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
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
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
that Piali the Turks Admirall was with his whole Fleet making towards them they weigh'd anchors and made for Candy Though the Republic had ill luck at Sea and in Cyprus this year yet there were som compensations made to her in Albania for divers Towns did rise up there who being desirous to shake off the Turkish yoke they sent to Venice for some auxiliary supplies protesting unto them That upon the first sight of their ensignes they wold run unto them and becom their subjects for security wherof they wold give them their chiefest children for hostages so the Governors of Autivari Dulcigna and Budua did in the name of the Republic receave the Oath of Alleageance of more then one hundred Towns and Villages While poor Cyprus and her chief City Famagosta was upon making her last wil the renewing of the League was treated at Rome which the hauty spirit of the Spaniard did much retard The Pope in his hortative offer'd to go upon the Fleet among other things the Spaniard propos'd that the Venetians shold be bound upon pain of Ecclesiastical censures to observe in ev'ry point that which shold be resolv'd on in the League as though they had suspected the Republics integrity wherunto the Venetian Ambassadors gave a round and stout Answer they did moreover contend about a Generalissimo the Spaniard proposing not onely to nominat him but his Lievtenant also who in his absence shold have the same authority this did much distract the Treaty ther was another rub besides in the businesse which was a darknesse that was like to be 'twixt the Emperour and the Pope for conferring a new Title upon the Duke of Florence which the Emperour wold not allow of Ther was a motion of peace made about this time by the Turk to the Republic but as she was ready to send Ragasson instructions accordingly Generall Colonna the Popes Generall was sent from Rome to disswade her from it the Spaniard also seeks unto her about the same purpose and to desire her to re-enter into the League which was now absolutely concluded hereupon she gave Colonna a pleasing answer and after much canvasing the point in the Senat a resolution was taken to send new Commissions to her Ambassadors at Rome accordingly So in Rome after most solemn Divine Service and the procession ended in S. Peters Church the League was publish'd the particular Articles whereof were as followeth Betwixt Pope Pius Quintus promising for the Sea Apostolic and his Successors with the consent of the whole Colledge of Cardinalls Philip the Catholic King and the Duke and Senat of Venice a League and perpetuall confederacy hath bin made to abate and overthrow the Turks power who of late hath invaded with a mighty Army the Realm of Cyprus a Countrey very commodious for the conquest of the Holy Land That the Confederats forces shall consist of two hundred light Gallies one hundred Ships of war fifty thousand footmen Italians Spaniards and Almains four thousand five hundred horse with Artillery and Ammunition proportionable to such a force all which shall be employed for the defence as wel of the confederat States as to assail the enemy and particularly for the enterprize of Algier Tunis and Tripoli That all these forces shall be united in the month of May next ensuing or in the month of April at Otrauto to passe into the Levant against the enemies as Times and the Councell of Captains shall think fit that thâ—…se Forces neverthelesse may be changed by increasing or diminishing the provisions of war as necessity and the quality of the enterprise shall require wherupon a yearly meeting shall be at Rome in Automn ther to consult what is best to be done and if it shall ther be concluded not to attempt anything that year in common yet it might be lawfull for ev'ry of the Confederâ—…s to execute their particular enterprises specially for the King of Spain to enterprise those of Algier Tunis and Tripoli in which so that ther be no mighty Turkish Army abroad the Venetians shall be bound to aid the King with fifty Gallies of purpose That the sayed King shall be likewise bound to aid the Venetians whensoever they shall enterprize any thing in their Gulph against the common enemy on this condition neverthelesse if he which shall crave this aid have far greater forces ready That all the Confederats shall be oblig'd to defend the States of any one of them whom the Turk shall invade and in particular with other places that shall belong to the Church that for the expence of the war his Catholic Majesty shall pay one half and the other moitie being divided into three parts the Venetian shall pay two and the Pope the third They shall be bound to give the Pope twelve Gallies ready rigg'd and munition'd which his Holinesse shall mann for the service of the League that generally each of the Confederats shall be bound to contribut for the common necessity whatsoever he shall abundantly have and others want which afterwards shall be allow'd upon account that the Store-houses for corn shall â—…e ev'ry where open for the common good and that grain may be taken forth out of commodious places so that he of whom 't is taken make first his own provision that at Councells and Consultations the Commanders of the three Consederat Princes shall be present and what the most of them resolve upon shall be concluded neverthelesse the execution of matters determin'd shall remain to the Generall of the Army who was presently nam'd to wit Don John of Austria and in his absence Marc Antonio Colonna with the same authority though at the same time he retain the title and rank of the Churches Generall In this League which was struck 1570. ther was a place reserv'd for Maximilian of Austria the elect Emperour for the King of France and the King of Portugal to enter into the confederacy when they shold think it fit and to all other Christian Princes who had a desire to engage in it and in case any strife shold arise twixt the Confederats the Pope as Umpire shall decide it These Articles were not to be put in execution till the year following in the mean time because Famagosta was so much streightned the Republic sent thither Marc Antonio Quirini with four Ships attended by twelve Gallies to carry supplies thither who safely landed sixteen hundred foot with great store of victualls and munition in Famagosta which did beyond expression encourage them and whilst he remain'd ther he took a Ship of the enemies with other smaller Vessells and raz'd certain Forts which the Turks had rais'd upon the rock of Gambella there was another supply of eight hundred fresh men sent to Baillone the Governour of Famagosta in other Ships a little after The Turk made some overtures of peace again to the Venetians which they wold not hearken unto in regard of the new League hereupon there came another formidable Fleet of two hundred and
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
by an extraordinary way of balloting or lottery wherin choice and chance have a hand Her formes of justice with the cautious authority and moderation of Her Judges The prudence and maturity of Her Senat in all deliberations Her matchles Forces by Sea Her vast provisions and preparatifs for all kinds of Warr wherin that Signorie surpasseth all other Potentats of Christendom That no Navall Warr can be made against the Ottomans the common Enemy without conjunction with Her That this Republic is calld the Shield and principall safegard and as Paul the 3. sayd the Bullwark of Europe The mighty Forces She employed against Cyprus against Selym for Her defence The generosity She hath shewed not to refuse the Warr The deliberations She holds before She engageth in any fight and Her most celebrous exploits in the great battail of Lepanto in the yeer 1571. And not to extend my self further I say you will extremely plese the Venetians in elevating the achievments ancient and modern of the Signorie Moreover t will be very gustfull unto Her if you speak of Her piety and munificence to the Church and to have oftentimes bin the Protectresse of Saint Peters Chaire renewing the memory of what passd twixt Frederic the second and Her with the Negotiations and Protestations made by Her before the Duke of Alva in the Warr against his Holines and all things els that you can alledg conducible to this purpose Lastly remember well to extoll the royal and sincere proceedings of the Republic upon all occurrences in public treaties commending Her that She useth to negotiat frankly without any artifice or disguise but really and without palliations I will not name heer the Princes that are belov'd or hated by the Signorie for it will tend to little purpose The Republic of Ragusa and Genoa are no great friends to this Signorie yet They hate Her not but use to be sensible of her dangers and troubles because that whosoever growes to be master of any of these Republiques will have the greater strength which is just contrary to the aymes of the Republic of Venice whose policy tends that the state of Italy receaves no alteration but be allwayes at a constant stand And for this cause She wold be contented that the Dominions which the Spaniard hath in that Countrey were equally divided twixt Spain and France that the power of those two great Kings might be counterpoisd and that neither of them were so powerfull in Italie Wherupon the Signorie of Venice extremely desireth that Rome with the State Ecclesiastic and the Apostolic Seat might be preservd in regard that beside the affair of Religion She observes the excellent Regiment of the Church wherin all the vigor and reputation of Italie consists And touching the holy Father were he reducd to any extremity or danger this pious Republic would employ all Her power to protect Him being wisely perswaded that all the domage which wold fall upon his Sanctity wold rebound upon Her I have forborn to observe hitherunto that the principall object of the consultations of this noble Signory is the repose of Italy and to preserve her from revolutions of intestin broyles You must allso take it among your instructions that in the Discourses you shall hold with the Venetians or others you must not shew your self inclinable to make a new league against the Turk but rather when you fall upon this subject you shall appeer rather for peace and approve of the prudence of the Signorie in her cariage towards this huge Potentat to have no actuall hostility with him In which Discours you must be mindfull of the three reasons which the Venetians use to alledg that it is necessary for that state to have peace with the Turk The first is in regard that all the Iles Coasts and Maritime places which the Signorie possesseth do confine with som part of the Ottoman Empire therupon She may be easily surpriz'd and invaded that way The second is in regard that the Citty of Venice being the best peepled of all Italy She hath not territory enough to maintain and support Her-self or afford her all sorts of necessaries therfore She must be oblig'd to other Countries for Her sustentation now ther is no Prince upon Earth that lieth so oportunely to furnish Her as the Turk Thirdly if a War be declar'd in the Levant all traffick will cease by Sea as also commerce by Land therfore the Citty of Venice being one of the greatest Mercantile Towns in the World her Cittizens will grow poor and want employment You must add to these considerations the form and institution of the Republic being from the first time of her foundation ordained and born as it were for peace and plenty as She hath found by experience Therfore the Venetian Senators are alwayes pleas'd when any motion is made of Peace and when any mention is made of the Turk they will not be discontented to heer him extoll'd for a mighty great Prince implying thereby that the Signorie is the wiser to be at good termes with him The Reasons whereby the Venetians did justify their proceedings when against the capitulations of the league they did accommode themself with the Turk are so known to the World that it were a peece of impertinency to insist upon them here but in your Discours among the Venetians you may make use of them as ocasion shall invite you I finish these Instructions with this necessary Rule that evry Ambassador or public Minister of state ought to render himself agreeable to the Prince with whom he negotiates which may tend much to the happy conduct and advancement of all his Negotiations A Review of the Navall strength of Venice IN regard the main strength and incolumity together with the principall defence and glory of this Neptunian Damsell is derived from the Sea it will not be amisse to make inspection once more into her waters and fadom the depth of her navall power Now to treat of her strength this way it will not be amisse to give a little touch once more at Her Arsenall which strikes an admiration into all men that are curious to survey it and may be rank'd one of the wonders of the World in that kind It is sited and encompass'd with a great chanell of the Sea It is girt about with strong walls three miles in circuit Ther have been counted there at one time 300 Gallies besides those that were in cours to secure the gulf whereof ther were above 22 Galeasses which in comparison of the other Gallies may be call'd men in compleat Armes or Cuirasses because they' are not so nimble in their motion neither for Sayle or Oar as others but they give a far greater shock and if they have a rowsing gale of wind and favorable 20 of these are able to encounter 100. of other Gallies besides they have the advantage of Galeons because they have Feet as well as Wings For Timber to build all sorts of sayling Vessells
which denominats the whole Common-wealth had the Prerogative to be born a Christian and Independent wherof Shee glorieth and that not undeservedly above all other States or Kingdomes It seems some propitious Star was predominant at Her Nativity and that Nature brought Her forth with her limms well knit and apt to grow up to a strong constitution which is the cause that She is so long liv'd and hath continued above a thousand hot Sommers an intemerat Virgin under the same face and form of Goverment It is the cause that She looks still fresh and flourishing without the least furrow of age in her forehead or any visible symptom of decay wherunto Civill Bodies as well as Naturall by those distempers and common accidents which attend Time use to be subject This beauteous Maid hath bin often attempted to be deflowrd som have courted Her som would have bribd Her and divers wold have forcd Her yet she still preserv'd her chastity entire She hath wrestled with the greatest powers upon Earth East West North and South both by Land and Sea The Emperour the Kings of France Spain and Hungary with most of the other Princes of Christendom in that famous League at Cambray at which time she had a shrewd fit of the green sicknes which threatned a consumption would have quite sunk Her but She bore up still above water and broke that League to flitters though I must confesse she was forced then to peece her Lion's skin with a Foxe's tayl and to destroy that by wit which she could not doe with her weapon The Eastern Emperours have divers times set upon her skirts The Gran Turk hath bin often at Her and She is now tugging hard with him but he could never have his will of Her for though She hath often clos'd with him yet She came still off with her mayden-head cleer She hath had sundry Thunder-bolts darted at Her from the Vatican yet She kept her self still free from all inward combustions and all popular tumults both in her Church State notwithstanding that She expeld from her Territories the greatest supporters of the Popes Chair when She gave the Iesuits this cold farewell Andate niente pigliate mai retornate Goe your wayes take nothing and never return As also that She long since made her Ecclesiastics incapable to inherit Stable possessions or sit in the Senat in regard they have a dependance and juramentall obligation in divers things to another Prince viz. the Pope therfore before any suffrage passe in the Councell the common cry is fuora I preti Out Presbyters This curbing of the Clergy hath caus'd divers clashes twixt her and Rome so that once the Pope began to question Her right to the Dominion of the Gulph and asking her Ambassador what warrant She had for it He answered If your Holines please to produce the Instrument wherby the Emperour Constantine passed over the City of Rome to your predecessors upon the back of that Grant your Holines will find the Venetian Charter to the Dominion of the Adriatic Gulph Another time Gregory the 13. threatning to excommunicat the Doge and the Senat about a controversie that had arisen touching the bounds of their Territories Nicholas Pontanus answered Censuram Pontificiam esse gladium vagina inclusum qui temerè distringi non deberet ne discerent homines contemnere ejusmodi Telâ—…m c. The Pontificiall censure viz. Excommunication is like a sword sheath'd up in a scabbard which ought not to be rashly drawn out lest men might learn to slight that kind of weapon Yet these traverses twixt Saint Peter and Saint Mark could never shake Venice in the main of the Roman Religion wherin She was born baptized and bred but She still reverenc'd the Church in her own Sphere and function and suffers her to enjoy above 2. millions of yeerly revenue to this day And indeed 't was one of her primitive principles of policy at the first erection of her Republique to bear a singular veneration to the Church imitating herein as in many other particulars the Common-wealth of Rome her Mother who rais'd her self a notable repute among other Nations for her extraordinary reverence to the Gods Nor are ther many Christian Princes who deserve better of Rome than Venice for She hath often supported the Popes Chair when it was tottering nay being once quite thrust out She riggd her gallies and resettled Him in it as will appeer And of later yeers She resented it extremely when Bourbon scal'd the walls of Rome Besides She wold not admit Henry the fourth's Ambassador from France to Her Chappell till his Master was reconcil'd to the Church of Rome Nor did She keep Saint Peters bark only from sinking but She spread her sayles and displayed her banners allso for preserving the Eastern Emperour when Christian from the furie of the Saracens and other barbarous peeple SHE had so great a share in the conquest of the Holy Land that She had one part of Ierusalem allotted her for her quarter and had not the state of Genoa a potent Republic in those times bin so perverse and repin'd at the glory of Venice her elder sister Venice had bin the Glory of Europe and the Christians might in all probability have kept footing in Palestine to this very day for the clashings betwixt these two were the cause that the conquests which the Crosse had gott in those Eastern parts were of so small continuance We read how Rome became a prostitut to severall Nations and sorts of governments and one only warr made as it were an end of her quite but Venice Vertu like repulsae nescia sordidae Intaminatis fulget honoribus I say Venice to this day though all her neighbours round about farr and nere have tuggd with her by Land and Sea yet like the constellation of Virgo among the celestiall bodies she shines still among the Kingdoms on earth like a bright unravish'd Virgin And may do so to the Worlds end if she be still true to her self as Thuanus sayeth who undertakes to be her prophet in these words Venetiae non nisi cum Rerum â—…aturâ Et Mundi machinâ periturae Till Nature and the Univers decline Venice within her Watry Orb shall shine Som Reasons why Venice hath lasted so long in the same condition of Liberty NOw how this longliv'd Republic came to do those notable atchievments abroad and conserve her self from all popular tumults and revolutions at home so many Ages may be imputed besides the politic frame of her goverment in generall which shall be treated of hereafter to these particular reasons following 1. SHE hath bin allwayes constant to her self and to her first fundamentalls principles for She hath bin allwayes an enemy to change holding it to be a wholsom caveat that Ipsa mutatio consuetudinis magis perturbat novitate quà m adjuvat utilitate viz. The change of custom useth to perturb a State more by it's noveltie than advantage it by
support Religion She hath allso two very eminent men the one a sound Divine the other a learned Casuist that have a pension from the Republic who are allwayes ready in case She have any contestation with Rome to defend and vindicat Her by public writing and to satisfy the world of her proceeding as Paolo Servita did Thus have you in part som reasons which will be enforced in the following description of her Goverment how Venice came to last so many centuries a pure unspotted Virgin and free not only from all forren ravishments and assaults but allso from all intestin commotions and tumults 'T is true that som short combustions have happen'd in Her but by Her wisedom and providence they prov'd but as fyres of flax or stubble which no sooner flash'd out but they suddenly extinguish'd of themselfs And this is the more to be wondred at because it is observ'd that as rank excuberant grounds use to be more subject to bear weeds of all sorts than other soyles so rich luxurious Citties are more expos'd to corrupt superfluous humors which use to break out into strange distempers and high feavers 'T is well known that Venice hath bin allwayes such a Cittie yet by Her extraordinary prudence She hath and doth still preserve her self from such distempers notwithstanding that She swimms in wealth and wantones as well as she doth in the waters notwithstanding that She melts in softnes and sensualitie as much as any other whatsoever for 't is too well known ther is no place where ther is lesse Religion from the girdle downward yet She suffers not those frayl vessels of plesure to mingle with her other Daughters in Church-Communion But now we will proceed to the Originall of her Republic and the frame of her Goverment wherby She hath endur'd so many hundreds of hard winters and hott sommers Of the Originall of the Signorie of Venice and of her Government ITalie hath bin allwayes accounted the Eye of Europe the Mirrour of policy and once Mistresse of the World Although putting all dimensions together and taking her length to peece out her latitude She be scarce as big as England yet hath She a Kingdom 450. miles long and 112. in breadth for Naples and Calabria are so which containes 2700. Townes 20. Archbishopricks sixcore and seven Bishops 13. Princes 24. Dukes 25. Marquises and 800. Barons She hath a Popedom which extends its Territories 300. miles long and is situated 'twixt two Seas viz. the Adriatic and Tyrrhene Seas and so runs through the midst of Her which makes the Pope to be more proper ct capable to be an Umpire or Enemy upon any occasion of difference that side the Alps For besides his navall strength he can put into the field an Army of 50000. well arm'd men in case of necessity being a mixt Prince 'twixt spirituall and temporall She hath allso divers other Principalities The Dutchie of Milan is little inferior to the Popedom in point of strength The gran Duke of Toscany hath 20000. arm'd men inroll'd train'd up and in perpetuall pay with 400. light horse and 100. gendarmes all which are quarter'd in so narrow a compasse that he can command them all to his Court at Florence in fower and twenty howers The Duke of Savoy who is accounted allso one of her Princes is far beyond the Florentine in power There be allso in Her the Dukes of Parma of Urbin and Mantoua who are Soverain Princes Besides all these Italie hath three Republiques viz. that of Venice that of Genoa and that of Luca which may be sayed to differ one from the other as the three degrees of comparison wherof Venice is the superlatif and indeed she may be term'd so being compar'd to any Republic on earth take her power by sea and land together It is well known that Kingdomes take their denomination diversly som take their names from the whole bulk of Earth and Countrey it self which they possesse as the Kingdom of Spain the Kingdom of Denmark c. Som are denominated ab eminentiori from the chief Metropolis as Rome in times pass'd had the glory to denominat the whole Empire and after her Constantinople and as now Morocco names that Kingdom and Naples christneth Hers though I must confesse the King of Spain now adaies termes not himself King of Naples but Utriusque Siciliae of both Siciles and it may be thought he doth this to displease the Pope the lesse who still claymes title to it Thus is it with Kingdoms but touching Common-wealths They for the most part take allways their denomination from the principall Cittie as Athens of old with divers others and now Venice Genoa c. But I find that Venice takes the state upon Her to be nam'd still in the plurall nomber Venetiae which strain of statelines doubtles with other things she borrowed from the Greeks who nam'd sundry of their Citties only in the plurall as Thebae Athenae c. but more of this hereafter Now to her government Of the Government constitution and frame of the Signorie of Venice THere is not any thing that discovers the prudence of a peeple more than the manner and method of their Government Government is that great hinge wheron all Kingdoms and Commonwealths do move But in this Aequorean Republic for she may not improperly be call'd so in regard She commands secures and scowres all the yeer long above 700. miles of Sea for that is the extent of the Adriatic Gulph from the Cittie of Venice to Otranto in Calabria I say Government in Her may be call'd the râ—…dder that steers the great vessell of State Her constitutions and lawes are the ligaments and cables felicity wealth and glory are the sayls and the breath of her Senators the wind that blowes them The common good is the pole wherat the needle or lillie of the compas allways points Religion the main mast which bears the colours of her Saint though the chief Pilot or Master of this vessell the Doge be of himself but as a head of wood a Testa di legno set up in the forecastle of the stern without the coadvice of som of the Masters mates wherof there are many because she wold not be subject to the infirmities and faylings of one who might haply erre and be mistaken in the use of the compasse or transported with irregular passions Now there is nothing so uncertain and difficult as the Art of Goverment Hominem homini imperare difficillimum and those who from Apprentices have bin bredd up Iourneymen and Masters in this art and have spent their youth manhood and a long time of old age therein yet when they left the world they profess'd themselfs still but Novices therin And this may be imputed to those various events and contingencies which attend humane negotiations together with the discrepant fancies of men specially of the common multitud who in lightnes match the winds and outgoe the waves of the Sea in fury oftentimes Ther
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
as I shall run over the Life 's of the Dukes The Arsenal of Venice is one of the greatest Magazins of armes in all the World It is 3. miles in compas of which circuit the Turks Seraglio is thought to be ther are above 300. Artificers perpetually at work who make or repair all things belonging therunto when these grow impotent through age yet have they a Salary from Saint Mark as long as they live This Arsenal hath armes to furnish 200000. men and upwards and hath constantly belonging to it 200. Gallies in dock or abroad in course besides Her Galeasses and Galeons with all provisions necessary for them When Henry the third passd from Poland to France by Venice he went to see this Arsenal and in lesse than two howers ther was a new Gallie made in his presence and launchd He so admired the place that he sayed he wold be willing to exchange three of his best Townes in France except Paris for the Arsenal of Venice Here is commonly kept that ancient and admired Vessell calld the Bucentoro built above 500. yeers since yet is she fresh and bewtifull in this the Prince is rowed evry Ascension-day in wonderfull great State to the Sea being accompanied by the Senat and Ambassadors and throwing a gold Ring into the water he espouseth the Sea to the Cittie once evry yeer which rare priviledg Pope Alexander endowed the Cittie withall as an argument of his gratitud to Her for preserving him from the fury of the Emperour Frederic Barbarossa for taking Otho his Son Prisoner in his quarrell and for restoring him to Saint Peters Chaire again when he was fledd from Rome to Venice for shelter He allso gave the Republic a priviledg to seal with lead the same time and made Her Lady of all the Adriatic Gulph which extends above 700. miles This Bucentoro is the self-same Vessell wherin Pope Alexander performd this Ceremony of marrying Venice to the Sea many hundred yeers agoe and She is still usd to fetch in Ambassadors and Forren Princes when they come to visitt the Cittie but though She be still taken for the same Shipp yet I beleeve ther is little of the first Materialls remaining in Her She hath bin so often trimmd putt upon the Carine and metamorphosd The sight of this Shipp when I was there made me think on Theseus famous Shipp as I have it elswhere Nay it made me fall upon an abstracted notion of Philosophy and a speculation touching the body of man which being in a continuall flux and succession of decay and consequently requiring ever and anon a restauration of what it loseth of the vertu of the former nutriment and of what was digested after the third concoction into bloud and fleshy substance which as in all other sublunary bodies that have internall principles of heat in them useth to transpire breath out and wast away through invisible pores by exercise motion and sleep to make room still for a supply of new nouriture I fell I say to consider whether our bodies may be sayed to be of the like condition with this Bucentoro which though it be still reputed the same Vessell yet I beleeve ther 's very little of the first Timber remaining in Her which She had in Her first dock having bin as they told me so often plankd and ribd caukd peecd and gilt In like maner I considerd our bodies may be sayed to be daylie repaird by fresh sustenance which begetts new bloud and consequently new spiritts new humors and I may well say new flesh the old by continuall deperdition and insensible transpirations evaporating still out of us and giving way to fresh so that I made a question whether by reason of these perpetuall reparations and accretions the body of man may be sayed to be the same numericall body in his old age that he had in his manhood or the same in his manhood that he had in his youth the same in his youth that he carried about him in his childhood or the same in his childhood which he woare in his mothers womb this was the theory which the sight of that amphibious old yet fresh Venetian peece of wood infusd into me at that time This rare Vessell is calld Bucentoro as som think of his centum because She holds 200. persons in Her besides the Rowers who are more She is richly gilt over from Stemm to Stern having but one room in all which is archwise The Arches on both sides are supported with golden Pillers except where the Duke sitts at the upper end and hard by Him lies Venice Her-self mounted upon a winged Lion rowed by 21. Oares on both sides and 5. men to evry Oar. Besides the Church and Steeple of Saint Mark ther is the Piazza of Saint Mark which is the fairest and the most spacious Markett place of all the Townes of Italie and beares the form of a Greek Γ. Here one shall see daylie walking and negotiating all sorts of Nations not only Europaeans but Arabians Moores Turks Egyptians Indians Tabrobanes Tartars Americans Asians Brasilians c. of which place these ingenious Verses were composd by one who was astonishd with the bewtie of it Si placeat varios hominum cognoscere vultus Area longa patet Sancto contermiâ—…a Marco Celsus ubi Adriacas Venetus Leo despicit undas Hic circum Gentes cunctis è partibus Orbis Aethiopes Turcos Slavos Arabésque Syrósque Inveniésque Cypri Cretae Macedúmque Colonos Innumerósque alios varia Regione profectos Saepe etiam nec visa prius nec cognita cerneâ—… Quae si cuncta velim tenui describere versu Heic omnes citiùs nautas celerésque phaselos Et simul Adriaci pisces numerabo profundi Now we will enter into the Tresury of Saint Mark which is so much cryed up throughout the world that it is com to be a proverb when one wold make a comparison of riches In this Tresury they say ther is enough to pay 6. Kings ransoms ther are Jewells of all sorts of incredible greatnes and value Diamonds Rubies Saphyres Emerauds Cupps of Agat of a huge bignes the great Diamond which Henry the third gave the Republic when he was made Gentleman of Venice Ther you may see an Armour all of massie Gold and besett all over with large pearl Turkies Rubies and all maner of precious Stones in such a quantity and bignes as they alone wold be enough to make a Tresure Ther are allso 12. Corsletts of Gold besett with precious Stones Ther is a huge Gold Chain that reacheth from piller to piller divers Chests of Gold among others ther is one great Iron Chest with this Motto engraven upon it Quando questo scrinio s'aprirá tutto'l mundo tremera When this Chest shall open the whole Earth shall tremble Ther are allso there to be seen two large Hornes which are Unicorns a great Bottle made of a Chalcedonian Stone transparent and cleer and so bigg that it will hold above a quart
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
custom which is often so much the worse as it is ancient and for the Breve's ther were no other Archive of the Papall Breve's but at Rome that those which they pretended for their justification were but wast papers c. To this occasion ther was superadded another which was the imprisoning of Count Brandolin Valdemanno Abbot of Nervese as was formerly mention'd the Pope sent Order that both the sayed Count Canon shold be releas'd but the Senat pass'd it over with a complement the Pope also excepted at that Decree in Venice That none shold erect either Church or Chappell without the permission of the Senat He adjoyn'd further that the Republic retain'd in her hands five hundred thousand Crowns of Ecclesiasticall Legacies charging that in all these particulars she shold give him satisfaction answer was made That God had not given to Popes any greater Authority in the Government of their Estates then to other Princes who by the Law of Nature have all power which is necessary and as it appertain'd not to the Venetians to govern the State of the Church no more doth it belong to Ecclesiastics to govern the State of Venice and wheras it was alledg'd that the Republic had reserv'd such a portion of Legacies Ecclesiasticall it was a meer suggestion and if his Holines wold give credit to ev'ry such calumny differences wold grow infinit Here the Pope stayed saying that touching the Legacies he wold say no more but he wold reduce all the differences to three heads viz. 1. To the Decree touching building of Churches 2. To another Decree against the aliening of Laymens possessions to Ecclesiastics 3. To the wrong imprisonment of the Canon and the Abbot aforesayed In all these he expected to be obey'd otherwise he wold apply such remedies as the nature of things requir'd About this time Genoa publish'd a Manifesto by revoking a Decree which the Pope had excepted against he made use herof for an example to make the Venetians conformable to his will using these words Sequimini paenitentes follow the penitent answer was made That ther was not the same reason for the Republic of Venice seeing she had not seven Cardinalls her Citizens as Genoa had to mediat for her upon all occasions with his Holines That the Decrees of the Senat were the main Pillars of the Republic That they were well known to his Predecessors who before their Election to the Papacy had lived at Venice in quality either of Confessors Inquisitors or Nuntio's and that after their promotion they never question'd them This gave no satisfaction at all to the Pope therfore he sayed he wold send a Breve hortatory to the Republic concerning the three points before mention'd and if he were not obey'd by such a time he wold proceed further for he must not suffer the Authority of the Church to decline but according to his Office he wold vindicat and uphold it to his utmost and to which end he had Legions of Angells for his aid and assistance c. Herupon he seal'd and sent two Breves a little after to his Nuntio in Venice with charge to present them accordingly they were address'd Marino Grimani Duci Reipublicae Venetorum After this he call'd a Consistory wherin he declar'd how the State of Venice had violated the Ecclesiasticall Liberty by publishing two Laws prejudiciall therunto and by detaining in prison two persons of the Church c. The Cardinalls were very sparing to deliver their Opinions herin and when it came to Bellarmin to speak he sayed That his Holines shold rather think on the residence of Prelats in their Churches The Venetian Senat thought good to send an Ambassador expressely for this purpose and to shew their high respects to the Apostolic See they made choice of the Lord Leonardo Donato an ancient Senator of the wide Sleeve who was afterwards Duke The Nuntio in Venice having receav'd the Breves but the next day after the Embassador extraordinary stayed the presentation therof and sent advice by an expresse of the choice of the sayed Ambassador the Pope was not well pleas'd when he heard of this that the Nuntio shold presume to interpose his own judgment after his Ordinance therfore he dispatch'd unto Venice an expresse Courier with a mandamus to the Nuntio to present the sayed Breves immediatly after the receit of his Letter that this might be conceal'd from the ordinary Ambassador of Venice then resident at Rome he caus'd the Courier to go out in a Coach without boots and so take horse at the second Stage The Nuntio having receav'd this command on Christmas Eve that he might punctually obey his Holines did present that solemn high Festivall day the sayed Breves unto the Senators assembled to assist at a solemn Masse in the absence of the Duke Grimani who was then strugling with the pangs of death and expir'd the morning after so that the Breves were not open'd till the creation of a new Duke The Pope having advice herof writ to his Nuntio to make a protest unto the Senat and enjoyn them not to passe to a new Election in regard it wold prove void being made by men excommunicated the Nuntio pressing for Audience herupon was delayed in regard it hath ever bin the custom of the Signory to treat of no businesse of State during the Vacancy Duke Grimani being buried they fell to ballotation for another nor according to the Constitutions of the Republic can they fall to the Election of another till the former Duke be under ground so it fell to the lot of LEONARDO DONATO to be chosen all Ambassadors went to congratulat the new Prince except the Nuntio yet did the Prince write unto the Pope as the custom is to give him advice of his Election Pope Paul herupon though it was beyond the expectation of divers did receave this Letter from the new Doge by the hands of the ordinary Venetian Ambassador then sojourning at Rome and return'd a congratulatory Amswer therof revoking the Order formerly sent to the Nuntio of presenting himself to the Duke The first affair that was agitated in the Senat after this new Election was this difference with the Pope and Pietro Duodo Knight was nominated Ambassador for Rome instead of Donato The Breves were open'd and they were both of the same substance viz. That it was com to his knowing how the Republic in former years had determin'd in her Councells many things contrary to Ecclesiastic Liberty and to the Canons Councells and Constitutions Pontificall but among others that in the year 1603. she had in the Decemvirat having regard to certain Laws of their Ancestors who had forbidden to erect Churches or other places without permission instead of nulling the old Ordinances touching this matter she had reviv'd the same extending that Statute which only concern'd the City of Venice to all other places of their Dominions under great penalties as if Churches and persons Ecclesiasticall were in
any sort subject to the secular Jurisdiction or he who foundeth a Church were worthy of so rude a chastisement as if he had committed som great Crime moreover that in the moneth of May last the Senat having regard to another Law made in the year 1536. wherby was prohibited the perpetuall alienation of Lay-mens possessions within the City and Signory of Venice to Ecclesiasticall persons without permission of the Senat under certain penalties instead of revoking that Law as their duty requir'd they had renew'd it and extended the penalty to all their Dominions as if it were lawfull for temporal Princes to ordain any thing for the exercising of any Jurisdiction or to dispose in any sort without the Ecclesiastics and particularly of the Pope of the goods of the Church specially of such goods as have bin given to the Church of persons spirituall and other places of devotion granted by the faithfull for remedy of their sins and discharge of their consciences That these Ordinances tending to the damnation of souls to public scandalls and also contrary to the Ecclesiasticall Liberty were of themselfs void and of no validity as furthermore he declar'd them to be such no man being oblig'd to observe them on the contrary that they who had made the Statutes or any like or they who had further'd them had incurr'd the Churches Censures and depriv'd themselfs of all such possessions as they held of the Church as also their estates and demains were subject to other penalties in such sort that they could not be absolv'd unlesse they revok'd all such Laws and re-establish'd all things in their former estate That therupon being plac'd in the Soveraign Throne and not being able to dissemble or indure these things he admonish'd the Republic to consider well the danger wherinto they had cast their souls upon this occasion and to seek remedy betimes otherwise in case of contumacy he commanded under pain of Excommunication latae sententiae that the afore sayed Lawes ancient and modern shold be abrogated That this Monitory shold be publish'd in all places throughout the Republic expecting from them an account herof if not upon notice had from his Nuntio he wold proceed to execution of the Penalties and to such other remedies that were meet remembring the reckoning that he was to give to God at the day of Judgment and that he could not in duty dissemble when the Authority of the See Apostolic was diminish'd Ecclesiasticall Liberty trod under foot the Holy Canons neglected the right of the Church and Clergy violated Of all which the charge lay upon him affirming that he was not induc'd hereunto for any worldly consideration for he desir'd nothing els but the glory to acquit himself of his Apostolicall function and as he intended not to usurp anything upon the secular Authority so he wold not permit the Ecclesiastic shold be diminish'd he concluded that if the Republic wold conform they wold deliver him from much pain which he endur'd in their behalf and they might still retain the Lands which they held of the Church That the best means wherby she might prevent the incommodities that might fall upon her from Infidells were to conserve the Church-men in their rights who watch in perpetuall prayers to God for her conservation The Senat with much maturity ponder'd these Breves and therupon sent to confer with their learnedst Counsellors in the Civill Lawes amongst whom they admitted Paul of Venice of the Order of the Servites an eminent Divine and Canonist with other Padouan Doctors to consult what answer they shold return the Pope The Republic also sent to consult other Doctors themost renowned of Europe for sound knowledge as Henry the VIII of England had don touching the legality of a divorce with Katherine of Aragon Having receav'd the judgments of the learnedst men in France and Spain specially of Giacomo Monochio President of Milan a man much cried up in those daies for learning the Senat fram'd the Answer to the Popes Monitory as followeth That with much grief and wonder they understood by the Letters of his Holines that their Laws observ'd carefully through so many Ages and never question'd by any of his Predecessors the revokement wherof wold shake the very Foundations of the Republic were reprehended as contrary to the See Apostolic and that they which made them having bin persons eminent for merit and well deserving of that See who are now in heaven were noted for Violaters of Ecclesiastic Liberty that according to the admonition of his Holines they had examined with much exactnesse their Laws Old and New but had not found anything which a Soveraign Prince might not have well ordain'd without any just offence to the Popes Authority it being a thing evidently belonging to a secular Prince to have regard what Companies are erected in hâ—…s Dominions as also to prevent the building of such Edifices as in time to com might be hurtfull to the public safety and though their State abounds with Churches and places of piety as much as any other yet when they saw it convenient they never refus'd to permit new Foundations themselfs contributing liberally therunto That in the Law against perpetuall alienation of lay goods unto Ecclesiastics the question being of things purely temporall they could not be tax'd to have don any thing contrary to the Canons or Decrees That if the Popes have power to forbid the Clergy to alienat any goods of the Church unto persons secular without leave Princes may do the same and take Order that the goods of seculars shall not be alienated to the Clergy without permission nor do the Ecclesiastics lose any thing bequeath'd unto them herby seeing they receave a price answerable in value to the immoveable adjoyning that it tends to the great prejudice not only of the temporall State but also of the spirituall to weaken the Forces of the Republic which by such alienations is depriv'd of necessary services and which in effect is a vangard or fortresse for all Christendom against Infidels That for these reasons the Senat could not perswade themselfs to have incurr'd any Censures since secular Princes have by Divine Law from which no human Law may derogat a power to establish Laws in things temporall as also that the admonitions of his Holines have here no place wher the question is not of any thing spirituall or any way trenching upon the Papâ—…ll Authority much lesse yet could they beleeve that his Holines so ful of Piety and Religion wold persist without knowledge of the cause in his Comminations This was the substance of the Senat 's Answer remitting themselfs further to their Ambassador extraordinary Ther happen'd a businesse in Savoy about this time which might have scatr'd the Venetian being much of the same nature for Pope Paul hahaving notice that the Duke of Savoy had commanded the Bishop of Fossano to depart out of his Dominions the Pope being incens'd therat did so menace the Duke with Excommunication
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
that most noble Republic that you love the very name of Venice therfore nothing shall take greater room in your thoughts than to maintain the good intelligence and union which is and ought to be betwixt the Popedom and the Republic in regard that the Princes of both aym at the same object They have the same wills and incumbency to conserve the authority of their States That in order to this you will employ your main strength with all your spirits and that you will be so zealous herin as if you were born his Holines vassall being very loth that your Oncle shold go before you but only in time in point of good will and affection towards that most illustrious Signorie Your own prudence shall direct you herin and how to place your words that they may be more or lesse moving to gain the amity and confidence of the Lords of the Senat wherin gravity will advantage you much and it may be more than any thing els In this first discours you are to mingle with your best dexterity som honorable mention of the Republiques Ambassador at Rome and what contentment he gives to his holines in all Treaties and how well he deserves of his Countrey As allso what respect and benevolence all the Prelats of the Roman Court do professe unto him This intimation shall serve you for two ends for you will therby draw thanks from the Kinred of the sayd Ambassador and making them your confidents they will further you in all your negotiations Besides you will therby oblige the Ambassador himself who will take ocasion to correspond with you in like civilities therfore you must not fayl to give the sayed Ambassador here a solemn visit and take conge of him desiring that he wold comand you in any service to his Kinred and Friends whither you are going endeavouring thereby to make the deepest impressions you can upon his soul That you go to Venice with a resolution to serve and honor him and his upon all occurrences wherof you are to desire him to certifie them by Letters and possesse them before hand in your behalf that they wold love and favour you with their friendship you may assure the Ambassador allso that you will never propose any thing that may be prejudiciall to any of them In sum you are allwayes to preserve the friendship of the Ambassador entire both by Letters and other good Offices you shall do to his Friends and Kinsmen but not engaging your self to do the like in his behalf to others for that wold haply turn to a disservice to the Gentleman and be no advantage to your self Som dayes after your first audience you must think what visits to make and because you need no instruction how to comport your self towards the Prelats I must give you a speciall caution not to visit the Doge by himself or speak to him alone Nor must you visit all sorts of Senators specially those that be young for that wold be unseemly Nor indeed doth any Senator much desire to be visited because it may breed jealousy and so draw danger upon him And ther may be two reasons alledg'd why they do not desire to be visited by strangers The first is the parsimonious and privat lifes they lead The other because they have som of their Brothers or Children that are Prelats so that it wold be a kind of offence to them to visit their Parents either for the small splendor of their dwellings or for the simplicity of their maners Therfore allthough no exact rule can be given you what persons you are to visit yet in the Generall they must be those that for Office or Magistracy live with more Magnificence and splendor than others having Palaces accordingly such as are the Procurators of S. Mark nor must these visits be frequent but only twice a yeer will suffice or it may be a longer interposition of time according as custom shall teach you allthough they who com to visitt you do it oftner When any of the principall Senators shall com to your House to salute you or treat of any busines those of your Family must be all ready to receave him at the Gate and you must meet him upon the staires but when they depart you are to bring them to the bottom of the staires though they reject it never so much your comportment towards Gentlemen of younger yeers and lesse dignity shall be regulated by your own judgment and in such a maner as shall be obliging to them but not undervaluing your self You must propose this as an universall rule to your self that if you entreat the Prelats well and bind them unto you as I know you will evertuat your self to do they may becom instruments of great matters by the meanes of their Parents although their Parents may not make any shew that you are so affected to them or they to you the Prelats being well satisfied by you will much avayle you in giving good reports of you at Rome I must advise your Excellency again that gravity will steed you much because the Venetian Gentlemen make profession thereof and esteem it above any thing not as much for apparances only as for well becoming public Ministers of State because it is an argument of staydnes of vertu and prudence Yet this gravity must not turn to an austerity or take away that affability candor and sweetnes which you are to use towards all people for so you may be esteemed to be fantasticall and proud Therfore you must speak and treat with such an unaffected gravity that may be sutable to your person And when you have any thing to do in the Senat be mindfull of the rank you hold and of the quality of that Prince whom you represent yet shewing a great deal of reverence and presupposing that you are in the presence of a King All the discours you shall make in the Senat shall be addressed to the Prince and allthough you speak to the whole Colledg yet you shall allwayes use these words Vestra serenitá or Serenissimo Principe You must have a speciall care to honor the Venetian Gentlemen according to their Age and Dignity And you must know that those Gentlemen love to be courted and complimented specially if they be invested in any Office of Dignity And honor is the more dear unto them when it comes from a person of noble Employment and Extraction Wheras otherwise they will deem it an injury not to be respected turning such disrespects into disdain and scorn of him that will not give them their due because the Senators and Patricians of Venice have high conceits of themselfs for their antiquity and for their freedom continued so many Ages inviolable Besides the difference that ought to be put betwixt old and young or those that are graduated with offices or not graduated wherof the first of both are to be the more esteemd you must allso make som distinction betwixt Families Now the Families of the
not had more though She be far more free from that humor of ostentation Ther were divers brave spirits in Rome that did murther themselfs in height of spirit And ther were braver spirits in Venice that did mortifie themselfs as divers of Her Princes have don by shaking off the Ducall robes for a froc and so bidding a farwell to the pomp and plesures of the world 7. In point of duration and longaevity old Rome was not made of so strong a constitution as Venice who hath almost lasted twice her time for She hardly continued a Republic 700 yeers yet Venice to this day is plump and buxom as if She meant to hold touch with Time himself and coexpire with the world Lastly Venice hath this preheminence of old Rome that she hath preserv'd her Maydenhead to this day though situated in hot salt waters and though oftentimes forc'd yet was She never ravish'd whereas Rome becam a prostitut to all Nations who ridd Her often out of breath but Venice from the first moment of Her conception to this very point of time Virgo manet medio pura recénsque Salo. To this Latin Pentameter we will add this English Distic for I know Venice will not be displeas'd if She be told how old She is and so bid Her farewell Ne're Mayd did beare Her age so well As Venice if Her yeers you tell 1231. A Cohortation by way of Corollary address d to all Christian Princes and States to resent the present dangers of the Republic of Venice HAving in this large Prospective or Murano Looking-glasse more properly though I confesse not cut with a Diamond cut represented unto the world the true face and Physiognomy of this renowned Virgin having fetched Her from Her very Cradle set Her forth in all Her proportions and attended Her to that stature of perfection She is now grown unto having allso dissected Her government and anatomiz'd evry lim thereof by pourtraying Her in all her colours both inward and outward Having likewise taken an abstract of the story of all Her Princes and felt the pulse of Her courage by shewing what glorious exploits She hath perform'd up and down the World against the mightiest Potentats on earth having moreover pryed into Her interests of state in relation to other Princes Having allso made you know Her defects as well as Her advantages and unvayl'd Her vices as well as Her vertues Lastly having declared in what trepidations and dangerous condition She stands at present by having clos'd in actuall lucation with that great Eastern Giant the common Enemy who as the Wolfe in the Fable useth to take hold of any slight ocasion if the waters be troubled to quarrell with Her and ther her to peeces I take the boldnes now to direct this seasonable hortative or alarum rather to all Christian Princes and States that it is high time for them to be sensible of her present engagements and consequently to reach her a helping hand which as by a generall tie of Christianity so for sundry particular respects and indispensable obligations they are bound to do 1. In regard 't is known and confess'd by all that She is the main Bulwork of the principallst parts of Europe against the Turk for in the bottom of her Gallies lieth the security and wellfare of all her Neighbours It is She that holds him at the Oares end that he cannot take any sure footing in Italy as he hath attempted often and it is known by wofull experience that whersoever he or his horse once sets his foot the grasse will never grow there again Therfore under favour they are oblig'd by the common and mutuall tie of danger to preserve this Republic from sinking 2. All Christendom is beholden unto this wise Republic in regard She hath interceded from time to time and labourd more for the generall peace and tranquility of Christendom and by her moderation and prudent comportment hath don better Offices in this kind then any other whatsoever Rome excepted 3. It is She that hath bin the chiefest instrument to keep even the scales of the great balance of State betwixt the Princes of the Western world that the power of one might not so out-poize and be trabocant that the rest shold be in danger to be blown up 4. Ther is an extraordinary respect and honor due unto the Signorie of Venice from the rest of Christendom in regard that wheras other Princes have made use of the Turk against their fellow Christians as could be prov'd by many instances yet the Republic of Venice though fairely offer'd and importun'd thereunto wold never make use of him that way in her greatest extremities Neither in that mighty league of Cambray when all the power of Europe was knotted against her Nor during the time of the Interdict when the Pope and the House of Austria were like to joyn against Her with temporall and spirituall Armes yet She never wold accept the assistance of the Turk though it be lawfull when ones House is set on fire to use foule water as well as fair to extinguish it 5. Lastly The Signorie of Venice is to be more look'd upon then other States because they who have had pratic in the world and observ'd generall dependencies confesse that her peace hath caus'd the plenty and her warrs the peace of most Regions of Europe It was She that opend the Trade and taught the Northwest world a way to all the Levant parts as also into Afric and the Southern Coasts of Asia as far as the Red-sea and the Indies moreover Her Bank of money as it hath bin the Ground and Rule of all other banks so it is the most usefull for Marchants or Gentlemen to any part of the world nor do I see how Christendom can subsist conveniently without it Therefore humbly under favour it highly behoves all other Christian Princes to be ayding and assisting unto this gallant and usefull Republic to preserve this Virgin from being ravish'd by that rude Tyrant of the Levant the common enemy who is now actually uniting and banding all his forces both by Land and Sea to shoot Her twixt Wind and Water and utterly to sink Her having now got out from between the Dardanelli with a great Fleet to succour Canea and make good what he hath already got in Candie Besides these generall ties ther be som motifs of encouragement now more then formerly that may serve to incite all Christian Princes against the Turk at this time in regard that according to the judgement of the wiser sort of men that tyrannicall Empire is upon point of declining or to suffer som notable change because the Ianizares of late yeers have much degenerated from what they were from their Primitive institution being now allowed to marry and to exercise Marchandizing which makes them lesse venturous and to be more carefull of their wealth with their Wifes and Children Besides they have lost that godlike kind of reverence they us'd to bear unto