxing scant in the Venetians Campe by reason that the enemie lay so neere the arriuall of Marsilio called thither for the purpose as I thinke was cause that the Venetians strengthned by his comming had free passage whither they pleased being little inferiour to those of Escalla in strength Pietro Rossis likewise being often prouoked by the enemie to fight did purposely refuse it For he perceiued that Mastin could not long hold out and that hee should doe vndiscreetly to hazard the fortune of a battel knowing that the enemie was already halfe vanquished and there was no doubt but that he would be ouerthrowne without bloudiâ—…ied Whilst he lay in Campe neere to Bubulente thinking greatly to hinder the enemie by keeping of the passage of the Riuer from them hee had notice that Luchin Visconte had streightly besieged Bressia which newes he very badly dâ—…ested and marched with speede through the Territorie of Padua and Vincenza to releeue Bressia which whilest hee attempted more fearefull tidings were brought that Padua was lost his brother taken prisoner with the whole garrison This losse did in such sort abate the tyrants pride as hee neuer after hoped for better successe Marsilio Carrario so soone as Mastin was departed from the reliefe of Bressia had forthwith giuen notice thereof to Pietro Rossis and leauing open the Gate of the crooked Bridge gaue entrance to him and his whole forces which they of the Citie perceiuing for there was no hostile act committed all men with great ioy ranne to meete him calling him their deliuerer and infinitely praised him But Rossis with the generall consent did in the Venetians name giue the gouernement of the Citie to Marsilio Carrario Albert and Risse Foranensis with diuers other friends and seruants of the Tyrants were taken prisoners and their goods spoyled Albert was soone after brought to Venice Rossis gaue leaue to fiue hundred Almaine horse that were found in the Citie freely to depart thence with their Armes and Horses Mastin being daunted with so many losses receiued fresh newes that Charles had taken Feltre with other Townes and anon after that Luca was besieged by Orlando Rossis Captaine generall of the Florentines and that it was not yet certainely knowne whether those of Luca were reuolted or not But that which did most
the cause therof who hauing beene able in time to haue quenched that fire had by their mutual hatred auarice suffered it to encrease That they were to blush for shame to repent that they had not relieued that loyal Citie during the siege Therefore all men with one consent detested both the fleet and the Generall and a Decree was made that hee should be dismissed of his place and being sent for home he should giue an account why he had not relieued Nigrepont Pietro Mocenigo was by a generall consent subrogated in his place who was presently commaunded to make hast to the Armie In the meane time after the fleete had made some aboad at Sea Canalis and the rest determined to surprize Nigrepont and by an vnlookt-for assault to attempt the recouery of the Citie They concluded then among themselues that Giouanni Trono Nocolao Molino and Frederico Iustiniano should saile before with nine Gallies and so soone as they from the channell should perceiue the fleete to be neere the Citie then to land their men and march to assaile it on the other side But these men were somewhat too forward for being euuironed with great troupes of Turkes more than two hundred of them were in a moment slaine among whom was Giouani Trono a man whose valour did greatly appeare in that fight although their forces were not equall The rest of the fleete landing on the shoare being daunted with the death of their fellowes and perceiuing those in the channell to goe slowly to worke escaped to their Gallies And in this manner the fleete retired without any good successe to Aulida not farre from Nigrepont The same day somewhat before Sunne-set Pietro Mocenigo with three Gallies came to the fleet so soone as Canalis descried him hee descended into a long boat and went to meete him where after mutuall embracements hee acquainted him what his purpose had beene and why he had assembled that great fleete for the recouerie of Nigrepont which hee hoped to haue effected if hee had any longer tarried in commission But his hope was that what himselfe could not execute by reason of the losse of his place the new Generall by his valour and conduct would fortunately bring to passe all things being in a readinesse for that purpose Mocenigo said vnto him Pursue what thou hast begunne and if thou hast anie hope to recouer the Citie goe on a Gods name as for my selfe I am so farre off in this my new authority from hindering the publique good as on the contrarie I freely offer to aide and assist thee in this important businesse as a friend or ordinarie Captaine but he refusing to enter vpon an other mans charge Mocenigo dismissed the Gallies that had beene sent for and determined not to continue to the weale publiques losse and his owne dishonour an enterprize which had beene so vnfortunately begunne Then he departed for winter was at hand with the rest of the fleete into Morea determining at the Spring to remoue from thence and to attempt some notable exploit which should recompence the losse of Nigrepont Canalis so soone as hee came to Venice was condemned to perpetuall banishment Hee was confined to the Port of Gruare a town of the Forlani where to lessen the griefe for the losse of his country he spent the time in hunting and studie Mocenigo during that winter was not idle for hee repaired his Gallies and sent to the Islands on the Aegean Sea to comfort and assure the Inhabitants who were yet daunted with the losse of Nigrepont Thus was he busied when Marino Maripietro and Lodouico Bembo did about the beginning of the Spring come as Prouidators to the Armie who were sent thither that Mocenigo together with them might manage the affaires of the Republique Ricaosa came thither likewise from Apulia with tenne Gallies being sent by King Ferdinand to make warre on the Turkes in the company and by the aduise of the Venetian Generall The losse of Nigrepont had troubled all the Princes of Italie and especially king Ferdinand who the more he perceiued the frontires of Apulia and Calabria to lie open to the Turkes inuasions the more did he feare their prosperitie and aduancement Ottoman fearing that by his taking of Nigrepont from the venetians all Christian princes would arme against him was willing to trie if hee could make peace with the Venetians or at least if that could not be done to draw the businesse out in length to the end that time might sweeten the sharpenesse of that losse But because hee would not haue them thinke that hee did it for feare hee was content to vse the mediation of his mother in lawe who was a Christian and Daughter to George who in former times had beene Prince of the Tribulles She hauing beene made acquainted with her sonne in lawes meaning sent one of her houshold seruants to Venice from her to aduertize the Venetians that they should doe well to send their Commissioners to the Turke and that if they were desirous of peace it should be graunted them and peraduenture vpon better conditions than they hoped for Hereupon Nicolao Coco and Francisco Capello were sent to her by Sea who found her in a village of Macedonia where shee remained and from thence they went by land to Ottoman But peace being treated of and the Conditions propounded not pleasing and the Commissioners beeing by Letters called home to Venice Capello being troubled with a feauer died at Constantinople Coco in a fisher boat went to Lemnos and from thence in a Gallie that he found there by chaunce sailed to Candie And thus by the going to and fro of Ambassadors by treaties of peace at Constantinople and by transporting of Letters from both sides all that Summer was spent to no purpose Winter drawing neare the Kings nauie returned to Naples and the Prouidators being called home by the Senate went backe to Venice Within a while after Prince Moro died hauing gouerned the Common-wealth nine yeeres and six moneths Hee was buried in Saint Iobs Church which together with the Monasterie neere adioyning hee had erected at his owne proper costs During his gouernement the Citie was not onely beautified with that building but the inner side of the entrie into the Pallace which was begunne before then vnder Maripietro was in his time wholly finished where his Marble Statue is to be seene with two others vnderneath him representing our two first parents wrought by Antonio Crispe the skilfullest Caruer of his time Saint Peters Steeple of the Castle made of a white square stone which is an excellent peece of worke was then builded ¶ NICOLAO TRONO the 68. Duke of Venice NIcolao Trono succeeded Moro whose short gouernment was verie fortunate because the Venetians in his time made a league with the king of Persia and vnited the famous Isle of Cyprus to their dominions The Senate sent Messengers to the Pope and to King
one lower farther neer to the riuer with crooked turnings by which the kings armie marched which was said to consist of more then two thousand lances six thousand Swisses and twelue thousand foot as well French as Italians with great store of Artillery and Pioners the other farther off from the riuer and the shorter way the which led directly for the passage of the VenetiaÌ„ army wherin were 2000. men at armes more then 20000. foot and great numbers of light horse some Italians and some Albaneses there beeing nothing betwixt the two armies but bushes shrubs which hindred either army from seeing one another The two armies marching in this manner the French vantgard conducted by Charles of Amboise the Venetians rereward conducted by Aluiana encountred one another Aluiana not thinking to fight that day did not march in good order But perceiuing himselfe to bee so neere the enemy and in such a place as hee was enforced to fight aduertised the Count Petillan who went with the Vantgard of his necessity crauing his ayde The Earle sent him word to march on still and to eschew the fight according to the Senates determination Aluiana in the meane time placed his footmen with sixe peeces of Ordinance on a little rising and then assailed the enemies with such force and fury as hee enforced them to giue back but the Armies battaile wherein the Kings person was comming forward the chance of the Dice soone turned albeit Aluiana for his luckie beginning had promised to him-selfe the victory who running vp and downe now heere now there encouraged his soldiers They fought on all sides with great fury The French were on fire by their Kings presence who not sparing himselfe was exposed to all dangers and did not cease where need was to command and encourage his souldiors The Venetians on the other side full of valour by reason of their first good successe did fight brauely But at the last after long fight and the Venetians loosing rather their strength then their courage not turning their backs to the enemies they fell downe in a manner all dead vppon the place and chiefly the footemen some of whom affirmed that there were eight thousand of them slaine there Barthelmew Aluiana was taken prisoner who beeing hurt in the eye with his face all bloudy was brought to the Kings Pauillion Such end had the battaile of Gyradade which was fought on the fourteenth of May in the yeere 1509. The King in memory heereof caused a chappell to bee builded on the place of battaile which hee called Saint Maries of the Victory then because hee would not loose his opportunity hee came to Carauagia which yeelded vpon composition and foure and twenty-houres after the Castle on no condition hauing beene beaten with the Artillery Bergamo did the like the next day and the Castle a day after From thence hee marched towards Bressia which by the councell of the Gambares did cast off the Venetian yoake and yeelded to the King and the Castle two dayes after did the like on condition that all that were within it might depart the Venetian Gentlemen excepted because the King would not haue them comprized in the composition of townes not for hatred that he did beare to them but in hope to draw great summes of money from them The newes of the battailes losse and of the kings progression after that did afflict Venice with such griefe and vniuersall feare as it is scarce credible so great it was For from all parts of the citty people ranne to the publick Pallace with great cryes and pittifull lamentations where the Senators knew not on what to resolue their Councell beeing dulled by dispaire so weake were their remedies At the last taking courage they determined to vse meanes to bee reconciled in any sort whatsoeuer with the Emperor and the Catholick King not mentioning the French King because they did as much distrust his hatred as they were fearefull of his Armes The Senate then did write to Dominico Grimani and to Marco Cornare sonne to the Prouidator both of them beeing Cardinalls at Rome to promise and offer to the Pope in the Senates name that the Citties which hee demanded in Romagnia should bee yeelded vnto him by meanes whereof they besought him not to abandon the common-wealth to the pleasure and dispose of barbarous people such as the French-men were who if they should once become maisters of all Lombardy the Popes them-selues should not bee safe in Rome They likewise decreed that Antonio Iustiniano who being chosen Prouidator for Cremona was ready to go thither should directly go to the Emperor Maximillian conclude a peace with him if it were possible on any terms whatsoeuer That the Senate was ready to deliuer to him Thryeste Portonoue and the other lands which they had taken from him the yeare before and that the Signory would acknowledge to hold of him whatsoeuer it possessed in Frioul in Lombardy and in the country called old Venice So weake and vncertaine were their remedies as if one of these two did not helpe to repulse the audatiousnesse of the French they had not any sure meanes left to stay them Neuerthelesse makeing a vertue of necessity they consulted for their defence how to prouide mony to wage new companies for those which remaind aliue after the defeate were bereft of strength and courage They determined likewise to augment their army by sea whereof Andre Treuisan was Generall with 〈◊〉 Gallies to oppose against that of the enemies which was preparing at Genoa But the French Kings sodaine speed did preuent al their Councells vnto whom since the reduction of Bressia Cremona was yeelded the Castle expected which the Venetians yet held Pisquetona did the like then hee marched towards Piscara to take the Castle for the towne was yeelded And as they began to batter it the Swisses and Gascons made a furious entry by small ouctruâ—…es in the walls and slew all those that were within it except the Captaine and his sonne who were Venetian Gentlemen who were both by the Kings commandement hanged on the Castles battlements to the end by that example to moue those of the Castle of Cremona not obstynately to make defence nor to hold out till the very last The King in this manner in lesse then fifteene dayes after the victory had recouered the Castle of Cremona excepted all that which did belong to him according to the diuision which had beene made at Cambray The Pope had enuaded the Citties of Romagnia with foure hundred men at armes foure hundred light horse and eight thousand foote-men and with the Duke of Ferrara his ordnance vnder the command of Francisco Maria de la Rouera his Nephew Sonne to his brother Iohn who with that army scoured from Cesenna to Ceruia then tooke the towne of Sauarolla betwixt Imola and Faenza and that of Bre siquella with the Castle and all the other townes of the
others to Albert Peter a man of great authority amongst them who hauing declared vnto them in an open assembly the wrong which they did to their reputation if they should depart then when they were in greater hope then euer to vanquish the enemies by reason of the French Kings comming who was dayly expected could not for all that stoppe their retreate wherevpon the morrow after their arriuall at Monce they returned thorow the Bergamask home into their mountaines their number being much decreased for that three thousand of their fellowes and two and twenty captaines were slaine at the trenches The French and Venetian army did soone dislodge from Monce and crossed the Adda at Tressa and there the two armies being parted the Lord Lautrec went to Cremona to giue order for the defense of the City and afterwards for his going into France which he did leauing his brother the Lord of Escut for the guard of Cremona with the companies of men at armes and the Lord of Boneuall in Laude and Frederick of Bozole with six companies of men at armes and a sufficient number of foot-men The Venetian army retired to the Bressan territory hauing left a sufficient garrison for the gard of Tressa But forthwith after the Lord of Lautrecs departure the towne of Lauda was surprized and sacked by the Marquis of Pescara and soone after the Lord of Escut yeelded Cremona on composition to Prospero in regard he had no other hope to be able to hold out the seege but by such succors as he expected from France of which he heard no newes The fortune of the French being in this sort altered and their reputation greatly diminished by being in so short a time driuen forth of the Dutchy of Milan by forces no greater then their owne it was thought that the Venetians who had already casiered their army dismissed the greatest part of their Cauallery and giuen leaue to Andrew Gritti their Prouidator in the army to goe home to his owne house hauing well acquitted themselues though to small purpose of whatsoeuer their confederacy and alliance with the French King had bound them to would at last follow the prosperous fortune of the Emperour Charles who made shew as hee had often times before then done to desire their friendship and much more then then before in regard of the great hope which he had conceiued in his minde that the route of the French would incite them so to doe promising to him-selfe thereby to disioyne them and so to draw them to his party for the opinion hee had that this new confederacy and aide of the Venetians would chiefly auaile him for the conseruation of the State of Milan and for the obtaining of a prosperous issue of the warre The Emperor then resoluing to doe it and not beeing satisfied with opening the way to Gaspar Contaren Ambassador to the Seignory in his Court and to haue told him how much it did import their Republick to make the same alliance with him as they had done before with the French King did likwise communicate the same to the King of England hauing talked with him at his returne from Spaine the capitulations whereof beeing drawne by the Chancelor of the Empire were giuen to Contaren who finding them too rough promise was made to him that they should in such sort bee moderated as the Senate should finde them reasonable But because by the distance of places the matter was drawne forth at length there was in the meane time a league and confederacie concluded betwixt the Emperor Charles and Henry the eight King of England reseruing place for the Venetians to enter into it within three moneths which time was giuen them to aduise thereon This beeing communicated to the Senate there was nothing resolued on for that present but onely to make a generall answer to the offers and signes of friendship of those two Princes which was That they were very desirous of peace and of their alliance But the report dayly encreasing of the French Kings great preparations of warre for his passage into Italy which held the Venetians from making any certaine resolution the Emperour and the King of England fearing that the Venetians would still continue in their friendship and alliance with the French determined the better to hast the conclusion of the new league to send Ambassadors to Venice The King of Englands Ambassador came first to Venice and being brought into the Senate house hee entreated the Senators to deale plainely and to declare what they intended to doe if the French King should returne with his Armie into Italy to seaze on the Dutchy of Milan The same request did the Emperors Ambassador make who came thither presently after him who going on farther entreated that if the most Christian King should passe the mounts that the Republick would take armes and ioyne it selfe with the Imperiall forces to resist him The Venetians in this treaty dealt very considerately well weighing the inconueniences that might happen on either side resoluing neuerthelesse not to enter into any new alliance but vpon necessity meaning not altogether to seperate themselues from the friendship of the French nor yet wholy to reiect that of the Emperor wherevpon they answered the Emperour and King of Englands Ambassador in generall termes About the end of the yeare 1522. Soliman Ottoman to the great infamy of Christian Princes tooke the Isle of Rhodes defended by the Knights of Rhodes who before then were called the Knights of Saint Iohn of Ierusalem whither the great Turke came in person who hauing reduced those of the Island and Towne to the extreamest point of necessity enforced them to capitulate namely that the great Maister should deliuer him the towne that as well himselfe as all the Knights of that order should depart in saftie and carry away with them as much wealth as they could and for to haue some assurance thereof the Turke should retire his nauall armie from thence and with-draw his land forces fiue miles from the Citty By meanes of this capitulation Rhodes remained to the Turke and the Christians promise beeing kept with them departed into Sicily and from thence into Italy Now to returne to the Emperor and King of Englands pursutes to the Venetians for the conclusion of the aboue mentioned league the Venetian Ambassadors resident with those Princes were often dealt with but the better to hasten the businesse and to preuent the delaies caused by reason of the farre distance of places Ieronimo Adorni Councellor and ordinary Chamberlaine to the Emperor came to Venice beeing sent by his Maister to treate of and conclude that businesse who beeing brought into the Senate went about to perswade them to forsake the French Kings alliance and to embrace that of the Emperor and the King of England But the Senate beeing mooued by sundry reasons did still answer as they were wonte not breaking either with the one or
and inhabited and there were in it at the same time aboue eight thousand persons but the castle is of no great circuit nor capable of contayning great store of people but for the sytuation thereof most safe against all the assaults of enemies it hath two fortes in a very high place vpon the point of the hill which doe not alone beate vpon all sides of the towne walles and castle but discouering likewise the sea and the vallies and neighbour Mountaines can with their ordnance keepe any army from encamping there but with great danger There is no other towne or castle in the whole Island but diuers country houses scattered here and there in the Champaine yet neuerthelesse on the South side thereof vpon an hill there is a castle called Saint Angelo stronger by sytuation then by art This Island had belonged to the Venetians more then an hundred and fifty yeeres and they did carefully keepe it as most fit for the conseruation of their dominion at sea it being accounted the Bulwarke of Italy against the forces of Barbarians Babon di Nalda was gouernor thereof being accompanied with diuers Venetian Gentlemen There was a strong garrison of Italian souldiers in the castle to the number of two thousand and as many of those of the Island all good souldiers and besides the Rowers of foure Gallies which were lest there for the gard of the Island great store of artillery and munition and for the auoiding of all confusion euery man knew what he had to doe which made them without any feare at all to attend the arriuall of the enemies army The Senate fearing a long seege and the sinister accidents which do commonly accompany it did resolue to fight with the enemy to cause him to raise his campe being inuited therevnto by sundry reasons because they knew first that so long as the Turkish fleet should remaine whole furnishing the campe with men of whom they had great numbers that the Isle of Corfou and all the rest should remaine exposed to infinite dangers not for any other cause then the long continuance of the warre all the forces of the Republike being consumed and they in danger besides to loose some portion of their dominions next that which did incite them to hazard the fortune of a battaile was their owne great fleet of an hundred strong gallies with the meanes to encrease it because they would not vnprofitably consume the great expences of such a warlike preparation but that which did most animate them to this resolution was their hope to be speedily releeued by the other Christian Princes according to their offers and promises so often reiterated at what time they should enterprize any thing against the Turke especially of the Pope and the Emperor and not to accept of them at that time the Commonwealth should seeme wholly to haue forgotten her owne safety and that of all Christendome The Imperials had fifty light gallies at sea with as many other great armed vessels the Pope had foure gallies there and the Knights of Malta some other These forces being ioyned to theirs they hoped to chase away the Turkish fleet and if they could not free Corfou from the seege yet at least to open a way to some great and notable exploit wherevpon hauing certaine notice that the enemies army was come to Corfou and thereby warre declared against them they determined to write to Marke-Antonio Contaren their Ambassadour in the Court of Rome that in speaking particularly of this businesse to the Pope together with the Senates resolution he should declare vnto him the greatnesse of the danger in the common cause of Christendome and the speed which it behoued them to vse against the common enemy The Pope hauing vnderstood the Senates resolution seemed to be highly pleased therewith sauing that he did desire nothing so much as during his Papacy to see all Christian Princes vnited together against those Infidels who in the meane time that the Christians had particular quarrells one with an other were so mightily encreased as they now did threaten to ruine them Therevpon he did not only confirme the offers and promises that were made before but did likewise augment them and as a most discret and well aduised person he motioned the making of an vnion and league together against that common enemy wherevnto his exhortation to all other Princes and especially to the Emperor was of great force This league beeing resolued on it was concluded by a Generall consent of all men to arme two hundred light Gallies and the greatest number of ships of warre and other great vessels that they could and in them to embarke fifty thousand foot-men and foure thousand horse But because some difficulties seemed to arise concerning the distribution of that expence and vpon other Articles and that the time in the meane space did vrge them speedily to send away the army to the releefe of Corfoù the Pope by confirming that which had beene concluded would presently haue the league to bee published to giue it more force and reputation and to inuite the other Christian Princes to embrace and follow it reseruing the conclusion of certaine points till he could receiue newes from Spaine It was sollemnly published in Saint Peeters Church where Gasparo Contaren the Venetian Cardinall celebrated masse in the presence of the Pope and the whole Colledge of Cardinalls the like was afterwards done at Venice with praiers in all Churches to giue thankes vnto God for that he had vnited the Christian Princes against the Infidells and for the execution of that which had beene concluded the Senate sent word to the Generalls that leauing the Captaine of the Gulphe with foure Gallies for the guard of Dalmatia they should saile with the whole fleete to Brandiza they did afterwardes make a great leauy of foot forces for to fill vp the promised number then they appointed captaines for the great Gallies and for the bastard ones who did very speedily cause them to be made ready which sailed all of them vnder the conduct of Boudumiero captaine of the Gallion so as in a short space all things were ready on the Venetians part Andrew Doria who lay at Naples hauing intelligence of that which had beene concluded at Rome and Venice that he should meet at Brandiza to ioyne with the Venetians fleet alleadging sundry excuses some times that he would saile towards Marseilles against the French nauall army then that he would go to Genoa to new man his gallies and to make prouision of other necessaries did by all meanes prolonge his departure notwithstanding that Gasparo Bassalu the Venetians Counsull at Naples did earnestly vrge it by declaring vnto him the importance of the Isle of Corfou which was to be preserued and defended from the danger wherein it was in doing whereof notwithstanding that he was to doe the Emperour seruice he should neuerthelesse purchase great glory and reputation the
in Lombardie He takes Rhoads the O gies Soncina and Romanenga The Popes Nuncio commeth to Venice to treate of peace Lauretano his exploits in the Iste of Nigrepont Christophero Moro and Viso Iustiniano are sent Ambassadors to Rome The Captaines of the Gallies are punished because they left the fleet without leaue The conditions of peace concluded by meanes of an Hermit The great reioicing at Venice in regard of the peace Ambassadours sent into Germanie to the Emperour The Venetians great discretion in doing nothing without good advice The honest answer of the Ferrarois The Genoueses come into Morea for the same purpose as the Venetians did The Turkes good successe both in Asia Europe The happinesse and contâ—…t of the city of Venice during Foscari his principalitie One Prince waiteth vpon an others funeralls The new Princes vertues The inuention of the Art of Printing is attributed to a Germane The description of Morea The occasion of the Ottomans warre against the Uenetians Saint Andrewes head is brought to Rome The warre against the Turks is begun in Morea The Venetian Armie before Argers The traitor punished according to his deserts The Venetians make a wall at the streight The Turks attempt to hinder the Venetians enterprise The death of Benedetto Coyoni The description of Corinth Bertoldo D'Aeste is slaine at the siege of Corinth The Venetians raise their camp from before Corinth The Turks before Naples The Turkes losse besore Naples The Turkes leaue Naples The cause of the war betwixt the Thryestines and those of Cap-histria Gauardo Iustinopolitano is sent against the Thryestines An Armie sent against Thryeste Thryeste is besieged Antonio Marcello Prouidator before Thryeste The Almaines make sallies vpon the venetians The assault giuen to Thryeste hath no good successe Thryeste and Arimini are freed from the siege The Isle of Lemnos deliuered to the Venetians Vrso Iustiniano is Generall of the venetian nauall Armie Vrso Iustinianâ—… saileth against the Isle of Lesbos The Venetians do giue two assalis to Mytilene Vrso Iustiniano dieth with griefe Malateste besieg eth Sparta The Venetians assault Rhodes The Dardanes are two sorts at the mouth of the streight Giacomo Venieri returneth safe to the fleet Pope Pius commeth to Ancona to prepare an Armie against the Turkes The Pope dieth at â—…ncona Vittore Capeâ—…o Generall of thâ—… nauall Armie Capel his exploits The Venetianâ—… are defeated and Barbadico the Prouidator is slaine The Uenetians are againe put to rout neere to the former place Capello dieth with griese Bartolomeo of Bergamo bringeth sorces into Tuscanie The battaile of Molinella The death of Ieronimo Bardidico Nicolao Canalis Generall of the nauall Armie The venetians take Oenos Great outrage committed in Oenos The Turkish fleet at Tenedos The Uenetian fleete escapeth from the Turkes The Turkish fleete before Nigrepont The description of the Isle of Nigrepont The enemie buildes a bridge ouer the Gulph The Senate is grieued at the newes of the siege of Nigrepont The Venetian Fleet entreth the the channell of Nigrepont The treason is discouered A memorable â—…ffer of two bretheren of Candy A generall assalt giuen to the citie The Turkes take the Nigrepont Description of the Isle of Chios The enemies fleet is afraid of that of the Uenetians The venetians great griefe for the losse of Nigrepont Pietro Mocenigo is chosen Generall of the naual Armie The venetians enterprize vpon Nigrepont is to no purpose Mocenigo commeth to the armie Canalis speech to Mocenigo Mocenigo his answere to Canalis Canalis is condemned to perpetuall banishment A new polâ—…icie of Ottoman The Commissioners returne without any conclusion Mocenigo his first exploit Coccina in the Isle of 〈◊〉 is reedified The citie of Pergamus The Turkes are put to rout What Gnidos was in former times The Isle of Delos The Venetians ioine with King 〈◊〉 fleet The defeat of the Barbarians Tabia a Citie of Caria The Legats answer to Mocenigo Of which 〈◊〉 he speaketh The number of the Venetians nauall Armie The nauall Armie giueth an assault to Satâ—…alia A Generous act of a Dalmatian woman The Venetians resolution The Ambassador of Vsancassan king of Persia Scanderbeg a famous caplaine The Turkes incarsions into Italie The Turks come into the countrie of the Forlani The citie of Vdina is mightily affrighted at the comming of the Turkes The venetians install Hercules d'Este in the principalitie of Ferrara Mocenigo his incursions into Asia The Christians besiege Smirna Smirna is taken The lamentation great courage of a woman The Citie of Clazomene The Popes Legate his speech to Mocenigo when he tooke his leaue of him A braue deed of a young man The Senate recompenceth the young mans brother sister The Uenetians present sent to the Persian king The Venetian fleet in Cilicia Ambassadors come to Mocenigo The Ambassadors request The Venetians besiege Sichin The Uenetians take Sichin The sitâ—…atien of Coric The Gouernor of Coric his answer to Mocenigos Herald After what sort the Ianizaries are made Coric yeeldeth Seleucia yeeldeth to the venetians Caraman his present to the Venetian The king of Cyprus speech to Mocenigo Mocenigoes answer to the king The venetians besiege Micra Micra is taken by 〈◊〉 Ambassadours come â—…o Mocenigo from the king of Cyprus sister Mocenigo his answer to the Ambassadors Mocenigo his determination is broken 〈◊〉 Lodouico Lauretano commâ—…h from the Popes Legate Mocenigo his answer to Lauretano A battell betwixt the Turkes and Persians Vssan-cassan his sonne is victorious The order of Ottomans campe The Persians are vanquished by the Turkes The number of both Armies Mocenigo is aduertized of the enemies purpose Andrea Cornari murthered The Prouidator commeth to the Island Souranza his proposition to the conspirators Mocenigaâ—…s diligence to relieue Cyprus The conspirators flie from Câ—…prus The description of the Isle of Cyprus Mocenigo at his arriuall in Cyprus punisheth those that were guiltie of Cornares death Mocenigo is chosen Gouernour of Cyprus The Turkes besiege Scutari The situation of Scutari Soliman the Euâ—… Generall of the Turks armie before Scutari The number of the Turkâ—…sh armie The venetian Captaines â—…are for the reliefe of Scutari From whence Dirrachium took the name The Turkes designe The venetians preuaile against the Turkes The manner of the Turkes assault The Scutarians prepare for defence The Turks retyre from the assault Ragusa a free Citie Mathias king of Hungarie 〈◊〉 great soldior The Italian Princes send a present to Mathias king of Hungarie The siege raised from before Scutarie Solyman besiegeth Lepanto The Turke besiegeth the â—…sle of Lâ—…mnos The Turkes leaue Lemnos The great valor of a yong maid The Turke besiegeth Croia The Turkes are put to warre beforâ—… Croia The venetians are defeated The venetians fortifications against the enemies incursions The Turks coâ—…e to the banks of the riuer Lizonza The venetian Captaines resolution more valiant than discreet The Turks toke the Fort neere to the bridge The venetians aâ—…e 〈◊〉 by the Turkes The
was cut in peeces by the people and his bowels being rent forth of his body were torne in peeces by some of the multitudes teeth his wife likewise who was reported to bee of the royall bloud of France was slaine with him But neither was Charles the leader of this Armie nor did this happen which they report And the common consent of the crediblest Historians makes me to beleeue that it was Pepin which made warre on the Venetians But whether it were the one or the other it is certaine that the Venetians did wholly preserue their libertie and became open friends to either Empire ¶ ANGELO PARTITIATIO the 10. Duke of Venice and the first at RIALTO SOme report that Obellerio being slaine his brother Beato held the Principalitie and others say that Obellerio and Beato being expelled Valentin their yonger brother commanded in the Citie But howsoeuer it was for it is hard to iudge the right in such diuersitie of opinions it is certaine that the Gouernement of these three lasted not aboue fiue yeares Angelo Partitiatio succeeded these three who was the first that held his seate at Rialto They gaue him two yearely Tribunes to assist him in all thinges Some say he had the surname of Badoairio from whom the Badoairians are descended The most curious Historians haue numbred the Partitiatij among the noblest families which came from Heraclea to Rialto And that which makes me easily to beleeue it is because among the most memorable matters acted in his Gouernment we find the reparation of Heraclea which by reason thereof was afterward called Villa-noua And because that in the time of the warre with the French a great number of people ranne to Rialto so as the place was filled with an incredible multitude of inhabitants it came to passe that threescore small Ilands next to them were ioyned together by Bridges But all men did thinke this place for the great multitude of people and for the commodiousnesse thereof worthie that the Soueraigne Magistrate and the whole State of the Commonwealth should reside there And with a good and happie presage for the Duke and the whole Venetian State it was decreed That Rialto should euer after bee the Princes seate According to this conclusion to the end that the Soueraigne Magistrate should not want a house the Duke himselfe did forth with appoint a place whereon to build the Dukes Pallace which stands as we see at this daie neere to the goodly Church of St. Marke But we may truly say that it is only the olde Pallace which Partitiatio did edifie For the other neighbour-buildings confronting the Senate-house doe represent a newer architecture For it is nor likelie that in those daies they could tell from whence to haue gotten so manie costlie pillars and excellent stones their meanes being then verie small But whether it were in Partitiatios time or since as it is most credible by the report almost of all Annalists that this worke was built the excellencie and greatnesse thereof doth deserue that such a thing should not be buried in silence But because it would be too tedious a matter to particularize all the singularities of that place wee will speake onely of the admirable structure thereof This place then as it is appointed to manie and sundrie purposes hath likewise manie and diuers fronts whereof that which lookes vpon the West and South is vnder-propt by two rankes of columns and that which supporteth the whole burthen of the worke hath pillars of a strange kinde of stone rather bigge then long The Arches are verie sumptuous made of the same matter and workemanship embracing vnder the bending of a costlie vault diuers columns set verie neere together That ranke which is aboue is made almost of the same stone and fashion and because it hath a greater number of Pillars they are the more slender and vnderneath enuironed with a verie thicke rew of other pillars but farre lesse so as they doe not onely serue for a staie but for a meruailous adornment But as well the vppermost ranke whereof we now spake as the lowest doth make a great gallerie the most spacious part whereof is almost wholly possessed by the market-place The remainder of the front euen to the toppe of the whole Masse which is of a verie rare stone red and white is so high that it troubleth as much as it delighteth the eies of the beholders being verie richly couered with lead Aboue the gallerie there is a part of a verie great Librarie stored with manie Greeke and Latine bookes the greatest part whereof was giuen by the last Will and Testament of Cardinall Bessarion The residue which lookes towards the South is the Comitia For I know not how otherwise to terme this place where euerie eight daies and sometimes oftner all the Nobilitie are assembled about the creation of Magistrates As also I will more freely call that part of the Palace which lookes towards the East The Court whereas the Senate vsually doe resort I vnderstand by the Senate that which they call the Councell of the Preguays by whom are handled the most important affaires of the Common-wealth For the ancient Fathers the Authors of this State haue among other things borrowed of the Romans to name those Preguays which debate in the Senate because they were intreated to deliuer their opinion concerning that which was spoken by him that held the cheifest place in the Senate But we will speake more amply in an other place We will now returne to the gouernment of Partitiatio who hauing two sonnes he sent the one named Iustiniano to Leo Emperour of Greece by whom he was liberally entertained and greatly honoured and praised and in the mean time he tooke the other named Giouanni for his Colleague whereat Iustiniano at his returne was in such sort moued as he obstinately refused to come and see his Father But the olde man being extreamely desirous to see his sonne after he had deposed Giouanni who refused to obaie his Father had not the people constrained him thereunto did associate Iustiniano and his nephew Angelo sonne to Iustiniano the people did confine Giouanni that was deposed to Constantinople Some saie that hee went of his owne accord to Pergamus to the Emperour Leon from whence returning he did by his Fathers commandement take his wife and children and went to Constantinople About the same time the Emperour Leon gaue Partitiatio the bodie of Saint Zacharie and part of the garments of our Sauiour Iesus Christ and of the glorious Virgin with a peece of the holie Crosse which he religiously lockt vp in Saint Zacharies Church which he had built He did moreouer translate the Monkes of the Couent of Saint Seruulo at the entreatie of the Abbot into Saint Hilaries Church which stood then in the farthest part of the Rialto And they which now knowe those places doe at this day shewe the ruines thereof in the firme Land Hee