their charge is that the Sea be kept secure for Marchants and Navigators that they suppresse Pyrats and scowre the Gulph of Corsaries Ther is another Officer or Admirall calld Classis Legatus and he hath comand ore the whole Fleet and over the Prefects or Captains of evry Gallie Ther is seldom any Generall of a Fleet but in time of warr and then he hath absolut comand ore the whole Fleet and a kind of Dictatorian power in all the maritime Provinces yet hath he no implicit Commission but before he attempt any thing considerable he must receave directions and commands from the Senat. Of other Extern Magistrats which use to be created upon extraordinary occasions THese are calld Syndiques who are created evry five yeers and use to be employd abroad both in the Continent and maritime Provinces which are subject to the Republic They take knowledg and make Scrutinies into the cariage and actions of all Pretors or Podesta's and other Magistrats who are employed abroad upon the Service of the Signorie If they find any to have exceeded their Commissions and perpetrated any thing against the Lawes they give information accordingly which is unquestionable and taken for certain truth Ther is an Officer who in time of exigence is appointed Proveditor generall of Candy and he is chosen by the suffrages of the Senat He during the time comands the whole Iland in a supreme way of authority and hath a kind of Dictatorian power for the time If he comes to any Town or Castle they presently bring him the Keys He administers the Law himself if he please and disposeth of all public levies of moneys he superintends all kind of Magistrats and Officers both by Land and Sea and is subject to no controulment but what comes from the Senat. Ther is another great Officer calld Proveditor Generall of the Continent and he allso useth to be created upon extraordinary ocasions He comands all the firm Land in the highest way of authority He hath a transcendent power over all Prefects or Captains and all other Magistrats and Officers that are under the Empire of the Republic yet ther is nothing of moment can occurr or be putt in execution but he must receave directions and comand from the Senat. Ther are other Officers calld the Proconsulls of Syria and Egypt who are created by the suffrage of the Senat and they are trienniall Magistrats They have their residence either in Aleppo in Syria or in the Gran Cayro in Egypt where they live in a decent and splendid equipage All differences twixt any Marchants that acknowledg obedience to the Signorie of Venice are brought before them and they have power to determine the controversie These Proconsulls do allso good offices to all other Christians whether Italians or any other Nation that resort thither either for curiosity or comerce and they are respected as if they were in qualitie of Ambassadors or Soverain Agents The Republic of Venice employeth divers Ambassadors abroad and no State more and they are either Ordinary or Extraordinary The Commission of the Ordinary Ambassadors continueth for three yeers These are employed to the Pope the Emperour the Kings of France Spain and England to the Duke of Savoy the States of Holland and they have commonly allwayes one residing in all these Courts in a magnificent maner They have allso an Ambassador in Constantinople attending the motions of the great Turk calld the Bailio residing there perpetually and the Republic allowes him a greater Salarie than to any other nor indeed hath he any sett Salarie but whatsoever he spends is allowd him upon his own accounts without examination all these are elected by the suffrage of the Senat. The Republic employs allso abroad Ambassadors Extraordinary very often who have a greater latitud of power and are soly for matter of State or som particular negotiation The ordinary scope of their Legations is either to congratulate or condole with Soverain Princes when occasion is offerd All these Ambassadors have Secretaries whom the Senat takes notice of and the Republic allowes them a Salarie and they are persons of good extraction and breeding this is don because they may afterwards be in a capacity for their knowledg and experience to be Ministers of State themselfs But touching Ambassadors Extraordinary ther are never any employd unlesse they have bin Ambassadors formerly And touching this kind of employment the Republic hath certain degrees or Scalary ascents and rules of removall which are never transgressd These kind of political and public Ministers are strictly examind by a Junta expressly for the same end at their return touching their comportment in the Legation They are to discover what Presents they receavd from the Prince or State to whom they were sent and it is of dangerous consequence for them to conceale any thing These are the Magistrats and Officers wheron the Republic of Venice hath stood firm as upon so many pillars so many centuries Now ther are few or none who are greater Patriotts than the Venetian Gentlemen their prime study is the public good and glory of their Countrey and civil prudence is their principall trade wherunto they arrive in a high mesure Yet as it may be easily observd though these Gentlemen are extraordinary wise when they are conjunct take them single they are but as other Men. Of the Dominions and Territories that belong to Venice wherof She hath absolut and Soverain Command THis Mayden Cittie hath large fardingalls and long sleeves which reach farr by Land and they stretch by Sea farther than many Kingdoms Upon the Continent of Italie She doth Signorize over three entire Provinces The Mark of Treviso as they calld it Friuli and Istria She hath allso a good part of Lombardie viz. the Territories of Brescia of Bergamo and Verona then She hath Crema Eastward She confines partly upon the Arch-Dukes of Austria partly upon the Adriatic Sea Northward She confines allso upon the Austrian territories upon Trent and Swisserland Westward She hath the Duchy of Milan for her neighbour the same Duchy is her contiguous neighbour Southward allso together with the Duchy of Mantoua and the Ecclesiastic Dominions The Mark of Treviso is a very plentifull and generous Countrey full of opulent Townes and splendid Citties the Natives are esteemed very dextrous and apt to make Statesmen of being a peeple much given to contemplation and gaining of knowledg they are allso active when necessity requires in the management of armes the Country abounds with corn wine and all sorts of fruit and they have many pleasant spacious fields ther are hott and wholsom fountaines there divers sorts of mineralls many noble rivers and lakes the air is temperat healthy and delightfull in fine She is endowed by benign Nature with so many gifts that She may well take place among the Noblest Regions of Italie The Countrey of Friuli in old times forum Iulii is terminated Eastward by the River Formio Northward by the Julian Alps and
that he revok'd his Commandement The Senats Letter being deliver'd to the Pope by Nani the Venetian Ambassador in ordinary to prepare the way for Duodo the Extraordinary he sayed being a little transported that Monitory Breve's must not be answer'd by Letter and that the Answers of the Senat were frivolous He added that lately he had heard of another Law touching goods Ecclesiastic holden as Emphyteutike which was fit to be revok'd with the other and although he had not till then made any mention of it yet he had more to say against it then any other therfore it behov'd them to obey him because the cause was Gods Et portae Inferi non praevalebunt contra eam and if they wold not revoke the sayed Lawes they were Tyrants and degenerating from their Ancestors c. A little after he sent another Breve to be deliver'd the Duke for the release of the Canon and the Abbot under pain of Excommunication latae sententiae which he commanded shold be deliver'd into the hands of his Nuntio c. The Senat consulted the Doctors again about this Breve whereupon after some Eventilations of the matters this Answer was sent That the Breve of his Holines was read with much reverence and no lesse regret as perceaving therby that matters tended to encrease discord that his Holines went about to destroy the Laws of their Republic which so many Ages had bin kept entire to deliver up the Canon and Abbot was nothing els but to demand that they shold despoile themselfs of their just power to chastise crimes and wickednes which power they had enjoy'd with the approbation of his Predecessors from the Originall of the Republic that God the Founder of all States had bestow'd this power upon them from the beginning and that they did derive it from their Progenitors c. Duodo the Extraordinary Ambassador made no great hast to Rome wherat the Pope receav'd offence being arriv'd ther at last he was not suffer'd to passe his first Audience with complement as the custom is but the Pope wish'd him to fall to the businesse presently so he deliver'd with much gravity and pressing elocution the reasons that mov'd the Republic not to revoke those Laws and to detain the persons of the sayed Churchmen The Pope answer'd with som heat that the exemption of the Clergy was Iure Divino he sayed that he wold not meddle with things temporall but their three aforssayed Laws were Usurpations As the Pope had formerly acquainted most Princes with these traverses 'twixt him and Venice in a complaining way so the Senat sent unto the Republics Ambassadors abroad that they shold truly inform those Princes in whose Courts they resided of the truth of things In Venice ther were at that time Ambassadors from the Emperour France and Spain to whom the businesse was communicated by some of the Senators The Imperiall Ambassador sayed That his Master desired peace and that in such matters he wold not foment the will of the Pope The Count of Santa Cruz who was for Spain approv'd of the reasons already alledg'd in Rome for the Republic Mons du Fresne the French Ambassador answer'd That he knew not what to make of those pontificall Laws whereby Princes are restrain'd to govern their Subjects c. Pope Paul was still eager in the businesse telling the Venetian Ambassador that ther were none in the Senat that understood rightly the case which made them have recourse to Doctors but that he had written to such persons as were able to set their Doctors at School concluding that he wold proceed with his spirituall Arms in this matter but touching other things he wold still account of the Venetians as of his children Herupon a Consistory was call'd and most of the Cardinalls ran bias with the Pope except the Cardinalls of Verona and Vicenza who were more moderat examples against Hen. II. King of England the King of Castile and against the Kings Charles II. IV. were produc'd who underwent the spirituall Censures in like cases so he resolv'd upon an Interdiction yet he wold give the Senat twenty four daies of longer time to consider herof wherunto the Cardinalls gave their suffrages but a Libell was cast up and down the streets of Venice that the Consistory herin was brought to assentari not assentiri A little while after the Interdict was affix'd in the accustomed places of the City of Rome and scatter'd ev'ry wher som in Latin som in Italian wherin after recapitulation of those Decrees in Venice and the imprisonment of the foresayed Church-men The Pope declar'd that after the example of ten of his Predecessors with the Councell and consent of the Cardinalls after mature deliberation though the former sayed Decrees of the Senat were of themselfs void and of no validity neverthelesse he now declar'd them to be such therfore he did excommunicat declare and pronounce for excommunicated as if they had bin particularly nam'd the Duke and Senat of Venice which then were and which shold be herafter together with all their favourers promoters and Councellors if within the term of twenty four daies to be counted from the day of the Publication the Duke and Senat did not recall abrogat and disanull the Decrees aforesayed without any exception or excuse and if they caus'd not openly and in all places the sayed abrogation to be publish'd as also actually to render into the hands of his Nuntio the imprison'd Canon and Abbot That from this Excommunication they could not be absolv'd but by the Pope except it were upon the point of death in which case if any one receav'd absolution and shold afterwards recover health he shold fall again within this Excommunication if he did not as far as in him lay obey this his commandment that untill they had obey'd he forbad any one to be buried in holy place and if after the sayed twenty four daies the Duke and Senat shold continue in their obstinacy he put all their State under the Interdict in such sort that none shold celebrat Masse or Divine Service he depriv'd the Duke and Senat likewise of all their goods which they held of the Church of Rome or of other Churches as also of all their Priviledges and indults obtain'd by it and specially of that Priviledge inabling them to proceed against Clerks in certain cases reserving to himself and his Successors a power to aggravat and re-aggravat this Censure against them and their adherents c. The public Ministers of State who were than resident at Rome made instances to the Pope to retard a while this Interdict the Marquis of Chastillon who was for the Emperor D' Alincourt who was for the French King The Count of Verriie who was for Savoy but his Holines was inflexible saying he wold bring the offendors to obey wherupon the Savoy Ambassador replied that the word obey was too harsh to be us'd towards a Soveraign Prince yet after the publication of the sayed Interdict the
into the horoscope of his Nativity and taken much pains to measure out his life and foretell his destiny he told him positively that he shold die in carcere Nobili in a Noble prison meaning the Dogeship or Dukedom of Venice which is barricadoed with so many restrictions specially That the Duke may not go out of the City of Venice without the knowledge and consent of the Senat c. that it may truly be call'd no other then a Noble Prison or golden Cage which made one say when the Senators were once so busie in their mysterious ballotations for creating a new Duke Here 's a great deal of stir for setting up a Head of Wood alluding to the small latitude of power the Duke hath ANTONIO PRIULI came to wear the Ducal Cap and the Coronet of Venice next after Nicolao Donato in his time ther was a League struck betwixt the Republic and the States of Holland to which purpose ther were splendid Embassies sent by both Parties but a little after this Duke breath'd his last FRANCISCO CONTARENO then succeeded at the beginning of whose Government the Republic made another League with the French King and the Duke of Savoy both these Leagues were made by the Republic of purpose to spite the Spaniard who had not long before set upon her skirts the Duke of Ossuna being Viceroy of Naples who wold pick a quarrell of purpose with Her about the extent of her Dominion in the Adriatic Gulph which war put S. Mark to spend much of his Tresure for the time A little after ther happen'd a keen war about the Valtoline wherin the Republic was interested and stir'd nimbly in it and good reason she had to do so against the House of Austria Whilest the wars lasted 'twixt the Republic and the Duke of Ossuna she hiâ—…'d som men of War from England and Holland the two thousand English which were under the command of Sir Harry Payton complain'd about the conditions of their pay which were not so good as those the Hollander had Herupon a mutiny happen'd and som of the English died by Martiall Law but Mr. Herbert one of the chiefest of them was pardon'd in regard he was allied to William then Erl of Pembroke who interceded strongly for him and had a great stroke with the Venetian Ambassador at that time resident in England GIOVANNI COâ—…RELIO was the next in succession to Priuli About these times ther was a notable and most rigid though mistaken piece of Justice upon the person of A. Foscarim â—… Noble Venetian and Senator of the wide Sleeve which is of the best rank who had bin formerly employed Ambassador in England and other places for the Republic Two pernicious malevolent fellows who it seems owed him a revenge for som crosse office he had done them did traduce and accuse this gentleman upon oath that he had had privat intelligence and litterall correspondence with the Spanish Ambassador Now the Republic of Venice hath bin alwaies observ'd above all other States to be so cautioâ—…s of home conspiracies by a kind of exces of circumspection that upon the least proof the party suspected is dispatch'd to the other world and never suffer'd to err twice in this kind the sayed mischievous fellow being pertinacious in his accusation this infortunat gentleman was condemn'd and being drag'd to the place was executed like a common Malefactor betwixt the two Columns in S. Marks place and sent on an Embassie to the other world though never to return The year had hardly com about that the sayed Accusers were apprehended and imprison'd condemn'd and executed for som flagitious crimes but as they were bidding a farewell to the world they confess'd that they had wrongfully and most injustly accus'd the sayed Noble gentleman therupon his body was taken up and re-inter'd with extraordinary solemnity and reparations made to his Heir in a high measure besides ther was a Manifesto publish'd by the Senat for the vindication of his honor and fidelity to the Republic Ther was a casuall ill-favour'd clash happen'd 'twixt England and Venice about these times which was thus England having a declar'd war then both against Spain and France Sir Kenelme Digby had got Letters of Mart or rather a Commission Royall from the King against the French he steer'd his cours into the Mediterranean and arriv'd at Algier upon the Coasts of Barbary wher being a Cavalier of that lustre and known to be a servant to his Majesty of great Britain he was magnificently receav'd so that he did many good offices for the English Captiffs that were ther thence he sail'd into the Ar hipelago and taking som prizes in the way he turn'd the Ships to men of War so that he came to have a Fleet of six Vessels strong After many encounters he made at last towards the Bay of Scanderon he came first before Cape Congare ten Leagues distant from Alexandretta or Scanderon whâ—…ch is counted the key of Aleppo by Sea and wher he lay at Hull all night On the morrow he sent a boat to descry the road and to bring back intelligence accordingly word was brought that ther were before Scanderon two Venetian Galeasses with two other Galeons two English Ships and som French Vessells one of which had com in but the day before being very rich and having not as yet unladen any thing Sir Kenelme spent all the night following surveyng the preparations for fight and firing in his severall Ships for that he expected a furious assault the next day from the Venetian Generall who had declar'd himself protector of that Road and was reported to have given out he wold sink all the English men of War he shold meet either in the Venetian or Gran Signor's Seas Sir Kenelme understanding this was not much daunted but made towards the Road having prepar'd all things and fitted his Ships for defence if need requir'd The Venetian Generall having weigh'd Anchor hois'd up his Sails and directed his cours towards the English Fleet and being com within half a League Sir Kenelme sent a Satty to inform the Venetians of his quality and that he sail'd by vertu of his Majesty of great Britains Royall Commission giving them assurance of all respect and friendship and that the French were the only object of his attempts for which he had sufficient warrant He sent Letters also to the two English Vessells that were in the Bay for their satisfaction that his businesse was not to disturb their Negotiations But before this Satty could go aboard to deliver the Venetian Generall this message the Admirall Galeasse of the Venetians discharg'd seven or eight shots the first wherof lighting short was receav'd as a salute and was answer'd with another piece from the English but som of the rest hitting Sir Kenelmes Ship and seeing that â—…hey aim'd at his Flag he gave them three or four broad sides in a very short space which did much hurt both to the Venetian and the French
lost almost all the Towns she had in the firm Land of Lombardy as far as Padoua The great Turk offer'd the Republic aid in this exigent but she modestly refus'd any Besides other places she receav'd a most fearfull overthrow hard by Abdua being thus oppress'd with the spirituall Armes of Rome and most of the temporall Armes of Europe rather then break she complemented with the Emperour and bow'd to the Pope by delivering him those places aforesayed in Flaminia Among others the Cardinall of York in England did do her good Offices to the Pope as her Annales make mention The French having taken Milan and other places grew insolent in Italy therefore there was a new confederacy made 'twixt the Pope the King of Spain and the Venetians at Ravenna the French became Victors in a great battail but a little after the Swisse coming in as Confederates against them they were totally routed and driven over the Hills again The Venetians recover'd Crema and the Spaniard having taken Bressia and delaying to render it to Venice there was a new occasion offer'd for the Republic to make a League with France again against the Spaniard and Francis the first by their help regain'd Milan The Republic was never so driven to her shifts as she was in the time of this Duke in divers traverses of warr and confederacies against her which she dissolv'd by pure policy more then any power She was afterwards much persecuted by Pope and Emperour in so much that Maximilian sent to Selim the new great Turk an Ambassador to invite him to a warr against the Venetians and to invade their Sea Coasts while he assaulted them by Land Pope Leo sent Petro Bembo upon a solemn Embassie to the Republic that they shold break with the French and League with the Emperour and Spaniards against them whereunto the Senat made this grave answer That his Holinesse Ambassador was greatly pleasing to the Senat as well in respect of himself whose vertue and particular affection towards their Countrey was sufficiently known to all men as likewise in regard of the Prince who sent him seeing the Republic had ever born all reverence and honour to the Soveraign Bishops of Rome but they more particularly inclin'd to Pope Leo that the Senat had ever most highly esteem'd his good and wholesom Counsell but the mischiefe was that by how much they above all others had desir'd his friendship and alliance in that incertainty of all things by so much more were they continually kept from it and albeit their love was never disjoyn'd from him yet their forces were ever divided as then they did humbly thank his Holinesse and confess'd themselfs much bound unto him in that he had bin ever ready by divers good offices to embrace and favour their cause even so likewise they were extremely griev'd that they could not follow his Counsell it being their ancient custom not to leave an old friend for a new specially being not provok'd thereunto by any wrong their ancient Fathers thinking that alone to be profitable which was most honest therefore they could not without great blemish of their reputation break or abandon the alliance which they had already contracted with the French And if the Pope wold call to mind the ancient benefits of the French Kings not only to the Venetian Common-wealth but likewise to the Church and consider the wealth and power of that Kingdome he wold not only excuse but commend the Venetian Councel and be desirous himself to follow it because that being back'd by the French Forces with those of the Venetian ther was likelihood that he shold be abler to lay surer foundations as well for the state of the Church as for the greatnesse and advancement of his own house Hereupon the Republic sent Ambassadors both to Lewis of France and Henry of England to congratulat their alliance for old Lewis had married young Henries Sister and to streighten this League betwixt them against the Emperour The Republic likewise employed two Ambassadors to confirm the peace with the great Turk Selim who had newly subdued the Mammalukes and Soldan that had bin Lords of the Gran Cayro and Egypt above three hundred years Anno 1516. The French King sent to borrow one hundred thousand Crowns of the Venetians towards the end of this Dukes Government which was done accordingly Lewis King of Hungary sent two Ambassadors unto them who procured both men and money against the Turk Prince Lorâ—…dano having sate at the stern of the Republic twenty years in most tempestuous times payed nature her last debt and made way for ANTONIO GRIMANI who about the beginning of his Government was sollicited that the Republic of Venice might be Godmother to a daughter of France The face of affairs in Christendom being much chang'd at the coming in of Charles the fifth the Emperor the Venetians wav'd their league with France who was ready to invade Italy for the Dutchy of Milan and enter'd into an alliance with the Emperor cashiering Trivaltio who was too much affected to the French and making the Duke of Vrbin their generall and this was done principally by Pope Adrian the fourth his intercession who was a low Dutchman having bin a Brewers son in Vtrecht and Schoolmaster to Charles the fifth in this Dukes time the Isle of Rhodes was taken by the Turk to the great detriment of Christendom and dishonor to her Princes 1522. ANDREA GRITTI succeeded GRIMANI about the beginning of whose principality the Venetians depart from the French and for important reasons of State enter into league with the Pope and Emperor the French King makes himself again master of Milan and of divers other places in Italy The Venetians upon emergent reasons of State leave the Emperor and renew their confederacy with the French but during this League the French King was taken prisoner at Pavia and carried into Spain and after foure years captivity dismissed Rome is beleaguer'd by the Spaniards the walls seal'd by the Duke of Bourbon who in the action breath'd his last and Pope Clement besieg'd in the Castle of S. Angelo the King of England Hen. VIII was one of the principall instruments both of the French King and Popes enlargement The French rush again 'ore the hills to Italy take Pavia and destroy it The Venetians seize Monopolis in the Kingdome of Naples Doria Admirall for the French o'recoms the Imperiall Fleet but he turn'd afterwards to the Emperour The Vicount of Tureen coms upon a splendid Embassie to Venice in the Popes behalf to entreat them that they wold satisfie the Pope by rendition of Ravenna and Cervia the Senat alledg'd their just Titles to them having receiv'd the one from Obizzo Polente Lord therof more than four hundred years pass'd and that Cervia was fallen to the Republic by the Testament of Dominico Malateste for which she was to pay yearly som godly Legacies which they continued for performance of the Testators will they representd further
is a certain way to break guide and keep in aw all other Animalls though never so savage and strong but there is no such certain way to govern a swarm of men in regard of such frequent turbulencys of spirit and variety of opinions proceeding from the Rationall faculty which other cretures that are contented only with sense are not subject unto and this may be sayed to be one of the inconveniences that attend Reason But if ever any hath brought humane government and policy to a science which consists of certitudes the Venetian Republic is She who is as dextrous in ruling men as in rowing of a gallie or gondola otherwise She could never have lasted so long and kept in such an exact obedience 3. millions of men for therabouts by frequent censes that have bin made is the nomber of her subjects We are going now to describe the method this Republic hath allwayes us'd in Her goverment which is the most materiall thing in point of knowledg For to stand raking the ashes of times pass'd to find out the pedigree of a Peeple Countrey or Cittie or to know their power and wealth their exploits and extent of territory affoords only matter of discours but to pry into the policy and soul of a State wheron her goverment and whole incolumity depends is a knowledg far more advantagious and usefull for therin ther may be things for imitation Therfore in treating of this Republic I will begin with the most necessary part viz. the form of her Goverment THe Venetian Goverment is a compounded thing for it is a mixture of all kinds of goverments if the division of the Philosopher into Monarchy Aristocracy and Democracy be allowed to be perfect This goverment may be sayed to have a grain of Monarchy a dose of Democracy and a dramm if not an ounce of Optimacy The Duke Doge or Prince hath something of a Monarch in him as will further appeer The Senat which consists of 120. Counsellors of Decemvirs whose Colledg consists of 17. Senators and of Sages or Praeconsultors which make a nomber of 16. choice men The great Councell which is composd of a generall convention of Cittizens and this hath much of Democracy in it Of the Duke or Prince of Venice ALL things to whom the God of Nature hath given an entity propâ—…nd to unity wherin Earth comes to the nearest resemblance with Heaven for nothing conduceth more to regularity and order no strength is so operative as the united therfore the Venetian peeple having tryed for som hundred yeers the goverment of Consulls and afterwards of Tribunes they found it an inconvenience or deformity rather to have two heads upon one body and so thought it at last a better policy to sett upp one head but the miscarriage and exorbitancies of the Tribunes were the cause that they fell upon this alteration Whereupon a Generall Assembly being convokd wherin the Bishop of Grada presided divers Speeches were made That ther was no more hope of the Venetian Commonwealth and public liberty which had bin preservd and purchasd by their noble Progenitors with such heroic resolution unlesse the tyranny of the Tribunes might be suppressd otherwise they might be sayed to have left the firm land to find out slavery among the waters c. Many high acrimoniall Orations were pronouncd at this Convention of that nature wherof ther was one more notable than the rest which is inserted before the legend of Paulutio Anafesto the first Duke or Prince of Venice as will appeer herafter in the Historicall part of this Work Upon the pronouncing of these Speeches they gave an unanimous shout and suffrage that a Duke or Prince should be elected who might represent the whole honor and Majesty of the State but with such cauteles and reservations that might consist with the public Liberty And this mutation happend according to the approvedst Authors in the yeer after the incarnation 697. This Duke ever since hath had the prime place in the Republic He hath a kind of Regall though dependent power He hath the representation and gravity of a Soverain Governor He is allwaies stild Serenissime Princeps and reverence is don to him accordingly He goes allwayes cladd in silk and purple somtimes he shewes himself to the public in a robe of cloth of gold and a white mantle He hath his head coverd with a thinn coyf and on his forhead upward he weares a crimson kind of mitre with a gold border and behind it turns up in form of a horn On his sholders he carries Ermin skinns to the middle which is still a badg of the Consulls habit On his feet he weares embroderd Sandalls tied with gold buttons and about his middle a most rich Belt embroderd with costly jewells In so much that the habit of the Duke when at festivalls he shewes himself in the highest state is valued at above 100000. crownes He hath a place elevated like a Throne in the Senat. Besides public he hath peculiar Officers and Ministers of his own dignified with sundry titles who have their salary from the Republic He hath a Chancelor a Knight Major who is by particular appellation calld the Dukes Knight He hath divers Chaplaines and Churchmen to attend him commonly calld Donzelli who wayt on him when he goes abroad All Magistrats and Cittizens whatsoever speak to him standing and bare-headed but he doth not rise up to any All public Letters go forth in his name being seald with lead a particular priviledg which Pope Alexander the third gave him for the high favors that Venice did the said Pope when he was forcd to fly thither for Sanctuary against the rage of the Emperour Frederic Barbarossa All Decrees Lawes and public instruments are promulgd in his name All coines as well gold as sylver bear his stamp All Letters from forren Princes are addressd to him and answers returnd under his hand and whether he be present or no yet all Speeches are directed to him being stild allwayes by Ambassadors and others Serenissimo Principe Most gracious Prince in the concret and Serenità in the abstract The office of the Duke was of larger extent at first but now the principall duties of it are That he preside in all Councells as well the great Councell as other Colleges of Senators That he have care that every Magistrat acquit himself of his duty That every Wensday he visit all the Courts and put every one in remembrance of his office that privat causes be not neglected or public delayed He is not capable of any other inferior office if he find that any one neglects his duty he is to convent him before the whole Colledg and give him sharp reprehensions but he never useth to do so in privat and if the offence require it he transmitts him over to the Judges He is often to grace with his presence the Courts of Justice wher he hath a suffrage but He can passe no public Instrument nor dispatch any
and honorable Persons full of Piety and Religion specially those of Aquileia Padua and Heraclea who with their substance and families came first to Grada and thence to the Rialto Those places wheron at this day the Cittie of Venice is seated being then but bare Iles and Mansions for Fish as many parts of Holland was Now those of Padua were they that began to build at the Rialto where the first foundation was layed and is now as it were the Center of the Cittie How religiously the same was don may be conjecturd because by how much the more one did affect Christianity so much more he shunnd the conversation of the barbarous peeple The Temple of God was the first House that was in intention though not in execution because it was a work of time wherof the first Stone was layed in Saint Marks Place the 25. of March about the Vernall Equinoctiall in the beginning of the Spring which may be sayed to be a good cause why the Cittie florishd so wonderfully ever sinee for about the same time the first Man receavd his Creation and the Redeemer of Mankind his Conception Now allbeit for populating this new Cittie all the most experienced Mariners were calld from all parts with promise of reward to such as could build Shipps yet as the old Records have it they were carefull not to admitt any man of a servile condition or any Murtherer or Fugitifs for offences with such sorts of men we find that Rome was first populated The new Cittie did daylie encrease in Inhabitants and building when a fyre kindled upon a sudden and burnt 24. Houses and because the matter which fedd the fyre was scatterd here and there and so could not be quenchd by humane strength all the peeple betook themselfs to their prayers and as the Record hath it so soon as they had made a vow to erect a Church to the honor of God calld Saint Iames Church the fury of the fyre ceased This Church is to be seen standing to this day in good repair in the midst of the Rialto and this was about the yeer 400. At first they were governd by Consulls then came they under a Tribunary power then under a Prince or Duke because ther is a greater energie of love and power in unity yet this Duke is but a kind of Collegue with som others of the Senators and differs only from them in the rising corner of his Capp When he goes abroad in State the Sword is carried behind him but before the Senat who com after him and he is so restraind that 't is impossible for him to be a Tyrant Ther have bin since the beginning of this Principality neer upon 100. Dukes wherof 12. have bin either slain or sentencd Ther is choice and chance that concurr in his creation Now as Senatus ex Populo so Princeps è Senatu oritur and commonly one of the Procurators of Saint Mark is chosen As the Popes so the Princes of Venice are made of ancient men who have passd through divers Offices and so have bin long bredd up in the School of Experience which is that great Looking-glasse of Wisedom Persons that have their humors daunted and their passions mortified in them Contarenus describes the election of the Duke in this maner Presently upon the vacancy all the Gentry above 30. do assemble So many as meet cast their names into a Pott and in another are just so many Balls wherof 30. only are gilt then a Child draweth for each till the 30. gilt ones be drawn for which 30. the Child draweth again a second time out of another Pott that hath only 9. gilt Balls The 9. so drawn nominat 40. out of which 40 12. are again selected by the same kind of lott These 12. nominat 25. out of whom 9. are by lott sett again apart These 9. nominat 45. who are by lott reducd again to 11. These 11. choose 41. of the Senat of the best and principall rank These 41. after evry one hath tied himself by solemn Oath to choose whom they shall think most worthy write in Scrolls whom they think most worthy the Scrolls are mingled together and then drawn the fittnes of the Persons thus drawn is discussd and he who hath most voices above 25. is the Man whom they pronounce to be elected and adjudg him to be created Duke with all Solemnities by lott allso they choose Gentlemen to sitt in the Senat and creat public Officers so that this Republic hath much of the modell of Platoes platform Som derive the Etimologie of this rare Cittie from Venetia which in old Latin signifieth the frothing or seething of the Sea for as Varro hath it Venetia est maris exaestuatio quae ad littus pellitur Ther are 72. Iles that support Venice and the nearest part of the Continent is 5. miles distant Ther be Banks and Dikes cast up to preserve her from the impetuousnes of the waves extending in length above 6. miles through which ther are 7. places broken out for passages of Boats but no way for Vessells of bigger burden saving at Malamocca which is 3. miles distant from the main Cittie and at the Castles of Lio which are fortified according to the utmost art of Enginry So that t is impossible to surprize Venice or to take Her unlesse it be by an Army of 150. miles compasse She is above 8. miles in circuit and hath of all sorts neer upon 1000. Bridges Besides ther be above 20000. Gondolaes which ply up and down perpetually som wherof have two rowers som more so that in case of necessity the Cittie could make an Army of above 50000. Gondoliers Her Fabriques public and privat are extraordinary specious and sumptuous and Her Streets so neat and eevenly pavd that in the dead of Winter one may walk up and down in a pair of Sattin Pantables and Crimson Silk Stockins and not be dirtied Ther are above 200. Palaces fitt to receave any Prince with his ordinary retinue In fine Her situation is so rare evry street allmost having an arm of the Sea running through it and Her Structures so magnificent and neat that this Virgin Cittie useth to ravish at first sight all Strangers that come to visit Her specially if they com from Sea and not passd through others of the dainty Townes of Italie Venice besides Her 150 Churches and Monasteries hath three things worthy of sight viz. Saint Marks Church and Steeple the Tresury and the Arsenal The Church is built throughout with rare Mosaique work and the furniture of the Church surpasseth the Fabrique in richnes Her Walls are inlayed in many places with precious Stones of divers colours and in such a maner that they seem to be the work of Nature rather than of Art but the full description of this Temple shall be reservd for another place viz. for that time that Saint Marks body was first transported from Alexandria to Venice which will appeer in the Historicall part
a Spurrier to Queen Elizabeth To speak of the sundry sorts of Antiquities Monuments and ingenious Epitaphs which are in the Churches up and down Venice wold afford matter enough to fill Volumes I will only produce an instance of one extraordinary odd kind of Epitaph upon Peter Aretin in S. Lukes Church Qui giace l'Aretin Poeta Tosco Chi disse mal d'ognun fuor che di Dio Scusandosi dicendo n'ol conobbi Englished thus The Toscan Aretin lies in this Grave He who at all excepting God did rave And if the reason you desire to have He knew Him not Having thus endeavourd to sett forth this Mayden Cittie in Her tru colours and made the narrowest inspection into Her Water we could the close of Her Character shall be som peculiar Epithetts that are given to Her among the rest of the fair Towns of Italy as followeth Fama tra noj Roma pomposa santa Venetia riccha saggia signorile Napoli odorifera Gentile Fiorenza bella tutto il mondo canta Grande Milano in Italia si vanta Bologna grassa Ferrara civile Padona dotta Bergamo sottile Genoa di superbia altiera pianta Verona degna perugia sanguigna Brescia T'armata Mantoa gloriosa Rimini buona Pistoia ferrigna Cremona antica Luca industriosa Furli bizarro Ravenna benigna Et Singallia de l'aria noiosa Et Capoâ—…a l'amorosa Pisa frendente Pesaro giardino Ancona bel Porto al Pellegrino Fidelissimo Urbino Ascoli tondo lungo Recanate Foligno delle strade inzuccarate Et par da'l cielo mandate Le belle donne di Fano si dice Mà Siena poj tra l'altre più selice Among all these Citties we find that Venice is rankd next Rome and hath three as it were proverbiall attributs given Her higher than any of the rest viz. to be Rich Wise and Ladylike or Stately wherunto I shall add another saying Venegia Venegia chi non Ti vede non Ti pregia the Eye is the best Judg of Venice Having now don with the Topography and local description of Venice together with Her method of Goverment and Magistracy both Urban Rurall Having allso given som touches of her wealth power and extent of Dominion with other singularities peculiar to Her We will now make som reserches into Her Annalls and speak of Her Martiall Exploits up and down the World as allso of the transactions and traverses of State twixt other Princes and Her which are various and very remarkable She having allwayes bin one of the most politic and pragmaticall'st Republics on Earth Therfore in Her 's the Story of many parts of Christendom and other Regions may be sayed to be involvd All which shall be don in a regular way of succinctnes and a speciall care had to avoyd trivialties and impertinencies as well as that no materiall passage may be omitted OF THE PRINCES AND DUKES OF VENICE PAULUTIO ANAFESTO THE FIRST DOGE OR DUKE OF VENICE VNity is as much requisit for the well-being of things as Entity is for their being the Philosophers as formerly was said call it the highest point of perfect on all bodies incline and propend towards it by a secret instinct of nature as to their Center The Republic of Venice therefore finding som inconveniences or half a kind of confusion if not a deformity to have two heads upon one body grew weary of the Tribunitial Power and so resolv'd to reduce the Soverain Authority under one to which purpose a notable Speech was made to this effect That there was no more hope to be had of the Venetian Common-wealth nor yet of their Liberty which had bin pourchased and maintain'd by their Progenitors with such generosity unlesse the fury of the Tribunes expired that their self-same Ancestors had in times past for the sweetnesse of Liberty abandoned their most pleasant Countrey their Houses and all other matters which men commonly esteem most dear and were com into barren Ilands where there was nothing that might invite them to dwel That if they could have dispens'd with their Liberty they might with all safety have remain'd in the City where they were first born and brought up and with this losse alone might have liv'd peaceably among the Barbarians but being full of innated courage they suppos'd that they ought not to lose their Freedom but with their lives wherefore divers of those that were there present following the example of their Predecessors came only into those places to live at Liberty To what purpose then was their designs what profit had they by their dislodging why had they so many Churches Buildings and so many public and private Houses why did they forsake the firm land to eschew bondage and yet meet it in the midst of the waters by the insolency of a few whither it was likely that the barbarous enemy who was so near them wold take any rest till he had found som means to â—…uinat this new Domicile of Liberty seeing that Tyrants hate nothing so much as that Name and undoubtedly 't was his wish to see the whole Venetian State destroy'd by civill discord which he could not shake by any other means Hereupon they suddenly resolv'd to elect a new Duke who shold represent the Honor and Majesty of the whole State and have power to Assemble the General Councell to choose Annual Tribunes in the inferior Ilands from whence the Appeals should come before him and moreover if any had obtain'd any dignity oâ—… Prelatship by the suâ—…rages of the Clergy he shold not enjoy the same without the ratification of the Duke Upon these Deliberations PAULUTIO of Heraclea a man of integrity evperience and courage was chosen Duke after the Cities foundation about 276. He took an Oath well and faithfully to provide whatsoever should be fit for the honor of the Common-wealth and the Venetian Name hereupon he was adorn'd with divers Noble Ensigns to make the Dignity the more illustrious Being instal'd Duke his first care was to free the Republic of the War that was than afoot with Luitprand which he did and he extended the limits of Heraclea from the River of Piâ—…vo unto the little stream call'd Piaricolle and brought the Equilines under his Dominion In his time those of Tourcedes built a Magnificent Temple to the honor of the Virgin Mary which is yet standing and in good repair to this day MARCELLO TEGALIANO succeeded PAULUTIO who swayed o're the Signory twenty years and upwards this Duke MARCELLO got more repute by Peace then Warre and governed nine yeares HORâ—…O call'd URâ—…US HYPATUS succeeded MARCELLO the Longobards at that time had taken Ravenna and the Exarch flying to Venice for refuge by the intercession of the Pope the Venetians rais'd a considerable Army and took Ravenna again and restor'd it to to the Exarch in which exploit PRODEUS of Vicenza a person of renown was slain this Duke was of a spirit more haughty then ordinary and
reduc'd Corfu first into subjection DOMINICO MOROSINI succeeded POLANI who reduc'd to obedience the tumultuons Istrians in Pola they of Ancona were admitted to the Venetian Society there was also a League struck with William King of Sicilie whereby the Venetian got divers priviledges in that Iland in their public marts VITALIS MICHAELI succeeded the second of that Name he sides strongly with the Pope against Barbarossa the Emperour The Republic receaves much detriment by the perfidiousnesse of Emanuel the Greek Emperour by seizing on all the Venetian Marchants up and down without warning given a great mortality happend in the Venetian Army because the Greeks had poyson'd the waters this Duke was murther'd in a popular sedition TEâ—…ASTIANO CYANI succeeded in his time ther was a Greek Emperour Emanuel who perfectly hated the Venetians and studied nothing more then to do them mischief and the chiefest grounds of this hatred was that lighting upon a book of predictons he was frighted with one verse which sayeth that those of Adria should one day command Constantinople which was interpreted to be Venice This Emanuel drew from her confederacy Ancona but she making a League with Ariminium brought Ancona to the former amity The Tresure of Venice being much exhausted and melted by reason of so many irons she had in the fire it was decreed that the moneys of particular men layed in deposite shold be brought to the Tresury of S. Mark to be employ'd and kept in the Name of the Common-wealth as need shall be untill the City had recover'd her self Ther happen'd at that time a mortall feud 'twixt Pope Alexander and the Emperour Frederick who favor'd Octavian the Antipope The Pope fled disguis'd to Venice and continued so a good while in the Hospitall of Charity Being discover'd at last the Venetians sent an Ambassador to the Emperour for an accommodation the Pope being present when the Credentiall Letters to the Emperour were to be seal'd with wax he commanded in favour of the Republic that ever after the Dukes Letters shold be seal'd with lead which is observ'd ever since The Venetian Ambassadors being com before Fredrerick were courteously intreated at first but so soon as the mention Pope Alexander he fell into a rage and sayed Get you hence and tell your Prince and peeple that Frederick the Roman Emperour demandeâ—…h his enemy who is com to them for succour whom if they send not presently bound hand and foot with a sure gard he will proclaim them enemies to him and the whole Empire and that ther is neither alliance or Law of Nations which shall be able to free them from his revenge for such an injury to prosecut which he is resolv'd to overturn all divine and human Laws that he will suddenly bring his Forces before their City and contrary to their expectation plant his victorious Eagles in the Market place of S. Mark The Ambassadors at their return to Venice having reported all this they decreed to arm a great nomber of Ships and make themselfs ever masters of the Sea but while they were thus preparing news was brought that Otho the Emperours son was entred into the Gulph with 75. Gallies CIANI the Duke resolv'd to meet him with as many Gallies as were ready before he launch'd out the Pope sang Masse himself with speciall prayers for the prosperity of the enterprize and honor'd the Duke with the golden Sword and other Ensigâ—…s of Knighthood so he met with the Imperiall Fleet upon the Coasts of Istria where he utterly defeated the Emperours Son made him prisoner and took 48. Gallies besides the Duke being com so triumphantly ashore the Pope presented him with a gold ring saying Take CIANI this ring and by my advice give it to the Sea obliging him thereby unto thee which both thou and thy Succâ—…ssors likewise shall for ever hereafter yearly do on this same day to the end posterity may know that ye have in times past by right of warr pourchas'd the entire Dominion over the Sea making it subject unto you as a woman is to her husband The Venetians suffer'd Otho upon his parole to go to his Father promising to return howsoever being com into the Emperours presence he embrac'd him with the more joy because he had bin doubtfull whether he had bin alive or no Otho began to discourse of the battail referring the defeat to have happen'd by Gods providence saying further that he had not omitted any thing that might becom a carefull Captain and that ther wanted nothing to have obtain'd a victory but a just quarrell it behov'd his Majesty then to believe that God was powerfull therein not men seeing so mighty an Army as theirs was and not being slow to fight was defeated by a few who were not half their nomber and howsoever they might well overthrow and destroy human Forces yet 't was impossible to surmount Divine therefore he did most humbly beseech his Caesarean Majesty no more to trouble Alexander for his place whose quarrell he might perceave by the successe to be maintain'd not only by men but by God himself alleging further that he had already disquieted him with the Forces of the Empire and sought to put him from his seat but all in vain that therfore he shold do a deed pleasing to all men and worthy of a Christian if all hatred being forgotten it would please him to change his mind and after assurance taken from the Venetians of his safe conduct he wold be pleas'd to visit the Pope and give open satisfaction Otho's advice proceeding so ingeniously from him did mightily prevail with Frederick wherupon he resolv'd to go to Venice and PIETRO CIANI the Dukes Son was sent with six Gallies to attend him at Ravenna being arriv'd at Venice the Emperour without more adoe went to see the Pope who tarried for him at S. Marks Gate in the highest gravity of State when the Emperour came nere him he threw off his purple robe and crept on his knees to his Holinesse feet which he humbly kiss'd The Pope rais'd him up and embrac'd him then both going to the Church went to the high Altar where that famous Table of Massie gold which useth to be in S. Marks Tresury was taken out of purpose and so a perfect reconcilement vvas made From Venice the Pope and Frederick went to Ancona attended by Prince CIANI the City sent out tvvo Canopies one for the Pope the other for the Emperour but the Pope commanded a third to be brought for the Prince of Venice allovving that for ever after he and his Successors shold use one at all Solemnities Alexander being com to Rome among other triumphs there were other silver Trumpets made to welcom him whereof he took eight and gave the Prince of Venice which the Republic shold use ever after in all solemnities CIANI taking his leave of the Pope and being return'd to Venice Mariners were appointed to receave him in the Bucentoro being landed he had a
that being once done ther was no doubt but the other might follow after So after many other prevalent reasons Perron obtain'd of the Pope that seeing for the present he could not prevail in the Jesuits behalf he shold let it passe and insert a Clause in the Article wherby it might appear to the world that he had not neglected their restauration then the Cardinall speaking of the Commission the Pope wold hardly be drawn therunto supposing it to be dishonorable to the Sea Apostolic in regard that the revocation of Censures ought to be done at Rome and not sent to Venice yet the Cardinal alledging divers reasons to the contrary the Pope at last consented to give the Cardinal Ioyeuse Commission to revoke the Censures which he shold carry with him to Venice but on this condition to do his best for the restauration of the Iesuits before he disannull'd the Interdiction He also though with som difficulty induc'd his Holines to be pleas'd that the French Ambassador resident at Rome and not he who lay at Venice shold in the French Kings and the Signories Name crave of him the revocation of the Censures in writing for the Pope told him that the Spanish Ambassador resident at Venice had crav'd it in the name of his Master and the Republic In a word the Pope granted all his demands only he seem'd unwilling to declare his intention to the Consistory saying that he suppos'd he ought not to do it publiquely because he had not yet acquainted the Cardinalls herwith neverthelesse he wold resolve upon 't and the next day in the Consistory wold impart it to som particular Cardinalls and the same afternoon call one after another into his Chamber to take their suffrages in secret According to this resolution the Pope having in the Consistory declar'd his intent to som particular Cardinalls he did the same afternoon call the rest into his Chamber secretly to take their Opinions and in that businesse spent the whole week The Spaniards being not well pleas'd that they were not sought unto in this businesse and desirous to frustrate the matter divulg'd certain rumors contrary to the Popes will and meaning and among others a cunning letter was written by Don Francisco de Castro wherin he certified the Pope that if he stood first for restoring the Iesuits he was likely to obtain it and that the Republic determin'd to make a Protestation by surrendring the Prisoners contrary to that which had bin concluded and which his Holines had promis'd to himself these false rumors distracted the Pope who therupon made som difficulty to proceed further but Cardinall Perron solliciting him and assuring him of the contrary he deliver'd according to his former resolution the Commission to Cardinall Ioyeuse willing him to make hast to Venice The Spaniards being not able to crosse this resolution made sute to have Cardâ—…nall Zapata joyn'd in Commission with Cardinall Ioyeuse but their labour in that point was lost and yet in other Solemnities Zapata and the Spanish Ambassadour had in appearance som intelligence with the French Ministers because in the Kings Name they were Sureties for the Signory as were Cardinall Ioyeuse and the French Ambassador for his Christian Majesty yet the world accounted it but a vain and idle fable for they had no such Authority from the Republic as had the French who executed their Commission to their Kings advantage and honor Cardinall Ioyeuse with the Commission receav'd from his Holines containing the conditions wheron the Censures were to be revok'd being in nomber six goes on his journey The conditions were to this effect 1. That the two Churchmen prisoners namely the Abbot of Nerveze and the Chanon of Vicenza shold be freely given to the Pope 2. That his Holines shold revoke his Censures making a Declaration therof to the Colledge 3. That the Venetian Signory shold within a while after send an Ambassage to the Pope That the Venetian Duke by a Declaration shold certifie the Clergy under the State that the first Declaration is revok'd That the three Decrees mention'd in the Popes Inderdiction and other Laws of the Signory shold continue in their full force and power with this Proviso That the Senat shall promise the French and Catholic King not to execute them till the businesse be fully concluded 'twixt his Holines and the Signory having first more amply inform'd the Pope of the justice and equity of those Laws Lastly that all Churchmen and Religious Orders which are banish'd and expuls'd from Venice or the Jurisdiction therof by reason of these troubles may return home to their houses and Convents but concerning the return of the Jesuits his Holines is contented to defer it till an Ambassador from the Signory hath treated particularly with him concerning that point certifying him that their expulsion proceeds from certain causes and reasons which have no community with the Interdiction and if it shall be found otherwise then to admit their restauration as well as of other Ecclesiastiques Now Cardinall Ioyeuse departed from Rome with his Commission and the Articles aforesayed and arriv'd at Venice wher he was extraordinarily entertain'd many Senators going to meet him in the Bucentaure the next day one of the States Secretaries accompanied with the Captain and other Officers of the Prison were sent to him and for the greater solemnity with a public Notary brought the two prisoners to the House of Monsieur du Fresne Ambassador for the French King at Venice and deliver'd them unto him as granted to the Pope at the instance of the King his Master without prejudice to the States Jurisdiction in such cases and the French Ambassadour did presently consign them to the hands of Cardinall Ioyeuse who was in the same House in the presence of the Secretary with these words These are the prisoners which the Signory hath granted to his Holines not adding at whose entreaty and so the Cardinall receav'd them as his proper prisoners wherunto the Secretary at that time made no reply In this manner by this omission on the one part and silence on the other it seemed that som did not well understand what remain'd betwixt the Pope and the Signory The next morning the Cardinall came to the Colledge and after som circumstances of the Popes Fatherly goodnesse he assur'd them that the Censures were revok'd so having given them his Benediction he went to celebrat the Masse in the Patriarks Church the Dukes first Declaration was revok'd also in this manner LEONARDO DONATO by the Grace of God Duke of Venice c. To the reverend Patriarks Archbishops and Bishops of our State and Jurisdiction of Venice and to the Vicars Abbots Priors Rectors of Parish Churches and all other Ecclesiasticall peeple Greeting SEeing it hath pleas'd our good God to find out a way wherby our Holy Father Pope Paul the V. hath bin duly inform'd as well of our good meaning as of the integrity of our actions and continuall honor and reverence
which we bear to the See of Rome and thereby to take away all cause of strife we as we have ever desir'd and procur'd Unity and good correspondence with the sayed See of which we are loving and obedient children do receave likewise this contentation to have at last obtain'd the accomplishment of our holy desire therfore we thought good by our Declaration to advertise you herof giving you besides to understand that whatsoever did belong herunto hath bin faithfully perform'd on both parts and the Censures and Interdiction remov'd the Protestation likewise we made against them hath bin and is revok'd we being desirous that herin as well as in all other our actions the Piety and Religion of our State may still more and more appear which we will carefully observe as our Predecessors have ever done Given in our Ducall Palace the 21. of Aprill 1607. Sign'd Marco Ottobon Secretary The Duke having publish'd this Declaration the Senat was not a little perplext with a doubt of no mean consequence which was that the Pope for his part having made no mention at all concerning books and writings publish'd in the behalf of the sayed Decrees nor of the Authors of the sayed books which were two very important points and which did threaten â—… breach of the whole reconcilement the State doubting that the Pope by this silence and Omission had an intent to proceed afterwards against the Authors of the sayed books by the ordinary way of Ecclesiastical Justice and thinking it dishonorable to abandon those that had done them so good and faithfull service after mature consultation the Senat made a very notable and honorable Decree that the Signory shold protect them against all dangers and assign them a perpetuall Pension A particular Narratif of the notable Contestation 'twixt Paulus Quintus and the Republic of Venice 1606. c. NOw in regard that ev'ry Corner of Christendome did ring aloud and sounds yet to this day of that high Contestation 'twixt Pope Paulus Quintus and the Republic I shall spend a little more oil and labour to acquaint the judicious Reader with the circumstances therof Paulus Quintus having ascended to the Pontificat the bent of all his consultations were to advance the Priviledges of the Church and mortifie the presumption those were his words of such secular Princes and States that seem'd to bandy against them specially of the Signory of Venice wherupon he employed thither in quality of Nuncio Horatio Maâ—…hei Bishop of Gâ—…erace a man so fervent in this cause that in full Assembly he told the Duke of Venice That Almes and other works of piety the frequenting of the Sacraments with all other good and Christian actions ad nihilum valent ultra were nothing available if men did not favour the Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction In privat Communication he also sayed That he had heard the piety of the City of Venice often and amply magnified yet he himself could perceave but little considering that Christian perfection doth not consist in deeds of charity and devotion as much as in exalting the Ecclesiasticall Authority which is the true Câ—…ment of that perfection Ther happen'd a little difference betwixt Paul the V. and the Republic of Luca at this time who in regard that many of her Citizens having chang'd their Relâ—…gion had retir'd themselfs to Protestant Countreys She publish'd an Edict by which all her Subjects were forbidden to have Comerce or to correspond any way with such persons This Edâ—…ct being come to the Pope he highly approv'd of the Law but he sayed That the State of Luca had no Authority to make any such Ordinance of her self because it concern'd Religion therfore he commanded that the sayed Edict shold be raz'd out of the Records promising to form another which shold be the same in substance but to be publish'd by his Pontificall Authority Ther happen'd about this time another clash 'twixt him and the Republic of Genoa who being inform'd that the Governors of certain lay-Fraternities instituted by devotion had not dispens'd the revenu with requisit fidelity She resolv'd to examin their accounts to which effects the books were commanded to be brought before the Duke but this was not well accepted by Paul the V. therfore he gave the Republic of Genoa to understand that these proceedings were against the Liberty Ecclesiastical So he expresly enjoyn'd them to revoke their Edicts otherwise he wold proceed to the Censure of Excommunication both these States complied with the Pope but the State of Venice was more stiff-neck'd and constant in the maintenance of her Decrees The first cloud of discontent 'twixt this Pope and the Venetians appeard when he having solicited the Republic for a contribution of summs of money to aid the Emperor in the warrs of Hungary against the Turk he receav'd from her a complementall deniall He afterwards propos'd the revocation of an Ordinance made by the Senat a little before forbidding the Subjects of the Signory to set forth any Vessells by Sea or to make any assurances or Companies for the traffic of any Merchandize whatsoever to be exported out of the State of Venice into any other Countreys unlesse it pass'd first by Venice alledging that this wold hinder the Commerce in the State of the Church and was against the Ecclesiasticall Liberty The Republic answer'd herunto That ev'ry Prince commands his Subjects in that which may serve for the commodity of his own Estate without considering what may follow therupon to neighbour Princes who cannot justly be therwith offended howsoever they may be in some sort incommoded therfore whensoever his Holines shall command his Subjects any thing which may turn to the profit of his Government the State wold not take it in ill part nor esteem it against their Liberty The Pope perceaving by this Essay that he could not compasse his ends these differences being not within the bounds of things spirituall and finding that his desires were so little prevalent with the Venetian thought to be quit with him som other way and an opportunity was offer'd a little after touching one Scipio Sarraceno Canon of Vicenza and upon the complaint of a young gentlewoman his cosen whose doore and ring therof which is a common kind of revenge in Italy he had besmear'd with excrements and don her som other wrongs she herupon complain'd to the Senat who therupon cited and imprison'd the Canon complaints herof being made to the Pope the Republic answer'd That the just Title and Authority which She hath to judge Ecclesiasticall persons in causes criminall were founded on the power of a naturall Prince and on custom never interrupted by the space of a thousand years and upwards which hath bin approv'd of by the Popes Breve's themselfs yet extant in the public Archives This being deliver'd by the Venetian Ambassador to Pope Paul he receav'd it with som impatience saying That the reasons alledg'd were frivolous that to judge of an affair it was to no purpose to ground it upon
sayed Ambassadors gave a solemn visit to the Venetian Ambassadors and communicated unto them what they had don with the Pope in the transaction of affairs The publication of this Interdict being flown to Venice it was order'd by the Senat that ev'ry one shold have recours to his prayers it was resolv'd upon to recall the Ambassador Extraordinary from Rome to testifie the resentment they had of the wrong but to leave the Leger Ambassador ther still to prevent an absolut rupture It was also determin'd to write to Gregorio Iustiniano then Ambassador in England that he shold inform the King herof Sir Henry Wootton Ambassador at that time in Venice complain'd that the Senat had communicated these things to other Forren Ministers before him but for the pretensions of the Pope he sayed he could not understand that Roman Theology c. Ther was public command given to all Prelats and Ecclesiasticall persons that they shold not publish or cause and suffer to be publish'd or affix'd in any place whatsoever any Bulls Monitories Breves or other writings which shold be sent unto them from Rome furthermore Proclamation was made under pain of incurring the displeasure of the Prince that whosoever had any copy of a certain Breve divulg'd at Rome touching the Republic he shold bring it to the Magistrats at Venice or to Governers of Castles and other Officers of the State Hereupon all peeple did so cheerfully obey this command that 't was a marvailous thing to see how many had bin imprinted and scatter'd neither was any one of them affix'd in any place by reason of the generall diligence of the peeple Duodo the Ambassador Extraordinary at Rome having receav'd order for his revocation went to take his leave of Pope Paul telling him that since his Holines wold not take into consideration the reasons by him represented and having no more to say or act he was recall'd the Pope answer'd with more mildnesse than ordinary That touching the difference he had don nothing but what his conscience and duty oblig'd him to do that the case was cleer and decided that in the whole order of his proceedings he had follow'd the example of his Predecessors that his weapons in this quarrell were spirituall the use wherof accorded well with that fatherly love which he had ever born to the Signory requiring only such obedience as the greatest Princes render him The Popes Nuntio at Venice after thâ—…s Interdict was observ'd to frequent the Colledg of the Iesuits wher were Possevino and Bernardin Castorio men eminently known the first had don great things in Moscovia the other had bin provinciall of the Jesuits when they were expell'd out of Lions with divers others of note The sayed Nuntio came som daies after to the Senat wher first shewing a resentment of what had pass'd he sayed that they ought not to proceed towards his Holines with such a repugnance that the Pope was mov'd by pure zeal and that yet if they yeelded a little all things might be accommoded to which effect he desir'd that his Serenity wold think upon a temperament that for his part he was not most ready to present and favour it The Duke answer'd that none of sound understanding could approve that a Republic so pious and Catholic shold be vex'd in such a fashion and that the actions of the Pope could not be justified that he had publish'd a Monitory which ev'ry one held injust without scruple that he fell upon so weighty a resolution without weighing before hand how the world is govern'd that his Holines could not have don an act more perillous to cast the Apostolic See upon the censure and hatred of all peeple and into a manifest danger that if the Republic shold think upon a separation it wold be follow'd with an irreparable losse but though the Republic wold not depart from her piety yet wold she defend her self that for his particular meaning the Nuntio he did well to perswade peace but he shold turn his speech to the Pope who troubled it Eight daies after the Nuntio had Audience again wherin speaking much of the Popes prudence he shew'd a displeasure that he saw no appearance of a temperament concluding That the Senat shold take heed lest while they desir'd to support a particular Law they might draw on themselfs universall ruine wherunto the Duke answer'd That he ought not to speak of prudence in the Pope who had us'd so much precipitation and that he shold do well to set before his eyes the imminent danger which may follow herupon and tell him that these Councells came from a man old in affairs of State as well as years The Pope hearing of the Proclamation against his Monitory how the pulse of the Venetians did beat who shew'd themselfs so obedient to the Senat and so forward to uphold their liberty he thought his Nuntio could not stay in Venice any longer with his honor therfore he sent him Letters of revocation and dismis'd from Rome Nani the Republiques Ambassador charging him expresly not to leave behind him any of his company yet he desir'd to see him before he went provided if he came unto him in quality of a privat man Nani made answer that he could not tell how to separat from his person the title of Ambassador so he left Rome being well accompanied out of Town with Roman Barons and gentlemen but with few Prelats The next morning the Pope sent after him a Colonell to accompany him throughout the State of the Church who o'retook him at Gorligno In Venice the Duke had caus'd a Manifesto to be publish'd and affix'd at ev'ry door That wheras he had receav'd advice of a publication made at Rome of a certain Breve fulminated against the Senat and Signory he being oblig'd to have a care of the public tranquillity and of the Authority of a Soveraign Prince did protest before God and all the world that he had not omitted any means possible to make the Pope capable of the most clear and strong reasons that were produc'd in behalf of the Republic but having found his ears shut and seen the Breve publish'd against reason and justice against the Doctrines of Holy Scriptures of the Fathers and Canons in prejudice of the secular Authority given by God and of the liberty of the State with the trouble of the repose of his Subjects and to the great scandall of all the world he did pronounce that Breve not only injust but meerly void and null and so unlawfull that he need not repute it needfull to have recours to such remedies as in other occasions the Republic and many Soveraign Princes have us'd against such Popes as out-pass'd their power exhorting and injoying that the Prelats continu in their accustomed courâ—… in celebration of Divine Service the Republic being resolv'd to persever in the Holy Catholic Faith and in the reverence of the Roman Church as they have done from the beginning Upon this
which he was accountable for to the Fameze bank in Rome for which he had engag'd his Castle of Castro herupon he was also excommunicated and a high feud fell out 'twixt the Cardinall Fameze and Cardinall Barberini the Popes Nephew herabouts The French Ambassador at Rome interpos'd in the businesse by instructions from his Master but Pope Vrâ—…an told him That he might chastise the Duke of Parma who was his Subject as well as his Christian Majesty dâ—…d take off the head of Montmoreney c. Herupon the Castro was secur'd for the Pope and besides he musters up an Army which advanc'd as far as the â—…rontires of Modena and so seconds his spirituall Arms which had gon before with the temporall making his Nephew Don Taddeo his Generall who demanded passage to go on to the invasion of Parma but he found more difficulty in this expedition then he did in the taking of Castro wher he found no opposition at all The Duke of Modena sent a complementall Answer to the Pontificiall Generall touching a free passage which in effect did countervail a deniall and this he did by consultation with his Neighbour States for this Papall Army tending so much to the disturbance of Italy who was in an universall repose before did awaken the spirits of all the Princes The Luqueses in their little industrious Republic began to humm like so many Bees in a hive The grand Duke of Toscany stood in a maze but the Signory of Venice who was us'd to be the chiefest instrument to preserve the common peace of Italy was more deeply sensible of this disturbance in so much that Don Taddeo was denied passage ev'ry where which made one say That ther was a great deal of difference betwixt that Pontificiall Army and the ancient Army of the people of Israel for at the marching of the one the Sea it self divided his fluid body to let it passe but at the marching of this all the world seem'd to close together to hinder the passage For a little after a League was struck to that purpose 'twixt the Republic of Venice the Gran Duke the Duke of Modena and him of Parma who had all former grounds of discontent During this â—…ontrasto and Traverses of war 'twixt the Pope and Parma ther was a notable Libell or Satyre drop'd up and down in divers places of Italy against Rome and the person of Vrban which in regard 't is a very materiall piece compos'd of a mixture of divinity and policy and that it tends much to the understanding of the State of Italy I thought worthy to insert here a person of great knowledge and quality being the Author therof The famous Invective against Pope Urban the Eighth and Rome THe Author faineth that the second Person of the Holy Trinity complains to the first touching the distolutenes and excesses of the Roman Church his Spouse therfore he desires a divorce from her The Father being mov'd by his Sons reasons commands Paul to transfer himself to earth to visit mortalls and take knowledge of their complaints specially in Italy against the Roman Spouse and if need be to form an exact proces of her actions speaking to him as follometh Paul Great are the discomposures and mischiefs which arise from an unchast woman this very heaven cannot glory it self to be free of them my only begotten Son is troubled and aggriev'd at the dishonest actions of the Church of Rome his Spouse I well hoped that she had bin capable of a reconcilement but he holds himself so highly offended and finds her nature to be so perverted that he thinks she is incorrigible therfore with a constant resolution he seeks a divorce from her Now what can I deny to my only Son specially when so much Justice favoureth his complaints yet I do not intend to determin any thing upon the businesse so hastily though the eternal Word cannot tell an untruth that to the end that our Decree may have a sufficient foundation we command thee to betake thy self on earth and hear what mortalls can say against the Roman Spouse and frame a charge against her accordingly the enterprise may prove somwhat difficult because she useth to palliat her faults and to persecute those men that write against her proceedings but we assure our selfs that the approved vertue of Paul which heretofore knew how to support the persecutions of the wicked against the honor of Christ will not shrink a whit in this employment for his service S. Paul doth readily obey the Lord and descends to earth in human disguize and steers his course for Venice but before he there arriv'd he casually found upon the way a writing the Tenor wherof was as followeth and the Endorsement thus A Memorandum for the most renowned Republic of Venice Amonst those Princes who reverence Rome your Serenity is She most renowned Republic who being free from all superstitious credulity do conserve your Christian Empire from all insidious pretences of Religion by a most sage Lâ—…w therfore you did constitut some years since that the â—…lergy shold be made incapable to inherit staple possessions for the dead daily multiplying and consequently the nomber of Legacies ev'ry day increasing in tract of time the Ecclesiastics wold become Masters of all that wealth which giving subsistence to all kind of subjects is destinated for the service of your Serenity therfore whosoever lives free from all passions to the interests of Rome is bound to applaud the maturity of your deliberations in this point and he who professeth himself a friend to the greatnesse of your Dominions must needs acknowledge that your high wisdome is warn'd by public necessity to regulat two other no lesse important abuses The first consists in perpetuity of Legacies for what avails it to prohibit that staple goods passe not under the possession of the Ecclesiastics all the while that by the multitude of perpetuall Legacies which use to be bequeath'd and charg'd upon staple possessions it will fall out in time that all the rents shall be drunk up so and what difference can ther be then I pray 'twixt a perpetuall Legacy and staple possession or what benefit shold your subjects receave from the foresayed Law who though they cannot be dispossess'd of the propriety of the Land yet they remain depriv'd of the usufruit of it Now this redounds to the greater advantage of the Clergy for while the residuary seculars of the Testators undergo the weight of all public duties and assessements by keeping in their hands the fee the Churchmen do by vertu of their annuall Legacies sweep away the rents without any burthen at all The zeal of your known prudence will stir you the rather for regulating this abuse when you consider that the perpetuity of Legacies was introduc'd at first rather by the cunning of the Ecclesiastics then for the advantage of souls in Purgatory for if the pains of Purgatory are sayed to be but temporary wherefore shold the simplicity of peeple be
his Censures he publisheth me for a disobedient son to the universall Father of Christianity But whether he is to be acknowledg'd as a Father who enemy-like robs his children judge you Can he expect to be reverenc'd as S. Peters Successor when diffring from S. Peter he stops his ears to the words of Christ who commanded him to sheath his sword Christ did institut a peacefull Kingdom nor did he ever ordain that his Cause shold be handled with Armes Neverthelesse the present Bishops make use of them because they are ready to meddle with any other Cause then with that of Christ In the interim good Fryer my fortune is worse then that of Malchus for if Malchus was offended with the weapon of Peter he was heal'd again by the hands of Peter but I find my self hurt by S. Peters sword yet cannot perceave his hand is dispos'd to cure me or restore me mine own S. Paul being departed from Parma goes to Florence wher being brought to the Court he heard the Gran Duke much transported with choler speaking to a Councellor of his in this manner Then Vrban the VIII intendeth that a Clergie-man shall go exempted from the imposition of Milstone wherunto the interests of my State oblige me to subject without exception any one that lives under my Government and who is he that arrogats temporall Jurisdiction over anothers Authority In the time of Christ secular Princes had their tribut and shall they now be refus'd in Vrban's time By this means the credulous simplicity of the Laity shall be continually taught to contribut so many Gabells to the Clergy and the Clergy shall be free from all taxes to them and who at any time leaves possessions to the Ecclesiastics they must be free from such Contributions which the Law of Nature awards ev'ry protecting Prince Who did ever affirm that the Legacies of privat men can be exempt from the public Jurisdiction of their Prince These are new Doctrines which tear the world in pieces being introduc'd by those Bishops who together with the Evangelicall precepts have forgot that Christ himself when he was upon earth payed tribut to Caesar professing that he came to fulfill the Law not toabrogat it and shall we admit in our free States an Authority which beyond the Order and example of Christ pretends to have power to controul and transvolve the Dominions of others yea to trample upon the Princes themselfs Is this the paradise that Christ promiseth to them that observe his Law or rather a Hell which they worthily deserve who beleeve too much in an adulterated Church But I observe that the Ecclesiastics by too many stiles do subject the simple seculars to pay contribution for Indulgencies for Dispensations for the Word of God for sacrifices of the Altar and in sum for all the Sacraments which the Divine goodnesse â—…ath afforded gratis to all the faithfull But what do I say the avarice of the Clergy is grown to that height that it doth not permit those poor souls that are under the agonies of Death to depart from this world to the other till they conjure them under the pretext of pious Legacies to pay a toll for their safe conduct constraining to bargain for their very graves they sell them for ready money the embraces of our common Mother the earth and I in my free State must not impose the least Tax as that of the Milstone upon my subjects But let Vrban practise what he please let Him thunder what Excommunications he will upon my Gabelleers I shall learn well enough how to fence away his blowes I will make the Jews my Receavers nor shall I ever suffer that Toscany be oppress'd by such rapacious Tyrants who under the mantle of Religion exercise such robberies upon us S. Paul leaving Florence resolves to visit the State of the Church in his journey he is accompanied with a subject of the Popes who vented forth his discontentments unto him in these words upon som expostulations of S. Pauls I was born a subject under the particular Dominion of the Church of Rome and that 's enough good Frier to pronounce me miserable The Civill Justice administred in my Countrey by Ecclesiastics the Authority abus'd by them that govern and their custom degenerating daily into cruelty and rapine have made the subjection insupportable and the life 's of those unhappy who live under the temporall Scepter of the Roman Clergy my toung cannot sufficiently expresse the rigidnes of their Government let ev'ry one comprehend by their tyrannicall practises they do exercise abroad what they do at home I was enforc'd to forsake my house for a Tax impos'd upon me for living well when a young rich man is discover'd by greennesse of Age and heat of bloud to be prone to any lightnesse presently comes a new Edict which will make him lie under a grosse sum of money herby it comes oft to passe that a small fillip somtimes doth equall murther and words are as dangerous as deeds for all comes under the title of transgression though the fault be no other then a slip of youthful lightnesse Furthermore the Ministers who govern our State of Rome under colour of zeal to our Salvation are wont ever and anon to send certain Catchpouls to search mean blind places cottages to see whether any subject cohabit with a Concubine ev'ry thing lies under the search of prowling eyes and the insolent hands of those Ragamuffins I will say no more then this that under the Domination of other Princes the Jews are more gently us'd then we are under the regiment of the Ecclesiastics nor is it a wonder for som Churchmen of our times are haply greater Enemies to the Gospell of Christ then som Christians are to the Talmud of the Hebrews S. Paul a little after meets with a Maronit passenger who had taken a journey from Mount Libanus in Syria to see Rome and was returning homewards S. Paul begins to mingle speech with him asking him of his Countrey and of the Motives that induc'd him to com to Italy and what opinion he had form'd within himself of Rome wherunto he answer'd thus My Countrey is Armenia the cause which brought me to Italy was no other then a desire to learn the tru Tenets of the Catholic Doctrine which in our Region is adulterated with such a multiplicity of Sects that they confound one another The eleventh year is now coming about that I have breath'd air under the climes of Europe having sojourn'd longest in Rome being led thither by Fame which somtimes useth to represent things otherwise then they are in their own essence I figur'd within my self That City to be She who as She pretends so She had deserv'd to be the Head of all Christian people as being the School of Sanctity and patern of all vertu And truly at the first sight I thought I was not a whit deceav'd by any extern appearance which oft times doth dazzle and fascinat the eyes of
as the rest of the Minor Princes of Italy were usd to professe a totall dependence upon the house of Austria yet Duke Ferdinand a wise Prince knowing that in the first motions of Monferrat the designes of Savoy were fomented by Offices underhand from the Spaniard for his own advantage he chose rather to defend himself from Savoy without the Spaniards help but D. Carlo succeeding he was forcd to adhere to the King of France for his safety in regard of divers Garrisons he had up and down Monferrat THe Dukes of Parma though thrust out of Piacenza by Charles the 5. and having bin beaten by him in Parma they had good reason to follow the interests of France by whom they had receavd both their conservation and restablishment more than once yet they thought safer still to stick unto Him that was Duke of Milan till now of late that this present Duke is much Frenchified TOuching the politicall interests and inclinations of the Duke of Modena and the State of Luca they have more confidence in the House of Austria than in the French and so they apply themselfs accordingly in point of respect and compliances Nor indeed can it be denied but all Italie is beholding to the Spaniard in divers respects as for the introducing of Tresure and increse of Trade as allso that his outpoising power keeps the inferior Princes in peace and from encroching one upon the other lest if he shold strike in by way of Auxiliary he might swallow up both parties yet it may be observd that the Italians respect the Spaniard out of meer politicall interest not out of any affection so that all of them would restrain his power if they could but like the Mice in the Fable they cannot find any that will venture first to hang the Bell about the Catts neck HAving by these short expatiations given a few touches of the rest of the Principalities of Italy in point of politicall interests we now return to poursue and perfect the survay of the Signorie of Venice in this particular allso which taking her power by Land and Sea conjunctly is acknowledgd to be the strongest knot of strength in Italie if we consider the reaches of her Dominions with the firmenes and solidity of her establishment as allso the prudent and cautious conduct of her proceedings Now touching her interests and disposition towards the two great Kings forementiond all her counsells and designs ever since the entrance of forren Armies into Italie have tended to conserve her own liberty and greatnes It being an old observation that all States do retain still the humor of their first Founders as ambition and desire of warr appeerd allwayes in the Citty of Rome because her first Founders were full of that humor But those of Venice being not transported with such exorbitant thoughts but addicted to peace trafic wealth and repose having bin formerly harassd by the long calamities of Italie and the inundation of barbarous peeple when they had gott into those safe retirements the first and fundamentall maxime of policy they proposd to themselfs was to maintain their common freedom and live secure And herin the Republic of Venice may be sayed to differ from the late States of Holland allso whose first foundation was layed in bloud by Armes and Warr Now it is a Rule that Eodem modo Res conservatur quo acquiritur By the same meanes things are conservd wherby they are gott In so much that if Holland follow the humors of her first Founders She will love warr better than peace and happly be incited therunto by an old prophecy that runns of her Marte triumphabis Batavia pace peribis Holland by warr Thou shalt encrease Thou wilt destroy Thy self by peace Now one of the wayes wherby the Republic of Venice hath endeavourd to preserve her Maydenhead and freedom so long hath bin to keep the power of the potentst Princes in a counterpoise wherby She hath often adapted her designes and accommoded Her-self to the condition of the times and frequently changd thoughts will frends and enemies She hath bin allwayes usd to suspect any great power to fear much and confide little to be perpetually vigilant of the operations of others and accordingly to regulat her own consultations and proceedings wherby She hath bin often accusd of exces in circumspection Therfore when that impetuous shock was given Italie by Charles the 8. She only lookd on a good while and kept Her self Neutrall but afterwards seeing the common freedom of Italie floting among the French armes She made head against them at last freeing Milan from that imminent danger which hoverd visibly ore her head and so forcd that King to find his way back ore the Alpes and to leave the Kingdom of Naples to the Aragonians To free Her-self from the stratagems of Morâ—… and to joyn Cremona to her Republic She favourd the designes of Lewis the 12. upon the State of Milan But this conjunction was like that with the Lion who useth to snatch all to himself For Lewis afterwards to thrust Venice out of Cremona colleagud himself with divers other Princes inciting them to invade Her Territories on firm Land In so much that he introduc'd the Pope the Spaniard and King of the Romanes but while they thought to rush into the Venetian Territory they were cunningly excluded by the Spaniards their Confederatts who gathering the fruit of other mens labours impatronizd himself of som Townes to recover which the Venetians betook themselfs to the frendship of Francis the French King by which League they recoverd what formerly had bin taken from them But afterwards finding that the French for their disorders had lost the Duchy of Milan and that by continuing that League they exposd to som hazard their own liberty the Republic with fortune changd Her frend and entred into League with Charles the Emperour But upon that monstrous successe of fortune in Pavia when the French King was taken Prisoner to preserve the common liberty of Italie which was like to be swallowed up by the Emperour She re-entred into a new League with Francis not without extreme hazard because in the peace of Cambray he had quite abandond Her so She was left alone to wrastle with the Emperour and the formidable Armies he had then afoot against whom She bore up with much generosity a good while wherby together with the peace of Bologna She procurd the restitution of Francesco Sforza to the Duchy of Milan An accord which She observd with such candor and punctuality that although She was invited by many favourable conjunctures to unite again upon high advantagious termes with the Crown of France to thrust the Spaniards out of Milan whereof they had rendred themselfs Masters after the death of Francis Sforza yet she wold never lend any â—…are therunto meerly out of her filial affection to Italy that she might not be plungd again in new troubles as allso finding how unlucky the French had often
bin that side the Alpes so that ever since the peace of Bologna which was in the yeer 1530. ther never happend any open War twixt Spain and Venice Ever since the Republic perceaving that the Popes were often transported with their own interests and that other Princes were either their dependents or their forces weak the Republic of Venice hath stood as it were in perpetual centinell to watch the common freedom of Italy whereby She hath much incurrd the hate of the Spaniard who seemd to stomack it much that Venice shold so stand in counterpoise with him Thereupon because he could do no good by open force he went another way to work to do her a displesure which was by erecting 〈◊〉 Fortresses in the Valtoline to impede all supplies that might com that way unto Her upon ocasion The Republic finding that tho Spanish Ministers aymd at nothing more than to depresse her strength and so make themselfs masters of all Italy in time she studied to find meanes by money and counsell to divert the strength of the Spaniard and cutt him out som work another way out of Italy imitating herein the Faulâ—…r who standing himself in repose and firm upon the Earth let ts fly Goshauks and Faukcons at the Birds of the Air. And although Venice appeerd for the support of Mâ—…ntoua yet this was don so cunningly that it did nothing prejudice her Peace with Spain or obligd Her to second France in that busines though She was much courted thereunto by Belieure and other great Ministers to engage So that although in former times She hath bin often constraind to play fast and loose twixt Spain and France yet this last century She hath kept herself alwayes in a politique neutrality SInce the principall aym of this peece is to make the industrious Reader fully acquainted with this Mayden Republic therefore we thought it worth the labour to insert here the opinions of the most approved and authentique Writers that have exposed to the World any thing of politicall goverments and a collation of their judgements with the variety of expressions may conduce much to instruct the Reader and perfect his knowledge of this famous Signorie Bodinus de Republica Lib. 11. COntarenus thinks the same judgement to be pass'd upon the Venetian Republic which he thinks may agree with all the three kinds of Governments Est inquit in Duce Regia quodâ—…modo potestas in Senatâ—… Aristocratia In Concilio Maximo Democratiâ—… Ther is sayeth he a kind of Regal power in the Duke an Aristocracy in the Senat And a Democracy in the great Councell But Ianotus who hath described the state of that Common-wealth from her first originalls and written most accuratly of her secrecies of Goverment convinceth Contarenus and accuseth him of grosse errors He demonstrates therefore that before Sebastiano Cyani who was Doge of Venice which is about 300 yeers since the Republic then was plainly a Monarchicall Goverment Contarenus averrs that She hath remaind about 800 yeers in the very same condition She is now in Paulus Magustius speakes of 1200 yeers which Ianotus proves to be false out of the public Acts and the History of the Times Howsoever it be It is most evident that in statu quo nunc the Republic of Venice is a pure Aristocracy For by the description of the Citty and the cense that was made of the Inhabitants 30 yeers since ther were about 60000. Cittizens excepting Women and Children that had not exceeded seven yeers of Age as also the Patricians in whom the power of the Republic is seated whose nomber may amount to 4000. All kind of Churchmen are exempted out of this nomber and young men under five and twenty who have no accesse either to the great Councell or the administration of any Office unlesse upon request made by their Seniors the same be obtaind Nor is ther in the Assembly of the great Councell which hath bin so long establishd both in our Ancestors and late Progenitors times more than 1500 but in former times ther were much fewer as appeers among the Historians This Convention therefore of the Patricians Gentry or Nobility hath the supreme power over all Lawes and Magistrats of Peace and War of last appeales of life and death as Contarenus himself confesseth Which being so who can doubt but this Republic is a pure Aristocracy For if the better sort of men had nothing els but the power of the Law and Magistracy it were argument enough to judg that it is an Optimacy as we taught before since that the election of Magistrats of the Senat of the Colleges of the Septemvirat of the Decemviri of the forty privat and so many public Judges criminal and civil depends meerly upon the grand councell of the Nobility or Gentry and the rest meere precarian powers The Duke is He who being a Soverain Governor may be sayed only to want comand for he can neither summon any one before him or apprehend any by his sole comand or demand any nor hath He more power in any Colledg of Senators whether great or small but only that he gives the last suffrage nor can He open any Letters either from forren Princes or any Magistrat or Officer nor admit or dismisse any Ambassadors without som of the Colledg of the Septemvirat or Decemvirat nor can He marry a stranger or go out of the Citty of Venice without leave Duke Falerio because he married a Lady that was born out of the Dominions of the Republic without the consent of the Senat was by the Decemvirat Councell sentencd to death and executed besides Him Sabellious enumerats twelve Dukes that either were slain in a popular tumult or punishd when they abusd their power The same Author in his 3. Book writes thus BUt the Senator must take this for a principall caution that he suffer not himself to be depravd by any bribes or engagd by any benefitt which allthough it be capitall there yet is it ordinary elswhere in other States and except the Signorie of Venice who hath a Senat so free and pure from this kind of sordidnes that the very Churchmen allthough they be Cittizens and Patricians born are restraind therfore from their civill Councells because they are known to be sworn to act not any thing against the profitts and interest of the Roman Bishop That cry is well known to all the world that before all suffrages this acclamation useth to be in the great Councell Fuora 1 preti insomuch that Hermolao Barbaro and what a man was He receavd the sentence of banishment because while Ambassador in Rome he sufferd himself to be coopted into the Colledg of Cardinalls without the consent of the Senat. Iac. Aug. Thuanus Lib. 23. THe Venetian Senat which may be truly calld the Shopp of all civil prudence hath it for a speciall Caveat That none initiated in Holy Orders shold touch any part of the Republic The same in his 27. Book THer 's no Prince in all