S. P Q. V. A SURVEY OF THE SIGNORY OF VENICE, Of Her admired policy, and method of GOVERNMENT, etc. WITH A Cohortation to all Christian Princes to resent Her dangerous Condition at present.  
By JAMES HOWELL Esq.  
LONDON, Printed for Richard Lowndes at the White Lion in S. Paul's Churchyard, near the West end.  
M. DC. LI.   

TO THE SUPREME AUTHORITY OF THE NATION, THE PARLIAMENT OF ENGLAND.  
Most Noble Senators,  
LEngth of Age argues strength of Constitution; and as in Natural bodies, so this Rule holds good likewise in Political: Whence it may be inferrd, that the Signory of Venice from Her Infancy was of a strong Symmetry, well nursed, and swaddled with wholesome Laws, which are no other than the ligaments of a State, or the Arteries whereby the blood is directed and strengthened to run through all the veins in due proportion, though Nature allows some to have a greater quantity than others. To this may be attributed Her so long duration, for having been born a Christian, and Free from the beginning, She hath continued a pure Virgin, and an Independent (but only upon Herself) near upon 13 Ages; She hath shined in Her Watery Orb among all other Republics upon Earth, as the Moon doth in the Heavens among the rest of the Planets, Though She hath coped with the gretest Potentats of the World, and particularly with the huge Ottoman Emperor Her Neighbour; having not only scratchd his face, and oftentimes cut off those tuffs of hair wherein his strength lay for the time, but peeled his beard, and sometimes plucked him by the Mustachos; She is now in actual luctation, and hath been any time these six years at handy-gripes with that monstrous Giant, who this year intends to bend, and bandy all his Forces both by Land and Sea, to ravish and ruin Her; Therefore it imports all Christian Princes to resent Her condition, She being both the Key, and Bulwark of Europe that way; And, with humble leave I speak it, it may well become England (now that she is more formidable at Sea than ever) to be sensible of Her case, That Republic having been her ancient Confederate ever since the association of the Holy War, and having, for this last Centurie, mingled interests, and run the same course of state with Her; Nor is it a Quaere altogether impertinent, but may very well admit of a debate, whether a war against the Turk might not prove more advantageous to England than his wares. Moreover, if likeness may beget love, England hath reason to affect Venice more than any other, for in point of security there is much resemblance between them, being both seated in the Sea, who is their best Protector; The one preserves Herself by her Galleys, the other by her galleons; The fairest flower of England is the Dominion of the Narrow Seas, the gretest glory of Venice is the Dominion of the Adriatic Gulf 700 miles in extent; Venice had the chiefest hand in framing the Rhodian Laws for Sea cases, by which all the Levant parts are guided; and England was the busiest in constituting the Maritime Laws of Oleron, whereby the Western World is governed.  
This following Survey (which is like a Frame indented with sundry pieces) will, I believe, make the Reder both outwardly and inwardly acquainted with this Maiden Republic, for it shows Her policy and power, Her wars, exploits, and confederacies, Her interests of State, together with Her advantages and defects, and how far She hath trodd in the steps of old Rome; Therefore, most humbly under favour, the Author deemed it a piece of industry not altogether unworthy to be presented unto that Noble Assembly by  
Their daily Orator, HOWELL.   

The famous Hexastic which Sannazarius made upon the City of Venice, for which he received 100 Zecchins for every verse (amounting near to 300▪ sterling) in lieu of reward by decree of the Senat.  

VIderat Adriacis Venetam Neptunus in Undis  
Stare Urbem, & toti ponere jura Mari,  
Nunc mihi Tarpeias quantumvis, jupiter, Arces  
Objice & illa tui maenia Martis, ait;  
Sic Pelago Tibrim praefers; Urbem aspice utramque,  
Illam Homines dices, Hanc posuisse Deos.   

WHen Neptun 'mong his billows Venice saw,  
And to the Adrian Surges giving law,  
He said, now jove boast of thy Capitol,  
And Mars his Walls; This were for to extol  
Tiber above the Main: Both City's Face,  
You'll say, Rome men, Venice the Gods did trace.    

A short Analysis of the whole Piece.  
A VENICE LOOKING-GLASS, Wherein that rare and renowned City and Signory is represented in Her true Colours, with Reflexes,  

I. UPon Her Constitutions, and Government, wherein there may be divers things useful for this Meridian.  
II. Of the extent and distance of Her Dominions.  
III. Of Her Interests of State, with the rest of the Princes of Italy, and others.  
IV. Of Her imitation of old Rome in most things.  
V. Of Her advantages and defects.  
VI Of Her power by Sea and Land.  
VII. Of Her 98 Dukes, Doges, or Souverain Princes.   
In whose Lives is involud the Historical part which looks upon the Greek Empire, and Turkey as well as upon most Countries in Europe; in whose Counsels, tending either to Peace or Warr, the Republic of Venice hath had as great a share as any other Christian Prince.  
THe Author desires to prepossess the Reder with this advertisement, That he would not have adventured upon this remote Out landish subject, had he not been himself upon the place; had he not had practical conversation with the people of whom he writes: As little had he presumed upon the Life of the last French King (and Richelieu his Cardinal) in the Story called LUSTRA LUDOVICI, unless he had been Spectator of most of his actions.  
And herein the Author desires to be distinguished from those who venture to write of Foreign affairs, and Countries by an implicit faith only, taking all things upon trust, having Themselves never trodd any part of the Continent.   

Upon the City and Signory of VENICE.  

COuld any State on Earth Immortal be,  
Venice by Her rare Government is She;  
Venice Great Neptune's Minion, still a Maid,  
Though by the warrlikst Potentats assayed;  
Yet She retains Her Virgin-waters pure,  
Nor any Foreign mixtures can endure;  
Though, Siren-like on Shore and Sea, Her Face  
Enchants all those whom once She doth embrace;  
Nor is there any can Her beauty prize  
But he who hath beheld Her with his Eyes:   

These following Leaves display, if well observed,  
How She so long Her Maidenhead preserved,  
How for sound prudence She still bore the Bell;  
Whence may be drawn this high-fetchd parallel,   

Venus and Venice are Great Queens in their degree,  
Venus is Queen of Love, Venice of Policy.   
I. H.   

OF THE REPUBLIC OR SIGNORY OF VENICE.  
The PROEM.  
WEre it within the reach of humane brain to prescribe Rules for fixing a Society and Succession of people under the same Species of Government as long as the World lasts, the Republic of Venice were the fittest pattern on Earth both for direction and imitation: This Maiden City, which denominats the whole Commonwealth, had the Prerogative to be born a Christian, and Independent, whereof She glorieth, and that not undeservedly, above all other States or Kingdoms; It seems some propitious Star was predominant at Her Nativity, and that Nature brought Her forth with her limbs well knit, and apt to grow up to a strong constitution, which is the cause that She is so long lived, and hath continued above a thousand hot Summers an intemerat Virgin under the same face, and form of Government; 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, whereunto Civil Bodies as well as Natural, by those distempers and common accidents which attend Time, use to be subject. This beauteous Maid hath been often attempted to be deflowrd, some have courted Her, some would have bribed Her, and divers would have forced Her, yet she still preserved her chastity entire; She hath wrestled with the greatest powers upon Earth, East, West, North and South, both by Land and Sea; The Emperor, 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 sickness which threatened a consumption, would have quite sunk Her, but She bore up still above water, and broke that League to flitters, though, I must confess, she was forced then to piece her Lion's skin with a Foxe's tail, and to destroy that by wit which she could not do with her weapon.  
The Eastern Emperors have divers times set upon her skirts, The Gran Turk hath been 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 closed with him, yet She came still off with her maidenhead clear; She hath had sundry Thunderbolts darted at Her from the Vatican, yet She kept herself still free from all inward combustions, and all popular tumults both in her Church & State, notwithstanding that She expelled from her Territories, the greatest supporters of the Pope's Chair, when She gave the jesuits this cold farewell, Andate, niente pigliate, & mai retornate, Go your ways, take nothing, and never return; As also that She long since made her Ecclesiastics incapable to inherit Stable possessions, or sit in the Senate, in regard they have a dependence and juramentall obligation, in divers things, to another Prince, viz. the Pope; therefore before any suffrage pass in the Council, the common cry is, fuora I preti, Out Presbyters; This curbing of the Clergy hath caused divers clashes 'twixt her and Rome; so that once the Pope began to question Her right to the Dominion of the Gulf, and ask her Ambassador what warrant She had for it, He answered, If your Holiness please to produce the Instrument whereby the Emperor Constantine passed over the City of Rome to your predecessors, upon the back of that Grant your Holiness will find the Venetian Charter to the Dominion of the Adriatic Gulf; Another time Gregory the 13. threatening to excommunicate the Doge and the Senate about a controversy 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 Tel●…m, etc. The Pontificial censure, viz. Excommunication, is like a sword sheathed 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 wherein She was born, baptised and bred, but She still reverenced the Church in her own Sphere and function; and suffers her to enjoy above 2. millions of yearly revenue to this day. And indeed 'twas one of her primitive principles of policy, at the first erection of her Republic, to bear a singular veneration to the Church, imitating herein, as in many other particulars, the Commonwealth of Rome her Mother, who raised herself a notable repute among other Nations, for her extraordinary reverence to the Gods. Nor are there many Christian Princes who deserve better of Rome than Venice, for She hath often supported the Pope's Chair when it was tottering, nay, being once quite thrust out She rigged her galleys and resettled Him in it as will appear: And of later years She resented it extremely when Bourbon scaled the walls of Rome; Besides, She would not admit Henry the fourth's Ambassador from France to Her Chapel till his Master was reconciled to the Church of Rome.  
Nor did She keep Saint Peter's bark only from sinking, but She spread her sails, and displayed her banners also for preserving the Eastern Emperor (when Christian) from the fury of the Saracens and other barbarous people. SHE had so great a share in the conquest of the Holy Land, that She had one part of jerusalem allotted her for her quarter; and had not the state of Genoa (a potent Republic in those times) been so perverse, and repined at the glory of Venice her elder sister, Venice had been 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 Cross had got in those Eastern parts were of so small continuance.  
We read how Rome became a prostitut to several Nations, and sorts of governments, and one only war made as it were an end of her quite, but Venice, Virtue like  

— repulsae nescia sordidae  
Intaminatis fulget honoribus:   
I say Venice to this day, though all her neighbours round about, far and ne'er, have tuggd with her by Land and Sea, yet like the constellation of Virgo among the celestial bodies, she shines still among the Kingdoms on earth like a bright unravished Virgin: And may do so to the World's end, if she be still true to herself, as Thuanus sayeth, who undertakes to be her prophet in these words,  

Venetiae non nisi cum Rerum ●…aturâ,  
Et Mundi machinâ periturae.   

Till Nature and the Univers decline,  
Venice within her Watery Orb shall shine.   

Some Reasons why Venice hath lasted so long in the same condition of Liberty.  
NOw, how this longlived Republic came to do those notable achievements abroad, and conserve herself from all popular tumults and revolutions at home so many Ages, may be imputed, (besides the politic frame of her government in general, which shall be treated of hereafter) to these particular reasons following.  
1. SHE hath been always constant to her self, and to her first fundamentals & principles, for She hath been always an enemy to change, holding it to be a wholesome caveat that Ipsa mutatio consuetudinis magis perturbat novitate quam adjuvat utilitate, viz. The change of custom useth to perturb a State more by its novelty, than advantage it by its utility; She hath a rule also that malè positum saepiùs mutatur in pejus, This makes her decrees irrevocable; As one of her Ambassadors answered Henry the fourth of France when he interceded for the abrogation of a Decree of Hers, Serenissime Rex, Senatus Venetus diu deliberate, antequam decernat, sed quod seriò decrevit revocat nunquam; Most gracious King, the Venetian Senate doth deliberat a long time before it decrees any thing, but when it is once seriously decreed 'tis never revoked. Whereunto he added further, gli Decreti di Venetia non sono comme ligridi di Parigi, The Decrees of Venice are not like the cries of Paris (meaning the French edicts) proclaimed to day, and repealed to morrow. To this maturity of deliberation, may be added, the gravity of her Senators, and the exact reverence the younger sort bear, not only to the persons, but opinions of their Elders; It is not there as in other places, where young men make laws for old men to observe, they abhor that inversion of the Law of Nature, but grey heads sway, and green heads obey; so provident they are of the future, when they consult of a business to day, they think what may befall 100▪ years after. Nor is there any admitted to their superior Counsels till he be somewhat stricken in years, until he hath passed employments of public trust within her own Territories, or Embassies abroad. Touching this second service they have certain degrees which they observe in the removal of their Ambassadors, for commonly one passeth from the Cantons of Switzerland to be Ambassador in Holland, thence he is transmitted to England, thence to France, so to Spain, and thence either to the Emperor or to be ●…ailio of Constantinople, where he lives in great height, and is not accountable for his expenses as all other Ambassadors are, nor ever after employed in any Legation.  
But though She be so constant to her self at home in Her primitive constitutions, and intrinsique government, yet in her correspondency, leagues and confederacies abroad She often varies, and casts her course of policy into new moulds, as the Fortune of other Princes or States do rise or decline; her principal aim being to keep not only the State of Italy, but also Spain and France, which are the two poles whereon Europe may be said to move, in Aequilibrio, To keep them in a counterpoise.  
2. Another cause of the longaevity of this Republic may be allegd to be, that She hath always been more inclined to peace than war, and chosen rather to be a Spectatrix or Umpresse, than a Gamestresse, Her chief motto being, Pax tibi Marce; Insomuch that no Christian Prince or State, except the Popedom, hath laboured more by costly Legations to reconcile the quarrels of Europe, and quench the fire that issued out of them to the disturbance of the public peace, as also for preventing the advantages which the Common Enemy the Turk (one of her next neighbours) might take thereby: which hath been the cause that for the sagacity of her men, and maturenes of her Counsels, She hath been oftentimes desired to be Mediatrix of differences 'twixt the greatest Potentates, which She hath done with that address and diligence as is admirable, so that Thuanus gives her this character, to be Civilis prudentiae officina, the shop of civil prudence.  
3. A third reason for the continuance of this Republic in such a prosperous condition may be said to be the rare temper of her people, who with exact obedience and promptitud execute what is enjoined them by their Superiors; so that it may be said of Venice what a grave Historian speaks of Sparta, when he passed his judgement of Her, Sparta diu stetit, non quod Rex benè imperabat, sed quia populus benè parebat, Sparta lasted so long, not as much that the Prince did command well, as that the people did obey well. Nor, is the Venetian of so volatile an humour; and so greedy of change as other Italians, he is not so fickle as the Florentine, Milaneze, or they of Naples, who, as the History relates, hath had eight and twenty revolutions (with this last) in less than 300. years, in which time the Napolitan Courser threw off his Rider five times.  
4. Add herunto that the Venetians are mighty good Patriotts, and love their Country in an intense degree, every Galley that goes in course thinks she hath Venice herself aboard of her; as if the print of that old Roman rule were still fresh in their hearts, Dulce & decorum pro patria mori: And as in this particular, so in many qualities besides, the soul of Rome seems to have transmigrated into Venice, as shall be shown hereafter. They are equally studious and eager to conserve the glory and greatness of the Republic, for which they have been ever ready to part with their blood and fortunes; There are many examples how the women have been ready to part with their bracelets, earings and necklaces in time of extremity, nay they have offered their very hair to make ropes for their galleys, etc. But though they continue still such great Zelotts to their own Country, and government thereof, they are not so to the Church of late years, as it is observed; and were it not for those confusions that ensued thereby in other Country's, and the hatred they should heap upon themselves from their neighbours, some think the Republic by this time would have drawn her neck from the Roman yoke, which made Cardinal Ossat say, that Venice hath now no more devotion to Rome than needs.  
5. A fi●…t reason that Venice hath continued a maid so many Centuries of years, is, her advantageous site and position, being seated in an arm or Estuary of the Adriatic Sea upon an Assembly of small Lands to the number of above threescore consociated and leagud together by 800. and odd bridges; so that sitting thus securely on Thetis lap, She need not fear any invasion by land, or any approaches to her from sea without knowing Pilotts: She hath as it were cut the Ocean into so many aqueducts through her streets, as we read Cyrus caused the River Pindes to be drained into 360. channels, which he did out of a revenge because she had drowned one of his horses, but Venice clean contrary doth this out of affection to Neptun, that thereby She might embosom herself the more easily between his arms. This rare situation of the City of Venice induced divers to be of opinion That some superior power to man, That some heavenly Intelligence had a hand in founding and tracing Her out.  
6. Sixtly, This rare perpetuity of the Republic of Venice may be ascribed also to her Treasure, and Arsenal, whereof the one is grown to be a proverb for riches, the other for strength, being stored with such huge Magazines of both: The first could never be yet exhausted or estimated; The other can, in case of necessity, put so many Galleys to the sea as there be days in the year, having 3000. persons perpetually at work, with other advantages, as will appear when we come to describe it, with the treasury, for these are but prolegomena, and general Ideas of things.  
7. Seventhly, The counterpoise of rewards and punishments may be said to have been the plummetts which have made the great clock of this Commonwealth to go true so many ages: In this government whosoever is detected to have the least attempt or thought of conspiring any thing against the Republic, dies without mercy; On the other side, whosoever finds out or invents any thing that may tend either to her advantage or honour, shall be as sure of his reward, as the other of punishment.  
8. Another reason why Venice hath lasted so long at such a constant stand, is her wonderful sagacity in discovering any private conspiracy against Herself, her cautions to prevent it, and ready means to suppress it; for there is always a private Armoury (besides the great Arsenal) wherein there are choice arms ready for 1500. men, the musketts, and arquibuzes charged, match ready, and every thing fitted for a present execution in case of a sudden surprise or uproar. This Armoury is very secretly kept near the Duke's Palace, and not to be shown without 3. Gentlemen of the great Council, being reserved merely for the use and safety of the Senate, in case they should be assaulted by any ill-favoured commotion, or private outrage while they are consulting about the affairs of the Republic: It is closely and curiously kept, and hath many new divises of arms, as steel-bowes which shoot needles or small darts, and hit unseen, there be musketts and pistols that will go off 6. times together, halberds with pistols in them one at each end, strange kinds of pole-axes, with other sorts of defensive and destructive arms, if occasion should require. Besides this means of suppressing all violence, she hath many cautions besides to prevent them: It is death without mercy for any of her Senators, Officers or Gentlemen to receive pensions from any other Prince or State; nor is it permitted that they have any private conversation with their Ambassadors or public Agents; Her own Ambassadors must not conceal the presents and gifts they received from other Princes where they are employed, but at their return they must present them to Saint Mark's treasury, which hath much multiplied the wealth of it.  
9 Another reason of her so constant subsistence may be the sundry restraints She puts to the power of the Prince, which are such, that 'tis impossible for Him to be a Tyrant, or able to attempt any thing against her liberty and government; He may be said to be but a Colleague to the rest of the Senators, differing from them only in the hindmost part of his Capp, which riseth up like a Cornet. Besides, though Maidens commonly love young Men, yet she never chooseth any to be her Prince or Duke till he be stricken in years, and seasoned with the experience of the world, until he be half mortified, having shaken hands with those extravagant humours, appetits and passions that attend humane Nature.  
Hereunto may be added the limitations She puts to the wealth of the Nobles, that none of them grow over rich, but to such a proportion, in regard that it is a quality ever inhaerent and hereditary in the nature of man, that excess of riches puffs up the mind, and incites it to ambitious and high attempts, nor is there a more catching bait for one to take vulgar affections, and draw them after him, than Wealth: therefore one of her prime principles of State is to keep any man, though having deserved never so well by good success or service, from being too popular; Therefore when foreign Ambassadors are employed to Her, they have it among their private instructions not to magnify any of her subjects in particular, for She cannot endure to hear of it, though She can be always very well contented to hear Herself extolled, and tickled with compliments in the general.  
10. Add herunto, that one of her policies is to exempt her Citizens from going to the wars, but She hires others in their places, by whose death she sustaineth the less loss, for She hath been always observed to be parsimonious of her own blood: Moreover, She entertains some foreign Prince for Her General, whom, the wars being ended, and the game played, She presently discards; by which course She avoids not only superfluous expense, but likewise all matters of faction, and apprehensions of danger, which might well happen if She should employ any of her own people in so high an employment, which might elevat his spirits to too great an altitud. She hath also another politic law that permitts not the younger sons of the Nobility and Gentry to marry, lest the number increasing so exceedingly it should diminish the dignity, and her great Council should be too much pestered, and this may be one reason why she connives at so many Courtesans for the use of the Cadett-gentlemen.  
11. Eleventhly, the rare secrecy She enjoins in her chiefest Counsels, may be a reason that no foreign Prince could come near her privy parts all this while; for it is there an irremissible crime, and such a mortal sin that draws upon it death without mercy, to reveal the private transactions, and secrets of her Council of State; In so much that the designs of this close Maid may be said to be mysteries till they be put in execution.  
12. Lastly, the cause of her continuance may be imputed to another reach of policy She hath, not to admit Churchmen to any of her secular Counsels (nor was She ever subject to the authority of Women) And the reason why the Clergy is made incapable to sit in the Senate is, because (as it was touched before) they have relation to another government, viz. the Pontificial. Moreover, She hath had a special care of the Pulpit (and Press) that no Churchman from the meanest Priest to the Patriarch dare tamper in their Sermons with temporal and State-affairs, or the transactions and designs os the Senate; It being too well known that Churchmen are the most perilous and pernicious Instruments in a State, if they misapply their talon, and employ it to poison the hearts of the people, to intoxicat their brains, and suscitat them to sedition, and a mislike of the government; and now Churchmen have more power to do this in regard they have the sway on the noblest part of the rational Creature, over the soul and the intellectuals; Therefore if any intermeddle with matters of State in the Pulpit, they are punished in an extraordinary severe manner. Yet they bear a very high respect unto the Church (as long as she keeps within her own sphere, and breaks not out into ceccentricall and irregular motions.) They suffer Her to this day to enjoy above 2. millions of crowns in yearly revenue, holding it for a maxim, that reverence, riches, decency and splendour are the greatest pillars that support Religion. She hath also two very eminent men, the one a sound Divine, the other a learned Casuist, that have a pension from the Republic, who are always 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 some reasons (which will be enforced in the following description of her Government) how Venice came to last so many centuries a pure unspotted Virgin, and free not only from all foreign ravishments and assaults, but also from all intestine commotions and tumults. 'Tis true that some short combustions have happened in Her, but by Her wisdom and providence they proved but as fires of flax or stubble, which no sooner flashed out but they suddenly extinguished of themselves. And this is the more to be wondered at, because it is observed, that as rank excuberant grounds use to be more subject to bear weeds of all sorts, than other soils, so rich luxurious Cities are more exposed to corrupt superfluous humours, which use to break out into strange distempers, and high fevers. 'Tis well known that Venice hath been always such a City, yet by Her extraordinary prudence She hath and doth still preserve herself from such distempers, notwithstanding that She swims in wealth and wantoness as well as she doth in the waters, notwithstanding that She melts in softness and sensuality as much as any other whatsoever; for, 'tis too well known, there is no place where there is less Religion from the girdle downward: yet She suffers not those frail vessels of pleasure to mingle with her other Daughters in Church-Communion.  
But now we will proceed to the Original of her Republic, and the frame of her Government, whereby She hath endured so many hundreds of hard winters, and hit sommers.   

Of the Original of the Signory of Venice, and of her Government.  
ITalie hath been always accounted the Eye of Europe, the Mirror of policy, and once, Mistress of the World; Although, putting all dimensions together, and taking her length to piece 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 contains 2700. Towns, 20. Archbishoprics, 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 naval strength he can put into the field an Army of 50000. well armed men in case of necessity, being a mixed Prince 'twixt spiritual and temporal.  
She hath also divers other Principalities; The Duchy of Milan is little inferior to the Popedom in point of strength; The gran Duke of Toscany hath 20000. armed men enrolled, trained up and in perpetual pay, with 400. light horse, and 100 gendarmes, all which are quartered in so narrow a compass that he can command them all to his Court at Florence in four and twenty hours; The Duke of Savoy, who is accounted also one of her Princes, is far beyond the Florentine in power; There be also in Her the Dukes of Parma, of Urbino and Mantova, who are Sovereign Princess. Besides all these, Italy hath three Republics, viz. that of Venice, that of Genoa, and that of Luca, which may be said to differ one from the other as the three degrees of comparison, whereof Venice is the superlatif; and indeed she may be termed so, being compared to any Republic on earth, take her power by sea and land together. It is well known that Kingdoms take their denomination diversely; some take their names from the whole bulk of Earth and Country itself which they possess, as the Kingdom of Spain, the Kingdom of Denmark, etc. Some are denominated ab eminentiori, from the chief Metropolis, as Rome in times passed 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 confess the King of Spain now adays terms not himself King of Naples, but Utriusque Siciliae, of both Siciles, and it may be thought he doth this to displease the Pope the less, who still claims title to it. Thus is it with Kingdoms, but touching Commonwealths, They for the most part take always their denomination from the principal City, as Athens of old, with divers others, and now Venice, Genoa, etc. But I find that Venice takes the state upon Her to be named still in the plural number Venetiae; which strain of stateliness, doubtless with other things she borrowed from the Greeks, who named sundry of their Cities only in the plural, as Thebae, Athenae, etc. but more of this hereafter: Now to her government.   

Of the Government, constitution, and frame of the Signory of Venice.  
THere is not any thing that discovers the prudence of a people more than the manner and method of their Government; Government is that great hinge whereon all Kingdoms and Commonwealths do move: But in this Aequorean Republic, for she may not improperly be called so, in regard She commands, secures, and scours all the year long above 700. miles of Sea, for that is the extent of the Adriatic Gulf from the City of Venice, to Otranto in Calabria, I say Government in Her may be called the r●…dder that steers the great vessel of State; Her constitutions and laws are the ligaments and cables; felicity, wealth and glory are the sails, and the breath of her Senators the wind that blows them: The common good is the pole whereat the needle or lily of the compass always points; Religion the main mast which bears the colours of her Saint, though the chief Pilot or Master of this vessel (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 some of the Master's mates, whereof there are many, because she would not be subject to the infirmities and failings of one, who might haply err, and be mistaken in the use of the compass, or transported with irregular passions.  
Now, there is nothing so uncertain and difficult as the Art of Government, Hominem homini imperare difficillimum, and those who from Apprentices have been bred up journeymen, 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 professed themselves still but Novices therein; 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 multitude, who in lightness match the winds, and outgo the waves of the Sea in fury oftentimes. There is a certain way to break, guide, and keep in awe all other Animals, though never so savage and strong; but there is no such certain way to govern a swarm of men, in regard of such frequent turbulencies of spirit, and variety of opinions proceeding from the Rational faculty, which other cretures, that are contented only with sense are not subject unto: and this may be said to be one of the inconveniences that attend Reason.  
But if ever any hath brought humane government and policy to a science which consists of certitudes, the Venetian Republic is She, who is as dextrous in ruling men as in rowing of a galley or gondola, otherwise She could never have lasted so long, and kept in such an exact obedience 3. millions of men, for thereabouts by frequent censes that have been made is the number of her subjects.  
We are going now to describe the method this Republic hath always used in Her government, which is the most material thing in point of knowledge: For to stand raking the ashes of times passed to find out the pedigree of a Peeple, Country or City; or to know their power and wealth, their exploits and extent of territory, affords only matter of discourse; but to pry into the policy and soul of a State, whereon her government and whole incolumity depends, is a knowledge far more advantageous and useful, for therein there may be things for imitation: Therefore in treating of this Republic, I will begin with the most necessary part, viz. the form of her Government.  
THe Venetian Government is a compounded thing, for it is a mixture of all kinds of goverments, if the division of the Philosopher into Monarchy, Aristocracy and Democracy be allowed to be perfect: This government may be said to have a grain of Monarchy, a dose of Democracy, and a dramm if not an ounce of Optimacy.  
The Duke, Doge or Prince hath something of a Monarch in him, as will further appear.  
The Senate which consists of 120. Counsellors, of Decemvirs whose College consists of 17. Senators, and of Sages or Praeconsultors, which make a number of 16. choice men.  
The great Council which is composed of a general convention of Citizens, and this hath much of Democracy in it.   

Of the Duke or Prince of Venice.  
ALL things to whom the God of Nature hath given an entity, prop●…nd to unity; wherein Earth comes to the nearest resemblance with Heaven; for nothing conduceth more to regularity and order, no strength is so operative as the united: therefore the Venetian people having tried for some hundred years the government of Consuls, and afterwards of Tribunes, they found it an inconvenience, or deformity rather, to have two heads upon one body, and so thought it at last a better policy to set up one head: but the miscarriage and exorbitancies of the Tribunes were the cause that they fell upon this alteration. Whereupon a General Assembly being convokd, wherein the Bishop of Grada presided, divers Speeches were made, That there was no more hope of the Venetian Commonwealth and public liberty, which had been preserved and purchased by their noble Progenitors with such heroic resolution, unless the tyranny of the Tribunes might be suppressed; otherwise they might be said to have left the firm land, to find out slavery among the waters, etc.  
Many high acrimoniall Orations were pronounced at this Convention of that nature; whereof there was one more notable than the rest, which is inserted before the legend of Paulutio Anafesto, the first Duke or Prince of Venice, as will appear hereafter in the Historical part of this Work.  
Upon the pronouncing of these Speeches, they gave an unanimous shout and suffrage, that a Duke or Prince should be elected, who might represent the whole honour and Majesty of the State, but with such cautels and reservations that might consist with the public Liberty. And this mutation happened, according to the approvedst Authors, in the year after the incarnation 697.  
This Duke ever since hath had the prime place in the Republic; He hath a kind of Regal, though dependent, power; He hath the representation and gravity of a Sovereign Governor; He is always styled, Serenissime Princeps, and reverence is done to him accordingly; He goes always clad in silk and purple, sometimes he shows himself to the public in a robe of cloth of gold, and a white mantle; He hath his head covered with a thinn coyf, and on his forehead upward he wears a crimson kind of mitre with a gold border, and behind, it turns up in form of a horn; On his shoulders he carries Ermine skins to the middle, which is still a badge of the Consul's habit; On his feet he wears embroidered Sandals tied with gold buttons, and about his middle a most rich Belt embroidered with costly jewels; In so much that the habit of the Duke, when at festivals he shows himself in the highest state, is valued at above 100000. crowns: He hath a place elevated like a Throne in the Senat. Besides public, he hath peculiar Officers and Ministers of his own, dignified with sundry titles, who have their salary from the Republic: He hath a Chancellor, a Knight Major, who is by particular appellation called the Duke's Knight; He hath divers Chaplains and Churchmen to attend him, commonly called Donzelli, who wait on him when he goes abroad; All Magistrates and Citizens whatsoever speak to him standing, and bareheaded, but he doth not rise up to any; All public Letters go forth in his name being sealed with lead, a particular privilege which Pope Alexander the third gave him, for the high favours that Venice did the said Pope when he was forced to fly thither for Sanctuary against the rage of the Emperor Frederic Barbarossa; All Decrees, Laws, and public instruments are promulgd in his name; All coins, as well gold as sylver, bear his stamp; All Letters from foreign Princes are addressed to him, and answers returned under his hand, and whether he be present or no yet all Speeches are directed to him, being styled always by Ambassadors and others, Serenissimo Principe, Most gracious Prince, in the concrete, and Serenità, in the abstract.  
The office of the Duke was of larger extent at first, but now the principal duties of it are, That he preside in all Counsels, as well the great Council, as other Colleges of Senators; That he have care that every Magistrate acquit himself of his duty; That every Wednesday he visit all the Courts, and put every one in remembrance of his office, that private causes be not neglected, or public delayed: He is not capable of any other inferior office; if he find that any one neglects his duty, he is to convent him before the whole College, and give him sharp reprehensions, but he never useth to do so in private, and if the offence require it he transmitts him over to the Judges; He is often to grace with his presence the Courts of Justice, where he hath a suffrage; but He can pass no public Instrument, nor dispatch any business of himself without the adjunction of other Senators; nor can he leave the City, or marry any foreigner without the knowledge and consent of the Senate; Insomuch that we read of Duke Falerio that was put to death for marrying a Stranger without the suffrage of the Senate: In fine, this high political Magistrate hath only the presence of a Sovereign Prince, but nothing of the power.  
In the old records of Venice the reasons are yet extant which induced the Republic to elect this formal Prince for her Head, whereof these are the remarkablest, We have observed that in this vast University of the World bodies according to their several natures have multiplicity of motions, yet they receive virtue and vigour but from one, which is the Sun; All causes derive their originals from one supreme cause; We see that in one creature there are many differing members, and faculties who have various functions, yet they are all guided by one soul, etc.  
The Duke for his Salary hath 100 Zecchins (which coin wants above twelvepences of ten shillings English) brought him every Wednesday to his Palace.  
Among all these restraints which keep him from trenching upon the Common Liberty, and doing injustice, there is another, and that a shrewd one; which is that Lex repetundarum may be executed upon his Heir after his death, for there is a junta appointed to make a scrutiny of the actions of the deceased Duke, and if any can prove he was wronged by him, he shall have reparation out of the Heirs estate.   

Of the Venetian Senat.  
THe Senate consists of 120. grave men, whereof there are threescore called Ordinary Senators, and threescore of the Junta; they are called all together the Pregadi, because being taken for wise men they are prayed to be assisting the Commonwealth with their Counsels.  
The sixty ordinary are created yearly by the suffrages of the great Council in the months of August and September, observing this order, that at every meeting six be chosen of the said Senators, until the whole number be completed.  
The other sixty Senators of the Junta are ascribd unto these other sixty; but there is one caution observed, that there may be but two of a kindred chosen among these sixty; but the other allow three of a kindred.  
To these 120. Senators are adjoind the Duke and Decemvirs, with other Orders, the 40. Judges of Capital Causes, the Provosts of Salt and Corn, the Sages of health, the Perfect of the Arsenal, and Proctors of Saint Mark, with other Magistrates; and these in effect have the management of the whole Republic: They treat of peace and war, their power extends to lay taxes, to make extraordinary levies and erogations of moneys: They make choice of Ambassadors to be employed to foreign Princes; they have power also to summon the Sages of Land and Sea, with all the chief Magistrates.   

Of the Decemvirs and their College.  
THe College of Decemvirs is composed of 17. Senators, ten of these are chosen by the great Council, and are in Ordinary, having this privilege, that he who is in that Magistracy may not procure in two years that any mention be made of him in other meetings and conventions.  
Of these every month three Senators are chosen to be of the quorum, these are the chief of the College, & are commonly called Capi di dieci, the Heads of ten, and have power to summon the Decemvirall College, and refer matters unto it; They have a private Conclave where they daily meet, having O●…icers of sundry sorts to attend them. They read the Letters addressed to the Decemvirate College, and make relation unto them of the substance thereof, and there must be two of them which must do it.  
To these Decemvirs is adjoind the Duke in chief and six Councillors, whose peculiar privilege is to be chosen out of the six Precincts or Sextaries of the City, this order observed, that three be chosen this side of the Rialto, and three on the other; They are to be assistant to the Duke eight months, with Him they are to take care of all things that concern the Welfare of the Republic and City; It is sufficient that four of them subscribe all public Orders. Touching matters of moment they are to make relation to the great Council.  
The Prince therefore, with the Decemvirs and six said Councillors do constitut the Decemvirate College, which is the supremest authority, and hath a kind of Dictatorian power. They are to take care that no discord or any public quarrels happen which may disturb the peace of the City, and draw after them any insurrection. They are to have an eye that no factious or fantastic Citizen introduce any dangerous innovation.  
That no counterfeit coin be stamped or brought in.  
That Sodomy, and all other flagitious crimes be enquired after, which they have inappealable power to punish.   

Of the College of Sages or Preconsultors.  
THis College consists of 16. Senators which are of the chiefest Citizens, and they are called Savii, or Sages, because they are presumed to antecell others both in dignity and experience: These use to preconsult of general matters tending to the administration of the Commonwealth, as also of peace and war, with other the most important affairs, and make relation thereof to the Senat.  
This College is divided to three Orders; the first contains 6. Senators, which are called Savii grandi, the great Sages, who consult of all things touching the honour of the Republic in general, specially of Sea matters, and other requisitts reflecting upon peace or war, and make reports of their Consultations to the Senat.  
The second Order consists of 5. Citizens or Gentlemen of Venice, commonly called Savii de terra firma, the Sages of the Continent, who although they have the like authority to make report of matters to the Senate, yet are they much inferior to the former in dignity and trust: Their chiefest duty is to have care of the Militia by Land, and of salaries of such soldiers that are entertained by the Republic, whether Forreners or Natives.  
The third degree consists of 5. Citizens or Gentlemen of Venice, who are commonly young men, & primae l●…nuginis, of the first shaving of the razor as they say, but learned, and well versed in the Sciences, which are inferior to the other two, and make report of all Sea businesses to the Senate; and these are called Savii de gli ordini, and they are culled out of the choicest Wits to be made capable for future employments.  
To this College of Sages or Preconsultors are adjoind the Prince, the six Councillors, the Triumvirs of the forty who preside over Criminal Causes▪ So that the whole College may be said to consist of 26. Senators or Citizens of the Patrician Order.  
The manner of the convention of this College is thus, the Prince sits in the middle mounted upon a high Seat, and about him those Councillors who were chosen out of the six Precincts of the City, three on the right, and three on the left hand, and after that rule the other Preconsultors sit: But the young men of the third degree use to sit lower.  
Their office is, that every Sunday and Festival day they meet in the ducal Palace to hear private complaints at such an hour, and to relieve them presently, or else to refer them to Delegates, or make a report to the Senate, according to the merit of the cause.  
They hear all Letters read by the Secretary of State that were sent to the Senat.  
They are also to hear foreign Ambassadors and Agents. It is to be observed that these Preconsultors continue in authority but 6. months.  
Foreign Agents affairs, and private complaints being heard, they retire to another room to consult of public business, observing this Order:  
There is a Precedent chosen every week, who proposeth to the rest what is to be agitated, and he asketh their opinion severally: The eldest delivers his opinion, and so every one according to seniority, but the young are silent unless it be about some naval business; The last of all having collected the opinion of the rest, delivers his suffrage; The matter being thus canvasd and discussed pro & con with much deliberation, they make an address to the Prince and Councillors, who join again in the debate; That opinion to which the Prince and the Councillors shall adhere unto is couched in writing; Then the whole Senate convenes, before whom that which was debated by the Preconsultors is first handled, with their opinions; and if more than one half of the Senate give their suffrage thereunto, passeth for a Decree.   

Of the public Scribes, and of the great Chancellor.  
IN every College of Senators there be public Scribes which are of the Senate's Council, and are held to be of the best rank of men▪ and of highest integrity; they are elected by the public suffrage of the Decemvirs, and sit always in the Council, their duty is,  
To be ever present at the consultations of the College and Senate, in passing all Decrees.  
The registering of all transactions, and the engrossing of all instruments whether for public or private respect is committed to their care and trust, to which purpose they have large Salaries allowed them.  
Some of these are Ministers only to the Decemvirs, to register all their Acts, being privy to all things that are transacted in that College; in which honour they remain during life.  
Of these one is chosen by the solemn suffrage of the great Council, who is chiefest of all, and is called by the title of il Gran Cancellier, which Officer is held in singular esteem and honour; He is dignified with the Order of Knighthood; every Patrician and Senator gives him the place, except the Proctors of Saint Mark; no secrecy of State must he concealed from him; He hath a great revenu out of the public stock; And at his Exequys there is always a funeral Oration, which honour is done to no other but to the Prince.   

Of the Great Council.  
THe great Council consists of an universal meeting of all the Citizens, and the whole Republic may be said to depend upon it; but it is composed of such Citizens that are of the Patrician Order only, whereof some being passed twenty years of age are admitted to sit in Council by extraordinary favour, provided that the Advocate Magistrate give testimony that they are descended of a Noble or Patrician family:, Besides, there must attestation be made that they are legitimat and no bastards, three must be proof also made by oath that they are passed twenty years of age, but they are chosen by lots: and though peradventure fortune favour them not then, yet after they are passed 25. they are capable by birth of this public honour, and to sit in Council, with the provisos pointed at before.  
The office of the Great Council is to ordain and ratify all Laws and Constitutions appertaining to the Republic; they also make choice of all Magistrates, as well in Towns as Countries, and of any other Officer to whom any public trust or civil incumbency is commited.   

Of Officers or Magistrates in general.  
ALL Magistrates are either Urban or Forren, viz. of Town or Country; to them of the Towns belongs the cognizance of all causes as well criminal as civil; to them belongs the administration and erogation of all public sums that arise into the treasury either out of public tolls and imposts, or other extraordinary taxes and levies of moneys; To them it belongs to consult what may be added to the welfare, honour or beauty of the City.  
Foreign Magistrates, as they call them, are those that obey and put in execution all the Decrees of the Senate in the Country's up and down, as also all commands by Sea in Fleets and Armies: All these Magistrates are but temporary, and have a time limited them; the Urbane or City Magistrates some of them continue in office 6. months, others 8. months, others are annual; But the Foreign or Country Officers are commonly twice so long in an office; but the Maritime Officers some are biennial, some triennial, and some quinquenniall of 5. year's continuance.   

Of judges.  
AMong the Urbane or City Magistrates the Judges are rankd, and they have the cognizance of all capital or civil causes, and they are called either judges of the first Instance, or, judges of appeal: The Judges primae instantiae are divided into many Tribunals.  
On the first Tribunal sit the judices proprietatum, Judges of Proprieties, who determine all suits touching Lands or Houses within the precincts of the City, to them also belongs all Widow's cases.  
On the second Tribunal sit the judices procuratorum; These if any controversy arise touching Lands on the Continent, or Minors and Pupils right, have power to determine it.  
On the third Tribunal sit the judices Mercatorum, the Judges or Consuls of Merchants, who determine all controversies belonging to trafic and marchandizing, who must be formerly well versed in the practical part and mystery of commerce.  
On the fourth Tribunal sit the judices Advenarum, the Judges of Strangers, before whom all matters and differences touching forreners are brought and decided.  
On the fifth Tribunal sit the judices Petitionum, Judges of Petitions, who determine all controversies touching private bargains, stipulations, and contracts.  
On the sixth Tribunal sit judices Mobilium, the Judges of Movables, before whom causes of lesser importance are pleaded.  
On the seventh Tribunal sit the Judges whom in the vulgar language they call Cattaveri, which is a much as to say, Inquisition of truth: These if any thing be found hid or lost, and if any controversy arise about it, have power to determine it.  
On the eighth Tribunal sit judices publici, commonly called Piovegi, who if any man raise a building that may impede the common passage, or the channels of the City, are to prevent it, and punish the Offender.  
On the ninth Tribunal sit certain Judges called Sopragastaldi; These sell the goods of condemned persons under a Spear, and decide all matters belonging to the Lombard's, as pawning and lend.  
On the tenth Tribunal sit judices Examinatores, the Judge's Examiner's, who determine all causes touching depositions and oaths.  
On the eleventh Tribunal sit judices praefectorum noctis, the Provosts of the night, that hear all brabbles or misdemenures committed in the night, and punish them: To them also it belongs to adjudge all controversies 'twixt men and maid servants, etc.  
The highest Council for criminal causes, except the Decemvirate, is a Council called the Council of forty, for so many meet there upon life and death, and they are very choice men.  
In the City of Venice there are also Officers who are Supervisers of all Manufactures, and other things of moment: The first are Signori di panni d'oro, the Superintendents of cloth of gold; these do warily look that no fraud be used in any clothes of tissue, or other clothes of gold, sylver or silk, and severely punish the transgressors herein.  
There are other Officers called Proveditori della Zeccha, their charge is to look to all sorts of bullions and coins, that they be not embasd and adulterated, and that the par of the Standard be kept even.  
There be other Officers called Signori alla farina, who are to look to all sorts of grain that they be well conditioned; they are also to look to the corn that is stored up in the public Magazines, that if any grow musty, they are to put good into the place.  
There be other Officers called Signori all Sale, and this is a great office, for all the Salt which is brought into the City out of Salt pits round about is to be brought to them, who store it up in Magazines, and no private man can sell Salt unless he buys it of these Magistrates, who are strictly accountable to the Senate; these Salt Officers have power to decide all controversies that may arise touching this commodity.  
There be other Officers called Signori delle biavi, whose care is that the City be always provided with a sufficient proportion of wheat, and other grain.  
There is no City that is more careful of her health than Venice, therefore there be Officers, and they are qualified persons, whose charge is to have a special care that the Plague creep not into the City, and if any infection come, they are to suppress it with their utmost endeavours; they are to see that the Pesthouse be at least three miles distant from the City; if any hath conversd with an infected body he must for 40. days to the Pesthouse before he can return to his own dwelling.  
There is no Ship whatsoever that comes thither from another Country can have pratique or be permitted to come ashore and sell his mar, chandise unless he produce a Certificate that he comes from a place not infected, otherwise he is to stay aboard 40. days.  
There are other Officers called Proveditori di common, and they are three; they supervise the minor fraternities, among others they look to Printers and Stationers, and set prizes upon all new Books; They have the Superintendency of Bridges, Wells, Conduits, Ways, Cawseses and such public things which they must see repaired; They are also to see that Ships be not over laden, and they have power to punish such who transgress herein.  
There are other Officers called Proveditori all' Arsenale, Provisors of the Arsenal; they have care to furnish that huge Magazine of strength (one of the greatest on Earth, as shall be declared hereafter) with all things that shall be necessary, as Carpenters, Smiths and all other Opificers, but to have special care that they be choice able Artists, and of the most ingenuous sort, unto whom they pay their wages every eighth day.  
There be other Officers of great trust called Signori all' acque; these are to have special care that no man whatsoever do any thing that may impair the Banks, Dikes and Strands about the City, that no Carrion be thrown into the Channels running through the Streets of the City, that no place be choked up with Sands to stop Navigation; These Officers have power to punish severely all such that transgress in this kind, and they may be said to be Conservators of the Walls of the City which are the Waters; These Officers are also to appoint the Stations where Ships shall ride at anchor; and lastly, that the Channels be cleansed once a year.  
There are other Officers called Signori sopra il ben vivere, which are no other than Censors, but because that word is too rigid for such a free City they modify it by another title: These are to take care that the Laws and Customs of the City be observed, and if any one offend they have power to punish by pecuniary fines, they take cognisance of the wages of Servants, and punish such that have embezeld any things from their Masters.  
There are other Officers called Syndicks, who supervise the acts of public Notaries that serve the City and the Magistrates thereof, taking care that they exact no unlawful reward, and they have power so set rates upon all commodities.  
There be other Officers called Sopra Consoli; they take cognisance of Merchants and Creditors affairs, and compose differences between them; they preserve the Debtor from Prison, and allow him two months' time to pay his Creditor, and in the interim he hath liberty to go abroad to negotiate and compound with his Creditors; but if the Creditors be so refractory and perverse that they will not hearken to any composition, they may by authority compel them thereunto: These Officers have power to sell the goods of Bankrupts and Fugitives under the Spear, as they call it; They have power also to keep moneys depositated.  
There be other Officers called Signori alla mercantia; these have power to appoint wages for Mechaniques, and to end all controversies 'twixt Man and Master; they supervise the prizes of all merchandises, and moderate them; they take care that no Mechanic use any fraud in his work, and if it be found they punish him severely.  
There are other Officers called Signori della▪ grassa; they supervise all Sellers of Cheese, Butter, Oil, Salt flesh, as Bacon and Lard, and set moderate prizes upon them, which if not obeyed they have power to punish by pecuniary amercement.  
There be other Officers called Ragion vecchia; their charge is to register in Books the expenses made upon the coming of any Prince or Ambassador into the City by decree of the Senate, and to take care that while a foreign Prince be in the City he be honourably entreated, and not overreachd in the prizes of things.  
There be other Officers called Giustitia vecchia; their charge is to supervise all weights and mesures, and that whatsoever is sold or bought be according to the Standard; they have power to impose rates upon all sorts of fruits and roots, and punish such that obey them not; they preside also over Shoppkeepers and Mechaniques, that none take down an old sign and set up a new without their leave: If any hire a Boy or Servant, he must make his address to these Officers and acquaint them with the conditions, otherwise there is no bargain in that kind of any validity, nor is either party bound to stand to it.  
There be other Officers called Giustitia nuova, these Officers supervise Taverns, & tap-houses of all sorts, with all victualling houses and hostries, they overlook that they pay all duties, they take care that no musty or ill conditioned wine be sold, they have power to punish and decide controversies.  
There be other Officers called Signori sopra le pomp, and they are a triumvirate; they supervise that no extraordinary excess or luxury be used in food, in apparel or householdstuff, and in other things which appertain to food and raiment; they have power to restrain all immoderate expenses, lest the wealth of the Citizens be exhausted by too much profuseness and riot, having authority to punish the Transgressor's of their Orders by pecuniary mulcts, and to determine themselves▪ all controversies in that kind; and these Officers are of high respect and authority.   

Of the Procurators of Saint Mark.  
THese high Officers, and they are the highest of all next the Prince, enjoy perpetually during life the privileges and dignity of Senators, and have right of suffrage in every Council; Their authority is coetaneous with the Duke himself and expires not till death, the office of the Great Chancellor hath the like prerogative; And those Citizens solely are delegated to this Magistracy, who having passed all other offices of honour, are reputed to be men of most eminent and singular probity, and ability, so that they become the principal pillars of the Republic ever after; All degrees of people do show them a special reverence, and whersoever they chance to come they have priority of place given them; They have the tutele of Pupils and Orphans when there is no Guardian nominated in the Will of the Testator; They are divided into three classes which they term Procuratorias, and in every one there are three which preside.  
The Procurators of the first classis are the chiefest and of most ample authority and trust; They supervise the Temple of Saint Mark, and together with the Duke they have the government thereof; They have the administration of all the revenues that appertain to that Church, which are very great; and once every month they assemble, after their solemn devotions, to receive the rents thereof, and they are careful to provide all things that are necessary to continue the splendour of that Sanctuary, and keep it in repair.  
The Procurators of the second classis, who obtain their name from the first (although they be not civil incumbents of the Church) are Administrators of the old procuracy as they call it, and to their charge is committed the care of all the Pupils on this side the Rialto, which is about half the City.  
The Procurators of the third classis are also called by the same title Procurators of Saint Mark, these preside in the new procuracy as they term it, and to their office belongs to have care of all the Pupils the other side of the Rialto: Every one of these three classes have in his charge to provide for the poor and indigent, and having mighty proportions of money with other wealth commited unto their trust, they raise great sums to that use, as also for the relief and enlargement of Prisoners, and for the redemption of Captives, whereof there are multitudes that live in miserable servitud among the Turks.   

Of Extern Officers and Magistrates which are employed abroad out of the City of Venice.  
IN the greatest Cities which are under the Dominion of the Republic, there are commonly sour Magistrates, a Praetor or Podestá, a Perfect, a Quaestor, and the Governor of the Castle, whereof in some places there are two or three; In the lesser Towns there is commonly but one Magistrate who is the Praetor or Podestá.  
The Praetor administers the Law to all the Inhabitants of the place whereof he is Magistrate, and determines all suits, and punisheth Delinquents; He hath the most knowing Civil Lawyers for his Assessors, provided they be not born in the place but some where else under the Signory to avoid partiality towards Kindred.  
The Perfect or Captain hath the care of the Militia, and governs the Soldiery that are within that Precinct, he decides all suits between them, and punisheth Offenders; He hath the care of the Castle or Forts, of the Walls and Ramparts, together with the Gates of the City, and of all the Tributs, Gabells and Demeanes which belong to the Republic both in Town and the circumjacent Country: but there is an appeal permitted from Praetor and Perfect to the Senate in some cases, according to clauses of reservation.  
The Quaestor is but one, or two at most; these have the administration of public receipts and erogations of money, who have power to exact it, and employ it, and they keep the Books of public accounts, yet they seldom do any thing without the command of the Perfect, and sometimes without the concurrence and order of Praetor and Perfect they cannot expend any somme; In the Lands they have the title of Councillors, and they are assistant to the Perfect in matters of Law, but they have no suffrage at all.  
The Governors of Castles are sometimes one, sometimes many; these have the authority over the Soldiers, and care of the Arms and Ammunition, and all things conducing thereunto; yet there is none chosen to be Governor of any Castle but is subject to the Perfect or Podestá, having no jurisdiction of himself: But in the lesser Towns the Praetor executs the office both of Perfect and Questor, and administers the Law to the Inhabitants; He chastiseth Offenders, and hath the management of the public receipts, but matters are appealable from him to the Senate, and most commonly to the Council of forty.   

Of Extern Magistrates in Fleets and Armies.  
THese Magistrates are of two kinds; the General in war upon the Continent is commonly some foreign Prince; He is not chosen either of the Senatorian or Patrician order; he hath an ample Salary, viz. ten Captains pay, and 4000 crowns a year; there goes along with him two Legates or Proveditors, who are Gentlemen of Venice, and of the Senatorian order; and without the concurrence of their advice he neither acts nor decrees any thing, nor can he attempt any thing himself without their intervention: These Proveditors are perpetually Assistants to the General, they pay the Soldiers Salaries, and their main care is that nothing be done rashly to the detriment or dishonour of the Republic. In Sea service every Galley hath a Perfect or Captain who commands both men and Vessel, he may inflict punishments but he hath no power of life and death; he hath absolute command o'er the Mariners and Rowers, and of all things within the Galley. There are also Officers called Precedents of Galleys, and they command four or five Galleys. In time of peace there are commonly four of them, their charge is that the Sea be kept secure for Merchants and Navigators; that they suppress Pirates, and scour the Gulf of Corsaries.  
There is another Officer or Admiral called Classis Legatus, and he hath command o'er the whole Fleet, and over the Prefects or Captains of every Galley. There is seldom any General of a Fleet but in time of war, and then he hath absolute command o'er 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 receive directions and commands from the Senat.   

Of other Extern Magistrates which use to be created upon extraordinary occasions.  
THese are called Syndiques, who are created every five years, and use to be employed abroad both in the Continent and maritime Provinces which are subject to the Republic: They take knowledge, and make Scrutinies into the carriage and actions of all Praetors or Podesta's, and other Magistrates who are employed abroad upon the Service of the Signory; If they find any to have exceeded their Commissions, and perpetrated any thing against the Laws, they give information accordingly, which is unquestionable, and taken for certain truth.  
There is an Officer who in time of exigence is appointed Proveditor general of Candy, and he is chosen by the suffrages of the Senate; He during the time commands the whole Island 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 Magistrates and Officers both by Land and Sea, and is subject to no controlment but what comes from the Senat.  
There is another great Officer called Proveditor General of the Continent, and he also useth to be created upon extraordinary ocasions; He commands all the firm Land in the highest way of authority; He hath a transcendent power over all Prefects or Captains, and all other Magistrates and Officers that are under the Empire of the Republic, yet there is nothing of moment can occur, or be put in execution, but he must receive directions and command from the Senat.  
There are other Officers called the proconsuls of Syria and Egypt, who are created by the suffrage of the Senate, and they are triennial Magistrates; 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 Merchants that acknowledge obedience to the Signory of Venice are brought before them, and they have power to determine the controversy; These proconsuls do also good offices to all other Christians, whether Italians or any other Nation, that resort thither either for curiosity or commerce, and they are respected as if they were in quality of Ambassadors, or Sovereign 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 years; These are employed to the Pope, the Emperor, the Kings of France, Spain, and England, to the Duke of Savoy, the States of Holland, and they have commonly always one residing in all these Courts in a magnificent manner; They have also an Ambassador in Constantinople attending the motions of the great Turk, called the Bailio, residing there perpetually, and the Republic allows him a greater Salary than to any other; nor indeed hath he any set Salary, but whatsoever he spends is allowed him upon his own accounts without examination; all these are elected by the suffrage of the Senat.  
The Republic employs also abroad Ambassadors Extraordinary very often, who have a greater latitud of power, and are solely for matter of State, or some particular negotiation: The ordinary scope of their Legations is either to congratulate or condole with Sovereign Princes when occasion is offered. All these Ambassadors have Secretaries whom the Senate takes notice of, and the Republic allows them a Salary, and they are persons of good extraction and breeding; this is done because they may afterwards be in a capacity, for their knowledge and experience, to be Ministers of State themselves: But touching Ambassadors Extraordinary there are never any employed unless they have been Ambassadors formerly. And touching this kind of employment the Republic hath certain degrees, or Scalary ascents and rules of removal, which are never transgressd. These kind of political and public Ministers are strictly examined by a Junta expressly for the same end at their return touching their comportment in the Legation, They are to discover what Presents they received from the Prince or State to whom they were sent, and it is of dangerous consequence for them to conceal any thing.  
These are the Magistrates and Officers whereon the Republic of Venice hath stood firm, as upon so many pillars, so many centuries: Now, there are few or none who are greater Patriotts than the Venetian Gentlemen, their prime study is the public good and glory of their Country, and civil prudence is their principal trade whereunto they arrive in a high measure; Yet as it may be easily observed, 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, whereof She hath absolute and Sovereign Command.  
THis Maiden City hath large farthingales, and long sleeves which reach far by Land, and they stretch by Sea farther than many Kingdoms: Upon the Continent of Italy She doth Signorize over three entire Provinces; The Mark of Treviso (as they called it,) Friuli, and Istria; She hath also a good part of Lombardie, viz. the Territories of Brescia, of Bergamo, and Verona, than She hath Crema: Eastward She confines partly upon the Archduke's of Austria, partly upon the Adriatic Sea: Northward She confines also upon the Austrian territories, upon Trent, and Switzerland: Westward She hath the Duchy of Milan for her neighbour; the same Duchy is her contiguous neighbour Southward also, together with the Duchy of Mantova, and the Ecclesiastic Dominions.  
The Mark of Treviso is a very plentiful and generous Country, full of opulent Towns, and splendid Cities; the Natives are esteemed very dextrous and apt to make Statesmen of, being a people much given to contemplation and gaining of knowledge; they are also active when necessity requires in the management of arms; the Country abounds with corn, wine, and all sorts of fruit, and they have many pleasant spacious fields; there are hit and wholesome fountains there, divers sorts of minerals, many noble rivers and lakes; the air is temperate, healthy and delightful; in fine, She is endowed by benign Nature with so many gifts, that She may well take place among the Noblest Regions of Italy.  
The Country of Friuli (in old times forum julii) is terminated Eastward by the River Formio, Northward by the Julian Alps, and Westward also by other parts of the Alps, where the river Liquentia separats her from the Mark of Treviso; and Southward runs the Adriatic Sea: She is a region that hath pleasant fields, well watered with rivers and fountains, there are great store of vineyards, woods, minerals, and quarries of stone: The noble river Hydra runs there, near which there is quicksylver diggd up; the Inhabitants are ingenious enough for all humane Arts, and marchandizing; Friuli is commonly among the Venetians called La Patria, whence some infer that they had their Original thence.  
Istria hath for her Bounds Westward the river Timavas; Northward the Alps, which separate Hungary and Carniola from Italy; Eastward She hath the river Arsias, the rest is compassed with the Adriatic Sea; She is a rough uneven Country, yet She may be said to swell with hillocks rather than high hills; but She hath one which surpasseth all the rest called Montemajor: She hath woods fit for Ships and all other uses; She hath also good store of stone quarreiss, whence there is much marble diggd out for the service of Venice her Mistress, and other places of Italy; The Inhabitants are poorer than in other Country's, yet they have divers Cities, Towns and Villages.  
The Country of Brescia is of large extent, near upon one hundred miles, and fifty miles broad; In this tract of Land there rise up mountains, hillocks, plains and valleys inlaid with Towns, Villages, and pleasant Houses very thick in most places; So that there is little of the earth left idle. In this territory there are so many Castles, Towns and Villages, that they can hardly be found thicker any where: The Soil abounds with wheat, millet and other grains; there is plenty of wine and oil, with other fruits; Moreover, there is great quantity of iron and copper diggd up and down in the mines, whereof the Inhabitants make very great benefit.  
The Country of Bergamo is fertile enough except towards the North, where it is mountainous, rough and barren: Yet there are valleys in great numbers, whereof some produce wine and oil very pleasant, but some of them are sterile and good for nothing, only some iron mines are found here and there; In Bergamo is spoken one of the coorsest dialects of all the Italian tongue.  
Verona and her Territories are next; She is seated on a very pleasant and comodious river the Athesis; She is cape City of the second rank through all Italy; Some hold her name to be originally Brenona of Brennus the Britain, who was General of an Army of Gauls for his extraordinary valour; In this name of Verona is comprehended the three most renowned Cities of Italy, viz. Ve-Venice, Ro-Rome, and Na-Naples; her territories are 65. miles in length, and 40. in breadth: This City hath yet the ruins of one of the fairest Amphitheatres that ever was, and Catullus the Poet makes her somewhat more famous because he was born in her: The Country circumjacent abounds with wheat, wine, oils, sheep, and very good fleeces, with abundance of the choicest and most delicate fruits; it hath excellent quarreiss of stone, with rivers, lakes and pools, and rare fountains & sources of fresh waters, with most choice medicinal Simples upon the mountain Baldus where all Physicians resort.  
Crema bordering upon Milan with her territory hath an excellent soil, fruitful and well cultivated, and extraordinarily well wooded; She hath very generous wines, and exquisite sorts of fruit; many brooks of clear water which are well stored with fish, and abundance of Lampreys; They have one kind of fish whom the Inhabitants call Marsoni, whose head is near twice as big as the body, but of a most savoury taste. Crema was a long time under the Vicountship of Milan until the year 1405. at which time, together with Brixia, it came under the Dominion of the Signory by conditions of peace 'twixt Francis Sforza & them, since when She is mightily improud in wealth and civility; johannes Cremensis was a Natif of this, he was employed Anno 1125. by Pope Honorius the second in quality of Legate to England to dissuade the Clergy from marriage, whereupon a Convocation was called, wherein the Legate made a very eloquent Speech in commendation of Celibat, and how advantageous it was for Churchmen to live single and sequestered from the cares of the world, and encumbrances of humane affairs.  
Milan, a most reverend learned old City in Latin called Patavium; Antenor the Trojan is recorded to be her Founder, whose Tomb is there still extant; She was erected an Academy Anno 1222. Her fame spreads all the earth over for a Seminary of the best Physicians, having a Garden of Simples accordingly; She is famous for the birth of Livy the great Roman Annalist (whose picture is to be seen fresh to this day) and of late years for Zabarell and Maginus; In former times She was much cried up for the mansuetude of the men, and the pudicity of her women; so that the Patavian chastity grew to be a proverb, whereunto alludes the Roman Epigrammatist speaking of her in his wanton Poems,  

Tu quoque nequitias nostri lusúsque libelli  
Uda puella leges sis Patavina licet.   
Pad●…a was in times passed girt about with a treble wall, but a double contents her now, which hath very deep Ditches round about, for the River Brent with infinite expense and labour was brought to this City, which hath much advantaged her both for strength and navigation: She is situated in a most delightful and uberous plain, enjoying a sweet temperate clime, with a singular good soil by reason of the neighbourhood of the Euganean mountains which are Westward of Her; The Inhabitants have high wits, and apt for pike or pen; The circumference of the City is twofold, inward and outward, the first hath but three miles' compass, the second near upon seven miles; about the City the walks may be called a perpetual kind of gallery; Her Temples and dwelling Houses both public and private are more magnificent than elsewhere; She hath six stately Gates, five large Markett places; She hath within the Walls 22. great Churches, 23. Monasteries, and 29. Religious Houses for Nuns; She hath the most renowned Hall for public Justice of any Town in Italy, covered all with lead, and yet propd upon no pillars; the Council Court hath Gates and Columns of Marble; She hath 28. Bridges arched over the Brent which runs through her; She hath very spacious Piazzas; She hath 6. Hospitals, three for the poor, and three for Pilgrims; She hath a place called the Monte de pietá, which was set up of purpose to root out the lucre and exorbitant feneration of the Jews, who were used to demand twenty in the hundred for brocage; She hath two Hospitals besides for Orphans, and other poor Children: There are 38000. Crowns depositated in the hands of several persons of quality, where the poorer sort may make their address with their pawns, and if it be under thirty shillings they pay no use for the money, if it be above they pay five in the hundred for maintaining certain Officers, and relieving of the poor; The Bishopric of Milan is rankd among the best of Italy; The Citizens are great Artists now as in former times, and make much merchandise of Wool: But to give a short description of Milan and her territories, this of Leander is the best; Southward of her runs the river Athesis; Northward the Peuso, a little river; Eastward the Venetian lakes, and Westward the Enganean hills, and the Country of Vicenza, all this circuit about 180. miles, wherein there are in number 647. Villages and Hamletts, with a world of Country Houses whither the Italian Gentlemen and Citizens use to retire with their families in the Summer time. The City of Milan remained under the Roman Empire until She was taken and burnt by Attila; then was She repaired by Narsetes, and afterwards She was burnt by the Longobards, but under Charles the Great and other Kings of Italy She did not only revive, but flourish again; Under Otho, as the rest of the Cities of Italy, She began to govern by her own Laws, and She remained in form of a Republic till Frederic the second, then by the persuasion of Actiolinus She yielded herself again to the protection of the Empire, and received a Germane garrison with Actiolinus yoke, Anno 1237. He presently turned lawful power into tyranny, therefore they shook him of: A little after Marsilius Carrariensis under the name of Governor drew the Town unto him, but the Scaligers thrust him out, who ruled there some Successions, yet afterward Marsilius re-enjoyed it and left Ubertinus heir, who was thrust out by Mactinus Scaliger, but was restored again; Then Marsilius the second succeeded, who was slain four days after by jacobinus his Oncle, and that jacobinus was slain afterwards of Gulielmus the Bastard the fourth year of his Principality; Him succeeded Franciscus, who very fortunately governed, but attempting to free Viscount Barnabas his Son in law he also was cast into Prison by johannes Galeacius, but a little after Franciscus secundus received the command of the City from Galeacius, and lived in the principality 15. years, but with continual apprehensions of fear till the death of Galeacius, at which time the Scaligers being nefariously assassinated, he came to be Master also of Verona, and lost it a little after with his life; His Sons Ubertinus and Marsilius went into the fields of Florence where they made a Head, and there the noble family of the Carrarienses utterly expired; then the City remained under the Venetians Dominion a few years when Maximilian the Emperor got it, but the Republic recovered it Anno 1409. which they have fortified to good purpose, that being since often assaulted and beseigd by the Confederate Princes in that mighty League of Cambray, She was able to resist them all.  
Vicenza is a City excellently built and beautified with fair Structures, among which the Praetorium is most magnificent; She is situated at the foot of a Hill, and divided by two navigable rivers Bacchillione and Rerone, which tumbling down from the neighbouring Mountains meets with Bacchillione in the very City, which Aelianus reports to have the best Yeeles of all Italy: This City abounds with all things conducing to necessity or pleasure, in regard of the unusual fertility of the circumjacent soil, which affords plenty of grain, wine, and oil, with all manner of fruit; There is such a number of Mulberry trees both in Town and Country up and down whereon Silkwormes do feed that it is admirable, but they bear white fruit, therefore the silk is not so well conditioned as is woven by those worms that feed upon black Mulberry trees, yet the Inhabitants make mighty benefit hereby: The Vicentins are a spiritful people, much given to Letters, as also Arms and Marchandizing, and they are of extraordinary trust; She hath an Episcopal See annexed to Her, as her neighbour Verona; She continued under the Dominion of Rome until Attila's incursions, and being destroyed by him She came afterwards under the yoke of the Goths, then of the Longobards, and afterwards under the Kings of Italy; upon their banishment She enjoyed her Liberty under the Empire till Frederic the second, by whom She was ravagd and burnt; In this vicissitude of things She had divers Masters, the Carrarienses, the Patavins, the Scaligers of Verona, the Galeacii of Milan, and the Venetian; Then being infested by the arms of Maximilian the first, and reducd to his obedience, She yielded herself at last to the Republic of Venice, under whom She hath lived in prosperity and security ever since: Not far from the City ther are two noble Stone-quarreis in the Mountain Cornolius, vulgarly called Covelo.  
Brixia is a City seated at the foot of a Hill among the Cenomans, and was in times passed the head of that people. She hath rich Peasans up and down, and more gentile than ordinary; She was under the Roman Emperors as long as the Majesty of them continued, which declining, and the Goths committing such devastations in Italy, She came under Radagaso, who as he made his way to Rome did spoil and burn her 412. She was afterwards re-edified by Martianus, then came She under the dition of Alboinus King of the Longobards, and She remained under their yoke till Desiderius was taken Prisoner by Charlemagne; The Kingdom of the Longobards expiring, She came under the Dominion of the French, who had then the Empire, wherefore there are some fields about her to this day called Francia corta: Under Charlemagne Nacmon Duke of Bavaria governed her, by whom She received much instauration and benefit; After Charlemains death She had divers Masters; at last under Oth●… She petitioned to govern herself, promising to be feudetarie and faithful to the Empire, which granted her; Afterwards She lived free as sundry other Towns in Italy▪ but She was dismantled & deprived of many immunities by the Emperor Henry the fourth, but recovering herself a little after She gave occasion to Mactinus Scaliger to invade her in that most pernicious feud 'twixt the Gibelins and Guelphins, under whom She passed▪ all kinds of calamities; Scaliger being at last thrust out, Azo Viscount of Milan occupied her; This Azo had Luchinus for his Successor, and he had john Archbishop of Milan, whom Barnabas and Galeacius succeeded, who were afterwards thrown into Prison by Galeacius, who assumed to himself the whole Government, and was created Duke of Milan 1402. who left for his Successor john Maria: Afterwards Pandulphus Malatesta got to himself the dominion of the Town, but he quickly made a session of her to Philip Maria Duke of Milan; five years after when john Maria had kept the Brixians under a hard servitud, nor could not by any petition make him slacken the reins of his rigid government, the City being heated with indignation by the persuasions of some Guelphian Agents, She had recours to Venice, who shelterd her, freed her from that tyranny, and afterwards She flourished a good while under the Dominion of the Republic, till the year 1509. at which time She made a dedition of herself to Lewis the 12. of France, who passed her over to the Emperor Maximilian, and he to Charles his Nephew King of Spain; Then She was tumbled to Francis the first King of France, till at last She returned under the Venetian 1517. There is a gentle river runs through the City; She hath many Towns and Villages whereof She is Mistress, but the worst is that the Mountains are too near them, which causeth that they cannot be so fruitful.  
Besides these places upon the Continent of Italy, the Republic hath Dominions over all the maritime Coasts of Dalmatia, and the Lands thereunto belonging: Among others there be two celebrous Cities, Zara and Cathara; Zara is a place wonderfully well fortified, and hath a very convenient Port, but Cathara lieth in the bosom of a nook of the Adriatic Sea towards the East; All the Country swells up and down with delightful hills and hillocks which are all manurable, but in regard of the circumambient Mountains is so oreshadowed that they have not that proportion of light which their Neighbours have.   

Of the Lands which the Republic of Venice commands in the Ionian Sea.  
THe first is Corcyra, now called Corfú, scarce a mile distant from Albania's Continent; She is threescore miles long, 24. in breadth, and in compass 120. She hath the shape of a Bow bend towards the East; She is mountainous towards the South, and flat towards the North; Her soil is craggy and destitut of water, so that a South wind oftentimes spoils their Harvest, therefore do they employ the Earth in planting Vineyards and Olives, with other fruit trees, and what they produce is extraordinarily good in every kind; In so much that She abounds with Wine, Wax, Honey, Oil, Pomcitrons and divers other fruits; On the North side there is the Castle of Saint Angelo which is notably fortified, so that it hath frustrated the hopes of the Turk in sundry expeditions; Towards the East there are divers Creeks and Ports with two Peninsulas, where upon one of them stands Pagiopolis, the other by a little straight is cut off from the Great Island: Opposite to these stands Corfú at the foot of a hill, with two Castles strongly built by rules of Enginry which in a manner hang over her; whereunto there is another lately built of very great consequence: Upon the right side of the City there lieth a Promontory where the famous Fountain Card●…cchio is; The Port of this Town is a very safe Harbour, and hath shelter sufficient against the fury of any tempest, let the wind blow which way it will.  
The Captains of these Castles upon pain of death without mercy, are neither to meet or converse one with another, or send any Letters, Tickets or any Messages, but the Governor of the Town must be present; and these cautions are used because those Castles being as it were the Keys of Venice and the Gulf, and consequently of infinite consequence and trust, the Senate would prevent all ocasions that may be imagined to betray them: In this Island of old the Poets do sing that King Alcinous reigned, whose plentiful Orchards were so memorized by them, insomuch that ever since they are grown to be a proverb for their fertility; this Alcinous preserved Ulysses from Shipwreck, so that the Poets make often mention of him, one instance shall be,  

Quid bifera Alcinoi referam Pomaria? Vósque  
Qui nunquàm vacui prodistis in aethera rami?    

Of Cephalonia.  
CEphalonia is of a triangular form, and hath in circumference 160. miles; She hath many Stations for Ships, among whom Argostolica is the chiefest, and capable to hold any Fleet within her Bosom: There is another that lieth behind a Promontory called Guiscardo, where there yet remain many ruins of Castles, Palaces and other Edifices; and there are daily diggd out of the Earth many old Coins, with other Monuments of Antiquity. This Island produceth a good proportion of Wheat and Oil, and She is well stored with Sheep; She hath also plenty of Honey, of Manna and Raisins of the Sun, but She wants a sufficient competency of Water; There is a white Muscadel Grape that grows which perfumes the breath after it is eaten, and that Wine which is made thereof is accounted the delicatst sort of Greek Wines, though it make the brain cloudy if one drinks above two cups; but by reason of the over delicateness thereof it cannot brook the Sea any long time, but it will prick, and lose both taste and colour. This Island may have about 20000. Souls men and women in her; This Island is computed to have 200. Towns of all sorts, besides those two before mentioned, Nollo is the chiefest. She was first called Melena, then Telebous, whose King Prerelaus was killed in battle by Amphytrion a Theban Captain, whereby the Isle came to be subject to Thebes: During the stay of Amphytrion two accidents happened in Greece, the first was, that jupiter got his Wife Alcmene with child of Hercules; the second was, that Cephalonia a Nobleman of Athens being a hunting killed his Wife Procris with an Arrow instead of his prey, whereupon he fled to Amphytrion, who was newly victorious o'er the Teleboans, who resenting his case made him Governor of this Island, called ever since Cephalonia after his name.   

Of Zucinthus or the I'll of Zant.  
ZAnt comes next to be surveyed, which hath about 60. miles in circumgyration; towards the East She is mountainous and rough, but smooth and even towards the North; She is more subject to Earthquakes than other places; Her wealth consists in Oil, Wine and Raisins, whereby the Inhabitants subsist; but She wants Corn because all the Earth is turned to Vineyards; She hath a Town which bears the same name with the Island, with a strong Castle, and about 47. Villages. The English Nation hath much improud the wealth of this Island since they traded for Currans thither, whereof the English spend more than all other people; At first the people of the I'll seeing the English buy so much Currans, asked them Whether they used to die Clothes, or fatten Hogs with them, for those two uses they only make there of them.   

Of Crete or Candie.  
CRete, now called Candie, is one of the most noble Lands of the Mediterranean Sea; She hath 270. in length, and 50. in latitud; Her situation is so opportune, that Aristotle affirmed She was so situated that Nature herself intended her to be Mistress of the Sea; She is but a few day's sail, not 100 distant both from Syria and Egypt, being equally remote from both; from Caramania, Cyprus and Albania She is 300. miles distant; Her Coasts are fretted out into divers Creeks and Promontories, the principal whereof are Capo Spada, and Capo Salmone, whereof the one looks Westward, the other Eastward, but in the midst betwixt both Drepano raiseth up himself which is now called Capo Melecca, and the Promontory Zephyrium which is now called Alcelico; That part of the Isle which beholds the Sun rising lieth high and is not so fruitful. Among the rest of the Hills wherewith this gentle Island swells up and down, Mount Ida stands. This Island was called in old time Hecatompolis or Cent oppidum, having 100 Cities in her, but now She hath not three of any moment, and they are towards the North. The chiefest is Candia (formerly called Candida or Candace) which hath about 100000. Souls; Canea is the second (formerly called Cydona or Gnasos) which hath 7000. Souls in her, and Rhetino which hath so many more; Besides these there is another called Scythia, a Town of 600. fires; the rest are Villages and Dorps to the number of 90. wherein by the last cense that was made there are 200000. Souls or thereabouts; But up and down every where there are Ruins Marks and Monuments of Antiquity, and of other old Towns; That part which looks towards the South is infested ever and anon with Northern blasts. The secundity of the Island consists in pasturage, and Valleys wherein there are great numbers of Cattle feeding, and on her Plains there is good store of Corn grows, but not a competent quantity for the whole Island; She abounds with rare Wines famous all the Earth over; There is great store of Honey had there, which is carried most commonly to Alexandria; There is no place in the World where there be such high and goodly Cypresses; She hath but small Rivers; This Island sympathiseth in one quality with Ireland, for She produceth no venomous Beast; She abounds with a luscious Wine called Muskadel, whereof the English Merchants have brought some years into England above 12000. Butts, together with Sugar-Candie, Gums, Honey, Sugar, Olives, Dates, Apples, Oranges, Lemons, Citrons, Pomgranatts. It is a little wanton luxurious Island, which it seems hath corrupted the nature of the Inhabitants, insomuch that the old Poet Epimenides, whose Verse is cited by Saint Paul, gives this ill-favoured Character of them,  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which comes very happily into Latin verbatim,  Cres semper mendax, mala bestia, venture obesus. 
The Candiotts are always liars, ill beasts and slow bellies.  
By reason of the situation of the Island, being seated in the midst of the Mediterranean Sea, the Inhabitants came to be excellent Seamen, so that it grew to be a proverb, when one would thwart an improbable thing, he would say you will make me believe as soon that Cretensis nescit pelagus, the Candiot is no Seaman. Though there be no venomous Cretures in this Island, yet they say women's teeth are more poisonous there than elsewhere, for if a woman bite a man any thing deep he will never recover: Besides they write that in this I'll an herb grows called Allimos, which if one chaw in his mouth, he shall feel no hunger; The Republic came to this Island by her money, for She bought her of the Prince of Monferrat Anno 1194. But of late years, though the Spaniard offered as much for the Haven of Sada itself as She paid at first for the whole Island, the Republic would not listen unto the motion.   

Of the City of Venice Herself.  
WE are come now to the Maiden City herself, to that Miracle of Nature, to Neptune's Minion, to that Impossibile nel impossibile, for it was the Character which that famous Mariano Sozzino gave of Her, when at his return from Venice to Rome he gave an account of his Embassy to the Pope, when he went back dalle scale del Senato, alla sede Apostolica, from the Scales of Venice to the Seat of Rome, for those are the styles of distinction betwixt both the Courts; as Constantinople is called the Port, the King of Spain's Court the Palace, the Emperors la Corte the Court simply and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, or per Eminentiam.  
This Wonder of Cities is seated in the bosom or betwixt the arms and aestuaries of the Adriatic Sea, who spreading himself gently along towards the Continent of Italy, leaves some green tuffs or tombs of Earth uncoverd, upon which the City is built, and as it were chained together by I know not how many hundred Bridges; Insomuch that Venice is no other than a Convention of little Lands peeping up above the Waters, which may be an excuse for her salacity, having such a salt tail steeped and brined perpetually in the Sea: In so much that it may be well thought that the Goddess Venus and the City of Venice had one kind of procreation being both engendered of the Sea; It is also very likely Aphrodite that wanton Lady had her Original out of that white Spume which Neptune casts upon those little gentle Lands whereon Venice makes her bed.  
The occasion that made these watery Isles a mansion for men, was, when that Northern deluge of Goths, Vandals, Hunns and Longobards did overflow all Italy, which made people of all sorts fly to these Lakes to avoid the Land torrent that was like to swallow them up; and finding the air to be gentle and fit for habitation and propagation, and the clime more temperate than in other places, though sited under the same latitud, by reason of the fresh breezes and eventilations of the circumjacent Sea, which makes it lyeope to all winds, and every point of the Compass; They pitched their Tents upon these Isles, and associated them by conjoining Bridges; Inviting all people to come and cohabitt with them, In so much that some derive the name of Venetiae from the word Venite, Venite, (or Veni etiam, come again) by which they invited them of the Continent to dwell with them, and fix their Commoration there. They are therefore much deceived who think that the Gentry of Venice are of a base allay than others, taking them to be no other than Fishermen at first; No, they were of the best rank of people, that to avoid the inundation of those barbarous people fled thither from Rome, Aquileia, Milan, Heraclea and all other places for a secure rendezvous, being friendly invited thereunto, which makes the City of Venice to be the most hospitable place upon Earth to this day for all Comers.  
Now, the first Venetians had not their beginning from Italy, but were issued of an ancient race of people in Asia called the Hevetians of Paphlagonia, who after the destruction of Troy came under the conduct of Antenor to Italy, whose Tomb is to be seen standing in Milan to this day.  
Now the Original of the City of Venice, according to the opinion of the most judicious Historians, happened in this manner. As the fear of the Huns had possessed most of the Inhabitants of Italy, and that the Venetians as foremost in the danger were more apprehensive thereof than any other, therefore for their own incolumity and freedom, and being nearest than any other, they retired from about those pleasant places which bordered upon the Adriatic Sea into these small Isles or Lakes whither the Enemy could not pursue them; And those who were the first Leaders were rich and honourable Persons, full of Piety and Religion, specially those of Aquileia, Milan, and Heraclea, who with their substance and families came first to Grada, and thence to the Rialto; Those places whereon at this day the City of Venice is seated being then but bare Isles and Mansions for Fish, as many parts of Holland was: Now, those of Milan were they that began to build at the Rialto where the first foundation was laid, and is now as it were the Centre of the City; How religiously the same was done may be conjecturd, because by how much the more one did affect Christianity, so much more he shunnd the conversation of the barbarous people. The Temple of God was the first House that was in intention, though not in execution, because it was a work of time, whereof the first Stone was laid in Saint Marks Place the 25. of March, about the Vernal Equinoctial in the beginning of the Spring, which may be said to be a good cause why the City flourished so wonderfully ever sinee, for about the same time the first Man received his Creation, and the Redeemer of Mankind his Conception.  
Now albeit for populating this new City all the most experienced Mariners were called from all parts, with promise of reward to such as could build Ships, yet as the old Records have it, they were careful not to admit any man of a servile condition, or any Murderer or Fugitifs for offences; with such sorts of men we find that Rome was first populated.  
The new City did daily increase in Inhabitants and building, when a fire kindled upon a sudden and burnt 24. Houses; and because the matter which fed the fire was scattered here and there, and so could not be quenched by humane strength, all the people betook themselves to their prayers, and, as the Record hath it, so soon as they had made a vow to erect a Church to the honour of God, called Saint james Church, the fury of the fire 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 year 400. At first they were governed by Consuls, than came they under a Tribunary power, then under a Prince or Duke because there is a greater energy of love and power in unity; yet this Duke is but a kind of Colleague with some 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 Senate who come after him, and he is so restrained that 'tis impossible for him to be a Tyrant.  
There have been since the beginning of this Principality near upon 100 Dukes, whereof 12. have been either slain or sentencd; There is choice and chance that concur 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 passed through divers Offices, and so have been long bred up in the School of Experience, which is that great Looking-glass of Wisdom; Persons that have their humours daunted, and their passions mortified in them. Contarenus describes the election of the Duke in this manner; Presently upon the vacancy, all the Gentry above 30. do assemble. So many as meet cast their names into a Pot, and in another are just so many Balls, whereof 30. only are gilt, than 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 Pot 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 lot; These 12. nominat 25. out of whom 9 are by lot set again apart; These 9 nominat 45. who are by lot reducd again to 11. These 11. choose 41. of the Senate of the best and principal rank; These 41. after every 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 discussed, and he who hath most voices above 25. is the Man whom they pronounce to be elected, and adjudge him to be created Duke with all Solemnities; by lot also they choose Gentlemen to sit in the Senate, and create public Officers, so that this Republic hath much of the model of Plato's platform.  
Some derive the Etymology of this rare City 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: There are 72. Isles that support Venice, and the nearest part of the Continent is 5. miles distant; There be Banks and Dikes cast up to preserve her from the impetuousness of the waves extending in length above 6. miles, through which there are 7. places broken out for passages of Boats, but no way for Vessels of bigger burden saving at Malamocca, which is 3. miles distant from the main City, and at the Castles of Lio, which are fortified according to the utmost art of Enginry; So that 'tis impossible to surprise Venice, or to take Her, unless it be by an Army of 150. miles' compass; She is above 8. miles in circuit, and hath of all sorts near upon 1000 Bridges; Besides, there be above 20000. Gondolaes' which ply up and down perpetually, some whereof have two rowers, some more; so that in case of necessity the City could make an Army of above 50000. Gondoliers.  
Her Fabriques' public and private are extraordinary specious and sumptuous, and Her Streets so neat and eevenly paud, that in the dead of Winter one may walk up and down in a pair of Satin Pantofles and Crimson Silk Stockings and not be dirtied: There are above 200. Palaces fit to receive any Prince with his ordinary retinue; In fine, Her situation is so rare, every street almost having an arm of the Sea running through it, and Her Structures so magnificent and neat, that this Virgin City useth to ravish at first sight all Strangers that come to visit Her, specially if they come from Sea, and not passed through others of the dainty Towns of Italy.  
Venice besides Her 150 Churches and Monasteries, hath three things worthy of sight, viz. Saint Marks Church and Steeple, the treasury, and the Arsenal.  
The Church is built throughout with rare Mosaique work, and the furniture of the Church surpasseth the Fabric in richness; Her Walls are inlaid in many places with precious Stones of divers colours, and in such a manner that they seem to be the work of Nature rather than of Art; but the full description of this Temple shall be reserved for another place, viz. for that time that Saint Marks body was first transported from Alexandria to Venice, which will appear in the Historical part as I shall run over the Lifes of the Dukes.  
The Arsenal of Venice is one of the greatest Magazines of arms in all the World; It is 3. miles in compass, of which circuit the Turks Seraglio is thought to be; there are above 300. Artificers perpetually at work, who make or repair all things belonging thereunto; when these grow impotent through age, yet have they a Salary from Saint Mark as long as they live. This Arsenal hath arms to furnish 200000. men and upwards, and hath constantly belonging to it 200. Galleys in dock or abroad in course, besides Her Galleasses and galleons, with all provisions necessary for them: When Henry the third passed from Poland to France by Venice, he went to see this Arsenal, and in less than two hours there was a new Gallie made in his presence, and launchd; He so admired the place, that he said he would be willing to exchange three of his best Towns in France, except Paris, for the Arsenal of Venice; Here is commonly kept that ancient and admired Vessel called the Bucentoro, built above 500 years since, yet is she fresh and beautiful; in this the Prince is rowed every Ascension-day in wonderful great State to the Sea, being accompanied by the Senate and Ambassadors, and throwing a gold Ring into the water he espouseth the Sea to the City once every year: which rare privilege Pope Alexander endowed the City withal, as an argument of his gratitude to Her for preserving him from the fury of the Emperor Frederic Barbarossa, for taking Otho his Son Prisoner in his quarrel, and for restoring him to Saint Peter's Chair again when he was fled from Rome to Venice for shelter; He also gave the Republic a privilege to seal with lead the same time, and made Her Lady of all the Adriatic Gulf which extends above 700. miles. This Bucentoro is the selfsame Vessel wherein Pope Alexander performed this Ceremony of marrying Venice to the Sea many hundred years ago, and She is still used to fetch in Ambassadors and Foreign Princes when they come to visit the City; but though She be still taken for the same Ship, yet I believe there is little of the first Materials remaining in Her, She hath been so often trimmed, put upon the Carine, and metamorphosed. The sight of this Ship when I was there, made me think on Theseus' famous Shipp (as I have it elsewhere) Nay, it made me fall upon an abstracted notion of Philosophy, and a speculation touching the body of man, which being in a continual flux, and succession of decay, and consequently requiring ever and anon a restauration of what it loseth of the virtue of the former nutriment, and of what was digested after the third concoction into blood and fleshy substance, which, as in all other sublunary bodies that have internal principles of heat in them, useth to transpire, breath out and waste 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 said to be of the like condition with this Bucentoro, which though it be still reputed the same Vessel, yet I believe there's very little of the first Timber remaining in Her which She had in Her first dock, having been, as they told me, so often plankd, and ribbed, caukd, peecd and gilt: In like manner I considered our bodies may be said to be daily repaired by fresh sustenance which begets new blood, and consequently new spirits, new humours, and I may well say new flesh, the old by continual 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 perpetual reparations and accretions the body of man may be said to be the same numerical 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 wore in his mother's womb; this was the theory which the sight of that amphibious old yet fresh Venetian piece of wood infused into me at that time. This rare Vessel is called Bucentoro as some think of his centum, because She holds 200. persons in Her besides the Rowers, who are more▪ She is richly gilded over from Stem to Stern having but one room in all, which is archwise; The Arches on both sides are supported with golden Pillars, except where the Duke sits at the upper end, and hard by Him lies Venice Herself mounted upon a winged Lion, rowed by 21. Oars on both sides, and 5. men to every Oar.  
Besides the Church and Steeple of Saint Mark there is the Piazza of Saint Mark, which is the fairest, and the most spacious Markett place of all the Towns of Italy, and bears the form of a Greek Γ. Here one shall see daily walking and negotiating all sorts of Nations, not only Europaeans, but Arabians, moors, Turks, Egyptians, Indians, Tabrobanes, Tartars, Americans, Asians, Brasilians, etc. of which place these ingenious Verses were composed by one who was astonished with the beauty of it:  

Si placeat varios hominum cognoscere vultus,  
Area longa patet Sancto contermi●…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 cerne●…,  
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 treasury of Saint Mark, which is so much cried up throughout the world, that it is come to be a proverb when one would make a comparison of riches: In this treasury they say there is enough to pay 6. King's ransoms, there are Jewels of all sorts of incredible greatness and value, Diamonds, Rubies, Saphires, Emerauds, Cups of Agate of a huge bigness, the great Diamond which Henry the third gave the Republic when he was made Gentleman of Venice; There you may see an Armour all of massy Gold, and beset all over with large pearl, Turkeys, Rubies, and all manner of precious Stones in such a quantity and bigness as they alone would be enough to make a Treasure; There are also 12. Corsletts of Gold beset with precious Stones; There is a huge Gold Chain that reacheth from pillar to pillar; divers Chests of Gold, among others there 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: There are also there to be seen two large Horns which are Unicorns; a great Bottle made of a Chalcedonian Stone transparent and clear, and so big that it will hold above a quart; There is also a Garnett of a vast greatness, formed into the shape of a Kettle that will hold near upon a Gallon; There are divers Crosses and Crucifixes of pure massy Gold, beset with Jewels of all sorts; There are also to be seen there the Crowns of Cyprus and Candie, as also that of the Dukes of Venice, all inlaid with such choice rich Diamonds, great Rubies, Emerauds, Saphires and other Stones that would beget an astonishment in the Beholder's eye; In that of the Dukes there is one great Ruby that bears 100000. Crown's value; There are Cups of sundry forms cut out of rich Stones, with Dishes of sundry kinds▪ There are also to be seen there divers Presses of Plate, huge and massy, with Statues of Sylver, and large Chalices of Gold, with variety of other rich objects that no eye is capable to judge thereof; There are also 12. Crowns more of massy Gold which were taken at the sacking of Constantinople when the French and the Venetian divided the spoils. There was a bold and cunning Candiot attempted the robbing of this treasury, And  

— quid non mortalia pectora cogit  
Auri sacra fames?   
This Candiot lay skulking in Saint Marks Church divers nights, until he had wrought a mine under the wall behind an Altar, and so got in to the treasury, whence he had embezeld divers rich Jewels to the value of about 200000. Crowns, but he was detected, and hanged 'twixt the two Columns; This treasury may be called the great Artery of the Republic; The Chests have been often exhausted, and supplied again; In the Wars with Lewis the twelfth of France there were 5. millions spent in a short time; In tugging with Genoa, who was then a large potent Republic, She spent from time to time above 100 millions, and against the great Turk incredible sums; The Duke of Ossuna when he was Viceroy of Naples, pickd a quarrel of purpose with Her to make Her spend Herself; He caused a Book to be publishd in disparagement of this treasury, calling it, Tesoro de duendes, the treasury of Fairies or Hobgoblins; And every one knows the tale of Pacheco the Spanish Ambassador, who coming out of curiosity to see this treasury, fell a groping whether it had any bottom, and being asked why? he answered, In this among other things my great Masters Tresures differs from yours, that his hath no bottom as yours I find hath, alluding thereby to the Mines of Mexico and Potosi.  
Among other little gentile Lands which attend the City of Venice, there is one called Murano, about the distance of a little mile, where Crystal Glasses are made; and 'tis a rare sight to see a whole Street where on the one side there are above twenty Furnaces at work perpetually both day and night; It hath been observed and tried, that if one should remove a Furnace from Murano to Venice Herself, nay to the other side of the Street, and use the same men, materials and fuel, and the same kind of Furnace every way, yet one cannot be able to make Crystal Glass in the same perfection for beauty and lustre as they do at Murano; And the cause they allege is the quality and cleernes of the circumambient air which hangs o'er the place, and favoureth the manufacture, which air is purified and attenuated by the concurrent heats of so many furnaces together which never extinguish, but are like the Vestal fires that always burn; Now it is well known in other places, what qualifying and extraordinary impressions the air useth to make, as particularly 'tis observed in the Air of Egypt where they use to have so many common Furnaces to hatch Eggs in Camels dung, if, during the time of hatching the air happen to be o'ercast and obnubilated, not one Egg in twenty will take; but if the Sky continue still serene and clear, not one in a hundred will miscarry. The art of Glassmaking is very highly valued in Venice, for whosoever comes to be a Master of that profession is reputed a Gentleman ipsa arte, for the art sake; and it is not without reason, it being a rare kind of knowledge and Chemistry to transmute the dull bodies of dust and sand, for they are the only main ingredients, to such a diaphanous pellucid dainty body, as we see Crystal Glass is, which hath this property above Gold and Silver, or any other Mineral, to endure no poison; Glass also hath this rare quality, that it never loseth any thing of its first substance and weight, though used never so frequently, and so long: It is wonderful to see what diversity of shapes and strange forms those curious Artists will make in Glass, as I saw a complete Gallie, with all her Masts, Sails, Cables, Tackling, Prore, Poop, Forecastle, Anchors, with her long Boat, all made out in Crystal Glass, as also a Man complete in armour.  
When I saw so many sorts of curious Glasses blown at Murano, I thought upon the compliment which a Gentleman put upon a Lady, who having five or six comely Daughters, said by way of complacency, that he never saw such a dainty Cupboard of Crystal Glasses in all his life. As I stood prying into the materials, and observed the frame of their Furnaces, the transubstantiations, the calcinings and liquefactions that are incident to this fiery art, my thoughts were raised up to a higher speculation, viz. That if such a small Furnace fire had virtue to convert lumps of dust and sand crumbled together into such a transparent body as Crystal, surely that great Universal Fyrewhich shall happen at the Day of Judgement, may by its fervour and violent ardour vi●…rifie and turn to one mass of Crystal the whole body of the Earth. They have a saying there, that the first handsome Woman was made of Venice Glass, which implies beauty, but brittleness withal, and Venice is not unfurnishd with Cretures of that mould; Her Courtesans love variety, and this makes them so fond of Strangers; They go always vayld in black, whereas Wives and Women of honour go in colours and unvayld; They are low and of small statures for the most part, which makes them to raise their bodies upon high shoes called Chapins, which gave one occasion to say that the Venetian Ladies were made of three things, one part of them was Wood, meaning their Chapins, another part was their Apparel, and the third part was a Woman; The Senate hath often endeavourd to take away the wearing of those high Shoes, but all women are so passionately delighted with this kind of state that no Law can wean them from it: A Story runs of a strange Gentleman, who being extremely enamoured with one of them bargained for a night's lodging for so many Crowns, but in the morning finding her so low and little from what she had appeerd the day before he would pay her but the one half of what he had contracted, in regard she was but half the Woman that had bargained with him formerly. Among other peculiar Laws in Venice there is one that limits the Dowries of Women, for lest the Patricians or Gentlemen should exhaust their estate, and not be able to live like themselves, they restrain the Dowry to 16000 Crowns, so that no Senator or Nobleman may give more with his Daughter; but a Plebeian marrying his Daughter to a Gentleman may give 20000. Crowns.  
The Trade of the City of Venice hath been somewhat declining since the Portuguais found out the career to the East Indies by the Cape of Good Hope, for this City was used to fetch all those Spices, and other Indian Commodities from the Gran Cayro in Egypt, whither they used to be carried upon Camels backs, and convoys of Dromedaries threescore day's journey; And so Venice used to dispense all kind of Indian Merchandises through the Countries of Christendom, which not only the Portuguais, but the English and Hollander use now to transport, and may be said to be the chief Masters of the trade, yet there is no outward appearance of poverty, or any kind of decay in this soft effeminate City, but she is still fresh and flourishing, abounding with all kind of commerce, and flowing with all bravery and delight, all which may be had at cheap rates; which made those that could not tell how to use the pleasures of Venice aright, to give out this saying of Her  

Venetia, Venetia chi non te vede non Te pregia,  
Mà, chi 't'ha troppo veduto te despregia,   
In English thus rendered:  

Venice, Venice, none Thee unseen can prise,  
Who hath seen thee too much, will Thee despise.   
They speak of an old prophecy, That Venice shall continue a Virgin until her Husband forsakes her, meaning the Sea, to whom Pope Alexander married her long since, and the Nuptials are confirmed and solemnly revived every year; Now some observe that the Sea in some places doth not love her so deeply as he did, for he begins to shrink and grow shallower in some places about her, nor are her tides so high; Nor doth the Pope who was the Father that gave her to the Sea affect her as much as formerly he did, specially since the expulsion of the Jesuitts, and that She fell a clipping the Temporal possessions of the Clergy, as shall be shown, which make some of her Emulators bode her downfall, since that Father and Husband begin to abandon Her.  
In that notable League of Cambray Pope julius incited all Christendom against her, so that her Maidenhead was never more likely to be taken than at that time, but by her extraordinary submission She charmed the Pope by her 6. Senators whom She sent disguised to Rome, and also by that humble Embassy She sent to Maximilian the Emperor by Antonio justiniano's, whose notable Oration was this that followeth, though it be not to be found among her Records.  
VEteres Philosophos, atque summos illis temporibus Viros, Invictissime Caesar, ●…um eam gloriam quae ex sui ipsius victoria comparatur, veram, firmam, aeternam, immortalémque esse affirmârunt▪ eámque supra omnia regna, trophaea atque triumphos extulerunt minimè errasse manifestum, certúmque est; Haec Scipioni Majori tot victoriis claro majorem splendorem quam Africa devicta, & Carthago domita dedit: Nun haec eadem res magnum illum Macedonem immortalitate donavit? cum Darius maximo praelio ab eo victus Deos immortales ut regnum suum stabilirem precatus est, quod si secus statuissent se non alium Successorem quam tam benignum hostem, tam mansuetum ab illis petere: Caesar ille Dictator à quo Caesaris cognomentum habes, & ejus fortunam, libertatem, magnificentiam aliásque virtutes obtines, nun concedendo, remittendo, condonando qui in Deorum numerum referretur dignus est judicatus? Denique Senatus populusque Romanus ille mundi domitor cujus imperium in Te solo est, cujusque amplitudo & Majestas in Te conspicitur, nun plures populos ac provincias clementia, aequitate & mansuetudine quam bello armisque imperio suo subjecit? Quae cum ita sint minimè inter postremas laudes id tibi ascribetur, Caesar, si cum victoriam adversus Venetos in potestate tua habeas, quam humanae res Caducae sint memor, ea moderatè uti noveris, magis ad pacis studia, quam incertos belli eventus propensus; Quanta enim rerum humanarum inconstantia sit, quam incerti casus, quam dubius, fallax, varius periculisque obnoxius sit mortalium status externus, priscisque exemplis ostendere non est opus, satis supérque Respublica Veneta docet, quae paulò ante florins, splendens, clara, atque ita potens erat, ut ejus nomen & fama, non Europae finibus terminaretur, sed egregia pompa Africam, Asiámque percurreret, atque in extremis Orbis terrarum finibus magno cum plausu resonaret; Haec eadem nunc unico eoque levi adverso praelio rerum gestarum gloria orbata, opibus spoliata, lacerata, conculcata atque eversa, omnium rerum ac praesertim Consilii egens ita corruit ut omnis pristinae virtutis imago consenuerit, omnisque armorum ardor defferbuerit; Sed falluntur, falluntur proculdubio Galli si haec propriae virtuti tribuunt; Antehac enim Veneti gravioribus incommodis agitati, maximis detrimentis cladibúsque perculsi atque attriti, nunquam animum abjecerunt, ne tum quidem cum ingenti periculo cum saevissimo Turcarum Tyranno multos annos bella gesserunt, imo semper ex victis Victores facti sunt; Idem & nunc sperassent nisi Majestatis tuae tremendo nomine, copiarúmque tuarum vivida invictáque virtute audita, ita omnium animi concidissent, ut nulla non modò vincendi, sed ne obsistendi quidem spes relicta sit; Quocirca armis abjectis in Majestatis tuae incredibili clementia, vel potius divina pietate spem omnem locavimus, quam nos nostris rebus perditis inventuros minimè diffidimus: Itaque Principis, Senatus, Populusque Veneti nomine humili devotione supplices oramus, obtestamur, atque obsecramus, ut clementiae tuae oculis res nostras afflictas aspicere digneris, iisque salutarem medicinam afferre, omnes pacis leges, quas tu nobis imposueris amplectemur, omnes, justas, honestas & ab aequitate rationeque minimè alienas ducemus; Sed forsan qui nobis ipsis mulctam imponamus, digni sumus: Ad te verum & legitimum Principem omnia quaecunque Majores nostri Sacro Imperio & Austriae Ducatui ademerunt, rede●…nt, quibus ut decentiùs veniant omnia quaecunque in Continente possidemus adjungimus quarum rerum juribus quocunque modo partis cedimus; Praeterea, quotannis tuae Majestati & legitimis Imperii Sucessoribus in perpetuum quingenta auri pondo tributi nomine pendemus, imperiis, decretis, legibus, praeceptisque tuis libenter obtemperabimus. Defend nos quaeso ab illorum cum quibus paulo ante arma nostra conjunximus insolentia, quos nunc saevissimos hostes experimur, qui nihil aliud expetunt quam Veneti nominis interitum; Tua ista clementia conservata Te Urbis nostrae Parentem, Genitorem, Conditoremque appellabimus▪ Ingentia tua beneficia in annal referemus, liberis nostris perpetuò memorabimus; Nec verò parva haec erit ad laudes tuas accessio Te primum esse ad cujus pedes Veneta Respublica supplex se humi prosternat, cui cervices supponat, quem velut Deum coelo delapsum colat, revereatur, observet: Si Deus optimus maximus eam mentem Majoribus nostris dedisset, ut Res aliorum non attingere non studuissent, jam nostra Respublica gloriae plena reliquas Europae civitates longè superarat, quae nunc in squalore, sordibus & foetore languescens, ignominia, probroque deformis ludibrio atque contumelia referta unico momento omnium victoriarum laudem amisit; Sed ut unde incepit eò mea revertatur Oratio, in tua potestate est, Caesar, Venetis tuis ignoscendo & condonando nomen laudemque comparare qua nemo unquam Vincendo majorem splendidiorémque adeptus est; Hoc monumentum nulla vetustas, nulla antiquitas, nullus temporis cursus è memoria hominum delebit, sed omnia saecula Te pium, clementem, omnium principum gloriosissimum praedicabunt, confitebuntur: Nos tui Veniti quod vivimus, quod auras coelestes carpimus, quod hominum comercio fruimur id omne tuae virtuti, faelicitati, clementiaeque tribuimus.  
Though this pitiful Speech be not to be found among the Records of this Republic, yet it is kept to this day in the Archives of the Empire, and because it is so remarkable a one we hold it not amiss to render it in English.  
MOst invincible Emperor, the ancient Philosophers, and the great Men of their times did not err in their opinions when they esteemed that glory which one gains by a Conquest over himself to be the truest, the most firm, and best of victories, and to exceed all other acquests, achievements, trophies and triumphs; This pourchasd Scipio Major more honour, and made him more illustrious than by debelling of Afric, and daunting the proud City of Carthage: Did not the same kind of victory make that great Macedonian immortal, when King Darius being discomfited by him prayed the Immortal Gods that they would establish his Kingdom, which if they pleased to ordain otherwise he desired no better Successor than so mild an Enemy, and gentle a Conqueror. That Caesar the Dictator, from whom you have your surname, and whose fortune, liberality, magnificence and other high virtues you inherit, was not he judgd worthy to be placed among the Gods for his clemency, concessions, gentleness and mercy? Lastly, the Senate and people of Rome who were the tamers of the World, whose Empire is now solely in you, and whose amplitude and Majesty doth so shine in you, did not they reduce more Nations to their obedience by their justice, equity and mansuetude than by war and arms? Since this is a know truth, O Caesar, it will not be the least of your glories, since that you have the victory o'er the Venetians now in your hands and power, to call to mind how frail all humane things are, and consequently to use your victory with moderation, and to incline more to the study of peace, than the doubtful events of war; for how inconstant all mundane affairs are, how casual, various, false and flattering, how obnoxious the state of Mortals is to hazard and danger, I shall not need to illustrat either by new or old examples; The Venetian Commonwealth shows it sufficiently, which being a little while ago flourishing and splendid, illustrious and renowned, and so powerful that her name and renown was not contented to be bounded within the precincts of Europe only, but it passed over to Afric and Asia, and rebounded with no ordinary applause in the extremest parts of the World: This, this Republic is now by one and that but a slight battle deprived of the glory of all her Trophies, She is bereft of her wealth, torn as it were in pieces and trampled upon, daunted and overcome, being destitut of all things specially of Council, so that the image of her former virtues are faded and almost utterly defacd, and her wont heat in arms quite allayed. For in former times the Venetians being oppressed with greater calamities, and harassd with worse miseries, ill successes and misfortunes, yet they never lost their spirits, no not then when with infinite losses, dangers and hazards they bore up for many years against that most cruel tyrant the Turk; nay from being overcome they became conquerors afterwards, They might hope the like now, but the redoubted name of your Majesty, and the invincible vertu of your military forces being understood, their hearts are so dejected, that there is little left us to resist, much less to overcome; But they are deceived, yea mightily deceived if the French attribute any thing of this to their valour. Therefore all Arms being cast away we place all our hopes in the rare clemency, or rather the Divine piety of your imperial Majesty: And in the name of the Prince, the Senate and people of Venice, with humble devotion and in most supplicant manner we pray, beseech and implore that you would vouch safe to behold with the countenance of compassion our most afflicted condition, and to apply some comfortable remedy unto them: All the Laws of peace that you shall impose upon us, we will embrace, we shall obey all just, honest and equitable commands not swarving from reason; But haply we deserve that we lay a necessity upon ourselves, that all things may return to you as true and lawful Prince that which our progenitors took from this sacred Empire, and the Dukedom of Austria, which that it may be done more handsomely, we add whatsoever we possess in the continent, we yield, notwithstanding any rites we can claim unto them. Moreover we are willing to pray every year to your Majesty, and the lawful successors of the Empire 500 weight of Gold in lieu of tribute, and we are ready to obey all Decrees, Manats, Precepts or Laws, that come from your Majesty. Defend us therefore from those, we beseech you, with whom we lately joined our arms, who we find now to be most cruel enemies, which study nothing more than the utter ruin of the Venetian name; Being preserved by this: our clemency we shall call you our farther, and parent, our protector and founder, and we shall digest these your mighty benefits into our annals, and our late Nephews, shall be ever mindful of them: And truly this will be no small accession of glory to you, that you were the first before whom the Republic of Venice did present herself, to whom she laid down her neck, whom she adores, and reverenceth as some God decended from Heaven. If Almighty God had given our Ancestros that mind that they had not middled so much with other men's things, our republic had surpassed by this time all the Cities of Europe, whereas she is now forlorn and squalid, covered over with ashes, ignominy and shame, having in a moment as it were had her beauty blasted, and become a derision to all Nations, and lost the glory of all her former victories; But that my speech may return where it began, it lieth in your power O Caesar, that pardoning and absolving your Venetians you pourchase now to yourself a name and glory then which never any got a greater by conquest or victory. This Monument no age, no time, no antiquity or course of mortal things shall ever deface out of our memories, but all Ages shall confess, declare, and proclaim you to be the most pious, and most glorious of all Princes, We your Venetians shall ascribe it to your goodness, that we live and breathe the celestial air, that we have the conversation of men, we impute it all to your virtue, felicity, and clemency.  
This was the lamentable speech, that the maiden Republic breathed out before the Emperor Maximilian, by the mouth of her Ambassador Antonio justiniano's; but 'tis known that Maids have tears at will, therefore most men thought these words were not cordial but mere compliments, and to temporize, yet they produced a peace, and 'tis a cheap peace that is got by a compliment; but this submission the Republic made was partly recompencd, by a generous and pious act she did in refusing the help, and Auxiliaries which the Turk offered her so earnestly in those her extremities. About Addua she received the mortalest blow that ever she had, and it was like to have been as fatal to her as Canna to the Romans, or Pavia to the French King; The Genoese also brought her once to a low ebb, so that she sent very low proposals to him, which he refusing, she made virtue of necessity, and reinforcing herself sound bangd him.  
Before I part with this Maiden City, I will make a parallel betwixt her and old Rome, for of all the Cities of Italy there's none resemble her more in her constitutions and policy, nay she is more like old Rome then Rome herself as now she is, as if the soul of old Rome by a Pythagorean kind of meterapluchosis, were transmigrated into her, she is obdurated with the same kind of vigour and virtue as old Rome; but it seems that she is of a far stonger constitution, and more constant in her way of policy; some do brand the one to be a Shepherd's Town at first, and Venice a Fisher Town; 'Tis true that Rome is fabled to be so, so that it might be said, that when the Pope came to be her head she was reduced to her first principles, for as a Shepherd was the founder, so a Shepherd (spiritual) is still her preserver from utter ruin, otherwise she had been long since turned into a heap of rubbish which had become her Tomb; So that Providence seems to have a care of her still, though present Rome may be said to be but the monument of herself compared to times passed when she was in that flourish wherein Saint Augustin did wish to see her; She was then of 50. miles' circumference as Vopiscus witnesseth, and she had 500000. free Citizens in a famous cense that was made in Claudius his time, which allowing but six to every family in Women, Children and Servants, came to 3. millions of Souls, but She may be said to be now but a Wilderness in comparison of that number, yet She is esteemed to have yet 'bout 14. miles' incircuit; Moreover She is much humbled since the Church came to be her Head, for whereas She was before elevated upon seven Hills, She now spreads herself upon a flat, having descended to the Plains of Campus Martius: So She who tamed the World seemed to tame herself at last, and falling under her own weight grew to be a prey to Time, who with his iron teeth consumes all bodies at last, making all things both animat and inanimat which have their being under that changeling the Moon to be subject unto corruption and dissolution.   

A Parallel 'twixt the Government of old Rome and Venice.  
THe greatest thing wherein old Rome differs from Venice, is, that after Kings or Souverain Princes Rome was governed by Consuls, but here clean contrary, after Consuls a Doge or Princely Head came to govern, yet doth he carry still the badge of a Consul in the vest upon his back. Among the Romans Tribunus Celerum he who had the command of the Cavalry had the chiefest charge, just so, the Venetians use to create a Captain General of the Armies in the Continent; and as he at Rome defended the King, and City, and was the first that assaulted the Enemy, and the last that left the field, so doth the Venetian General, therefore he hath the next place to the Prince himself.  
Moreover, a good while passed when the Consuls could not levy the cense which every one according to his substance was bound to pay in regard of other more important affairs wherein they were involud, therefore the Censors were chosen, so called because their first office was to gather the cense, which was to know the number of Citizens, and put an estimat upon their states, and so a tax; afterwards this Magistrate did grow to that esteem and use, that he came to have authority also over the manners and customs of the Romans, and to have Superintendency both of the Senate, the Cavalry and Guards. In conformity to this office there are ten Censors in Venice which are called vulgarly Gli dieci Savii, the ten Sages, who supervise not only the cense but the Customs also of the City; But the City increasing, and people multiplying daily with business, Venice did choose other Censors giving them authority over the pomp, the food and raiment of the Citizens; which Magistrates are called la Giustitia nuova, instituted in the time of Renier Zeno, who have authority over all Inns, Hostries, and Lodgers of Strangers.  
The Romans, people still increasing, and having Wars in divers places, created in tract of time a new Officer of greater authority whom they called Dictator; from him there was no appeal to be made, and he had in the highest way of authority power over the lifes of men: The General of the Sea among the Venetians hath some resemblance with this Officer, only with this difference, that he is chosen upon extraordinary ocasions, but as long as he is abroad he hath a Dictatorian power, for to what maritime place soever he arrives he hath the Keys of the Town brought him, with those of any Castle or Fortress. But here it is to be observed, that this Officer cannot enter Venice with any armed Galley, but as soon as he comes to Istria, which is distant 100 miles from Venice, he pays the Mariners and all other Officers their Salaries, and so disbands them, and returns to Venice with a very few of his retinue: This corresponds with the custom of the Romans, who used to restrain their General to pass over the river Rubicon by this peremptory command, Imperator, sive Miles, sive Tyrannus armatus quisquis, sistito, vexillum armáque deponito nec citra hunc amnem Rubiconem trajicito: Emperor, or Soldier, or Tyrant, whosoever thou art, put off thy armour, else cross not this River. This was the reason that julius Caesar was declared Enemy to Rome because he had passed that River.  
Afterwards in Rome they added to the Dictator Officers called Magistri Equitum, who should be present at all Counsels; and in case the Dictator should be sick They were to execute his office, as being as it were his Compagnous, and Witnesses of his virtues: Just so, the Venetians use to choose two Proveditori in every Army who have the next place to the General, and must be present at all Counsels, and have a concurrence of their opinions before any enterprise.  
Besides these the Venetians make choice of three of the Patrician Order, whom they style Auvogadori de Communi, who resemble Tribunos plebis in Rome; these three are rather Solicitors than Judges for the people, they are their Intercessors upon all ocasions.  
Add herunto that the Romans thought it fitting to choose Officers that should have care of the profit, the ornament and provision of the City, therefore did they constitut divers persons of probity, and known integrity, and they went all under the name of Aediles; The first two they did choose, were to have special care of the Temples and Fanes, as as also of other Fabriques' and Ornaments of the City, which Officers were styled Aediles ●…dium: There were others called Aediles Curules, whose charge it was to supervise all Weights and Mesures: There were others called Aediles Cercales, who supervisd all sorts of Grain, of Oil and such provision: In Venice there are sundry Officers that may be compared to these Aediles. First, the Procurators of Saint Mark, who have the Superintendence of the Church, and the treasury thereof: Then come the Proveditori alla Sanitá, which have it in charge to see that no noisome and unwholesome things be brought into the City, the general health and incolumity whereof they are to study: Next them are the Proveditori all▪ Acque, who supervise the Waters, Lakes and Channels within and without the City, which they are to see scowrd and cleansed: Then follow Signori alla Giustitia Vecchia, the Lords of the old Justice, who severely punish those that are discovered to have false Weights, and they set reasonable prizes upon fruits and other things: Then is there another sort of Aediles called Proveditori alla farina, that supervise the measure and the wholesomeness of all kind of Grains, and that they be well conditioned: Then is there another sort of Edills called Proveditori all sale, who rend all the Salt pits, provided that the City be served at reasonable rates: Then are there other sorts of Aediles called Gli Signori alla Ternaria Vecchia, who were instituted in the time of Giovanni Dandalo, who supervise the Oil; Then Gli Signori alla grassa, who supervise Cheese, Bacon, and all salt things: Then Signori del vino, who look to the condition and rates of all kinds of Wines; Than gli Signori di panni d'oro, who take a special care that no fraud be used in the making and vending of any Gold, Silver, Tissue, or Silk stuffs; Then you have the Signori della Dogana di mare, which were instituted in the government of Tomaso Mocenigo, whose charge is to look to the freight of all sorts of Ships and Galleys, if they go laden with any Merchandise, and overlook that the Republic be not cozened in her imposts; Lastly, there be a sort of Aediles called delle Ragion vecchie, who have it commited to their charge that in case any Ambassador come, or any foreign Prince into the City, they are to see that he be entertained, and defrayed by the public expense of S. Mark.  
The Romans had also Officers called Quaestores, who received and distributed the public treasure, and they were called so ab inquirenda pecunia, from making search after moneys; so in Venice there are such Officers called Camerlinghi, who have the very same charge. And as the Questors in Rome were to accompany the Emperor or General, to keep account of the public Salaries, and Treasures; so the Venetians when War happens use to send their Camerlinghi to the Army, who are always present with the General, and do not only administer the public stock, but supervise all preys and booties taken from the enemy. In Rome there were Questors also in times of peace; so likewise in all the Cities belonging to the Republic, there are such Questors who have power to recover, spend and pay the Public deniers, whereof they use to send a particular account to the Senate with the Treasure that remains unspent; In resemblance to these Roman Questors, there are divers other Officers in the Republic of Venice, as gli Governatori dell' entrate they who receive the public Revenues of the Signory, with all sorts of Gabells and Impositions. There are also I Signori sopra I conti, who are as it were the Auditor's General, and look to all public accounts that belong to the Republic. There is La Dogana da terra, and L'Vsata, whereof the one looks to all commodities imported, the other to all exported. There is an Office also called the Messetaria, who takes up two in the hundred in sale of all stable goods, as well within as without the City.  
But those Questors which are Paymasters, are only the three Chambers the tr●… camere de monti, the old, the new, and the subsidiary Mount, who daily disburse and pay moneys.  
Besides these there were among the Romans, other Questors called Quaestores Candidati, so called because they went clad in white, whose Office was to read in the Senate all kind of Letters that were of any moment. The Chancellor of Venice resembleth this Quaestor, who is of the rank of Citizens, and of mighty repute among all men; because he only while he lives, can see, know and understand all things that is agitated in the Senate, although the most secret transactions; He goes in a Senatorian habit, and is held a most honourable person, although he be not of the Patrician and noble Order.  
It is time now to speak of the Decemvirs, who, all other Magistrates being cashiered in the City of Rome, were created to have the sole and superintendent power of all things; every one of these was used to sit upon the Tribunal ten days, and determine all matters, and they were used to succeed one another; In imitation hereof the Venetians have the same Magistrates who jump with those of Rome both in number and authority, which is vulgarly called i'll Consiglio di Dieci, the Council of ten; That in Rome dured for a year, and so doth this, both of them were without appeal unless it be in Venice to the College, and then a business is said to go à l'altra mano. In this Rome and Venice differ, that this kind of Magistrate in the one was of short continuance, and quickly perished, but this in Venice hath for many hundred years continued to the great welfare and safety of the City; when the Decemviri in Rome were created all other Officers seized, it is otherwise here; those governed only for ten days, and of these three are chosen every month, which are called glitre Capi; one of them alone hath no power to judge or refer, but he must have another to join with him, but in both Cities they were advanced to the Decemvirate who precelld others in experience and age, in probity and known sufficiency.  
There were also a long time after the foundation of Rome Officers elected called Praetors, for the story relates the City stood 390 years before any was created; The Wars were the cause of the election of this Magistrate, because in the confusion of Arms the Consuls could not tend all businesses, therefore there were other Judges created called Praetors; Of these Praetors there were among the Ancients three sorts, Urbani, Forenses, or Provinciales, The first determined controversies betwixt Citizens and Tounsmen; The second sort decided Cases 'twixt Citizens and Countrymen, and the third went to the Government of Provinces; so likewise in the Republic of Venice such Praetors are created, and in the same degree of Order; The Praetores Vrbani are represented by those that are of the Corti de petitione, and other Offices, which determine all differences 'twixt Citizens; The Praetores Forenses are those that preside in the Ufficio called deal Forastiero, and the Provincial Praetors are represented by those who go up and down the Dominions and Cities that are under the obedience of the Republic, & they are called Praetors or Podestá. The first Officers in this kind were del Petitione, and they were sufficient at first to dispatch all sorts of differences, but afterwards in process of time, businesses augmenting with the Age and strength of the Signory, there were divers other Magistrates of the same kind created. The judici de Petitione determined all Suits as far as 1000 Ducketts, or any above 50. They cause all bargains to be performed; They tax the allowance of Pupils for their sustenance, and education, unless they be within the precincts of the Procurators of S. Mark.  
There be other Officers styled Guidici all' officio del mobile, they determine all Controversies and Causes 50 Ducketts upwards that happen about moveables, and personal Estates. There are also Judgesexaminers; There be other Officers called Cataveri, which is much of the same nature though inferior in degree to the Camerlinghi; There is another Officer called Il pio vego, who takes Cognizance of all Contracts tending to Usury, this Officer hath also care of the public ways; There be other Officers called Syndicks, which supervize all public expenses; There be others called Sopragastaldi, who put in execution the sentences that are passed by other Judges, and sell the goods brought in by sentence of the Court; And because some error may arise in the sale of such goods, there's another Office called de Superiori, who are to censure the Acts of the Sopragastaldi; To these may be added the Consuls and Sopra Consoli, who are peculiar Officers touching Merchant's affairs, and carry the business so that a bankrupt cannot be utterly ruind. The last kind of Praetor is del Forestiero, who determines differences 'twixt Venetians and Forener, or 'twixt foreigner and Forener. All controversies touching Rents of Houses go before these Judges, as also touching the hire of Ships and Barks.  
The Romans had also certain Officers called Centumviris, in Analogy to whom the Republic hath Consilio di Quarentie, or the Council of 40. and hence it may be said that the division sprung it being of three Orders, viz. two upon civil Causes, and the third upon Criminal; Touching civil Causes the one is called lafoy vecchia, before whom all Causes come from the Auditori vecchi, whereof former mention hath been made; the other is called lafoy nuova created by the Pisan Law, where all Causes that are introducd into the Court by the Auditori nuovi are decided; But in tract of time controversies multiplying together with the people, il Collegio de venti savii, the College of 20 Sages were adjoynd to it, who take cognizance of differences as far as 300 Ducats; and lastly the College of twelve was added, who should terminat all Suits as far as 100 Crowns: So the Centumviris in Rome were divided to ●…ower Counsels, whence came the saying judicium quadruplex, who used to meet in foro Ducario, and in ancient times in the Church of Saint julia, which places were so contiguous, that they could overhear one another as Quintilian observes. These Counsels of 40 have three heads or Precedents of their order, who for two months have the precedency of the rest, and introduce the Causes which are to be handled; they cast lots in three Boxes, whereof one is in favour, the other clean contrary, and the third nor one nor the other, which is called non Syncero.  
The Romans had also four men who had care of the Streets, and the same officers are in Venice, who are called Proveditori di Comun, whose care and industry is to keep the Streets well repaired, with the Bridges, whereof there is ne'er upon 1000 of all sorts, with other public places; but whereas there were four officers in Rome of this nature, there are but three in Venice, yet they have many for their substitutes. Moreover there were in Rome three officers who supervizd the Coins of Gold and Silver, there are the same number in Venice, who are Proveditori alla Zeccha.  
After all these come the Prefects or Captains that are appointed for the government of Cities abroad, who may be 〈◊〉 compared to the Prefects of places among the Romans, and their office is the very same; They have care of the Walls of the City, with the Gates thereof, and upon any insurrection they have power to raise and assemble the Inhabitants of the place to suppress it; they set the Guards, and look to all things that tend to conservation and outward security of the City. There were also in Rome Officers called Praefecti victuum, that had care to see the place well provided with Victuals, and prevent famine by bringing in Corn and other necessaries from abroad; so in Venice there are three chosen that have the like charge, which are called Prodveditori alle biade, and upon extraordinary ocasions there are other two added to them called Sopra proveditori, but these kind of Officers may be rankd more properly among the Aediles.  
Lastly, the Romans had an Officer called the Praefectus Vigiliarum, who had care to prevent all fyring of Houses, and if any happened to suppress and extinguish it, before it should spread further, as also to take cognizance of burglaries, thefts and robberies done in the night time; So the Republic of Venice, who hath been industrious to search into all Laws, holding it no disparagement to imitat any that may tend to her better Welfare, have ten Gentlemen elected, who are divided to two parts, but both called Signori di notte; To the one five are brought all Civil causes, to the other all Criminal that have relation to the night; The office of these is to secure every one in his own Precinct, and prevent that the obscurity of the night do not procure damage to any body, to prevent murders, and breaking into Houses.   

Of the Precincts or Sextaries of the City of Venice.  
NOw the whole City is divided to 6. Precincts, viz. Castello, S. Marco, Canareio, S. Paolo, S. Croce and Dorsoduro: Under Castello there are S. Pietro, S. Biasio, S. Martino, S. Gio: Baptista in Bragora, S. Antonino, S. Trinitá, S. Severo, S. Procolo, S. Gio: di nuovo, S. Maria Formosa, S. Marina, S. Leone, and the Church of the Dominican Friars, S. Francisco della vigna, S. Antonio, SS. Giovanni è Paolo, S. Francisco di Paola, and the Nuns of that Order; S. Maria delle Virgin, S. Daniele, S. Anna, S. Gioseppe, S. Maria Celeste, S. Sepolchro, S. Lorenzo, S. Giovanni Laterano, and S. Zaccheria, with other Churches of S. Gio: di Forlani, di SS. Filippo, è Giacopo, and of S. Georgio of Greece.  
In S. Marks Precinct there is S. Marks Church herself, S. Gemmiano, S. Moise, S. Maria Sobenigo, S. Mauritio, S. Vitale, S. Samuele, S. Angelo, S. Benedetto, S. Paterniano, S. Fantino, S. Luca, S. Salvatore, S. Bartelmeo, S. juliano, and S. Basso: S. Stephano, S. Salvatore, with Nuns of that Order; S. Rocco, Santa Margherita, S. Theodoro, S. Maria di Consolation, S. Maria di Broglio, and the School of justitia.  
In Canareio there are S. Lucia, S. Gieremia, SS. Erma●…orn, and Fortunato, S. Maria Madalena, S. Marciale, S. Fosca, S. Felice, S. Sofia, SS. Apostoli, S. Canciano, S. Maria nuova, S. Gio: Chrysostomo, and S. Leonardo; De frati S. jobbs, S. Maria de Servi, S. Maria del horto, S. Maria de Crocecchieri, with the Nuns of S. Lucia, S. Catarina, Corpo di Christo, S. Luigi, S. Gyrolamo, and S. Maria de miracoli.  
In the Precincts of Saint Paul there are these Parishes, S. Paolo, S. Tomaso, S. Stefano Confessore, S. Agostino, S. Ubaldo, S. Apollinare, S. Sylvestro, S. Gio: Eleemosinario, S. Mateo, S. Giacopo, Frati di S. Maria, and Frati minori.  
In Santa Croce there are these Parishes, S. Croce, S. Simeon profeta, SS. Simon, S. Guida Apostolo, S. Gio: decollato, S. Giacopo del Orio, S. Eustasio, S. Maria mater Domini, S. Cassano, S. Nicoló di Talentino, the Nuns of S. Croce, S. Andrea, S. Chiara. But it is to be observed that in some Precincts some Lands are included, with Churches belonging to Monasteries, as S. Helena, S. Andrea della Certosa, S. Georgio Maggiore, S. Clement, S. Maria delle gratie, S. Spirito, S. Francisco dal diserto, S. Giacopo di paludo, S. Nicolo di Lito, S. Christoforo della pace, S. Michaele, S. Georgio in Alga, S. Angelo di concordia, S. Secondo, with the Nuns of S. Servolo, with other of S. Erasmo, S. Lazaro, Lazaretto nuovo, Lazaretto vecchio.  
Lastly, in Dorsoduro there are these Parishes, S. Nicoló, S. Rafaele, S. Basilio, S. Margherita, S. Pantaleone, S. Barnaba, SS. Gervasa and Barnabá, S. Portasio, S. Agnese, SS. Vito and Modesto, S. Gregorio, S. Eufemia della Giudeca, Frati di S. Giacopo della Giudeca, Il Redentore, S. Gio: della Giudeca, S. Sebastiano, I Carmeni, Maria della curitá, the Nuns of S. Biasio Catoldo, S. Croce della Giudeca, SS. Cosmo è Damiano, Le Convertite, S. Marta, S. Maria Maggiore, lo Spirito Santo, Ogni Santi, la Trinita▪, le Citelle, Abbatie & Priorati, S. Georgio Maggiore, S. Nicolo di Lito, S. Gregorio, S. Giovanni della Giudeca, S. Tomaso di Borgognoni, S. Andrea della Certosa, S. Helena, S. Gio: del Templo, la Trinitá, la Misericordia, S. Gio: Evangelista, S. Gio: Laterano; In the Precinct of Dorsoduro the Jesuitts had nested themselves until they were thrust out.  
There are divers rich Hospitals also in Venice, the first is di Giesu Christo à S. Antonio, di S. Pietro è S. Paolo, della pieta, della casa di Dio, à S. Martino à I Croceccheri, alla Misericordia, alla Carita, à S. Gio: Evangelista, à S. Croce, à S. Andrea, à S. Vito, all volto Santo, à S. Ubaldo, à S. Rafaele, à S. Gio: Paolo all' incurabili, S. Lazaro, lebocole, Lazaretto vecchio, Lazaretto nuovo, ill Soccorso, & quello de Mendicanti. there's no place on Earth where there is greater provision for poor Maidens, in so much that every year there are great numbers married out of the common stock, and they the Maids of Saint Mark, or della Caritá, della Misericordia, di S. Gio: Evangelista, di San Rocco, or di San Teodoro, etc.  
Herein also Venice doth imitat her Mother Rome, whose principal endeavour was to purchase an opinion of piety and holiness among all people, that by that bait they might come under Her obedience the sooner; So that She hath in Churches, Monasteries, Nunneries, and Hospitals near upon 160. Nor do I believe that he is much wide of the mark who made an estimat of the revenue of the Venetian Church both in the Continent, and Islands to be above two Millions of Crowns.  
Besides old Rome, Venice did likewise borrow something of the Greek Comon-wealths her Neighbours also, as will appear to any that will be curious to make researches into the Code and Digest of her Laws; But touching her next Neighbour Athens, she by dabbling too much with the Sea, and forsaking her interests in the Continent, undid herself; But the City of Venice had contrary success, for the Sea made Her, and quickened Her industry, it made Her turn necessity into industry, for, just as the Hollander, She having at first no Land to manure, fell a ploughing up the Sea, and by putting a bridle in Neptune's mouth, She forced by art a mansion for herself out of those places which fish should naturally inhabit; so that in the midst of the salt Surges, and Billows of the Hadriatic Sea She may be said to be Mediâ immersabilis undâ.  
The main instruments that govern this Republic are the Gentry, for the Venetians do call those Gentlemen that have a share in the Government of this Commonwealth, viz. those that have authority to elect the public Magistrates, and have a capacity themselves to be elected. This prerogative is given unto them by their birth, so as whosoever are born of noble Parents (now these words Noble and Gentleman are synonimas amongst them) is accounted noble, and may at a certain time and manner limited by the Laws, enter into the great Council, where the ordinary election of Magistrates is made; Into this rank are received either those, who having been the chief Inhabitants of the City, and being most famous for Virtue or Wealth, have from the beginning had the managing of public affairs; or also those who for some notable exploits or worthy act done in the service of the Republic are at sundry times, and upon special occasions admitted thereunto, who for the most part have been of the chief, and noblest Families, or some other place subject to the Signory, or some others to whom by special grace and favour this title of Nobility hath been given; wherein nevertheless they have carried themselves very sparingly, it being granted but to Lords of great Estates, and in this manner were the Families of Este, Gonzaga, and Farneses' with some other of the chiefest of Italy admitted thereunto. Henry King of Poland after the third of that Name of France, being at Venice among other honours received the title of a Venetian Gentleman, and he seemed to be highly pleased with the dignity as appeerd by his presents: Moreover all those that descend from such as receive this degree, have the same pre-eminence as their Parents in such a tract of time; But to the end it may be continually maintained in its perfection, they do curiously search out the Predigrees of those who are to enter into the great Council, not only the Nobility of the Father, but likewise whether they be born of lawful Matrimony, and of no Common Woman, but of some honourable degree and condition, whereof a Register is kept by one of the chief Magistrates, termed the Avogario of the Republic.  
The chief orders of Knighthood in the Venetian Republic are first those of S. Mark, begun in the year 1330. and revived Anno 1562. They are to be of the noblest sort of Patricians; the second is of the glorious Virgin instituted by Bartholomeo of Vicenza, and is more ancient than the other for it was instituted Anno 1222. their charge is to protect Widows and Orphans, and to defend the peace of Italy; It was approud by Pope Urban the fourth Anno 1262. The Arms are a purple Cross between certain Stars, a white Robe over a russet Cloak, but the General Arms are Gules, two Keys in Saltier, or, stringed Azure; The Motto which the Knights of S. Mark carry is Pax tibi Marce Evangelista; There are under the Dominions of Venice two Patriarches, and thirty four Archbishops, and Bishops.  
Now it will not be amiss to speak something of the Military strength of this Republic by Land and Sea; touching Naval power, she hath more Galleys and Galleasses than all Europe besides, and her security depends more upon the Sea than shore; yet she entertains in constant pay by Land 25000 Foot in Lombardy, besides some of the Cantons of Switzerland and the Grisons, in Dalmatia and Istria she hath about 3000 more; She hath also in perpetual pay 600 men of Arms, whereof every one must keep two Horses a piece, for which they are allowed 120 Ducats a year, and they are for the most part Gentlemen of Lombardy; When she hath any extraordinary expedition to make, she hath a Stranger for her General, and many Sovereign Princes have thought it no disparagement to serve her in this kind, but he is supervizd by two Proveditors without whom he cannot attempt any thing.  
Touching the annual Revenues of the Republic of Venice, they exceed any other State in Christendom, and all Kings except Spain and France, for She hath above four Millions of constant incomes every year; she hath out of Brescia herself and her Precincts 100450 Crowns of annual Revenue; Out of Milan 140000. out of Verana 90000. Out of Vicenza 36000. Out of Bergamo. 60000. Out of Friuli 30000. Out of Marca Trevisana 90000. Out of Dalmatia 10000 Out of the City of Venice herself above 600000 Crowns of annual incomes; besides what she hath from the Greek Islands that are under her Dominions; In times of pressing Emergences she hath divers ways to make Levies, for the security and advantage of the Signory, Among others she hath been forced to make sale of Offices, and admit young Gentlemen into the great Council before their time; By this way she hath got many Millions from time to time, for preservation of her Maidenhead, and supplies of urgent necessities; but this course is used with a reservation always, that Merit must concur with Money, so that it is not the highest bidder that carries it.  
Oftentimes in case of danger she makes the Gentry, and Citizens that enjoy any stable possessions under the Republic, to advance the Rents for so many years; She makes also some of her Magistrates serve her gratis, and without salary for a time; She also makes frequent use of Lotteries to serve her turn; And the Church useth to contribut very largely, yet they never exact any thing of the ecclesiastics without acquainting the Pope, which is only pro formâ: But the War ceasing, these extraordinary Levies cease also with the cause, and all things return exactly to be in statu quo prius, which hath often happened, and this makes the people contribute more cheerfully, because she is always very careful to keep her Public Faith with her Subjects inviolable.  
I will conclude this particular Description of the so much admired City of Venice with one observation more, viz. That there are few places where there are more curious and costly Books for the illiterate vulgar, for so the Romanists term Church▪ Images and Sculptures, whereof there are great numbers à la Mosaica, and made by the famous Titiano a Venetian born; one of the most remarkable is that of the Virgin Maries at Saint Marks Church, where those who desire to know whether a friend absent be living or dead, use to set up a Wax Candle in the open Air before the Picture, and if the party be living the Candle doth quietly burn out be the wind never so high; if he be dead, the least puff blows it out according to their belief. There is also on Saint Marks Walls, among divers others, the Picture of two Cocks carring away a Wolf, which represents Lodovico Sforza the Duke of Milan, and the Cocks denote Lewis the eight, and Charles the eighth Kings of France who outed him of his Duchy. There are also two Emblematical Lions, one meager and lean lying on the Land; The other plump and fat sporting in the Water; the last refers to S. Marks Lion the Arms of Venice, who hath both enriched, and defended herself, more by the Sea than by Land; for whereas some Cities of Italy are said to be walled with Fire (meaning Flint) Venice may more truly be said to be walled with Water; It is the Water, wherein she lies like a Swan's nest, that doth both fence and feed Her; to which purpose she hath many thousands of Wooden Horses perpetually bringing her provisions, and carrying her Inhabitants up and down within and about the City; But a horse of flesh were as strange a thing to be seen there as an Elephant upon London streets. Therefore it were as absurd an impertinency to prefer a Farrier to Venice, as it was in him who would have preferred a Spurrier to Queen Elizabeth.  
To speak of the sundry sorts of Antiquities, Monuments, and ingenious Epitaphs, which are in the Churches up and down Venice, would afford matter enough to fill Volumes, I will only produce an instance of one extraordinary odd kind of Epitaph, upon Peter Aretin in S. Luke's Church:  

Qui giace l'Aretin Poeta Tosco,  
Chi disse mal d'ognun fuor che di Dio,  
Scusandosi, dicendo, n'ol conobbi.   
Englished thus:  

The Toscan Aretin lies in this Grave,  
He who at all, excepting God, did rave;  
And if the reason you desire to have,  
He knew Him not.   
Having thus endeavourd to set forth this Maiden City in Her true colours, and made the narrowest inspection into Her Water we could, the close of Her Character shall be some peculiar Epithetts that are given to Her among the rest of the fair Towns of Italy, as followeth;  

Fama tra noj; Roma, pomposa & santa;  
Venetia riccha, saggia, signorile;  
Napoli odorifera & Gentile;  
Fiorenza bella, tutto il mondo canta;  
Grande Milano in Italia si vanta;  
Bologna grassa, & Ferrara civil;  
Padona dotta, & Bergamo sottile;  
Genoa di superbia altiera pianta;  
Verona degna, & perugia sanguigna;  
Brescia T'armata, & Mantoa gloriosa;  
Rimini buona, & Pistoia ferrigna;  
Cremona antica, & Luca industriosa;  
Furli bizarro, & Ravenna benigna;  
Et Singallia de l'aria noiosa;  
Et Capo●…a l'amorosa;  
Pisa frendente, & Pesaro giardino;  
Ancona bell Porto all Pellegrino;  
Fidelissimo Urbino;  
Ascoli tondo, & lungo Recanate;  
Foligno delle strade inzuccarate,  
Et par da'l cielo mandate   

Le belle donne di Fano si dice;  
Mà Siena poj troth l'altre più selice.   
Among all these Cities we find that Venice is rankd next Rome, and hath three as it were proverbial attributs given Her higher than any of the rest, viz. to be Rich, Wise, and Ladylike or Stately; whereunto I shall add another saying, Venegia, Venegia, chi non Ti vede non Ti pregia; the Eye is the best Judge of Venice.  
Having now done with the Topography, and local description of Venice, together with Her method of Government and Magistracy both Urban & Rural; Having also given some touches of her wealth, power and extent of Dominion, with other singularities peculiar to Her, We will now make some reserches into Her Annals, and speak of Her Martial Exploits up and down the World; as also of the transactions and traverses of State 'twixt other Princes and Her which are various and very remarkable, She having always been one of the most politic and pragmaticall'st Republics on Earth; Therefore in Her's the Story of many parts of Christendom and other Regions may be said to be involud▪ All which shall be done in a regular way of succinctnes, and a special care had to avoid trivialties and impertinencies, as well as that no material passage may be omitted.    


OF THE PRINCE'S, AND DUKE'S OF VENICE.   

PAULUTIO ANAFESTO, THE FIRST DOGE, OR DUKE, OF VENICE.  
Unity is as much requisite for the well-being of 
An. Dom. 697.  things, as Entity is for their being, the Philosophers (as formerly was said,) call it the highest point of perfect on, all bodies incline and propend towards it, by a secret instinct of nature as to their Centre: The Republic of Venice therefore finding some inconveniences, or half a kind of confusion, if not a deformity, to have two heads upon one body, grew weary of the Tribunitial Power, and so resolved to reduce the Sovereign Authority under one; to which purpose, a notable Speech was made to this effect:  
That there was no more hope to be had of the Venetian Commonwealth, nor yet of their Liberty, which had been purchased and maintained by their Progenitors with such generosity, unless the fury of the Tribunes expired; that their selfsame Ancestors had in times passed for the sweetness of Liberty abandoned their most pleasant Country, their Houses, and all other matters which men commonly esteem most dear, and were come into barren Lands, where there was nothing that might invite them to dwell; That if they could have dispensed with their Liberty, they might with all safety have remained in the City where they were first born and brought up; and with this loss alone, might have lived peaceably among the Barbarians; but being full of innated courage, they supposed that they ought not to lose their Freedom, but with their lives; wherefore divers of those that were there present, following the example of their Predecessors, came only into those places to live at Liberty; To what purpose then was their designs? what profit had they by their dislodging? why had they so many Churches, Buildings, and so many public and private Houses? why did they forsake the firm land to eschew bondage, and yet meet it in the midst of the waters by the insolency of a few, whither it was likely, that the barbarous enemy who was so near them, would take any rest, till he had found some means to ●…uinat this new Domicile of Liberty, seeing that Tyrants hate nothing so much as that Name, and undoubtedly 'twas his wish, to see the whole Venetian State destroyed by civil discord, which he could not shake by any other means.  
Hereupon they suddenly resolved to elect a new Duke who should represent the Honour and Majesty of the whole State, and have power to Assemble the General Council, to choose Annual Tribunes in the inferior Lands, from whence the Appeals should come before him: and moreover, if any had obtained any dignity o●… Prelatship by the su●…rages of the Clergy, he should not enjoy the same, without the ratification of the Duke.  
Upon these Deliberations PAULUTIO of Heraclea, a man of integrity, euperience and courage, was chosen Duke after the City's foundation, about 276. He took an Oath, well and faithfully to provide whatsoever should be fit for the honour of the Commonwealth, and the Venetian Name; hereupon he was adorned with divers Noble Ensigns to make the Dignity the more illustrious: Being installed Duke, his first care was to free the Republic of the War that was than afoot with Luitprand, which he did; and he extended the limits of Heraclea, from the River of Pi●…vo, unto the little stream called Piaricolle, and brought the Equilines under his Dominion: In his time, those of Tourcedes built a Magnificent Temple to the honour of the Virgin Mary, which is yet standing, and in good repair to this day.  
MARCELLO TEGALIANO succeeded PAULUTIO, who 
717  swayed o'er the Signory twenty years and upwards; this Duke MARCELLO, got more repute by Peace then War, and governed nine years.  
HOR●…O called UR●…US HYPATUS succeeded MARCELLO, 
726  the Longobards at that time had taken Ravenna, and the Exarch flying to Venice for refuge, by the intercession of the Pope, the Venetians raised a considerable Army and took Ravenna again, and restored it to to the Exarch, in which exploit PRODEUS of Vicenza, a person of renown was slain; this Duke was of a spirit more haughty than ordinary, and making War out of a private spleen against Heraclea, he was slain by the Citizens of Venice upon the eleventh year of his Magistracy: URSUS being thus thrust out of the world, there happened an interval in the ducal Government, and another kind of Magistrate was chosen, called the Master, or Consul of the men at Arms, Dominico Leo was the first, and Cornicula succeeded him; but the fifth year after the Creation of this new Magistrate, the whole City was transported with a marvelous desire to have a Duke again.  
Hereupon THEADATO HYPATO Son to the slain Duke, was 
742  chosen the fourth Doge of Venice in an Assembly at Malamocca; but there was a powerful man in the Republic called Galla, who maligned him, and having raised a Party, surprised him the thirteenth year of his Government, and put out his eyes, managing the business with so much Art, that he succeeded him in the Dukedom.  
GALLA in his second year of his Principality displeasing the people, 
755  had his eyes also put out, and was banished.  
DOMINICO MONEGARIO was forthwith appointed Duke, 
756  but being of a furious nature, there were yearly Tribunes chosen to assist him, and counterpoise the violence of his spirit, but the fifth year of his Authority, his eyes were outed of his head, and his Person of his Office.  
MAURITIO of Heraclea was chosen next, who did purchase so 
764  much popular love, that he obtained that which none of his Predecessors could compass, which was a Liberty to associate his Son Givanni as Colleague with him in the Principality. In his time a bold Declaration was published, which imported, that the Venetians were a free people, acknowledging neither of the Empire's East or West; This did so move Charles of France then Emperor, that he commanded his Son Pepin, who then governed the affairs of Italy, to make furious Wars upon the Venetian Coasts where Heraclea and Equ●…ine stood, the Inhabitants whereof being frighted thereat, fled to M●…lamocca, and the Rialto.  
GIOVANNI MAURITIO, Son, succeeded the Father in 
769  the Dukedom, there happened a shrewd clash 'twixt him and the Bishop of Grad●…, a man eminent for Sanctity; GIOVANNI sent his Son MAURITIO with some troops to assail the said Bishop, who being taken, he was thrown headlong down from a high Tower: hereupon, Pepin by Order from Charlemagne to expiate the Bishop's Blood, made a fierce war upon the Venetian Territory: hereupon GIOVANNI and his Son were expelled the City, and Heraclea the place of their Nativity was utterly demolished, and OBOLLERIO ANTHENORIO of Malamocca was chosen Duke, Anno Dom. 801.  
〈◊〉 associated his brother Beat●… for Colleague, and 
804  an eager war happened 'twixt Pepin and the Republic, who infesting the Sea Frontiers up and down, came as far as Malamocca; and thinking to pass thence to the Rial●…o to find out the Duke; he was beaten back by a Tempest, wherein he lost the greatest part of his Army: About this time the Lombard's Kingdom was extinguished by Pepin, 802. There was another battle fought among those Lakes, 'twixt the Venetians and King Pepin, where the Venetians had the better again: hereupon a Peace was concluded, and French Ambassadors came to the Rialto, where having being honourably entertained they departed; OBELLERIO who was cried up to be the occasion of the former wars was cut to pieces by the fury of the people, and his bowels gushing out, they were drawn at length like ropes, and torn up and down the streets, his wife likewise who was of the Blood Royal of France was slain with him.  
ANGELO PARTITIATO succeeded next, and he was the 
809  first that held the Seat at the Rialto, Heraclea was repaired in his time, and called Villa Nuova, Anno Dom. 809. The Historians rank the 〈◊〉 the Noblest Family that came from Heraclea. There happened a hot war in this Duke's time, 'twixt Venice and the Bishop of Aquileia, who had been declared Heretic by Pope Alexander; the Venetian took him prisoner: but they gave him his liberty, on condition that they should send yearly to Venice on the same day that the Victory was got twelve wild Boars, which with a Bull should be killed before the General Assembly by way of sacrifice; this custom, with other sports continues annually to this day.  
And now I may say, that the Republic of Venice did pass her Infancy, her Youth may be said to follow hereafter, as by her actions will appear.  
JUSTINIANO was chosen next, in whose time a Fleet was sent 
827  to assist Michael the Eastern Emperor against the Saracens, who did good service; but the remarkablest passage in this Duke's Government, was, that the body of St. Mark was translated from Alexandria to Venice, where it is kept with great devotion to this day, in a curious Church made of Mosaical work.  
GIOVANNI PARTITIATIO, brother to JUSTINIANO, 
826  was declared the next Prince, but having many potent Adversaries, he was surprised near to St. Peter's Church, whither he was going to his Devotions, and being disrobed of the Ornaments of Sovereign Dignity, they shaved his beard and head; and confined him to a Monastery in Grada.  
PIETRO TRADONICO was chosen in his place, he was born 
836  at Pola, a very ancient City built by the Colchians; there came Ambassadors from Ver●…na, to desire help of the Republic against some enemies they had, which they obtained, and overcame their foes at the Lake of Benae, whereupon they sent rich gifts to the Venetian for their succour: Theodosius the Greek Emperor, sent his high Admiral to solicit the Republic for Auxiliaries against the Moors, whereupon she armed sixty Galleys which did do notable exploits, in rega●… whereof, TRADONICO the Duke of Venice, was called Protospater (viz. the first father) of the Grecian Empire by Theodosius: But at the battle of Crot●…na the Greeks not sticking close to their business, the Venetian received a shrewd overthrow by the Moors under Saba their Captain, who afterwards grew so insolent, that he marched to Rome, and pitifully ransacked S Peter's Church, with others. A little after Pope Benedict came to Venice, unto whom, about the year 840▪ he promised the bodies of S. Pancratius and Sancta Sabina; Lotharius▪ also the Emperor did confirm unto Venice many extraordinary immunities: but in this Duke's time the Republic received divers illfavored successes abroad, and there were odd factions at home against the Duke, in so much, that returning one day from St. Zacharies Church he was murdered, but the actors and conspirators thereof were sound punished for't: this Duke had governed nineteen years.  
URSO PARTITIATIO came next to the ducal Dignity, 
864  who had a magnanimous young man to his son, and did divers exploits against the Moors and Saracens in the behalf of the Greek Emperor, so that the Title, of Protospater was confirmed again to the Duke of Venice; who, among other Presents, sent twelve Bells to Constantinople, which was the first time that the Greeks used Bells, Anno Dom. 864.  
GIOVANNI PARTITIATIO brother to URSO was chosen 
881  to govern, but he did voluntarily depose himself, and retire to his own house, having escaped a dangerous disease.  
PIETRO CANDIANO succeeded him, who fight with great 
887  courage against the Narentines (the ancient enemies of Venice) was slain, having governed but six months.  
PIETRO TRIBUNO was chosen next, who was also declared 
888  Protospater of the Grecian Empire, he added many fortifications for the securing of the City: in this Duke's Reign the Huns broke into Italy, and made cruel havoc up and down, and at last resolved to besiege the Rialto; hereupon a Noble Venetian made this hortatory speech unto the City,  
That it was now time by their actions to show themselves valiant men, that a mighty danger did not only threaten their Country, but their lives; that they had to do with a people, who as little used to spare the bodies of the dead, as their lives in battle, yet ne'ertheless they were not made of iron, but their bodies might easily be pierced; that they should call to memory, how the ancient Venetians, with a few Inhabitants of the Latins, made no difficulty in their Country's behalf, to expose their lives before the walls of Aquileia against 300000. men, for Attila had so many in his Army; that the event of that battle did manifest how virtue and courage is much better in war then multitudes; that their Ancestors had in the same places where they were now to fight, vanquished in times past King Pepin followed with his own Forces, and those of the Emperor his Father, and that then they only fought for their Liberty, but now they were to fight for their Faith, and Blood: hereupon the Venetian gained a most signal Victory over the Huns, which much increased the glory of the City, and was of such consequence, that they left Italy a while after.  
URSO BADOAIRIO succeeded TRIBUNO, he sent his Son 
909  Pietro to visit the Greek Emperor at Constantinople, where being confi●…m'd Protospater, he received many rich presents; BADOAIRIO in in the eleventh year of his Government, did voluntarily depose himself, and became a Monk.  
PIETRO CANDIANO or SANUTO succeeded this Voluntary Resignation, in whose time justinopoli came under the Venetian dition.  
PIETRO BADOAIRIO followed next, who as he returned from Greece, was taken prisoner in Slavonia, but ransomed.  
PIETRO CANDIANO next succeeded, whose Government 
920  was somewhat unquiet, yet he debelled the Narentines, who infested the gulp with pyratical depredations.  
CANDIANO the fourth Son to PIETRO succeeded, who for 
941  some misdemeanours had been banished, but waxing more wise by years, he was recalled and created Duke; but herein the City of Venice received no small reproach abroad, in regard she had formerly made a solemn Vow never to advance this CANDIANO to the Government, and a Judgement fell upon her presently upon't, for a fire happened, which besides the Duke's Palace, burnt down the magnificent Cathedral Church of the City, and those of St. Theodore and Maria jubenica, with above 300. private houses more. This CANDIANO died most tragically, for the people fell upon him as upon a Tyrant, and he flying into that part of St. Marks Church which was left unburnt with his Son in his Arms, they knocked him down, and cut both in pieces.  
PIETRO URSEOLA with much entreaty of the pe●…ple was 
976  chosen next, who would not undergo the charge, unless the pe●…ple would bind themselves by solemn Oath unto him, which was done; in his time St. Marks Church was repaired, with the ducal Palace; he overcame the Saracens at Barri, he had but one Son, and as soon as he was born, both he and his wife Foelicia vovved perpetual chastity: In his time Istria became Tributary to Venice; but at last he voluntarily quitted the Government, and went disguised in a Pilgrim's habit to Aquitain by the persuasion of a great holy man called Guerin.  
VITALIS CANDIANO succeeded, who also deposed himself, 
978  and cloistered himself in St. Hi●…arie, Monastery.  
TRIBUNO MEMIO a great wise man, but of few words, was 
979  chosen in his steed, in whose time some civil discords happened, and a great feud fell out 'twixt the Republic and O●…ho the Emperor, who forebad all the Cities of the Empire any trade with the Venetians, but he died not long after, and this Duke also deposed himself voluntarily, and died a Monk.  
PIETRO URSEOLO the second succeeded, in whose time the 
991  Republic did wonderfully increase, for she obtained of Basilius and Alexis, who at that time did jointly command the Grecian Empire, to be free from all customs and taxes throughout all their Dominions: Moreover, he suppressed the Narentines, and reduced Nola and divers other Cities in Istria and Dalmatia under the Empire of the Republic, Lesina also which was the chief rendezvous of the Narentine pirates was taken by her, and reduc●…d to St. Mark, as Spalatro also, with divers other places: In this Duke's time sundry privileges were granted by the Emperor Otho to the Venetians, and the Emperor himself came disguised, and in nature of a Pilgrim to St. Marks Church to Venice, where he sojournd divers days with the Duke privately, and departed; before he went, he remitted for ever the cloak of cloth of gold, which the Republic was bound by solemn accord to give yearly to the Emperor, so being presented with divers rich gifts, he went back to Ravenna.  
OTHO URSEOLO succeeded PISTRO'S son, a young man of 
1009  great hope, insomuch that the King of Hungary married his daughter unto him; He defeated the Hadrians in a furious conflict betwixt the river Po and Adice; yet was he dismissed of his dignity, and banished to Greece.  
PIETRO CENTRANICO succeeded, who being deposed by the people, 
1028  was shorn, and turned to a Monastery.  
DOMENICO FLABENICO was then chosen, who prevailed so far 
1030  with the people, that he got the Family of the Urseoli to be made ever after incapable of the Sovereign Dignity, or of any office in the Republic, and so made the people to be Ministers of his hatred to that house; he abolished also the custom of associating for the future any Colleague in the principality, which is carefully observed to this day, Anno Dom. 1030.  
DOMINICO CONTARENO was made the thirtieth Duke of Venice, he 
1041  reduced Zara to obedience, Pope Leo came in his time to Venice upon a kind of Pilgrimage to St. Mark, which he endowed with many new privileges.  
DOMINICO SILVIO came after him, who was cried up Duke as he 
1069  accompanied Contaveno to his grave; the Normans did about this time much infest the Levant parts, and the Greek Emperor Nicephorus, whom the Venetian assists and grows victorious, but afterwards, both the Greeks and Venetians received a notable overthrow at Durazzo by the Normans.  
VITALIS PHALERIO succeeded, as soon as he was chosen, he propounded 
1082  to the people, to send Ambassadors to Constantinople to the Emperor Alexis to obtain that Dalmatia and Croatia which they had taken from the Usurpers with so much expense of blood and treasure, might by right of war for ever remain to the Venetians; all which was freely condescended unto, so that this PHALERIO was the first Duke, who in his titles did bear these Provinces. The Western Emperor Henry came to Venice to visit St. Mark, where the Annallists write of a great miracle that happened. Anno Dom. 1082.  
VITALIS MICHAELI was next after, in his time a mighty Army of 
1094  Christians were sent to Syria for recovery of the holy Land; he that gave the first hint to the expedition was Peter a French Hermit, who gave out, that he had a Vision appeared to him to that purpose: hereupon Pope Vrban came expressly to the Council of Clermont, and made this hortative Oration.  
That he was not departed from Rome, and come to that holy Assembly for the affairs of the Church of Rome only, although it needed greatly to be reformed, but was stirred up by another occasion which was more holy, & was likewise more notable; that he did not doubt but those who were there assembled had heard tell of what had befallen long since in Syria, and chiefly in the Confines of that Region which is called the Holy Land, the injust usurpation of the holy Sepulchre of our Sovereign Lord Jesus Christ (which he could not utter without tears) by those cruel barbarous Saracens; that there was no Church, Altar, or any other sacred place, but was either razed down to the ground by those accursed mahometans, or converted to their profane uses; that the religious people dwelling there at such time as the enemy made themselves masters thereof, were constrained some for fear of horrible punishment, to renounce the Faith of Jesus Christ; others that woldpersever therein were destroyed by fire and sword, and others by various sorts of torments were miserably consumed: That devout Matrons going thither upon Pilgrimage from all parts of Europe, had not been only forced by them to satiat their brutish lust, but likewise in contempt and derision of us were tormented by monstrous embracements, that if that which he had related was not sufficient in their opinions to incite them to take Arms, and to prosecut revenge, He besought them at least to consider, and call to remembrance, how in a short time through the negligence of their Ancestors the forces of Asia were increased, and besides●…, how far the mahometans had in length and breadth extended their Dominions; how many Countries they possessed, who had in times past belonged to the Roman Empire; but would to God (said he) that the affairs of Christendom were brought to that pass, that we were but to complain of other men's miseries, we have, alas, in our days seen our Italy wholly destroyed by their incursions and spoils, Castles, Cities, and Churches beaten down, and burnt by those sacrilegious persons: But wherefore do I relate the murders, captivities, rapes, & other tyrannies never heard of before, which this Land hath endured a long time, seeing that Spain likewise, and her Neighbour Aquitain, and all the occidental Provinces have not only felt the like loss, but having at this day scarce dried up their tears, do stand in fear of the like. And ye O Frenchmen, though this wound be not yet entered into our bowels, no doubt but in regard of your Neighbourhood, you have heard and seen somewhat of that whereof I have now spoken; and the Germans, with other Northwest Nations, who have not as yet felt those losses, ought often to forethink what dangers menace them from the East, nay how near they are to them already. I know not if the Venetians were not, who with strong Garrisons defend the Sea Coasts, and who have often repulsed this cruel enemy from Dalmatia and Istria, whether this storm ere this would have blown into Hungary and Germany: The power of the Grecian Empire, which whilst her strength and vigour lasted, was want to be the bulwark of Europe on the East and West side, is in such sort ruined, as the Emperor dreams on nothing but on means and forces whereby he may conserve his City of Constantinople; which place if we had lost, as God forbid, we may easily conjecture how great such a loss would be, as well to all Europe as to him: I tremble with horror when I do but think what will happen, if this fire be not quickly quenched, which doth daily more and more kindle: all the miseries which have befallen those whom we bewail hang over our heads, men and women shall be reserved to satisfy the luxury of those barbarous people, and ye will afterwards lament when 'twill be too late, that having had means, you have not opposed your selves against these miseries: it may be you think 'tis impossible this should come to pass, so did they once who since have felt it, and would to God we did not feed ourselves so often with vain hopes, but 'twere better O courageous spirits while we have strength, council, aid, power and money ready, and generally, what may give hope of a victory to divert this evident peril, nor is our enterprise above human strength, that Charles surnamed the great, in a manner your Countryman: O ye Germane in regard of the descent of his Ancestors, and your King O ye Frenchmen, and the glory of your name did drive the Saracens forth of Spain and Aquitain, the same Charles constrained them to quit Italy; the same Charles of whom ye so much vaunt did recover jerusalem which ye term Holy, and drove thence the enemy, and by how much glory and ●…eputation is great, by so much the more ought it to incite you which are descended from him, to attempt some new exploit which may augment this your ancient renown; if ye do not thus, but give your selves to rest and idleness, ye shall not only hazard what your Ancestors have left you, but you shall suffer the Native Country of our Sovereign King to your great shame and contempt, with that of all Christendom likewise, to be trodden down by these cruel enemies, and his Sepulchre, Temple and other holy places to be polluted by murders, rapes, and sacrileges▪ Arm your selves therefore in time, and prevent this common infamy, pourchase to your selves and all Europe an assured safety, I think you may easily do it, for by how much your forces surpass those of Charles, if ye all jointly undertake this voyage, by so much more shall the victory be certain and easy for you; the Victor's profit shall be great and inestimable by the spoils of so opulent a Nation, and such rich Kingdoms, but the celestial reward shall be much greater, which in the Name of Almighty God, we promise to as many as shall valiantly venture themselves.  
This flexanimous speech did so heighten and melt the hearts of all, that a Croisada was presently resolved upon, whereunto the Republic of Venice did contribut 200. vessels of all sorts, which sailed to jonia under the conduct of Hemico Contareno a Bishop, and MICHAELI VITALIS the Duke's son; this Fleet did much advantage that mighty expedition, though some affirm that the Venetians came not to Asia till jerusalem was taken; but they being come to Rhodes, a shrewd clash fell 'twixt them and the Pisans, of whom they took 18. Galleys; afterwards they took Smyrna, and scouted the seas of Pamphilia, Silicia and Syria, till they came to joppa, which they kept, afterwards having left sufficient guards for their vessels, they came from joppa, and marched in battle array to jerusalem, and returning thence they took Ascalon, Tyberias, Caypha, with others. About this time Matilda a Noble Lady of the Sigefrettis being reinvested in the City of Ferrara by the help of Venice, she granted unto her freedo●… for ever of all matters within that City, and a little Prince VITALIS died.  
ORDELAPHO PHALERIO was elected in his room, who in the second year of his Government, sent a Fleet of 100 Galleys to Syria in poursuance of the Croisada, where they took Ptolemais and Sydon, as also another Town called Faronia by assault; this made the Emperor Henry the Fourth, to indulge Venice with many privileges, but a fierce war fell out 'twixt the Venetians and Padovans a little after, and the Padovans being orepowred by the Padovan, had recourse to the Emperor, who thereupon sent to Venice, wishing them to remember how they were sprung from the Padovans, therefore they should greatly err, unless they honoured the City from which they were descended, and respect the Inhabitants thereof in the same manner, as well bred children do their ancient parents; that the Padovans on the other side instead of envying the Venetian glory, ought rather to rejoice to see those who were descended from them, to have purchased so great fame and repute by Land and Sea; so there was a reconcilement made by the Emperor's intercession. About this time, a great part of Venice was consumed by fire, at which time Malamocca was almost burnt: upon this dismal accident of fire, there came news, that Zara was revolted from Venice to Calamon King of Hungary, but she quickly reduced her to obedience, and this gave advantage to the Venetian to pierce further into Croatia, and take other places, which they keep to this day; but they had ill success the year following in Dalmatia, where the Duke came himself in person, and being too forward in the battle, was killed.  
DOMINICO MICHAELI succeeded, and Baldwin the Second 
1117  King of jerusalem being taken prisoner by Balochus King of the Parthians, there were pitiful complaints sent to Rome, that the Holy Land was like to be utterly lost, unless speedy supplies were sent: hereupon he moved Venice thereunto by the intercession of her Patriarch of Grada her prime Churchman, who being admitted to the Senate, spoke as followeth:  
I think, O people of Venice, that you are not ignorant, what our own Forces in part, and partly those of the rest of Europe have done these precedent years for the recovery of Palestine, which ye call the Holy Land, for this is the 26. year which so many Princes taking up the Holy Cross, undertook for the same purpose to invade Asia, where by the divine bounty and their valour, all that which stretcheth from Bythinia to Syria was gained, and ye your selfs having taken Smyrna, and done other exploits all along the Coasts of Syria, did not only gain glory thereby, but you have had your share in the Cities; but now there is news brought how Baldwin is carried prisoner to Cayro, whereupon his Holiness thinking the Venetians to be most worthy of such an enterprise, hath written to your Prince accordingly: therefore go on ye Noble Venetians to preserve that which is already got by you, even that Land where Christ our King was born, did hide himself, wept, was betrayed, taken and crucified, and his most holy body laid in the grave, and who shall come Sovereign Judge one day to inquire of the deeds of all mankind, what Churches, what Monasteries, what Altars do you think can be so agreeable to him as this holy voyage? but because human affairs are of that nature, as there is almost no public charity free from ambition, so that haply you demand within your selves what glory, what recompense may be gained by this expedition; certainly it is, and eve●… shall be for our highest repute, that the Venetians only of all Europe, have been able and fit to oppose in a manner all Asia; the furthest part of the East shall ring of the Venetian power, Afric shall admire it, and Europe shall magnify and Chronicle it; that which we have done formerly in Asia, seems to be effected rather by strangers then by us, but now the work shall be solely attributed to you: Moreover, I doubt not but you are all willing to enlarge the Republic, but how? by what means will you effect it? in living idly, or rowing up and down these lakes in your little boats? he that thinks so doth greatly deceive himself: the ancient Romans of whom ye vaunt yourself to be descended, and whom ye desire to imitat, did not purchase the Empire of the world, by living idly and at ease, but by making one war grow out of another, those whom we relieve, as they have already, so they will give us still a share in the conquered Towns and Country, depart then in God's Name, etc.  
Upon this Speech, the Venetians resolve to succour the Holy Land, and arm 200. bottoms of all sorts, and MICHAELI the Doge himself goes chief, who sailing to joppa found it blocked up by the Barbarians, but the Venetians freed the Town from the siege, and opened the passage of the Sea, with great slaughter of the enemy, and prizal of many rich booties. Thence the Duke of Venice went to jerusalem, where he obtained many privileges for the Republic, as that the Venetians should in all places of the Kingdom of jerusalem, and Principality of Antioch have a particular street apart to plead before their Magistrate, that they should be free from Taxes through all Syria, etc. After this, the most ancient City of Tyre was delivered up to the Christians by the help of the Venetian, who had the third part of the City awarded him: Besides all these Prerogatives some Historians mention, that it was agreed and confirmed while the Duke of Venice should make his abode in jerusalem, he should enjoy the same honours as the King did. While the Venetian was thus busy in the Holy Land, the Greeks being emulous of his glory, began to raise arms against him, but Prince MICHAELI at his return, took in his passage most of the Greek Lands, as Samos, Lesbos, Andros, etc. then coming to Dalmatia he recovered Zara, and Spalatro; so he came back all glorious to Venice, where he finished his days a while after. 1130.  
PIETRO POLLANO succeeded his deceased Father in Law 
1130  MICHAELI, a notable wise Prince, of that high esteem, that he was chosen Arbiter 'twixt Conradus, and Emanuel, the two Emperors of the East and West: add to this wisdom his valour, for he gave a famous defeat to the Padovans and Pisans, and reduced Corfu first into subjection.  
DOMINICO MOROSINI succeeded POLANI, who reduced 
1148  to obedience the tumultuons Istrians in Pola; they of Ancona were admitted to the Venetian Society; there was also a League struck with William King of Sicily, whereby the Venetian got divers privileges in that Island in their public marts.  
VITALIS MICHAELI succeeded, the second of that Name, 
1156  he sides strongly with the Pope against Barbarossa the Emperor; The Republic receaves much detriment by the perfidiousness of Emanuel the Greek Emperor, by seizing on all the Venetian Merchants up and down without warning given; a great mortality happened in the Venetian Army, because the Greeks had poisoned the waters, this Duke was murdered in a popular sedition. 
1164   
TE●…ASTIANO CYANI succeeded, in his time there was a Greek Emperor Emanuel, who perfectly hated the Venetians, and studied nothing more than to do them mischief, and the chiefest grounds of this hatred was that lighting upon a book of predictons, he was frighted with one verse, which sayeth, that those of Adria should one day command Constantinople, which was interpreted to be Venice. This Emanuel drew from her confederacy Ancona, but she making a League with Ariminium, brought Ancona to the former amity.  
The Treasure of Venice being much exhausted, and melted by reason of so many irons she had in the fire, it was decreed that the moneys of particular men laid in deposit, should be brought to the treasury of S. Mark, to be employed and kept in the Name of the Commonwealth as need shall be, until the City had recovered herself. There happened at that time a mortal feud 'twixt Pope Alexander, and the Emperor Frederick, who favoured Octavian the Antipope, The Pope fled disguised to Venice, and continued so a good while in the Hospital of Charity.  
Being discovered at last, the Venetians sent an Ambassador to the Emperor for an accommodation, the Pope being present when the credential Letters to the Emperor were to be sealed with wax, he commanded in favour of the Republic, that ever after the Duke's Letters should be sealed with lead, which is observed ever since. The Venetian Ambassadors being come before Fredrerick, were courteously entreated at first, but so soon as the mention Pope Alexander, he fell into a rage, and said;  
Get you hence, and tell your Prince and people, that Frederick the Roman Emperor demande●…h his enemy, who is come to them for succour, whom if they send not presently bound hand and foot with a sure guard, he will proclaim them enemies to him and the whole Empire, and that there is neither alliance or Law of Nations which shall be able to free them from his revenge for such an injury: to prosecut which he is resolved to overturn all divine and human Laws, that he will suddenly bring his Forces before their City, and contrary to their expectation plant his victorious Eagles in the Market place of S. Mark.  
The Ambassadors at their return to Venice having reported all this, they decreed to arm a great number of Ships, and make themselves ever masters of the Sea; but while they were thus preparing, news was brought that Otho the Emperor's son was entered into the Gulf with 75. Galleys, CIANI the Duke resolved to meet him with as many Galleys as were ready, before he launched out, the Pope sang Mass himself, with special prayers for the prosperity of the enterprise, and honoured the Duke with the golden Sword, and other Ensig●…s of Knighthood: so he met with the Imperial Fleet upon the Coasts of Istria, where he utterly defeated the Emperor's Son, made him prisoner, and took 48. Galleys besides; the Duke being come so triumphantly ashore, the Pope presented him with a gold ring, saying, Take CIANI this ring, and by my advice give it to the Sea, obliging him thereby unto thee, which both thou and thy Succ●…ssors likewise shall for ever hereafter yearly do on this same day, to the end posterity may know, that ye have in times passed by right of war pourchased the entire Dominion over the Sea, making it subject unto you, as a woman is to her husband.  
The Venetians suffered Otho upon his parole to go to his Father; promising to return howsoever, being come into the Emperor's presence, he embraced him with the more joy, because he had been doubtful whether he had been alive or no; Otho began to discourse of the battle, referring the defeat to have happened by God's providence, saying further, that he had not omitted any thing that might become a careful Captain, and that there wanted nothing to have obtained a victory, but a just quarrel; it behoved his Majesty then, to believe that God was powerful therein, not men, seeing so mighty an Army as theirs was, and not being slow to fight, was defeated by a few who were not half their number; and howsoever they might well overthrow and destroy human Forces, yet 'twas impossible to surmount Divine: therefore he did most humbly beseech his Caesarean Majesty no more to trouble Alexander for his place, whose quarrel he might perceive by the success, to be maintained not only by men, but by God himself, alleging further, that he had already disquieted him with the Forces of the Empire, and sought to put him from his seat, but all in vain; that therefore he should do a deed pleasing to all men, and worthy of a Christian, if all hatred being forgotten, it would please him to change his mind, and after assurance taken from the Venetians of his safe conduct, he would be pleased to visit the Pope, and give open satisfaction.  
Otho's advice proceeding so ingeniously from him did mightily prevail with Frederick, whereupon he resolved to go to Venice, and PIETRO CIANI the Duke's Son, was sent with six Galleys to attend him at Ravenna: being arrived at Venice, the Emperor without more ado went to see the Pope, who tarried for him at S. Marks Gate in the highest gravity of State: when the Emperor came ne'er him, he threw off his purple robe, and crept on his knees to his Holiness feet, which he humbly kissed; The Pope raised him up and embraced him, then both going to the Church, went to the high Altar where that famous Table of Massy gold, which useth to be in S. Marks treasury, was taken out of purpose, and so a perfect reconcilement was made. From Venice the Pope and Frederick went to Ancona, attended by Prince CIANI; the City sent out two Canopies, one for the Pope, the other for the Emperor, but the Pope commanded a third to be brought for the Prince of Venice, allowing, that for ever after he and his Successors should use one at all Solemnities; Alexander being come to Rome, among other triumphs there were other silver Trumpets made to welcome him whereof he took eight and gave the Prince of Venice, which the Republic should use ever after in all solemnities. CIANI taking his leave of the Pope, and being returned to Venice, Mariners were appointed to receive him in the Bucentoro, being landed, he had a white burning Taper carried before him, which was given him by the Pope for the first gift, besides the Canopy, the eight silver Trumpets, the golden Sword, with other Ensigns.  
CIANI now drooping with age, removed himself to S. George's Monastery, where in a few days he died, making S. Marks Church his heir.  
This Prince, as he was one of the stoutest, so was he the Saint-likest man of all the Dukes that preceded him or followed him; by the rich Legacies he left, S. Marks Church was wonderfully adorned, and because the said Church gives occasion of wonderment to all strangers that behold her, I held this an apposite place to bring her in, and make her appear to the curious Reader in her own colours, according to the description I received from others, and my own observation.   

The Description of S. Marks Church.  
THis Church, as divers other, is not so much magnified for her largeness, as for her riches; she is built in form of a cross, whose corners are highly vaulted and covered with bright lead, as all the rest is which is discerned of Seamen higher than all the buildings of the City above sixscore stades distance: The whole Bulk is supported besides with most curious Arches, contignated and joined together by marvelous Art; the inner part from the middle to the highest part thereof glistereth with gold, and the concavity of the vaults is enriched with divers goodly and ancient pictures, made most of them, after the Greek manner, which, with the labour to behold them in respect of their height, do present unto the Spectator by their grave and venerable aspect, a kind of awe intermingled with piety and Religion; that which is from the gild down to the pavement, is so well compassed and joined together with goodly Tables of Marble, as by their pleasant veins in form of rays, the eyes of the beholders are rather fed then satisfied; the seats below are of an extraordinary red stone like to Porphyry, the pavement all of Marble engraven with divers figures, wholly different and of varions colours: there are sundry Columns and Tables of Parian, Spaitan, & Numidian work, that environ the seats on both sides the Quire. The coming in to the Church on both sides, is in a manner of the same trimming, while gilded Arches are sustained without, by more than 300. exquisite Pillars, not so much for their greatness as their diversity of colours: the space between those Pillars, being filled with choice Tables of Marble: on the height of this entrance four great brazen horses all gilded are to be seen, so lively, as if they seemed to neigh, and making towards you, which are accounted rare pecces, but not of our time: All this bears the highest top of the Church divided into six steeples, every of which is reared up like a pyramid, and hath on the sharpest point thereof a white Marble Statue of a naked man standing up: Divers other representations delightful to the eye, and wrought with exceeding skill do beautisie the spaces betwixt the Steeples; the whole work, as well on the right as the left hand, is of the same substance and workmanship, and all that which is valuted underneath is covered with gold. In sum, there is no place in the whole Church either within or without, but is either decked with Marble, Gold, or precious Stones, so that the two Columns of Alabaster which stand ne'er to the high Altar, and the Chalcedony Stones, which are to be seen in the midst of the pavement, with the Mosaical works, we counted the least curiosities.  
AURIA MARIPIETRO was surrogated in the room of SEBASTIAN 
1329  CIANI, or Ziani, in whose time things prospered well with the Republic in the affairs of Syria.  
HENRICO DANDULO was then declared Prince, in whose time 
1192  the Republic did mightily increase their bounds both of her renown and Territories; the Pisans who had taken Pola were defeated: Baldwin Earl of Flanders, with other Princes that went for the succour of the Holy Land arrived all at Venice, where they found magnificent welcome, they had so much money given them in presents as they would have borrowed, and 60. vessels were provided them to transport their forces; but the Venetians had this benefit for their money, that those forces helped them to recover Istria, which by the raising of Zara was revolted from them; these Prince's sail towards Constantinople, where principally by the help of the Venetian the City was taken, Baldwin Earl of Flanders declared Emperor of the East, and Tomaso Morosino was made Patriarch of Constantinople by the Venetians: Moreover, they had the I'll of Candie given them at that time, which they hold ever since; this was about the year 1200.  
PIETRO CIANI son to SEBASTIAN, was created Duke 
1205  next, and was Earl of Arba at that time; in his time fell out the first warr'twixt Venice and Genoa, who had many Ships in course that turned pirates; Giovanni Trevisano was sent with nine Galleys well provided against them, who took twelve of the Pirates Vessels and brought them prize: in this Duke's reign there was a Colony sent to Corfu, and the possession of Candie was further secured by a new Colony which suppressed divers insurrections; this Duke being struck in years, having ruled twenty two years, deposed himself voluntarily, and retiring to S. George's Monastery died soon after.  
GIACOMO TEPULO was chosen in his place, the first thing 
1228  he did was the suppression of the Candiots who had mutined; there was a great Fleet employed also to Constantinople against the Greeks, in regard that it was alleged the Venetians had a Right and Title to part of the Empire, and so was bound to succour the chief seat thereof: The Republic assisted also in this Duke's time the Genoveses against the Emperor Frederick and the Pisans, and suppressed the fifth rebellion of Zara.  
MARINO MOROSINI was afterwards chosen Duke, but by a 
1248  manner of Election, he took in Padova Philippo Fontano Bishop of Ravenna, being sent Legate from Pope Gregory to Venice, propounding everlasting life for recompense to all those who should take arms with him against the Tyrant Eccel●…n an upstart, who did much mischief up and down Italy. The Venetians presently levied Forces and assisted the Pope to quell this new monster, for which service the Pope granted that the Dean of S. Marks should in high solemnities use a mitre and carry a Pastoral staff, which none of their Predecessors could ever obtain before.  
RAINERI ZENO succeeded MOROSINI; in the beginning 
1252  of whose government an ill favoured clash happened 'twixt the Venetians and Genoese about a Church which was allowed them both in P●…olomais, commonly called Acon, or Acoe; the Pope to decide the differences sent unto them, that since divine Service was the same, and common to them both in that Church, the Church likewise aught to be so; but this would not heal the wound, for the Genoese had seized upon the Church, and made a kind of Fort of it. Hereupon the Venetians rigged a Fleet of thirty Galleys under Lorenzo Tepulo, who coming to the haven of Ptolemais, broke the chain and furiously charged the Genoa ships, and two Galleys, being in the harbour, and having taken and despoiled them of all their tackling, they burned them in the Port. They went afterward to the Church in question called sancta Laba, which the Genoese had fortified and seized on it; after this there was another hot encounter 'twixt them where the Genoese had the worst again. The Christians in Syria were much divided in regard of this feud 'twixt Venice and Genoa, which the Pope endeavoured to reconcile, but could not. The Italians who were in jerusalem favoured Venice, but those of Tyre held to Genoa; at Trapani the Venetian gave the Genua another shrewd defeat, wherein were taken twenty four Galleys, and many thousand prisoners carried away, and 1200 slain. Yet the Genoese made head again, and sailing along the coasts of Candy they took Cydon now called Canea, and pillaged it, but the Venetian met them a while after, and was sound revenged of them.  
This War with Genoa put the Republic to extraordinary expense, whereupon a a new impost was levied upon white meats, whereat there was a small insurrection, which was quickly suppressed, and the Authors severely punished.  
LORENZO TEPULO upon the death of ZENO succeeded, the 
1268  Pope with the Kings of France and Sicily did labour to reconcile matters 'twixt the Venetian and Genua, in regard this quarrel betwixt them made things go to wreck among the Christians in Syria, but nothing could prevail. The Genoese scoured the Seas, so that no corn could be brought to Venice, either from Apuleia, or Sicily, which pinched the City: a truce at last was made between the two Republics, but a new war did happen 'twixt Venice and Bologna about Trade, which lasted three years; at last under the conduct of Maria Gradonico an army was sent, who utterly defeated the Bolonians, which made themseek for peace.  
GIACOMO CONTARENI succeeded TEPULO, at the 
1274  beginning of whose Government there was a hot quarrel for the time 'twixt the Republic and them of Ancona about imposts; the Pope sided with them, in regard they were feodaries to the Church and slighted the Venetian Ambassador, yet Venice would not make peace with Ancona till she had received satisfaction from her, though it cost S. Mark very dear, in regard that the Republic had lost a whole Fleet by a Tempest during this war.  
GIOVANNI DANDULO came after CONTARENI, at which 
1280  time the Sea did in such sort overflow the City, that it was held by some very prodigious, and their augury proved true, for soon after ensued an Earthquake, and a war with the Patriarch of Aquileia, wherein the Republic had no great success; she had worse luck in Syria, for the King of Babylon besieged Acre, which the Venetian with the Pope's soldiers defended a good while, but no aid coming unto them from the rest of the Princes of Christendom, the City was taken, and so the Christian name grew to be almost wholly extinct in Syria, the year 1290.  
PIETRO GRADONICO succeeded DANDULO, and the 
1290  Truce being expired with the Genoese, there was a fiercer war renewed then ever. In running over this history of the Venetians, divers matters offer themselves so conformable to those of the ancient Romans that possibly may be, as well in point of counsel, travail, success, accidents of fortune, and sundry other traverses; but among all, the Venetian war with Genoa seems to have great resemblance with those which the Romans had in times passed with Carthage; for the near neighbourhood, as it most often happens, did not beget this Emulation betwixt them, or caused the war, because they are as far distant one from the other, as are the Tyrrhene and Libyan Seas 'twixt Italy and afric; to clear which point, it will not be amiss to give a little short description of the situation of both their Countries.  
Italy is a promontory stretching from the Alps, whose height on the one side extending towards the South, serves her for a Rampart; she is besides watered towards the West with the Ligustik and Tyrrhene Seas, and on the East with the Adratic and Ionian, from thence the waves begin to mingle themselves together, and to make her the more strong, they would fain shut up the Alps the more closely; in the Adrian Gulf stands Venice; on the o●…her side, the Ligustik Sea laboureth as it were to hold fast the feet of the Apennin Hills, and within this turning lieth the City of Genoa, emulous of the Venetian greatness, in such sort as they are in a manner opposite one to the other; Prudent nature did set betwixt Rome and Carthage a vast Sea, which might serve for abarr to keep them from jusling one another, as also to cool their fury; but to Venice and Genoa she hath not only interposed the breadth of Italy, but the huge tops of the Apennin, stretching from Liguria to Ancona, from whence being beaten by the waves of the Sea, they soon turn towards the Mount Gargan; then on a sudden as if they seared the Sea, they go on to the furthest parts of Italy, to subdue in a manner those waves they had so often shunned; but neither distance of the sea could restrain the wrath of Rome and Carthage one against the other, nor could the difficult accesses of the Apennin H●…l keep Venice and Genoa from bussling one with the other. The Romans held themselves descended of the Trojans, the Venetians pretend the same original; the Libyans mingled themselves with the Phaenicians, and the▪ Genoese say they were likewise derived from them; emulation of great achievements did first stir up the former with desire of more Dominion; On these two hinges the quarrel moved betwixt these two Republics; Rome and Carthage fell out first about Sicily; Venice and Genoa about Ptolemais or Acre; The Romans notwithstanding they were victors, were oft times in greater danger than the Carthaginians whom they had vanquished; the Venetian hath been sometimes in the same condition; those two people fought above a hundred years together, and though they had Truces sometimes, yet the hostility still remained; these likewise have had sundry cessations of arms, though not of enmity; In induciis semper manebat bellum; But as Carthage to Rome, so Genoa veiled to Venice at last.  
About this time Andrew King of Hungary came to Venice, his mother having been of the Family of the Morosini, a Venetian race.  
There happened at this time a notable naval fight 'twixt Venice and Genoa near Corfu, where the Venetians lost almost their whole Fleet, and Andrew Dandolo their Admiral was taken prisoner with five thousand more, and carried to Genoa; this victory was got by a reserve of fifteen Galleys the Genoese had, which at the fag end of the fight came fresh out, as those reserve of five hundred men which Don john of Austria kept fresh under hatches for the last push. This defeat lay heavy upon Venice, for she lost then above sixty Galleys, yet she appeared again shortly after, and about the straight of Gallipoli she lost again sixteen Galleys, and the Genua a little after took Canea in Candy; but a peace was at last mediated 'twizt Venice and Genoa.  
Upon these ill successes abroad, there were some treasons detected in Venice, but quickly suppressed; Padua also stirred, but to little purpose. The next year, notwithstanding all the late losses, the Republic sends a considerable Fleet against Paleologus the Greek Emperor, whereof justiniano was General, because he refused to pay the Republic a great sum of money which he owed her, this Fleet sailing into the Pontik Sea, quickly brought Paleologus to reason & to repay the money. This victroy did much heighten the spirits of Venice, which had somewhat languished for her great losses in the Ligustic war with Genoa; she also made herself Mistress of Ferrara a little after, which being a City fewdetary to the Church of Rome, the Pope excommunicated Venice, interdicting her from the use of the Sacraments, which drew a great deal of odium upon her, so that she thought it high time to restore Ferrara to the Pope's Legate, yet she would pause a little further upon't. About this time, the famous conspiracy of Ba●…amonti Tepulo was suppressed, who was killed by a Venetian woman out of a zeal to her Country, who had an honourable Pension ever after during life.  
MARINI GEORGO was now created the fiftieth Duke of Venice; 
1303  in his time Zara revolted the sixth time from the Republic, but was reduced.  
GIOVANNI SOURANZA succeeded GEORGIO, who had governed 
1304  but ten months; the City which had been a good while anathematised, sent Francisco Dandulo to the Pope; this Nobleman being admitted to the presence of Clement, who perfectly hated Venice because of Ferrara, by a wonderful example of piety to his Country, and love to Religion, continued a long time on the ground before the Pope's Table; with an iron chain about his head like a dog, until the Excommunication was taken off, which was done upon those acts of penitence▪ Hereupon a little after Venice had a notable success against Genoa in the Pontik Sea, where above thirty bottoms were sunk and taken by JUSTINIANO the General.  
FRANCISCO DANDULO who had been Ambassador with the Pope, 
1329  and by that penance formerly spoken of had got the Excommunication taken off, was elected the next Duke, the Polani and the Valesians who had been a long time subject to the Patriarch of Aquileia, did voluntarily yield themselves under the protection of Venice; About this time the Republic did divers exploits upon the Coasts of Syria against the Turks, for securing of Navigation upon those Coasts; she likewise did many feats in Lombardy, her Army took Padova and Bergamo, Brescia also fell under her protection.  
BARTILMEO GRADONICO was chosen next, and a little after there 
1332  arose one night a most furious Tempest, which caused such an inundation three foot deep above the streets of the City: In this Duke's time there came Ambassadors from England, craving aid against Philip the French King, whom the Genoese, who were mortal enemies to Venice, did favour, but nothing could be obtained, and this was the first time that there was any acquaintance 'twixt England and Venice, which was in the year 1332▪ there was another revolt in Candie suppressed.  
ANDREA DANDULO came next to the principality, a man of extraordinary parts of learning as well as valour, for he compiled the 
1336  Venetian story in two styles. The Republic sent a Fleet against the Turk, which took Smyrna again. There was an Ambassador sent by the Senate to the King of Babylon concerning the Venetians free Trade into Egypt, which though stood upon by the Pope, in regard they were Infidels, was settled.  
Zara had rebelled now the seventh time, but was reduced, and Lewis King of Hungary repulsed. There happened a fearful earthquake in Venice about this time, which overturned divers steeples and palaces; This Earthquake ushered in a fearful contagion which brought the City to a pitiful desolation for the time, the said earthquake lasting fifteen days by intermissions.  
This terrible earthquake gives me occasion to desire leave of the Reader to step a little aside out of the great Road of this History, and make a short excursion to give a touch of the causes of these dreadful effects of nature, of these tremble and shiverings of the earth, or rather Aguish shaking fits, whereunto we find her body is as subject as the body of men or lions, who are observed to have their monthly paroxysms.  
The Babylonian Philosophers think the cause of these impetuous motions happeneth by the force of some Planet meeting with the Sun in the region of the earth: others hold it to be a vapour a long time engendering in some concavities of the earth, and restrained from sal●…ying forth into the air; others affirm that 'tis a wind pe●…'d up in the entrails of the earth; Pliny sayeth that the earth never quaketh, but when the Sea is very calm and the air so still and clear, as the birds can hardly bear themselves up, and that the winds are then shut up in the bowels of the earth, their improper station. He addeth further that an earthquake is nothing else but as thunder in the air, or an overture and crevice in the earth, or as lightning breaking forth violently and making eruptions from the midst of the clouds, the wind enclosed therein, and struggling to comforth by force. The Stoics speak of divers sorts of Earthquakes that cause the gapings of the earth, the swellings of the water, and boiling of the same, a horrid confused sound commonly precedeth and accompanieth this quaking, sometimes like to the roaring of a Bull, sometimes to the lamentable cry of some humane creature, or like the clattering of armour, according to the quality of the matter which is enclosed, or according to the form of the cave, and hole, or Spelunca, through which it passeth, which resounds in vaulty and hollow places: It waxeth hot, in sharp and dry places, and causeth defluxions in those that are mo●…st and humid. Now amongst all Earthquakes, the agitation of the waters is most dangerous, for lightning is not so hurtful, nor the shaking of buildings, or when the earth is puffed up, or falleth down by an interchangeable motion, because the one keeps back the other. The safest buildings are those upon vaults, the corners of walls, and on bridges leaning one against another; beside, brick buildings are less dangerous in such accidents▪ your skilful Navigators can foretell these earthquakes, at such time as they perceive the waves to swell on a sudden without a wind; and likewise those on land may likewise foretell them when they behold birds in a maze to stay their flight, or when waters in wells are troubled more than ordinary, having a bad unsavoury smell: all these are presages of such hideous motions: Pherecydes the Syrian drawing water out of a well, foretold an Earthquake, and so did Anaximander Milesius; and the truest signs are, either when the wind blows not, or when the Sea and Region of the Air are calm, for an Earthquake never happeneth, when the wind blows, or the Sea swells.  
This strange Earthquake in Venice, among other direful effects it produced, caused that many hundreds of women miscarried in childbed, and a plague followed, which reduced the City to such a he●…ht of misery, that it was almost depopulated; whereupon the Senate made a decree, that as many as would come to dwell at Venice, should after that they had sojourned there two years be free Citizens: Moreover, during this Contagion, divers places on firm land revolted from the Republic, which were reduced again.  
The Genua also went about to deprive the Venetians of all trafic in the Pontic Seas, and thereupon took divers Candiot Merchants: hereupon Marco Marosino Admiral of the Adriatic Sea, went abroad in course with thirty five Galleys to fish for some Genoese, and meeting with twelve in the Haven of Carista, which lieth towards Negrepont, they surprised them, being richly laden with Merchandizes, and carried them to Venice; this defeat was of that consequence, that the Senate decreed that the same day the Genoese were o'erthrown at Charista should be ever after celebrated for a holy day.  
There happened the year after a terrible nocturnal fight 'twixt Venice and Genoa at the Thracian Bosphorus, and though there were Auxiliaries both from the King of Arragon, (with whom the Republic had made a League a little before) and from the Greek Emperor also, yet the Venetian had the worst of it; But the year after, about the Coasts of Sardinia she handsomely met the Genoese, and linking her Galleys together, fought with that pertinacity and resolution that she took thirty two Galleys, which so weakened the Genoese, that he was forced to fly to the Viscont of Milan to implore help, and put herself as it were under his protection; a little after the Venetian gained another victory of the Genoese near the Morea.  
The Viscont of Milan appearing for Genoa, Venice made a counter-balancing League with the King of Boheme, and that he should invade the Territories o●… Milan, with a Land Army to find him work to do.  
MARINI PHALERIO was chosen the next Duke, who was 
1354  Earl of Va●…uarin; the first year of his government the Republic had a shrewd loss in the I'll of Sapientia near Morea, where Pagano Doria, who was the new Admiral of Genoa, surprised Pisant the Venetian General, and▪ gave him an overthrow▪; this PHALERIO by a very bloody way thought to make himself King of Venice; but it was detected, and he with his complices put to death.  
GIOVANNI GRADONICO, surnamed Naso, succeeded Phalerio, in whose 
1356  government a peace after five years cruentous war was concluded with the Genoese and their Allies; but another Land war did rise 'twixt the King of Hungary, and the Commonwealth in Dalmatia.  
GIOVANNI DELPHINO succeeded Gradonico, who made a peace 
1358  more necessary than honourable with the King of Hungary; for the Republic was to renounce all right to Dalmatia, and that the King for his part should redeliver whatsoever was taken from them in Istria.  
LORENZO CELSO followed after, in whose time the Duke of Austria 
1363  came to see Venice, and after him the King of Cyprus; the Candiots' rebel and continue so a good while, at last they were reduced by arms, the news whereof being brought to Venice, prisoners were set at liberty, divers maids were married out of the treasury of S. Mark, Tilts and Tournaments continued for divers days in S. Marks place, with divers other exultations and triumph.  
MARCO CORNARI succeeded Celso, with many triumphs, but before 
1366  the years end some tumults arise in Candie which were suppressed with much difficulty.  
ANDREA CONTARENI followed Cornari, and refusing to accept the 
1368  principality, he was threatened unto it: Tenedos did then yield to the Venetian; but in this Duke's time there happened terrible wars 'twixt the Venetians and the King of Hungary, as also with the Archduke of Austria, and interchangeable overthrows were given on both sides, but by the mediation of the Patriarch of Aquileia a peace was concluded; but the rancour of the Genua broke out again, and after some hostile encounters a peace was concluded by the intercession of the Duke of Savoy; afterwards the Republic leagues with the King of Cyprus.  
MICHAEL MOROSINI succeeded next, who lasted but four 
1382  months in his principality.  
ANTONIO VENIERI then sueceeds, in whose time there fell out a fierce war in Lombardy, which was but collateral only to the Venetians, yet they were the chiefest sticklers therein, and Accommodators at last.  
MICHAELI STENO Procurator of S. Mark then succeeded, and 
1400  presently the fire broke out 'twixt Venice and Genoa again, Bouciqualt a notable resolute Frenchman was General of the Genoese, yet the Venetian still put them to the worse: V●…cenza came then under the protection of S. Mark, who sent a Garrison thither. Verona also one of the most famous Cities in Lombardy, put herself under the Venetians, which much heigtned the glory of the Republic: add hereunto that Padova also was brought by force of arms under her subjection: All things being afterwards settled in a firm peace, there came forty gentlemen from Verona to Venice all clothed in white, whereupon the Senate commanded a Theatre to be erected of purpose in S. Marks place, where the Duke with his Family clothed also all in white were ready to receive them. The Veronois being all come to the Thea●…et, after they had saluted the Prince and the Senate, they laid down their public Ensigns, and the keys of their City gate, at their feet, entreating them to accept thereof, beseeching God that the proffer might be both to Venice and Verona as fortunate and profitable as that was an assured pledge of their fidelity, as well public as particular towards the Venetians, requesting them of their accustomed goodness to continue in the preservation, defence and maintenance of them, their City, their means, and fortunes, with all other, both divine and humane matters; and as for their unfeigned love towards them, they durst freely say and affirm, that they would▪ be▪ extremely sorry, if among so many people as did obey them, any should go before them in love, duty and affection.  
These Ambassadors being courteously entertained, were assured by the Duke, that as long as they continued to be such as they promised, the Senate would e'er long let them know, that the greatest happiness which can befall those who have not means to defend themselves, is to be shrouded under a lawful government, which they should find to be as pleasing (in regard they had recourse to the only Fort of Liberty, and cast off a Tyrant's yoke) as a safe harbour useth to be to a man that hath escaped a terrible tempest; they might therefore depart when they pleased, and take with them the Venetian Ensigns (and in so saying the Duke gave them to their Prolocutor) which they were to erect in the midst of their City; he wished they might prove to themselves & to the Venetians ever happy; and being so erected to hold them in reverence: then he willed them to execut justice, in regard they had in times passed obeyed the commands of a Tyrant: so they were dismissed; those of Padova following their example, came soon after, only with this difference, that in lieu of white the Padovans were clothed in purple, Anno Dom. 1405.  
THOMASO MOCENIGO was next chosen, and there being great dissensions raiised 'twixt the Bishop of Aquilea, and them of Udine, the 
1413  Venetians recover Feltre, Bellluna and other places. The Udinois did also yield themselves to the Republic, with the whole Country of the Patrians in Friuli; But upon these notable successes by Land, there happened a most raging fire in Venice, which burned the Duke's Palace, and melted all the Lead upon S. Marks Church, which was contiguous. The fire being quenched, the Senate decreed that no man under pain of forfeiting a thousand ducats, should dare to propound to pull down the old palace, and re-edify it more sumptuously; The Prince then preferring the honour of the City to his own private profit, brought the same sum to the Senate, requesting that they would permit the fore part of the ducal palace might be re-edified in a more magnificent manner, as was befitting the majesty of the Republic, and so willingly forfeited his thousand Ducats: so the work was done accordingly, but the Duke died before 'twas finished.  
FRANCISCO FOSCARD was then elected Duke, the same year there 
1423  was wars begun against Philip Duke of Milan, and the Republic concluded a League with the Florentines against him, which League consisted of these heads, that the Venetians and Florentines should arm at their own common charge one thousand six hundred horse and eight thousand foot, they should furnish two Naval armies, with the one the Venetians should sail up the River Po to resist the Forces of Philip, the. Florentines along the River of Genoa, that none should speak of peace till the Venetians should command it. That all the Cities, Forts, and Towns taken on the confines of Flaminia, should belong to the Florentine, the other should be joined to the Vetetian State, or given to whom they pleased.  
Lorenzo the Florentine Ambassador did herupon cast himself at the Duke's feet, and with a loud voice said, that the Florentine people should be ever mindful of such a signal benefit, and besought God that the glory of Venice might increase, and if ever it happened that the Venetian people should have need, the Florentines would be ever ready with their utmost means to aid the Republic: divers others, as Amadeo Duke of Savoy, King Alonso and Syena entered into this League. This enforced the Duke of Milan to a peace, which imported that he should quit to the Venetians Bressia with her confines, together with that part of Cremona's Territories which is contiguous to the River Olio, as also that part of Bergamo which stretcheth towards the River Adi●…e. The marquis of Monferrat being oppressed fled to Venice for refuge, who restored him to his Territories.  
There arrived about this time john Paleologus the Grecian Emperor, joseph Patriarch of Constantinople, with the Prince of Morea, to confer with the Pope about matters of Religion; They went to Ferrara to find out Eugenius the Pop●…, who was a Venetian born, and this conference produced good effects, and an union for the time.  
About this time there came to Venice the Bishop of Aquileia and Pietro Barbe Cardinal, that was Pope afterwards, that had splendid entertainment. But the Emperor Frederick, with his wife Loenora, had more magnificent reception; for besides the Buccentoro richly hung with cloth of gold, wherein the Prince and Senators were, divers great vessels were set forth besides, whose poops were all new gilded, in which were many hundreds of the Venetian Clarissimi, the Ganzari and Patischerme that are lesser vessels which were numberless, were as allantly decked, wherein were the common Citizens, who did strive who should exceed one another in bravery; the whole City was hung up and down as they passed with Cloth of gold and rich tapestry, in every corner musical instruments, songs and melodious voices were heard. The Empress landed a little while after in the same glory, attended by two hundred of the prime Venetian Ladies, she was presented with an Imperial crown of gold set with rich stones, and a coat for a little child, with a cradle cloth of purple, powdered with pea●…ls, in regard 'twas thought she was with child, etc.  
The Emperor being gone, the Senate to furnish the wars of Lombardy, decreed that all Officers, as well in the City as abroad, Judges, Registers, and others of meaner quality under great Officers, who in any kind had pensions of the Republic, should pay a certain sum, and that other sorts of Clarissimi should serve the Signiory gratis for six months. In this Duke's time a cunning Candiot, by sapping under the Church got into S. Marks treasury, and stole thence jewels and other things to a mighty value, but he was detected by his companion before he could get away, and hanged betwixt the two columns in S. Marks place.  
In this Duke's time also was Constantinople won by the Turk, in regard of the sloth, supiness and stupidity of the rest of the Christian Princes, but especially for the frowardness of the Constantinopolitans themselves, who would not give timely aid to the Emperor, out of a base kind of covetousness, and with Constantinople the whole Greek Empire perished, which had stood above eleven hundred years; this gave an alarm to all Italy, and caused a general peace about Anno Dom. 1459. Mahomet at the taking of Constantinople did endeavour to oblige the Venetians more than any other Christian Nation there, wherefore in the general slaughter he sav●…d them, knowing that none was more powerful to do him hurt then Venice.  
PASCHALIS MARIPIETRO succeeded Foscaro▪ who continued 
1457  in the Principality longest of any of his sixty five Predecessors, for he governed above thirty six years, and being stricken in age he made a voluntary resignation to Paschalis, who preserved the Republic in peace all his life time: in his government happened that universal Earthquake, which shook most parts of Italy, Anno Dom. 1460.  
CHISTOPHORO MAURO was next elected, the I'll of Lemnos 
1462  was delivered to the Venetians in this Duke's time, and Oenos was taken, but the Republic had very ill luck in the Morea, and before Corinth, moreover they lost Negrepont.  
MICOLAO TRONO succeeded Moro▪ whose short government 
1471  was very fortu●…at, because th●… Republic in his time made a League with the King of Persia, and united the Island of Cyprus to their Dominions; the Pope at his time sent a Fleet of Galleys to second the enterprises of the Venetians in the Greek Seas, and being met, Mocenigo the General for the Republic, made this Speech to the Pope's Legate, who was Admiral for the Church.  
I am sure most excellent and reverend Father, that you are not ignorant how val●…antly the Venetians have hitherto born themselves for the Christian Faith; This is the ninth year we have fought by Sea and Land against this cruel enemy, without the assistance of any Christian Prince but King Ferdinand only; It is needless to rehearse the losses, travails and dangers which we have sustained, for there is no place in all Morea, no shore in Greece, nor Island in all the Ionian and Egean Seas which is not mingled with our blood, or with that of our enemies; we have not spared any labour or expense, and we heartily wish that whatsoever we do now, or shall hereafter execut, may be for the Weal of Christendom; we have lately with fire and sword wasted Eolia and Caria, two rich Provinces of the enemies, and now we hope by your happy conjunction to do some nobler enterprise; It rests therefore on your part to teach us what you know to be profitable for Christendom, and prescribe us what to execute, and we hold it our parts to execute your commands.  
The Legate answered, It is sufficiently known with what Zeal and affection the Noble Venetians have till this present defended Christian Religion, and how by their valour and industry they have preserved whole Commonwealths, Lands and Cities, but for your own particular General Mocenigo, I must say, that although other Commanders have done valiantly, yet you have not only comported yourself valiantly, but fortunatly, and if I may so say, divinely: This being thus, I entreat you to go on as you have begun, and let not our conduct, or that of any one else, interrupt the course of your happy proceedings; For myself, as becometh a Churchman, I will pray unto God and his Saints, that all your enterprises may succeed prosperously▪ and those troops which I have brought with me, shall follow your commands.  
Mocenigo had forty six ●…allies of the Republic under his command, twenty of the Popes, and fifteen of King Ferdinand's, He infested the Turks up and down in divers places, taking sundry places and prizes; among others he took Sichin and Seleucia, where the Turks being too confident of their strength, cried out from over the walls to Mocenigo, get ye home O Venetians, and command the Sea and fishes, but leave the Empire of the Land to Ottoman.  
Mocenigo having taken Seleucia went after to Cyprus, where he understood that james the King was sick of a Dissentery, and being come to visit him, he entreated the King to be of good cheer, and with patience to undergo the force of his malady, who made him answer:  
I know very well most excellent Captain, and already feel, that by the violent torment of my disease, I am in great danger of life; and not to ●…atter myself, I have no hope to escape; therefore I make my dearest wife with the child she bears in her body, mine heirs, and she, as thou knowest, is daughter to Marco Cornari, and being adopted by the Venetian Senate, was by them given me in marriage: If I die, whereof I make no question, I recommend my Wife, Issue, and Kingdom to Venice▪ therefore I heartily entreat thee, in regard of our friendship, and for the greatness of the Venetian State (if it come to that) that thou wo●…'st defend and keep both herself, Issue and Kingdom from all wrong and oppression. Mocenigo answered:  Thy body, most Royal King, is yet in a good estate, and thou in the prime of thine Age, which may put thee in good hope of a speedy recovery, but if it should fall out otherwise, which God forbid, I beseech thee be confident, that neither myself nor the Venetian forces will be wanting to thee or thine. 
Mocenigo parting from Cyprus, sailed towards the Lands near Licia, where making incursions into the firm land, he resolved to besiege Mi●…, which he took and plundered, thence he sailed to Flisca, where the King of Cyprus daughter, the Lady Charlotta allied to the Duke of Sa●…y, sent to crave assistance of him against james her base brother; who was the son of a Concubine. Mocenigo's answer was remarkable: He sent her word, that in the Republics name he would do the Lady Charlotta all favour, yet he greatly wonders, that she did not remember how that the right of Kingdoms is rather debated by the Sword, then by Law, and that the Island of Cyprus had not been only taken from her, but also from the Genoese who then held part thereof: For his part he knew how that the wife of the late King, the adoptif daughter of the Venetian Senate, being left with child, had been, together with the fruit of her womb, made heirs by the deceased King before his death in his hearing▪ therefore he told them plainly, he would espouse the quarrel of the pregnant Queen Dowager, who he hoped would shortly bring forth a young King.  A while after the Pope's Legate being revoked, and taking his leave of Mocenigo, spoke unto him thus; I take my leave of thee O thou valiant man, and will be the public witness and trumpet of thy heroic deeds▪ and if God shall send me safe to Italy, not only the Pope and the most reverend College of Cardinals, but all Europe, with the Princes and 〈◊〉 Nations of Christendom, shall understand what Venice under thy conduct, skill and counsel hath done against our common enemy the Turk, in Asia, Licia, and Pamphilia: go forward brave Captain, as thou hast begun, to enlarge the Venetian glory, and bear up the banners of the Cross, thereby to imortalize thy own name: I beseech Almighty God to favour all thy attempts, and I hope 'twil come so to pass, that all the losses which Christendom hath sustained by this barbarous enemy, shall e'er long by thy own valour, and to their ruin, be fully compensated. After this, Mocenigo was Godfather to the young Prince, and made Governor of Cyprus. 
NICOLAO MARCELLO succeeded afterwards, in whose principality 
1473  divers things prospered on the Republics side in Macedonia.  
PIETRO MOCENIGO was chosen next, who being S. Marks Admiral, 
1474  for many years did notable feats by Land and Sea, but in the compass of a year and two months he gave up the Ghost and his Government.  
ANDREA VENDRAMMO succeeded, the Turks besiege Croia and 
1475  are worsted, but they ravaged and burnt the Country of Friuli, and the fire was so violent, that it was seen from some of the turrets of Venice.  
GIOVANNI MOCENIGO was next elected Duke, and shortly after 
1477  there was a peace concluded with Ottoman the Turk upon these conditions, that the Venetians stold have free and safe trafic into the Pontic Seas, and that Ottoman should have Lemnos and Scutary given him up: He afterwards took Otrauto in Calabria whereby he filled all Italy with a terror of invasion; In this Duke's time the Island Vegia in Dalmatia gave herself up to Venice; In this Duke's time there was an eager war begun, and prosecuted with much heat 'twixt Venice and Ferrara; Malateste was General to the Republic▪ who did many notable exploits, and brought the Ferrarois to a very low ebb, at which time Pope Sixtus enjoined the Venetians to lay down their arms by his Nuncio. But the Senate answered somewhat roundly, that the Republic was so far from entertaining this war without his Holiness consent, as they did it at first by his instigation, that as then so now, they did prefer peace not only before war, but before victory, so it were seasonably sought, and not on such conditions as might make their lenity to be interpreted indiscretion: that they were confident his Holiness actions had no private ends, but such as imported the common good of Christendom, only in this it was notorious to the whole world, that he dealt more subtly then sincerely, that for twenty years, wherein both by Land and Sea they had been singled out by dreadful Ottoman, none of the Princes of Italy contributed one drop of blood towards the quenching of this neighbour flame, but seemed deaf to all solicitations, and same to all assistance: But in this private cause of Ferrara, those who shrank back from the public quarrel could all bandy together, not as if they would arbitrat, but enforce a peace; that they humbly desired his Holiness to ponder this business temperately, which others did passionately, and to let his own understanding advise him whither it more concerned him to favour the Venetians or the Ferrarois; as for them they were resolved to prosecut that war, which by his advice they had undertaken, hoping the success would prove as happy, as the cause was just and honourable.  
This was the substance of the Venetians Answer, whereat the Pope was so incensed, that he excommunicated the Doge; and the Senate, having leagued himself with Frederick, and Alfonso Duke of Calabria, who came with two thousand men for succour of Ferrara, among whom were four hundred Turks, which he brought from Otrauto; but they a while after ran away to the Venetians, which though it was some advantage unto them▪ yet they had an ill-favoured disaster in the City at that time, for the Duke's Palace was half burnt down.  
The Republic having many potent enemies banded against Her, by the instigation of the Pope, employed Ambassadors to the French Army, and German Princes, with others, to have a General Council called, wherein it might be lawful to complain of the Pope or any other. Herupon a while after Pope Sixtus apprehending some fears, a Treaty was set on foot for a peace, which was quickly concluded; The Venetians a little before, had taken Gallipoli in Calabria; and though they lost neither honour or territory during this war, yet in less than two years it cost the Republic ne'er upon three millions.  
MARCO BARBADICO succeeded next, in whose time a trade was 
1485  begun with Portugal, to which purpose the Republic sent an Ambassador expressly to Lisbon, Anno Dom. 1485.  
When this Duke was upon his deathbed, there came a great Ambassador from Bajazet the Turkish Emperor with rich presents unto him, but he enjoyed them little; He was buried with greater solemnity than ordinary, and the ceremonies which were used then continue constant to this day at the interment of Venetian Doges, which is thus. After the Duke is dead, he is unboweled, his body embalmed, and laid under a Canopy of gold, with his gilt sword and spurs reversed; he is publicly kept in the palace for three whole days, than all the Companies in the City, which are as many as there be Trades, do with their banners in solemn order go before the body, after them followeth the Clergy, next to them the mourners, who are in great multitudes in sad funestous manner: last of all come the Senate clothed in scarlet and purple, to demonstrat that the City which is free, doth never in mourning habit follow the Exequys of any Prince, how virtuous soever: In this manner and habit so soon as the body is brought into the Church they sit round about it, whilst the memory of the deceased Prince is recommended to the people in a funeral Oration: from thence the Senators returning to the Palace, do publish the first Assembly for the creation of a new Duke.  
AUGUSTIN BARBADICO, brother, to the defunct, and Procurator of 
1486  S. Mark, succeeded; most of the Princes of Germany▪ bandy against Venice, who met them about Trent, where Sanseverino her gallant General, the best soldier of those times, was utterly routed and drowned. About this time there was a Fleet sent for the guarding of Cyprus, for divers aimed at that dainty Island, therefore Georaio Cornari was sent thither by the Senate to induce the widow Queen his sister (& adopted daughter to Venice) to remit the government to the Senate, & retire to Venice, to live among her kindred in contentment, ease, & honour. The Queen wondered at her brother's Proposition, saying, that she would not for a world part with so sweet a Kingdom, and that the Senate might be satisfied to have it after her death: her brother replied with this charming subtle Oration, Entreating her not to make more account of Cyprus, than of her own dear Country, because that worldly affairs being variable and inconstant, it might in short space come to pass that she might be expulsed, it being so thought on already by divers potent Lords, and herself envied by many of her Subjects, who disdained to be governed by a woman, therefore one only means was left her to prevent all these mischiefs, which was, seeing she had no children to transmit the Government of the Realm to the Venetian State now in her life time; he added further that the Republic was well contented she should rule as long as the times were quiet, and free ●…from suspicions. But now when all her Neighbours wait for an occasion, and lay snares to surprise Her, the Senate hath thought this only remedy most expedient; but if she feared not these dangers, he be sought her to consider, what she was likely to have fallen into the year before, for had not the Republic rescued her with their Galleys, she had been in danger to have been carried Captive to Constantinople; It is good to foresee that which some odd accident or small error may hurl us into, and to prevent it, fortune is blind and volable, nor can we ever prevent our enemy's designs, nor can our friends be always ready to help us when we want them; there is a great distance by Land, and a great Sea 'twixt the Adriatic Gulf and Cyprus; This, Madam you ought to remember and timely consider, that though nothing enforced you thereunto, yet what greater honour, or more lasting glory can you leave behind you, then to have bequeath●…d to your own Country so flourishing a Kingdom, and that Venice was augmented by a child of her own; you shall still be a Queen, and truly if the ●…ase were mine, I should desire rather to see my greatness with such safety in Cyprus out of the bosom of my own Country: Never was Princess so welcome to Venice as you will be, you know you are to thank the Senate for being Queen, but if you deny this motion, you will seem to acknowledge it very little; In a word, I being your brother, and one who ought to have some interest in you, if you dismiss me with a denial, the world will judge it is not you have done it, but my council, whereby I shall incur a high displeasure; therefore I pray Madam consider well of it, there is nothing more worthy of praise then to know how to entertain Fortune modestly when she smiles on us, and not to desire to be still on the wheels top, etc.  
Cornari having thus discoursed to the Queen, he prevailed so far with her, that m●…lting into tears, she made him this answer: Brother, if this be your opinion, I will conform to it, and will strive to overmaster myself, but Venice shall thank you for Cyprus, not me. So she was conducted to Venice, and received with all imaginable state after she had ruled Cyprus fifteen years.  
A little after this, the King of Tremisen in Africa sent to Venice his Ambassador, to entrust some Venetian gentlemen to see Justice done to the Venetian Subjects, who lived in three of his Cities, thereupon Lodovico Piramane was sent, who had the hundredth penny upon all Merchandise for his salary.  
Not long after the Patriarch of Aquileia died at Rome, and Hermolao Barbaro being there Ambassador for the Republic, the Pope conferred that high Ecclesiastic Dignity upon him, and made him Cardinal.  
This being known at Venice, notwithstanding that Hermolao was a Minister of great desert, and had acquainted the Senate hereof; yet because there was an express Law, forbidding all Venetian gentlemen, being Ambassadors at Rome, to receive any obliging Dignity of the Pope, during the time of his Legation, the Senate took the audacious infringing of this Law in ill part; and though he were rich, well allied, and had great friends, they sent express command, that he should resign the Patriarkship again to the Pope, if not, they would take from his Father the Procuratorship of S. Mark, and confiscate all his estate; the Father died before the years end, of mere resentment, and the Son having composed many excellent books, died a little after of a Squinancy.  
Venice was now very quiet, when Charles the VIII. of France sent three Ambassadors one after the other to the Duke, that their King being resolved to come to Italy, to conquer the Kingdom of Naples, which by hereditary right belonged to him, he desired to know the Venetians inclination towards him, and whither they would continue the former League and Amity; The Senate answer d the Ambassador, that the Signory did ever prefer peace before war, and did now desire it more than ever, therefore they could wish, that their King being now in a perfect peace, would suffer the Princes of Italy to be so too. Afterwards the French King being daily pushed on by LowtkSforZa the Duke of Milan, and the Prince of Salerno then an Exile in France, send Philip of Comines again to Venice, who proposed to the Senate, that if they would join with them in the recovery of Naples, they should have a considerable share of the Kingdom, if not, that they should persever in their former friendship.  
The Senate answered, That the King was so potent and well provided with all warlike necessaries, that he needed no help from them, therefore they determined according to the laudable custom of their Ancestors, not to stir, who never made war but upon constraint: Moreover, they desired not to have any share in that Kingdom whereunto they had no claim; for the rest, they said, they would still make high esteem of his friendship.  
The Republic had at this time a great Fleet upon the Coasts of Slavonia, because they understood Bajazet the great Turk began to arm; at which time there came a solemn Embassy from Florence to crave their advice how they should behave themselves 'twixt the Kings of Naples and France, the latter of which had sent to desire passage through their Country. The Senate answered:  
That in so difficult a business, subject to such a world of accidents, they knew not so suddenly what was best to be done, and though they loved the one better than the other, they durst not deliver their Opinion, because that fortune is commonly Mistress in war, and that it usually falls out, that matters done by chance and adventure, do oftentimes prosper better than those which are premeditated, and beaten upon the anvil of long premeditation; therefore they ought to ask counsel of none but Almighty God, who only knew what was best for men to embrace or avoid.  
The French King rushing into Italy, found no resistance scarce, till he had crowned himself King of Naples.  
The Venetians were at this time put mightily to their plunges and reaches of policy, because it was not wholesome for them or Italy, that the French should grow so powerful, therefore the King of the Romans, the Spaniards, and the Duke of Milan, who had fallen from the French, sending their Ambassadors unto them, they strike a League to repress the French proceedings. The Venetian takes Manapoli, Pulignano, and Mola, and partly by arms, partly policy, the French are driven out of Italy; yet Charles the VIII. being dead, they make a new League with King Lewis of France against the Duke of Milan upon these conditions, that Lodowick SforZa being elected King, should have Milan, and the Republic Cremona and Abdua, and it came so to pass.  
The Republic had but sorry successes against the Turk in this Duke's time, for at Cephaloma they received a terrible blow, yet she reduced at last that Island to a perfect subjection.  
LEONARDO LOREDANO succeeded Barbarico; in his time 
1491  the French and Portugal assist the Signory against the Turk, so that a peace ensued; The Republic received a mighty wound in her Commerce about this time, in regard that the portugals had found a passage to the East Indies, by the cape of good hope, and so brought home in their Carraks those spices which Venice was used to fetch from Alexandria, and dispense up and down Europe. 1503.  
But Pope julius the II. gave her a worse blow, by drawing a most heavy war upon the Republic, in regard she would not part with FaenZa and Rimini, for which She offered to pay him any rent in quality of Tenant, alleging that it was dangerous for the Signory in regard of their Situation, that they should be in any other hands: Hereupon, that notable League at Cambray was privately struck against Venice, wherein there were Confederates, the Pope himself, the Emperor, the King of France, the Kings of Arragon, and Spain, with divers others: It was given out, that they met there to accommode the business of the Duke of Gueldres, but that was only a pretext, which the Republic could not smell out.  
The Republic by this huge powerful League, had lost almost all the Towns she had in the firm Land of Lombardy, as far as Padova; The great Turk offered the Republic aid in this exigent, but she modestly refused any: Besides other places, she received a most fearful overthrow hard by Abdua; being thus oppressed with the spiritual Arms of Rome, and most of the temporal Arms of Europe, rather than break, she complemented with the Emperor, and bowed to the Pope, by delivering him those places aforesaid in Flaminia: Among others, the Cardinal of York in England did do her good Offices to the Pope, as her Annals 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 battle, but a little after the Swiss coming in as Confederates against them, they were totally routed and driven over the Hills again. The Venetians recovered Crema, and the Spaniard having taken Bressia, and delaying to render it to Venice, there was a new occasion offered for the Republic to make a League with France again against the Spaniard, and Francis the first by their help regained Milan.  
The Republic was never so driven to her shifts as she was in the time of this Duke, in divers traverses of war, and confederacies against her, which she dissolved by pure policy, more than any power.  
She was afterwards much persecuted by Pope and Emperor, in so much that Maximilian sent to Selim the new great Turk an Ambassador, to invite him to a war against the Venetians, and to invade their Sea Coasts, while he assaulted them by Land.  
Pope Leo sent Petro Bembo upon a solemn Embassy to the Republic, that they should break with the French, and League with the Emperor and Spaniards against them; whereunto the Senate made this grave answer:  That his Holiness Ambassador was greatly pleasing to the Senate, as well in respect of himself, whose virtue and particular affection towards their Country 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 Sovereign Bishops of Rome; but they more particularly inclined to Pope Leo; that the Senate had ever most highly esteemed his good and wholesome Counsel, but the mischief was, that by how much they above all others had desired 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 disjoined from him, yet their forces were ever divided; as than they did humbly thank his Holiness, and confessed themselves much bound unto him, in that he had been ever ready by divers good offices to embrace and favour their cause, even so likewise they were extremely grieved, that they could not follow his Counsel, it being their ancient custom not to leave an old friend for a new, specially being not provoked 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 would call to mind the ancient benefits of the French Kings, not only to the Venetian Commonwealth, but likewise to the Church, and consider the wealth and power of that Kingdom, he would not only excuse but commend the Venetian Council, and be desirous himself to follow it because that being backed by the French Forces, with those of the Venetian, there was likelihood, that he should be abler to lay surer foundations, as well for the state of the Church, as for the greatness 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 Henry's Sister) and to straighten this League betwixt them against the Emperor.  
The Republic likewise employed two Ambassadors to confirm the peace with the great Turk Selim, who had newly subdued the Mammalukes and Sultan, that had been 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 Duke's Government, which was done accordingly. Lewis King of Hungary sent two Ambassadors unto them, who procured both men and money against the Turk.  
Prince Lor●…dano having sat at the stern of the Republic twenty years in most tempestuous times, paid nature her last debt and made way for  
ANTONIO GRIMANI, who about the beginning of his Government 
1521  was solicited, that the Republic of Venice might be Godmother to a daughter of France. The face of affairs in Christendom being much changed at the coming in of Charles the fifth the Emperor, the Venetians waved their league with France (who was ready to invade Italy for the Duchy of Milan) and entered into an alliance with the Emperor, cashiering Trivaltio, who was too much affected to the French, and making the Duke of Urbin their general, and this was done principally by Pope Adrian the fourth his intercession, who was a low Dutchman having been a Brewer's son in Vtrecht, and Schoolmaster to Charles the fifth: in this Duke's time the Isle of Rhodes was taken by the Turk to the great detriment of Christendom, and dishonour to her Princes, 1522.  
ANDREA GRITTI succeeded GRIMANI, about the beginning of whose principality the Venetians depart from the French, and for important 
1523  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 four years' captivity dismissed: Rome is beleaguered by the Spaniards, the walls sealed by the Duke of Bourbon, who in the action breathed his last, and Pope Clement besieged in the Castle of S. Angelo; the King of England Hen. VIII. was one of the principal instruments both of the French King and Pope's enlargement.  
The French rush again o'er the hills to Italy, take Pavia and destroy it; The Venetians seize Monopolis in the Kingdom of Naples. Doria Admiral for the French o'recoms the Imperial Fleet, but he turned afterwards to the Emperor.  
The Viscount of Tureen comes upon a splendid Embassy to Venice in the Pope's behalf, to entreat them that they would satisfy the Pope by rendition of Ravenna and Cervia: the Senate alleged their just Titles to them, having received the one from Obizzo Polente Lord thereof more than four hundred years passed; and that Cervia was fallen to the Republic by the Testament of Dominico Malateste, for which she was to pay yearly some godly Legacies, which they continued for performance of the Testators will: they representd further, how that if they had been desirous to possess Towns belonging to other men, they would not have refused the offer of those of Furli, and of other Cities of Romania, who sought much to be under their obedience; nor would they have defended or maintained with such extraordinary cost and danger the City of Bologna, with others belonging to his Holiness, nor have kept them from him, and that those Cities had been taken at such time as the Pope had quitted the League, and that they might justly now detain them for the same occasion; moreover they had spent a great mass of Treasure in that war which those Cities were not able to recompense; they desired that the King would take it into serious consideration how much it might import him, if those so commodious Cities should be quitted by his friends and confederates to be given to the Pope, who stood so coldly affected to the Crown of France, nay even into the hands of the imperials, seeing that it was apparent how the Pope either by his own proper motion, or through fear did wholly depend upon the Emperor, that he was besides to consider of their interest, and the wrong which would be offered their confederates, viZ. the Florentines and the Duke of Ferrara, whoquestionlesse would be greatly distasted hereat, and would cool that heat which pusheth them on to the affairs of the League: and moreover how that these Towns did serve for a bridle to contain the Pope within his bounds, seeing that without them he would already have showed himself an open friend to the Emperor. A little after the Republic lends the King of France, & the Duke of Milan a considerable sum of money; Chastillon comes Ambassador to Venice and Brundisium in Apulia, is taken by her Admiral: Herup on a Treaty of peace was appointed by all parties to be at Cambray, and the Republic employed Lodovico Falieri to the King of England to entreat him, That since he had ever showed himself a royal friend to the Republic, his Majesty would be pleased, as at all other times, to take into his protection, and to procure that in those affairs which were handled at Cambray, nothing might be concluded to the hurt and prejudice of the Republic, nor to the liberty of Italy, whereof many years before he had to his immortal praise taken upon him the defence, while preparations were made on all fides to disturb her, if not destroy her.  
About the fag end of this Duke's government Solyman makes war upon the Hungary, and takes ●…uda; he warred also with the Venetians, but against them he had not so good success; for they took Scardona from him, and 〈◊〉 in Dalmatia: upon this a solemn League was struck 'twixt the Pope, the Emporor and the Republic, against the common enemy.  
In this Duke's time the Republic sent to the Pope that she might have the nomination of her own Bishops, for which he had made divers proposals formerly, but could get no definitive answer; herupon there was a seizure made of the temporalities of divers Bishoprics which the Pope had collated, whereat his Holiness was much incensed. The Senate considering the importance and difficulty of the business, did deliberate thereon in open Council, where opinions were very different, but for the present it was decreed, that in favour of the Pope the temporalities of those who had been promoted by his Holiness should be surrendered them in the Cities under their jurisdiction; yet nevertheless they did not give over their demands, saying that what they had then done was for the extraordinary respect and reverence they bore to Pope Clement, hoping that hereafter they would grant them more than they craved: The Pope nevertheless, who at first made show that he demanded nothing else but that, stood after upon greater difficulties.  
Solyman having made peace with the Persian, intended to assail Christendom on all sides by Sea and Land: hereupon he entertained Barbarossa the famous pirate, and sent word to the Venetians, that they should us●… him no more as a Pirate, but one of his own Port.  
To bear up against Solyman, the Senate thought fit to levy the Tenths upon the Clergy, but they could not obtain it of the Pope, who made answer, that he had a purpose to levy two Tenths upon the goods of all the Italian Clergy, to employ them for the relief of the Cantons of the Catholic Swissi, against the other apostate Cantons, who threatened them with war.  
A little after Venice made herself Mistress of a Town in Dalmatia called Obrovatza, a place of considerable strength and advantage.  
PIETRO LANDI succeeded Gritti, who had continued Prince 
1539  ne'er upon sixteen years, Guy Ubaldo Duke of Urbin, the old Duke being dead, was chosen General of the Republic by Land; he was allowed ten Captains pay, and four thousand Ducats yearly Salary besides: The Senate at that time decreed that four hundred Artificers of the City should be enrolled, with whom four times a year, the Galleys appointed for that purpose should be manned, that they might all of them row together, which they commonly called Regater, and pensions were appointed them who had served so thrice: This decree passed, to the end they might be assured to have men always fit and ready to man any number of Galleys. There happened a mighty dearth of corn through all Italy in this Duke's time, which lighted more heavy upon Venice then any place (among other causes) which necessitated her to make peace with the Turk, but the Marquis of Guasto Governor of Milan, and the Lord of Annebalt Martial of France, and her General in Piedmont, came to Venice to divert her; they had extraordinary magnificent entertainment, both for the quality of their own persons, and of the great Princes that sent them.  
The Marquis of Guasto coming to the Senate, told them that he was sent by his Imperial Majesty to acquaint them, as his trusty and inward friends, with the interview that he intended to have with the French King, and in Flanders with King Ferdinand his Brother, and the Queen his Sister, who governed there for him, assuring them, that in the same Assembly of Prince's affairs would be handled concerning the universal good of Christendom, and the particulrr advantage of that Republic, which the Emperor did as much desire as well as of his own Estates; and that now they were ready to assail the Turks with very great Forces; The Emperor therefore was desirous to know the Senate's will and intentions therein, what provision they would judge to be necessary, and what they would have him to do for his part towards the better managing of this great design.  
Marshal Annebalt spoke to the same effect, protesting his King's good will to the common peace of Christendom, and particularly of the Commonwealth of Venice.  
Answer was made by the Senate to the Marquis and the Marshal, that their arrival was very pleasing and acceptable, as well in respect of the Princes whom they represented, as for their own persons, for which, and for the honour and friendship which they did profess to the Republic, they did infinitely thank their Princes; The news of the good correspondence and certain hopes of peace 'twixt two such mighty Kings had much rejoiced them▪ and so much the more, by how much greater the profit was which all Christendom should receive thereby: But as for the Declaration of their meaning and intendments towards the present occasions, it might be sufficiently known by their actions, how for their parts they had for three years born the brunt and burden of the war against the common enemy, and being invited by those hopes, they were ready again to embark and expose themselves: yet nevertheless all might well perceive, that they were not able alone to hold out long against the power of so potent a Foe, therefore what could they say more? their necessity being known to all men, how every one knew that Barbarossa was in the Gulf of Lepanto, with a Fleet of eighty Galleys, and intended to winter there, whereby the whole world might perceive, to what danger the State of the Commonwealth was exposed, and by consequence all Christendom, unless the Naval Armies might be ready by the month of February to divert his designs, all which things were exactly to be thought upon, and speedily remedied.  
This was an Answer without a resolution nor could those two great Ambassadors get any other at all, for the sagacious Senate smelled out whereunto these practices tended, and what the Emperor's true designs were, namely to feed the French with vain hopes of a restitution of the Duchy of Milan, and the Venetians by propounding unto them to make preparation against the Turk, though he cared not to perform either, but only thereby to win time, by being assured of the quiet of the French Arms, and diverting that King from war.  
But the Republic was constrained a little after to conclude a peace with the Turk by surrendry of Naples in Peloponnesus, and Malvesia into his hands.  
The Inhabitants of Napoli and Malvesia were exceedingly afflicted that the Republic would give them up to the Turk, therefore General Mocenigo made unto them this consolatory tender Oration.  
The fatherly love wherewith Venice hath always embraced and received you from the beginning under her rule and protection, and then gently governed you for a long time, may very easily persuade you, that the very same which I am enjoined to deliver unto you, viz. that this City and Malvesia your Neighbour are to be delivered to Solyman, hath been done rather upon extreme necessity, then by any freedom of will: Divers things may make you clea●…ly perceive how dearly the Republic ever loved you, specially these last wars, wherein for your relief, she hath oftentimes exposed herself to the greatest dangers; she hath furnished you with money, soldiers, and munition, for fear you should fall into the enemy's power, who with barbarous cruelty would have bathed his hands in your blood: but what greater demonstration of love can the Republic make you in this present exigent, then to promise all those who are willing to depart, another fit dwelling place wherein they may safely live under her protection, and to help, favour, and nourish them. The ancient Sages said, how that the same place may be termed ones Country where he hath his well being: Now what better thing is there then to live under the moderate government of a good Princce. Divers Nations (their numbers growing ●…ver great at home) have of their free wills departed from their Native Country, and followed Fortune; In miseries to have an assured refuge carrieth with it such a comfort, as a man doth oftimes remember things pass●…d with greater contentation: we cannot remove hence, the houses and walls of the City, but you may bear away what's d●…arer unto you, your goods & persons shall be preserved, your posterities shall propagat in another place, and who knows but you may beget such generous children that may revenge your wrongs some other day, so great is the change of mundane affairs, whereunto the greatest Empires are as subject as the smallest villages, you may be well assured; that the Republic will retain still a desire to take up arms at all times when she sees that Christian Princes will seriously unite, that there may be some probability to do good.  
Whilst Mocenigo did thus comfort them, both men and women did shed warm tears, being all melted into love as well as sorrow.  
Not long after the French King finding that he could get nothing but promises instead of performances, for the surrendry of Milan from the Emperor Charles; he employed one Rincon Ambassador to Solyman for aid against Francis of France; this Rincon was near Pavia in Italy slain by the Emperor's Forces, as he was on his way to Turkey; thereupon Polin was sent, whom the Republic did furnish with a Galley to carry him to Constantinople: He negotiated so well that Solyman sent a Fleet of sixscore Galleys which took Reggio in Calabria, with the City of Nice, and so arrives at Marseilles. The Republic was eagerly importuned both by the Emperor and French King to enter into a League with them, but nothing could put off from their Neutrality.  
FRANCISCO DONATO was chosen after the death of Land, in 
1545.  his time Cardinal Grimani, the people complaining of his oppressions, his temporal dominion was taken from him, and restored to the Republic: in his time also Friar George Bishop of Varadine, and Cardinal, suspected to hold intelligence with the Turk, was massacred.  
MARC ANTONIO TREVISANO was next elected, in whose time 
1553  notwithstanding that all the Princes of Italy were engaged in some war or other, yet the Republic was peaceful and quiet; This Duke being at Mass one morning, died suddenly of a faintness in the head.  
FRANCISCO VENIERI succeeded next, in whose time Charles the 
1554  Emperor being tired with labour, and weary of the world, resigned the Empire to his brother Ferdinand, and all the rest of his Dominions to his son Philip the second, reserving to himself an annuity of a hundred thousand crowns, and so retired to a Monastery: some write that he was sorry for it afterwards, and that his son should say, That the second day of his resignation was the first day of his repentance, this happened in the year 1554.  
LORENZO PRIULI then was created Duke, a great learned man, in 
1556  whose time after a long funestous war, a peace was concluded 'twixt France and Spain much by the endeavours of the Republic.  
JEROMINO PRIULI succceeded next in the Principality: in 
1567.  his time the Council of Trent begun, Anno Dom. 1560. and broke off, Pius the fourth being Pope, who though by his own natural inclination he was meek and gentle, yet being importuned by the great complaints made unto him against his Predecessors Nephews, who during their Oncles' Papacy committed some extorsions, he thereupon committed to prison Charles, and Alphonso Caraffi both Cardinals, the Duke of Palliano their brother, and two others their near kinsmen, whose processes being formed and considered by the Judges deputed to that end, they were found guilty of sundry Crimes, in so much that Cardinal Charles was strangled in the Castle of S. Angelo, the Duke of Palliano with the other brother were beheaded in the Tower of Nona, and showed afterwards publicly to the people; Cardinal Alphonso was put only to a pecuniary amercement.  
The Republic sent to the Council of Trent Miolo de Ponte, and Matteo Dandulo, men much renowned, to represent the State, and above twenty Venetian Bishops assisted there besides; but as the Counsel was newly opened, a strange thing happened at Rome, for certain young men were incited by a Vision, which they gave out they had received from Angels: It was, that another diviner man should succeed the Pope now living, who should be the only Monarc of the world, commanding both the spiritual and temporal Jurisdiction, and should bring all men to an exact knowledge of the true God; they being desirous to have it suddenly come to pass, not tarrying till the Pope should die a natural death, resolved to massacre and dispatch him; one of their number called Benedetto Accolto undertook to do it as he was reading of a Petition, but when it came to the point of execution, he was daunted so, that he retired in a trembling posture; whereupon one of the Conspirators fearing that they should be detected, went to the Pope and opened the whole business; so that they were all apprehended and executed.  
The Gulf was mightily infected with Pirates in this Duke's time, but the Republic did quickly remedy it, sending great Fleets abroad to scour the Adriatic, and secure trade.  
The Pope sent to the Venetian Senate, that the Inquisition might be established in their Dominions, to which end he employed a Nuncio of purpose, who urged it very pressingly; but they waved the business, alleging what miserable effects the pressing of the Inquisition had wrought both in Naples and Milan already; and their Republic thanks be to God, needed not such extraordinary means, they were generally such perfect Christians, but if any were convicted of any notorious Heresy, if they did not abjure their errors, there were Laws strict enough already to punish them.  
The Republic sent a splendid Embassy to congratulat Selym the new Turk, Martin Caballo was employed to that purpose, who made the following Speech unto the Emperor.  As much grief (most gracious Emperor) as the Venetian Reipublic, so highly affected to the Ottomans, hath received by the death of Solyman that glorious and wise Emperor, so much joy and contentment she hath received, to understand that divine power hath raised you to such a dignity, and placed you in the Throne belonging to the famous and most just family of the Ottomans; for it is most certain that the soul of Solyman doth at this present glory, not only for that he doth so much surpass all men in happiness, having been meek and gentle to the humble, liberal to his friends, and faithful to his Allies, but he rejoiceth to have left you his son behind him, far more excellent than himself; for he having been ever invincible, and never given place to any mortal wight, is not only at this time joyful, but likewise accounteth himself more honoured for being surmounted and overcome by his son in all virtues belonging to an Emperor. The excellency of so many great Monarches, your noble Ancestors, do invite us, or rather enforce us, most mighty Emperor, to expect as much good from you, the glory of the Ottomans, the high attempt of your Progenitors, every where so much renowned, doth draw us thereunto, and the fame of your forefathers, continued so many years without intermission, doth confirm it unto us: These things being thus, the Venetian Senate hath sent me hither to confirm and establish the same friendshid and alliance which hath ever been betwixt the Ottoman Empire and our Republic, and this amity with your most excellent Majesty ought to be the more pleasing unto you, by how much it is more ancient, confirmed by sundry good offices on either part, and continued for so many years; for indeed all worldly things do in tract of time corrupt and grow feeble, and still new things are found best, but friendship being a sacred and divine thing, and which cannot be but amongst good and just men, the older it is, the more perfect and durable it is: Our Republic then being endued by these reasons, doth continually pray unto Almighty God for your health and prosperity. 
This Ambassador was dismissed with extraordinary respect, having rich garments, Terra sigillata and Balsamum, with divers other precious things bestowed upon him.  
PIETRO LOREDANO was allotted and chosen to be the next Duke: 
1567.  the City of Venice, in the beginning of his government, was oppressed both with fire and famine, for the Arsenal was burnt. The great Turk having notice hereof by a Jew, john Miches by name, was advised by him to attempt the taking of the Island of Cyprus, though the gran Visier with other of the Bassas held it a more glorious thing for him to relieve the afflicted moors of Granada in Spain; but in regard that no Gran Signior is respected as absolute Emperor, till he hath built a Mesquite, or performed some great exploit against the Christians; Selym being transported with the counsel of the said Jew, broke the League of peace with the Repubic, and invaded Cyprus.  
The Venetian Republic having timely notice hereof, send an increase of Forces to Cyprus, and solicit most of the Christian Princes, to enable her against the brunt of the common enemy; she increaseth the number of the Procurators of S. Mark, and admitted divers young Gentlemen under age into the Senate, provided they would supply the Republic in this extremity with certain sums of money.  
PIETRO LOREDANO had the beginning of his Government ushered in by two ill-favoured disasters; for the Arsenal of Venice was set on fire, which falling among the pitch and tar, with other combustible stuff, made a most hideous noise far and near; after which followed an intolerable dearth, insomuch, that for the peeples relief they were forced to employ the Magazine which was reserved for the Fleets; The great Turk having intelligence hereof by john Miches a pernicious Jew who was turned Turk, and incited also by his Council, apprehended this opportunity to pick a quarrel with the Republic, and to demand the Island of Cyprus, or else he denounced war against them; some Chronicles report that Selym a little before sent to the Duke of Savoy to incite him to recover that Island which did of right belong unto him, and he promised to assist him in the enterprise, but the Savoyard would not hearken to it.  
Herupon Selym himself resolved upon it, and armed accordingly; wherupon the Venetian Bailio which was resident at Constantinople, not daring to send advertisement by Land for fear his Letters should be intercepted, made his address to Bassa Mahomet, who was ever averse to this design, hoping thereby to obtain his desire: He told the Bassa how ill beseeming it would be for the Majesty and generosity of so great a Prince to invade those on a sudden and unexpected, who upon his word and oath thought themselves firm and safe; as though when time and occasion would be offered he could want Forces to employ against them for the recovery of that which might justly belong unto him, against whom he ought first to proceed by way of Justice, and next by force, using first gentle means before he did take arms. Herupon by the advice of Mahomet Bassa the gran Visier Selym sent a Chiaus to Venice, who being admitied to a private audience, was brought to the Senate, and according to the usual custom, being placed on the Duke's right hand, he kissed his gown, and after divers reverences, he presented a purse of gold tissue, wherein were the Emperor's Letters, saying, Most excellent Sir, this is a Letter from my Lord, when you are acquainted with his demand I expect an answer; The Duke answered it should be so. The Cwiaus being at a stand because he had no other answer, addressed himself to the Senators, saying,  
My Lords, Mahomet the Visier Bassa hath commanded me to tell you that he is very sorry, that an occasion is offered that he must break with you, having ever sought to continue your friend, but complaints coming so often to the Port, and from so many places, of the unfriendly dealing of the Officers belonging to this State, and specially of the kind entertainment and reception given to the Western pirates at Cyprus, who this very year have done great hurt to the Musulmans hath taken such impressions in the mind of the great Lord, and so often provoked him against this Commonwealth, finding that complaints made hereof to your Baylio hath taken little effect, that he could detain himself no longer from denouncing war against you; and because you cannot hold out long against the arms of so potent a Prince, he adviseth you as a friend to take some course to shield you from so many dangers; and to this end he hath procured my coming hither, offering to do all he may, that ye may avoid this mighty stroke offortune, and continue your ancient friendship with the great Lord.  
The Prince replied, that the Senate had resolved on an Answer which should be read unto him, that he might the better understand and know their intentions, which was done by Antonio Milladonna Secretary to the Council, which was thus, That the Senate did extremely marvel, that his Lord being no way by them provoked, nor upon any just cause, would violate that oath whereby he had so solemnly confirmed the peace, taking now for a pretence to make war upon them, because they would not give away a Kingdom which they had so many years lawfully and peaceably enjoyed, wherewith he might be well assured they would never part; but seeing that he was determined to proceed against them in that manner, the Republic would not fail to defend that which did belong unto her, hoping by so much more to be the better able to do it, by how much the justice of their cause would procure them all aid and succour, both divine and human, and so the Chiaus was dismissed with an Answer to his Letter, which was as followeth.  
That the Venetians had inviolably maintained the peace concluded with his Imperial Majesty, and contemned all other respects whatsoever, by refusing many fair opportunities, whereof they might have made good use to their extraordinary advantage, because that above all worldly things, it befits a Prince to keep his promise; and they being careful to avoid all suspicion of so great an infamy, had dissembled and buried in silence divers wrongs done unto them, because they would not be the first disturbers of the peace; but now perceaving that upon no occasion he denounced war against them at such a time as they lest expected it, they would not refuse it, for the defence of their own, and in particular for defence of the Island of Cyprus, which as their Ancestors had enjoyed by so just a title, they did likewise hope that God would give them grace to maintain it valiantly against all those that would injustly take it away from them.  
The Chiaus being returned to Constantinople, Selym took it in high indignation, that the usual Ceremonies used to Ambassadors were not performed to his Chiaus Cubat, who coming before him, and relating what preparations the Republic made, he seemed to repent himself of his determination, and fell into a great heat of passion; thereupon there were guards put upon the Bailios' Palace, as also upon all the Venetian Consuls in Egypt, and Syria.  
LODOVICO MOCENIGO was elected the next Duke, at the beginning 
1570  of whose government the Turk sent mighty forces both by Land and Sea for the conquest of Cyprus; the I'll of Rhodes was the first rendezvous of the whole Fleet, which came to more than two hundred armed Vessels, accounting one hundred fifty Galleys, together with Fusts and Galeots, among which there were certain Mahonnes, which are like to great Galleys, not altogether so big as a Galeon, six Ships, and a great number of Vessels commonly called Caramussolini, and some fifty Palandaries to transport horse.  
This Fleet bended its direct course towards Cyprus, was descried near Batto the first of july, 1570. they dispatch eighty Galleys, and divers flat battomed Vessels to Tripoli, and to the river of Caramania, there to raise more horse and foot forces, all which arriving in Cyprus, made up the number of fifty thousand foot, two thousand five hundred horse, three thousand pioneers, and thirty pieces of Ordnances, with one hundred and fifty Falconets.  
The ordinary Garrison of the Island was but two thousand Italian foot, and some thousand recreuts sent from the firm Land with Martinengo, two thousand fresh soldiers, many whereof perished by incommodious transportation, so that the greatest hopes of being able to defend the Towns and Castles, consisted in the fresh supplies, which the Island herself, being populous, had promised to levy, and for Cavalry, there were but five hundred Stradiots which were upon the pay of the Republic.  
Things being thus, and sufficient forces wanting to repel so huge an enemy, the Cavalry was too weak to hinder his landing, and the Infantry too few, therefore resolution was taken to defend the two main Cities, Famagosta and Nicotia. The two chief Commanders of the Turkish Army was Mustapha and Piali, whereof the first was of a fierce fiery spirit; these two differed in opinion which to besiege, first Piali was for Famagosta, but Mustapha was for Nicotia, saying, that the reputation of so great an Army as theirs, ought not to be blemished by attempting any mean enterprise, thereby to increase the enemy's courage, and diminish their own; that the Genoese had for ninety years held Famagosta at the same time as the Kings of the Family of Lusignan commanded the Island, whereby might be gathered, that the taking of that City would be of no great importance for the taking of the whole Island; that the Nobility, and the better part of the people were retired to Nicotia, where all the wealth and strength of the Kingdom was; so as that only exploit being performed, would quickly put a period to all the rest, and their first atchieument give an end to all their designs: so they invested Nicotia, a City seated in the midst of a Campane in a wholesome temperate air; she hath excellent water, and the soil is very fruitful: In former times 'twas nine miles in compass, but the Venetian the better to fortify it, reduced it to three; She is proportioned like a Star, with eleven points; in every one of which there is a bulwark made only of earth, which were not perfectly finished when the Ottoman Army arrived, but the rules of fortification were so exactly observed, as the greatest Engines accounted it the most absolute piece in the world: There were in the City ten thousand foot, among whom were fifteen hundred Italians, and the rest were Cypriots; some contestation happened in Nicotia among the chief Commanders, but in Mustapha's Army there was a wonderful unanimity and obedience, who among other choice men had six thousand Janissaries, and four hundred Spahies picked out of purpose for that expedition. Mustapha gives a fierce assault to four Bulwarks at once, and they of the City making a sally upon the enemy under Andrea Cortese a Stradiot Captain, he was taken prisoner, and as soon as he was brought before Mustapha his head was chopped off.  
The Turks pursue their batteries with such a resolution, that they made themselves masters of all the Bulwarks, and so quickly rushed into the Town, where the Governor and Bishop, with the better sort, had retired into the Palace; and having received Mustapha's word for the safety of their lives, so soon as they had opened the gates, the rabble fell in upon them, and put them all to the edge of the sword; which being done, they ran confusedly, and without Ensigns up and down the City, seeking, spoiling and ruining all things, (except Churches) dishonouring wives, ravishing Virgins, and massacring all as they went without distinction of sex or age, so that there was slain that day above twenty thousand Christian souls they who were reserved were chained together, and haled over the bodies of their dead friends (reaking with hot blood) to prison. Thus was the famous City of Nicotia after fourteen day's siege taken and sacked, a place that had flourished in great pomp and pleasure for many ages.  
The Turks did afterwards with much ease become Lords of Cyprus, Famagosta excepted, whither Mustapha marched soon after, and encamped himself three miles from the City, causing his horse to make daily incursions to the very gates, bearing the head of the chiefest Nicotians upon their Lances points to daunt the soldiers, who were rather the more encouraged for revenge; so that when he made nearer approaches to the walls, they made many sallies out, and did notable execution upon the enemy; with their Ordnance they demolished three Forts which had been raised by Mustapha, but it turned to their prejudice afterward; for thereby they spent above fifty thousand pound weight of powder, which they afterwards wanted.  
Winter now approaching, and Mustapha having intelligence of a great League which was like to be between the Christian Princes, Mustapha did often, and by divers insinuating ways, solicit the City to hearken to some agreement touching their rendition, but the Captains and inhabitants of Famagosta would hearken to no parley at all; but sent to the Venetian Senate, entreating them not to treat with the bloody barbarous enemy, but to send them more forces, for they resolved to sell their lifes as dearly as ever Christians did.  
There was then at Suda in Candy, a great Fleet of Christian Galleys, both Venetian, Spanish and Roman, united by a late League; there was a consultation among the chief Commanders what to do, some held it was best to assault some places belonging to the Turk, thereby to enforce the enemy to quit Cyprus, and come to the rescue of their own: but Zanne the Venetian General was of another opinion, persuading them to sail directly to Cyprus, alleging that the principal design of that Fleet was to preserve that Island, which was in so desperate a condition, that if they directed their course elsewhere, 'twas impossible to keep her from utter ruin: That the probablest and most magnanimous way was to find out the enemy's Fleet, because that upon report of their coming the Turks would be enforced to quit their Land enterprises, and retire to their Navy, for the defence thereof; which if they should not do, they were then sure to find their Galleys empty in the haven exposed to their mercy: He added further, That though haply the enemy was more in number of vessels and men, nevertheless they were without all doubt in goodness of shipping, as also in courage and goodness of quarrel far superior unto them; moreover to approach the enemy's Fleet, though no other profit should ensue thereof, would increase their own reputation, whereas on the contrary to turn away from them would argue fear and cowardice; That it was no sound advice to lose his own first, upon hope to get it of another man.  
These reasons being well enforced, were approved by every one as agreeable to the Senate's Decree, whereupon the whole Fleet, consisting of an hundred eighty light Galleys, namely one hundred twenty four of the Venetians, forty five of the King of Spain's, and twelve of the Popes, besides twelve great Galleys, and fourteen Venetian men of war, with great number of other vessels of burden, which carried ammunition, with other necessaries, in which Fleet there were fifteen thousand mercenary footmen, besides great numbers of volunteers, and most of them Gentlemen; this Fleet I say hoist sails, and sailed with a fair wind towards Cyprus, and in three days came to Castelrosso, which is seated on a rock, opposite to Carimania, some hundred and fifty miles from Famagosta; there they received the heavy news of the taking of Nicotia, which did much trouble them; thereupon a Council was called the next day, wherein Doria the Spanish Admiral openly protested, That he would return home, saying, that he came from Candy with a design to relieve Nicotia, which being lost, the cause of his journey ceased, and that he knew no other reason to expose them to the hazard of a battle; for the enemies being thereby grown more insolent, would quickly embark themselves not only to repel, but to assail us; He added further, the unfitness of the season, winter drawing on, and the special charge he had for preserving his Fleet by the command of his Catholic Majesty: so Doria took his leave of the rest, not a little to his dishonour, and directed his course for Puglio, and so to Sicily.  
Colonna the Pope's Admiral, and Zanne desirous to do something▪ remained still together, but having intelligence that Piali the Turks Admiral was with his whole Fleet making towards them, they weighed anchors and made for Candy.  
Though the Republic had ill luck at Sea, and in Cyprus this year, yet there were some 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 ensigns they would run unto them, and become their subjects for security; whereof they would give them their chiefest children for hostages: so the Governors of Autivari, Dulcigna and Budua, did in the name of the Republic receive the Oath of Allegiance of more than one hundred Towns and Villages.  
While poor Cyprus and her chief City Famagosta was upon making her last will, the renewing of the League was treated at Rome, which the haughty spirit of the Spaniard did much retard. The Pope in his hortative offered to go upon the Fleet; among other things, the Spaniard proposed that the Venetians should be bound upon pain of Ecclesiastical censures, to observe in every point that which should be resolved on in the League, as though they had suspected the Republics integrity; whereunto the Venetian Ambassadors gave a round and stout Answer; they did moreover contend about a Generalissimo, the Spaniard proposing not only to nominat him but his Lieutenant also, who in his absence should have the same authority: this did much distract the Treaty; there was another rub besides in the business, which was a darkness that was like to be 'twixt the Emperor and the Pope, for conferring a new Title upon the Duke of Florence, which the Emperor would not allow of.  
There 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, General Colonna the Pope's General was sent from Rome to dissuade 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 Senate, 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. Peter's Church, the League was published, 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 College of Cardinals, Philip the Catholic King, and the Duke and Senate of Venice, a League and perpetual confederacy hath been made to abate and overthrow the Turks power, who of late hath invaded with a mighty Army the Realm of Cyprus, a Country very commodious for the conquest of the Holy Land. That the Confederates forces shall consist of two hundred light Galleys, 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 well of the confederate States, as to assail the enemy, and particularly for the enterprise of Algiers, 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 pass into the Levant against the enemies, as Times, and the Council of Captains shall think fit; that th●…se Forces nevertheless may be changed by increasing or diminishing the provisions of war, as necessity and the quality of the enterprise shall require; whereupon a yearly meeting shall be at Rome in Automn, there to consult what is best to be done; and if it shall there be concluded not to attempt anything that year in common, yet it might be lawful for every of the Confeder●…s to execute their particular enterprises, specially for the King of Spain, to enterprise those of Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli; in which, so that there be no mighty Turkish Army abroad, the Venetians shall be bound to aid the King with fifty Galleys of purpose: That the said King shall be likewise bound to aid the Venetians, whensoever they shall enterprise any thing in their Gulf against the common enemy; on this condition nevertheless, if he which shall crave this aid have far greater forces ready. That all the Confederates shall be obliged 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 expense of the war, his Catholic Majesty shall pay one half, and the other moiety being divided into three parts, the Venetian shall pay two, and the Pope the third: They shall be bound to give the Pope twelve Galleys ready rigged and munitioned, which his Holiness shall man for the service of the League; that generally each of the Confederates shall be bound to contribut for the common necessity, whatsoever he shall abundantly have, and others want, which afterwards shall be allowed upon account: that the Storehouses for corn shall ●…e every where open for the common good, and that grain may be taken forth out of commodious places, so that he of whom 'tis taken make first his own provision: that at Counsels and Consultations the Commanders of the three Consederat Princess shall be present, and what the most of them resolve upon shall be concluded; nevertheless the execution of matters determined shall remain to the General of the Army (who was presently named, 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 Church's General.  
In this League, which was struck 1570. there was a place reserved for Maximilian of Austria the elect Emperor, for the King of France, and the King of Portugal to enter into the confederacy when they should think it fit, and to all other Christian Princes, who had a desire to engage in it, and in case any strife should arise▪ 'twixt the Confederates, 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 straightened, the Republic sent thither Marc Antonio Quirini with four Ships, attended by twelve Galleys, to carry supplies thither, who safely landed sixteen hundred foot, with great store of victuals and munition in Famagosta, which did beyond expression encourage them▪ and whilst he remained there, he took a Ship of the enemies, with other smaller Vessels, and razed certain Forts which the Turks had raised upon the rock of Gambella; there was another supply of eight hundred fresh men sent to Baillone the Governor of Famagosta in other Ships a little after.  
The Turk made some overtures of peace again to the Venetians, which they would not hearken unto, in regard of the new League; hereupon there came another formidable Fleet of two hundred and fifty Galleys again to perfect the conquest of Cyprus, which arriving at Candy did ravage the Country; but beaten out with loss, they rowed up and down, and pillaged divers other places in Zant and Cephalonia; at last Don john of Austria arrives at Genoa with his promised supplies, whence he sent to Venice to acquaint them of his arrival, and thank them for their good opinion of him.  
The Turks after the taking of Nicotia had deferred the siege of Famagosta by reason of Winter, but as soon as the next Spring approached, they replanted the siege, and with sixty four great pieces of Ordnance, with four huge Basilisco's they did batter the place night and day. The besieged did for ten day's space make so furious a counter-Battery, as they made fifteen of the enemy's Canons unserviceable, and ●…lew thirty thousand of their men: At last their powder failing them, they could not be so active; which the inhabitants understanding they went in a hubub to the Governor, that he would propounda Treaty with the cruel foe to save their wives and children; so there being Commissioners employed on both sides, it was agreed upon, that the Christian Soldiers should be conveyed to Candy in Turkish vessels, carrying with them their arms and baggage, with five pieces of Ordnance, and three horses belonging to the three chief Commanders. That the inhabitants who were desirous to depart, might do the like, and those who would continue there should have assurance given them to enjoy their goods, and to live in their Christian Religion still. These Articles being signed by Mustapha, there were forty vessels appointed to transport the Soldiers and inhabitants; but as soon as the Turks entered the City, they began to offer violence: whereupon Bragadini sent Martinengo to Mustapha, to complain of the Soldiers; Mustapha entertained him kindly, desiring to know so valiant a Captain, and to confer with him: Bragadini giving credit to these sugared words, being accompanied with Martinengo, and Quirini, and attended on by sundry Captains all on horseback, with some four musqueteers, go to Mustapha's Tent: Bragadini road foremost under a crimson umbrella clothed in purple, wearing his usual robe of Magistrate, who being come to Mustapha's pavilion▪ left their weapons at the door; and being entered were courteously entertained by Mustapha; who cau'sd them to sit down, among other discourses he craved caution for the vessels that were sent to Candy; Bragadini having made answer that no such thing was mentioned in the Articles, and besides he had no man there with him who he could leave for pledge behind him; Mustapha pointing at Quirini said, let that man be pledge; Bragadini constantly maintained the contrary, and told him he could not justly detain any of them, Mustapha waxing impatient, and being no longer able to master his choler, did fiercely thunder many injurious speeches against him, commanded them all to be manacled, then thrusting them forth of his Tent, he caused his Soldier to murder before his face, Baillone, Martinengo, Quirini and all the rest before Bragadini's face, who was reserved for a greater torture, having before his death endured many martyrdoms: they forced him twice or thrice to offer his neck, as though they would have chopped off his head, which they did not do, but only cut off his nose and ears. Count Hercules who had been sent formerly for Hostage, being likewise manacled, was likewise bound, but hid by Mustapha's Eunuch till his fury was passed; all the rest of the Christian soldiers were also bound, and those which were already shipped were made Gallie-slaves, and despoiled of their goods. Two days Mustapha entered the City, where he commanded Tepulo to be pulled up, and hanged at the Yards Arm of a Galley; then causing Bragadini, who was so pitifully mangled and dismembered, to be brought before him, he was loaden with two baskets full of earth, the one before, the other behind, and was made to carry them to the great Breach, making him to kiss the ground so oft as he passed by him; thence he was hurried away into a Galley of Rhodes, where he was bound in a Chair, with a Crown at his feet, and so hoist up to the Main-yard of the Galley, that he might be the better discerned of the Slaves and Christian soldiers that were in the Haven: being thence brought back to the City with Drums and Trumpets into the Market place, he was there stripped of his clothes, and most ignominiously laid upon a Scaffold, where they fell a flaying of him alive; the Noble gentleman enduring all things with invincible patience and magnanimity, without any murmuring, only taxing the perfidious Bassa with perjury and Breach of Faith, at last expired, when the bloody executioners had come with their knives as far as his navel; then was his skin stuffed with straw, and carried round about the City, 'twas afterward hung at the Yard Arm of a galeot all along the Coasts of Syria, as he returned to Constantinople.  
Such was the immanity and barbarousness of Mustapha at the taking▪ of Famagosta, where he had lost during the siege above thirty thousand men; and so was the famous and delicate I'll of Cyprus, the parent of the Queen of Love, ravished, and made a slave to the Mahometan, to the great reproach of all Christian Princes, who were consulting all the while upon a League, and standing upon Puntillios'.  
But the triumvirate Admirals of the League, Don john of Austria, Sebastian Venieri, and Marc Antonio Colonna, met at last at Messina in Sicily, where there was bandings of opinions on all sides, how to employ those Fleets upon such an enterprise that might tend to advantage and honour, the main debate was whither they should oppress the enemy by some actual invasion, or stand upon the defensive part for the preservation of their own Territories; hereupon Bernardino de Requiseus, Don john Oracle, with a clear voice, and grave gesture and countenance spoke as followeth, addressing his Speech to Don john.  Your Highness, most excellent Prince, in commanding my opinion before these more sufficient Commanders, observes the rules of feasts, where the coursest meats are tasted first; my Council may perhaps be less pleasing, yet as wholesome as any others; The question is, Whether we must assault the Enemy by Sea, or keep him from infesting us by Land? this will be best resolved of, when we have made a true discovery and comparison of his forces with ours; if we be stronger 'twill be more honourable to invade; if weaker, 'twill be more fitting to repel; what the number of the enemy's Galleys is we may see; how those Galleys are armed we may conjecture; and how those men are fleshed and heightened with late successes we need not doubt: Let us take heed, that while we seek to revenge our harms, we do not aggravate them, nor lose in striving to recover; it were a perpetual infamy that such a Fleet should return without performance of any thing, but it were not only a shame, but an utter undoing not to ●…eturn at all: the Commonwealth were better to want the interest than the principal; this Fleet is the surest anchor of hopes, and to lose it, would endanger the wrack of all Italy; let us not therefore offer to fight, unless some advantage of time and place be offered us, and counterpoise on our sides the odds of strength on theirs; nothing can be to us of greater importance, than the preservation of the Fleet itself: The storminess of Winter will shortly calm the fury of the Turk, in the mean time it will be a degree of victory to limit and stop the course of theirs: This, most excellent General, is my opinion, whereunto I am not yet so wedded, but that clearer judgement may divorce me. 
This by some cooler tempers was heard with a kind of applause, but of the Noble 〈◊〉 with disdain, which yet was modestly smoothed by Barbarico, as followeth.  I deny not, most excellent General, and you my Noble Lords, but that the last Speech w●…s enriched and fortified by strong Arguments, wherein if there be any defect, it proceeds not from too little judgement, but from too much care and tenderness of the Christian State, a zeal which not only excuseth, but almost justifieth and endears his error: I confess that to assault an enemy with a weaker power were to betray it, but wherein appears it that we are the weaker? if they exceed us in number of Galleys, we excel them in strength and swiftness; if they exceed us in multitudes of men, we them in courage and Discipline; he thinks their victories have added much to their courage, I think it hath drawn more from their strength; questionless our men in Cyprus, and other places, held their Altars, Liberties, Wives, Children, Wealth, Houses and lives at too high a rate to deliver them up gratis; the●… have found the Christian Markets dear; nay, their victories may haply beget ours, breeding in them not as much animosity, as security and presumption, which useth to be their own traitor: Was this Fleet built and united with such infinite care, cost and difficulty, presently to dissolve and break up, as if we had met but to salute one another, or went only to Sea to purge and return? or shall we stay only to look on our enemies, as if we could destroy them like Basilisks? but winter will cool their heat: were we not better quench it now, that it may not break out again the next Spring: will not this Crocodile which devours us both by Land and Sea, fattened with Christian blood and spoil, wax stronger by a years growth? if we be too weak for him now, how shall we resist him then? how shall we look ourselves, nay heaven in the face, or lift up our eyes to it, not daring to lift up our hands against its enemies? But I surfeit your ears with persuasions, needless to such judgements and resolutions; your Father's imperial Majesty displayed in your brow, promiseth the same magnanimity in your breast; there is (I know) too much Caesar in you to have the patience not to fight: Make haste then most illustrious Prince, to reap the fruit of a victory with your sword. 
This was the sense of the Noble Venetian, which the Speakers repute, and graceful delivery gave more life and strength unto; it was afterwards confirmed by Carnia a Spaniard, the sympathy between whose tongue and the Genaralls' ear furthered perhaps his resolution to fight, willing that so Noble a Council might be rather attributed to one of the Nation, then to Barbarico: Carnia's Speech in effect was this:  There are three Motives, most magnificent General, which without imputation of fear or omission of duty, may induce a Commander to decline battle: First a disproportion between the benefit of victory, and prejudice of overthrow on either part; in this respect the Duke of Alva did politicly abstain from encountering the Guise in Naples when they could lose but their Army, but the Spaniard his Army, and Kingdom of Naples: Secondly, if he foresee an easier and cheaper means to dissolve the adverse Army then by battle; thus did your highness' Father, Charles' the Emperor of sacred memory, break the neck of the Lutheran Armies in Germany: Lastly, the inequality of strength, he being the weaker, and likely to miscarry in the attempt, whereof there are so many precedents, that I need allege none; but neither of these can be applied to divert us from battle, where if we prevail we recover our own again, and haply Greece herself for interest; if fight valiantly we be overcome, yet shall we in the conflict so far weaken and maim the enemy, that we shall sooner arm a defensive Navy than he an offensive, and more easily secure our own, than he make any further impression on it. Touching protraction, the winter will indeed dissolve his Fleet, but so that it will bud forth again the next Spring perhaps a greater, and get the start of our Navy, his being united by Nation, ours by combination. Touching inequality of force, it is propable we exceed them more in men, than they us in vessels, for he must needs consume many men, in taking so many strong Towns and Forts, and employ many in keeping them; neither are the scars of the late pestilence healed among them, therefore my advice is, the Galleys of Candy being ●…om, that you hasten to Corfu, by which they must needs pass, least having intelligence of your resolution to fight, they prevent the danger of encountering, and carry from you the fruits of their own victory, and the opportunity of ours. 
Don john after this serious consultation concluded to assail the Turkish Fleet, and attempt to intercept their harvest of Cyprus, with other maritin parts of Christendom ere they should house it; therefore departing from Messina, and being launched out to open Sea, he composed his Galleys to that form of battle which he intended to observe in fight; so marshalling and exercising them before, that every Squadron might know his place, and every Galley his Squadron, and be able to transform themselves to all figures without confusion, when occasion should require. Two days after they arrived at the Cape of Colonnes, where they came to anchor by reason of a contrary wind, as also because they were to take their fresh supplies of men; in the mean time they dispatched three Venetian Galleys to Corfu, to make discovery of the Turkish Fleet, who brought news that they had passed along in view of Zant, and entered into the Gulf of Lepanto.  
Herupon, though with some difficulty, by reason of contrary winds, they put to Sea, and the seventeenth of September arrived at Corfu, where an ill-favoured accident happened, for Don john having sent Doria to survey the Army, and finding some Venetian companies not complete, he distributed among them certain numbers of Spaniards, whereof Mutius Tortona commanded one band, who being a man of turbulent spirit, raised a mutiny, so that they fell from words to blows, whereupon by Venieri the Venetian General's command, Tortona and his Ensign were hanged by Martial Law: Don john being a little too indulgent of his Countrymen the Spaniards, complained, That his authority was more contemned by Venieri, than Venieries by Tortona, for which if there were not honourable satisfaction given, he would take it himself, and teach Venieri, that though he respected the honour of the Republic, he would not neglect his own; Venieri protested on the other side, that he did it not to deerogate from the Authority of the General any way, but to preserve his own, and prevent the sudden confusion of the mutiny, looking upon the offender not as a Spaniard, but as a mut●…neer; he affirmed further, that if the General should take this necessary piece of justice as an occasion to break the League, which was applied as a means to keep it, it would be manifest that not devotion but ambition diverted him from this honourable action; as for violence, he should find him as dangerous an enemy, as otherwise a necessary friend.  
Colonna the Pope's Admiral fearing what this might grow unto, used his intercession to atone the difference, conjuring Don john, in whom he found great obstinacy of discontent and estrangement, and telling him the act was just, though sudden like the occasion, and that suddenness is necessary in dangers of so swift extension, which having once got the start, remedy could hardly overtake them: That mutiny in an Army was of as instant conveyance as a gangrene in the body; if the party infected were not presently cut off, it endangered the whole; that this was no intrusion on the General's authority, for an under-Admiral in his own Squadron to execute a private offender: that indeed he had no cause of offence, & if he had cause▪ he had no leisure to entertain it: that the enemy's strength could not so much endanger them, as their own division weaken them; that as nothing could heap more honour upon him then the suppressall of the enemy, so nothing could lay fouler aspersion then to lose this opportunity of doing it; therefore if he could not cashier his passion, he should employ it against the common enemy.  
These persuasions, strong, though not bitter, moved Don john then to abstain from the effects of choler, but not to extinguish it, so that by reason of this distaste with Venieri, he communicated all things afterwards to Barbar●…co.  
From Co●…fu the whole Fleet held her course to Cephalonia, and thence to the Gulf of Lepanto, and drawing ne'er to the place, and discovering the enemy, and resolved to assail him, Don john commanded the decks to be cleared, chests stowed, those Cabins which might be an impediment to the Combatant taken down, the rest that might be receptacles to cowards locked up, leaving neither excuse for his men, nor advantage for the enemy; and as he prepared all essentials, so he neglected no ●…maginary or opinionat part of defence or offence; therefore knowing that strength was the beauty of an Army, but bravery the Ensign of that strength, his men were richly armed, and his Galleys suitable to his men, both carrying the badge of triumph, and the face of victory, displaying magnanimity and confidence, like a bright, though dreadful flame. And because he might husband the small remainder of time to the utmost mi●…t, he caused victuals to be proportioned to his men mode●…atly, not superfluously, far from the swinish custom of some Northerly Nations, who (as if wine were the nurse of val●…r, as oil to a lamp) against any fight, knock out the heads of their barrels, and drink reason out of their own heads, and so reel aboard, sometimes tumbling upon victory, but seldom upon honour, which ever derives herself from virtue: This Noble temperate Captain than not taking intemperance to be the Fountain of resolution, did therefore distribute as much to his soldiers as might strengthen their bodies, not weaken their judgement, and breed co●…age in them, not rage, which being with more speed than ceremony ended, he with a countenance and habit becoming such a place and person, descended into his Barge, wherein he passed through the body of the Fleet, being ranged in form following.  
It consisted of four principal distinct parts, viz. two wings, the main battalion, and the reserve of succours: In the right wing were contained fifty three Galleys, whereof Doria was Admiral, bearing in his main top a green flag; the left wing was composed of an equal number of Galleys commanded by Augustino Barbarico, with a yellow flag on the starboard side of the top; In the main battle were included sixty one Galleys, wherein Don john himself was distinguished by a sky-coloured flag: the two wings and the main battle were 167. Galleys strong; so placed, that the two wings carried forward the body in equal part, the one not forsaking the other, yet 'twixt all three there was sufficient distance to admit three or four Galleys a breast, without falling foul either on themselves, the wings, or the main battle; as well to give way to those supplies of resc●…es which should be needful in any part, as to transform the whole battle itself into any figure without confusion: The Marquis of Santa Cruz bearing a white flag in his Poop, conducted the reserve for succours, consisting of thirty eight Galleys, out of which were deducted eight, commanded by Don john de Cardona Prec●…sor of the whole Fleet, who running about twenty miles before the rest by swift Frigates, signified unto the General whatsoever was necessary to be known in their discovery, with commandment when they descried the Turkish Navy, to retire and imp themselves to the two wings in equal division, Cardona to the right wing. The Gall●…sses and Argozies were half a mile before the Galleys, two before the right wing, two before the left, and two before the middle battle, every Galleass a mile before each other; the first were commanded by Ambrosio and Antonio Bragadini, the second by jacomo G●…ori, and Antonio Duodi, the third by Andrea Pisara, and Pietro Pisano: the use of these greater vessels (being fortified with plenty of Ordnance, and lined with multitude of small shot) was to receive the first fury of the enemy's Fleet passing by, that being weakened and disordered by them, the next charge might be more safe and easy: and in respect they were huge and unwieldy Vessels unapt for oars, every Galeasse was rowed by two several Galleys whensoever they were becalmed, and had lost the use of their sails; the Galeasse of Antonio Duodi was towed by the General and Colonna; the Galeasse of Giacomo Guori was towed by Venieri, and Christophoro Lieni, the Galeasse of Ambrosio Bragadini by Augustin Barberigo; the Galeasse of Antonio Bragadini by Antonio Canali; the Galeasse of Andrea Prsano by the Prior of Messina; the Galeasse of Pietro Pisano by Andrea Doria. The General, like the heart in the body, was seated in the midst of the battle, guarded on the right side by Marc Antonio Colonna the Pope's Admiral, and on the left by Venieri: Colonna was flanked by the Admiral of Genoa, whereof Hector Spinola was Captain, associated by the Prince of Parma. Venieri was flanked by the Admiral of Savoy, commanded by Lieni, accompanied by the Prince of Urbino: Ast●…n the General, Colonna and Venieri were backed by a Galley named the Prince of Spain, and another belonging to the great Comendador of Castille; the right side of the main battle, opposite to the wing, was strengthened by the Admiral Galley of Malta, commanded by the Prior of Messina: the left side was commanded by a Galley called the Captain of Pietro Lomelino, by Paulo Vrsino: in the right wing Cardona seconded Andrea Doria: in the left wing Augustin Barbarico was supported on one hand by Marco Quirini, and on the other by Canali. Yet was the whole Fleet, though distinct in order, so intermixed in Nation, that neither the Spanish, Venetian or Papal Galleys could respect their particular safety.  
In regard that this was the most furious & greatest fight that ever was upon salt water, and the most successful that ever Christians had against the Turk, I shall be the more exact and punctual in the relation of it; therefore I shall here set down a Catalogue of the names of all Bottoms and chief Commanders in both the Fleets.  

The Galleys and Captains, who went before the Fleet, for dicsovery, were these,  Galleys. Captains. 1 The S. Magdalen of Venice, Marco Contarini. 2 The Sun of Venice, Vincente Quirini. 3 The Admiral of Sicily, Juan de Cordona. 4 The Vice-admiral of Sicily,  5 The Admiral, David Imperiali. 6 The Joannica of Sicily,  7 S. Catheina of Venice, Marco Cicogna. 8 The Lady of Venice, Pietro Francisco Maripietro. 
The Galleys and Captains of the left wing.  Galleys. Captains. The Admiral of Venice, Augustin Barbarico, Proveditor. The Vice-admiral of Venice, Antonio Canali, Proveditor. The Fortune of Venice, Andrea Barbarico. The Archer of Naples, Martino Pyrola. The Treble-hand of Venice, Georgio Barbarico. The Double-Dolphin of Candie, Francisco Zeno. The Lion and Phoenix of Canea, Francisco Mengano. S. Nichola of Cherso, Colanes Drase. The Victory of Naples, Octavio Roccardi. The Lomelina, Augustin Conevali. The Elengina of the Popes, Fabio Vulciati. The Lady of Canea, Philippo Polani. The Sea-horse of Candy, Antonio de Cubelli. The Double-Lion of Candy. Nicholo Fratello. The Lion of Istria, Dominico de Tucco. The Cross of Cephalonia, Marco Cimera. The S. Virginia of Cephalonia, Christophoro Crissa. The Lion of Candy, Francisco Bonaccio. The Christ of Candy, Andrea Cornelio. The Angel of Candy, Giovanni Angelo. The Pyramid of Candy, Francisco Buono. The L. of Candy with armed horse, Antonio Eudominiano. The Christ raised of Venice, Simone Gora. The Lesser Christ of Venice, Frederico Renieri. The Christ of Corfu, Christophoro Condocollo. The Christ raised of Canea, Georgio Calerga. The great Christ of Venice, Bart. Denato. The Christ raised of Vegia,  The Retimana, Nicholo Avonali. Galleys. Captains. The Christ of Candy, Giovanni Cornelio. The Christ raised again of Rhodes Francisco Zancaruolo. The Rodus of Canea, Francisco Molino. The S. Euphemia of Brescia, Horatio Fisogna. The La. Marquis of Doria, Francisco Sphedra. The Fortune of Andrew, Lodovico Belui. The Arm of Canea, Michael Visamano. The Sea-horse of Venice, Antonio Canali. The Christ of Canea, Daniel Calefattio. The Arm of Venice, Nicolo Lipamanno. Our Lady of Zant, Nicolo Modono. The Christ raised again, Francisco Zancaruolo. Our Lady of Venice, Marc Antonio Pisano. The Trinity, Gio. Contareni. The Flame of Naples, Juan Cuetta. The S. John of Naples, Garcia Vargaro. The Envy of Naples, Torribio Acaveso. The Valour of Naples, Michael Quixada. The S. Jocaba of Naples, Monferrato Guardiola. The S. Nicolaico of Naples, Christophoro Monguia. The Christ raised again of Venice Gio Bautista Quirini. The Angel of Venice, Umphredo Justiniano. The S. Dorothy of Venice, Paolo Mani. The Admiral of Venice, Antonio Quirini Proveditor. 
In the main Battle, were these Captains and Galleys▪  Galleys. Captains. The Admiral of Lomelina, Jordano Orsino. The Master Lomelina. Pietro Lomelino. The Admiral Bandmella, Bandinello Saulo. The Master of Genoa, Pollerano. The Toscuno of the Popes, Metello Caracciola. The Seaman of Vicenza, Gia. Dressano. Our Lady of Venice, Gio. Zeno. The S. Jeronimo of Lessina, Gio. Babzi. The Joannica of Venice, Antonio Collioneo. The Alexandrica of Bergamo, Georgio D'este The Admiral Marina, Jeronimo Canali. The Log of Venice, Berticaio Contareni. The Mongabell of Venice, Francisco Dandulo. The Virgin of Candy, Cypriano Marini. The Temperance of Doria, Vicenzo Paschali. The good Fortune of Naples,  The Castle of Spain, Baccia Pisano. Galleys. Captains. The Victory of the Popes,  The Pyramid, Antonio Uliana. The Christ of Venice, Jeromino Contareni The S. Francisco of Spain, Christophoro Guasches. The Peace of the Popes, Perpignano. The Pearl of Doria, Gio. Spinola. The Wheel of Venice, Gabriel Canali. The Pyramid of Venice, Francisco Buono. The Palm of Venice, Jeromnico Venieri. The Admiral of Gil Andruda, Cinoguerra. The Granado of Spain, Puolo Botenio. The Admiral of Genoa, Hector Spinola. The Admiral of Venice, Sebastian Venieri. The Galley Royal, Don John of Austria. The Admiral of the great Comendador,  The Pope's Admiral, Anto. Colonna. The Admiral of Savoy, Lieni. The Gri●…onia of the Popes, Alexandri Negroni. The S. Theodora of Venice, Theodoro Balbi. The Mendoza of Naples, Martino de Cayde. The Mount of Canca, Vizamano. The Gio. Bautista of Venice, Gio. Mocenigo. The Victory of Doria. Ph. Doria. The Pisana of the Popes, Hercole Lotta. The Figuera of Spain, Diego Lopes. The Christ of Venice, Georgio Pisano. The S. John of Venice, Daniele Moro. The Florence of the Popes, Tomaso de Medici. The George of Naples, Eugenio de Vargus. The Master of Naples, Francisco Benavides. The Moon of Spain, Emanuel Aguilar. The Passata of Venice, pietro Pisano. The Lion of Venice, Ludovico Pasqualio. The S. Jerom of Venice, Gasparo Maripietro. The Admiral of Grimaldi, Georgio Grimaldi. The Master of Da. Imperiali, Nicolo Lucano. The S. Christopher of Venice, Alexandro Contareni. The Judith of Zant, Marino Sicuro. The Larmelina of Candy, Pietro Gradonico. The middle Moon of Venice, Valerio Valerosso. The Doria of John Doria, Gia. Casali. The Order of S. Peter, Santabio. The Order of S. John, Lod. Tessera. The Admiral of Malta, The Prior of Messina. 
The right Wing.  Galleys. Captains. The Admiral of Sicily, Don Juan de Cordona. The Piemontan of Savoy, Octavio Moreto. The Admiral of Mic. Doria. Pandolpho Polydoro. The Force of Venice, Reniere Zeno. The Queen of Candy, Gio. Barbarico. The Nino of Venice, Polani. The Christ raised again of Venice, Benedict Soranza. The armed man of Retima, Andrea Calergo. The Eagle of Retima, Andrea Calergo. The Palm of Canea, Ja. Medio. The Angel of Corfu, Stellio Carciopula. The S. Joannica of Arbera, Gio. de Domeni. The Lady of Fravica, Lod. Cipico. The Ship of Venice, Antonio Pasqualio. The Lady of Candy, Foscarini. The Christ of Crema▪ Francisco Forneri. The S. Vittoria of Crema, Zorlano. The Master of Grimaldi, Lorenzo Treccia. The Master of Marini, Antonio Cornili. The Margaret of Savoy, Battaglino. The Diana of Genoa, Georgio Lasagna. The Gnigana of Naples, Gabriel Medino. The Moon of Naples, Julio Rubbi. The Fortune of Naples, Diego Madran. The Hope of Naples, Pietro Busto. The Fury of Lomelina, Ja. Chiappo. The Master of Lomelina, Georgio Greco. The Negrona, Nic. Constano. The Bastared Negrona, Lorenzo de Tani. The Fire of Candy, Je. Contareni. The Eagle of Candy, Je. Georgio. The S. Christopher of Venice, Andrea Trono. The Christ of Venice, Antonio Lando. The Hope of Candy, Antonio Buono. The Royalty of Padua, Buzacarinor. The S. Josefica of Venice, Francisco Oseda. The resolute of Naples, Giovanni Caraffa. The Sicil a of Sicily, Francisco Amadea. The Master of Nic. Doria, Jul. Centaurio. The Eagle of Corfu, Pietro Duono. The S. Trisonica of Catarra, Basanteo. The Tower of Vicenza, Lod. de Portu. The S. Mary of the Popes, Pandolfo Strozzi. Galleys. Captains. The S. Joannica of the Popes, Angelo Bifalio. The Master of Nigroni, Lod. Gumba, The Admiral of Nigroni, Amb. Nigroni. The Monarch of Jo. Andrew, Garibaldo. The Handmaid of Jo. Andrew, Mi. Imperiali. The Admiral of Gio. Doria, Gio. Andrea Doria. 
The reservation for succour placed behind as a Gard.  Galleys. Captains. The S. Joannica of Sicily,  The Buccana, Pietro Morilo. The Leena of Naples, Pietro di Lagia. The Constancy of Naples, Pietro di Lagia. The Marqueza of Naples, Juan Machado. The S. Barbara of Naples, Juan Ascaleo. The S. Andrea of Naples, Rufio de Velasques. The S. Caterina of Naples, Rufio de Velasques. The S. Ba●…ilmeo of Naples,  The S. Angelo of Naples, Juan de rupe Melino. The Terrana of Naples, Marco Mo●…no. The Christ of Venice, Gio. Loredano. The Double-hand of Venice, The marquis of Sancta Cruz. The Admiral of Naples,  The Faith of Venice, Contareni. The Pillar of Venice, Maripietro. The Magdalen of Venice, Lod. Balbi. The Lady of Venice, Gio. Benito. The Menidus of Venice, Filippo Leo. The Hope of Venice, Gio. Benedetto. S. Peter of Venice, Pietro Badoario. S. George of Subenica, Chr. Lachico. The S. Michael of Venice, Georgio Cochio. The Sibilla of Venice, Dani●…li Trono. The Crane of Spain, Luis de Hereda. The Admiral of Vaschido. Vaschedo Coronado. The Suprana of the Popes, Antonio de A●…coli. The Occasion of Spain,  The Master of the Popes,  The Calm of the Popes,   
The General descending, as hath been said, into his Barge, passed through the whole Fleet, taking a short, but exact view of the form of the battle, and by brief, but pathetic Speech, breathed courage into his men: his Oration was to this purpose:  Brave invincible spirits; whom gracious heaven hath held worthy to be his Champions, to whom the Angels will not be idle spectators, but actors and assistants in this sacred Tragedy: Nature I know hath given you the strongest temper of valour and devotion, set so keen an edge on that temper, as I need not whet it by any further encouragement; only let me tell you, that you have the fairest occasion that ever was to unsheathe and use it; let victory set such a glass upon it, as no rust of Oblivion may ever eat out. Now is the time to bring that dark half Moon, which seeks to eclipse the bright Sun of Heaven, to such a wane, as shall never fill again. Let her not any longer usurp domination o'er the Sea: our enemies exceed us in numbers made up of cyphers and shadows of men, but let us excel them in resolution▪ the essence of soldiers; they are imprisoned and immured by shores and rocks, as much as I would say victory cannot scape us; they must fight because they cannot fly, we because we must overcome; we have a necessity of conquest, the danger mixed with it doth but season and ennoble it, who would triumph over women? we are to share the whole wealth of Nature, the Earth to the Survivors, the Heaven to the Martyrs: the scars of the wound will be beautiful, because honourable: who would ingratefully refuse to bleed for that loving God, who refused not to die for him? Courage therefore Divine Champions, forget not that some of you are Romans; and which is more, all Christians. 
This Speech was answered with applauses and wonderful conclamations on all sides, in which humour we will leave them a while to behold the countenance of the enemy, and how the Moon appeared.  
The Turks in the interim used more than ordinary circumspection and providence; for having information by Spies, Fugitives, Greeks and prisoners, not only of the conjunction of the Confederate Fleet of the Christians, but of their near approaches, being now engaged in the Gulf of Lepanto: Mehemet Bey was dismissed with sixty Galleys to Asprospicio a Neighbour City, to bring from thence some competent supplies of victual and men, in which business he used such celerity, that in short time he returned, bringing with him plenty of provision & ammunition, besides ten thousand janissaries, two thousand ordinary soldiers, and two thousand Volunteers; with which multitude and false supposition of our paucity, they were not so confirmed in their courage, but stood possessed of a kind of ominous mistrusting the event. In which respect Ali Bassa the high Admiral, though by his own inclination, and his master's command he stood resolved to fight, called a general Council to deliberat on so huge a design, most of them persuaded to give battle, but Partau Bassa General of the Land Forces, earnestly opposed it: On the contrary side H●…ssan Bassa son to Barbarossa, sometimes Viceroy of Algiers, a fiery young man, and full of mettle, exhorted them as followeth;  Most excelse and victorious Prince, the Turkish Nation hath so Nobly behaved itself, that it is a question whether their fortune or their valour hath bred their greatness, or whether the latter hath commanded the former; once it may be affirmed, that if our Stars have favoured us, we have not forsaken ourselves, nor shamed them, but magnified their influence by our actions: Our Predecessors have left us ample Territories, wherein we have not been such unthrifts, but husbanded them, that if they have made little much, we have extended that much almost to infinite; so that if we hold on this course of victory, Alexander never stood more than we in need of new worlds; which of these prying inquisitive Christians had not discovered unto us, our valour e'er long would want work; yet let us not seem so glutted and cloyed with conquest, as to refuse to accept of this one triumph more; this by Sea will serve to counterbalance that glorious Land victory lately pourchased; let us fill both the hands of our Emperor, one with spoils of Land, the other of Sea; these feeble tired Christians have been but our Porters, they are now ready to deliver them, let us not disdain to take it of them, lest they cousin us now, as they did my Father thirty years ago, when they ran away with their burden; we have Galleys enough, not only to stow their wealth, but if need were to take in their Galleys; therefore most invincible Admiral, let us prevent their flight by a speedy assault. 
This Speech uttered by a man, whose performance heretofore had ever been correspondent to so confident expressions, not only encouraged, but inflamed many of the hearers, whereof Vluzzali General of the forces of Barbary could not contain himself, but with many earnest and pregnant arguments averred the same with Hassan; alleging besides the opportunity, the necessity of obeying the gran Signors command, Ca●…abeg the Sanzak of Smyrna echoed the same.  
Yet many of the graver, and more advised sort of Captains dissented from this more hot than deliberate resolution, specially Mehemet Bey the Sanzak of Negropont, who though not so eloquently, yet more truly demonstrated the danger of fight, as followeth.  I am sorry magnificent Ali, that at this time the Counsel of illustrious Hassan, is rather to be admired and applauded for greatness of courage then followed for soundness, fitter to set our tongues then hands on work, I mean to be answered, then executed; It is most true in raising the Ottoman Empire, that the Turkish valour hath ever guided their fortune, but it is as true, that their wisdom hath always directed their valour, else they had never created this world of their greatness out of nothing, or made it out of atoms and such slender principles; they have not by posting to the end of their desires lamed or tired the means that carried them, but by going softlier have gone further; greatness is steep and high, not to be climbed but leisurely, those that strive to mount up violently use to fall precipitately; such was the sudden flood and ebb of the Goths, such the inundation of Tamburlaine; one Kingdom is a sufficient crop for one year, after that rate we may soon beggar Christendom, and perfect the Turkish Monarchy; as we have won Cyprus and may keep it, so we may lose that and ourselves too in seeking to get more: If you conceive the Christians have come so far but with resolution to fight, or to fight but with probability of prevailing, you must think them either fools or madmen; but if after so familiar and long hostility, overvaluing ourselves, they hinder us not to know them, we must needs think their swords and wits to be as sharp as ours: It is not their pusillanimity but their division hath ruined them, & our multitudes have rather wearied then conquered them. From Preveza they departed themselves, we did not drive them, at least the shame of flying then will incite them to fight now; our odds of strength is incertain, if they be the weaker, supplies may strengthen them, if we the stronger, many accidents may weaken us, but none strengthen us: therefore my counsel is, that we go home while our way is open, and we have our welcome in our hands, and let not hope defraud us of certainty, yet is my Opinion ever subject to your correction. 
This Speech was highly applauded of Partau Bassa, Siroch and Calabey, yet fate and their Emperors express command urged publicly by Vluzzali, transported them so far against their own judgement, that they resolved not only to hazard battle, but to seek it: To which end having distributed those 4000 soldiers where they found most need, they weighed Anchor and came to Galanga about the evening the seventh of Octber, and there stayed to supply themselves and their Galleys with whatsoever was requisite for the encounter. Now drawing ne'er, the Admiral neglected nothing that might tend to the augmentation of strength, or for the ostentation of his vessels and men: one principal care was the fastening of his slaves, lest their bodies as well as their minds instead of necessary instruments, might prove dangerous revoltedengins against them, knowing that desire of liberty and revenge, two violent appetits, would make them apt to snatch at any opportunity: he caused their allowance of diet to be augmented to cherish their bodies, that they might be more strenuous for labour, mixing hopes of future lenity with fear of present punishment, that stubborness, a thing invincible, which obdurats the minds of slaves might not hinder the utmost extent of strength: He likewise keeping good intelligence at Sea to prevent a sudden invasion, drew forth his Fleet in order of battle, that both his men and Galleys when need required might not be to learn their duty or Order, which he neglected not to practise continually as he approached the Christian Fleet, till he had brought them to perfection therein.  
The eight of October very early in the morning, hoping inexpectedly to have come upon the Christian Fleet as they were at anchor, they hoist their sails half mast high, so to hinder their discovery, and with a gentle gale sailed towards Cephalonia; both Fleets were within twelve miles one of another, yet undescried, by reason of certain capes and headlands dividing and shadowing them. They first kened the Christian Navy clear of the Cruzalares which had somewhat disordered them; and seeing Andrea Doria stand to Seaward vainly, imagined that he had fled, as upon the like reason the Christians were deluded with the like conceit of them, which opinion as it begat contempt of the adverse part, so it bred confidence in themselves; the place where both the Fleets met served aptly to fight, and not to fly.  
The Gulf being in circuit not above two hundred & fifty miles, immu●…'d with rocks, shores and Lands, so thick, that to fly threatened well nigh as much danger as to stay; on the North they were shut with part of Alban●…a; extending from S. Mauro to Lepanto eighty miles; on the East they were embarred by Morea, stretching seventy miles from the mouth of the Gulf to Cape Tornezzo; on the South the I'll of Zant opposed herself twenty five miles in length, the West was closed up by Cephalonia and S. Maura, the one being forty, the other fifteen miles long on that Coast; on the coasts of Albania, scarce a mile from the main, were the rocks Cruzulares of an inequal bigness, but the lesser the more dangerous: here again the Christian Fleet before concealed by interposition of headlands bewrayed truly her own greatness, which though inferior to the Turks, yet exceeding their expectation, did somewhat shake their former resolution, yet hope, shame, and which was more than both, necessity spurring them forwards, they approached in form following.  
They divided their Fleet which consisted of two hundred seventy Vessels, Galleys, & Foists, into four battaillons correspondent to that of the Christians. In the middle battle was the High Admiral Ali Bassa, and therein were contained ninety Galleys, in the midst of whom in a rich and a well appointed Galley was he himself flanked on the right side with Partau Bassa, and on the left with the Treasurer of the Navy, who were assisted each of them by three Admirals: The right wing consisted of fifty Galleys, whereof Mehemet S●…roch had the charge; the left wing included nine Galleys conducted by Vluzzali; the reserve for supplies was a mixture of ten Galleys and twenty Foists, commanded by Amurat Dragutra●…s: he himself in a beautiful and well fortified Galley, sometimes Admiral of Constantinople; Their main battle was opposed to ours; their right wing to our left, and their left to our right; every battle distinguished by different flags, very curiously and richly wrought; every private Galley adorned with Pendants and Ensigns of great worth, which served to breed an appetit in the courageous Christian rather than fear; the Galleasses they rather wondered at for hugeness of Bulk, than redoubted for offence or danger in service, thinking them fitter for burden then fight; neither could they yet entertain an assurance that their adverse Fleet would offer to assail them; yet did not this distraction make them neglect all possible means for their own safety, and damage of the enemy; all unnecessary things they stowed in hold, all needful they brought upon the hatches, as powder, shot, pikes, arrows, and all offensive or defensive provision; every Captain encouraged his soldiers, every soldier his fellow, and custom of victory took away all conceits of discomfiture, every one cherishing in himself the remembrance of the Christians flight at Preveza, the vicinity of place bringing it fresh to their apprehensions; the very winds seemed to whisper into their ears secret arguments of prevailing, to which their credulity listened; but soon were those arguments confuted, when the wind which till now had been still partial unto them, became a neutral to both, and a flat calm, giving attention (as it were) to the voice of the Cannon; and not only the wind, but the Sun seemed now to bandy against them, who having with too much light dazzled the Christian Navy at the instant of joining ba●…tail, removed that prejudice: Moreover, the winds, as if awakened, and come to do service to the God who made them, breathed a gentle gale from the West, which aptly served to carry away the mists of the waters, and smoke of the Ordnance upon the Turks, whose battles contained these principal Commanders and Galleys.   

The Turks divided their Fleet into four Bataillons.  

The right Wing.  
1. The first was the Admiral, Mehemet Siroch Governor of Alexandria.  
2. The second Galley of Alexandria was commanded by 

3. Carus Tubat.  
Bagly Saraf.  
Giafer Chiagey.  
Osman Celebin.  
Perusio Reis.  
Bink Cusapoli.  
Osman Occan.  
Drivis Aga.  
Bajazet Siman.  
Osman Ali.  
Deli Aga.  
Dardagan Bardan Belly.  
Casli Cuian.  
Insuf Aga.  
Insuf Magar.  
Calafat Chedar.  
Mustafa Genovel.  
Darinigy Pery.  
Mat Assan.    
All these had Galleys of Alexandria.  


Cheder Aga.  
Solyman Bey.  
Hibraim.  
Saban.  
Caia Celebin.  
Cheder Siman.  
Ali Cara.  
Mustafa.    
Their Galleys were of Constantinople.  


Juran Saba.  
David Jusuf.  
Solac Rais.  
Arnaut Ferrat.  
Juzel Memy.  
Shender Selim.  
Lumag Jnsuf.  
Ba●…dach Celebin.  
Bagdat Asau.  
Guzel Allibi.  
Brusali Piri.  
Rodle Ali.    
These Galleys were of Tripoli in Barbary.  


Aga Bassa with the Admiral of Constantinople.  
Sinaman Mustapha  
Gregiore Ali.  
Amurates Reis.  
Calepy Memy.  
Marul Mustapha.  
Heder Lumet.    
These commanded over the Galleys of Etolia.  


Sinaman Dervis.  
Memen●…y Durmis.  
Algagias Sinan.  
Adagi Rustan.  
Chingevey Musata.  
Jusuf Celebin.  
Tufer Mustapha.    
These also commanded over the Galleys of Despotado, or Etolia.  
Ali a Genoese, and Pirate, Captain of a small Galley.  
Megil Reis with a small Galeasse.  
Mehemet Bey with the small Admiral Gally of Negropont.   

The Battle had these Captains and Galleys following.  
Assam Bey Governor of Rhodes.  
Deli Chaffer the Warden of Rhodes.  


Occi Rais.  
Postunag Ogli.  
Gazizy Reis.  
●…alefact Ogli.  
Dromus Reis, with an Admiral of Constantinpole.  
Herberey.  
Caragias Rais.  
Ocean Rais.  
Deli Piry.    
These commanded the Galleys of Rhodes.  


Giafer Aga.  
Bastian Rais.  
Coz Ali.  
Olach Rais.  
Oluz Rais.  
Assan Bassa, Barbarossa's son.    
These commanded some Galleys of Constantinople.  


Caruf Rais.  
Jungli Ogli.  
Arnaut Celebi●….  
Magar Ali.  
Giafer Celebin.  
Deli Assan.  
Carapeti Aga.  
Sinan Rais.  
Carua Mustapha.  
Sali Aravar.  
Previl Aga.    
Their Galleys were of Naples in Romagna.  
The two sons of Ali in a Galley of Constantinople.  
Osman Raise in an Admiral of Constantinople.  


Deli Jusuf.  
Ferat Baly.  
Cuia Celebin.  
Bagdar Rais.  
Halvagi Mustapha.    
Their Galleys were of Mitilene.  
Giaut Ali Mustapha Admiral of small Gallios'.  
Caracoza with Galleys of Valona.  
Mamatris Saderbey Governor os Mitilene.  
Ali Bassa high Admiral of the Fleet in a Galley Royal.  
Portau Bassa General by Land, with an Admiral Gally.  


Mustapha Esdey Treasurer.  
Marmati Rais.  
Alicicgbli.  
Tramontan Raise with an Admiral of Constantinople.  
Sulimum Celebin.  
Deli Ibrain.  
Murat Corossua.  
Denur Bali.  
Caby Heit.  
Murat Trasy Scribe of the Arcenal.  
Caras Deli.  
Ferat Ceragli.  
Pervis Sinam.  
Dardagan Bali.  
Giafe●… Caran.  
Dervis Sach.  
Curbaly.    
All these had Galleys of Constantinople.  


Giafer Aga Captain of Tripoli.  
Carau Hamat.  
Rustan Chialmagi.  
Dunnis Ogli.  
Shender Dernigi.  
Mammet Alis.    
They commanded o'er the Galleys of Tripoli.  


Afis Cluega Governor of Callipolis.  
Selim Siach.  
Heder Baschi.  
Sicun Mustapha.  
Salu Rius.  
Deli Ischender.    
These Galleys were of Calipolis.  


The Lord of Marus with an Admiral Galley of Constantinople.  
Pericis la humagis.  
Hasuf Bali.  
Siran Bardachi.  
Jusuf Cinigi.    
These Galleys were also of Callipolis.  


Piri Begogli with an Admiral Galley of Constantinople.  
Deli Osmun.  
Piri Sinan.  
Demir Celebin.  
Dervis Hidir.  
Sinan Mustapha.  
Hasirgy Rais.  
Asey Ogli.  
Caias' Saraf.  
Agadi Ahameth.  
Osman Sehet.  
Dervis Celebin.  
Giafer Rais.  
Dardagan the Governor of the Arsenal.    
All these were Galleys of Constantinople.   

The left Wing.  


Carau Hozias Admiral.  
Catalus a Pirate.  
Chiazel Sinan.  
Chior Mehemet.  
Hignau Mustapha.  
Cademly Mustapha.  
Vsechiaffy Memy.  
Carau Morat.  
Passa Dervis.  
Jagli Osman.  
Pisman Rais.  
Tascivis Sisman.  
Jesil Hogli.    
These commanded o'er the Galleys of Anatolia.  


Cara Cialibina Captain of small Galleys.  
Suizi Memy.  
Magli Rais.  
Osey Assan.  
Curnigi Hasuf.    
They had small Galleys, and obeyed Chialibin.  


Cadeh Sidir.  
Osman Rais.    
These two had Galleys of Constantinople.  


Caraperi a Pirate, Captain of a small Galley.  
Julio Pervis.  
Calobodan Solyman.  
Jachali Mamar.  
Sayr Giafer.  
Chior Memy.    
These had small Galleys, and were commanded by Carape●…i.  


Chiusel Giafer with an Admiral of Constantinople.  
Ramazzan.  
Calemy Memy.  
Giesman Ferat.  
H●…ipris Assan.  
Zambal Murat.  
Sa●…msach Rais.  
Tunis Soliman.  
Calepi Jusuf.  
Tech●…del Assan.  
Cyan Memis.  
Osman Bagli.    
All Constantinopolitans.  


Caragial with the Admiral Galley of Algiers.  
Caraman Ali.  
Alman.  
Sinam Celebin.  
Agdagi Mustapha.  
Daglias' Ali.  
Seith.  
Pervis Selim.  
Murat Dervis.  
Hes Ogli.  
Machazer Ali.  
Joias'▪ Osman.  
Sali Deli.    
These had small, and some common Galleys of Algiers.  


Nasut Fachir with a Galley of Constantinople.  
Gymongi Mustapha.  
Rustau Cringi.  
Bali.  
David Ali.  
Sitinau Rais.  
Carum Hidir.  
Magar Ferat.  
Arnaut Alis.  
Natis Rais.  
Curmur Rhodo.  
Cos Cluagin.  
Cusly Memy.    
All these commanded the Galleys of Negropont.  


Caram Bey with the Admiral of the Son of Uluzzali.  
Deli Murat.  
Abazar Rais.  
Scin Sciander.  
Alman Balli.  
Assan Sumbar.  
Seir Aga.  
Assan Sinam.  
Cumy Falagan.  
Osman Gynder▪    
These had small Galleys of Valona.  


Dermat Bey.  
Jusuf Alis.  
Caran Alman.  
Murat Biassan.  
Carabiney the Governor.    
Their Galleys were of Sunasara.  


Calau Bastagi.  
Carabi.  
Giafer Hedi.  
Ferat.  
Memy Beogli.  
Osman Piry.  
Piry Rais.  
Casam Rais.  
Talaragis Rais.  
Rus Celebin.  
Tutur Ali.    
Constantinopolitans.  
Uluzzali King of Algiers with an Admiral Gally.   

The Battle of Succours.  
Amurat Bragat in an Admiral of Constantinople.  


Caram Casli.  
Hassam Rais.   These were Captains of Foists also.  


Abdula Rais.  
Aligau Assan.  
Cus Ali.  
Ginzel Ali.  
Curtat Celebin.  
Deli Bey.  
Saudagi Memy.    
These were Foists also.  
Dardagno Reis had an Admiral of Constantinople.  
Deli Dorni he had a Galley.  
Cuidar Memy Governor of Sio.  


Shetagi Osman.  
Haeder.  
Delius Heder.  
Armat Merney.  
Susan Reis.  
Giafer Bey.  
Cabil Sinam.  
Amurat Reis.  
Sariogi Grafer.  
Mor Ali.    
All Foists.  
Piali Murat he had a small Galley.  


Caragiali Rais.  
Murat Alias.  
Jumez Alias.  
Bostagi Murat.    
Foists.  
Assan Sinan a Galley of Constantinople.  
Deli Sulmian was in an Admiral of Constantinople.  
So that the number of all Bottoms came to 270. Vessels.  
All things thus disposed of, Ali Bassa richly clothed andarmed after the Turkish manner, thus spoke in the Poop of his Galley to the Captains and Commanders there assembled to receive direction.  Most heroic Captains and invincible janisars, the scourge of the Christian, and right hand of the Ottoman Empire; we have heretofore taken pains to fetch ourslaves, but now our enemies have brought them us; despairing of their success by Land, they are come to try the same fate in another Element, as if there were any important difference to burn on shore, and drown at Sea▪ they have changed place, but not spirit; the same effeminacy which they had in other parts they have transported hither, constant only in their vices and vanities; magnanimity and the effect thereof, brave honour are not more hereditary and inherent in us, than cowardice and servility in them; we much exceed them in number, but more in weight of ability, We were soldiers when children, they children now they are men: what are their soldiers but Players, Minstrels and Tumblers, a multitude of unghelt Eunuches? what is their General but a youth, fitter to lead a Mask then an Army? what are both but the remainder of this years victory, whereof Cyprus was the late rich earnest? neither can they so soon forget to yield as we to overcome: therefore be confident brave fellows in arms, that not resolution, but their destiny hath brought them bither; Italy is the Gate of Christendom, and Venice the key of Italy: this Fleet is that Bar, which if you can either break or put back, all flies open before you, and we shall go beyond Caesar in the West, or Alexander in the East, making the rising and setting Sun the confines of the Turkish Empire. Go on then, let us fill the Sea with their bodies, our Galleys with their Wealth, ourselves with the honour and glory of both. 
The Christians having in all respects provided for so great an attempt as far as human wisdom and strength could extend, (considering this Fleet to be their Ark, and God himself interested in the controversy) ceased not with importunate, but most humble invocations, to implore the aid of heaven, which by their Confessors was confidently promised them: Their devotions concluded, and each battle facing each other, the charge was given by a Canon from Ali the Turkish Admiral, and answered by one from each wing, with obstreperous clamours after their custom, which they think awakens the courage of the soldier, with amazement and terror to the enemy; they quickly make towards the Christian Fleet, who in a differing manner made Trumpets, Drums, Fifes, and other such Martial music, the delightful Prologue to a more dreadful Scene: Venieri backed his Galley with two other of Giovanni L●…redano, and Catarin●… Malipietro; Colonna did the like with two other; and now being within distance of their Ordnance, the Turks passing by the Galleasses, were inexpectedly torn by their great shot, which broke forth on all sides like thunder and lightning out of some black cloud: they being high and close, fearfully spoiled the naked Turks and Rowers, making that breach at which the Christian Fleet entered, for it disordered them so, that they had no time to recollect themselves; in which confusion desperately passing the Galleasses, they ran upon a sharper point of danger, for the wind resisting the swiftness of their approach, stayed and set them up as dead marks to the Christian Ordnance, which had more certain aim at them lying still, then in motion and course: besides it did benight them with smoke, augmenting the terror of those invibcile mischiefs which they felt, but could not see either to shun or revenge: the hideous noise of some commanding, others answering, the cracks of Galleys, falling foul of each other, terrified both the Turk who suffered, and the Christian which heard it, victory appearing to them in a dreadful countenance; in some Galleys the Officers slain, the Slaves broke loose, and like Lions slaughtered their Keepers; in others the powder taking fire casually, seemed to rebel against them besides, shooting them up for Sacrifices to that Christ whom they blasphemed; here men falling over board wanted Galleys; here Galleys emptied of their companions wanted men, and floated like dead bodies without souls, which Mehemet Syrock, now finding himself a truer Prophet than he desired, observing, withdrew himself from the body of the Fleet, thinking to circumvent the Christian left wing, betwixt whom and Siroch, Augustin Barbarico opposed his Squadron, wherewith he shut up the passage the easier, because of a promontory called Michangali, which extended itself that way: Ma●…no C●…tarint resolved to be a sharer with his Oncle Barbarico, both in honour and danger, and so followed and united himself to that Squadron▪ betwixt whom a most cruentous fight passed on both sides: the Tu●…h left wing commanded by Vluzzali, and confronting our right, was very ne'er to have joined with Doria, who considering himself inferior in number of Galleys, he having but fifty, his enemy ninety, 〈◊〉 it not: Vluzzali balancing with the Christian his own odds of strength, was contented likewise to abstain: Doria▪ after some suspense stood out to Seaward with certain of his Galleys a mile from the remainder; in the mean time Don john, Colonna and Venieri, the the confederate Admirals, in exact order encountered the middle battle of the enemy, exchanging at the approach divers volleys of great shot, with much disadvantage to the Turks; the Christian Vessels being snug and stooping from the Ordnance of the Turks higher Galleys, and many of their pieces choked with Christians bullets casually shot into their mouths, and there sticking, which difficulties bred rather fury then despair in them, and induced them by violence of oars to make haste to grapple that there fight hand to hand, the difference might be decided by pure Manhood: therefore now being nearer swarms of arrows and small shot interchangeably stung both sides, with artificial fires, reciprocally lightning every where: at last death and wounds dressed variously, were the entertainment of that visitation, whence sprung such a deluge of blood, that the Gulf of Lepanto might have been called the Red Sea for the time. Now Stroch perceaving himself not only frustrated the interposition of Barbaricos Squadron, but distressed by the irresistible force of it, yet he persisted still in fight to save his honour, though not his life, using all the powerful Rhetoric he could for the encouragement of his languishing men, wherein by speech, as well as by example, he so prevailed, that desperation whetting resolution, they had recovered now not only hopes of resistance, but of victory: For after divers unequal and doubtful conflicts in many parts, here number oppressing valour, their valour making amends for the odds of number, specially in the Galleys of the two Barbaricos, while with discreet courage they ran still to the weakest part, like the vital spirits in the body: one of them was mortally wounded by a fatal Turkish arrow in the left eye, himself being indeed not only the eye, but the very heart of his Squadron; he falling down, confirmed that the Lifeblood of an Army runs commonly in the veins of the chief Commander: his own men shrunk back, the Turks intruded and pressed into his Galley, which had been taken, but that Frederico Nani, and Silvio Porcia came into her rescue. These heroic gentlemen growing up like Hydra's heads in the room of Barbarico, repelled the Turks, and recovered the former hopes of victory: Porcia received a wound in his thigh, the honourable badge of valour.  
In another part Cicogna Barbarico oppressed with multitudes of Turkish Galleys, was (as one might say) refined with wild fire, and his face beautified with an eminent scar, but was at last preserved by speedy supplies, being so far from yielding either to weariness or pain, that after this he boarded and took a principal Galley, & one of their Imperial Ensigns, which to this day▪ serves in the Venetian Armoury to display the invincible courage of the taker: But Siroch surrounded with danger and mischiefs on both sides, having no means to satisfy his revenge on all, desperately rushed upon Giovanni Contarini, whose kinsman was before not cheaply slain, and that such an impetuous violence, that he had almost stemmed his Galley, which he obstinately persevering to board, was there mortally wounded, as before in judgement, so now in valour, having manifested himself a complete and absolute soldier: his fall bred such an amazement in the Turk, as the fate of Barbarico in the Christian; his men slain and wounded, left their decks to their thronging enemies, who rushing in, were like to have made the Galley a common sepulchre to both; for she being shot between wind and water, was upon point of sinking: the Turks leapt over board, hoping by swimming to find the land more merciful unto them then the water; Siroch was taken not quite dead, but his wounds were searched and found incurable, in pity rather than cruelty he was dispatched out of his pain. His death though it was dearly bought, was a mortal wound to the Turks whole Navy; for those that were before busied with his encounter, this right Wing or Arm being cut off, converted their forces, though much enfeebled, against the other members of the Fleet, assisting where they saw need and had opportunity; besides the battle of succours continually supplied and relieved impartially all parts distressed.  
Now the two Generals, Don john, and Ali Bassa, meeting like two furious currents, began so terrible a fight in midst of both the Fleets, that the rest seemed to be but Spectators to them two▪ the Galleys that encircled them were (as it were) the Scaffold, and they two the Stage; contrariety of Religion, emulation of honour, anger, hope and fear produced admirable effects in both: while Ali made violent impression on Don john's Galley on the Prow, she was by others likely to have been entered at the Poop, which being perceived, was prevented by those that backed her, who boarding those borders, took their Galleys, but with great slaughter and difficulty. The Turkish General knowing the fortune of the day to depend upon his success, desperately contended to enforce Don john; wherein he prevailed so far, that he compelled him to bring out of hold his fresh reserves that he had under deck, to exchange place with his wounded and wearied men upon the hatches, which strange and inexpected supply, sprung as it were out of the womb of the Galley to defend her mother, bred an amazement, and by amazement hastened the destruction of the fainting Turks: Ali▪ being shot in the head, his Galley soon yielded, himself being yet alive and presented to Don john, his head was struck off, which being mounted on the point of a pike, was held up for a public demonstration of victory; a grateful object to the Christians, but dreadful to the Turks; the same cause bringing forth at once two contrary effects, viz. hope and fear, which yet less dismayed them, not discerning it afar off; but the advancement of the Cross Royal on the top of their Admiral Galley, daunted them more than all the rest, for that was visible throughout the Fleet, and the fatal signification of it easily interpreted, so that now they began to fly, but in such a confusion, that while they eat the poursute of one Galley, they fall foul upon another: besides Marco Quirini, and Antonio Canali, two Venetian Commanders, intercepted many of the Galleys flying, and men swimming to the shore.  
In this most memorable fight, many Commanders on either side were taken or slain, whose distinct Catalogue shall be inserted at the end of the battle, not yet absolutely concluded: For Vluzzali foreseeing now too late this general overthrow, studied how he might in some measure revenge what he could not prevent: therefore hover aloof from the Fleet to expect some stragglers of the Christians, at last found opportunity to cut off certain Venetian Galleys, who at first had followed Dorta, but now desirous to have been sharers in so Noble a Victory, were retiring to the main battle; them he chased, fetched up and boarded; but they bravely repelling him, and Dorta wheeling about to assail him, knowing it dangerous for him to persever in fight, when his own force would continually decrease, and his enemies be augmenmented by confluence of rescu from all parts of the Army, executing most of his mischief upon those Venetians, he with sail down stood off to Sea, towing after him the Galleys of Pietro Bua, of Corfu, of the Prior of Messina, and Lodovico Tipico of Tra●…u, Benedetto Soranza mortally wounded and oppressed by multitudes, fight to the very last, was slain and his Galley taken, but so that the getting (in conclusion) proved their loss, for many of the enemies thronging into the Galley, either by casualty or desperate malice of some Captain, she fired and they perished in a wretched mixture of death 'twixt burning and drowning: it seems that the fury of the slaughtered Turks revived in Vluzzali, who alone gave all the three battles some taste of his devilish rage; notwithstanding all those Galleys which he had taken were recovered, except that of Pietro Bua of Corfu, in whose pourchase he had a very hard bargain; the night was his best protectress in shadowing him from the poursuing Conqueror, who now despairing to fetch him up, whom they could not see to follow, gave over the chase, and stood back to the Fleet; so that Vluzzali escaped with about thirty Galleys; many of which could not swim, being alive, as if death had taught them that skill, floated being dead, and the Sea glutted with multitudes spewed up their carcases; many labouring in the water for life, found now more safety in their wracks, than before in their Galleys, and sometimes a Turk and Christian taking hold of one plank began a private fight, while a third took benefit of what they strove for, the Sea in the mean time becoming victor of both; here a tired Christian calls to a friend for help there a Turk implores it of his enemy: Most lamentable and confused cries come from both, when now the billows begin to roar louder than all; for the Navy was yet scarce collected and reduced to a safe Haven, when towards night there arose so sudden and violent a storm, as (if the battle had not now been ended) would have been a stickler in it.  
To conclude, the insolent enemy being thus overthrown, and their spoil gathered, the next care was to cure the wounded men, and repair the bruised and torn Vessels, wherein the Commanders showed no less industry, then in preparation for the fight, and their admired valour in it. It is hard to decide, which of these three Admirals, Don john, Venieri, or Colonna, merited most applause: they all did what could not be exceeded by any other, nor equalled but by themselves: the former distaste 'twixt▪ Don john and Venieri, as it had been providently pacified by mediation of Colonna, so was it in the conquest nobly forgotten of themselves. Don john towards the beginning of the battle, being endangered by inequality of number, Venieri with his own danger bravely rescued him, like two mettled Mastiffs jarring among themselves, when the Bear comes, forbear private strife to join against the common enemy; which Noble courtesy, the General nobly and gratefully acknowledged, honouring him with the Title of Author, and which is more, the Father of the Victory.  
The whole Army in united voice gratified the Divine Mercy for so great a preservation, and elevating their victorious hands to heaven, acknowledged to be taught to fight by it; every man congratulated the safety of his living friend, yet moderately lamented the fate of the dead, the sorrow of their death being dried by the merit of the cause; those bodies that were recovered were honourably buried, the rest detained by the Sea, were yet eternised on the shore. To repeat the Noble action of every particular man were a plutarch's labour, every life would be a story; and we know that Plutark gave lives to many, though the longest to himself; but among the most eminent, shines the Noble indifferency of the Marquis of Santa Cruz, who disposing of the reserve of succours, distributed them not according to his own affections, but other men's necessities, bewraying at once excellency of judgement, courage and celerity.  
Many circumstances gave lustre to this victory, but nothing more than the flight of the Christian Fleet, not many years before from about the same place, the infamy of the one glorifying the other, and serving as a foil to it, as shadows set forth and enlighten pictures. It was a pleasing consideration to those who had been forced to be fugitives, to think they should find their honour where they lost it: To this may be added the remembrance of the like battle fought 'twixt Augustus Caesar, and Marc Anthony, above a thousand years passed in the same place, as if destiny had made it a Stage for great actions, and that this Heroic Battle had been but the second part of the first.  
The total number of the dead were 7656. The chief of the Venetians were Augustin Barbarico Proveditor General of the Venetian Fleet, Benedetto Soranza, Marin and jeronimo Contareni, Marc Antonio Land, Francisco Bicono, jacomo de Messa, Caterin Maripietro, Giovanni Loredano, Vincenzo Quirini, Andrea and Georgio Barbarici, all Senators; Of Romans Horatio Caraffa, Ferrante Bisball, Virginio and Horatio Ursini. Of the Spaniards, john and Bernardin●… de Cardona: Of the Knights of Malta divers were slain, among others these three Germans, joakin Sparta Comendador of Moguncia, Ro. of Hamburg Comendador of Hemm●…ndorf, and Francis Drost; the chief men wounded were Don john the General, Venieri the Venetian Admiral, Paolo jordano, Marco Molino, and Troylo Savello, and well nigh seven thousand private men.  
This great loss was lessened by that of the Turks, who are reported by some Authors to have lost ne'er upon thirty thousand: but the multitude of their Galleys taken, wracked, and dead bodies floating on the Sea, carrying with it a resemblance of the general deluge, must needs acknowledge it to be great.  
Among the slain was the General Ali, Mehemet Bey, alias Siroch, Governor of Alexandria, Hassan Bassa Barbarossa the great Pirates Son; the greatest prisoners were Achmat and Mahomet, sons of the General Ali, Mehemet Bey Governor of Eubaea, with thirty thousand vulgar soldiers. There escaped Partau Bassa, who since others would not follow his counsel in abstaining from fight, made use of it himself: Vluzzali a desperate Renegado, who fought, but so always that he might fly: there were taken one hundred thirty Vessels, whereof one hundred seventeen were Galleys, thirteen Galeots, some report one hundred sixty.  
There was much treasure found in the Galley Cleopatra, which the General distributed among the best deserving: among others a Macedonian, by whose fortunate hand Ali Bassa fell, had a Noble reward, but a far Nobler by the magnificent Venetian Republic, who did confer three hundred ducats of yearly pension upon him. But the most esteemed spoil had from the Turkish Fleet, was the redemption of so many Christians, in number twelve hundred; words are but mute expressions of the pitiful slavery they were in, being compelled both actively and passively, to suffer for, and act against their own Religion; nothing could equal it, but the joy of this enlargement, nor was this joy peculiar and solely to themselves, but multiplied by portions among their friends and kinsmen.  
The n●…neteenth of the same Month, Humphredo justiniano arrived at Venice with advertisement of this Victory to the Senate: never any music so feasted their ears as that news: The congratulating Ambassadors flock to S. Mark from all Christian Princes, acknowledging him their prime Protector, and Champion.  
I will conclude this Relation with the division of the spoils of the Enemies betwixt the three Generals.  

The Pope's share was  
21. Galleys, whereof 19 ordinary, 2. Galeots.  
54. Canons, whereof 12. great, 42. of the smaller sort.  
881. Prisoners, among whom were Achmat, and Mahomet, sons of the General Ali Bassa.   

The Venetians share was  
44. Galleys, whereof 39 ordinary, 4. Galeots and a half.  
131. Pieces of Ordnance.  
1162. Prisoners.   

The Spanish share was  
58. Galleys.  
214. Pieces if Ordnance.  
1713. Prisoners.   
The division was thus concluded, though not in a proportionable rate of equality, yet to the satisfaction of all, the Venetians thinking they had the more honour, though the Spaniards the greatest luggage, and the reason might be, that the Spaniard contributed more money, though the Venetian more Galleys.  
Venieri highly extolled the magnanimity of the General, propo singunto him the rescue of Greece, an exploit which should immortalize him more than the conquest of Tunis did his Father, whose Genius would not envy, said he, to see itself exceeded by him, which was not equalled by his Predecessors. This much inflamed the hot aspiring mind of the youthful Conqueror, insomuch that they proceeded to consultation, how this Trophy might be perfected, whose hardest work, to wit, the foundation, was already so happily laid; therefore making April the time, and Corfu the rendezvous of their next years convention, the Navies were dissolved, Don john returning to Messina. Venieri expecting that Don john would by his example have poursued the point of this victory, was much heightened in his spirits, but somewhat discontented, and the Spaniard exposed himself to some reproaches abroad hereby, so that Don john's departure was interpreted no less than a kind of running away: For in the opinion of all the world, had this opportunity been well improved, there might have been made far greater use of it: For though that high spirited Turk, to express the inequality of the taking of Cyprus, with the defeat of this Fleet, said, That Selym had cut off an Arm of the Christians, and they had but shaved his Beard. Intimating thereby: that Timber would grow again, but not Kingdoms, that Ships might be built, but not Lands; yet was it manifest, that the chief strength of that Samson lay at the same time in that tough of hair, and if he had been re-essailed ere it had grown out again, the razor which took off his beard, might have cut his throat. Here it will not be improper to add an Answer of an old Chious, who being come Ambassador to England in King James' time, and being asked among other things by the King, whether he had been at the battle of Lepanto, Yes, said he, and at the taking of Cyprus also.  
Colonna departed also with Don john, and returned to Rome, where his fame had arrived long before him: This success raised the spirits of that ancient City in a shape of rriumph, to see her aged glory give such a fresh lustre in this glass of victory, to entertain her new Champion; the whole City seemed to be turned inside outward, the rich Tapestries now beautifying the walls without, the streets were strewed with flowers as at a marriage: It is reported that a little before this battle, the Pope Pius Quintus had performed many rigid and austere Penances in his own person, and having been a whole night contending with God in prayer, in his own private Oratory; he came at last suddenly out with a cheerful countenance, and in a kind of ravishment or ecstasy, saying, alegrament la Vittoria é nostra, be of good cheer the Victory is ours, and as the Manuscript hath it, this was the very morning before the battle began.  
No less were the triumphs at the Court of Spain, when tidings were brought to Philip the second of this Signal and glorious Victory; yet when the very first, and long expected news thereof was brought and related unto him, he never changed countenance, or gave as much as a smile, or least outward show of alteration, he was a man of such a rare constancy of temper, only he said after a long speculative pause, Mucho ha aventurado mi hermano Don juan, my brother Don john hath ventured very far; but it was the first time that ever he was heard to call him Brother, which stile he continued ever after.  
The Republic hoping that the rest of the Christian confederate Princes would be constant in the League, rigged up their Galleys again, and made great preparations against the following Spring, but Pius Quintus deceasing, who gave the greatest vigour to the League, matters began to languish; yet there was a conjunction of some forces the Summer after against Vluzzali, a great Pirate, and Admiral to the Turk; and there were considerable Fleets on both sides, the Turk had two hundred Sails, the Christians not so many, and about the Mona they twice faced one another, but encountered not; so all dissolved without performance of any thing, though Venieri made fair Propositions unto them for some attempts▪ both by Land and Sea, and to be the first in the Van himself, but the Spaniard was too cold and cautious; besides Don john of Austria himself had promised to come in person, but did not.  
Hereupon it was high time for the Republic to hearken to a peace with her potent Neighbour, specially there having been divers Overtures made by the Gran Visier to that purpose: among other inducements which might move her thereunto was, that the Spaniard was not able as formerly to continue the League, in re●…ard he had so much new work cut him out in Flanders, by the revolt of some of the seventeen Provinces: Moreover the Senate had notice that an Ambassador was come from Constantinople to the Emperor's Court, to desire safe passage for the Turkish Army to pass through some of his Territories to invade Friuli; besides the Bishop of A●…x, who was Ambassador at the Port, for the King of France, advised her in his Master's name to a peace, for which purpose he came himself expressly to Venice afterward: so after much difficulty, and divers proposals on both sides, a peace was at last solemnly concluded; the two main Articles whereof were, that all the Venetian Merchants goods should be restored unto them which were taken by Turks in so many years, and that the Signory should pay a hundred thousand Crowns for three years.  
The world passed sundry censures of this peace, specially in regard the Venetians had done it without the consent of the other Confederates; Paul the third than Pope stormed at it, but the King of Spain seemed to dissemble his discontent, saying, That he doubted not, but that the motives which should induce so wise a Senate were of great importance, hoping that as he had freely employed his forces for the general incolumity of Christendom, and particularly of the Venetian, so they likewise would if occasion required be ready to do the like for him; The world wondered at this calmness in the Spaniard, and the reason which people alleged then, was the revolutions in the Low Countries, and that he was like to fall out with France, with whom he was loath the Venetian should ligue together against him.  
Notwithstanding this solemn peace with Selim, yet the Republic understanding that Amurath, who had newly succeeded in the Ottoman Empire upon the death of Selym, did arm apace to be revenged upon Spain, in regard that Don john of Austria had lately sacked Tunis in Barbary; this made the Republic apprehend some fears, that the Turk would fall foul up on some of their Dominions, specially the I'll of Candy: hereup on she rigs up her Galleys again, but in the interim a Chiaus comes from Constantinople in quality of Ambassador extraordinary from Amurath to confirm the former peace.  
This year 1573. The Duke of Anjou having been newly elected King of Poland, and scarce settled in the Throne, and understanding his brother Charles was deceased in France, and fearing to lose the 〈◊〉 for a Thistle, (viz. France for Poland) got away surreptitiously from Cracovia, accompanied only with three followers; and passing through the Territories of divers Princes, came at last to Italy, with a curiosity to see the admired City of Venice; being come upon the Confines, he was met by a gallant troup of Noble men, with eight hundred well armed soldiers: the next day sour of the Senators came to him from Venice in quality of Ambassadors; the Dukes of Ferrara and Nevers came also to visit him: so being attended by infinite numbers of people, he came first to Murano, where the next day he was visited by the Prince and Senate with fourteen Galleys; and being conducted thence to Lia, he entered the Bucentoro, together with the Prince and Senate; from thence with mighty magnificence he transported to Venice, all the channel 'twixt the City and Lia thronging with Boats, made in fashion of Sea Monsters, wherein were all the youth of Venice richly attired, with infinite number of Gondolas, which rowed before, and on every side of the Bucentoro, which was gently towed to the Palace stairs, where he remained divers days, and was entertained to the height of all magnificence; and here began that great League of Love which hath continued so firm 'twixt France and Venice ever since; but presently after the King's departure, there happened an ill-favoured disaster, for the Prince celebrating the day of his Election, the ducal Palace was like to be all consum●…d by a casual fire, and a fearful plague removed itself from Trent to Venice, where it began to rage fearfully; thereupon no humane remedy appearing, the Prince and Senat had recourse to God Almighty, and meeting in the highest postures of reverenee at S. Marks Church, the Prince in all their Names made a solemn Vow to God, to build a Church and dedicat it to the world's Redeemer, imploring his Divine Majesty with heart and mouth, that it might please him of his infinite mercy to hear them, and appease his just wrath; it pleased God that this furious contagion did thereupon cease in a wonderful manner: The Church was suddenly built at La Zuecca, whither the Prince and Senat go in solemn procession every year ever since; Baromeo did also, as they write, strange penances in Milan for assuagement of such a contagion the same year.  
SEBASTIANO VENIERI succeeded MOCENIGO in the principality, 
1574  the people with extraordinary acclamations extolled this Election to the very Stars, in regard he had done such exploits while he was General so long at Sea, both in the battle of Lepanto, and elsewhere: but that which seemed most strange, was, that among such multitudes of all sorts of people who went to congratulat his new Dignity, ten Turks who were then in Venice came and kissed his feet, saying aloud, This is that invincible General, who by defeating our Fleet and Us, hath justly pourchased to himself this deserved Crown of honour, unto whom we wish a long and happy life.  
Pope Gregory the thirteenth sent him a little after a Rose of Gold, which useth to be one of the greatest favours that the Pope useth to confer upon Princes. Alexander the Third sent the like in the year 1177. to Sebastian Ciani, for preserving him from the fury of the Emperor Barbarossa.  
Old VENIERI had scarce governed nine months, but being strucken deeply in years, and having lost much blood in the wars, he paid nature her last debt; the Archduke of Austria, with other Princes, desired to have his picture; and about the same time, Anno 1578. Don john of Austria died in the Netherlands, having been both Generals in the battle of Lepanto.  
NICOLO PONTE a grave and learned Senator succeeded VENIERI 
1575.  in the Dukedom, being aged eighty eight years; Francisco de Medici, great Duke of Toscany, a powerful Prince in those days, was desirous to marry Signora Bianca daughter to Capello a Venetian gentleman; to which end he sent Maria Sforza to acquaint the Senate; the Senate sent for Capello and his Son Vittorio, whom they Knighted; then they adopted Bianca who was to be Gran Duchess, daughter to the Signory, in the same manner as they had done Catharina Queen of Cyprus.  
This year divers new Constitutions were enacted against lux in apparel.  

1. The use of all sorts of Perl, true or counterfeit, was prohibited, only women might wear a small collar about their necks.  
2. Costly Skins and Furs were wholly forbid to be worn.  
3. All gold and Silver Lace was prohibited upon garments.  
4. No Courtesan must wear any Jemms or Jewels, or use any Tapestry.  
5. Excessive expenses were forbidden at women's Church, and the extraordinary invitation of friends, except ne'er kinsfolk, was restrained.  
6. A decree was made against all supper fluous diet, and that no double dish of fish or flesh should be served in. These Laws are exactly observed to this day.   
In this Duke's time, and partly by a hint given from him, the Calenlendar was reformed: for Pope Gregory the XIII. finding by consultation with the best Astronomers, that because the Solar motion had not been rightly observed, the Vernal Equinoctial had gotten ten days before ●…he course of the Sun, whereby the Feast of Easter, whereon all other movable Feasts depended, was not celebrated at the just time appointed in the Primitive Church by the Council of Nice; the incongruity thereof was, were it not reformed, that the Festivals of Winter will be celebrated in Summer, and those of Summer in Winter: hereupon the chiefest Mathematicians of Europe were summoned to Rome, to confer their speculations about this point, and commanded after an exact calculation of the course of the Planets, to refer the Vernal Equinoctial to the twenty one of March, as it had been in old time decreed by the Fathers of the said Council of Nice, and so to find out some rule, that the same inconvenience might be for ever removed; These learned men did what the Pope commanded, by referring the Equinoctial to its true place, and by taking for once ten days from October: the Pope concurring with them in opinion, and being a great Theorest himself, enjoined this computation to be observed all Christendom over, Lodovicus Lilius a famous Astronomer, was one of the chiefest instruments in this business, 1581.  
In this Duke's time there happened a contrasto 'twixt the Republic and the Knights of Malta, because they had taken some Turkey Vessels in the Venetian Seas, whereat Amurath did thunder out a revenge; the Republic complained to the Gran Master, entreating him to forbear the taking of any Turkish Vessels in her Seas, while the peace lasted 'twixt Her and the Port; but the Malteses making no account hereof, the Venetian Galleys took from them a Galeon which they sent into Candy, and not long after two Galleys more, which being brought to Corfu, all the Turkish sl●… in them were set at liberty, and the empty Galleys restored to the Knights.  
The Ve●…erians also the same year to satisfy the Turk, caused publicly to be beheaded Gabriele Meme a gentleman of Venice, in regard that meeting with a Turkish Galeot passing from Algiers to Constantinople, with the Vice-Queen of that Kingdom and her children, who carried rich ●…esents to ●…urath, the said Heme put to the sword all the Turks in the said Galeot, and freed the Christian slaves.  
PASCHALE CICOGNA came to be the next Duke of Venice, in his 
1583  time an Academy was in●…uted in Venice, at the instance of some choice gentlemen; besides that exact and admirabled Fort Nova Palma in Friuli was erected with so much expense and enginry; that miraculous high arched Bridge at the 〈◊〉 was reated up also in his time.  
MARINI GRI●…ARCI succecded CICOGNA in the Government, 
1584.  in his time a 〈◊〉 little wa●…e happened 'twixt the Vscoc●…ht and the Republic, who committed daily depredations upon the Coasts of Dalma●…ia and 〈◊〉, but they were quickly chastised and restrained by Phileppo Paschali; Theodoro Balbi was also employed against some Barbary Pirates, who 〈◊〉 the Seas far into the Gulf, he took from them three 〈◊〉, and set many hundred Christian slaves at liberty, and so terrified them, that they durst look no more that way.  
I●… fell out in this Duke's time, that the Clergy of Padona having ve●…emently p●…sted ag●…inst Francisco Zabarella, for the suit preferred to sell certain ancient ●…hurch Lands, the Senate made a Decree, that the Church should not appropriate to herself rends possessed by the Laity, grounding that Decree upon a prohibition made by the Senate, Anno 1333. that no 〈◊〉 should be given or bequeathed in perpetuity to any Church within the City and Signory of Venice, and if any were left, they should be sold by a certain time prefixed, and the money arising out of the sale to be o lie theirs, alleging for reason, that the Clergy who pretend themselves and their goods to be exempt from all necessary charges belonging to the Commonwealth, the number of them daily increasing, and on the contrary, that of the Citizens still decreasing, who serve and b●…sie themselves in the Civil Government, and the quantity of their goods, whereon the public revenue depends, beginning to fail, in the end all Wealth would of necessity fall to the Clergy: this Law was variously observed till the year 1536. when it was reduced to this form, That none ●…f what quality soever should g●…ve Lands to the Church, but only for two years' space, after which time they should be sold, and if the sale were not made by the 〈◊〉, a Civil Magistrate should be appointed to do it; this being considered by the Senate, it hath ever since b●…n practised generally throughout the whole Republic.  
The year 1603. the Senate decreed, that no Venetian Citizen of what 〈◊〉 soever, should within the precincts of the City without the Senate's consent build any new Church, Hospital or Monastery, yet did not the Senate totally prohibit any such buildings, but because the Prince and State as Super●…ors would consider whither i●… were needful or no, there being already in the City one hundred fifty Churches, Monasteries, and Hospitals, with other like places of devotion  
In this Duke's time the famous Fort called Nova Palma was finished, which is thought to be the goodliest, and built more exactly according to the modern rules of enginry, than any in all Italy, the expenses whereof viis & modis were estimated to be half a million of Crowns; there was another strong Castle erected also in Cephalonia; that stupendous Arch in the Rialto was also perfected, having thirty six stairs on each side built of the stones of Istria.  
In the year 1605. Pope Clement the eighth deceased, and Alexander de Medici succeeded, who lived not a month to an end; the Cardinals proceeding to a new Election, and desirous to make haste, the Cardinals Farnese and Montalto went to Cardinal Aldobrandini, entreating him to name three among the whole College of Cardinals (Tuscus and Baronius excepted) and one of those three should be created; thereupon Cardinal Borghese was chosen by the name of Paulu Quintus.  
The Venetian Clergy, notwithstanding the Senate's decree, did daily more and more augment and improve their revenues, as well within and about the City as abroad; the Senate for reducing the State to one conformable custom, had before, as it hath been said, divulged their decree through all their Dominions, and added thereunto a Prohibition, That none within the City or Signory under what colour soever, should sell, give, or in any sort al●…enat Lards to the Clergy, without the Senate's Commission, which should not be granted, but with the same solemnities usual at the alienation of the public Revenue, and all the Alienations made otherwise should be declared void, the Lands confiscate, and the Notaries punished: Paul the V having notice of this Law, did strictly examine it, and would by no means approve of it; but towards the end of October the same year, complained thereof to the Venetian Ambassador at his time of public audience, saying, That whilst the Sea of Rome was vacant, the Venetians had made a Law which prohibited the Clergy to purchase Lands, adding, that though it were made upon urgent occasion, as they pretended, and by virtue of a former Decree, yet the Canons disannulled them both, therefore his pleasure was to have them repealed, enjoining the Ambassador accordingly to signify so much unto the Republic.  
The Ambassador did what the Pope enjoined him, and within a while after he received instructions and a Commission from the Senate, to acquaint his Holiness with the equity of their cause, and Justice of their Law, together with the Signories decree, and unquestionable authority to pass such decrees: The Pope being confident in his own Opinion, said aloud, that he gave him Audience only to content the Venetians, but not to admit any of his propounded reasons or excuses, Then he made another complaint about the detaining of a Canon of Vicenza, and the Abbot of Nerveze, both of them accused of notorious Crimes; And within a while after, concerning another Law forbidding to build Churches without permission, being resolved to have those two Laws revoked, and the prisoners delivered to his Nuncio residing in Venice: hereupon on the tenth of September, he passed two Injunctions, one concerning the two Laws, the other about sentencing the Clergy; so he sent a Commission accordingly to his Nuncio to present them, resolving upon their refusal to proceed to Excommunication; but the Nuncio being peradventure moved with pity because the Senate at that time had chosen an extraordinary Ambassador, by humble means thinking to divert his Holiness from his resolution, and to induce him to consider better of the matter, delayed the presenting of those Injunctions, which the Pope took in ill part; whereupon in all hast he sent him an express Commandment, to present them without further procrastination; In regard whereof upon Christmas day when Duke Grimany lay at the point of death, and that the Senators were solemnly assembled, some whereof had received the Holy Sacrament, and others were ready to receive, the Nuncio craved Audience, and produced the two Injunctions, but the Duke's death happening the next day, they were not opened till after the Election of the new Prince.  
LEONARDO DONATO Knight and Procurator of S. Mark succeeded 
1605  GRIMANI, after whose Election the two Injunctions being opened, were found to be both of one substance, which in effect was, That his Holiness was advertised that the Venetian Senate had decreed divers things contrary to the Liberty of the Church, and Authority of the Sea Apostolie, and divulged through all the Dominions of the Signory certain Laws peculiar only to the City of Venice, forbidding to build Churches or Monasteries, or to alienat the secular possessions of the Clergy without the Senate's permission, which, as repugnant to the Church's Liberty, his Holiness declared to be invalid, and they who enacted them to have incurred Ecclesiastical censures, commanding them under pain of Excommunication, presently to revoke and abrogate the said Laws, threatening to proceed further in case they did not conform.  
To this the Senate answered 28. of jan. Anno 1606. as followeth: That with grief and amazement they understood by his Holiness Letters, that he disliked the Laws of the Venetian Republic, prosperously observed for so many Ages, and never taxed by any of his Predecessors, the revokement whereof would not only shake, but utterly overthrow the very fundamentals of the State; that he interpreted those Laws to be prejudicial to the Sea Apostolic, and the Authority thereof, blaming those who had made them as infringers of the Church's Liberty, notwithstanding that they were known to be persons of singular piety, and to have done good service to the Sea of Rome▪, and were now doubtless in heaven; that the Senate according to his Holiness advertisement had narrowly examined both the New and Old Laws, and could find nothing in them but what might be decreed by a Sovereign Prince, concluding, that the Venetians did not think they had incurred any censures, and that therefore his Holiness so replete with Religion and Piety, would not without pondering well the cause, continue his menaces.  
This answer did much displease the Pope, who presently awarded an Excommunication against them, which on the seventh day of April of the same year was published throughout all Rome, and hung up in the usual places, namely on the great Gate of S. Peter's Church, the Chancery and Market place of Campo di Fiore by Christophoro Fonduto and Gio. Dominico di Pace the Pope's Poursuyvants.  
The Prince and Senat having intelligence of what had passed at Rome, to prevent all popular tumults and commotions which might peradventure thereby arise in the Towns and Cities subject to their Jurisdiction, were desirous to acquaint all sorts of people therewith; to which end they framed two Declarations, the one directed to all the Clergy of their Dominions, and the other to all secular Magistrates and Officers, to stop and restrain all disorders that might hence ensue; whereupon all that year divers books were written pro and con, some condemning the Venetians, others the Pope, every one as his passion did transport him; but at last this great contention had like to have been decided by the sword, both sides making preparations for war. For the Venetians having understood that a great number of Foot and Horse was levied at Ferrara, and that the Romans had offered to aid the Pope in that war with men and money; They likewise raised forces accordingly, and fell to fortify their Towns with greater strength, because they would not be surprised, or taken unprovided, so that there was a great likelihood of an eager bloody war, had not France vigorously appeared as Mediatrix in the business.  
Hereupon Henry the FOUR to prevent the danger and scandal which might arise by this war, did speedily send the Cardinal joyeuse both to the Pope and the Venetians from him, and in his name to intercede for a peace amongst them, which Embassy took very good effect; for the Cardinal being speedily dispatched from France with instructions & other dispatches necessary for his Negotiation, He arrived at Rome on a Thursday night 23. Martii 1607. and the same Evening conferred with the Cardinals and the French Ambassador there resident, to propound the business to his Holiness: thereupon the next day the Cardinal accompanied with the Leger Ambassador, went to see his Holiness; unto whom the Cardinal did largely relate the occasion of his coming; But the Pope seemed to be inexorable to any terms of agreement with the Venetians, till the Clergy and Jesuits (who had been banished not long before) were restored to their Churches & Colleges; The Cardinal at this first Audience would not put him out of hope of their restitution, but only told him, that he did not despair of reconciling the Jesuits to the Venetians, having bethought himself of a fit means, whereof if his Holiness would not make use, he doubted not but it would be prevalent.  
The Pope being much desirous to know this new devise; did the next day early send for him, than the Cardinal de joyeuse told him, That to hope by any express Treaty to obtain of the Venetian Senate the restauration of the jesuits, were but to spend time to no purpose, but if his Holiness would give ample Commission and Authority to revoke the Censures, and send him to Venice with such a power, some good might be done upon the public producement of the said Commission.  
The Pope made show, that he neither could nor would approve of this motion, therefore he said, That he had engaged his promise not to abandon the jesuits, who had been expulsed for favouring his Interdiction, unto whom he had passed his word never to be reconciled to the Venetians, till they were re-established; but after sundry other Allegations, this conference was to little purpose, every man perceaving by his Holiness countenance that he was perplexed.  
The French Cardinal and others meeting to reconcile these differences, and remove the difficulties, entreated Cardinal Perron to go the next day after dinner, to get express Audience of the Pope, and if it were possible to induce him to grant certain points for the advance of the business.  
Cardinal Perron at their entreaty undertook the task, and a good while debated the point with his Holiness about the restoring of the Jesuits, showing him the danger whereunto he exposed the Church and Christian Religion for one particular Order, whose restauration was to be hoped for thereafter, though for a time deferred: He told him that his Holiness should first re-establish his own Authority in Venice, and that being once done, there was no doubt but the other might follow after: So after many other prevalent reasons, Perron obtained of the Pope, that seeing for the present he could not prevail in the Jesuits behalf, he should let it pass, and insert a Clause in the Article, whereby it might appear to the world, that he had not neglected their restauration: then the Cardinal speaking of the Commission, the Pope would hardly be drawn thereunto, supposing it to be dishonourable 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 alleging divers reasons to the contrary, the Pope at last consented to give the Cardinal joyeuse Commission to revoke the Censures which he should carry with him to Venice, but on this condition, to do his best for the restauration of the jesuits, before he disannulled the Interdiction. He also, though with some difficulty, induced his Holiness to be pleased that the French Ambassador resident at Rome, and not he who lay at Venice, should 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 craved it in the name of his Master and the Republic; In a word, the Pope granted all his demands, only he seemed unwilling to declare his intention to the Consistory, saying, that he supposed he ought not to do it publicly, because he had not yet acquainted the Cardinals herwith; nevertheless he would resolve upon't, and the next day in the Consistory would impart it to some particular Cardinals, 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 declared his intent to some particular Cardinals; he did the same afternoon call the rest into his Chamber, secretly to take their Opinions, and in that business spent the whole week.  
The Spaniards being not well pleased, that they were not sought unto in this business, and desirous to frustrate the matter, divulged certain rumours contrary to the Pope's will and meaning, and among others, a cunning letter was written by Don Francisco de Castro, wherein he certified the Pope, that if he stood first for restoring the jesuits, he was likely to obtain, it and that the Republic determined to make a Protestation, by surrendering the Prisoners contrary to that which had been concluded, and which his Holiness had promised to himself: these false rumours distracted the Pope, who thereupon made some difficulty to proceed further; but Cardinal Perron soliciting him, and assuring him of the contrary, he delivered, according to his former resolution, the Commission to Cardinal joyeuse, willing him to make haste to Venice.  
The Spaniards being not able to cross this resolution, made suit to have Card●…nall Zapata joined in Commission with Cardinal joyeuse, but their labour in that point was lost; and yet in other Solemnities Zapata and the Spanish Ambassador had in appearance some intelligence with the French Ministers; because in the King's Name they were Sureties for the Signory, as were Cardinal joyeuse 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 King's advantage and honour.  
Cardinal joyeuse with the Commission received from his Holiness containing the conditions whereon the Censures were to be revoked, being in number six, goes on his journey: The conditions were to this effect, 1. That the two Churchmen prisoners, namely the Abbot of Nerveze, and the canon of Vicenza, should be freely given to the Pope. 2. That his Holiness should revoke his Censures, making a Declaration thereof to the College. 3. That the Venetian Signory should within a while after send an Ambassage to the Pope: That the Venetian Duke by a Declaration should certify the Clergy under the State, that the first Declaration is revoked: That the three Decrees mentioned in the Pope's Inderdiction, and other Laws of the Signory should continue in their full force and power, with this Proviso, That the Senate shall promise the French and Catholic King, not to execute them till the business be fully concluded 'twixt his Holiness and the Signory, having first more amply informed the Pope of the justice and equity of those Laws: Lastly, that all Churchmen and Religious Orders which are banished and expulsed from Venice, or the Jurisdiction thereof, by reason of these troubles, may return home to their houses and Convents; but concerning the return of the Jesuits, his Holiness 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 ecclesiastics. Now Cardinal joyeuse departed from Rome with his Commission, and the Articles aforesaid and arrived at Venice, where he was extraordinarily entertained, 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 delivered them unto him, as granted to the Pope at the instance of the King his Master, without prejudice to the State's Jurisdiction in such cases, and the French Ambassador did presently consign them to the hands of Cardinal joyeuse, 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 Holiness, not adding at whose entreaty, and so the Cardinal received them as his proper prisoners, whereunto 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 some did not well understand what remained betwixt the Pope and the Signory.  
The next morning the Cardinal came to the College, and after some circumstances of the Pope's Fatherly goodness, he assured them that the Censures were revoked; so having given them his Benediction, he went to celebrat the Mass in the Patriarches Church; the Duke's first Declaration was revoked also in this manner.  
LEONARDO DONATO, by the Grace of God, Duke of Venice, etc.  
To the reverend Patriarches, Archbishops, and Bishops of our State and Jurisdiction of Venice, and to the Vicars, Abbots, Priors, Rectors of Parish Churches, and all other Ecclesiastical people, Greeting.  
SEeing it hath pleased our good God to find out a way whereby our Holy Father Pope Paul the V. hath been duly informed, as well of our good meaning, as of the integrity of our actions, and continual honour and reverence which we bear to the See of Rome, and thereby to take away all cause of strife, we, as we have ever desired and procured Unity and good correspondence with the said See, of which we are loving and obedient children, do receive likewise this contentation, to have at last obtained the accomplishment of our holy desire; therefore we thought good by our Declaration to advertise you hereof, giving you besides to understand, that whatsoever did belong herunto, hath been faithfully performed on both parts, and the Censures and Interdiction removed; the Protestation likewise we made against them, hath been, and is revoked; we being desirous, that herein, 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 ducal Palace the 21. of April 1607. Signed, Marco Ottobon Secretary.  
The Duke having published this Declaration, the Senate was not a little perplexed 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 published in the behalf of the said Decrees, nor of the Authors of the said books, which were two very important points, and which did threaten ●… 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 said books, by the ordinary way of Ecclesiastical Justice, and thinking it dishonourable to abandon those that had done them so good and faithful service, after mature consultation, the Senate made a very notable and honourable Decree, that the Signory should protect them against all dangers, and assign them a perpetual Pension.    

A particular Narratif of the notable Contestation 'twixt Paulus Quintus, and the Republic of Venice, 1606. etc.  
NOw, in regard that every Corner of Christendom 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 thereof.  
Paulus Quintus having ascended to the Pontificat, the bent of all his consultations were to advance the Privileges of the Church, and mortify the presumption, (those were his words) of such secular Princes and States that seemed to bandy against them, specially of the Signory of Venice; whereupon he employed thither in quality of Nuncio, Horatio Ma●…hei Bishop of G●…erace, a man so fervent in this cause, that in full Assembly he told the Duke of Venice, That Alms 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 Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction: In private Communication he also said, That he had heard the piety of the City of Venice often and amply magnified, yet he himself could perceive but little, considering that Christian perfection doth not consist in deeds of charity and devotion, as much as in exalting the Ecclesiastical Authority, which is the true C●…ment of that perfection.  
There happened a little difference betwixt Paul the V. and the Republic of Luca at this time, who in regard that many of her Citizens having changed their Rel●…gion, had retired themselves to Protestant Countries, She published an Edict by which all her Subjects were forbidden to have Commerce, or to correspond any way with such persons: This Ed●…ct being come to the Pope, he highly approved of the Law, but he said, That the State of Luca had no Authority to make any such Ordinance of herself, because it concerned Religion; therefore he commanded that the said Edict should be razed out of the Records, promising to form another which should be the same in substance, but to be published by his Pontifical Authority.  
There happened about this time another clash 'twixt him and the Republic of Genoa, who being informed that the Governors of certain lay-Fraternities, instituted by devotion, had not dispensed the revenu with requisite fidelity, She resolved to examine 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. therefore he gave the Republic of Genoa to understand, that these proceedings were against the Liberty Ecclesiastical, So he expressly enjoined them to revoke their Edicts, otherwise he would proceed to the Censure of Excommunication: both these States complied with the Pope, but the State of Venice was more stiffnecked, and constant in the maintenance of her Decrees.  
The first cloud of discontent 'twixt this Pope and the Venetians appeared, when he having solicited the Republic for a contribution of sums of money to aid the Emperor in the wars of Hungary against the Turk, he received from her a complemental denial: He afterwards proposed the revocation of an Ordinance made by the Senate a little before, forbidding the Subjects of the Signory to set forth any Vessels by Sea, or to make any assurances or Companies for the traffic of any Merchandise whatsoever, to be exported out of the State of Venice into any other Countries, unless it passed first by Venice, alleging that this would hinder the Commerce in the State of the Church and was against the Ecclesiastical Liberty.  
The Republic answered herunto, That every Prince commands his Subjects, in that which may serve for the commodity of his own Estate, without considering what may follow thereupon to neighbour Princes, who cannot justly be therewith offended, howsoever they may be in some sort incommoded; therefore whensoever his Holiness shall command his Subjects any thing which may turn to the profit of his Government, the State would not take it in ill part, nor esteem it against their Liberty.  
The Pope perceaving by this Essay that he could not compass his ends, these differences being not within the bounds of things spiritual, and finding that his desires were so little prevalent with the Venetian, thought to be quit with him some other way, and an opportunity was offered a little after; touching one Scipio Sarraceno Canon of Vicenza, and upon the complaint of a young gentlewoman his cousin, whose door and ring thereof (which is a common kind of revenge in Italy) he had besmeared with excrements, and done her some other wrongs; she herupon complained to the Senate, who thereupon cited and imprisoned the Canon; complaints hereof being made to the Pope, the Republic answered, That the just Title and Authority which She hath to judge Ecclesiastical persons in causes criminal, were founded on the power of a natural Prince, and on custom, never interrupted by the space of a thousand years and upwards, which hath been approved of by the Pope's Breve's themselves, yet extant in the public Archives.  
This being delivered by the Venetian Ambassador to Pope Paul, he received it with some impatience, saying, That the reasons alleged 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, there were no other Archive of the Papal Breve's but at Rome; that those which they pretended for their justification were but waste papers, etc.  
To this occasion there was superadded another, which was the imprisoning of Count Brandolin Valdemanno Abbot of Nervese, as was formerly mentioned; the Pope sent Order, that both the said Count & Canon should be released, but the Senate passed it over with a compliment; the Pope also excepted at that Decree in Venice, That none should erect either Church or Chapel without the permission of the Senate; He adjoined further, that the Republic retained in her hands five hundred thousand Crowns of Ecclesiastical Legacies; charging, that in all these particulars she should 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 appertained 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 whereas it was alleged, that the Republic had reserved such a portion of Legacies Ecclesiastical, it was a mere suggestion, and if his Holiness would give credit to every such calumny, differences would grow infinite.  
Here the Pope stayed, saying, that touching the Legacies he would say no more; but he would 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 obeyed, otherwise he would apply such remedies as the nature of things required.  
About this time Genoa published a Manifesto, by revoking a Decree which the Pope had excepted against▪ he made use hereof for an example, to make the Venetians conformable to his will, using these words, Sequimini paenitentes, follow the penitent; answer was made, That there was not the same reason for the Republic of Venice, seeing she had not seven Cardinals her Citizens, as Genoa had, to mediate for her upon all occasions with his Holiness; That the Decrees of the Senate 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 Nuntios, and that after their promotion they never questioned them.  
This gave no satisfaction at all to the Pope, therefore he said he would send a Breve hortatory to the Republic, concerning the three points before mentioned, and if he were not obeyed by such a time, he would proceed further; for he must not suffer the Authority of the Church to decline, but according to his Office, he would vindicat and uphold it to his utmost, and to which end he had Legions of Angels for his aid, and assistance, etc.  
Herupon he sealed and sent two Breves a little after to his Nuntio in Venice, with charge to present them accordingly; they were addressed Marino Grimani Duci, & Reipublicae Venetorum. After this he called a Consistory, wherein he declared how the State of Venice had violated the Ecclesiastical Liberty, by publishing two Laws prejudicial thereunto, and by detaining in prison two persons of the Church, etc. The Cardinals were very sparing to deliver their Opinions herein, and when it came to Bellarmin to speak, he said, That his Holiness should rather think on the residence of Prelates in their Churches.  
The Venetian Senate thought good to send an Ambassador expressly for this purpose; and to show 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 received the Breves but the next day after, the Ambassador extraordinary stayed the presentation thereof, and sent advice by an express of the choice of the said Ambassador; the Pope was not well pleased when he heard of this, that the Nuntio should presume to interpose his own judgement after his Ordinance; therefore he dispatched unto Venice an express Courier with a mandamus to the Nuntio, to present the said Breves immediately after the receipt of his Letter, & that this might be concealed from the ordinary Ambassador of Venice, then resident at Rome, he caused the Courier to go out in a Coach without boots, and so take horse at the second Stage. The Nuntio having received this command on Christmas Eve, that he might punctually obey his Holiness, did present that solemn high Festival day the said Breves unto the Senators assembled to assist at a solemn Mass, in the absence of the Duke Grimani, who was then struggling with the pangs of death, and expired the morning after, so that the Breves were not opened till the creation of a new Duke.  
The Pope having advice hereof, writ to his Nuntio to make a protest unto the Senate, and enjoin them not to pass to a new Election, in regard it would prove void, being made by men excommunicated; the Nuntio pressing for Audience herupon, was delayed, in regard it hath ever been the custom of the Signory to treat of no business 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 receive this Letter from the new Doge by the hands of the ordinary Venetian Ambassador then sojourning at Rome, and returned a congratulatory Amswer thereof, revoking the Order formerly sent to the Nuntio of presenting himself to the Duke.  
The first affair that was agitated in the Senate 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 opened, and they were both of the same substance, viz. That it was come to his knowing, how the Republic in former years had determined in her Counsels many things contrary to Ecclesiastic Liberty, and to the Canons, Counsels, and Constitutions Pontifical; but among others, that in the year 1603. she had in the Decemvirate, 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 revived the same, extending that Statute which only concerned the City of Venice, to all other places of their Dominions under great penalties, as if Churches and persons Ecclesiastical 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 some great Crime; moreover, that in the month of May last, the Senate having regard to another Law made in the year 1536. whereby was prohibited the perpetual alienation of laymen's possessions within the City and Signory of Venice to Ecclesiastical persons, without permission of the Senate under certain penalties, instead of revoking that Law, as their duty required, they had renewed it, and extended the penalty to all their Dominions, as if it were lawful 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 been given to the Church, of persons spiritual, and other places of devotion granted by the faithful for remedy of their sins, and discharge of their consciences: That these Ordinances tending to the damnation of souls, to public scandals, and also contrary to the Ecclesiastical Liberty, were of themselves void and of no validity, as furthermore he declared them to be such, no man being obliged to observe them; on the contrary, that they who had made the Statutes, or any like, or they who had furthered them, had incurred the Church's Censures, and deprived themselves 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 absolved, unless they revoked all such Laws, and re-established all things in their former estate: That thereupon being placed in the Sovereign Throne, and not being able to dissemble or endure these things, he admonished 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 said Laws ancient and modern should be abrogated; That this Monitory should be published in all places throughout the Republic, expecting from them an account hereof, if not, upon notice had from his Nuntio, he would proceed to execution of the Penalties, and to such other remedies that were meet, remembering the reckoning that he was to give to God at the day of Judgement, and that he could not in duty dissemble when the Authority of the See Apostolic was diminished, Ecclesiastical 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 induced hereunto for any worldly consideration, for he desired nothing else but the glory to acquit himself of his Apostolical function; and as he intended not to usurp anything upon the secular Authority, so he would not permit the Ecclesiastic should be diminished; he concluded, that if the Republic would conform, they would deliver him from much pain which he endured in their behalf, and they might still retain the Lands which they held of the Church: That the best means whereby she might prevent the incommodities that might fall upon her from Infidels, were to conserve the Churchmen in their rights, who watch in perpetual prayers to God for her conservation.  
The Senate with much maturity pondered these Breves, and thereupon sent to confer with their learnedst Counsellors in the Civil Laws, amongst whom they admitted Paul of Venice, of the Order of the Servites, an eminent Divine and Canonist, with other Padovan Doctors, to consult what answer they should 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 done touching the legality of a divorce with Katherine of Arragon. Having received the judgements of the learnedst men in France and Spain, specially of Giacomo Monochio Precedent of Milan, a man much cried up in those days for learning, the Senate framed the Answer to the Pope's Monitory, as followeth.  
That with much grief and wonder they understood by the Letters of his Holiness, that their Laws observed carefully through so many Ages, and never questioned by any of his Predecessors, the revokement whereof would shake the very Foundations of the Republic, were reprehended as contrary to the See Apostolic, and that they which made them (having been persons eminent for merit, and well deserving of that See, who are now in heaven) were noted for Violators of Ecclesiastic Liberty; that according to the admonition of his Holiness, they had examined with much exactness their Laws Old and New, but had not found anything which a Sovereign Prince might not have well ordained without any just offence to the Pope's Authority, it being a thing evidently belonging to a secular Prince, to have regard what Companies are erected in h●…s Dominions; as also to prevent the building of such Edifices as in time to come might be hurtful 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 refused to permit new Foundations themselves contributing liberally thereunto. That in the Law against perpetual alienation of lay goods unto Ecclesiastics, the question being of things purely temporal, they could not be taxed to have done 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 bequeathed unto them hereby, seeing they receive a price answerable in value, to the immovable adjoining; that it tends to the great prejudice, not only of the temporal State, but also of the spiritual to weaken the Forces of the Republic, which by such alienations is deprived of necessary services, and which in effect is a vanguard or fortress for all Christendom against Infidels: That for these reasons the Senate could not persuade themselves to have incurred any Censures, since secular Princes have by Divine Law, from which no human Law may derogat, a power to establish Laws in things temporal; as also that the admonitions of his Holiness have here no place, where the question is not of any thing spiritual, or any way trenching upon the Pap●…ll Authority, much less yet could they believe, that his Holiness, so full of Piety and Religion, would persist without knowledge of the cause in his Comminations.  
This was the substance of the senate's Answer, remitting themselves further to their Ambassador extraordinary.  
There happened a business in Savoy about this time, which might have scattered 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 incensed thereat, did so menace the Duke with Excommunication, that he revoked his Commandment.  
The Senate's Letter being delivered to the Pope by Nani the Venetian Ambassador in ordinary, to prepare the way for Duodo the Extraordinary; he said, being a little transported, that Monitory Breve's must not be answered by Letter, and that the Answers of the Senate were frivolous; He added that lately he had heard of another Law touching goods Ecclesiastic holden as Emphyteutike, which was fit to be revoked with the other, and although he had not till then made any mention of it, yet he had more to say against it then any other, therefore it behoved them to obey him, because the cause was Gods, Et portae Inferi non praevalebunt contra eam; and if they would not revoke the said Laws, they were Tyrants, and degenerating from their Ancestors, etc.  
A little after he sent another Breve to be delivered the Duke, for the release of the Canon and the Abbot under pain of Excommunication, latae sententiae, which he commanded should be delivered into the hands of his Nuntio, etc.  
The Senate consulted the Doctors again about this Breve, whereupon after some Eventilations of the matters, this Answer was sent:  That the Breve of his Holiness was read with much reverence, and no less regret, as perceaving thereby that matters tended to increase discord, that his Holiness went about to destroy the Laws of their Republic, which so many Ages had been kept entire; to deliver up the Canon and Abbot, was nothing else but to demand that they should despoil themselves of their just power to chastise crimes and wickedness, which power they had enjoyed with the approbation of his Predecessors, from the Original of the Republic: that God the Founder of all States had bestowed this power upon them from the beginning, and that they did derive it from their Progenitors, etc. 
Duodo the Extraordinary Ambassador made no great haste to Rome, whereat the Pope received offence; being arrived there at last, he was not suffered to pass his first Audience with compliment as the custom is, but the Pope wished him to fall to the business presently; so he delivered with much gravity and pressing elocution the reasons that moved the Republic not to revoke those Laws, and to detain the persons of the said Churchmen.  
The Pope answered with some heat, that the exemption of the Clergy was jure Divino; he said, that he would not meddle with things temporal, but their three aforssayed Laws were Usurpations.  
As the Pope had formerly acquainted most Princes with these traverses 'twixt him and Venice in a complaining way, so the Senate sent unto the Republics Ambassadors abroad, that they should truly inform those Princes in whose Courts they resided, of the truth of things; In Venice there were at that time Ambassadors from the Emperor, France and Spain, to whom the business was communicated by some of the Senators; The Imperial Ambassador said, That his Master desired peace, and that in such matters he would not foment the will of the Pope. The Count of Santa Cruz who was for Spain, approved of the reasons already alleged in Rome for the Republic; Mons du Fresne the French Ambassador answered, That he knew not what to make of those pontifical Laws, whereby Princes are restrained to govern their Subjects, etc.  
Pope Paul was still eager in the business, telling the Venetian Ambassador that there were none in the Senate that understood rightly the case, which made them have recourse to Doctors, but that he had written to such persons as were able to set their Doctors at School, concluding that he would proceed with his spiritual Arms in this matter, but touching other things, he would still account of the Venetians, as of his children.  
Herupon a Consistory was called, and most of the Cardinals ran bias with the Pope, except the Cardinals of Verona and Vicenza, who were more moderate; examples against Hen. II. King of England, the King of Castille, and against the Kings Charles, II. IV. were produced, who underwent the spiritual Censures in like cases; so he resolved upon an Interdiction, yet he would give the Senate twenty four days of longer time to consider hereof, whereunto the Cardinals gave their suffrages, but a Libel was cast up and down the streets of Venice, that the Consistory herein was brought to assentari, not assentiri.  
A little while after the Interdict was affixed in the accustomed places of the City of Rome, and scattered every where, some in Latin, some in Italian, wherein after recapitulation of those Decrees in Venice, and the imprisonment of the foresaid Churchmen,  
The Pope declared that after the example of ten of his Predecessors, with the Council and consent of the Cardinals, after mature deliberation, though the former said Decrees of the Senate were of themselves void, and of no validity, nevertheless he now declared them to be such; therefore he did excommunicate, declare and pronounce for excommunicated, as if they had been particularly named, the Duke and Senate of Venice which then were, and which should be hereafter together with all their favourers, promoters and Councillors, if within the term of twenty four days to be counted from the day of the Publication, the Duke and Senat did not recall, abrogat and disannul the Decrees aforesaid without any exception or excuse, and if they caused not openly and in all places the said abrogation to be published, as also actually to render into the hands of his Nuntio the imprisoned Canon and Abbot.  
That from this Excommunication they could not be absolved but by the Pope, except it were upon the point of death, in which case if any one received absolution and should afterwards recover health, he should fall again within this Excommunication, if he did not as far as in him lay obey this his commandment; that until they had obeyed, he forbade any one to be buried in holy place; and if after the said twenty four days, the Duke and Senat should continue in their obstinacy, he put all their State under the Interdict, in such sort, that none should celebrat Mass or Divine Service; he deprived the Duke and Senat likewise of all their goods which they held of the Church of Rome, or of other Churches, as also of all their Privileges and indults obtained by it, and specially of that Privilege enabling them to proceed against Clerks in certain cases, reserving to himself and his Successors a power to aggravat and re-aggravat this Censure against them and their adherents, etc.  
The public Ministers of State who were than resident at Rome, made instances to the Pope to retard a while this Interdict: the Marquis of Chastillon who was for the Emperor, D' Alincourt who was for the French King, The Count of Verriie who was for Savoy, but his Holiness was inflexible, saying, he would bring the offenders to obey; whereupon the Savoy Ambassador replied, that the word obey was too harsh to be used towards a Sovereign Prince; yet after the publication of the said Interdict, the said Ambassadors gave a solemn visit to the Venetian Ambassadors, and communicated unto them what they had done with the Pope in the transaction of affairs.  
The publication of this Interdict being flown to Venice, it was ordered by the Senate, that every one should have recours to his prayers; it was resolved upon to recall the Ambassador Extraordinary from Rome, to testify the resentment they had of the wrong, but to leave the Leger Ambassador there still, to prevent an absolute rupture; It was also determined to write to Gregorio justiniano's then Ambassador in England, that he should inform the King hereof: Sir Henry Wootton Ambassador at that time in Venice, complained that the Senate had communicated these things to other Foreign Ministers before him, but for the pretensions of the Pope, he said, he could not understand that Roman Theology, etc.  
There was public command given to all Prelates and Ecclesiastical persons, that they should not publish, or cause and suffer to be published or affixed in any place whatsoever, any Bulls, Monitories, Breves, or other writings which should be sent unto them from Rome: furthermore Proclamation was made under pain of incurring the displeasure of the Prince, that whosoever had any copy of a certain Breve divulged at Rome touching the Republic, he should bring it to the Magistrates at Venice, or to Governors of Castles and other Officers of the State.  
Hereupon all people did so cheerfully obey this command, that 'twas a marvelous thing to see how many had been imprinted and scattered; neither was any one of them affixed in any place, by reason of the general diligence of the people.  
Duodo the Ambassador Extraordinary at Rome, having received order for his revocation, went to take his leave of Pope Paul, telling him, that since his Holiness would not take into consideration the reasons by him represented, and having no more to say or act, he was recalled: the Pope answered with more mildness than ordinary, That touching the difference, he had done nothing but what his conscience and duty obliged him to do, that the case was clear and decided, that in the whole order of his proceedings he had followed the example of his Predecessors, that his weapons in this quarrel were spiritual, the use whereof accorded well with that fatherly love which he had ever born to the Signory, requiring only such obedience as the greatest Princes render him.  
The Pope's Nuntio at Venice after th●…s Interdict was observed to frequent the College of the jesuits where were Possevino, and Bernardin Castorio men eminently known, the first had done great things in Moscovia, the other had been provincial of the Jesuits when they were expelled out of Lions, with divers others of note. The said Nuntio came some days after to the Senate, where first showing a resentment of what had passed, he said that they ought not to proceed towards his Holiness with such a repugnance, that the Pope was moved by pure zeal, and that yet, if they yielded a little, all things might be accommoded; to which effect he desired that his Serenity would think upon a temperament, that for his part he was not most ready to present and favour it.  
The Duke answered that none of sound understanding could approve that a Republic so pious and Catholic should be vexed in such a fashion, and that the actions of the Pope could not be justified; that he had published a Monitory which every one held injust without scruple, that he fell upon so weighty a resolution, without weighing before hand how the world is governed; that his Holiness could not have done an act more perilous to cast the Apostolic See upon the censure and hatred of all people, and into a manifest danger, that if the Republic should think upon a separation, it would be followed with an irreparable loss; but though the Republic would not depart from her piety, yet would she defend herself; that for his particular (meaning the Nuntio) he did well to persuade peace, but he should turn his speech to the Pope who troubled it. Eight days after the Nuntio had Audience again, wherein speaking much of the Pope's prudence, he showed a displeasure, that he saw no appearance of a temperament, concluding, That the Senate should take heed, lest while they desired to support a particular Law, they might draw on themselves universal ruin; whereunto the Duke answered, That he ought not to speak of prudence in the Pope, who had used so much precipitation, and that he should do well to set before his eyes the imminent danger which may follow herupon, and tell him that these Counsels came from a man old in affairs of State, as well as years.  
The Pope hearing of the Proclamation against his Monitory, & how the pulse of the Venetians did beat, who showed themselves so obedient to the Senate, and so forward to uphold their liberty, he thought his Nuntio could not stay in Venice any longer with his honour; therefore he sent him Letters of revocation, and dismissed from Rome Nani the Republics Ambassador, charging him expressly not to leave behind him any of his company: yet he desired to see him before he went provided, if he came unto him in quality of a private man▪ Nani made answer, that he could not tell how to separat from his person the title of Ambassador; so he left Rome, being well accompanied out of Town with Roman Barons and gentlemen, but with few Prelates▪ The next morning, the Pope sent after him a Colonel to accompany him throughout the State of the Church, who o'ertook him at Gorligno.  
In Venice the Duke had caused a Manifesto to be published and affixed at every door, That whereas he had received advice of a publication made at Rome of a certain Breve fulminated against the Senate and Signory, he being obliged to have a care of the public tranquillity, and of the Authority of a Sovereign Prince, did protest before God and all the world, that he had not omitted any means possible to make the Pope capable of the most clear and strong reasons that were produced in behalf of the Republic, but having found his ears shut, and seen the Breve published against reason and justice, against the Doctrines of Holy Scriptures, of the Fathers, and Canons in prejudice of the secular Authority given by God, and of the liberty of the State, with the trouble of the repose of his Subjects, and to the great scandal of all the world, he did pronounce that Breve not only injust, but merely void and null, and so unlawful, that he need not repute it needful to have recours to such remedies, as in other occasions the Republic, and many Sovereign Princes have used against such Popes as outpassed their power, exhorting and enjoying that the Prelates continu in their accustomed cour●… in celebration of Divine Service, the Republic being resolved to persever in the Holy Catholic Faith, and in the reverence of the Roman Church, as they have done from the beginning.  
Upon this Interdict, the only Ecclesiastics that went out of the Republic, were the jesuits and Capuchins, whereof the first was banished, the other dismissed, the rest did still officiat, alleging, that the difference 'twixt the See of Rome, and the Signory was not touching any point of the Catholic Faith.  
But at Rome herself it was expected that the said Interdict wood produce three effects: 1. That the Religious would all depart: 2. That the Cities and people seeing themselves deprived of Church Offices would raise a sedition, and so force the Senate to give the Pope satisfaction: 3. That the Nobility upon this occasion might be disordered, terrified, and divided among themselves, but none of all these three effects happened; for the Senate was greatly united in their resolutions, the City of Venice and common people kept themselves in wonderful obedience: and this so general a calm did not only proceed from the voluntary conformablenes of the people, but also from the providence of the Senate, and diligence of the Magistrate, who provided for all accidents; Besides, this great affair was conducted with so much prudence and dexterity, that no blood of any man was shed for contempt or mutiny, which made the world to stand at a gaze, that so great a Body and Government should be kept npright without any violence, execution, or the least shock given; notwithstanding there were many under practices used afterwards.  
The Jesuits in every place where they had taken footing, did put all irons in the fire, and fell a beating them to brand the Republic of Venice, insomuch that her Ambassadors received affronts in some places, as in Poland and Prague, but it was by private persons, for which they had satisfaction from the Emperor, and the King of Poland; for the Signory was not so careless, but she sent a punctual account of all these traverses 'twixt the Pope and Her; Genoa and Savoy was also displeased with Her, because both they had been succumbent to the Pope's Censures before, and submitted.  
Among other Princes, justiniano's the Venetian Ambassador residing then in London, had command to acquaint the King of England with his Contrasto 'twixt the Pope and the Senat. King james after he had very attentively heard the relation of the Ambassador, showed how well he accepted that esteem, and highly commended the Laws of the Republic, adding, that he longed to see the whole Church of God reformed, to which end, he much desired a free Council to determine so many controversies, which have no other cause but the usurpations of the Roman Bishops, in which desire, he thought the King of France and other Princes would join with him; that perhaps God meant to produce this happiness out of these troubles of the Signory; that he had sent word thereof to Pope Clement, then when he was moved by him, the first time he came to the Crown of England, to unite himself to the Roman Church, but he would not hear any thing of a Council; that this union was much to be desired, but clearly there was no other means to effect it then by a General Council; he added moreover, that that ruin of the Church proceeded from this, that the Popes esteemed themselves as Gods, and were so corrupted by flattery, that 'twas no marvel they could give no ear to any reason, and if they proceeded oftentimes with such precipitation.  
The separated States of Holland writ letters full of of affection unto the Republie upon this occasion, offering Her a supply of Arms, Ships, and Victuals, if the case required, with any other good office of friendship.  
All Christian Princes were sensible of this rupture 'twixt the Pope and the Republic, specially the Roman Catholics, in whose Courts the Venetian Ambassadors did refrain for a while, to go with the rest into their Chappells after the accustomed manner.  
The Duke of Savoy did appear more against the Republic than any other, not treating her Ambassador as formerly, though he took hold of another occasion, because She had written to his children by the title of Excellency not of Highness.  
The Republic apprehending some fears, that such a confederacy might be procured against Her by Pope Paul the eight, as was by julius the second, who carried fire in his hands; She was very willing that matters might be reconciled by the mediation of other Princes▪ wherein Mons. du Fresne stirred more vigorously than any other, by order from Henry the IV. of France his Master: the Duke of Mantova also offered to come to Venice in disguise, to know their intentions, and then pass to Rome, of purpose to treat with the Pope for an atonement.  
The Senate took this as a very high respect, and said, that the Republic who used to be accounted the Right Hand of Rome, would do nothing unworthy of herself; and it was just, that he who had first offended should repair the offence; therefore it was fitting that the Pope should revoke his Censures, and so open the way to a Treaty; for no wound can heal, till the inflammation be taken away.  
While this difference lasted 'twixt Rome and Venice, a certain writing was affixed at Vicenza, and other places, wherein the Republic was exhorted to shake off the Pope's Yoke, calling him Antichrist▪ etc. The Senate was much moved herat, therefore they caused a rigorous Ba●… to be published, wherein they promised a large reward to him or them that should discover the Author of that infamous paper, giving charge that a diligent search should be made after the Authors; but none being found, 'twas thought to be an artifice of the Jesuits, to induce the Venetian thereby, to come the sooner to an accord with the Pope.  
The King of Spain in these doubtful traverses of things, writ a Letter full of terms of reverence and compliment unto the Pope, that if need were, he would join his temporal Arms to maintain the spiritual Arms of the Church; to which purpose, he had written both to his Viceroy of Naples, and Governor of Milan: upon the receipt of this Letter, there were Bonfires made at Rome, and the flames of the fire flew upon the wings of fame all Christendom over, which gave the Republic such an alarm, that She began by Land and Sea to arm apace; She was offered assistance if need were from some of the Greek Christians, that were subjects to the Turk, as also from the reformed Churches of France, but she waved both; but it was thought that this Letter of the Spanish King, wherein he promised warlike succours to the Pope, was not a thing really meant, but only to terrify the Republic, and bring her the sooner to an agreement; which appeared, in regard he had sent express commands to Don Innigo de Cardenas his Ambassador, residing in Venice, to propound some Overtures of Treaty: whereupon he proposed to the Duke and the Senate, That his Catholic Majesty affecting the conservation of peace, desired that the disgusts 'twixt his Holiness and the Republic might cease, to which end he had commanded all his Ministers to cooperat accordingly, and particularly had commanded him to pray the Senate accordingly, etc.  
The Duke much extolling the good inclinations of the Catholic King, answered, That the Republic could not do more than what they had done already, that it was more proper to begin with him who had been the cause of all these broils, that it was not for them to open the way which had been stopped up by others; that the Pope by dismissing their Ambassador, and revoking his Nuntio, had broken off all means of Treaty, which could not be set on foot, unless the Censures were taken off, with which the Republic thought herself much injured.  
The Ambassador replied, ask the Duke, Whether his Serenity were content that he should pray his Holiness in the name of the Catholic King to take off his Excommunication.  The Duke rejoined, that it was necessary to remove the impediment, but that this should be done by this means or that, by the freewill of the Pope, or at the instance of another, it little imported for the substance of the thing, and that his Majesty might do what pleased him. 
The Ambassador answered, Your Serenity may well be content that the Pope be entreated by your Name; the Duke said, That for the repose of Italy, if the Catholic King were certain that the Pope being thus moved would do the thing, he would not hold it any inconvenience to be so contented; He said further, that neither himself nor the Senate had given any occasion of disgust to the Pope, if he had taken any of himself they could not help it, that in voluntary discontents there is no other remedy then a voluntary acknowledgement, besides he desired him to consider, that the King his Master's Interest, and of all temporal Princes besides, was involved in the cause of the Republic.  
The French Ambassador du Fresne being then also in the Senate, said, That the Pope could not be induced to revoke the Censures, unless there were some assurance given what the Republic would do in point of correspondence, that it was needful for her in some sort to submit, for no temporal Prince could be disparaged to yield unto his Holiness, it being a jus commune to humble ones self to the Sovereign Bishop.  
The Duke answered, That it was necessary to apply the remedy to the part whence the evil proceeded, therefore since his Christian Majesty desired a pacification, it was meet that he should make his address to the Pope, etc.  
While these Traverses happened at Venice, the Pope by the predominant advice of some Cardinals, and relying much upon the foresaid Letter which the King of Spain had written unto him, made a show of arming, whereunto the Conte de Fuentes Governor of Milan was very forward, therefore it did not stand with the prudence of the Republic to be idle. Herupon She sent to Her Ambassadors abroad to acquaint the Princes, wherewith they resided, to inform them accordingly; She imparted the business likewise to those Ambassadors that lay at Venice, and among the rest to the English, who having thanked the Senate for this communication of affairs, He prayed their generosity and resolution to defend their honour, assuring them, that upon so important occasion, they should have from his King all furtherance and aid, as well in good offices, as in arms and succours: he said further, That he had particular commandment from the King his Master, to oblige him under the word of a King to a near Union with the Signory, to assist Her with council and forces, as also to labour that all his friends should do the same, not for any base ends or private interest, or to foment division, or come into concurrence and opposition with any other Prince, but specially for two reasons. First, for that acknowledging himself obliged to God for infinite favours received from him, he thought it his duty to defend his cause, that is, to conserve the power which his Divine Majesty had established upon earth: Secondly, in regard of that Bond of Amity which he renewed with the Republic, etc.  
The main knot in the business was, whether upon a promise of the revokement of the Ecclesiastical Censures by the Pope, the Signory would also promise an abrogation of the foresaid Decrees touching Church-Lands, which She could not be induced to do; but something should be done if a Treaty were comenced, whereof the Senate was thought incapable while they lay under the said Censures.  
The French Ambassador a few days after came to the Senate, where he made a long discourse for an accord; But he was advertised from Rome, that the Pope had received some new offences from the Signory, for hindering Navigation into the places of the Church, and for the eternal Ban against the Jesuits.  
Whereunto the Senate made answer, that touching that point of Navigation it appertained to every good Government to provide that the State may be well furnished with things necessary for herself, and provide that they be not carried away to others; that in order to this, the Republic had stayed all Vessels at Sea, wherein there were provisions necessary for the State; wherupon if the State Ecclesiastic was in want, this was not their fault, but the order of human things so required: Concerning the Jesuits, it was alleged, that they were not banished, but rather were gone away of themselves, as refusing to obey the Commandments sent unto them to continue Divine Service; but after their departure, having notice of an infinite number of injuries, machinations and treasons contrived by them, the Senate ordained, as Justice required, that they never more return.  
Whilst these things were in agitation, the Spaniards were like to have embroiled the Signory in a war with the Turk, in regard the Marquis of Santa Cruz with a Fleet of Napolitan and Sicilian Galleys had sacked and burnt Durazzo, a Town of the Turks in Albany; some thought this was done of purpose to make the Turk fall upon the Venetian, and so impel him to make his address to the Spaniard for aid; therefore at Constantinople the Gran Visier perceaving well the Artifice of Spain herein, and that the taking of Durazzo had been attempted to no other end, then to set them at odds with the Signory; Letters were sent to the Captain Aga the Admiral, that he should still keep good union and intelligence with the Venetian Forces, to the damage of the Pope and the Spaniard.  
This year there were divers Libels, Pasquil's flew up and down in every corner of Italy, some in favour of Rome, some of Venice: there were also many Books and Tractats came forth on both sides. The Doctrine of the Venetian Writers was, That God had established two Governments upon Earth, the one Spiritual, the other Temporal, each of them being Supreme, and independent one from the other: the one is the Church Regiment, the other the Civil; Of the first he gave charge to his Apostles and their Successors; Of the temporal, the charge is put in the hands of secular Princes, in such sort, that one may not intermeddle with that which appertains to either: Therefore the Pope hath no power to abrogat the Laws of Princes in civil matters, nor to deprive them of their estates, or free their Subjects from their allegiance which they owe unto them; That to depose Kings, is a new thing never attempted but within these five hundred years, it is against the Holy Scriptures, the examples of Christ and his Saints: That to teach, that in case of conscience 'twixt the Pope and a Prince, 'tis lawful to poursue him with fraud and force, and that the Subjects thereby do obtain remission of sins, is a Doctrine seditious and sacrilegious; That Churchmen by Divine Law are not exempted from their secular power, neither in their persons or goods, whensoever his necessities constrain him to serve himself of them; that the Pope ought not to think himself infallible, unless where God hath promised him his Divine assistance, which must be understood only in the fundamental points of Faith; that the Authority of binding and losing aught to be understood with this caution, Clavae non errante, seeing that God hath commanded the Pastor to follow the merit and justice of the cause, and not his own inclination; that when the Pope thunders out any Censures, it is for the Doctors to consider whether they have proceeded Clave errante aut non errante.  
That the new name of blind obedience, invented by Ignatius Loyola, is a Psudodoxall tenet, etc.  
On the contrary, the Doctrine of the Roman Writers or Papalines, as they termed them, was, that the civil power of Princes is subordinat to the power Ecclesiastic, and subject unto it; therefore the Pope hath authority to deprive Princes of their estates and honours, for their faults and errors which they commit in Government; yea though they have committed no fault, when the Pope shall judge it fit for the common good of the Church; That the Pope may free Subjects from obedience, and from their Oath of Fidelity which they owe the temporal Prince, in which case they are to shake off all subjection, and even to poursue the Prince if the Pope command it; some of the modester sort held that this Authority did not reside in the Pope, because Christ gave him any temporal Authority, but because this was necessary for the spiritual Monarchy.  
Divers Tretises were imprinted and published pro & con 'twixt the Pope and the Republic to this effect, and Bellarmin was very busy in upholding S. Peter's Chair, at last there was a strict inhibition there should be no more writing on this point, so the Treaty began to advance, wherein the French Ambassador was very active, therefore he proposed two things to the Senat.  
The first was, That the Duke and Senat would suspend the execution of the Laws, and the Protestation published against the Monitory of the Pope, upon condition that his Holiness would do the like to his Censures for five months, during which time they might treat of the merit of the Laws that were questioned.  
The second was, That the Ecclesiastic Prisoners might be rendered without prejudice to the cause of the Republic; That the Religious gone out of Venice by reason of the Interdict might return; he concluded that it was not the intention of his Christian Majesty that any thing should be done against the Dignity and Justice of the Signory, and if either of these proposals were to Her prejudice, he was content to let them pass in silence: He desired them further to consider, that it was necessary to give some apparent occasion to his Holiness to induce him to a retractation, because it was never heard that a Pope had revoked his Bulls, excepting at the Council of Constance.  
The Senate did fall to deliberat of things with more maturity than was usual; at last they resolved with one joint consent to prefer the conservation of their Liberty before all other respects, together with the Authority of their Laws: But for yielding up the prisoners in gratification to his Christian Majesty, they thought this did not trench much upon their Liberty, in regard it was a particular fact which drew not with it any consequence, that the like ought not to be done in time to come; therefore the Senate answered the Ambassador, thanking his Majesty for his mediation, & adjoined, it was easy to perceive, whereat the designs of the Pope aimed, who seeing that the Justice of the Republic, for the merit & ground of the cause was known and confessed by all, would therefore find out some error in the form of proceeding, wherein the Justice of the Republic was so clear that it was manifest to all, and the errors of the Pope so gross, that they could not be excused: wherefore it was not consentaneous to reason, to correct the faults of another with their own detriment and dishonour, They added further, that these proceedings of the Popes were of such pernicious consequence, that they might have hurled the whole Signory into flames of civil combustions.  
The Senate at last granted, that when the King should be assured and have the firm word of the Pope that he would totally take away the Censures, the two prisoners should be rendered unto him, although they were guilty of foul Crimes; They would also let fall their protestation, yet saving their public reasons, and their power to judge Ecclesiastics when it should be expedient for the State; this was all the French Ambassador could wring from the Senate, whereof when the King was advertised, he writ a Letter, wherein he thanked them for their fair respects, in which Letter he took occasion to renew the memory of the favour they did him to co oped him into the body of their Nobility.  
After this Don Innigo de Cardenas the Spanish Ambassador, earnestly solicited the Senate for an accommodation, but he could hardly prevail as much as the other: In the interim there was a new kind of Council erected at Rome, called lafoy Congregation de Guerra, the Congregation of War, which consisted of fifteen Cardinals, and this was done, to strike some apprehensions of fear into the Signory.  
The Senate informed the French and Spanish Ambassadors of this strange news from Rome, touching a Council of War; they also impa●…ed to the English Ambassador, telling him, that he might now publish the Declaration of the King his Master, and think upon the succours he promised.  
Cavalier ●…tton (than Ambassador) testified very much contentment to do this office, affirming that it was to publish the glory of his King; He passed further, and said, that there were but three ways to compound this difference, either by yielding, or referring the matter to Princes, or by War: he saw well the Signory had no mind to the first, and if they resolved to make a reference to any, they could not make choice of any fitter than his King, who marvailously well understood how much it imported him to maintain the Authority given by God to Princes; but if the matter should come to Arms, he prayed his Serenity to consider, that though Philosophy tells us the Sun warms these inferior bodies, without heat in itself, yet in human things it is not so, but he that would heat in his favour, must first be hot himself.  
The Senate determined to signify unto all Princes the Declaration of the King of great Britain, wherein he called God to witness, ' That his resolution to defend the cause of the Republic, had no other end but the service of God, and to conserve the Liberty which God gave to all Princes, not for any ill will that he carried to the Pope, nor was he moved by the particular interest of the Republic, but only so far, because he knew She defended a cause most just and acceptable to God, which the more he considered in his mind, so much the more was he confirmed in Her protection and defence, not finding any the least shadow of reason to relinquish Her; That he had already taken this resolution, and would sustain it suddenly; That he would not do as the Spaniard, who by a Letter had filled the Pope's spirit with vanity to carry him into a precipice, but that he would execute with courage and sincerity what he had promised: he considered also as a thing of great consequence, that the Pope prepared himself for war, and had to this effect erected that new Congregation of men disaffected to the Signory, and all dependants of Spain: herunto he added, that he would be as ready to perform his promise, as to publish his Declaration, and would besides procure some good offices from his brother the King of Denmark, and other Princes of Germany his Allies.  
The Kings of France and England appearing so earnestly in this business, the Emperor also did contribut his intercession; the Grand Duke of Florence likewise stirred in it, yet nothing could be concluded to any purpose.  
Therefore the Spaniard begins to arm in the Duchy of Milan, to which end the Count de Fuentes had particular Commission. The Republic having intelligence hereof, it did not stand with Her wont prudence and circumspection to stand idle; wherefore to meet with all occasions that might occur, She sent to Padova, Verona, Crema, Bergamo and Brescia five hundred thousand Crowns, one hundred thousand for each City to prepare themselves for all exigents: Unto the old nine thousand six hundred Footmen, and six hundred Horse: To the one hundred & fifty Albanian Horse, She added six hundred Italian Foot, and one thousand Albanians more under Paolo Ghini. Order also was given to Count Francis Ma●…tinengo to levy in the Confines four thousand French soldiers, and six hundred Cuirasses which She caused to be armed: To the three great Galleys was adjoined one other, and to the thirty eight light Galleys they sent five more in the Isles of the Levant, and twelve more newly armed at Venice. In Candy also were armed twenty Galleys, & Nicola●… Sagredo Proveditor general by his prudence & dexterity, which was singular in managing of Martial affairs, wrought in such sort, that all this was done at the expense of private gentlemen; so that there were in all seventy five light Galleys, & four great ones got together: Divers of the French Nobility made proffer of their service to the Republic, and the great Turk seemed to importune her to accept of his assistance: She utterly refused the last, and waved the first.  
The rumour of these preparations filled every corner of Christendom, therefore the Kings and Princes who were already engaged in quality of Mediators 'twixt the Pope and the Republic, stirred more nimbly in the business, specially the French, who to accelerate things, and do them with greater countenance, employed to that end the Cardinal de joyeuse in a splendid Embassy both to Rome and Venice.  
In Spain the Duke of Lerma complained to the English Ambassador for the proser of such assistance that his King had made to the Republic, which had put her to stand higher a tiptoe against the Holy Father, and impeded the Treaty, for She would not show Herself so obstinate against him, if She were not so much encouraged by his King, because from France She could expect but words, or peradventure some troops hired with her own silver.  
The Treaty began now to be poursued with some heat, and the Cardinal de joyeuse carried himself with such address, that he overcame all difficulties, and brought both parties to a conformity; but the Republic would by no means part with her Laws, or revoke Her Decrees formerly mentioned touching Ecclesiastics, and Her Ban against the Jesuits, She only delivered the foresaid Count and Canon to the French Ambassadors hands, who delivered them afterwards to the Nuntio; so the quarrel ended, the thunder c●…as'd which had made such a noise, and cut the Princes of Christendom so much work to do: herupon Letters of thanks were written to the Kings of France and Spain, but specially to the King of great Britain, for his propensity and good intentions towards the Republic: The Cardinal joyeuse had a present of 6000. Crowns value, and Don Francisco de Castro had another of 3000. who had been sent from the King of Spain expressly to compose these differences, which charge, in his first Speech before the Duke & Senate, he said, that he had willingundertaken both in obedience to his Catholic Majesty, and for the particular affection he did bear unto so illustrious a Signory, hoping easily to conclude a peace betwixt the Holy Father and his Serenity, specially seeing he should not meet with those three impediments that usually render all Treaties difficult; which are, first, the passion or extraordinary affection of him in whose name men treat, or of him who treateth: secondly, the inconvenience of the matter treated; and thirdly, the incapacity or want of good will in the person with whom the treaty is. For touching the first, it was certain that the King his Master was well-affected, and had no other aims but the common good; That the greatness of the Republic was advantageous unto him, as being the Bulwark of Christendom against the power of the Turk; and for his own person, he protested, that he was not come to use deceit or subtlety being Noble by birth, and therefore obliged to tell truth above all things. Touching the second, the point of treaty was for peace, a thing excellent in its own nature, and for an union with the See Apostolic, a thing very profitable to the Republic, all stories being full of the mutual good offices which they have ever rendered one to the other, as on the contrary, their disunion must needs be pernicious to the Republic; for if their cause were injust it would incense all Princes against them, and though it were reasonable, yet was it not fit therefore to forget what reverence men should owe to the Sovereign Bishop. Touching the third, That the Treaty was with a Senate of great prudence, lovers of peace, enemies of novelty, who had been Authors always of tranquillity in Italy, not of troubles: he discoursed further of the damages of war, and the m●…schiefs of heresies, saying, That although the Republic by her own strength and greatness could repel all sorts of violence, and was able to withstand sufficiently all that should assault her, ne'ertheless other succours not expected or desired wood, un●…all'd for, offer themselves, and such as might be suspected hard to dismiss, etc.  
We will now take a little more pains then ordinary to acquaint the Reader with the manner of that Ban by which the Jesuits were exterminated from the Venetian Dominions; which was exactly as followeth.   

Of the expulsion of the Jesuits.  
THe Republic of Venice having taken, as formerly was said, into their prudent and cautious consideration the multitude of Religious Orders, & the daily increase of them up & down, & that almost half the Revenues of the State was by that means got into the Church's hands, perceaving also the multitude of Monasteries, & that they were seated in such posts as might prove a hindrance to the public defence, being places fitter rather for Fortresses then Convents, considering also that there were instituted already Religious Orders enough for the propagation and preservation of Christian Religion, and for directing them in the way to heaven; and having upon these reasons passed those two Decrees, the first whereof was, That no other Order but what was already established should be admitted into the Territories of the Republic, and that none should build any Churches without the concession of the Senate; The second, That no person whatsoever should give or leave any Lands by way of Legacy unto the Church, but those Lands should be presented to the Senate, who in lieu of those Lands would give the Church a countervailable sum of money▪ and annex the Lands to the public demeans of the State, to prevent, least in tract of time the Church might engross all the staple possessions of the Signory: The Republic, I say, having passed these preventive edicts, the Jesuits, who not long before had crept into the Republic, began to stir and storm at these new Decrees, conceaving that they were made directly against Them, and their Society; whereupon they complained to the foresaid Pope Paulus Quintus a Borgheze, desiring his Holiness that he would write to the Senate to have these Decrees revoked, and abolished, as being destructive to the Church, to piety, and charity in general, as also to some particular Orders of Religious men, who subsisted by the secular charity; which if it were thus restrained, would be of exceeding ill consequence: herupon the Pope writ to the Senate (as was said) to recall their Edicts; they refuse it, he thereupon interdicts and excommunicats the Republic, commands all Religious Orders to come out from amongst them, and that none should say Mass, or officiat in any of their Churches; whereupon many departed. The Senate herupon, to justify and uphold what they had done, sent for all the Religious Orders, and commanded them, notwithstanding this Interdiction, to officiat, and sing Mass as formerly, otherwise they should expect severity from the Duke and Senat: The Jesuits, among others, were convented before the Senate, who appearing, they were interrogated, if they would continu to officiat and say Mass notwithstanding this Interdiction; they answered, That they would do their Offices. The Senate herupon not expecting any equivocation, dismissed them to their Cells; so they departed, and instead of officiating they did shut up their Church doors, and refuse to say Mass: Herupon the Senate sent for them again, and asked them whether they had not promised to officiat, and celebrat the Mass; they answered, We promised to do our Office; by which they meant to read so much every day in the Roman Breviary as was enjoined them: The Senate finding themselves thus trifled withal, and affronted by these equivocations, presently dismissed them for the time, and falling to a serious consultation what to do, and weighing well the danger of their stay, took occasion forthwith to banish them, both from the City of Venice, and out of all the rest of Her Dominions: this business was carried so closely, that within two days after, in one and the same day and hour, they were exterminated out of every part of the Republic to Ferrara, and to other parts of the Popes State. But the Jesuits themselves all this while, having not the least suspicion or fear of such a rigid proceeding, they were surprised upon a sudden; and the Decree executed upon them in this manner. At night some Senators were appointed to go to the Jesuits Monastery (which was done in other parts at the same hour) where being come, they call for the Rector to appear presently before them; he in Venice comes out half unready, he was demanded what number of Jesuits there was in the Convent, which being known, they were also suddenly sent for, some were taken out of their beds, some without shoes or stockings, and generally all unprovided; The Senators demand strictly whether there were any more of the Order, they said there were one or two who were in nature of Cooks, and did other servile offices; they were sent for also, and so the whole Society standing thus before the Senators, they acquainted them with the substance of the Decree, viz. That forthwith, without returning any where back, they must immediately quit the City and Republic; the Jesuits being astonished at the suddenness of the thing▪ desired they might have time to put their affairs in order; 'twas replied, no, they must away instantly; for there were boats ready for them: since there was no remedy, they desired their books and papers, but it would not be granted, nor leave to fetch their clothes, but just as they stood they must pack thence; which they did, being some of them half naked, and so they were transported to Ferrara. Afterwards there were some appointed to peruse their papers, notes and books, where many discoveries were made: The next day the Senate met and confirmed the former Decree, whereunto was added this new clause, That if any Prince d●…d mediate for them, before they should enter into any consultation for an Answer, the old Decree should be first solemnly read, and if it was to be put to the question, there should be an hundred of the hundred and twenty Senators of the Pregadi concur in their suffrages for them, else the determination should be of no effect.  
Immediately herupon they sent a solemn Embassy to the Pope, to declare unto him the motives that induced the Republic to such an extraordinary proceeding, hoping that he would not prefer so upstart an Order, before so ancient a Daughter to the Church of Rome, etc.  
This high Act of Ost●…acisme for the expulsion of the Jesuits, was not much displeasing to the Venetian people, but men women and children sent these acclamations after them as they departed, Andate, mint pigliate, & ma●… retornate; go your ways, take nothing, and never return; and a solemn suffrage passed afterwards in the Senate, that none of what quality soever, not excepting the Duke himself, should for the future intercede for their readmission, nor were the ●…est of the Ecclesiastiques much sorry for their banishment; for it is observed, that a kind of strangeness and aversion appears betwixt other Churchmen and reclused Orders, and this new Society since their first establishment; b●…t mere reason of State induced the Venetians to shake them off, because they profess a stricter tie of obedience or slavery rather to another Prince, which is the Pope, to whom they do transmit, and make a kind of resignation of their bodies and minds; they are to acknowledge him tanquam Christum praesentem, & Scripturam loquentem, as appears by Loyola's Letter to the Fathers of Portugal, wherein among other passages, he writes thus, We easily endure to be outdone by other Orders, in fastings, watchings, and other hardnesses which they use in a holy manner, according to their Institution, but in purity and perfection of obedience, I earnestly desire that we should surpass all the rest, with a true resignation of our own will to the Holy Father, and a denial of our own judgement.  
This Vow looks full upon another Power, that under which they live, viz. the Pope, to whom they commit both soul and body, and to be no more their own, not to believe their own sense, judgement or understanding, but to transfer all, and to submit themselves totally to him, to go, come, do, say, execut upon all, and against all, whatsoever he shall command, according to the form of their Vow, which is not improper to insert here, and runs as followeth;  As many as shall make profession in this Society, let them not only know before they make it, but remember as long as they live, that all this Society in general, and more particularly those that are professed in it, serve God under a faithful obedience to the most Holy Father the Pope, and although we be taught by the Gospel, and do know by the Orthodox Faith, and firmly hold that all the faithful people of Christ are subject to the Pope of Rome, as to the Head and Vicar of Jesus Christ, yet notwithstanding for the greater devotion to the obedience of the See Apostolic, and the greater denial of our own wills, and the more certain direction of the Holy Ghost, we have judged that it would be very commodious that every one of us, and every one that shall hereafter follow the same profession, besides the common tie of the three ordinary Vows, be bound herunto by a more special Vow, to wit, that whatsoever the present Pope, and all others hereafter for the time being, shall command for the good of souls, and the propagation of the Faith, or into what Country soever they shall please to send us, that we be bound to perform their pleasure immediately, without any tergiversation or excuse for as much as lies in our power, whether they be aminded to send us against the Turks, or other Infidels whatsoever, yea though it be even unto those that are called Indians, among Heretics and Scismatics, whosoever they be, or among Christians; and to the end that no ambition or refusal may take place amongst us, by occasion of these deputations and elections of Provinces; let every one know that he need not trouble himself about it, nor take thought for it, in as much as all the care thereof must be left to God, and the Pope as his Vicar, and to the General of the Society. 
Besides this general astringing Vow reflecting upon spiritual matters and missions, they have other Tenets which are pernicious and destructive to the temporal Jurisdiction of the Prince, as Emanuel Sa, who was accounted one of the chiefest Oracles of that Order, hath it in his book entitled, Aphorismi Confessartorum, wherein after that he had studied the point forty years, as he professeth in his preface, he doth assert, That the rebellion of a Clergyman against the King is no Treason, because he is no subject of his. They have another Tenet, that subesse Romano Pontifici est de necessitate salutis, viz. That to be subordinate to the Bishop of Rome, is of the necessity of Salvation; besides, they hold that an error in points of Faith is no other thing then an opinion held against the Papal Decision; but the most dangerous of all is, That the Pope can dispense with Subjects from their Allegiance to their Prince, though lawful and natural.  
For these and other political considerations, the wise Venetian did rid himself of the Jesuit, fearing that in a short time this subtle Society might prove to be Respublica in Republica; nor since that day would any intercede or stir for their readmission, till this year 1650. that the King of Poland's brother being of that Order, hath made an Overture of Introduction in their behalf, with a proffer of three hundred thousand Crowns, which business is now in agitation.  
Add herunto, that the Jesuits being commonly Incite●…s to war, and Paedagogs' of Arms (as they call them) they could not suit with the disposition of the Venetian Republic, who hath been observed from her cradle to be more inclined to peace then war, therefore doth she give the shield for her Arms, which is the emblem of defence, not of offence and assaults.  
ANTONIO MEMMO was created next to LEONARDO DONATO 
1612  Duke of Venice, who governed the Republic about three years.  
GIOVANNI BEMBO came after, in the beginning of whose 
1615  principality the old Controversy was revived 'twixt the Archdukes of Austria, and the Republic, touching their Confines; whereupon the Vscocchis did much infest the Seas; so that the war grew hot with the Archduke Ferdinand; the Venetians marched into Friuli, with a considerable Army, and seizing upon some Towns upon the Frontiers, beleaguer Gradisca, ravaging the Country up and down; Moscaniza afterwards was taken by the Venetians; the siege of Gradisca being quitted, much hurt was given, and taken in Croatia, Istria and Dalmatia, and the Territories of Friuli; but afterwards the Venetian Army was disbanded by reason of the raging of the plague; the Castles of Lucmi and Z●…mini were taken by the Venetian, but Archduke Ferdinand having got to be King of Boheme, a Treaty of Peace was set on foot by the interposition of the Kings of Spain and France, but so many difficulties occurred in the business, that no accord could take place; thereupon divers Traverses of Hostility passed between them afterwards; then a Truce was agreed upon, which brought with it alittle after a firm peace, upon the conclusion of which peace, Duke BEM●…O finished also his course in this world.  
NICOLAO DONATO being ne'er upon fourscore years of Age, was 
1618.  elected Duke by the Senate, the people not liking this choice, some sparkles of sedition began to appear, which by the sagacity of the Senators were quickly quenched: This Duke lived but one month and a day, he was used to be much carried away with predictions, and to tamper with Astrologers; whereof one having pried into the horoscope of his Nativity, and taken much pains to measure out his life, and foretell his destiny, he told him positively, that he should die in carcere Nobili, in a Noble prison, meaning the Dogeship or Dukedom of Venice, which is barricadoed with so many restrictions, specially, That the Duke may not go out of the City of Venice, without the knowledge and consent of the Senate, etc. that it may truly be called no other than a Noble Prison, or golden Cage, which made one say, when the Senators were once so busy in their mysterious ballotations for creating a new Duke, Here's a great deal of stir for setting up a Head of Wood; alluding to the small latitude of power the Duke hath.  
ANTONIO PRIULI came to wear the Ducal Cap, and the Coronet of 
1618.  Venice next after Nicolao Donato; in his time there was a League struck betwixt the Republic, and the States of Holland; to which purpose there were splendid Embassies sent by both Parties; but a little after this Duke breathed his last.  
FRANCISCO CONTARENO then succeeded, at the beginning of 
1623.  whose Government the Republic made another League with the French King, and the Duke of Savoy; both these Leagues were made by the Republic, of purpose to spite the Spaniard, who had not long before set upon her skirts the Duke of Ossuna, being Viceroy of Naples, who would pick a quarrel of purpose with Her about the extent of her Dominion in the Adriatic Gulf, which war put S. Mark to spend much of his Treasure for the time. A little after, there happened a keen war about the Valtoline, wherein the Republic was interested, and stirred nimbly in it, and good reason she had to do so against the House of Austria.  
Whilst the wars lasted 'twixt the Republic and the Duke of Ossuna, she hi●…'d some men of War from England and Holland; the two thousand English, which were under the command of Sir Harry Payton, complained about the conditions of their pay, which were not so good as those the Hollander had: Herupon a mutiny happened, and some of the English died by Martial Law, but Mr. Herbert one of the chiefest of them was pardoned, in regard he was allied to William then Earl of Pembroke, who interceded strongly for him, and had a great stroke with the Venetian Ambassador at that time resident in England.  
GIOVANNI CO●…RELIO was the next in succession to Priuli. About these times there was a notable and most rigid (though mistaken) piece of Justice upon the person of A. Foscarim, ●… Noble Venetian and Senator of the wide Sleeve, which is of the best rank, who had been formerly employed Ambassador in England, and other places for the Republic: Two pernicious malevolent fellows▪ who it seems owed him a revenge, for some cross office he had done them, did traduce, and accuse this gentleman upon oath, that he had had private intelligence, and literal correspondence with the Spanish Ambassador. Now the Republic of Venice hath been always observed above all other States to be so cautio●…s of home conspiracies by a kind of excess of circumspection, that upon the least proof, the party suspected is dispatched to the other world, and never suffered to err twice in this kind: the said mischievous fellow being pertinacious in his accusation, this infortunate gentleman was condemned, and being dragged to the place, was executed like a common Malefactor betwixt the two Columns in S. Marks place, and sent on an Embassy to the other world, though never to return: The year had hardly come about, that the said Accusers were apprehended and imprisoned, condemned and executed for some flagitious crimes; but as they were bidding a farewell to the world, they confessed that they had wrongfully and most injustly accused the said Noble gentleman: thereupon his body was taken up and re-intered with extraordinary solemnity, and reparations made to his Heir in a high measure; besides, there was a Manifesto published by the Senate, for the vindication of his honour, and fidelity to the Republic.  
There was a casual ill-favoured clash happened 'twixt England and Venice about these times, which was thus: England having a declared war then both against Spain and France, Sir Kenelm Digby had got Letters of Mart, or rather a Commission Royal, from the King against the French; he steered his course into the Mediterranean, and arrived at Algiers, upon the Coasts of Barbary, where being a Cavalier of that lustre, and known to be a servant to his Majesty of great Britain, he was magnificently received, so that he did many good offices for the English Captiffs that were there: thence he sailed into the Are hipelago, and taking some prizes in the way, he turned the Ships to men of War, so that he came to have a Fleet of six Vessels strong. After many encounters, he made at last towards the Bay of Scanderon; he came first before Cape Congare, ten Leagues distant from Alexandretta, or Scanderon, wh●…ch is counted the key of Aleppo by Sea, and where he lay at Hull all night: On the morrow he sent a boat to descry the road, and to bring back intelligence accordingly; word was brought, that there were before Scanderon two Venetian Galleasses, with two other galleons, two English Ships, and some French Vessels, one of which had come in but the day before, being very rich, and having not as yet unladen any thing: Sir Kenelm spent all the night following surveing the preparations for fight, and firing, in his several Ships, for that he expected a furious assault the next day from the Venetian General, who had declared himself protector of that Road, and was reported to have given out, he would sink all the English men of War he should meet, either in the Venetian or Gran Signor's Seas; Sir Kenelm understanding this, was not much daunted, but made towards the Road, having prepared all things, and fitted his Ships for defence, if need required.  
The Venetian General having weighed Anchor, hoist up his Sails, and directed his course towards the English Fleet, and being come within half a League, Sir Kenelm sent a Satty to inform the Venetians of his quality, and that he sailed by virtue of his Majesty of great Britain's Royal Commission, giving them assurance of all respect and friendship, and that the French were the only object of his attempts, for which he had sufficient warrant: He sent Letters also to the two English Vessels that were in the Bay for their satisfaction, that his business was not to disturb their Negotiations: But before this Satty could go aboard to deliver the Venetian General this message, the Admiral Galeasse of the Venetians discharged seven or eight shots, the first whereof lighting short was received as a salute, and was answered with another piece from the English, but some of the rest hitting Sir Kenelmes Ship, and seeing that ●…hey aimed at his Flag, he gave them three or four broad sides in a very short space, which did much hurt both to the Venetian, and the French, who were joined with them for protection: so they retired to a further distance, but the English Ships poursued them, and played so well upon their galleons, that the men stowed themselves under hatches, and left their Vessels to the fortune of the Sea without guidance: The Galleasses coming up then to their succour, received also such a rude welcome, that they rowed away to shelter themselves under the English Ships that road in the Bay, which was done purposely; so the French were left alone, and some of their Ships being lusty Vessels, they came up close to Sir Kenelm, who directed his two less Ships to deal with them; but they being not able, the Rear-admiral went to their succour, and so put the French to the worse. Among the English there were none hurt to death, but of the French and Venetians it was reported there were above eighty stain, of whom one was a Commander of the Land soldiers, whose loss was much lamented: This action of the English was questioned by the Turks, because they had done hostility to his friends within the Gran Signor's Road; therefore by the subtlety of the Venetian, and complaint of the French; the Bassa of Aleppo, and Cady of Scanderon took hold of the occasion to take an avenia upon the English Merchants, exacting from their Consul's large sums.  
But Landi the Venetian Ambassador then residing in London, made a high clamorous complaint against Sir Kenelm Digby and his Adherents, in a solemn audience before the King and Council of State; aggravating the business to the very height, and aspersing Sir Kenelm, that such a man should infringe the sacred peace, which was kept inviolably 'twixt the Crown of England & S. Mark so many Ages, and never broken till then from the beginning of the world. But Sir Kenelm at his return justified all his proceedings, & proved that he had not contravened or transgressed his Commission any way. Landi being shortly after to depart, and apprehending some danger from Sir Kenelm, the King commanded him to visit the said Ambassador, and (to save his Honour) to tell him that he had received Commandment from his Majesty for so doing: Sir Kenelm accordingly performed this Ceremony, which he had no sooner done, but the Venetian Ambassador came immediately▪ to his house to repay the visit, so they were reconciled, and the business ended.  
FRANCISCO ERIZZO was sworn Duke of Venice afterwards, which swearing they do not call an oath, but by a more civil term, 'tis styled, Promissione Ducale in the record: he was a person full of years, and freighted with experience, therefore ripe enough for the Government.  
At the beginning of his time the Republic enjoyed a profound universal peace by Sea and Land; but the growing greatness of the house of Austria did trouble Her, in regard of their new acquests in Germany, the Emperor having reduced the Bohemians to an exact obedience by way of conquest, and the Spaniard having the Palatinat in his hands, therefore she was well pleased that the Swed did rush into Germany, which wars she fomented with her countenance, and something else: Besides the Emperor had a little before disturbed the peace of Italy, by the imperial title he claimed to the tutele and protection of the young Duke of Savoy, during his Minority, which the French King his Oncle by the maternal side took upon him, but the Emperor, backed by the Spaniard, thought to get it by the sword, which caused some perturbations in Italy, therefore the Pope also was well contented that the Emperor was shaken a little by the Swed.  
There was employed about this time M. Capello a Venetian gentleman of an ancient extraction, a person of a small bulk, but well timbered both for body and brain, to have the charge of the guarding the Gulf, with a number of well appointed Galleys. At Vallona upon the Coasts of Dalmatia, he met with the Barbary Fleet, whom he assaulted so vigorously, there being many gentlemen of his own kindred engaged in the service, that he sunk divers of them, and took the Admiral Galley of Algiers, (a Vessel of vast bigness) which he brought with him away, and she remains to this day for a Trophy in the Arsenal of Venice: The Gran Turk did very much storm at this; therefore the Republic, rather than enter into open hostility against so potent a Neighbour, was contented to part with three hundred thousand Crowns to accommode the difference, whereof she recovered part out of the Comendams of the Knights of Malta, which they enjoyed within Her Dominions; but the foresaid Capello was clouded a good while after, and had it not been for his great Alliance, it might have gone worse with him for having exceeded his Commission in this action, such an exact obedience the Signory expects to be had to her Orders, be the success never so glorious.  
There was another piece of Justice executed also upon C. Moro, who had been a Senator, and one of the Pregadi, but afterwards he took Holy Orders, and shaved himself to become an Abbot; he was used to go frequently in a disguise to the Spanish Ambassadors house, and hold correspondence with him, which is Treason in a high degree among the Venetians; therefore being discovered by a Bandito, who had fled to the said Ambassadors house for shelter, the Bandito had the Ban taken off, and a considerable annual Pension given him ever after, but the Abbot was strangled, and his carcase dragged to S. Marks place, where he hung by the leg betwixt the two Pillars from Sun to Sun, in his Monastical habit.  
Some years after ther happened a new disgust 'twixt the Republic, and Pope Vrban the VIII. about the extent of their Boundaries upon one another's Frontier, which was aggravated by some books that were printed, and permitted to be exposed to public sale in Venice, which books reflected upon the old quarrel that had been 'twixt Paulus Quintus, and the Republic; Pope Vrban resented it so far, that by the impulses of his Nephews, he caused an ancient Inscription or Elegy to be defaced and razed, which had been set up in the Sala Reg●…a in the Vatican, as a Monument of gratitude to the honour of the Venetians, for restoring Pope Alexander to S. Peter's Chair, when he was chased thence by the Emperor Frederic, (as formerly hath been declared:) The world thought that the Republic was offered hard measure herein, and though the affront sunk deep into Her, yet she hid the impressions it had made a good while, till she might find some opportunity to right herself. The Luqueses also having ordained something for restraining the exorbitances of the Clergy in that Commonwealth, provoked the Pope's indignation so far, that he excommunicated them: The Gran Duke of Toscany fell also under the same Censure, because he made the Churchmen to pay a n●…w gabelle upon Grinding Mills, as well as the secular subject. But there fell a higher clash than all these 'twixt Pope Vrban and the Duke of Parma about a sum of money, which he was accountable for to the Fameze bank in Rome, for which he had engaged his Castle of Castro: herupon he was also excommunicated, and a high feud fell out 'twixt the Cardinal Fameze, and Cardinal Barberini, the Pope's Nephew, herabouts. The French Ambassador at Rome interposed in the business, by instructions from his Master, but Pope Vr●…an told him, That he might chastise the Duke of Parma, who was his Subject, as well as his Christian Majesty d●…d take off the head of Montmoreney, & c. Herupon the Castro was secured for the Pope, and besides, he musters up an Army which advanced as far as the ●…rontires of Modena, and so seconds his spiritual Arms (which had gone before) with the temporal, making his Nephew Don Taddeo his General, who demanded passage to go on to the invasion of Parma; but he found more difficulty in this expedition, than he did in the taking of Castro, where he found no opposition at all. The Duke of Modena sent a complemental Answer to the Pontificial General, touching a free passage, which in effect did countervail a denial, and this he did by consultation with his Neighbour States; for this Papal Army tending so much to the disturbance of Italy (who was in an universal repose before) did awaken the spirits of all the Princes: The Luqueses in their little industrious Republic began to humm like so many Bees in a hive; The grand Duke of Toscany stood in a maze, but the Signory of Venice, who was used to be the chiefest instrument to preserve the common peace of Italy, was more deeply sensible of this disturbance, in so much that Don Taddeo was denied passage every where, which made one say, That there was a great deal of difference betwixt that Pontificial Army, and the ancient Army of the people of Israel; for at the marching of the one, the Sea itself divided his fluid body to let it pass, but at the marching of this, all the world seemed to close together to hinder the passage: For a little after a League was struck to that purpose, 'twixt the Republic of Venice, the Gran Duke, the Duke of Modena, and him of Parma, who had all former grounds of discontent.  
During this ●…ontrasto, and Traverses of war 'twixt the Pope and Parma, there was a notable Libel or Satire dropped up and down in divers places of Italy against Rome, and the person of urban, which in regard 'tis a very material piece, composed of a mixture of divinity and policy; and that it tends much to the understanding of the State of Italy, I thought worthy to insert here, a person of great knowledge and quality being the Author thereof.   

The famous Invective against Pope Urban the Eighth, and Rome.  
THe Author feigneth that the second Person of the Holy Trinity complains to the first, touching the distolutenes and excesses of the Roman Church his Spouse, therefore he desires a divorce from her. The Father being moved by his Sons reasons, commands Paul to transfer himself to earth, to visit mortals, and take knowledge of their complaints, specially in Italy, against the Roman Spouse, and if need be, to form an exact process of her actions, speaking to him as follometh:  
Paul, Great are the discomposures, and mischiefs which arise from an unchaste woman, this very heaven cannot glory itself to be free of them; my only begotten Son is troubled and aggrieved at the dishonest actions of the Church of Rome his Spouse: I well hoped that she had been capable of a reconcilement, but he holds himself so highly offended, and finds her nature to be so perverted, that he thinks she is incorrigible; therefore with a constant resolution he seeks a divorce from her. Now, what can I deny to my only Son, specially when so much Justice favoureth his complaints? yet I do not intend to determine any thing upon the business so hastily, though the eternal Word cannot tell an untruth, that to the end that our Decree may have a sufficient foundation, we command thee to betake thyself on earth, and hear what mortals can say against the Roman Spouse, and frame a charge against her accordingly; the enterprise may prove somewhat difficult, because she useth to palliate her faults, and to persecute those men that write against her proceedings; but we assure ourselves, that the approved virtue of Paul, which heretofore knew how to support the persecutions of the wicked against the honour of Christ, will not shrink a whit in this employment for his service.  
S. Paul doth readily obey the Lord, and descends to earth in human disguise, and steers his course for Venice, but before he there arrived, he casually found upon the way a writing, the Tenor whereof was as followeth and the Endorsement thus, A Memorandum for the most renowned Republic of Venice.  
amongst those Princes who reverence Rome, your Serenity is She, most renowned Republic, who being free from all superstitious credulity, do conserve your Christian Empire from all insidious pretences of Religion; by a most sage L●…w therefore you did constitut some years since, that the ●…lergy should be made incapable to inherit staple possessions, for the dead daily multiplying, and consequently the number of Legacies every day increasing, in tract of time, the Ecclesiastics would become Masters of all that wealth, which giving subsistence to all kind of subjects, is destinated for the service of your Serenity; therefore whosoever lives free from all passions to the interests of Rome, is bound to applaud the maturity of your deliberations in this point; and he who professeth himself a friend to the greatness of your Dominions, must needs acknowledge that your high wisdom is warned by public necessity to regulat two other no less important abuses: The first consists in perpetuity of Legacies; for what avails it to prohibit that staple goods pass not under the possession of the Ecclesiastics all the while that by the multitude of perpetual Legacies, which use to be bequeathed, and charged upon staple possessions, it will fall out in time, that all the rents shall be drunk up so, and what difference can there be then I pray 'twixt a perpetual Legacy, and staple possession? or what benefit should your subjects receive from the foresaid Law, who though they cannot be dispossessed of the propriety of the Land, yet they remain deprived of the usufruit of it? Now, this redounds to the greater advantage of the Clergy; for while the residuary seculars of the Testators undergo the weight of all public duties and assessments, by keeping in their hands the fee, the Churchmen do by virtue of their annual Legacies sweep away the rents without any burden at all; The zeal of your known prudence will stir you the rather for regulating this abuse, when you consider that the perpetuity of Legacies was introduced at first, rather by the cunning of the Ecclesiastics, then for the advantage of souls in Purgatory: for if the pains of Purgatory are said to be but temporary, wherefore should the simplicity of people be persuaded to bequeath in the behalf of their souls perpetual Legacies and Mansionaries? Moreover your Serenity ought to consider, that the obligation of Masses multiplying every day, with the number of Legacies, a necessity seems to arise h●…nce, either to increase the number of Churchmen who are useless for public service, or to defraud the wills of the well devoted Testators, whereon if the public eyes would fix themselves, they should see that the Ecclesiastics do not perform, no not the least part of those daily Sacrifices which they are tied unto; but they salve their consciences, by saying, that the Mass being of an infinite value, one Mass may supply the necessities of many souls, one Mass may also suffice to relieve the urgencies of one soul alone, and the remainder shall be thought a superfluous number, proceeding not from the necessity of the soul, but rather from the cheat arising out of the avarice of the Priest.  
The second abuse consists in the multiplicity of Pensions, which are paid annually to Rome from the State of Venice: Touching this, it comes into my mind to remember your Serenity, that the Court of Rome is like the middle Region of the Air, who useth to make her thunderbolts against the earth, ou●… of those exhalations She draws from the earth itself: so the Roman Church is used to form her power for oppression of other States, out of the rents, contributions, and pensions which She receaves from those States themselves: and let this suffice for the high wisdom of your Serenity in this particular.  
S. Paul being arrived at Venice, and sojourning there some days, saw a Priest dragged into prison by order of the secular power, and it being asked why the temporal Magistrate did exercise his jurisdiction so over an Ecclesiastic, a Venetian answered him thus.  
The Republic of Venice, nor for any other men's threats, or insinuations, ever deviated from that constant path which Her Progenitors hath pointed her out for her own safety from the beginning, among other jurisdictions which She hath always conserved in the very face of Rome's pretensions and power, one is, to have authority to punish the persons of Ecclesiastic Delinquents, esteeming that Dominion to be absolute and universal, which heaven hath afforded Her within Her own Territories.  
This Republic knows well, That when God did institut Sovereign Power, he conferred it upon Saul over all his people, and over all the Tribes of Israel without exception; Now, you cannot deny but among the twelve Tribes, there were a great number of Levites and Priests; ought the Priests therefore to dissuade the people from that obedience which was ordained by the Divine Majesty itself towards their natural Princes? The Sacraments were ordained by God to wash away the pollutions of sin in the soul, but not to deface the Characters of subjects on the body: Nor was the Law of Christ ever incompatible with the jurisdiction of Caesar, but in their opinions only, who seek pretences to traduce and calumniat it. The Ecclesiastics who interpret all things to their own advantage, pretend to withdraw themselves from the secular Power, by those words of the Gospel, Nolite tangere Christos meos, but he who is of a sane and sound understanding, will easily discern how much they are deceived in the sense of these words; For although the same God forbade murder to all men by an express Commandment, yet it is lawful for Magistrates to take away the lifes of Malefactors. In the administration of Justice Lay-Princes also represent God. Now, for any to pretend a withdrawing of himself from their authority, is no other thing, then to be unwilling to be subordinat to divine institution: If Ecclesiastics would interpret Scriptures with more reason than passion and partiality, they would discern that those words Nolite tangere Christos meos bear no other sense, then to prohibit any injust outrage against those Ecclesiastics, who for the goodness of their lives, and innocency of their manners deserve the title of Christ's; when a Churchman is naught, he falls from that title, and consequently from the privilege of it; nor can the Clergy of these times pretend to be exempted from the power of temporal Justice by the foresaid words, unless it had been in case that Christ had said, Nolite tangere Anti- Christos meos.  
This Signory which can discern things in their true essences, doth not admit the falsehood of any interessed opinion to purblind Her own proper understanding: If a Clerk may err temporally against the State, the State thinks it reasonable that he may be punished temporally, by no other hand, then by that to whom God hath committed the care of the State. The danger of a State would be too too evident, and the confusion also, if the Crimes that are committed against the conservation, and common tranquillity thereof, should stand in fear of no other punishment then what shall come from a foreign Prince, who regulating himself by certain politic interests in lieu of correction, would haply tolerat, or●…connive at the Crime to the public damage of that State, and for his own advantage: Behold for example how many Princes in Italy, where the Pontificial Power predominats, are disquieted ever and anon, and corrupted, by reason of the impunity of ●…lericall Libertines; and what other thing can be hence expected, but that the Ecclesiastics being exempted totally from secular Justice, they may arm themselves, join in bands, and turn their Cloisters to so many Castles, that trampling so under foot the authority of their own Prince, they may establish another Kingdom within a Kingdom? That wisdom which sits at the Stern of the Republic of Venice, will never suffer Her own subjects to be able to supplant Her, by the protection and support of any foreign Authority; Clerks are punished temporally, when they offend temporally against the tranquillity of the State, not else, and if it seems strange to the Pope that the Venetians assume to themselves civil jurisdiction over the Ecclesiastics, much more seems it strange to the Venetians, that the Ecclesiastics should usurp worldly dominion over the persons of Seculars: In the mean time they know well that Christ professed openly to have no Kingdomin this world.  
This Speech being ended, and S. Paul desiring to understand the late differences which had been controverted 'twixt the Republic and Rome, is informed by a Noble Venetian as followeth.  The Church of Rome was reverenced by us in that manner which was sitting for Christ's lawful Spouse, but she corresponding with little gratitude, hath not only conspired our ruin more than once, but at last hath thrown out of doors the ancient monument of our services, which have been proclaimed to the world for so many ages by the Trump of Fame, by the tr●… Narration of Historians, & approved by all precedent Popes in public Eulogies; S. Marks Lion can hardly endure to have that glory eclipsed, which was always the food of his generous thoughts, and it seems strange to us, that Venice having rescued a sugiti●… Pope, and re-placed him in his lost Chair, with the expense of so much of her blood and gold, the memory of this high desert should be now thrust out of Rome: yet the Republic being very unwilling that any incongruity should grow 'twixt the Roman Church and Her, consented that the Crown of France should be Umpresse. But Pope Vrban the VIII. since he differeth so much from S. Peter, will not confess when he denieth the truth imo nec voce Galli, but persevering in an obstinate opinion not to restore the Elegy, being contented by a foolish capriccio of his own to give this general attestation only, that the Church of Christ hath been always served by Princes of all sorts: Insomuch that that ancient inscription which was seen registered in the Vatican, as a monument of Ecclesiastic gratitude towards Venice, that monument which Time itself could not deface all this while, the Barberini have annihilated at last, because peradventure that having banished all virtue from Rome, it displeaseth them▪ to see gratitude lodged under the roof of their house; or rather because the Barberini do not hold themselves beholden for those services that the Church received from S. Mark, in regard they are more her Betrayers then Governors; In the interim we cannot but be sensible of this monstrous ingratitude, yet we comfort ourselves to see that the Pope's disaffection and power to do us hurt, can extend itself no further than the walls of his own house. 
S. Paul having parted with Venice, goes to Lucca, where understanding the contumacy of that little Republic, he would know the grounds of it, and a Citizen answers him thus in a sad and solemn posture, being glad of the occasion to make the truth known.  Among the Popes of our age, urban the eighth hath been most prodigal of jubilees and Indulgences until these his latter years; but to show, peradventure, that he hath no less power over curses, then over benedictions, he hath at last by altering his stile, put forth his hand to dart out Excommunications: It was the fortune of this small Republic to bear the brunt of his first Censure in this kind; he thereby imitating those who use to try the virtue of poison upon the lesser animals first: The connivency whereby other Princes dissembled this out mishap, gave him scope to thunder out the second against the Duke of Parma; nor must Christendom expect other things hereafter but Excommunications; in regard that if the affairs of the world use to succeed one another in equal vicissitudes, 'tis necessary that Excommunications be as frequent as jubilees have been. 
Now touching the grounds of the Papal distastes with us, they are aldy manifested to the world, I must say, though very sparingly, That the original of every accident here, sprung from the insupportable licentiousness of Churchmen, who did necessitat us to a just resentment. It seemed strange to the Church of Rome that so small a Republic as ours durst resent the outrages of Ecclesiastics, who should rather comply with them, considering that this State is too narrow to be sensible of such insolences; and so persisting in an obstinate Censure, he chooseth rather to see our perdition hastened, than the exorbitances of his Clergy moderated; but we being not conscious to have committed any Delinquency which might deserve to exclude us from the face of God, we comfort ourselves in this case with the memory of Balaam, who injustly cursed the people of Israel; nor have we ever rested since, to procure a right understanding, by the interposition of a person of great credit with the Cardinal Nephews, that they would be pleased to appease his Holines' displeasure (expecting still a miracle from the words of some Ass) but to this hour there hath nothing come of it.  
But the Barberini are in Arms, and this Martial appearance they think will enforce us to desire a reconciliation; as for the rest which concerns the soul, if an Excommunication hath power to cut us off from the union of this present Church, why should we think it capital to be separated from so infected a body, and freed so by continual examples of sacrilegious lives, and from the despair wherinto the clerical Tyranny would plunge us! Confiding therefore in the Justice of our Cause, and in the assistance of those wise Princes who cannot away with the ravenousness of this Pope, we trust to receive some fruits of the introducement of these Censures, in regard that if this course hold, the world will see that as jubilees passed were pretexts for some new imposition, Excommunications will serve hereafter as pretext for some new Rapin.  
S. Paul having understood the grievances of the Luqueses, passeth on to Parma, where having in the habit of a Friar insinuated into the acquaintance of the Duke, he desires to understand from his mouth the Contestation he hath with the Roman Church, and the Duke answered him thus.  
The world hath already understood too much the causes of the quarrel I have with the Church of Rome, being published not only by my Manifestos, but by the writings of other particular pens, who have willingly protected the justness of my cause. But since it pleaseth you, good Father, to hear from my own mouth the grounds of these differences which have kept such a noise. I will relate them unto you with that brevity of words, which may suit rather with the present encumbrances that afflict me, then with the nature of the thing itself.  Know then that the particular urgencies of my house have erected in Rome a Bank called the Farnese Bank, which obligeth my fortunes to contribut an annual cense to my Creditors. Now urban the VIII. being assailed by some turbulent spirit in these last periods of his life, thought with himself to build a little new Fort of divers pretences upon this bank, thereby to set upon my Duchy of Castro: But I had good reason to hope now in these my troubles some support, rather than any oppression from that Seat, of whom the ashes of my Progenitors do yet glory to have merited so well; but all gratitude being extinguished in the breasts of Ecclesiastics, charity is also much diminished amongst them, which neither moves them to any compassion, nor to be a whit aggrieved, though they see mountains of miseries heaped on one's back; a desire to enrich the Nephews, which is the primum Nobile of the Pope's mind in these times, prevailed over all reason, and prepotency of plundering did facilitat the way to dispossess me of mine own; nor did the tyranny of urban the VIII. stop here, but he thought that I would take it nothing ill if he did excommunicate me, that being so segregated from the Communion of the Faithful, none durst hear my grievances, or reach a hand to help me: A great cruelty in a Shepherd, that flaying his sheep alive, would not have them to carry natural affections about them to resent the hard case of one another; Moreover to varnish the pretext of his Censures, he publisheth me for a disobedient son to the universal Father of Christianity, But whether he is to be acknowledged as a Father, who enemy-like robs his children, judge you? Can he expect to be reverenced as S. Peter's Successor, when differing from S. Peter, he stops his ears to the words of Christ, who commanded him to sheathe his sword? Christ did institut a peaceful Kingdom, nor did he ever ordain that his Cause should be handled with Arms: Nevertheless the present Bishops make use of them, because they are ready to meddle with any other Cause then with that of Christ: In the interim, good Friar, my fortune is worse than that of Malchus, for if Malchus was offended with the weapon of Peter, he was healed again by the hands of Peter; but I find myself hurt by S. Peter's sword, yet cannot perceive his hand is disposed to cure me, or restore me mine own. 
S. Paul being departed from Parma goes to Florence, where being brought to the Court, he heard the Gran Duke much transported with choler, speaking to a Councillor of his in this manner.  Then urban the VIII. intendeth that a Clergyman shall go exempted from the imposition of Millstone, whereunto the interests of my State oblige me to subject without exception any one that lives under my Government; and who is he that arrogats temporal Jurisdiction over another's Authority? In the time of Christ secular Princes had their tribute, and shall they now be refused in Vrban's time? By this means the credulous simplicity of the Laity shall be continually taught to contribut so many gabels to the Clergy, and the Clergy shall be free from all taxes to them, and who at any time leaves possessions to the Ecclesiastics, they must be free from such Contributions which the Law of Nature awards every protecting Prince. Who did ever affirm that the Legacies of private men can be exempt from the public Jurisdiction of their Prince? These are new Doctrines which tear the world in pieces, being introduced by those Bishops, who together with the Evangelicall precepts, have forgot that Christ himself when he was upon earth paid tribute to Caesar, professing that he came to fulfil the Law, not toabrogat it; and shall we admit in our free States an Authority, which beyond the Order and example of Christ pretends to have power to control, and transvolve the Dominions of others; yea to trample upon the Princes themselves; Is this the paradise that Christ promiseth to them that observe his Law, or rather a Hell, which they worthily deserve who believe too much in an adulterated Church. But I observe that the Ecclesiastics by too many styles▪ do subject the simple seculars to pay contribution for Indulgencies, for Dispensations, for the Word of God, for sacrifices of the Altar, and in sum for all the Sacraments, which the Divine goodness ●…ath afforded gratis to all the faithful: But what do I say? the avarice of the Clergy is grown to that height, that it doth not permit those poor souls that are under the agonies of Death to depart from this world to the other, till they conjure them under the pretext of pious Legacies to pay a toll for their safe conduct, constraining to bargain for their very graves, they sell them for ready money the embraces of our common Mother the earth; and I in my free State must not impose the least Tax as that of the Millstone upon my subjects: But let Vrban practise what he please, let Him thunder what Excommunications he will upon my Gabelleers, I shall learn well enough how to fence away his blows, I will make the Jews my Receivers; nor shall I ever suffer that Toscany be oppressed by such rapacious Tyrants, who under the mantle of Religion exercise such robberies upon us. 
S. Paul leaving Florence, resolves to visit the State of the Church; in his journey he is accompanied with a subject of the Popes, who vented forth his discontentments unto him in these words, upon some expostulations of S. Paul's.  I was born a subject under the particular Dominion of the Church of Rome; and that's enough, good Friar, to pronounce me miserable; The Civil Justice administered in my Country by Ecclesiastics, the Authority abused by them that govern, and their custom degenerating daily into cruelty and rapine, have made the subjection insupportable, and the life's of those unhappy who live under the temporal Sceptre of the Roman Clergy; my tongue cannot sufficiently express the rigidnes of their Government, let every one comprehend by their tyrannical practices they do exercise abroad what they do at home; I was enforced to forsake my house for a Tax imposed upon me for living well; when a young rich man is discovered by greenness of Age, and heat of blood to be prone to any lightness, presently comes a new Edict which will make him lie under a gross sum of money; hereby it comes oft to pass, that a small fillip sometimes doth equal murder, and words are as dangerous as deeds; for all comes under the title of transgression, though the fault be no other than a slip of youthful lightness. Furthermore, the Ministers who govern our State of Rome under colour of zeal to our Salvation, are wont ever and anon to send certain Catchpouls to search mean blind places & cottages, to see whether any subject cohabit with a Concubine; every thing lies under the search of prowling eyes, and the insolent hands of those Ragamuffins; I will say no more than this, that under the Domination of other Princes the Jews are more gently used than we are under the regiment of the Ecclesiastics; nor is it a wonder; for some Churchmen of our times are haply greater Enemies to the Gospel of Christ, than some Christians are to the Talmud of the Hebrews. 
S. Paul a little after meets with a Maronit passenger, who had taken a journey from Mount Libanus in Syria to see Rome, and was returning homewards; S. Paul begins to mingle speech with him, ask him of his Country, and of the Motives that induced him to come to Italy, and what opinion he had formed within himself of Rome? whereunto he answered thus:  
My Country is Armenia, the cause which brought me to Italy was no other than a desire to learn the true Tenets of the Catholic Doctrine, which in our Region is adulterated with such a multiplicity of Sects, that they confound one another. The eleventh year is now coming about that I have breathed air under the climes of Europe, having sojourned longest in Rome, being led thither by Fame, which sometimes useth to represent things otherwise then they are in their own essence: I figured within myself That City to be She, who as She pretends, so She had deserved to be the Head of all Christian people, as being the School of Sanctity, and pattern of all virtue. And truly at the first sight I thought I was not a whit deceived by any extern appearance which oft times doth dazzle and fascinat the eyes of the simple. The magnificence of Her Temples, the great number of pardons, such a confluence of people flocking to Church, and the visit of holy places, imprinted within me such an opinion of the Roman piety, that when afterwards I fell to observe the lives and luxury of the Cardinals, little compatible with the Doctrine of Christ, I ascribed the cause of my mistake rather to my own ignorance, then want of Religion in others; but when I seriously descended into myself, I thought I was not born senseless: Process of time and mature reflections, made me discern afterwards that the Roman Religion consisted most in Ceremonies of exterior worship, which were it properly defined, might be called a kind of practice of life in the small sort, and an hypocrisy in the greater. For the rest, every action being judiciously examined, you will find it tending chiefly to objects of private interest and temporal benefit; profit and delight are the two poles whereon the Firmament of Roman designs wheel about; if Christ and his Law be embraced, it is not embraced for the true final end, but as means to compass some terrene business, which transformed me to wonder while I observed how much Christ was vilified among the Romans, considering how much he serves their turn for increasing their temporal interests: You shall find all vices reduced in this City, as to their proper centre, and which is worse, with specious titles of holiness; their pomp appears under the name of Church decorum, and their ambition under the title of Majesty, their tyranny under the semblance of zeal, nay most scandalous lusts are brought into the houses of the greater sort under the mantle of spiritual recreations: Adulation hath founded here her Palace, for you shall have it preached most impudently that the Pope cannot err, notwithstanding that his actions are the very tops of errors: Tell me O reverend Friar, if the Pope cannot err, wherefore are their Decrees and Ordinances of Counsels instituted; 'twere enough to be regulated by his will, only without importuning any Synod, or attending any rules from the universal fuffrage of Christianity; But to unbowel unto you my true meaning, I hold that the Ecclesiastics now that they see they cannot fit the custom of the Pope to the Laws, they procure to fit the Laws to his customs; God forgive them who fomenting a parasitical Doctrine introduce so many enormities to God's House, so frontless and void of all shame; these men being dandled with ambition, have transported S. Peter's Seat from Caves to Thrones of Gold; these being carried away with avarice to declare this magnificence to be necessary for the dignity of the Church, together with those worldly Dominions so expressly forbidden by Christ: Poor Church, to what case art thou reduced? the time was when the Clergy were reverenced for the Sanctity of their lives, and profoundness of their learning, and for the fame of their miracles; but now they raise respect unto themsels by worldly rule and greatness, for nothing else makes them to be reverenced now adays. But to compass this mundane grandeur, which is founded most commonly upon Bases of gold, what unlawful path is not trodden? what iniquity is not practised? the Law of Christ being turned by the Ministry of the Romans to be a Law of ruin and rapine: there is no action exercised in the Roman Church, but you shall find it conjoined with the interests of worldly emolument? O how deplorable are these times, were they paralleled with those of the Ancients, yea, when the world was deprived of Evangelicall Light! Then, if an Alexander rose up, who with an immense kind of cupidity snatched at every thing; Nature who is a friend to counterpoises, created a Philosopher, who glorying in his poverty, contemned the possession of all transitory Princes. But now among the Christians, if a Pope starts up, who with insatiable appetit goes about to grapple all, we do not find that virtue hath such a force as to dispose any Ecclesiastic to show an example of that poverty which is commanded him by heaven: Good Friar, if you have ever been in the Dominions of the Church, you will be astonished at such abominations wherewith the Worship of God is daily profaned. Moreover, you shall hear nothing else preached in the Pulpits but Paradoxes, Delight, not the utility of souls being the scope of their matter, and so the ears being tickled with the Doctrine the Collections use to be greater, which under the name of Alms is drained afterwards from the Auditors; but their sacrilegious greediness stops not here, you shall see often lame miracles published for gain, you shall often see those inspired Fathers use certain acts of Conjuration, rather to draw money out of the purse, then to cast devils out of the body; you shall oft times see many neglected Images making themselves miraculous upon a sudden to enrich the Ecclesiastic professors, deluding by this trick the simplicity of those who hold that the virtue of doing miracles being lost in men, is retired into statues of stone and wooden pictures. In somm, the abuses are so many which are introduced by the covetousness and rapacity of the Romans, that I prognosticat that all reality of Religion will be quite extinguished ere it be long, and faith herself also as much as remains; for I have observed that Christ did not live long upon earth when he was put between two thiefs.  
There is an opinion that's current among some Theologues, that when the Host begins to moulder the Divine Presence, immediately departs from the Eucharist. Now, if Christ cannot stay, no not the least moment in corrupted bread, how shall we think that he can abide to stay amongst a corrupt people? Friend, if your salvation be dear unto you, turn face about and never go to Rome, cast yourself rather upon the remotest shores of India, whither they say all virtue and Religion is retired perhaps to be the further off from Rome; one cannot sojourn in this City without endangering his Faith; take example by me, who being come from among the mahometans to learn to lead the life of a Catholic, do now go away hence with strange kind of confused imperfect thoughts within me to turn Turk.  
S. Paul having parted with the Maronit, and advancing towards Lorette, while he passed in a Friars froc hard by a village, he was called in to confess a dying Cardinal, he goes in, and hears his confession, which was thus:  
Father, I feel the pangs of death come upon me, God summons me to satisfy the last debt of human nature; my soul finding herself in these extremes, trembleth to appear before the face of God, in regard She is so full of carnal spots. It is your function to help me to wash them off, while these eyes of mine shall afford you tears, and this panting spirit, though struggling with the assaults of death, shall endeavour to declare unto you in short periods the sum total of all my offences passed.  
Know then that I was born to a poor fortune, but nature, who hath also her portion of goods in this world to dispense among mortals, was pleased to endow this body with such Prerogatives, that my parents might well formalize some hopes within themselves of my greater advancement at Rome, Being grown up to twelve years, devoting myself not to God but to Ambition, they clothed me with the habit of an Ecclesiastic, and to establish the foundation of their hopes the better, they applied me to the service of a Cardinal. Now 'tis a rule, that where the end is crooked, the means tending to that end can hardly prosper: Hence it comes to pass, that now adays in Rome to arrive to the end of their designs, they do not use learning and virtue, the effects of a true heavenly vocation, for means, but courtship and flattery, which are the base parts of that interest which hath always an eye to the worldly advantage of ones self: I applied my particular study to be a proficient in the garb & fashion of the Court, which is no other thing then to devote one's person to any pleasure of the great ones; He who confesseth must not conceal any thing, but be pleased Father to comprehend in your imagination whatsoever, wherein an engaged and well respected youth may sin, and suppose it in me, so my feeble tongue shall be exempted from the labour of my Narration; only this I tell you, that I knew how to gain the entire affection of the Prelate my protector, and he, for my sake was not ill looked upon at Court. Pensions did reign upon my person, which made me wonder at that which the Ancients write, that jupiter should Metamorphose himself into a shower of Gold only for Danae, since he converts himself so more often now for Ganimeds': This my youthful age was free from those passions which use ordinarily to transport the minds of young men, viz. from the love of women; yet I do not deny to have tried it oft, it seeming to me very strange that I should pray, who was used to be prayed unto; but I continued not long in that state, my humour altered with my age, than I entangled myself in Feminine Love, and in a short time I tried what adultery, fornication and incest were; In the mean time I arrived to that age which was capable of Priesthood, then taking Holy Orders I lived a while retired within myself, being persuaded to a moderation of life by that Synedresis, that touch of conscience, which comes sometimes by nature, and teacheth some sort of respect which is to be had to that Sacrament; but at the end too much familiarity turned into contempt, for whereas at first I began to sin with some scruple, those scruples quickly flew away from my conscience, and so I came to such a reprobat sense, that fornication, rebellion of the heart, and celebrating of the Mass, was in my person but the act of one hour oftentimes. Father, 'twas no Sacrament, 'twas a Devil that entered into my soul when I took the Character of a Priest; it was an infernal Spirit that persuaded me not to fear that Christ, which was daily to pass through my hands; I found myself immediately disposed to every wickedness: And whereas at first no affection molested me, but that of Lust, me thought that all vices assailed me in a moment: Nor is it to be wondered at; for if judas found himself to betray Christ after he had taken the sop unworthily, though but once, much more must it be supposed, that those impious Priests must be inclinable to all motions of profaneness, who every day receive the Sacramentated Redeemer, peradventure more unworthily than judas: Covetousness also came to be my inseparable companion, fomented chiefly by occasion of that command & authority, I began to get in the State of the Church; while I exercised the Office of a Shepherd, I learned quickly the art to shear my sheep, all that belonged to the subject was created, me thought, by nature; for the service of my affections: my favours were still exposed to the highest offerer, nor did I ever refuse a present from any hand, I did wonder at the custom of the Priests of the old Testament, who rejected many Oblations as unworthy for the Sacrifice, and so concluded within myself, that because the times and Laws were altered, the Priests of the New Testament ought to receive any thing offered them: But this was the the least; for if the Parishioners did not do it voluntarily, I found ways to snatch it from them. I remember that among other passages, taking occasion once to visit a young gentleman, who was within the compass of my Jurisdiction, I observed in his house some pictures of good value, and giving him an inkling of my desire, he with many humble compliments answered, That he would be very unwilling to be dispossessed of them; I kept this denial in my breast, and having traced a way by means of the Holy Inquisition to clap him in prison, he presented unto me the foresayed Pictures, that he might be removed only to a gentler Goal, and afterwards, for his full Liberty, was forced to suffer the better part of his estate to be confiscated; but fearing that by his appeal to Rome, this act of mine might be too narrowly winnowed, and so I might run a hazard of the precipitation of my fortunes not yet so firmly grounded, to secure myself from after-claps, I called him unto me, and rebuking him for his course carriage towards me at first, it made me by right of that incumbency I held over him, to reform all misdemeanours, and to teach him how to comply with Church Governors for the future: In fine, for the reparation of his losses passed, I made him a friendly promise to point him out a way how he might be made capable to wear an Ecclesiastic habit, and so ascend to the Dignity of a Prelate: For they in the Roman State, ●… among the multitudes of their miseries, have no other comfort but this, that they may easily arrive to such a condition, as may enable them to a revenge upon some others the wrong they receive themselves: By these means I knew how to feather my nest so well, that I returned afterwards to Rome to live in the lustre of a conspicuous Prelate, by introducing to my house the wont pomp and excess of the old Romans, I paralleled any other in ornament of rich hangings, of magnificent Coaches, in number of Grooms and Laquais, and specially in multitudes of Courtiers, and gelded Musicians, the greatness of Rome's ambition being to show herself barbarous, yea in the pomp of Eunuches; eleven youths did undergo the martyrdom of Orig●…n, of purpose to devote themselves to the luxury of my pleasure: Poor Boys! by what a strange effect doth the lust of others make you chaste?  
While I did lead this splendid life, the Cardinal my Protector came to the Popedom; By this exaltation myhopes soared very high, nor did there much time pass, when I saw my person, being a Creature of the Popes, advanced to the dignity of a Hat; so I moumed to the degree of a Cardinal, wherein I stand now. Now if my voice had strength to unmask every particular thing, you would be struck with amazement to discover a life so impious in the persons of them who glory in the title of Christ's Disciples. I'll tell you in a word, that from the time I obtained the cardinalship, I never kept Lent, I never recited my hours, I never confessed to God, till now in these extreme agonies of my sickness: Such being the custom almost of all Cardinals, who finding themselves in a posture to aspire to the Keys of Heaven, do think perchance to be able one day to find a way to enter there, without any necessity of good works. But woe is me, I perceive now to have deviated from the ways of Heaven; I discern too well by the light of Divine grace (which I know not by what excess of mercy may please to save me for all this) that to lead an ecclesiastical life is an now accustomed is nothing at all to live a Christian: But if Pagans, yea Atheists, preceiving their own errors, have hopes to be saved, why should I despair? This is the only argument of my hopes, although I think the salvation of an Infidel more easy, than that of a perverse Christian; because my soul finds at this very moment that the understanding is more easily illuminated, than the will humbled and rectified being too tenacious of her delights in those pleasures, which she must now relinquish with the Hat; But, father, my spirit fails me, give me an absolution, for I feel myself upon point of expiring.  
S. Paul having absolved the Cardinal, upon his departure thence he met with an Angel, who after some salutations fell to relate unto him what he had overheard in a Parlatory of Nuns as followeth.  
You know already, O Apostle of God, that I am of those Angels which never descended before on Earth, and if in strange Countries the curious mind of the passenger desires to satisfy itself, I confess that among other things, which I coveted to see, one was a Monastery of Nuns, who were so much spoken of in Heaven that I took them to be Angels on earth. Being come therefore to one of the prime Cities of Italy, I took the form of a strange youth, and entered at the privatest hour I could into a Monacall Parlatory. I found at the windows a young Nun, which had no other business it seems, but to attend the coming of some body. I was scarce spied by her, when she asked me an account of my Country, and what fancy took me to traverse the World up and down in that manner; I, bethinking myself of Heaven, answered, my Country, most gentle Sister, is too far distant from this place, and whereunto few of this Region arrive. Touching the fancy that leads me to traverse up and down the World, it is no other than curiosity, which often draws youthful lightness to neglect their own profit, and to regard others. Foolish youthfulness which canst not learn how to value thy Country's good but a far of; then I added, happy are they who never departing from within the Paradise of these holy walls, seem as so many Angels always appearing before the face of God. She being as full of Spirit as She was of beauty answered thus, O how many of us would willingly change our Paradise for your peregrination, wherefore then do you complain so causelessly of your travels? which being no other than the motions of a civil life, it cannot choose but be so much the sweeter to elevated minds, by how much the higher the movements of their souls are. Behold the Sun, behold the Planets, which never staying still in one place delight to be continual travellers in the Univers.  
I being much taken with the vivacity of this female spirit, replied: It is true Lady, that the Sun and the Planets are in a continual peregrination, but there are in Heaven fixed Stars also, which, because haply they are more noble, are superior to the other, and consequently nearer the throne of the Almighty; These Nuns then, who to serve God are always permanent in one place, like the fixed Stars, may more than any other mortals comfort themselves with an assurance that they are nearer God. The beauteous Maiden sighed at these words, and then answered: God, I deny not, dwells nearer to the fixed Stars, but not to desperate souls; And now you discover yourself to be a stranger, that you are not acquainted with our condition. The cruelty of our Parents, and the rigour of our destiny hath penned us in here for ever, the Church of Rome concurring hereunto by admitting any pretext whatsoever, bear with me Sir, that I speak thus. It is a hard fate to be born to a perpetual prison, while it is seen that all other living creatures have the whole World to solace themselves in; And that Prison, which it seems the very infants fly from, when they sally out of their Mother's wombs before they have as it were any sense of life, we are constrained to endure, after that nature hath given us the perfect use of our sense, and life, and the knowledge of our miseries; The destiny of that mortal must needs be a hard one who is born to live in restless infelicity. This Cloister, which surrounds our Liberty, is not, as you imagine, a Paradise; for in Paradise there dwells no discontentment; It is rather a Hell wherein the flames of inextinguible desire the natural affections of our humanity are condemned to be tortured every minute. I will not stand to express the cause why our Parents are so inhumanly cruel unto us, for it is too well known, that for to spare that dowry which is due to our Sex, they condemn us 'twixt these walls, to be deprived for ever of any worldly delight, for no other cause, but because we are born Women, yet you must know, that the shutting us thus by force between these stones, cannot deprive us of those carnal affections which may well be covered but not quenched in that religious habit that you see about us; Nor can this kind of life conduce to Heaven, considering there's no concurrence of the will, which is so acceptable to the all-knowing Lord, we are rather destinated to an Abyss, by a course clean contrary to our genius, being bereft also of that common privilege, which other souls use to have to go to Hell what way they please. In ancient times it was the custom to slay the victim first, and then Sacrifice them to God, because haply the principal seat of the corporeal affections lying in the blood, 'twas not held convenient to offer his Divine Majesty any holocaust, which was not first purged by effusion of that blood from all earthly passions; But this is not observed in us by our Parents, who do make Sacrifices of us with all our blood and passions about us, then, how can we believe that it is grateful to God Almighty? and being not grateful to him, consider what despair our souls are plunged in, which see themselves shut out of the world here, without any assurance of Heaven hereafter in regard we have not power to extinguish our natural affections, and so are in danger to precipitate ourselves headlong into Hell through a kind of supposed innocence. If Christ died to reduce us to such a hard condition, oh how better were it for us that he had not died. Be not offended O stranger at the words, for the tongues of the damned can bring forth nothing but blasphemies: yet we know that Christ hath no hand in this our hard condition, for his death had for its principal object the freedom and enlargement of souls, not their captivity. The Popes are most in fault, by yielding to the cruel covetousness of our Parents to transvert the Keys of Paradise into the Keys of a Prison. It was not Christ, no, it was the impiety of Herod, that by reason of the humanation of our Saviour caused so many innocents' to be slain. Behold, we are in a case equal to theirs, because we being yet innocent children under the mark of holiness, we are segregated and cut off from the society of the living, there being no difference 'twixt us and them, but they die before Burial, and we are buried before Death. Nor can our innocency, or our fears Prevail any thing, nor are those privileges sufficient which nature hath granted these faces of ours (for which peradventure you styled us Angels) to implore from others pity and succour, having found the Church of Rome so ingrateful, while we consider that the time was when St. Peter was freed by an Angel out of prison, but now clean contrary Angels are cast into prison by the successors of S. Peter. But whither doth violence of just passion transport me thus to rave? Helas, the name of Angel doth not suit with our condition, and l●…sse with our operations: For although we are brought innocents' hither, yet we cannot preserve ourselves long in this Monastique life from the motions of desperate passions; The Religion which clasped us in here is not adored, but detested by some of us, vanity and feminine wantonness is here in the height; Here dwells curiosity in excess, and desire of knowledge in worldly matters without end; Ambition, Envy, Discord, and Hatred, is never wanting among us: Lastly here's observed neither Constitution, Law or Vow, but out of pure necessity and unavoidable violence. But what shall I say of that Maiden-chastity for the conservation whereof we are principally penned in here? I leave that for you to imagine, it being not permitted to female modesty to make any further expressions in this kind; I only tell you this, that we procure all means possible to outrage and abuse it, and not without reason, for if this Chastity hath been the principal thing that hath retrenched our liberties in this manner, we ought to aim and bend our chiefest forces to be revenged of our chiefest enemy. And here this beauteous Nun blushed, and broke the thread of her Discourse. I confess unto you O holy Paul, that if I had a breast capable of terrene affections, I would doubtless have tenderly resented the misery of this discontented soul; but compassion is vain, where there's no power to comfort; therefore I held it expedient to take my leave, that I might not embitter her passions any further; so at my departure, I said, When I came in hither, Oh most beauteous Nuns, I looked upon you as on so many Seraphins, but hearing the state of your hard condition, I find you to be the unhappiest creatures that live under the Law of Christ. Were it permitted me for to help you, I promise you I would batter down these walls and give you that liberty which others take from you; but since 'tis not lawful for any to do so, comfort your selves at least that Heaven is reserved for your sufferances. And although you protest not to suffer for Christ, yet Christ is so merciful, that he can give beatitudes to those Cyreneans who carry his Cross though forced thereunto; And I dare assure you, that if you cannot gain Heaven as Virgins, you shall gain it at least as Martyrs.  
S. Paul afterwards going on in his Journey arrives at last at Rome, before the gates whereof he meets with an Angel in a melancholy posture, who was the Gardien Angel of Urban the 8. therefore he making himself known to him begins to expostulat with him why he had abandoned the care of the Pope's person, whereunto the Angel made this Answer.  
I Stand here, O holy Paul, to guard the Gates of this City, because it is not in my power to preserve the soul of Urban; it is impossible to bridle his Capriccios, nor can any Angelical strength do it; I have tried all imaginable means to reduce him to the way of reason, but cannot do it; therefore I will expose no longer the Divine Inspirations to scorn, but I intent to take my ●…light to Heaven to give God an account of the deviations of his soul, and to supplicat afterwards that he will be pleased to disburden me of the weight of so heavy a charge, which hath in a manner perturbd the whole peace of my Evangelicall state; It is a great happiness for holy Paul to be made an Angel, but he who knew how heavy the Ministry of guarding humane souls is wherein we Angels are employed, specially when we encounter refractory humours in a soul, as in that of Urbans, he would peradventure more esteem the happiness of man, who having travelled but one age only in this lower World, goes afterwards to enjoy without any disturbance the repose of Heaven: But I repine not at the state of others, yet you well know that he must needs be somewhat moved who finds he cannot serve his own Lord as he desires: You, who have had the incumbency to instruct people, and convert whole Nations, know it by experience how uncouth it is to observe the humours of men. And now that you have understood the grounds of my grievances, tell me freely whether I complain without cause, for perchance God hath sent you hither either to check me, or comfort me. The twentieth year runs now on that Urban the 8. holds the Papacy, whence one may easily calculat how few years are left behind, if it be true what's commonly spoken, that no Pope shall see as many days as Peter; But if I may unfold my thoughts, I do believe that he who spoke those words seemed to prophesy, that none shall see the Church of God in that state of Christian perfection as it was in the days of Peter; But be it as it will, the more years come on, the faster every man runs to that pit which is the centre where all Mortals terminat their course, being drawn down by the weight of that Earth whereof Humanity is composed: Most commonly old men when they come to such a period of years use to check within themselves those spirits which in their youth were used to lash out into a thousand inordinat passions, endeavouring, being now as it were abandoned by the World, to acquire unto themselves by means of a true repentance some sort of shelter in the Sanctuary of Divine grace which is ever ready to receive all those that are forlorn; But be astonished, O Paul, Urban the 8. the older he grows, the more loose he leaves the reigns to his own senses, and the nearer he approacheth death, the further he goeth from good operations: He excessively loves the pleasure of his Nephews, nor doth he study any thing but what aims at their interest: He seldom reflects upon the incumbency of his charge, and if at any time some flying thoughts represent unto him his own duty, he discerneth well that a kind of relation passeth 'twixt the Papacy and his Person, yet he flattereth himself with this fond conceit, that the Papacy is more bound to serve his Person, than his Person the Papacy: He detests in the extreme the memory of his excesses, the most effectual means whereby the guarding Angels use to tame the proudest souls; He will not as much as think on death, or if sometimes he is brought to think on't, by converting the physic into poison, he applies his cogitations presently in ruminating how he may aggrandise his house before he goes. If I should tell you how often I found him chimerising within himself how he might make it possible to render the Popedom electif, and to depend no more upon the Consistory, but solely upon the person regnant, that he might establish it in his posterity, you would be amazed at those extravagant imaginations that possess the mind, even of the Vicar of Christ. But would God were pleased, that such wishes did terminat altogether in the vanity of the design, They end commonly in more practical resolutions, to drain the patrimony of Saint Peter for to enrich their own houses with the spoils of the holy Church. But the avidity of Urban stops not here, He little esteems the millions of Gold purloined from the Altar, to leave his Nephews the possession of an independent Principality, where they may lay up the unsecurd trophies of their own rapines; There was ever yet in the World a greater number of those who wish to be Princes than Principalities themselves.  
Hence it comes, that to purchase these from the tenacious hands of others, there must be force necessarily used, because hardly any reasons can be found, which may persuade the mind of man to lay down voluntarily the right of a free dominion; which makes Urban the 8. being transported by his passions to machinat violent means for to invest his Nephews in another Prince's Estate. I could tell you some further designs and fury of his. He accounts often upon the Kingdom of Naples, but he finds the enterprise to be fuller of desire than hopes; He thinks upon the Duchy of Milan, lending his ear unto the glozing offers of some Minister of a Tramontane Crown, but he dares not trust to that, for if others should intervene, he cannot leave all to the Barberini. He fixed his eyes upon Lucca, but perceiving it a petty State, he doubts whether the benefit will countervail the charge. He hath a month's mind to Mirandola, but being feudetary to the Empire, and a place that breeds some jealousy 'twixt the neighbouring Princes, he is afraid to draw Germany or Lombardy on his back. Lastly, he turns his eyes to Parma, and this enterprise being made less difficult by the advantage of some pretences, he purposes to deprive the poor Duke (beginning with Castro) of all his possessions. I put him in mind how much it did misbecom Bishops, and other Prelates of the holy Church, who make profession of a life differing from Swordmen, to change the Crosier into Musket-rests, Rochets into Corslets, and their Mitres to Morions. I put before his eyes the scandal that would redound to all Christendom thereby, the scorn that Infidels would conceive of it, and the danger the Church should incur, foretold by our Saviour, who positively warneth that every Kingdom divided in itself hath its dissolution near at hand: But it is to beat the Air, to tell Urban of all this, which hath everything for his aim, but the indemnity of the Church. Finding that these arguments were of little force, I applied unto him the spur of nature, alleging that the events of War were dubious and dangerous, to raise in him thereby some apprehensions of fear, which commonly takes place in old men's breasts; But nature could prevail little, reason less, and the inspiration of an Angel nothing at all over the hair-braind humours of Urban. He who now entereth Rome, may see a Pope turned Armiger, now in his decrepit times, one that takes up Arms then, when he should meditate how to lay down his life to nature; And which is worse, he thinks all this to be according to the dictamen of reason, so that urban the Eighth never doth that which he believes, but believes in that which he doth, insomuch that at the same time when he tears Italy to pieces, and snatcheth the state of another, he publisheth his actions to be right, his intentions holy, and that all tends to the service of God, and the object of good; as if the formality of good in his Idea were different from that which is in the opinion of other men. But I omit many extravagances wherewith this capricious soul hath abused my last patience. Once he settled a resolution within himself, not to give any satisfaction at all to the Princes of Christendom, notwithstanding, that I often put him in mind that this was the basis whereon was founded the conservation of Christian obedience. Another time he resolved to create no more Cardinals, it may be to merit the more of the Church of God by abolishing so perverse a generation; but he repented himself afterwards of this, for no other reason, but because I opposed him in this resolution. If a tutelar Angel can suffer greater contempts, tell me, O thou Apostle of God? I find that the reputation of Angelical custody is too much engaged in continuing to stand about him thus: Therefore in despair of his amendment, I have given over all care of his person that I should not delay my return to Heaven.  
Saint Paul having understood the complaints of the Tutelar Angel of Urban, enters Rome, but an accident befell him which enforced him to fly, and as he was going along another Angel comes in his way, whom he encounters with these expressions.  
YOu come, O Heavenly Messenger, peradventure to charge me from his Divine Majesty that I should avoid Rome: Behold how I have left her already before your coming; for divine inspirations forerun the very flight of Angels: But now that I am come out of Rome, let's repose a while, and I will relate unto you the unexpected cause of my hasty departure. You know, O Angel of God, that I was sent from Heaven to Earth to hear the complaints of Mortals, and to form a process against this adulterons naughty Spouse: I lighted to this purpose in many places, where having fully understood by all degrees of people her dissolute deportments, to confirm with mine own eyes what came from other tongues, I resolved at last to come to the City of Rome itself. I passed too and fro at first in the froc of a Friar, There, as I went through a little blind Hamlet, I was called in to confess a dying Cardinal, which gave me warning, that the habit descrying me to be a religious person, 'twas likely, that entering so to Rome, I might (according to the custom) be questioned for the Patent of my Orders, or the Licence of my Superiors; I hereupon to evade the telling of any lie, held it expedient to lay down the Froc and take my Sword: So I came into Rome intending to lodge in some Covent of Friars, who being used to thrust themselves into worldly affairs more than the Seculars themselves, I thought I could there very leisurely have a free and exact information of all things, specially because the freedom of speech is retired now into Cloisters for more security, in regard of the extreme rigour which is used to punish those who speak any thing against the Court. The Monastery where I was lodged was famous for the study of Letters, and so it was frequented by many Learned men; But the greatest concourse was of Strangers, who so abound in Rome of all Nations where desiring to know what conceit Forrenners had of that Church, I disputed often upon some point of Religion: There happened to come thither a Turk, rather to hear, as I imagine, the noise of the disputation, than to inform his judgement; so I asked him his opinion of Christian Religion, whereunto beyond all expectation, he answered thus.  
Amongst the Turks it is held for certain that God doth favour those people most, where he is truly adored; so, from the prosperity of the Turkish Empire, we infer, that our faith is good, and the observance of it not displeasing to God. Touching the Christians Religion, we have an opinion, that she was not naught, until she was adulterated, and made naught by Christians themselves: But in the state she is now in this City, we believe her to be abominable to God Almighty, specially since we see that of late she goes annihilating and mouldering away by little and little, by her own inward and endless discords. Such was the conclusion of the Turk, which made me, I confess, to marvel not a little, while I observed, that even those who profess not much knowledge, can deduce from far-fetchd Principles Consequences so near the truth.  
Having had his opinion, I went on in making a further scrutiny, and I fell to expostulate with a Greek, who was used to repair to Rome for the opportunity of studying in Clementine College, who answered to my interrogatories thus.  
The Roman and Greek Churches are Sisters issued from one Father, but the Greek is the first born, and I know not by what wiles the Roman came to take away her birthright. For this cause they live in most grievous disgusts one with another; But the one enjoys the possession of all her Paternal goods, whereas the other lives as Esau did excluded, and under the dominion of another. Touching the particular customs of the Roman Church, I say nothing; for the that censures her in this City, shows he knows not his own danger, And he who approves her carriage, understands not the Law of Christ.  
With such words the Greek satisfied my demands. As touching the opportunity which was offered me to mingle speech with a Frenchman upon the same subject, I understood his conceit thus.  
The name of the Church is reverenced by a great part of the Kingdom of France, but the wisdom of our Governors hath never permitted the Pope to extend that excess of pre-dominion beyond the Alps, which he doth exercise in Italy; for our policy is supported by particular Gallican rites: And the reason is, because the French being naturally impatient, and now that ne'er half France (to withdraw itself from under the Roman yoke) is infected with Heresy, certainly if the Pope should exercise upon the Consciences of that spritfull people the tyranny he doth exercise in Italy, the rest of that great Kingdom would fall from him quite.  
Such were the expressions of the Frenchman, which did stir in me a curiosity by way of opposition, to hear what the Spaniard would say. Nor was it difficult for me to obtain my desire, by meeting with a Nobleman of Sevill, who frequented the same Convent, I entered into his friendship, and he rendered me satisfied by such discourse.  
Friend, to serve you I will speak beyond the customs of this Nation, with all ingenuity of heart: The reverence which the Spaniards do profess to the Roman Church, may be considered in two manners, inward and outward: If you ask me of the inward reverence, suppose it to be not unlike that of other people who have full knowledge of her Customs (The Spaniards being of a genius apt to esteem things as they are in value) But if you ask me of the outward reverence, knew, that the Spanish Nation in extern appearance show themselves very observant of the Roman Church, because that having found her always most partial to the interests of their Crowns, they hold themselves obliged by terms of gratitude to correspond with her at least in outward observance. My King knows well how available for depressing of the suspected greatness of his Subjects hath been the pretext of the holy inquisition: He lives mindful of that promptitude showed in the Court of Rome, to deny an absolution to the House of Bourbon, until he had conformed himself to the Austrian satisfaction; And lastly he knows how much to this very hour the pragmatical jesuits have served him to dilate in every part, (with their own advantage) the bounds of the Castilian Empire; So that in contemplation of all these respects, the Spaniards hold themselves obliged to reverence the Roman-Church, in exterior appearance at least, though she were far worse than she is.  
Here the Spaniard did terminat his censure, while my diligence, which desisted not to procure all punctual advertisements brought me to discourse with an Englishman, who gave this modest Answer: Sir, I am a declared Enemy of the Roman Church, therefore, I presume, my words can gain no credit with you; but if you desire to know what respects this Church finds Northward, read our Doctors and perchance your curiosity will be fully satisfied.  
Thus O Angel of God, I endeavoured in Rome to bring to perfection the Process which was committed to my charge against the adulterous spouse; And passing one Morning by a Church, where they were casting out a Devil, I went in because of the noise, and then the ill Spirit knew my person, and began to cry out, her's S. Paul, her's S. Paul; Truly he is come in an ill time from Heaven, to view the state of that Church for which he shed so much sweat; good Saint, what motives brought him to this lower World? was it to see how his labours fructified? Ah, the pure grains of that Doctrine which his eloquence sowed in the Vineyard of the Lord are turned to tares, and become food for ravenous Birds such as these are, who stand about me now, to disconjure me with their hideous noise. Upon this cry the Priests began to fix their looks upon me, whereupon, fearing to be discovered, I softly rotired; but the words took such impressions in the mind of the Exorcist, that he did conjure the Spirit by violent threats to manifest who I was, who being not able to resist the violence confessed I was S. Paul, who by resumption of humane shape (he knew not why) wandered now upon Earth; The Priest had no sooner knowledge hereof, but he presently found means to give notice to the Pope; A little after, my lodging being found out by spies (whereof there are a multitude in Rome) I suddenly perceived a Courtier making towards me, and breathing out these words; O holy Paul, in the name of Urban the Eight I come to do you reverence; He is well informed of the condition of your being here: He earnestly desires that you would be pleased to favour his House with your presence, for he is ambitious to have a stranger of so high a quality for his Guest. The Courtier spoke to me, O Angel of God, thus in very proper phrase; for in these times Saints use to be called strangers in the state Ecclesiastic; whither I was astonished or no to see myself thus surprised and discovered, judge you; I thanked his Beatitude in the best manner I could, for his courteous offer, and excused myself not to be able to receive that honour, in regard I was of necessity to depart from Rome within a a few hours: when I had disintangled myself thus from the Courtier, I called my thoughts to counsel, and feeling, that my heart did presage me some sinister accident, I resolved upon flight; and I was gone but few paces further, when the same Courtier came again and told me thus; Urban the Eighth, O holy Paul, doth remand me to you, to second his first invitation, but if in case you are resolved not to grace his Palace with your presence, I have order to propose another request unto you: In your Epistles we read, O Apostle of God, certain passages which manifestly contradict the humours of our holy Father Urban the Eighth, he prays you to mend them, because it is not fitting that Paul should ga●…nsay the will of Peter's successor: And if you desire to know which are those passages, one among the rest is, that, Let every soul be subject to the higher powers. Urban the Eighth would, that from this universal proposition the souls of Popes should be exempted; He thinking it not fitting that the Popes should be subordinate to any other Law, but that of their own affections and fancy, for so their actions should not be censured by every senseless man, as they are ever and anon now adays; His Holiness also much desires, that the words be utterly expunged, which assigning to every Bishop his own incumbencies, do speak in particular, Diaconos habeant non turpe lucrum facientes, Let them have Deacons not given to base lucre. These periods displease in a high measure Urban the Eighth, for he of necessity must have about him his Nephew Cardinals and to grow rich. Here the Courtier stopped, when I poor Paul fell to discourse with myself thus: See, thou art in danger to be entrappd, notwithstanding that thou hast been confirmed in the state of grace, but what could be expected less in Rome? perceiving at last that he attended no answer, I put myself to reason with him thus: O Papal messenger, the business which you propound to me, is of no light moment; for he who is tender of his own repute, cannot be easily induced to unsay himself; you know that my Doctrine hath run through the World till this day without alteration, Now what will people say to see it now differ from times past! And who will not persuade himself that the alteration proceeds rather from the caprichio of some convicted Heretics, than from Paul's Pen. Moreover to what purpose will it be to vary Apostolical Doctrines, when the Popes without any regard to them do operat still according to their own fancies? But now that his Beatitude doth desire this superfluous alteration, I will not fail to serve him in the best manner that God shall inspire me. The Courtier departed with this answer, which he took for a promise; but I to reserve myself to execute what God had enjoined me did immediately fly away from Rome, being warned from Heaven so to do. I was scarce out of the City, when I remembered to have left my Sword behind, and being in suspense with myself, whether I should return to fetch it or no, I spied coming after me, one who was also a foreigner in the same Convent where I had lodged, and had often showed me arguments of love, who coming near me, cried out, friend, begun, begun, I come after you of purpose to tell you, that you were scarce gone, but another Courtier came to seek you, and informed of your flight, he carried news thereof to the Pope, and a little after the Pope himself came to your lodging, who finding not your person, took away your Sword, saying in a kind of choler, that if Paul's Pen refuse to serve him his Sword shall. This Sword shall force Princes to bend and bow at my feet; This, this shall conserve Castro, subdu Parma, and show the world that there is no necessity of reason, where the edge of a brandishing Sword shall make a way. Giving thousand thanks to my friend, who knew not what Paul nor what Sword the Pope spoke of, I took my leave of him, and continued my flight, being troubled in my thoughts, that my arms should be left in such a hand which employs them for the service of his own tyrannical affections to the universal scandal of Christianity. If it were possible, O Angel of God, to bend him to the voice of the Almighty, I could wish you to go and inspire him to peace; But Urban hath too too refractory a soul; therefore I hold it more expedient, that you would please to diffuse your inspirations amongst the Princes of Italy, to incite them to take out of his hands these Arms, which were taken from me without reason, and are now drawn out against them without justice. To this end I have framed a Letter, addressed to the Italian Princes whereunto I held it not much necessary to affix my name, because it is known already I am on Earth, and it is of this tenor.  
URban the Eighth, O Princes, transported with the violence of an unknown wrath, took possession of my Sword, of purpose to make use of it against the quietness of your States; If you will not resolve to take it out of his hands, I do exhort you in the name of the Divine Majesty to do it, because it is not fit, that that blade which is designed for the conversion of Infidels, should be stained in your blood; Nor let that idle scruple amuse you, that he is your shepherd, for the true shepherds do guide their flocks with gentle wands not with weapons. Remember that Isaac suffered himself to be slain with the hands of his Father, to be sacrificed to God, not to the fury and passion of his Father. And S. Peter left a Fisher's knife behind him to be used against Fish, which are not creatures of our element. Encourage your selves therefore by his Counsel and mine, neither think ye the design difficult, for although Urban seem furious, yet he that is not habituated to handle weapons may easily let lose his hold. God inspire your hearts, and prosper your resolutions.  
This is the tenor O Angel of God of this Letter, which I beseech you to carry (with your inspirations) to the hearts of Christian Princes. I in the interim, before I return to Heaven, must go and visit jerusalem, to kiss that place again, where the very inanimate stones being more grateful than Men, keep yet fresh the memory of Divine Mercy.  
THe aforesaid Confederacy being made between the Princes of Italy in behalf of the Duke of Parma, his spirits were so heightened thereby, specially the Republic of Venice being engaged therein, that he put spurs to his Horse, and entered like a whirlwind into the Papal Territories, finding no opposition at all in his passage; He encamped the first night not far from Urban Fort, whence Don Taddeo the Nephew had got away upon the news of his march; From the felicity of this beginning his heart being elevated, he resolves to push on his fortunes to the very walls of Rome; All Forts, and Towns at his approach did open their gates to receive him rather for a friend than a foe; And although the Country could not choose but be damnified by the march of such a tumultuary sudden unfurnished Army, yet as one observed, the Vassals of the Ecclesiastic state are so accustomed to hard usage from their own Governors, that the damages of foreign troops seemed but light unto them; yet there were such strict rigid injunctions, and martial commands given out for regulating the Army that none durst commit any rapine or outrage under pain of life.  
The Duke with these inexpected successes advanced towards the walls of Rome with 3000 well appointed horse, which caused a great deal of confusion and terror in the City; Pope Urban, with the Cardinals and chiefest of the Roman Inhabitants, retired to the Castle of S. Angelo, where for more security they stowed their treasure, and richest moveables; Thus that Rome which in times passed, could look Hannibal, and the Gauls in the face, doth now shake as it were into a quivering Palsy at the approach of 3000 horse only which came to vindicat the quarrel of the Farneses'; In this confusion there was not one would propose the facing of the insolent enemy, every one be took himself to stand on his guard, and the defensive part; Every gate looked like a Diocese having some Bishop appointed to keep it; Herupon Pope Urban sent Cardinal Spada to propound a Trety with the Duke, which Negotiation was carried so politicly that it took effect, and so a truce was agreed upon for the present; so the Duke of Parma returned, having reaped no other fruit by this march, but the name to have displayed his Colours almost in the face of Rome; which, as the most serious sort of men were of opinion, became him least of any Prince in regard he was a Vassal of the Church, his Progenitors having received such temporal possessions from Her.  
This little War produced good effects in Italy at last, for it took off afterwards various sorts of discontentments, these temporal Arms took off the censures of the spiritual Arms under which divers Princes lay; For by the vigorous interposition of France a Trety was to be held at Venice, where the Dukes of Parma and Modena came in person, and Cardinal Bichi, a person par negotio, being a moderate grave prudent man came as Plenipotentiary from the Pope, who in the conduct of this business carried himself with that dexterity and height of wisdom, that in one afternoon he made an end of all differences; The Signory of Venice was to have her ancient Elogium set up in the Sala Regia in the Vatican, It was to be renewed, and inscribed in a larger Table; The Duke of Florence was to have the Excommunication taken off, and for the future, the Churchmen should be subject to new impositions as well as the laity, provided that his Holiness be acquainted there with before hand, and his consent had; the Duke of Modena was absolved from the spiritual censures, and got the Gabells of some places in right to the Duchy of Ferrara; The Duke of Parma had the Church censures taken off of him, and got further time for the repayment of his arrears putting in caution accordingly; Lastly the little Republic of Luca fished so well in these troubled waters, that she also got herself absolved from the Church censures which lay upon her: Thus the Italian like a wise Nation composed in a short time so many differences that perturbed the public peace, which was done by the sage management of the Venetian, as also by the discreet comportment of the aforesaided Plenipotentiary Cardinal Bichi a Sienese born, a kind of War having lasted above two years, in all which time there were not 200. men lost in all, which argues that the Italian is more parsimonious of his blood, and more careful of his life, than either Germane, French or English who in their civil Wars have lost I cannot tell how many thousands in a far shorter time especially the last, which shows that they are not so indulgent of nature, and of that image which God Almighty hath imprinted upon man, as the Italian.  
NOt long after that the Republic of Venice had got out of these briars, & that principally by her intervention the Pope and the Italian Princes were reconciled, an illfavourd black cloud began to engender against her in the Levant, the Mahometan Moon appeerd red, and her horns very sharp, which portended windy and tempestuous wether as it happened afterwards and continueth so to this day; The vapour that went to condense this hideous cloud issued first from the Knights of Malta, who had taken at Sea some Galleys and Caramusalls that carried passengers upon a Pilgrimage to Mecha, among whom was one of Ibraims' Sultana's, and another of the Ottoman race. The Malteses having made prize of them, arrived afterwards in Candy where they found reception and friendly entertainment as was usual.  
Ibriam the great Turk upon news hereof stormed mightily, and raged so far that he vowed a revenge; Thereupon he sent for the Christian Ambassadors that resided at that time in the Port, relating unto them by the mouth of his Visier what affronts he had received of the Malteses, and that he would peck that little scab of an Island into the bottom of the Sea, disguising his displeasure all the while he bore against the Venetians, who was more in his thoughts; so a great Fleet was provided against Malta as was given out, though his aim was against Candy; St. Sackvile Crow then Ambassador in Constantinople for the King of great Britain, had such choice intelligence that he acquainted the Venetian Bailio hereof, and writ also to the late Earl of Arundel who was then in Milan to give advice hereof to the Senate, that the Turk armed for Candy: but the Senate having no notice thereof from their own Bailio made no account of the intelligence, wherein the World adjudged Venice to come far short of her wont circumpection▪ For that Summer the Turks with a formidable Fleet and Land-Army did in a manner surprise Canea the second Port of Candy, coming with such a resolution as if they came to meet a Victory and not expect one; The news hereof being brought to Ibraim it puffed him up very much, though he was overheard to mutter, That if he overcame so often he should lose all at last, for above 50000 Turks, whereof the third part were janissaries, perished in that expedition. The next Summer the Bassa of Bosnia tumbled into Dalmatia with a great land Army, but he was repelled with much vigour, so that in regard he did no exploit, he was sent for to Constantinople, where Ibraim caused him to be strangled.  
The Republic being now sadly engaged in a War against so potent an enemy, betook Herself to Her Prayers more fervently, making a vow to build a Chapel to Saint Lorenzo, a holy man, who had lived about 400 years since in Venice, which She performed with much magnificence.  
The next Summer She had notable success against the Turk in Dalmatia in divers places, and made Herself Mistress of Clissa a place of mighty strength, and much consequence; being frontier 'twixt Bosnia and Dalmatia; The Baron of Dagenfelt was employed by the Republic in Dalmatia, but in this expedition of Clissa General Foscolo, Count Schotto, and Proveditor Georgio were chief; Mehemet Bei Sangiac of Clissa after the Articles of rendition were concluded, was to send four Hostages whereof Filippovich was chief, who after fled away, whereupon the Sangiac himself stood for him and sent a Letter of this humble tenor to Foscolo.  
TO the most merciful, and preordained by God to all good fortune, the most excellent Lord General of the Venetians, the most humble reverence of Master Mehemet Bei Sangiac of Clissa. After that we had tasted of your Excellency's grace, and concluded the Trety, Filippovich hath betrayed us, whose face ought for ever to freeze with shame, but his base flight hath not only stained his own honour, but it hath also done us much wrong; if you think that I had any hand in his escape, I stand to your mercy, for we are all in your hands, and I will be responsible for the fugitif. I attend your answer, and God exalt you to higher honours.  
At the taking of this Town the Christian Soldiers were so fleshed in blood, and heated for losses they had formerly received, for a great many of the Morlacchis perished in the action, that the General could not hold them within the bounds of obedience, but they fell furiously upon the Turks after they had entered the Town, and hacked them to pieces, notwithstanding the Articles to the contrary. General Foscolo being got into the Town planted the Venetian Standard in the Market place, and then kneeling upon the Turkish Banners, he heard Mass said by the Archbishop of Scutari, and afterwards Te Deum was solemnly Sung, and so loud that the very Heavens echoed with the sound. 700 janissaries were slain and above 300 wounded in this siege, and about 200 Christians.  
There was a great debate in the Senate at Venice touching Clissa, whether she should still stand or be demolished, they who persuaded a demolition used these arguments. That Clissa though never so famous and well fortified yet was she known to be expugnable, insomuch that the Turk might recover her by the same means as the Venetian got her; That Ibraim finding his greatness to be eclipsed hereby, would venture all his forces to regain her; Or that haply the Turkish Army might leave her behind and march on to Spalleto or Tragurio, and so cut off all succours from her; That in case a peace ensued, Clissa must be rendered, therefore to bestow any money to fortify Her was superfluous; The Venetian treasure should be employed to strengthen her own Forts, and not the enemies; lastly, that it stood more with the prudence of the Republic to conserve rather than conquer.  
They of the contrary opinion alleged that Clissa was always esteemed a thing inexpugnable for her situation, as also for the valour of the puissant State that now holds her; that she hath repelled in former times an Army of 20000 Combatants, that she stood very conveniently to stave off the Turk from rushing into Dalmatia; Moreover it would tend to the dishonour of the Republic to raze Clissa, in regard the World will judge that she did it for want of strength or courage to preserve her; That Venice was used to show her power not only upon the ruins, but also within the fortifications of the enemy; That the keeping of Clissa will render a peace more easy; That the Soldiers would lose the comfort they use to receive in a conquered place, etc.  
This second opinion prevailed, therefore Monsieur d'Amur with other Engineers were presently sent to fortify the Town of Clissa according to the modern Rules.  
As by Land, so by Sea also the Republic bore up stoutly and successfully against her formidable Foe this year, for meeting with a great Fleet of Turkish Galleys and Mahoons in the Egean Sea, she chased them into the Bay of Foggia (Phocis of old) where some English Ships, and a Scottish Vessel did her some signal service; for the Turkish Fleet having fled into the bottom of the Bay, the janissaries ran ashore, insomuch that the Captain Aga set out a Proclamation, wherein he promised such a reward for any that would bring the Head of a dead janisary, or his living Body: Had the Venetian Fleet poursued the Turks into the bottom of the Bay, in all probability they might have done the Turks much mischief at this conjuncture of time; but it seems the General's Commission extended not so far, and Venice loves to have her Comissions punctually observed. The Summer following the Republic did hold the great Turk's Nose so close to the Grindstone, that his Galleys durst not peep out of the Dardanelli into the Egean Sea; yet hath he poured new forces since into Canea by the Galleys of Rhodes, Sio, Cyprus and Negrepont.  
This War hath been very expenseful to St. Mark, and drained much both of his Treasure and Arsenal, the one of Money, the other of Ammunition; But the Treasure and Arsenal of Venice may be said to be like the Sea (wherein they stand) who notwithstanding the perpetual emission of Waters, yet no diminution is discerned in him, besides if he lose one way, he gets another way▪ This potent Enemy hath put the Republic to extraordinary ways of raising Money by Lotteries, sale of Honours and Offices, by revokement & pardoning of Banditi, etc. Insomuch that though her Bank hath been shut for a while, 'tis now open again, ajusted and regulated and of as high repute as ever. Genoa her Sister Republic, and old Emulatix would furnish her with Money and ten Auxiliary Galleys if she would stoop to treat Her in equality with Herself, by the name of Serenissima, which 'tis thought she will do in these pressures, for he is a cheap friend that's got by a compliment.  
Besides, the Jesuitts offer Her a vast sum of Money of late to be readmitted, to which end the King of Poland's Brother, who is of the Society himself, is lately sent to negotiate with her, but they write that he hath but a cold employment of it.  
Thus have we drawn at length the History of Venice in the smallest thread we could and freest from thrumbs, the Author being a professed enemy to superfluities, and immaterial circumstances; We will now proceed to display some other singularities, for the white at which we aim in this piece, is to make the Reader thoroughly acquainted with this Maiden Republic.   

A Discourse of the Interests of the Republic of VENICE, with the rest of the States of Italy.  
HAving been a Guest so long to this hospitable Maid (the City of Venice) and traversed Her Torritories up and down, it will not be amiss to give a short visit to some of her Italian Neighbours, and look a little upon their differing aims of policy, as they relate to other States, specially to the Monarchies of Spain and France, which may be termed the two great Axletrees whereon the power of this part of the World doth turn.  
THe Pope being a mighty temporal Prince as well as spiritual, and having a great stroke in most of the Cou●…ts and Counsels of Christendom, in regard of the authority he is allowed to have over the Consciences and Souls of men, is first to be considered; He knowing that other Princes cannot gain much of him, and that first or last they must cast up what they have taken from him, takes not much care, nor useth to beat any great charge to fortify his Frontiers; His power is safest by keeping the power of other Princes in their due proportion, and that it may not outbalance; to which end he hath often changed his course of policy, and crossed the designs of the King of Spain (though covertly) fearing that if he should swell too big he might be brought at last to be but his Chaplain; he hath also dealt so with France more than once.  
Alexander the 6. who opposed the first ambitious motions of the French, was one of the chiefest instruments that framed and fomented the Ligue, driving back again the▪ other side the Hills Charles the 8. restoring the Arragonians to the Kingdom of Naples, following heerin the true interest of the Apostolic See not to permit any power to grow overgreat; yet afterward he betook himself again to the friendship of the French, making a Bridge for Lewis the 12. to invade the Kingdom of Naples, and the Duchy of Milan, hoping by the same Forces to repress the contumacy of the Vicarii della Romagna, and della Marca, and out of their ruins to erect a Colosse for the future greatness of Cesar Borgia.  
julius' the second favoured at first the designs of the French King, and putting all Italy in a flame he suscitated all the Princes of Christendom against the Venetian; but summoning his second thoughts to council, and foreseeing that upon the depression of the Republic of Venice he might be brought to depend upon the power of Forreners, he turned his arms against the French, and drove them out of Italy, together with the Swiss, and the Spaniards. Leo the 10. being passionate for the advancement of his Family was sometimes a Partisan with France▪ sometimes with Spain as his interests directed him. At first he sided with Francis the first, but afterwards he did confederate with Charles the 5. and employed the arms of the Church to chase away the French out of Milan. Clement the 7. having laboured in vain to make a truce of 5. years 'twixt Charles and Francis, and perceaving at last that the latter of the two was the stronger in Italy, he drew his own misfortune upon himself, by the sack of Rome▪ and imprisonment of his person; so that he was forced afterwards to comply with the ambition of Charles to exalt his Nephews. Paul the 3. kept awhile that spirit of indifferency, and freedom▪ 〈◊〉 the Pope should professo towards all, yet to rear up the grandeur of the Farneses', he covertly favoured and fomented the designs of Charles the Emperor to remove those obstacles which lay in the way 'twixt D. 〈◊〉 Lu●…gi and a Principality. I●…lius the 3. to cast Duke Octavio out of Parma being already declared contumacious to the Church, and to settle therein john Battista de 〈◊〉 his Nephew, suffered himself to be hurled into a war against France, but being weary of the excessive charge thereof, and in despair of any good to be done, he returned to his former indifferency: But Paul the 4. being too indulgent of his affections towards his Nephews, permitted himself to be transported upon vain hopes to an open war with the King of Spain, procuring to this effect, that the truce did break 'twixt the two Crowns; In which enterprise the success did not answer his expectation, for had it not been for the piety, and prudence of the Duke of Alva he had been utterly ruind, for there wanted very little that Rome had not felt the same Catastrophe that happened in the time of Clement the 7.  
The Civil Wars of France then beginning to rage, and consequently that wont power being taken away which used to serve for a counterpoise to the greatness of Spain, She grew thereby to a greater height, and became Arbitress of the affairs of Italy, in so much that the succeeding bishops had no opportunity offered them to declare themselves Partisans of the French, although some sparkles of these affections did break out sometimes; So that for their own interests, and by the cunning conduct of the Spaniard, some of them by degrees came to be Dependants wholly upon that Crown; And the Spaniard finding that their greatness in Italy could not receive a sounder establishment, or shrewder shake and shocks than by the friendship or enmity with the Pope, He hath ever since essayed all kind of ways to engage that Court unto him; And when he waged any war, though the merit of the cause was mere civil, yet he gave out 'twas for Religion, whereby he still engaged Rome to be his Partisan, as he did against the Germans, and English, and in favour of the Guysards. Nor was he short-handed in distributing his gifts up and down, with collation of honours upon their Nephews, and other of their Favoritts, whereof he hath plenty in Naples and Calabria, which he enjoys by paying a Heriot every year: Nor is there any Prince that's tied in more observances to the Pope than the King of Spain, in regard that he pays him homage for most of his Kingdoms; nor is the Pope of late years tied for more variety of respects to any Prince than to the Spaniard; He complies also with the College of Cardinals, endeavouring mainly to have a strong party there to out poise the French; though in the election of Urban the eighth, the last Pope, his power failed him among them; which Pope was Fleurdelizd all over having been raised by the French faction that then was predominant in the conclaves; which made this pasquil among others, to be scattered up and down, cur Petrus negat Dominum? quia Gallus cantat. Nor was Urban the eighth averse only to the Spaniard, but to the whole house of Austria, in so much that when the Emperor sent to solicit him for a sum of money to support the War against the Swed, and the Northern people that had hurled themselves into the Territories of the Empire, he would not part with a penny of S. Peter's patrimony to that use; which made the Spanish Soldiers up and down the streets to call him Lutherano; And others to give out that there was secret intelligence 'twixt Him and the King of Sweden, that when he had done his work in Germany, he would assist him to recover his right to the Kingdom of Naples; but indeed his averseness to the Emperor was, because a little before he had disturbed the common peace of Italy, about the quarrel with the Duke of Savoy. This present Pope Innocent the tenth is as much an Austrian, as the other was a Bourbonian which hath not a little advantagd the Spaniard as it hath appeared by some successes since his creation; He is more Catholic than Christian, whereas his Predecessor was vice versa.  
TOuching the interests and disposition of the Dukes of Toscany, in regard they were first introduced and establishd in that Duchy by the Arms of the house of Austria, they hold their chiefest interest to be a dependency upon that House, adhering always to that party with money & Arms; yet this tie was not so strong but it slackened sometimes, when public liberty was at the stake; wisely considering that the oppression of their neighbours would not exempt them, but reserve them for a more certain ruin. Whereupon Cosmo the first stuck not to assist the Genoese in a quarrel that was abetted by the Crown of Spain; And after him Duke Ferdinand with great sums of moneys assisted Henry the third, and Henry the fourth of France, persuading the latter to break with Savoy, that by possession of the Marchisat of Salucces, France might always have a gate open to Italy; And Cosmo the second to the same purpose supported the Duke of Mantova against him of Savoy; But this present Duke Ferdinand although he makes show to breathe nothing else than a kind of religious observance to the Austrian Family, yet he hath utterly refused at present to engage against France, whereupon in policy he disarmed those Galleys wherewith he was used formerly to scour some of the Mediterranean and Greek Seas, to prevent that neither Kings should desire his assistance.  
TOuching the interests of the Republic of Genoa, since by means of Andrew Doria She drew her neck out of the French yoke, and put Herself under the protection of Spain, She hath still mingled interests with that Crown; Charles the first finding that the City of Genoa stood very commodiously for him to convey his forces to Italy, solicited often Andrew Doria to consent to the erecting of a sortresse, which, notwithstanding that he was moved thereunto by the Emperor both with menaces and money, he would never agree unto; whereupon the Emperor thought upon another new and more ingenious way to engage that City, by putting a bridle of Gold into her mouth instead of that Iron one he thought of at first; for ever since Genoa serves Spain for a scale to convey her treasure to high and low Germany, whereby her bank of S. George hath so swelled, and the whole City hath so enriched herself that it is wonderful; for it may be said that most of the Indian Gold hath passed ever since through their fingers, so that much thereof must needs stick unto them, by the use the Spaniard gives them when they advance any sum by way of assiento as they call it, until his fleets come from the Indies; So that they have a saying in Spain that the Genoese did use to carry their consciences in thin Pocketts, but the weight of the Indian Gold hath broken through, so that now there is neither bottom or bounds left in them.  
Now, there is no state in Italy that's more capable to incommode the Spaniard, than that of Genova, and to put him in a hazard to lose Milan, and consequently the other territories he enjoys in Italy, which She may do if She denies Him her ports, and hinder the landing of his Ships upon her coasts, or by shutting the passages in that long list of Land which is called the River of Genoa; Therefore the Spaniard, because he would not depend solely upon the affection of that City, raised up a Fort at Monaco, and another at Finale, thereby, if it were possible, to reduce the Republic to an entire dependence upon Him; In the last War with Savoy the Genoese felt the benefit of the Spaniards protection, which by way of diversion preserved them from much danger. Therefore in point of interest Genoa may be said to be an inseparable confederate of the King of Spain's both for profit and preservation, She is in relation to him like a Partridge under a Falcon's wings, as the little Republic of Luca is to the Duke of Florence, who can seize upon her when he list, but that he finds it more advantageous unto him to permit Her to continu an industrious Republic still of Herself.  
TOuching the Dukes of Savoy, their interest hath been always to keep good intelligence with France, therefore they never swerud from Her friendship, but once in the time of Charles the fifth, when by the inducements of a Portuguez Wife, Charles Emanuel refused passage to the French King, which cost him afterwards very dear; And it had cost him much more, unless he had comported himself with extraordinary cunning and artifice, which made Him to be termed the little Fox of the Mountains.  
THe Dukes of Mantova, as the rest of the Minor Princes of Italy; were used to profess a total dependence upon the house of Austria; yet Duke Ferdinand a wise Prince, knowing that in the first motions of Monferrat, the designs 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 forced 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 been beaten by him in Parma, they had good reason to follow the interests of France, by whom they had received 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 political 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 themselves accordingly in point of respect and compliances: Nor indeed can it be denied but all Italy is beholding to the Spaniard in divers respects, as for the introducing of Treasure, and increase of Trade; as also that his outpoising power keeps the inferior Princes in peace, and from encroaching one upon the other, lest if he should strike in by way of Auxiliary, he might swallow up both parties; yet, it may be observed, that the Italians respect the Spaniard out of mere political 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 Cat's neck.  
HAving by these short expatiations given a few touches of the rest of the Principalities of Italy in point of political interests, we now return to poursue and perfect the survey of the Signory of Venice in this particular also; which, taking her power by Land and Sea conjunctly, is acknowledged to be the strongest knot of strength in Italy, if we consider the reaches of her Dominions, with the firmness and solidity of her establishment, as also the prudent and cautious conduct of her proceedings.  
Now touching her interests, and disposition towards the two great Kings forementiond, all her counsels and designs, ever since the entrance of foreign Armies into Italy, have tended to conserve her own liberty and greatness: It being an old observation, that all States do retain still the humour of their first Founders; as ambition, and desire of war appeerd always in the City of Rome, because her first Founders were full of that humour; But those of Venice being not transported with such exorbitant thoughts, but addicted to peace, trafic, wealth and repose, having been formerly harassd by the long calamities of Italy, and the inundation of barbarous people, when they had got into those safe retirements, the first and fundamental maxim of policy they proposed to themselves, was to maintain their common freedom, and live secure. And herein the Republic of Venice may be said to differ from the late States of Holland also, whose first foundation was laid in blood by Arms and Warr; Now it is a Rule that Eodem modo, Res conservatur, quo acquiritur; By the same means things are conserud whereby they are got; In so much that if Holland follow the humours of her first Founders, She will love war better than peace, and haply be incited thereunto by an old prophecy that runs of her;  

Marte triumphabis, Batavia, pace peribis.  
Holland, by war Thou shalt increase,  
Thou wilt destroy Thyself by peace.   
Now, one of the ways whereby the Republic of Venice hath endeavourd to preserve her Maidenhead and freedom so long, hath been to keep the power of the potentst Princes in a counterpoise; whereby She hath often adapted her designs, and accommoded Herself to the condition of the times, and frequently changed thoughts, will, friends, and enemies; She hath been always used 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; whereby She hath been often accused of excess in circumspection.  
Therefore when that impetuous shock was given Italy by Charles the 8. She only looked on a good while, and kept Her▪ self Neutral; but afterwards seeing the common freedom of Italy floating among the French arms, She made head against them at last, freeing Milan from that imminent danger which hoverd visibly o'er her head, and so forced that King to find his way back o'er the Alps, and to leave the Kingdom of Naples to the Arragonians; To free Herself from the stratagems of Mor●…, and to join Cremona to her Republic, She favoured the designs 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 introduced the Pope, the Spaniard, and King of the Romans; 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 men's labours impatronizd himself of some Towns, to recover which the Venetians betook themselves to the friendship of Francis the French King, by which League they recovered what formerly had been 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 exposed to some hazard their own liberty; the Republic with fortune changed Her friend, and entered into League with Charles the Emperor: But upon that monstrous success of fortune in Pavia when the French King was taken Prisoner, to preserve the common liberty of Italy which was like to be swallowed up by the Emperor, She reentered into a new League with Francis not without extreme hazard, because in the peace of Cambray he had quite abandoned Her, so She was left alone to wrestle with the Emperor and the formidable Armies he had then afoot, against whom She bore up with much generosity a good while, whereby together with the peace of Bologna She procured the restitution of Francisco Sforza to the Duchy of Milan; An accord which She observed with such candour and punctuality that although She was invited by many favourable conjunctures to unite again upon high advantageous terms with the Crown of France, to thrust the Spaniards out of Milan, whereof they had rendered themselves Masters after the death of Francis Sforza, yet she would never lend any ●…are thereunto merely out of her filial affection to Italy, that she might not be plunged again in new troubles; as also finding how unlucky the French had often been that side the Alps; so that ever since the peace of Bologna▪ which was in the year 1530. there never happened 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 dependants, or their forces weak, the Republic of Venice hath stood as it were in perpetual centinel to watch the common freedom of Italy, whereby She hath much incurred the hate of the Spaniard, who seemed to stomach it much that Venice should 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 displeasure, which was by erecting 〈◊〉 Fortresses in the Valtoline to impede all supplies that might come that way unto Her upon occasion; The Republic finding that though Spanish Ministers aimed at nothing more than to depress her strength, and so make themselves masters of all Italy in time, she studied to find means by money, and counsel to divert the strength of the Spaniard, and cut him out some work another way out of Italy, imitating herein the Faul●…r who standing himself in repose and firm upon the Earth, let's fly Goshawks, and Faukcons at the Birds of the Air.  
And although Venice appeerd for the support of M●…ntoua, yet this was done so cunningly, that it did nothing prejudice her Peace with Spain, or obliged Her to second France in that business, though She was much courted thereunto by Belieure, and other great Ministers to engage. So that although in former times She hath been often constrained to play fast and loose 'twixt Spain and France, yet this last century She hath kept herself always in a politic neutrality.  
SInce the principal aim of this piece is to make the industrious Reader fully acquainted with this Maiden Republic▪ therefore we thought it worth the labour, to insert here the opinions of the most approved and authentic Writers, (that have exposed to the World any thing of political 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 Signory.  Bodinus de Republica Lib. 11. 
Contarenus' thinks the same judgement to be passed upon the Venetian Republic, which he thinks may agree with all the three kinds of Governments; Est, inquit, in Deuce Regia quod●…modo potestas; in Senat●…, Aristocratia; In Concilio Maximo, Democrati●…. There is sayeth he, a kind of Regal power in the Duke, an Aristocracy in the Senate, And a Democracy in the great Council. But janotus who hath described the state of that Commonwealth from her first originals, and written most accuratly of her secrecies of Government convinceth Contarenus, and accuseth him of gross errors; He demonstrates therefore that before Sebastiano Cyani who was Doge of Venice, which is about 300 years since, the Republic then was plainly a Monarchical Government. Contarenus averrs, that She hath remained about 800 years in the very same condition She is now in; Paulus Magustius speaks of 1200 years, which janotus 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 City and the cense that was made of the Inhabitants 30 years since, there were about 60000. Citizen's excepting Women, and Children that had not exceeded seven years of Age; as also the Patricians in whom the power of the Republic is seated, whose number may amount to 4000 All kind of Churchmen are exempted out of this number, and young men under five and twenty, who have no access either to the great Council, or the administration of any Office, unless upon request made by their Seniors the same be obtained; Nor is there in the Assembly of the great Council, which hath been so long establishd both in our Ancestors, and late Progenitors times, more than 1500; but in former times there were much fewer as appeers among the Historians; This Convention therefore of the Patricians, Gentry or Nobility hath the supreme power over all Laws and Magistrates, of Peace and War, of last appeals, 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 else but the power of the Law and Magistracy, it were argument enough to judge that it is an Optimacy as we taught before; since that the election of Magistrates, of the Senate, of the Colleges, of the Septemvirat, of the Decemviri, of the forty private, and so many public Judges criminal and civil, depends merely upon the grand council of the Nobility or Gentry, and the rest mere precarian powers.  
The Duke is He, who being a Sovereign Governor may be said only to want command, for he can neither summon any one before him, or apprehend any by his sole command, or demand any, nor hath He more power in any College of Senators, whether great or small but only that he gives the last suffrage; nor can He open any Letters either from foreign Princes, or any Magistrate, or Officer, nor admit or dismiss any Ambassadors without some of the College of the Septemvirat, or Decemvirate; nor can He marry a stranger, or go out of the City 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 Senate, was by the Decemvirate Council sentencd to death, and executed; besides Him Sabellious enumerats twelve Dukes that either were slain in a popular tumult, or punished when they abused their power.  The same Author in his 3. Book writes thus: 
BUt the Senator must take this for a principal caution, that he suffer not himself to be depraud by any bribes, or engaged by any benefit; which although it be capital there, yet is it ordinary elsewhere in other States, and except the Signory of Venice who hath a Senate so free and pure from this kind of sordidnes, that the very Churchmen although they be Citizens and Patricians born are restrained therefore from their civil Counsels, 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 Council, Fuora 1 preti, insomuch that Hermolao Barbaro (and what a man was He?) received the sentence of banishment, because while Ambassador in Rome he suffered himself to be coopted into the College of Cardinals without the consent of the Senat.  jac. Aug. Thuanus Lib. 23. 
THe Venetian Senate, which may be truly called the Shop of all civil prudence, hath it for a special Caveat, That none initiated in Holy Orders should touch any part of the Republic.  The same in his 27. Book. 
there's no Prince in all Italy except the Venetian Republic, in the conciliation of whose friendship the King ought to labour much, for by Her Laws it is severely prohibited, that none of Her Subjects receive any pension from a foreign Prince.  Cardinal Arnoldus Ossat in his 353. Epistle. 
THe Venetians to speak truly have no more devotion than needs; yet they manage their affairs with as much prudence and gravity as any other Prince; you remember without doubt, how after the death of the last King, they presently acknowledged this present King (viz. Henry the 4.) and how they respected our Ambassador as formerly, yet they would not admit him to come with the other Ambassadors to the Chapel, till the King was reconciled to the Church of Rome; This they did because the Pope, with the King of Spain, and all the world might bear witness, that, howsoever what they did for political reasons, yet they were exact observers of the Catholic Religion.  Interdicti Veneti Histor. Lib. 1. 
THe Republic of Venice excludes all ecclesiastics from the participation of Her government, and only She neither gives or takes any pensions from the Court of Rome.  Paulus Paruta in Histor. Venet. Lib. 4. 
OUr Progenitors took singular care that the Citizens of Venice should employ their industry to navigation and maritime negotiation for the increase and improvement of public and private wealth, and that the Venetian name might be propagated to remote and outlandish Nations; The situation of the City seems to invite Her to such studies and exercises, and to infuse such a propensity into the minds of Her Inhabitants; In regard that the City having not of Herself any Lands to cultivat, which might answer their industry, and make them rich, and being destitut of all things else that are necessary for humane subsistence, necessity herself did excite them to naval industry, and to furrow the Sea, which fills her with abundance, and affluence of all things conducing to a being, and well-being; This made Her employ hundreds of Ships and Galleys abroad into foreign Countries, as well to Christian Regions, as to Infidels, and bring back rich commodities of all sorts, not only for Her own ocasions, but to exercise commerce and exchange comodities with Her neighbours far and near to Her unspeakable advantage: In these Galleys many young men of the Gentry and Patrician Order do use to embark themselves, as well for marchandizing, as to gain experience up and down the world, specially in the Art of Navigation; Many whereof use to sojourn a long time among foreign people, and dispatch not only their own affairs, but do favours and negotiate for others: Whereby they attain to a great proportion of knowledge in all things, and being returned and salted as it were in the world, and composed to frugality and modesty, they come to the management of the public affairs of the Commonwealth.  Bodinus de Repub. Lib. 3. 
BUt because no man may think that so many Counsels should breed a confusion in so well ordered a Republic, he must think that She divides Her Counsels into ●…ower principal Classes besides the Senate, there is the Council of Sages which is called the marine Council; then is there the Council of Sages, who have the incumbency of matters by Land▪ Then is there a Council of Decemvirs, and Septemvirs, wherein the Duke, as in all other Colleges, presides; Which Counsels though they be sejoynd in Colleges and Offices, yet when the quality of the affair requires, they all consociat. The Senate is composed of 60. Gentlemen, who with so many more Citizens have the greatest management of affairs.  Idem ibidem. 
WHat we have spoken for matter of taking Counsel, it is no where practised better than it is in Venice, for when there is a doubtful deliberation of things in both the Counsels of Sages, they use to expedit it conjunctly with the Decemvirs; Therefore it is subscribed underneath the decree con la giunta; but if all this be not sufficient to put a period to the business in agitation in regard of discrepancy of Opinions, the Septemviri are consulted; and if this will not serve the turn, for discrepancy of censures, the Senate is assembled, where the whole matter is displayed; but if the authority of the Senate will not suffice, but there will be still dissentient suffrages, than it is finally determined by the Great Council.  Idem Lib. 5. 
THe Venetians restrain Dowries by a specal Law, viz. that the Portion of a Patrician Damsel, or Gentlewoman be but 1600. Crowns, lest the wealth of illustrious Families be exhausted; but if a Gentleman marry a Plebeian, the dowry is terminated to 2000 Crowns: But they suffer now this Law to be in a manner antiquated, that the poverty of some Gentlemen may be repaired by the dowry of a Wife; But this is prudently observed, that they use as much as may be to remove Women from hereditary right, if there be any Male extant.  Idem Lib. 6. 
NOt long since in the year 1566. the Venetians created three Magistrates, and endowd them with a Censorian power, whom they called a Triumvirate, for the Reformation of the manners of the Citizens; commonly called I Signori sopra il ben vivere della Citta; and they were thus entitled because the word Censor seemed to grave and severe for a City that was so free from the beginning, and abounding with affluence of all pleasures.  Idem Eodem Lib. 
THe Venetians do daily exercise and entertain above 4000 persons in public works, than which nothing can be more profitable to the common people, more commodious to the City, and more delightful to all men; And as they employ so many in public works, so with wonderful benignity, they distribute part of the public wealth for the relieving and sustentation of the aged and indigent.  Paulus Paruta in Hist. Ven. Lib. 7. 
IT hath been provided by a singular way of circumspection, and for the advantage of the Republic, that Her Ambassadors which She employed abroad upon legations of State to foreign Princes, should not reserve to themselves what is given them by way of gift, but to confer it to the public; but if by particular favour such Ambassadors were permitted to retain such presents, such a grace must pass by the suffrage of the Senate, to oblige them thereby more to the benevolence of the Senate, than to the bounty of any foreign Prince.  Paulus jovius Lib. 1. 
THe City of Venice is ample and magnificent, by naval study, and Mercantile Negotiations She grew up from small beginnings, but for Her incredible advantage of situation She is admired, and preferred before all other Cities under the Sun; because that She being girt about with the waters of the interfluent Hadrian Sea, and so not exposed to any sudden surprises or assaults, She securely enjoys Herself, and Her treasure, hoarding it up for times of danger; For there is no approach to Her by Land, in regard 40. Stades of Sea intercede; nor any advenue by Sea, in regard of the blind and low fords, unknown to strangers, which are round about.  
The Venetians generally are grave in Counsel, severe in judgement, constant in adversity, and moderate in prosperity; There is an unanimous study in them all to conserve the public liberty, and to increase their Empire; In the Senate they speak with much freedom and oftentimes with much heat and eagernes if the cause require.  
There is not any of the Senatorian Order or others, though he excel the rest never so much in wisdom, spirit or valour, and services performed for the Republic, that is suffered to grow too high, or by conciliation of popular credit and esteem to become too powerful; By which reach of policy and institution, they use in their Wars by Land to employ strangers for their General, lest one of their own might be puffd up with pride, and grow too ambitious▪ They are all grave Gownmen, who have administered this Republic from the beginning, and preserved Her from intestine tumults; But touching maritime affairs, and naval discipline these grave men shake off their togated Habits, and receive Martial employment, according to the exigency of the occasion.   

Some Observations of the City and Signory of Venice, taken out of Sansovino.  
THe Air of Venice is exceeding good, because it is continually purged with the flux and reflux of the Adriatic Sea, which carry away with it every six hours whatsoever is corrupt and noisome, besides the multitude of fires dissolveth all unwholesome vapours, and the free scope of the winds blowing every where without impediment maketh the Air more sound, and vigorous; besides much is attributed to the saltness which being by its nature more hot and less cold engendereth an equal and most sweet temperature, so that strangers with great amazement do not any where behold men more venerable, of greater age, fuller of flesh, straight bodied, of goodly presence, and more vigorous constitution; but above all other things this is most strange, that this Air by a special privilege of Nature doth agree with the complexions of all comers that resort thither of what Nation, or under what climate soever they be born, whether the same be subtle and penetrating, or thick and foggy.  
Round about there is such an innumerable quantity of all excellent sorts of Fish, that not only the Inhabitants have plenty of Fish taken twice every day, but they also furnish the adjoining Cities upon the Continent, as well those that are under their Dominion as others; The like marvelous abundance they have of wildfoull, so different in kind, and divers in colour, that 'tis strange to see their various sorts, their variety being such that we have seen 200 several kinds of them painted most exactly in their natural hue by Marino Malipiero, the most exquisite and ingenious man of his time in that Art.  
This City above all other is worthy to be admired, as being singular by Herself, and brooking no comparison with any other; For what other City soever hath been either pleasant by situation, or glorious in goodliness of buildings, yet it had some kind of resemblance with others; but only this being seated in the midst of the waters hath not any thing upon Earth to which it may be resembled, the rare position whereof being such, that it enjoyeth the comodities of the waters, and the pleasures of the Land, secure by being among the waves from Land assaults, and free by not being founded in the depths of the Sea from Maritime violences; So that whereas other Cities do keep and defend their Citizens with Walls, Towers, and Gates, This being naked and without Ramparts, is not only secure Herself, but rendereth also with admirable prudence such City's secure as do sleep under Her wings. Among many other rare Edifices sumptuous as well in the richness of the matter, as marvelous for the most singular curiosity of workmanship the Steeple of S. Mark is most miraculous, the same being so huge high and stately, that in fair wether it is seen and discerned by those that sail from Istria 100 miles off; the special care and oversight whereof is commited always to a person of special quality, who hath for his allowance 150. Crowns yearly stipend.  
WE will now descend to some particular customs of this Maiden City as her manner of marrying, and of the fruits thereof Her Christen. Marriages among the Nobility are for the most part always treated of by a third person, the Bride being never suffered as much as to see her future Husband, nor He Her, until the marriage dower, and all things thereunto appertaining, be fully agreed upon and concluded, which being done, the next morning the Bridegroom goeth to the Court of the Palace, and there the match being published he receieth well-wishing speeches, and salutations from such of the Nobility as do enter into the Palace, and withal inviteth his friends to the house of the Bride's Father, to be there at a certain time appointed in the afternoon; At the entry of the door they are attended by the Bridegroom and his kindred, and brought up to a Hall where there are none but men only, and there the Bride is brought forth apparelled by an ancient custom all in white, her hairs dischevelled, and hanging about her sholdiers woven in and out with fillets of Gold; where being betrothed with many solemn Ceremonies, She is led about the Hall with Flutes, Drums and other instruments, still dancing in a soft measure, than She boweth down to those that salute Her; Having so showed Herself She goeth in & returneth out again, If any men friends do chance to come that had not seen Her before, She comes out and presents Herself, than She entereth to a Gondola, and being attended by divers other She goeth up and down to the Nunneries, specially to those where any of Her Kindred are reclusd; Now this showing of Her▪ self abroad is to no other end, but in regard of Her Children and sundry other things, it may after happen She may make Her Nuptials apparent to all: At every Wedding there is a Gentleman or two called Compari, that are as it were Masters of the Revels, because their charge is to see unto the Music, and whatsoever other shows or pastimes appertain to the Feast, the next Morning their Friends and Kindred present the new Married couple with sundry sorts of Restoratives and sweet Meats.  
THe Christen in Venice are somewhat differing from other places, for the Father inviteth not two Godfathers and a Godmother, or two Godmothers and a Godfather, but as many as they list, insomuch that sometimes there have been above 150 at a Christening, but to the end that this Goshipship should no way be a bar or impediment among the Gentlewomen in matter of Marriage, it was by a Law ordained, that one Gentleman should not take another Gentleman for his Goship, whence it cometh that when the Priest poureth the Water on the Child's Head, he first maketh mention of the Law, and then demandeth if there be among the Gossip's any one of the Venetian Nobility. Nor are there any Women admitted to the Christening but only the Nurse, who hath the charge of the Child; The next day the Father sends to every Goship a Marchpane, and every of them sendeth back some present or other to the Child according to the custom of the City; Their greatest magnificence and charge, is at the nativity of the Child, for than they wonderfully exceed not only in the sumptuousness of their Banquetts, but also in rich furniture, and adorning of their houses.  
Likewise there is no place on Earth where the Funeral of the meanest Citizen is solemnised with greater Ceremony and Expense; nor is there any Country where strangers find better entertainment, and live in greater security.  
The Pleasures, Recreations and Pastimes of the Gentlemen are of divers kinds, among the rest they take great delight in Fowling making great matches who can kill most Fowl in a day, turning still the end thereof to banqueting and pleasure. They have Boats of purpose called Fisolari so named from Fisolo, which is the name of the Bird they seek after; In every of these Boats they have six or eight servants apparelled in bluish, or greenish garments, suited as ne'er as they can to the colour of the Water, These row the Boat up and down, turning her suddenly to every side as they are commanded by their Masters, who sits close with his Piece or Bow wholly intentive upon his sport; If he chance to miss when he shooteth, the Fisolo divers under water, and where he riseth again thither they turn their Boats with much nimbleness; Divers Boats use to go to this pastime, which is very chargeable to the Gentlemen; Upon their return they hang the Fowl they have killed out of the Window, as Hunters do upon their Doors the heads of Bears, Boars, Hares, taking it as a great reputation to kill more of these in a day than their fellows can.  
The Dukes of Venice have by ancient privileges confirmed by sundry Emperors, authority to create Earls and Knights, and likewise Poets Laureate, with either of which dignities the Prince of Venice doth use to honour and reward persons of merit and virtu.  
The Dukes have oftentimes matched in the greatest and royalest Houses of Christendom, which alliances with foreign Princes growing suspected to the Commonwealth, there was a Law made in the year 1327. that the Duke might not marry the Daughter of any Stranger, though by privilege and adoption he had obtained the right and title of a Venetian Gentleman; And in the year 1383. it was ordained that he should not marry the Daughter, Sister or Kinswoman of any foreign Prince, without the licence and consent of the great Council.  
The Dukes of Venice were wont in times passed to honour themselves with high and Princely titles, as calling themselves Dukes of Venice, Dalmatia and Croatia, Lords of a half part, and a quarter of the whole Roman Empire, etc. which vanity of titles was taken away in the year 1360. and utterly prohibited, and this title only allowed, I. D. By the grace of God Duke of Venice, etc. The common coin is stampd with the inscription of the Duke's name then in being, but it is against the Law that any Duke should engrave, imborder or paint his peculiar Coat of Arms in any Ensigns, Banners, Galleys, Seats of Justice, or public places of honour, but only within the Precincts of the Palace. Yet is He buried with all the Princely magnificence that may be: Being dead, His Bowels are taken out, and His Body embalmed, after which He is kept divers days openly in the Hall attended by the Senators (as said before) His Hearse being covered over with a large Cloth of rich Gold, and his Sword and Spurs lying athwart of the Hearse; He is waited on to His Grave by all the Fraternities of the City, and the Churchmen with an innumerable company of Torches; Next follow the Officers and chief Servants of the Duke's Family all apparelled in black, with Hoods o'er their heads, and a long train; Next them come the Senators all in Scarlett and grain, signifying the City of Venice to be ever free, therefore ought not to mourn at the death of any Prince how virtuous soever: With this pomp they pass to Saint Marks Place, where the Beer is lifted up on high nine times that every one might take his perpetual farewell of Him; Then is He carried to the Church, and a solemn Funeral Oration is made for Him; then the Senators return to the Palace, and presently proceed to the Election of a new Duke, which they cannot do by the ancient constitution till the other be first under ground; and so Corruptio unius, est generatio alterius.   

Private Instructions given to Cardinal F. when he was sent Nuntio to Venice.  
IT being the main design of this Discourse to make the Reader perfectly acquainted with this Maiden Republic, it will not be amiss to insert here the Instructions that were given by Pope Gregory to his Nuntio, when he was employed upon an extraordinary Legation to the Signory of Venice; for it will conduce much to understand the stile of the Signory, and compliances that must be used in that Court.  
THe first Discourse your Excellency shall hold with the Prince and Signory of Venice shall aim at two ends; The one, to expose unto his Serenity the pleasure of his Holiness, therein declaring the occasion and aims of your Legation; The other, to express the particular affections you bear to that most excellent Signory.  
Touching the first, it shall suffice that you follow the tenor and substance of your Commission, having a special charge not to recede from it in any material point.  
Touching the second, it is referrd chiefly to your own election and judgement what to deliver, for endearing yourself to the Duke, and Senators.  
And in general you may say that what employment soever his Holiness had cast upon you, you had esteemed it a high favour, being entirely addicted to Him, and the Holy Seat; But that you were far more obliged to his Holiness, that He vouchsafed to employ you to his Serenity, and that most illustrious Republic, because you had a long desire to renew the memory of that servitude, and high affections which the Archbishop your Oncle had vowed to the Signory, to whom both your parentage and person will be ever well affected; Besides, you held it a great honour that you had to negotiate with a Prince so full of Majesty, and Grandeur, being the Head of the greatest, the most flourishing, and best ordered Commonwealth in the world; In so much that after the service of his Sanctity, you will prefer that of his Serenity before all other, and that you will be ever ready to make it good in effect, as well as in affection, and turn your words to actions, and that you stand there most ready to give proof thereof; Moreover, that the bend of your endeavours, and study will be to preserve, and improve the paternal love which his Holiness bears towards that most noble Republic; that you love the very name of Venice; therefore nothing shall take greater room in your thoughts than to maintain the good intelligence, and union which is, and aught to be betwixt the Popedom and the Republic, in regard that the Princes of both aim 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 herein as if you were born his Holiness vassal, being very loath that your Oncle should go before you but only in time in point of good will and affection towards that most illustrious Signory.  
Your own prudence shall direct you herein, and how to place your words, that they may be more or less moving to gain the amity and confidence of the Lords of the Senate, wherein gravity will advantage you much, and it may be, more than any thing else: In this first discourse you are to mingle with your best dexterity some honourable mention of the Republics Ambassador at Rome, and what contentment he gives to his holiness in all Treaties, and how well he deserves of his Country; As also what respect and benevolence all the Prelates of the Roman Court do profess unto him; This intimation shall serve you for two ends, for you will thereby draw thanks from the Kindred of the said Ambassador, and making them your confidents they will further you in all your negotiations; Besides, you will thereby oblige the Ambassador himself, who will take occasion to correspond with you in like civilities, therefore you must not fail to give the said Ambassador here a solemn visit, and take congee of him, desiring that he would command you in any service to his Kindred 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 honour him and his upon all occurrences, whereof you are to desire him to certify them by Letters, and possess them before hand in your behalf that they would love, and favour you with their friendship; you may assure the Ambassador also that you will never propose any thing that may be prejudicial to any of them. In sum, you are always 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 yourself to do the like in his behalf to others, for that would haply turn to a disservice to the Gentleman, and be no advantage to yourself.  
Some days after your first audience you must think what visits to make, and because you need no instruction how to comport yourself towards the Prelates, I must give you a special 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 would be unseemly; Nor indeed doth any Senator much desire to be visited because it may breed jealousy, and so draw danger upon him; And there may be two reasons alleged why they do not desire to be visited by strangers; The first is the parsimonious and private lives they lead; The other, because they have some of their Brothers or Children that are Prelates, so that it would be a kind of offence to them to visit their Parents, either for the small splendour of their dwellings, or for the simplicity of their manners. Therefore although no exact rule can be given you what persons you are to visit, yet in the General, they must be those that for Office or Magistracy live with more Magnificence, and splendour than others having Palaces accordingly, such as are the Procurators of S. Mark; nor must these visits be frequent, but only twice a year will suffice, or it may be a longer interposition of time, according as custom shall teach you, although they who come to visit you do it oftener.  
When any of the principal Senators shall come to your House to salute you, or treat of any business, those of your Family must be all ready to receive him at the Gate, and you must meet him upon the stairs, but when they depart, you are to bring them to the bottom of the stairs, though they reject it never so much: your comportment towards Gentlemen of younger years, and less dignity shall be regulated by your own judgement, and in such a manner as shall be obliging to them but not undervaluing yourself; You must propose this as an universal rule to yourself, that if you entreat the Prelates well, and bind them unto you, as I know you will evertuat yourself to do, they may become instruments of great matters by the means of their Parents, although their Parents may not make any show that you are so affected to them, or they to you: the Prelates being well satisfied by you, will much avail 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 appearances only, as for well becoming public Ministers of State; because it is an argument of staidness, of virtue and prudence. Yet this gravity must not turn to an austerity, or take away that affability, candour and sweetness which you are to use towards all people, for so you may be esteemed to be fantastical and proud. Therefore you must speak, and treat with such an unaffected gravity that may be suitable to your person: And when you have any thing to do in the Senate, be mindful of the rank you hold, and of the quality of that Prince whom you represent; yet showing a great deal of reverence, and presupposing that you are in the presence of a King. All the discourse you shall make in the Senate, shall be addressed to the Prince, and although you speak to the whole College, yet you shall always use these words, Vestra serenitá, or Serenissimo Principe.  
You must have a special care to honour 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 honour is the more dear unto them, when it comes from a person of noble Employment and Extraction; Whereas 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 themselves 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, whereof the first of both are to be the more esteemed, you must also make some distinction betwixt Families. Now, the Families of the Venetian Gentry is divided to three ranks, viz. to ancient, new, and middling Houses; The ancientest are the most honourable, and esteemed more than others, therefore although you are to respect all Gentlemen in general, yet you must have a special regard to put yourself in lower postures of reverence towards those ancient families; but you must beware not to do it in public, so that others take notice thereof, but particularly, and in private discourse; So that this distinction of old and new Families must be reserved within your own breast, otherwise the other rank of Nobles will take exception at your partial behaviour, which may turn to your prejudice.  
Among the Prelates of that Nation the Patriarch is the Prince, and more highly esteemed than any other, as well for his age, as eminency, as also commonly for his parentage, and friends, and that he lives more splendidly and hospitably then any other; And the Senators afford him in some cases as much respect as they do to the College of ten when they send to him for his opinion, which yet cannot turn to a suffrage: You must make great account of him therefore, but take heed that this great Prelate do not overact himself in point of return. I believe you know well what was negotiated of old at Rome in behalf of that Patriarch, and how the Signory Herself recommended him unto the Pope, and thought to purchase him that honour; but seeing him excepted against, She stirred no further, or made any more instance for any other during the time of that Pope. That Prelate nevertheless ceaseth not to aggrandise himself by recommending his cause to all the Nuntios: Therefore you shall be easily prayed to do some good offices for him about his Holiness, it may be, you may receive high answers, and replies, therefore you must carry yourself with a great deal of dexterity, and moderation in this business; But if you undertake to do such an office, the Signory will be ill satisfied, and the refusal he received from other Nuntios will serve you for directions what you ought to do: You must declare to such as shall discourse with you about this Prelate, the high respect you bear unto him, for his singular parts of virtue, and merit, making show to serve him in all things to the utmost extent of your ability, provided that it be acceptable to the Signory, and herein your answer must be short and strict.  
You must not invite any Venetian Gentleman to take a repast with you, specially any Senator; yet in some case one may do it, and so your invitation will not be unpleasing, but well accepted; This must be done, when any of those Gentlemen chance to negotiate with you about eating time, because that inviting him then, is a sign that you rather comply with the time, then that you do it out of a real desire, but this rarely happens. If he who is invited doth not refuse to stay, you must remember that he is a Senator, therefore you must not suffer him to sit beneath the Prelates, but you must place him in the highest Seat, although haply he make resistance; but I believe you will find but little opposition, in regard that the Prelates themselves will concur with you in this observance; A little after the repast you must rise from the Table, and give this Senator the opportunity for to depart, without detaining him longer, and when he departs you shall accompany him to the bottom of the Stairs.  
You must refrain to show yourself over curious to know the secrets, and pry much into the mysteries of this Republic, for than you may deprive yourself of their conversation; therefore you must not seem to make any straight friendship with her Secretaries, yet you must honour them upon all ocasions, that it may appear how much you esteem them; and for public transactions you may be well assured, that they will come home to your doors without the trouble of making any reserches after them.  
If it happen that you be required to recommend anybody to the Senators, ponder the business so well before hand that you may not come off with a denial; You must take heed to recommend to any temporal Judges the persons of Churchmen in processes against the Laiks: You must not favour in that City or Signory the execution of any sentence given at Rome, unless you have commandment from his Holiness so to do, which you must show.  
Let your Servants be observant to know the customs and fashions of the City, not jeering at such things that may haply breed laughter in a Stranger; But on the contrary, let them be pliable to accommodat themselves to the modes of the place; for some fashions that are held comely in other places, may seem ridiculous here. And oftentimes they will not disdain to use in ordinary discourse some terms of that Country, and the Venetian dialect, which you must not slight.  
Although the commendation and praises which are given one, are accustomed commonly to procure friendship, and the good grace of him who is praised, yet the custom and humour of the Venetian cannot brook, that a Nuntio or Ambassador should extol and commend such that are in authority among them, either in their own presence, or before any other, for those kind of praises do not use to sound or relish well: 'Tis true, that before parents or kindred or intimat friends one may blazon the worth and virtue of some Senator; but the surest way is to abstain from commending any at all, and to be reserved in this point: But as a public Minister cannot commend the actions or exploits of any Venetian Gentleman without endangering the party, and wronging his own judgement, yet the Venetians are very well pleased to hear the praises of the Republic in general, or any thing that may tend to the glory thereof, or of the Nation; specially if one points at those things which are peculiar to that people or City, and cannot be applied to any other, as the marvelous site of the City; the manner whereby She is preserved, and secured, with the causes thereof; The public and private magnificences, the Patrician blood, wherein the chief extractions of the Roman Nobility, and of many other Towns of Italy, with other places of Europe, was conserud pure from mingling with the Goths, Vandals, Hunns, Sarracens and Longobards near upon 13. hundred years: the Christian nativity of this Republic, having never followed any other Religion; the method of Her Government, and that She hath particular constitutions of Her own which She never borrowed of others, but She did constitut Herself; That She hath conserud Herself a longer tract of time than any Republic that ever was; having never lost or diminishd any part of Her first liberty, or acknowledged any other superiority but Her own; Her temperate kind of mixture in point of government tends also much to Her honour, wherein all the qualities, and kinds of goverments are involud; The manner of electing Her Prince, and subordinat Magistrat●…s by an extraordinary way of balloting or lottery, wherein choice and chance have a hand; Her forms of justice, with the cautious authority and moderation of Her Judges; The prudence and maturity of Her Senate in all deliberations; Her matchless Forces by Sea; Her vast provisions, and preparatifs for all kinds of War, wherein that Signory surpasseth all other Potentats of Christendom; That no Naval War can be made against the Ottomans, the common Enemy, without conjunction with Her; That this Republic is called the Shield, and principal safeguard, and as Paul the 3. said, the Bulwark of Europe; The mighty Forces She employed against Cyprus against Selym for Her defence; The generosity She hath showed not to refuse the War; The deliberations She holds before She engageth in any fight, and Her most celebrous exploits in the great battle of Lepanto in the year 1571. And not to extend myself further, I say you will extremely please the Venetians in elevating the achievements, ancient and modern, of the Signory; Moreover, 'twill be very gustful unto Her if you speak of Her piety, and munificence to the Church, and to have oftentimes been the Protectress of Saint Peter's Chair, renewing the memory of what passed 'twixt Frederic the second and Her, with the Negotiations and Protestations made by Her before the Duke of Alva in the War against his Holiness, and all things else that you can allege conducible to this purpose; Lastly, remember well to extol the royal and sincere proceedings of the Republic upon all occurrences in public treaties; commending Her that She useth to negotiate frankly, without any artifice or disguise, but really, and without palliations.  
I will not name here the Princes that are beloved or hated by the Signory, for it will tend to little purpose. The Republic of Ragusa, and Genoa are no great friends to this Signory,; yet They hate Her not, but use to be sensible of her dangers, and troubles; because that whosoever grows to be master of any of these Republics will have the greater strength; which is just contrary to the aims of the Republic of Venice, whose policy tends that the state of Italy receaves no alteration, but be always at a constant stand; And for this cause She would be contented that the Dominions which the Spaniard hath in that Country 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 powerful in Italy. Whereupon the Signory of Venice extremely desireth that Rome, with the State Ecclesiastic, and the Apostolic Seat, might be preserved, in regard that beside the affair of Religion, She observes the excellent Regiment of the Church, wherein all the vigour, and reputation of Italy 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 persuaded that all the damage which would fall upon his Sanctity, would rebound upon Her. I have forborn to observe hitherunto that the principal object of the consultations of this noble Signory is the repose of Italy, and to preserve her from revolutions of intestine broils.  
You must also take it among your instructions that in the Discourses you shall hold with the Venetians or others, you must not show yourself inclinable to make a new league against the Turk, but rather when you fall upon this subject, you shall appear rather for peace, and approve of the prudence of the Signory in her carriage towards this huge Potentat to have no actual hostility with him; In which Discourse you must be mindful of the three reasons, which the Venetians use to allege that it is necessary for that state to have peace with the Turk.  
The first is in regard that all the Isles, Coasts and Maritime places which the Signory possesseth do confine with some part of the Ottoman Empire, thereupon She may be easily surprised and invaded that way.  
The second is in regard that the City of Venice being the best peepled of all Italy, She hath not territory enough to maintain and support Herself, or afford her all sorts of necessaries, therefore She must be obliged to other Countries for Her sustentation, now, there is no Prince upon Earth, that lieth so opportunely to furnish Her as the Turk.  
Thirdly, if a War be declared in the Levant all traffic will cease by Sea, as also commerce by Land, therefore the City of Venice being one of the greatest Mercantile Towns in the World, her Citizens 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; Therefore the Venetian Senators are always pleased, when any motion is made of Peace, and when any mention is made of the Turk they will not be discontented to here him extolled for a mighty great Prince, implying thereby that the Signory is the wiser to be at good terms with him; The Reasons whereby the Venetians did justify their proceedings, when against the capitulations of the league they did accommode themselves with the Turk, are so known to the World that it were a piece of impertinency to insist upon them here; but in your Discourse among the Venetians, you may make use of them as occasion shall invite you.  
I finish these Instructions with this necessary Rule that every 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 Naval strength of Venice.  
IN regard the main strength and incolumity, together with the principal defence and glory of this Neptunian Damsel is derived from the Sea, it will not be amiss to make inspection once more into her waters, and fathom the depth of her naval power.  
Now, to treat of her strength this way it will not be amiss to give a little touch once more at Her Arsenal, which strikes an admiration into all men that are curious to survey it, and may be ranked one of the wonders of the World in that kind; It is sited and encompassed with a great channel of the Sea, It is girt about with strong walls three miles in circuit; There have been counted there at one time 300 Galleys, besides those that were in course to secure the gulf whereof there were above 22 Galleasses, which in comparison of the other Galleys may be called men in complete Arms, or Cuirasses, because theyare not so nimble in their motion neither for Sail or Oar as others, but they give a far greater shock, and if they have a rousing gale of wind and favourable, 20 of these are able to encounter 100 of other Galleys; besides they have the advantage of galleons, because they have Feet as well as Wings.  
For Timber to build all sorts of sailing Vessels, there is such abundance that by an extraordinary providence grow up and down upon the Coasts not far remote from the City in the firm Land that she never wants any, but can furnish herself out of her own stock.  
For Rowers and Sails besides those that the City can afford, Herself, She hath great numbers in all the Maritime Towns; And for Soldiers for her Galleys She employs those of Dalmatia and Croatia with other places called the Cernides; The Captains and Lieutenants of Her Galleys are for the most part Venetian Gentlemen, whereof there is a great multitude; And besides the Lieutenant, She employs always two young Gentlemen more to be exercised in Maritime affairs, the art of Navigation, and naval Militia; The greatest inconveniences She hath is scarcity of Bread and Biscuit; howsoever She is always very careful to supply their want, by those huge Magazines of all sort of grain which She stores up in the Arsenal, and other places: She hath commonly every year, though She be in peace with all the World, about 40 Galleys to scour the gulf, and secure her Islands in the Ionian Sea, whereof there is an Admiral called the Captain of the Gulf, who hath 5000 Duketts for his annual salary.  
These Galleys do not only free the Gulf from Corsaries or Pyratts, but they preserve the Reputation of the Republic, and Breed always a nursery of able Sea-Comanders: whensoever She understands that the Turk Arms at Sea, She doth accordingly increase this number of Galleys, and names a General. She is infested sometimes with petty compagnons called the Uscocchis upon the coasts of Dalmatia, who having snapped up any little prize, use to retire suddenly to some of the territories of the House of Austria, which causeth her to be at the charge of maintaining a Fleet of small vessels called Fusti upon those Coasts to secure her Merchants. Indeed, it cannot be imagined what number of Vessels the Signory can put to Sea, in regard She hath all kind of Provisions, Materials, Arms and other necessaries always in a readiness; And She doth daily improve Her strength rather than diminish it; Therefore if about 300 years ago she did arm above 200. Galleys and other Vessels towards the conquest of the Holy Land, and so many in the conquest of Constantinople where She joined with the French, it is easy to conjecture how her power hath been augmented since; considering that all her Neighbours have increased in strength since that time, and it hath been one of her prime Rules of policy to have an eye to that, and proportion her Forces accordingly, This being the chiefest thing that those great Officers the three Sages of the Sea, and the three Sages the Terra firma have given them in charge: therefore when they are elected for those Offices they have more honour given them than ordinary; yet when any are so chosen there is not any useth to congratulat them, or go to kiss their hands as was usual when the great Council was risen after the Election; And this is one of the modernst Laws of Venice, which was ratified and enacted with great approbation, viz. That when any was nominated to any office of honour or public trust, none of the Senate should congratulat them, whereas before every man at the recess of the Council would press to take those by the hand who were chosen Magistrates, protesting with many vows that they were seriously glad in their hearts of the advancement that had befallen them, yea even those would say so that had given their suffrages against them by way of compliment, which was adjudgd by the Censors to be a great abuse and unworthy of the Venetian Nobility, being in all other things so grave and honourable.  
The said Censors also are of no long institution, they are created with great solemnity, their office being to repress the ambition and prodigality of the Gentry, and to look with severity into their deportments.   

The Defects of the Signory of Venice.  
BUt now we have taken pains to recount the perfections and virtues of this powerful and so well policed Commonwealth, which are so many in number, and such, that they fill all the world with wonder; It will not be impertinent to discover what are Her defects and vices, considering that there is no created body in this sublunary world, either natural or civil, but is subject to imperfections, and no convenience is without its inconvenience.  
The first defect then and the greatest that Venice is thought to be subject unto, is, that being Lady of so many Countries, She must import nourishment for Her Children out of other places, and if She had not the Sea for Her friend She might endure a great deal of hardship, for want of bread (which is the staff of life) and of all sorts of grain; Therefore it is the principal motif that induceth Her to be very loath to fall out with the Turk, from whose Dominions She fetcheth many commodities that conduce to sustenance and well being.  
It is another inconvenience unto Her that Candy in the Mediterranean, and other Isles She hath in the Ionian Seas, are so remote from Her, and they so distant one from the other.  
Another is, that She is enforced in time of actual war to employ Swisses, and Germans, with other Strangers, who are acquainted with the new modes of combating; For touching the Italian Infantry, they are softer, and hardly drawn from their old fashion of fight, and military discipline.  
Another may be, that by reason of Her overmuch jealousy and caution She dares not employ any of Her own Subjects in quality of General by Land for fear lest he should grow too popular.  
Lastly, That She being the next neighbour to the Turk; if any other Christian Prince or State offends Him or His Subjects, he is ready ever and anon to throw the Cat at her shinns, to pick a quarrel, and wreck his revenge upon Her, by setting upon Her skirts either by Land or Sea, and this She hath often felt; Add herunto that this vicinity with so huge a Potentat increaseth both Her cares and expenses, for there is no State consumes more in Fortifications.  
TOuching Her Vices, She is taxed all the World over for the latitud of liberty She gives to carnal pleasure, and the large conscience She hath under the navel, though Naples exceed Her in this kind, whence some would derive the ground of the proverb, That Venice and Naples are two Paradises where Devils dwell; But She may receive this infection from the Greek and the Turk Her Neighbours, who hold that the Creator inordred his handmaid Nature to infuse hit blood into humane veins, and into that blood appetits and motions not to be a torment unto him, but to be turned into delight and pleasure; To this they say there be multitudes of reclusd men and women in Venice, who by their austere course of continency make some compensation for this looseness in others, and keep Her City from sinking; for when the last cense was made, there were near upon 5000. Friars and Nuns immurd within the City, who make vows of continency, and have divorced themselves for such sensual pleasures.  
Lastly, Venice is taxed that Her Children are so mortally revengeful; but this humour is incident to all Italians, and other Nations besides; who if they receive a weighty injury from any, they will make sure work with him, and dispatch him, So that he shall not wrong them twice; which a duelist useth to do by exposing his life to equal hazard with his Enemy.   

Of the famous and renowned men which Venice hath produced.  
There are few Cities which have brought forth men more celebrous for all the Cardinal Virtues than Venice hath done, as also more scientifical contemplative men, and greater Artists; whose names, to do Her a general right, we thought it not improper to insert here. Venice produced three Popes, and they were accounted the best of Popes; viz. Gregory the 12. of the Corarian family; Eugenius the 4. sprung of the Cundelmerians, a man of transcendent parts of wisdom; and Paul the 2. of the extraction of Barbi, whose virtues Blondus, Sabellicus, and Platina himself, who was no friend to some Popes, doth blazon forth in a high measure.  
There have been a great number of Cardinals, as Petrus Maurocenus, Marcus Landus, johannes Amadeus, john Baptista Zeno, Dominicus Grimanus who was afterwards Patriarch of Aquileia, he was a greater honour to the red hat than any, both for learning and all virtu; his Library had above 10000 Volumes of Greek and Latin Authors; There was also Marcus Cornarius, and Marinus Grimanus, Gaspar Contarenus, Petrus Bembus who was adopted to the College of Cardinals by Paul the 3. of whose elegant and learned Writings as well in Greek and Latin, with other Languages, all the World doth ring. Franciscus Cornarius, and Franciscus Pisanus, Marinus Grimanus a man whom the World admired, who was so many times employed in quality of Nuntio; he was also Governor of Parma and Placentia from the Pope, johannes Grimanus also was a Man renowned all the World over.  
Touching learned men that left Monuments to posterity they are nomberles; there was Pantaleon justinianus Patriarch of Constantinople; Hermolaus Barbarus, Laurentius justinianus Patriarch of Aquileia; Maphaeus Contarenus, Andreas Bendelmerius, Gregorius Corarius, johannes Boratius, Maphaeus Gerardus, Thomas Donatus, Antonius Syrianus, Ludovicus Contarenus; Antonius Contarenus, Hieronymus Quirinus; Hieronymus Trevisanus, Petrus Monteus, jacobus Zeno, Antonius Pisamanus, Aloysius Lippamannus; Andreas Dandalus Duke of Venice is to be rankd among these learned Authors, who compild a gallant Story, whom Petrarch, Blondus and Sabellicus mention with so much honour: Leonardus justinianus, Zacharias Trevisanus, Marcus Lippamannus; Franciscus Barbadius, Daniel Veturius, Franciscus Barbarus; All these, with multituds more of this kind were Sons of Venice, whose Works have flown through most parts of the World.  
The City also of Venice produced many excellent Lawyers, as Barbonus Maurocenus, Ludovicus Foscarus, Vitalis Landus, Candianus Polanus, Nicolaus Canalis, Laurus Quirinus, johannes Carnalis, Paulus Barbus, Andreas julianus, Bernardus justinianus, Petrus Thomas, Ludovicus Donatus, Franciscus Dedus, Marcus Sanutus, Hieronymus Donatus; all these were great Lawyers and Senators, whose learned Works are found yet in most of the Libraries up and down Christendom, with those of Andreas Navagerius.  
Besides men of erudition and exquisite learning and policy, Venice hath brought forth a great number of Generals and Captains renowned all the earth over for their prowess and valour both by Land and Sea, who enlarged the Territories of the Republic by their exploits and victories; There come in the van of these johannes and Raynus Polanus, who brought Corfù or Corcyra under subjection; Marinus Gradonicus with Dominicus Maurocenus reduced Pola; johannes Basilius, and Thomas Falerius did daunt and discomfit the Pisans when they infested the Seas; Reinerus Dandalus with Rugerius Permarinus, took Metho and Coton after a stubborn sieg, and with marvelous personal resolution; johannes Trevisanus with nine Vessels utterly overcame and took 22 Genoese near Drepano in Sicily; Petrus Thomas, johannes Grittus, Nicolaus Balestrerius, Marcus Bonus, and Andrea's Thealdus, did oftentimes reduce to obedience the Candiotts in several Rebellions; Leonardus Quirinus, and Marcus Onissorius brought away two famous victories from before Constantinople; Reinerius Zeno quieted most parts of Dalmatia when they mutined: Laurentius Teupolus in the port of Ptolemais took and sunk 23 Ships of the Genoese, And afterwards being joined with Andrea's Zeno he took 25 of their Galleys and galleons near Tyre; The Greek Emperor Balduinus made Mark Gradonico Admiral of all the Seas; Marcus Michael with a few Galleys put to flight 20 sails of Genoese, and afterwards took Chalcis. Gilbertus Dandalus, and jacobus Dandalus in a bloody fight near Drepano in Sicily took 24 of their men of War; Raggierus Maurocenus being General of 60 Galleys did things beyond belief; johannes Superantius with 25 Galleys took Theodosia in the Tauric Cherchonesus, and a little after Benedictus justinianus took a great number of Greek Ships. Petrus Zeno was the first General that was employed against the Turks, and brought home two victories in one year. There succeeded him Marinus Falerus, Andreas Cornalis, Petrus and Marcus Canalis, Marcus justinianus, who were never beaten in their lives, but came off always victors in seven naval Expeditions.  
The first Officers whom the Republic employed in quality of Proveditors to accompagnie the General, and concur with him in all counsels were Andreas Maurocenus, and Simon Dandalus, and afterwards Nicolaus Gradonicus, and Pancratius justinianus, which charge and singular trust was delated unto them for their extraordinary prudence, and fidelity to their Country, which they made appear in the Execution of their places, and the triumphant success they had; Nicolaus Pisanus deserves immortal praise, together with johannes Delphinus in that he took away from the Genoese 50 sails of Ships; Paulus Loredanus, Marcus Michael, and johannes Sanutus, deserve no less for their exploits in the Levant Seas; Marcus Cornalis was not inferior to any of these, when Duke Falerius being slain the Senate for his high deserts made choice of him to be Prince with the acclamation of all the Peeple; Bernardus justinianus became glorious over all parts of the Greek Empire for his notable achievements, and extrordinary valour; The fortitud and wisdom of Victor Pisanus in overcoming the assaults of sinister fortune was most memorable; for being by the election of the Senate, and applause of all the Venetian Peeple designed Admiral of the Gulf, upon some ill successes, and reluctancies of fortune, the Genewayes occupying Fossa Clodia, was cast into Prison by sentence of the Senate, and Venice was reduced to such straits, that She sent a blank to the Genoese to write their own capitulations for Peace, which they refusing, the said Victor Pisanus by the cry and pastulations of all the People was demanded out of Prison, which being obtained, he was by an universal suffrage of the great Council chosen Admiral again, and launching forth into the Archipelago, he carried away from the Genoese, who were then agogg for their great successes, the most glorious victory that ever was had of them, and so plucked up his Country out of that deep plunge She was then fallen into; Sabellicus writes of this noble chieftain, that being sent for by the Senate out of Prison, he excused himself saying that he had something to do before he would part from that School of Repentance, therefore staying there all that night, and spending most part of it in spiritual meditation, he sent betimes the next morning for his ghostly Father, and after a very penitent confession of his sins, he took the holy Eucharist, protesting by that holy Sacrament that he freely forgave all those who had done him injury by their traducements, and that he would be as true to his Country, and as careful of the glory of the Republic as ever he was, not doubting but God, and all his holy Angels would accompagnie him.  
Dominicus Michael with a Fleet of 24. well appointed Galleys only, reduced the I'll of Candie to a perfect pass of obedience, when She had utterly fallen off from her obedience to the Republic being fomented by divers Princes in that Rebellion. There succeeded him in the Generallship Croesus Molinus, Michael Delphinus, jacobus Maurus, Marcus justinianus, Carolus Zeno who in the Clodian Battle against the Genoese showed such notable evidences of valour; Michael justinianus, Petrus Hemus, Fantinus Georgius, Marcus Grimanus, johannes Barbus, Victor Barbarus obtained eternal glory for their exploits against Philip Maria Duke of Milian; Franciscus Bembus gained no less renown by a famous victory he got of the Milanese upon the River of Po by a Fleet of Galley-foists as Blodus, Sabellicus and Corius make honourable mention in their works. Petrus Lauredanus made all the Eastern world ring of his glory, so did after him Andrea's Mocenigus; Stephanus Contarenus gave three several defeats to the Dukes of Milan that all Italy sounded out his fame, when Brescia came under the Dominion of the Republic: Aloysius Lauredanus, in that memorable expedition against the great Turk, wherein Pope Eugenius, and the Duke of Burgundy were joined, came off with admirable success: Victor Capellus a man of clear intellectuals and solid judgement was Admiral in divers notable expeditions against the Turk and never received any repulse, in so much that he was honoured by his very enemies; After him Ursatus justinianus, jacobus Lauredanus, Nicolaus Canalis, Petrus Mocenicus, were famous both in the Greek, the Mediterranean and all the Levant Seas; Victor Superantius made his name good by his actions, being a man of an undaunted spirit, yet very circumspect in the conduct of all his actions; Hieronymus Canalis pourchasd an egregious name by taking Maurus Alexandrinus after a fierce and bloody combat.  
Vicentius Capellus was renowned far and near for his exploits against the Moors & Turks, who durst not peep out while he was at Sea for many years; Andrea's Trevisanus a Knight though slow in deliberation, yet quick in execution, brought to the City many prizes which enriched Her exceedingly, and had he lived to it he had worn the ducal Capp. Many other most illustrious Heroes received their birth in Venice, as Antonius Cornarius, Nicolaus Priulus, Gieronimus Georgius Knight of Saint Mark a famous Orator, who was employed Ambassador to most of the Kings of Christendom, and was admired for his wisdom as well as for his eloquence; Marcus Fuscarus, Thomas Contarenus, and Laurentius Amulius were men admired in their time both for their prudence in the Senate, and prowess at Sea, where they took that notorious Pirate Sarbanassa, who so infested the Archipelago that he became a terror to all Merchants and Passengers; To these may be added Sebastianus Venerius, who though he comes in the rear of all the rest, yet may he be deservedly rankd among the foremost, both for his magnanimity, his rare knowledge in the Art of Navigation, and in prudent conduct of all his designs, but specially for his notable successes; In that glorious battle of Lepanto he was the man that did the most signal piece of service when he rescued Don john of Austria the Generalissimo of the whole Fleet when he was ready to sink being orepowerd by the Turks, and Don john did acknowledge it, calling him ever after his Preserver and Father, though there had happened a little before an ill-favoured clash betwixt them (as hath appeerd in the bulk of the Story) wherein Venieri showed that he was not inferior to him in courage, though he was an Emperor's Son; This brave Sea-Generall was chosen after to sit at the Stern of the whole Republic, and to be Prince of Venice, which was done not only by the suffrage of the Senate, but by the universal acclamations of the people; When he died, divers foreign Princes sent for his picture, to preserve the memory of so gallant a man.  
These, with nomberles more, are those brave spirits which issued out of the womb of this Mayden-City, whereof some were supereminent for holiness, and high virtues; others for erudition and learning of all kinds, whose works are yet extant up and down the Libraries of Christendom as eternal Monuments of their worth; others excelled in prudence, and prowess, in counsel and courage; Nor do I believe, if one were curious to penetrate the whole bulk of the Roman Story, and peruse all Her Annals, I say he will not be able to produce so many gallant men; though we know that no City in the world used to magnify her own Children more than old Rome, wherein She was sometimes so Hyperbolical, that among other things it was imputed to Her as a vanity, whereof Venice was always free; Nor could Athens, Sparta, or Lacedaemon and other Greek Commonwealths, of whom the Romans seemed to borrow this vainglory, muster up so many Worthies; which Commonwealths may be said to have been but Mushrooms in point of duration if compared to the Signory of Venice.  
Having now glanced here again upon old Rome, and in the precedent parts of this Discourse made some parallels 'twixt Her and Venice, in Her way of government, and political conduct of civil matters; And having in the Historical part that went a little before spoken of the several kinds of enemies, quarrels and combatings that She hath had, I thought it no impertinency or digression to make another short parallel 'twixt old Rome, and the Republic of Venice in point of Martial affairs.   

Another parallel 'twixt old Rome and Venice.  
AS in Magistracy and method of government the Republic of Venice doth much symbolise with old Rome, as hath been declared, so also in their preliations and quarrels, as likewise in the course and quality of their Wars both by Sea and Land with several Nations, there is no little resemblance between them; this only being the greatest disparity, that the Romans destroyed themselves by one War, but the Venetian hath remained yet invincible. Let us make some comparisons betwixt them.  
Such as at first the Hernici, Equi and Volscians were to the Romans, such have the Dalmatians, Istrians and Liburnians been to the Venetians; The Gauls under the conduct of Brennus (the Britain) was a destructive Enemy unto them, having left them nothing but the Capitol; The same Nation (called afterwards French) much molested the Venetians, and once took all from them except the Rialto; The Cimbrians, Te●…tomans, and Ambrons' were terrible to the Romans and to all Italy; the like were the Goths, Hunns and Longobards to the Venetians and their Neighbours; Carthage was an Enemy to the Latin name, the like was Genoa to the Venetian; But Carthage showed her greatest fury against the Romans when She was confederate with King Philip and the Syracusans against them; In like manner Genoa was never more terrible to the Venetian than at that time, when in the War of Chioggia She was backed by Lewis King of Hungary and the Padoans: Pyrrhus was an Enemy to the Romans, but more mild than the Carthaginians; Pepin was so to the Venetians, but much more tractable than the Genoese; The Romans had a tedious War with Mithridates; The Venetians with Philippo Visconte; Antiochus was a powerful Enemy against them, but the Ottoman a more potent against the Venetian; The Romans maintained the Confederate War, the most dangerous that ever was in Italy; and the Venetians to resemble them in all things, did not only in Lombardie withstand the Forces of all the Princes of Italy, who envied their greatness, but broke them asunder.  
The Romans after their first establishment wanting women for propagation, invited their Neighbours with their Daughters to certain public histrionical shows, where they surprised and seized upon all the Maids, and kept them, whence issued a War; Such an accident happened in Venice upon Her first erection; For a great Wedding being to be celebrated, where the Bride being full of rich Jewels, as also the Bridemayds, with others that were invited, according to the ancient custom; They were assaulted upon a sudden by certain Pyratts who carried them all away as prise to Dalmatia; But the Venetians arming those few Galleys they had then, poursued them so eagerly, and overtaking them they set upon them with such a resolution, that they not only redeemed the Bride with all the Maidens, but having made a great slaughter of the Enemy, they took all their Ships, by giving them an utter overthrow; And this was the first victory that Venice got.  
As in quality of Enemies, and Wars, so Venice hath much resemblance with old Rome in the management of Her Martial affairs, specially in expecting an exact obedience to Her Commissions and Instructions, which must not be exceeded under pain of life, or indispensable punishment; for if good success follow, it will be imputed to the weakness of Her Senators who should have given a larger Commission, which prejudice is taken off by chastising the party; Hereof there are divers examples, but a late one shall serve the turn in the person of Capello, who notwithstanding that he had performed a most noble exploit by overcoming the Barbary Fleet some few years since, and carrying away with him the Admiral Gallie of Algiers, which now lieth in the Arsenal among the chiefest Trophies, yet in regard he transcended his Commission, he was arraigned as Criminal before the Decemvirate, and, but for good friends, he had breathed his last, and hanged by the leg betwixt the two Columns in Saint Marks Place. Moreover, though Rome had usually mighty Armies abroad, yet the City was always so peaceful as if there had been no War at all; Therefore when any General returned it was death for him to pass the River Rubicon with his Army; So Venice though She have never so many Enemies abroad and Armies in actual service, yet there is not the least sign of war or disturbance in the City Herself, but She is peaceful at home, and when any of Her General's return they may not come within 100 miles of Her Walls under pain of death.   

Of the advantages which Venice hath of old Rome.  
HAving made these parallels 'twixt old Rome and Venice, I will conclude with divers things wherein the last may be said to have the advantage, or may deserve the priority of the former.  
1. Rome was born a Pagan, Venice a Christian when She was but an Embryon, and so suckd far better milk in her infancy. The Romans added still to their Religion by entertaining new Gods ever and anon from those Countries they subdued, alleging there could not be too many Gods to support so great an Empire, though 'tis true a Decree of the Senate was used to pass before they were admitted into the Pantheon, and other Temples, which Decree ran in these old Latin words, Nemo habescit Deos n●…vos aut adve●…as nisi publicè ascitos, Let none have new Gods or Strangers till they be publicly allowed; Venice was never subject to such levitieses.  
2. In rareness of situation Venice is superior to Rome, and indeed to any other City on the surface of the Earth, for herein She brooks no comparison; for when any Stranger comes to see Venice every day will strike a fresh admiration into him for a long time together, and in this particular, Rome may be said to be as far inferior to Venice as Tiber is to the Sea, in whom the City may be said to shine as a pearl in a Muscleshell.  
3. In point of naval strength, Rome was never comparable to Venice, for She never had such a grandeza as Her Arsenal; Her Sea-vessells were but shallopps compared to those which are now in use; She did but lick the shore, whereas Venice did launch out into the Main, and rid triumphantly upon Neptune's back.  
Old Rome was ever inclined to war, her mud-walls having been embrued with blood at her first foundation, She still thirsted after more dominions, and Her ambition was interminable, so that her Republic was made up of Magna Latrocinia as one said; Venice on the contrary hath ever sought after peace both for Herself and Her Neighbours, having done the best Offices that way of any state in Christendom; It was the vainglory of old Rome to brag of the exploits of Her Children, which Venice never useth to do, but there is a Law to the trary.  
5. For extent of Territories 'tis true that old Rome went beyond Venice, yet Venice had a title than which old Rome never had a greater, which was that Her Duke was called while the Greek Empire lasted Protospiter Graci imperii, first father of the Grecian Empire.  
6. Old Rome had never such potent foes, and formidable Armies to cope withal as Venice hath had, She never had such a confederacy as that league of Cambray against Her; She never had an enemy of such a vast power as the Turk is; It were a paradox to hold, that old Rome had not brave magnanimous men whom Her own stories magnify so much, and it is as great a paradox to hold, that Venice hath not had more; though She be far more free from that humour of ostentation. There were divers brave spirits in Rome that did murder themselves in height of spirit, And there were braver spirits in Venice that did mortify themselves, as divers of Her Princes have done, by shaking off the ducal robes for a froc, and so bidding a farewell to the pomp and pleasures 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 years; 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 pre-eminence of old Rome, that she hath preserved her Maidenhead to this day though situated in hot salt waters, and though oftentimes forced, yet was She never ravished; whereas Rome became a prostitut to all Nations, who rid 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 displeased if She be told how old She is) and so bid Her farewell,  

ne'er Maid did bear Her age so well  
As Venice, if Her years 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-glass more properly, (though I confess 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 also dissected Her government, and anatomised every limb 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 showing what glorious exploits She hath performed up and down the World against the mightiest Potentats on earth, having moreover pried into Her interests of state in relation to other Princes, Having also made you know Her defects, as well as Her advantages, and unvayled Her vices as well as Her virtues; Lastly, having declared in what trepidations, and dangerous condition She stands at present, by having closed in actual lucation with that great Eastern Giant the common Enemy, who as the Wolf in the Fable useth to take hold of any slight occasion, if the waters be troubled, to quarrel with Her, and there her to pieces; I take the boldness now to direct this seasonable hortative or alarm 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 general tie of Christianity, so for sundry particular respects and indispensable obligations they are bound to do.  
1. In regard 'tis known and confessed by all, that She is the main Bulwark of the principallst parts of Europe against the Turk, for in the bottom of her Galleys lieth the security and welfare of all her Neighbours; It is She that holds him at the Oars end that he cannot take any sure footing in Italy, as he hath attempted often, and it is known by woeful experience that whersoever he or his horse once sets his foot, the grass will never grow there again, Therefore, under favour, they are obliged by the common and mutual 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 laboured more for the general peace and tranquillity of Christendom, and by her moderation and prudent comportment hath done better Offices in this kind than any other whatsoever Rome excepted.  
3. It is She that hath been 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 should be in danger to be blown up.  
4. There is an extraordinary respect and honour due unto the Signory of Venice from the rest of Christendom, in regard that whereas other Princes have made use of the Turk against their fellow Christians as could be proved by many instances, yet the Republic of Venice, though fairly offered, and importuned thereunto, would 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 join against Her with temporal and spiritual Arms, yet She never would accept the assistance of the Turk; though it be lawful when ones House is set on fire to use foul water as well as fair, to extinguish it.  
5. Lastly, The Signory of Venice is to be more looked upon then other States, because they who have had pratic in the world, and observed general dependencies confess, that her peace hath caused the plenty, and her wars the peace of most Regions of Europe; It was She that opened 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 been the Ground and Rule of all other banks, so it is the most useful for Merchants 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 aiding and assisting unto this gallant and useful Republic, to preserve this Virgin from being ravished 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 general ties, there be some motifs of encouragement now more than 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 tyrannical Empire is upon point of declining, or to suffer some notable change▪ because the janizares of late years have much degenerated from what they were from their Primitive institution, being now allowed to marry, and to exercise Marchandizing, which makes them less venturous, and to be more careful of their wealth, with their Wives and Children, Besides, they have lost that godlike kind of reverence they used to bear unto the person of the Ottoman Emperor, so far, that they have embrued their hands in the blood of two of them already within these twenty years, the one had his brains dashed out by a poleax, having the day before been hurried away to prison, and as he was going a horseback his Turban was snatched off by a contemptible fellow, who clapped his own upon the Emperor's head by way of exchange; and as he road along through the Seraglio, his own Court, he begged a dish of water out of a poor wenches cruse; but being clapped in prison, the next day a company of Soldiers went to strangle him, who rushing furiously into his Chamber, he started out of his bed, and thinking to defend himself a bold despicable slave knocked him down; and this was the success of that strange dream he had had a few nights before, when in his sleep he thought he was mounted upon a Camel who would not go neither by fair or foul means, and lighting down from off him, he thought to have struck him with his Scimitar, but the whole body of the beast vanished away.  
Besides, some late Astronomers, and those of the best rank among the Jewish Rabbins, do hold that the fate and fortune of a Kingdom may be read in the Heavens; for they have observed that all the Hebrew Letters may be found out among the Stars; Rabbi Chomer assures the World that it is now a good while since this hath been observed, for the Hebrew tongue wherein God himself vouchsafed to speak, and was the first among Mankind, hath certainly something of mystery and excellence in it more than the other that had their beginning at the confusion of Babel; Divers of the Chaldeans and Jewish Rabbis, as Rabbi Kap●…l, Abjudan and Chomer spoken of before, have been curious to spell these letters into words, affirming that this Celestial writing hath been so from the beginning: And if a good Astronomer, well versed in the Hebrew, do observe what Stars are vertical over such a Country, he may foretell the Omens and fate of it, by observing which of the Hebrew Letters those Stars resemble, and so compose those Letters into words. Thus, a little before the Temple of jerusalem was burnt, and utterly consumed by Nabuzaradan, it was noted that the vertical Stars which hung over that City made this Hebrew word Hickschich, which signifieth to reject and forsake without mercy. Thus the end of the Grecian Empire was likewise foreshewd by four Stars which were vertical, that made this word Parad, which signifieth in Hebrew divide. Thus over Athens four Stars were observed to be vertical a little before her dissolution, which made this Hebrew word Tsarar, the sense whereof is Angustiis affici, To be troubled; with divers other examples which a late curious French Author doth produce. But that something may be instanced to the present purpose, and concerning things to come, the said Rabbi Chomer doth confidently affirm (as the said French Author hath it) that this Celestial writing hath pointed out the declining of two great Empires of the East; The one is that of China, which Country we know by the Tartars irruption is in a fearful confusion already; The other is that of the Turks, over which there are observed seven vertical Stars, which being read from the West to the East this Hebrew word Caah is made, which signifieth to be battered, to be feeble, languishing, and drawing to an end: But now seeing it may be doubted at which time this Empire shall be reducd to this extremity, the same Letters do also resolve the doubt, for those Letters being numerical make up the number of 1025. So that when this Kingdom shall have accomplished the number of 1025. years, it shall then be overthrown, and brought to ruin; Now, if we reckon from the year of our Lord 630. which was the year according to our vulgar computation wherein the basis of this Empire was laid, we shall find that it is to last till the year of our Lord 1655. for the completing of the foresaid number 1025. So that reckoning from this present year 1651. this Empire is to last but four years by this account. But one will say, these are but conjectures or curiosities rather, & fancies, yet we know that the Heavens are called a Book in an uncontrollable text, and in a Book there must be letters and writing, which may foretell the good or ill omen of a Country; the first by reading them from West to East, the second from North to West, because ab Aquilone pandetur omne malum, as poor England knows too well: But as the Chemists hold that none can come to the Magistery unless he be a perfect good man, so he must be such a one that can attain the sense of this Celestial writing.  
I will enforce this cohortation or Caveat rather, with a saying which the Turks have, That Italy is the Gate of Christendom, and Venice is the Key of Italy; That Candie is a Bridge arched with Zant, Cephalonia, and Corfù, and Corfù is the chief Watergate of Venice. Therefore it is an easy thing to infer this consequence, or rather to be a Prophet, That the day when Venice is lost, will be the eve of the winning of Italy▪ and, a few days after, of all CHRISTENDOM.  
To put a conclusive period to all, there is a saying that carries no less wisdom than wit with it, when one's Neighbours house is afire, by the light thereof, he may discern his own danger; The Venetian Flames at this time are of such a vast extent, that they may enlighten, not only the Italians their next Neighbours, but all Europe besides, to foresee her future dangers, if the aforesaid Islands, which are as so many Limbs of Christendom, be cut off, and that the Mahometan Moon, increasing by such additions, come to predominat o'er those Seas.    

An INDEX pointing at the principal'st passages throughout the whole Piece.  

A  
AN Analysis of the whole work in the Proem.  
An advertisement to the Reder Page ibid.  
The Ambassador of Venice his witty answer to the Pope, Page 2  
Another witty answer to the Pope, Page 2  
The Ambassador of Venice his witty answer to the French King, Page 4  
The Arsenal of Venice, Page 5. 35  
Ambassadors render their presents they receive from foreign Princes to the Senate at their return, Page 6  
Of Ambassadors ordinary and extraordinary in Venice, Page 23  
Athens and Venice likened, Page 52  
A●…hetins Epitaph, Page 54  
Attributs of the Towns in Italy, Page 55  
A proverb of Venice, Page 55  
Angelo Participatio Duke of Venice, Page 60  
An ancient custom in Venice, Page 60  
The Admiral of Greece comes to Venice for aid, Page 60  
Alexander the Pope fled to Venice, Page 68  
Acre taken again from the Christians, Page 73  
Andrew King of Hungary comes to Venice, Page 74  
The Ambassador doth extraordinary penance at Rome, Page 75  
Andria Dandolo Duke of Venice, Page 75  
Archduke of Austria, and the King of Cyprus come to Venice, Page 77  
Alphonso Duke of Calabria entertains Turks in his War, Page 83  
An Ambassador come from the King of Tremisen to Venice, Page 85  
The Arsenal of Venice burnt, Page 95  
The Ambassador of Venice speech to the Turk about Cyprus, Page 96  
Her Answer to the Turks Ambassdor, Page 97  
The Arms of Venice defaced in the Vatican, Page 171  
An Abbot executed in Venice in his habit, Page 17  
An Ambassador sent from Rome to Venice with notable instructions, Page 190  
Apologies for the sensuality and revengefullnes of the Venetian, Page 199  
A Catalogue of some of the most renowned men of Venice, Page 200  
The advantages which Venice hath of old Rome, Page ibid.▪   

B  
Of Brescia, Page 25  
Of Bergamo, Page 25  
The Bergamastro speaks the worst Italian Dialect, Page 25  
The manner of the Ballotations by which the Duke of Venice is chosen, Page 34  
Of the Bucentoro Page 36  
A bold motto in St Marks treasury, Page 37  
A bold Candi●…t robbed the treasury of St. Mark, Page 38  
The books of the vulgar are Images, Page 54  
A Battle 'twixt Pepin and the Venetians, Page 55  
The Bishop of Aquilia taken prisoner by the Venetian, Page 60  
Badoairio Duke of Venice deposed himself and turned Monk, Page 61  
The Bishop of Gradus speech to the Venetian for supplies of the holy Land, Page 66  
Baldwin Earl of Flanders, with other Princes going to the Holy Land come to Venice, where they receive extraordinary entertainment, Page 71  
Bologna beaten by Venice, Page 72  
Brescia under the protection of Venice, Page 75  
Buda taken by the Turk, Page 90  
Barbarossa the great Pirate, Page 92   

C.  
Civil bodies subject to decay as well as natural, Page 1  
The Churchmen of Venice enjoy above two millions yearly rent, Page 2  
The clash 'twixt Venice and Genoa partly the cause of the l●…sse of the Holy Land, Page 3  
Change of custom dangerous, Page 3  
Cardinal Ossatts speech touching Venice, Page 5.  
Cyrus' his revenge of the River Pindes, because she had drowned his horse, Page 5  
A counterprize of rewards and punishmen●…s observed in Venice, Page 6  
Cadetts among the Gentry restrained from marrying in Venice with the reason thereof, Page 7  
The Counsels of Venice are mysteries till put in execution, Page 7  
Of Crema, Page 25  
How a Courtesan cozened a Gentleman, Page 39  
The circuit of Rome, Page 44  
A cheap friend that's got by a compliment, Page 44  
Candiano chosen Duke of Venice, who was cut in pieces by the fury of the people, Page 62  
A cloak of cloth of gold to be given yearly by Venice to the Emperor, remitted, Page 62  
Centrenico Duke of Venice deposed and turned to a Monastery, Page 65  
Corfù first reduced to Venice, Page 67  
Cyain Duke of Venice overthrows Otho the Emperor's Son, Page 68  
A comparison of Venice and Genoa, with Rome and Carthage, Page 74  
Ceremonies used by Verona, Vicenza and Padova when they rendered themselves to Venice, Page 79  
A Candiot robs the treasury of St. Mark, Page 80  
Constantinople taken by the Turks, their respect to the Venetian above others, Page 80  
The ceremonies used at the Duke of Venice his Burial, Page 84  
Cornaris subtle speech to the Queen of Cypus for a resignation, Page 84  
Charles the 8. rusheth into Italy, Page 86  
A contract 'twixt the Pope and Venice, about the nomination of her Bishops, Page 90  
Cardinal Charles Caraffi strangled at Rome, Page 94  
The Spaniard a great cause of losing of Cyprus, Page 111  
Carmas notable speech to Don John of Austria, Page 106  
Captain Tortona a Spaniard hanged by Venieri, Page 107  
A contract 'twixt Don John and Venieri the Venetian General, Page 107  
Capello the Venetian General defeats the Barbary fleet at Vallona, Page 170  
A clash 'twixt Venice and Urban the 8. Page 170   

D.  
Death for any Venetian Senator to receive pension from a foreign Prince, Page 6  
The Dukes of Venice old before they be chosen, Page 6  
Of the Dukes of Milan and Toscavy, Page 9  
Duke of Venice a head of wood, Page 10  
Of the Deceuiv●…rat or Council of ten in Venice, Page 13  
Dominico Mongario Duke of Venice he had his eyes put out, Page 59  
The Duke of Venice styled Protospater of the Greek Empire, Page 61  
Dominico Contareno Duke of Venice, he conquers Zara, Page 65  
Dalmatia and Croatia added to the titles of Venice, Page 65  
Dukes of Venice have a privilege to seal with lead given them by the Pope, Page 68  
A description of St. Marks Church, Page 70  
Duke Cyani makes St. Marks Church his heir, Page 71  
Doria the Admiral of Genoa puts Venice to the worse in the I'll of Sapientia, Page 77  
The ducal Palace bnrnt in Venice, Page 84  
Ubaldo Duke of Urbino General of the Venetians, Page 91  
Trevisano Duke of Venice died at Mass, Page 93  
A description of the Christian fleet before the Battle of Lepanto, Page 19  
Don John of Astrias' speech at the battle of Lepanto, Page 115  
Don John of Austria rescued by Venieri the Venetian General, Page 127  
The division of the spoils after the battle of Lepanto at large, Page 130  
The Duke of Parma with an Army before Rome, Page 194  
A dangerous prophecy of Holland, Page 180  
The defects of Venice, Page 198   

E  
The Enemies which Venice hath had from time to time, Page 2  
ecclesiastics incapable to sit in the Venetian, and to inherit stable possessions, and the reason thereof, Page 2  
ecclesiastics dare not tamper with matters of state in Venice, Page 7  
The extent and power of the principalities of Italy, Page 8  
The etymology of Venice, Page 33  
Experience the great lookingglass of wisdom, Page 34  
The election of the Duke of Venice, Page 34  
The eastern emperor assisted by the Venetians, Page 60  
Emanuel the Greek Emperor perfidious to the Venetians, Page 68  
Ensigns given by the Pope to the Venetians, Page 70  
Of Earthquakes and of their causes a Philosophical discourse, Page 75  
Eugenius the Pope a Venetian, Page 79  
The Emperor Frederik with Leonora his Wife come to Venice, Page 8  
The Emperor invites the Turk to war with the Venetian, Page 88   

F.  
Foreign Princes usually entertained by Venice, Page 7  
Falerio Duke of Venice put to death, because he married a stranger, etc. Page 12  
Of Frivili, Page 13  
The first Prince of Venice, Page 58  
Freedom from taxes granted to Venice throughout all the Greek Empire, Page 62  
Freedoms granted by Otho the Emperor to the Venetians, Page 62  
Flabenico Duke of Venice, Page 65  
Freedom given to the Venetian through all Syria, Page 67  
Emperor Frederiques fast answer to the Venetians, Page 68  
Th'emperor Frederiques' submission to the Pope at Venice, Page 69  
The first War 'twixt Venice and Genoa, Page 71  
The first excommunication against Venice without Ferrara, Page 74  
The first Ambassador from England to Venice, 1332. Page 75   

G.  
Of the Gulps of Venice, Page 9  
The Government of Venice hath a grain of Monarchy, a dram of Democracy, and an ounce of Optimacy, Page 10  
The great Council of Venice, Page 16  
Gentlemen of Venice great Patrons, Page 23  
The Governors of the two Castles in Corfù never to meet upon pain of death, Page 29  
Rare glasses made in Venice, Page 38  
Glassmakers much esteemed for their Art, Page 39  
Giovani Mauritio Duke of Venice, Page 59  
Giovani Partitiatio put off the Dukedom and confined to a Monastery, Page 60  
The Greeks taught first the use of Bells by the Venetian, Page 61  
Giovani Partitiatio Duke of Venice who voluntarily deposed himself, Page 61  
The Gnoway defeated by the Venetian at Trapani, Page 72  
Genoa vayld to Venice, as Carthage to Rome at last, Page 74  
Genoa shrewdly beaten in the pontic Sea by Venice, Page 75  
Gallipole in Calabria taken by the Venetian, Page 84  
Genoa held Famagosta in Cypria above ninty years, Page 98   

H.  
The habit of the Duke of Venice, Page 11  
The habit of the Duke with the jewels he wears upon festival days valued at above 100000 cr. Page 11  
The heir of Venice answerable for his Father's faults, Page 12  
A horse a monster in Venice, Page 54  
The high Epithetts which are given Venice above the rest of the Towns of Italy Page 55  
Horteo Hypato Duke of Venice, Page 58  
Heraclea utterly demolishd, Page 59  
The Hunns overcome by the Venetians, Page 61  
Henry the Emperor comes to Venice, Page 65  
Part of Jerusalem given to Venice, Page 67  
Honour done by the Pope to the Venetian, Page 68  
Hermolao Barbaro punished for receiving dignities from the Pope, Page 85  
Henry the 8. of England the great instrument of the French King and the Pope's release, Page 89  
Henry the 3. of France comes to Venice, Page 132  
How the King of Poland's brother interc●…ded for the readmission of the Jesuits to Venice, Page 198  
How Venice & Rome, with the rest of the Princes of Italy carry themselves in point of political interest, Page 175  
Holland and Venice of a differing humour, Page 180   

I.  
Impossible for the Duke of Venice to become Tyrant, Page 6  
Inhibition that Courtesands mingle not with honest Women in the Venetian Churches, Page 8  
Italy the ●…y of Europe, Page 8  
The judges of Venice, Page 17  
Of Istria, Page 24  
Of the I'll of Corfou, Page 29  
Of the I'll of Cephalonia, Page 30  
Of the I'll of Zant, Page 30  
Of the I'll of Candis, Page 31  
The incredible riches of St. Marks treasure, Page 37  
justinianos' speech to Maximilian the Emperor in behalf of Venice, not found in her Archies. Page 73  
Justiniano Duke of Venice, Page 60  
Justinopoli comes under the Venetian, Page 61  
The I'll of Candie under the Venetian, An inundation, Page 71  
Juluis the second incites all the Princes of Christendom against Venice, Page 87  
The Inquisition refused by Venice, Page 94  
The jesuits expelled from Venice with the causes thereof recited at large, Page 163  
The jesuits tenets Page 163  
King James his Declaration touching the quarrel 'twixt the Pope and Venice, Page 161   

L.  
Long age argues strength of body, in Epist.  
Laws the ligaments of a State, Page Ibid.  
The Laws of Rhodes and Oleron the Prince for Sea affairs in Epist.  
The Lombard's Kingdom extinguished in Italy, Page 59  
The lamentable end of one of the Dukes of Venice, Page 60  
Lotharius the Emperor endowes Venice with many immunities, Page 60  
Lesina and Spalleto reduced to Venice, Page 62  
Pope Leo comes to Venice and endowes with many privileges, Page 65  
Lesbos, Sames, and Andros taken by the Venetian, Page 67  
Lemnos yielded to▪ Venice, Page 80  
The Legate of the Pope's answer to the Venetian General, Page 81  
The league of Cambray like to destroy Venice, Page 87  
Lodovico Falieri employed Ambassador to Henry the 8. of England from Venice, Page 90  
A league against the Turk in Pius Quintus time, the substance of it, Page 101  
New Laws in Venice, Page 134  
Luca excommunicated, Page 171  
Lep anto battle at large, Page 118   

M.  
The manner and majesty how the Duke of Venice sits, Page 14  
St. Marks Proctors, the high dignity of their place, Page 20  
The Magistrates of Venice in general, Page 16  
Of the mark of Treviso, Page 24  
St. Marks place, Page 37  
The Magistrates of old Rome, and Venice, paralleled, Page 45  
Mariello Tegaliano Duke of Venice, Page 58  
Maaritio of Heraclea D. of Venice Page 59  
St. Marks body transported to Venice from Alexandris, Page 60  
The Moors defeat the Venetian under Saba their General, Page 60  
The Moors ransack Rome, Page 60  
St. Marks Church burnt, Page 62  
Meniro Duke of Venice turns Monk●… Page 62  
Matilda restored to her Duchy of Ferrara by the help of Venice, Page 65  
Michaeli Duke of Venice goes with 200 Vessels to Joppa, and frees her from the siege, Page 66  
The Marquis of Monferrat restored to his territories by the Venetian, Page 79  
Mocenigos speech to the Pope's General, Page 81  
The manner of Marriages and Christen in Venice, Page 187   

N.  
Nothing discovers the wisdom of a people more than the form of their government, Page 9  
Nothing so difficult as the Art of government, Page 10  
The neatness of Venice, Page 35  
A notable speech against the tribunitial power, Page 57  
The Narentines debelled by the Venetians, Page 62  
The Normans give a great overthrow to the Greeks and Venetians at Darazzo, Page 65  
A mighty defeat given to the Venetians by the Genoese near Corfù, Page 72  
A notable speech of Philip the second touching his Father's resignations, Page 93  
A notable speech of a Turk before the battle of Lepanto, Page 116  
A notable speech of another Turk Page 116  
A notable speech of the Turkish General, Page 124  
A notable answer of the Turkish Ambassador to King James, Page 131  
Nova Palma built in Friuli, Page 135  
A notable invective against Urban the eighth and his Nephews, Page 172  
The Naval strength of Venice reviewd, Page 197   

O.  
Of the three Republics of Italy how they differ, Page 9  
Of the several denominations of Kingdoms and Commonwealths, Page 9  
The Office of the Duke of Venice, Page 12  
Cardinal Ossatts opinion of Venice, Page 183  
Of the College of Sages in Venice, Page 14  
The Officers of Venice, Page 15  
Of the great Chancellor, Page 15  
Original of the Venetian, Page 33  
D. of Ossuna no friend to the Venetian, Page 38  
An old prophecy touching Venice, Page 40  
Old Rome and Venice, Paralleled, Page 44  
Of one who would have preferred a Spurrier to Q. Eliz. Page 54  
Obeserio Duke of Venice, Page 59  
Otho the Emperor comes to Venice, Page 62  
Otho Urseolo Duke of Venice, he marries the King of Hungarie's Daughter, banished afterwards, Page 65  
Otho the Emperor's son taken prisoner by the Venetians freed upon his Parole, Page 69  
Otho's wise speech and advice to the Emperor Frederic his Father, Page 69   

P.  
Peace always preferred before war by Venice, Page 4  
The private Arsenal of Venice, Page 6  
The Press and Pulpit strictly regulated in Venice, Page 7  
The Pope a great temporal Prince, Page 8  
The Pope fittest to be umpire of differences in Italy, with the reasons alleged, Page 8  
Paulutio Anafesto the first Duke of Venice, Page 11  
The pastimes of Venice, Page 188  
Of Padous, Page 26  
A speculation upon the sight of the Bucentoro in Venice, Page 36  
The Portuguese trade into the Indies prejudicial to Venice, Page 39  
Of rare Pictures in St. Marks Church, Page 54  
Pepin wars with Venice, Page 59  
Pietro Tradonico Duke of Venice, Page 60  
Pietro Candiano Duke of Venice, slain in fight against the Narentines, Page 61  
Pietro Tribuno Duke of Venice, Page 60  
Pietro Badoairio Duke of Venice taken prisoner in Slavonia, Page 61  
Phalerio Duke of Venice, first entitled Duke of Dalmatia and Croatia, Page 65  
Peter the French Hermit's vision, Page 65  
The Pisans beaten by the Venetians, Page 65  
P●…olemais and Sydon taken by the Venetians, Page 65  
Phalerio the Duke of Venice killed in battle, Page 66  
Pietro Polano Duke of venice chosen Arbiter 'twixt the Western, and Eastern Emperors, Page 67  
A prophecy touching Venice, Page 68  
Paleologus the Greek Emperor beaten by the Venetians, Page 74  
Padova putts Herself under Venice, Page 79  
Paleologus the Greek Emperor hath conference with the Pope at Ferrara. Page 79  
Paehalis Maripietro Duke of Venice, he ruled 36 years, Page 80  
The Pope's Legates speech to Mocenigo the Venetian General, Page 82  
Philip of Comines comes Ambassador to Venice from Charles the 8. Page 86  
The passage by the Cape of good Hope to the East Indies hurtful to Venice, Page 87  
The Calendar reformed, 1581. Page 134  
The Pope and Duke of Parma at variance, Page 171  
The Pope flies to the Castle of St. Angelo, Page 194   

Q.  
A question whether wars or trafic with the Turk be better for England, in Epist.  
An odd question of a Zantois to an Englishman, Page 31  
The Queen of Cyprus modest reply to the Venetian, Page 85  
The quarrel 'twixt Paulus Quintus, and Venice, demonstrated at large, Page 137  
The quarrel and fight 'twixt Sir Ken. Digby and the Venetians in the Bay of Scanderon, Page 169  
A quarrel 'twixt Pope Urban and the Duke of Florence, Page 171  
The quarrel 'twixt the Pope and the Duke of Parma, Page 178  
The quarrel 'twixt the Pope and Luca, Page 177  
The querulous expressions of a Nun, Page 184  
The querulous remorses of a dying Cardinal, Page 182  
A quaere what opinion Spain hath of Rome, Page 190  
A quaere what opinion France hath of Rome, Page 190  
Quaeres how the Greeks esteem Rome, Page 190   

R.  
Resemblance 'twixt England and Venice, in Epist.  
Rome still esteemed by Venice, Page 3  
Reasons of the lastingness of Venice, Page 3  
Rules observed by Venice, in the removal of her Ambassadors, Page 4  
Riches puff the mind, Page 6  
Restraints that none may grow over-rich in Venice, Page 7  
Riches, reverence and dece●…cie the main supporters of Religion, Page 8  
Reasons why Venice did choose one S●…verain head over her, Page 12  
Rome become her own Tomb, Page 44  
Rome in Vopiscus time 50 miles in compass, Page 44  
The Revenues of the Republic of Venice, Page 53  
Ravenna taken by the Venetians, Page 58  
A remarkable speech of Mocenigo the Venetian General touching Cyprus, Page 82  
A restraint for building Convents and Churches in Venice, without the Senate's leave, Page 135  
Requiseus speech to D. John of Austria Page 104   

S.  
Sannazarius his famous Hexastic of the City of Venice, In Proem.  
Secrecy wonderfully used in the Counsels of Venice, Page 7  
A speech against the tyranny of Tribunes Page 11  
The stile of the Duke of Venice, Page 12  
The salary of the Duke of Venice, Page 12  
Of the Senate of Venice, Page 13  
Of the Syndiques of Venice, Page 22  
The Spaniards large offer for the port of Suda in Candie, Page 32  
The Spanish Ambassadors speech upon the ●…ight of St. Marks treasure, Page 38  
A strange compliment which a Gentleman put upon a Lady, Page 39  
A Shepherd the first founder and present preserver of Rome, Page 44  
The Sextaries of Venice, Page 50  
A speech of a Venetian Nobleman, Page 61  
The Saracens o'ercome by the Venetians, Page 62  
The speech of Pope Urban at Clermont for a Holy war, Page 65  
Smyrna taken by the Venetian, Page 65  
Smyrna taken again by the Venetian, Page 75  
Steno Duke of Venice his speech to Verona and Vicenza, when they yielded themselves under the Dominion of Venice, Page 78  
A speech of the Turks General to the Venetian army remarkable, Page 81  
Seleucia taken by the Venetian, Page 81  
A speech of the King of Cyprus to the Venetian General, Page 81  
The Senate's wise Answer to Pope Sixtus, Page 83  
The second Excommunication against the Venetian, Page 83  
Sanseverino the Venetian General routed and drowned at Trent, Page 84  
The Senate's sage Answer to Philip de Comines, Page 86  
The Senate's grave Answer to Pietro Bembo the Pope's Legate, Page 88  
Sir Sackvill Crows timely advice to the Venetians not regarded, Page 195   

T.  
Thuanus' his saying of Venice, Page 3  
Another, Page 4  
The treasure of Venice, Page 5  
Tumults in Venice, always suddenly suppressed, Page 8  
The Territories of Venice, Page 24  
Twelve Dukes of Venice slain or put to death, Page 34  
The three remarkablest things in Venice, Page 35  
The treasury of St. Mark, Page 37  
Theodato Hypato Duke of Venice, who had his eyes put out, Page 59  
Tradonico Duke of Venice murdered, Page 61  
Twelve Bells sent for a present from Venice to Constantinople, Page 61  
Tyre conquered by the help of Venice, Page 67  
Tenedos yielded to the Venetians, Page 77  
The Turk offers Venice aid which she refused, Page 87  
The Turk subdues Egypt, Page 88  
Trent Council begun, Page 94  
The Turk fedifragous' to Venice, Page 95  
The Turk arms for Cyprus, and invades Her, Page 98  
The Turks barbarous usage towards Bragadini in Cyprus, Page 104  
Turks opinion of Christianity, Page 189  
Thuanus opinion of Venice, Page 183   

V.  
Venice commands 700. miles of Sea, In Epist.  
Venice the fittest to be imitated in point of government, Page 1  
The Prerogatives of Venice, Page 1  
Her wit more sharp than her weapon, Page 2  
Venice hath oft felt the fulminations of Rome, Page 2  
Venice had a great hand in the Conquest of the Holy Land, Page 3  
She had a share of Jerusalem given Her, Page 3  
Venice Eternal, Page 3  
Constant to Herself, Page 4  
Venice a great Mediatrix for Peace, Page 4  
The Venetians great Patriotts, Page 5  
Venice loves to be magnified, Page 7  
Why named in the plural number, Page 9  
Venice as dextrous in ruling of men, as rowing of a Galley, Page 10  
She hath turned Policy to a Science, Page 10  
Venice hath large farthingales, Page 24  
Of Verona and her Precincts, Page 25  
Of Vicenza, Page 27  
Venice characterised, Page 32  
Described at large, Page 33  
Built in the Spring, Page 33  
Venice hath borrowed of the Greek as well as the Roman, Page 52  
Venice can make Knights and Poets laureate, Page 53  
Venice free from the Western or Eastern Emperor first declared, Page 59  
Verona assisted by Venice grows victorious, Page 60  
Urso Participatio Duke of Venice, Page 61  
Vitalis Candiano Duke of Venice resigned the government, and cloistered himself, Page 62  
Venice contributs 200 Vessels for the wars of the Holy Land, Page 65  
Venice married to the Sea, Page 69  
She helps the Pope to suppress the tyrant Eccelin, Page 72  
Venice defeats the Genoese in the port of Prolemais, Page 72  
Venice almost quite depopulated by an Earthquake and a Plague, Page 76  
She beats Genoa in the port of Carista, Page 76  
She beats her again hard by Sardinia, Page 77  
She beats her again near the Morea, Page 77  
Venice is Godmother to a Daughter of France, Page 89  
A vision at Rome, Page 94  
Venieries gallant speech to Don John of Austria, Page 105  
His wise Answer to him, Page 107  
Venice takes the strong City of Clissa from the Turk, Page 196  
She makes the Turk fly at Foggia, Page 197  
Venice and Rome paralleled, Page 204  
Venice superior in divers things to old Rome, Page 260  
Her Vices, Page 199  
Venice born a Christian and independent, Page 205   

W.  
A wise saying touching Sparta, Page 5  
The wonderful sagacity of Venice in detecting treasons, Page 6  
Why Clergimen are incapable to be Senators in Venice, Page 7  
Why the Spaniard terms not himself Kiof Naples, but Utriusque Siciliae, Page 9  
Why mankind more hard to be governed than other Cretures, Page 10  
Wars 'twixt Otho the Emperor, and Venice, Page 62  
War 'twixt Venice and Padova, Page 66  
The wars of Cyprus. Page 98  
Wars with the Uscocchis, Page 135  
Wars 'twixt Pope Urban and the Duke of Parma. Page 172   
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉