I Hauing oftentimes obserued many strangers, men wise & learned, who arriuing newly at Venice, and be­holding The admira­tion of stran­gers at their first ariuall at Venice.the beautie and magnifi­cence thereof, were stricken with so great an admiration and amaze­ment, that they woulde, and that with open mouth confesse, neuer any thing which be­foretime they had seene, to be thereunto comparable, either in glory or goodlinesse. Yet was not euery one of thē possessed with the like wonder of one same particu­lar thing: for to some it seemed a matter of infinit mar­uaile, and scarcely credible to behold, so vnmeasurable a The causes of their admira­tion diuers.quantity of all sorts of marchandise to be brought out of all realmes and countries into this Citie, and hence a­gaine to be conueyed into so many straunge and far di­stant nations, both by land and sea. Others exceeding­ly admired the wonderful concourse of strange and for­raine people, yea of the farthest and the remotest nati­ons, as though the City of Venice onely were a common and generall market to the whole world. Others were astonished at the greatnesse of the empire thereunto be­longing, and the mightinesse of their state both by land and sea: but the greater part of the most wise and iudi­ciall sort were rather in themselues confounded with a­mazement at the new and strange manner of the situa­tion of this Citie, so fitte and conuenient for all thinges, [Page 2] that it seemed vnto them a thing rather framed by the hands of the immortall Gods, then any way by the arte▪ industry, or inuention of men. And for this onely cause deemed the Citie of Venice to excell all those, that in this age are to be found, or at any time euer were. Nei­ther altogether without reason, for surely if you looke into former ages, & likewise into this wherein we liue, you shall hardly find any cittie comparable with this of ours, eyther for greatnes of Empire, frequencie of peo­ple, or aboundance and magnificence of thinges. But No city eyther now or in any other age cō ­parable in all points with the citie of Venice.especially for situation, neuer was there since the memo­rie of men, any citie seated in so opportune a place, so secure, and exceeding the beliefe of men. Some in building of Cities, imagined they had well and suffici­ently done, if they had chosen a place hard of accesse, or difficult for their enemies to besiege or assault the same: whereby it commeth, that sundry Citties are seated on the toppes of high hilles, with sharpe and vneasie pas­sages, or else in moorish and fennish places: some again for other diuers respects haue imagined nothing to be preferred before an apt and commodious seate, fitte to conuoy in and out all such thinges as appertaine to the making of a Cittie plentifull and magnificent, aswell in matters of necessitie, as delicacie. Of which both points ioyntly you shall find few that haue beene carefull, few­er that haue attempted it, but vnlesse I be deceiued, ne­uer any one that hath in all points accomplished it.

But the situation of Venice being rather to be attribu­ted to some diuine prouidence, then to any humane industry, is (beyond the beliefe of all those that haue not seene this cittie) not onely most safe and secure, both by land and sea from all violence, but also in the highest [Page 3] degree opportune & commodious to the aboundance of all thinges that are behoouefull to the citizens, as al­so for traffique of all sortes of marchandise, in manner with all nations of the worlde.

The situation of the citie of Venice. For it is seated in a remote and secrete place of the Adriatike sea, where on that side (where the sea behold­eth the continent) there are mightie great lakes; fortified with an admirable artifice of nature. For twelue miles off from the continent, the sea beginneth to be shallow: and among those flats & lakes there ariseth vp a shore or banke like vnto a hill, which seruing as a fortresse against the waues & violences of the sea, maketh all the inwarde harbor (being very wide & spacious) so secure, that not onely the vehemence of the sea, when through the rage of any tempest it ariseth, is repressed and kept backe, but also the ships that arriue, are debarred of free and ea­sie entrance, in so much that if they be not of very light burthen, they are forced to cast anker at the mouth of the passages or entries, and thence, when the weather is calme and quiet, being guided by skilfull pilots, or ra­ther by certaine particular men experimented in those shallowes and channels, they may at length come vnto the cittie by a narrow, crooked and intricate way, where the water is of greater depth, the same in a manner eue­ry day altering and chaunging according to the tides of the sea.

The banke which ariseth behind these shallowes, rea­cheth almost threescore miles, and incloseth the lakes within. Neuerthelesse the same is not so entire, but that there is a rupture in seuen places thereof, which maketh an entry to the roade within, and it is six miles off from the Continent.

[Page 4] In this manner therefore are the lakes of the Citie of Venice inclosed, partly with firme ground, partly with Ryalta.this banke and shallowes: in middle of the which, in that place, which of our auncestors was called Rialta, and as yet retaineth the name, was the Citie of Venice builded, at such time as the Hunnes vnder the conduct The cause of the first buil­ding of the City of Veniceof Atyla did spoile with fire and sword the territory of Venetia, a noble prouince of Italie, which bordered vpon those lakes: in which calamitous time the citizens of Pa­dua, of Aquilea, of VderZo, of Concordia, and of Altina, being all faire and goodly cities of Venetia, such of them as were chiefe in riches, and nobility, did first get them­selues with their families into certaine Ilands, or rather little hilles, which did appeare out somewhat aboue the sea, and there built them places of abode, in which as in a secure hauen they auoyded the ragefull tempest of the Hunnes.

There were likewise in that troublesome season cer­tain castles built vpon the banke, of which I made men­tion, to which the inhabitantes of that coast repaired, leaning their ancient homes spoyled and ruined by the Hunnes, seeking there a safe abode for their wiues and children, and as I may say for their houshold Gods.

Afterwards in the times of the kings, Charles and Pe­pin, all such as scatteringly inhabited these places, by common consent retyred themselues vnto the Ryalta, as into a place of greater security, & much more commo­cious then any of the rest: so that in the end by the con­course of such as coulde auoide the ruines of Italy, wrought by the cruelty of barbarous nations, Venice by degrees augmented it selfe into that greatnesse, in which we now do see it.

[Page 5] It is manifest therefore, that the seat of this Citie must needes bee exceedingly secure, in regarde that the first building thereof was vndertaken by men, who to auoid the calamities of Italy, in midst of so great a miserie, re­mained there in most sound and quiet safetie with their Venice hath remained vn­touched from the violence of any enemy since the first building there of, which is a­boue 1100▪ yeares.families. But which is more, since those times (which we haue not read hath happened to any other city) from the first building therof, euen vntil this time, being now a thousand and one hundred yeares, it hath preserued it selfe free and vntouched from the violence of any ene­mie, though being most opulent and furnished, aswell of gold and siluer, as of all other thinges that might, yea euen from the farthest parts of the world allure the Bar­bares to so rich a bootie and spoile. So that I doe not disalow their opinion, that haue deemed the Citie of Venice, to excell and go beyond all other Cities. But yet there is one thing more in this citie, which not one­ly in my iudgement farre exceedeth all those thinges, which wee haue spoken of, but likewise in all their opi­nions, that do not account a Citie to bee the walles and houses onely, but rather the assemblie and order of the citizens, chiefly and with greatest worthinesse to chal­lenge that name, and this is the true reason, manner, & forme of commonwealthes, through which men en­ioy a happie and quiet life: This is that rare and excel­lent thing, wherein Venice seemeth to shine, and to sur­passe all antiquitie, for though it is apparant that there hath beene many commonwealthes, which haue farre exceeded Venice as well in empire and greatnesse of e­state, as in militarie discipline and glory of the wars: yet hath there not beene any, that may bee paragond with this of ours, for institutions & lawes prudently decreed, [Page 6] to establish vnto the inhabitantes a happie and prospe­rous felicitie, the proofe whereof is made manifest by the long continuance thereof in such security and hap­pinesse, which when I consider with my self, I am wont greatly to wonder at the wisedome of our ancestors, at their industry, the vertue of their minds, & their incredi­ble loue and charity towardes their country. There were in Athens, Lacedaemon and Rome, in sundry seasons sundry rare and vertuous men of excellent desert, and singular pietie towardes their country, but so fewe, that being ouerruled by the multitude they were not able much to profite the same. But our auncestors, from whome wee haue receyued so flourishing a common­wealth, all in one did vnite themselues in a consenting The nobility of Venice not so ambitious of their owne as of their countries ho­nor.desire to establish, honour, and amplifie their country, without hauing in a manner any the least regarde of their owne priuate glorie or commodity. And this any man may easily coniecture, that the nobilitie of Venice was neuer so ambitious of any priuate matter pertay­ning to themselues, as they were alwayes infinitely zea­lous of the honour, commodity and aduancement of their country, in regarde that there are in Venice to bee found none, or very few monuments of our auncestors, though both at home and abroad many things were by them gloriously atchieued, and they of passing and sin­gular desart towards their countrie. There are no state­ly [...]ecchi di nauitombes erected, no military statues remaining, no stemmes of ships, no ensignes, no standrads taken from their enemies, after the victory of many and mighty battailes.

Andreas Con­tareno Duke of Venice. I wil among innumerable others touch onely the ex­ample of Andraeas Contareno an ancestor of mine: who [Page 7] being prince of our commonwealth in the Genowes war, the greatest and most dangerous that euer we endured, did not onely preserue our countrey with his singular wisedome, and maruellous greatnesse of courage, but did so vtterly ouerthrow our enemies (they triumphing euen then as it were in an assured victory) that they in a manner were all eyther slaine or taken prisoners. Finally, hauing so mightily preserued his country, and amplified and established the commonwealth, hee passed out of this life, or dayning by testament, that on his sepulcher (which at this day is to be seene in S. Stephens church) there should not be placed any armes or ensignes of our familie: neither, which is more, is there so much as the name of so great a Duke engraued, but rather by his mo­destie is it come to passe, that the sepulcher of so famous & excellent a prince is in a manner vtterly vnknowen.

I imagine this to be a most certain argument, that our auncestors delighted not in vaineglorie or ambition, but had only their intentiue care to the good of their coun­try and common profite. With this then exceeding vertue of mind did our auncestors plant and settle this such a commonwealth, that since the memory of men, whosoeuer shal go about to make compare between the same & the noblest of the ancients, shal scarcely find any such: but rather I dare affirme, that in the discourses of those great Philosophers, which fashioned & forged cō ­monwealths according to the desires of the mind, there is not any to be founde so well fayned and framed, for which cause I thought I should doe a thing very grate­full to strangers, if I shoulde describe the order of so re­nowned a commonwealth: especially because in this time among the number of so many men learned, and [Page 8] of pregnant wits, ripe in the knowledge of all things, and excelling in eloquence, I see not any that hath vnderta­ken this honorable taske. To which though I know the weakenesse of our stile cannot yeeld any ornament, yet the same is of it selfe so noble, that it is able not onely to yeeld dignitie to it selfe, but also to the vnworthinesse of my speech.

Being therefore determined to write of this our com­monwealth, to the end that euery one may know whe­ther the same be well or ill disposed, I thinke it best to take my beginning from hence.

That man is by nature made a ciuile creature, but a­lone by himselfe, neither able to liue well, not to liue at all, which euery daies necessitie, and the manner of vic­tuailing and clothing approueth: and for this cause e­uen from the beginning did men enter into ciuile socie­tie, and therein continued to the ende, that so they might liue happily and commodiously, which is, that with mutuall helpe and diligence they might obtaine the chief good incident to men, so long as the course of this their mortal life endureth, wherunto the whole rea­son of ciuil institution pertaineth, that by the easiest way No life happy and blessed but that which contayneth in it the vse of vertue.possible the citizens may be made possessors of a happy life. But a life happie and blessed is so tearmed of great Philosophers, the which containeth in it selfe the vse of vertue, which they do approue with most assured rea­sons and vndenyable arguments. Now the vse of ver­tue appeareth as well in the offices of warre, as in the functions of peace: which notwithstanding though the praise of warre, and the manner of discipline thereunto belonging, be necessary to a Citie, for the preseruation of the libertie and defence of the confines, and contay­neth [Page 9] in it selfe great dignitie and goodlinesse: yet the common sence of men doth not allow these offices of warre (by which the ruine and slaughter of mankinde is procured) to be for themselues desired, and that all other ciuile offices should be thereunto referred: for it were the token of an vnciuile disposition, or rather of a man hating humanitie to wish for warres, slaughters, & burnings, for this onely cause that he might be famous in matters of warre, and adde thereunto (if it please you) that he might be honored with the name of a great cap­tain: wherefore all philosophers of greatest marke haue Warre is to be desired for the cause of peace.in this one point agreed, that warre is to be desired for the cause of peace, and that the whole function of mili­tarie vertue, and the commendation thereof ought to be referred to the offices of peace: wherefore that go­uernour of a commonwealth that would be accounted worthy of praise, & (as the saying is) a man perfectly ac­complished, ought to vse that temperature, & to main­taine that order, that the whole commonwealth may seeme accommodated to vertue, and withall, that it bee rather thought to attend to the exercises of peace, then to the offices of warre, yet in the meane time not con­temning such thinges as pertaine to the discipline of warres; because many times the militare vertue (so that the same be vsed without iniurie) is necessary to defend and to enlarge the confines. But things being once or­dered as we haue said, it is wont then to be doubted of, whether it bee better that one or few haue the gouern­ment of the whole citie, or rather the whole multitude, as many doe describe the estate of that, which ought properly to be called a commonwealth. And truely to me it seemeth exceedingly well and wisely said of them, [Page 10] Howsoeuer the successe hath allowed the gouern­ment of Ve­nice, either in regard of the smalnesse of their territory, or the strong situati­on of their ci­tie: yet there was neuer any example of a­ny other great cōmonwealth but that did soone perish by the plurali­ty of commā ­ders: all great philosophers chiefly extol­ling the mo­narchy; & all course of times & ex­amples con­firming their opinion. that deemed the gouernment of men to bee vnfitly granted to one alone, but that there should bee a thing more diuine to whom this office should be giuen, as out of many sorts of creatures may be gathered. For a sheep gouerneth not a flock of sheep, nor an oxe, nor an horse a heard of oxen, or horses; but a creature more excellent defendeth and gouerneth them, which is man, which is a thing manifest to al men, of how much more worth he is then those brute creatures: by the like reason (if so it might be brought to passe) should man be gouerned by som thing more diuine & excellent thē man, but see­ing in worldly things (which are with sence perceiued) there is nothing found more excellent thē man, & man being a certaine diuerse creature, & consisting of diffe­rent parts, as hauing the inferior forces of his mind cō ­mon, as it were with brutish creatures: but with the su­perior powers therof, participating (in a manner) with the immortal Gods: that rightly ought amongst men to obtain the place of gouernment & rule, which is in man highest & of greatest participation with dignity: which is as all men do acknowledge the mind, being by nature grafted in vs as a beame of the heauēly brightnes: ther­fore euil shal that commonwealth be prouided for, that That ought a­mongst men to obtaine the place of go­uernment and rule, which is in mā highest, & of greatest participation with diuinitie.shal be committed to the gouernment of a man, whom many times those inferior and brutish powers doe per­turbe, & call backe from the true path of reason: but that office is rather to be committed to the mind, pure and void of perturbations: wherefore by a certaine diuine counsell when by other meanes it might not, mankinde through the inuention of lawes seemeth to haue attai­ned this point, that this office of gouerning assemblings of men should be giuen to the minde and reason onely: [Page 11] the same being free from passion, which among many other the infinit blessings & gifts of heauen, is not to be accounted in the lowest, but rather the highest ranke, if we will truely consider the vtilitie of lawes: for first in enacting them, many wise men meete together, who by long vse growen skilfull in many things, by compa­ring the inuentions and examples of others with their owne experience, do at length after long consultation determine that which shall seeme best vnto them, their minds being then directly bent to vertue, free from ha­tred, friendship, or other perturbation: the cause of no The excellency of lawes.priuate man being interessed in the establishing of laws, which in courses of mans iudgement often happeneth. But after that lawes once are enacted, if any then trans­gresse them, & chaunce to suffer the punishments that they inflict, he cannot in reason blame any man, and in this case it is not to be feared that any sedition or rancor growne among the citizens, being the greatest & most dangerous contagion of cōmonwealths: whereas con­trariwise when any man is punished by the iudgement of men not fortified with lawes, great & grieuous enmi­ties do sundry times ensue; for it scarcely can be chosen, but that we remaine ill affected towards him, of whom we haue receiued harme, so that I cannot well resolue whether mankind be more beholding for any other The inuenti­on of lawes was by the ancients, con­secrated vnto the immortall Gods.thing to nature the mother of all things, then it is for this inuention of lawes, which was of the ancients and not vnworthely consecrated to the immortall Gods: but which serueth more meruailous, Aristotle ptince of philosophers, in that booke of the world which he did dedicat to great Alexāder, found not any thing to which he might likelier resemble God, thē to an autentike law [Page 12] in a Citie rightly gouerned: so that the opinion of this great philosopher was in manner, that God was the same in the vniuersity of things, as an ancient lawe in a ciuill company: and in his bookes wherein hee entrea­teth of a commonwealth, he tearmeth law to be a mind without appetite, which is to say pure, cleare, and free from the infirmitie of any passion, whereby any man, of how slow conceit soeuer, may perceiue the fitnesse & necessitie of that of which we spake before: that is, that something more diuine then man shoulde rule and go­uerne the companies of men: for a man being aduanced to this office of gouernement, (as men endued with wisedome, and integrity are rare) and they for the most part may erre in iudging and decerning things through the force of their affections, which do perturbe and di­uert the mind from her true course and intention, it fol­lowes of necessitie, that thinges cannot go so currant as they should, yea though it might be so, that wee might find out a man so wise and vertuous, and of such sted­fast constancic, that no perturbation were able to make his mind recoile from his duetie, yet neither on this con­dition were the rule of man to be wished for before the gouernment of lawes: for he being of a mortall & fraile nature could not long enioy that function, when lawes (as I said) do in a manner concurre with eternitie. By these I thinke it sufficiently persuaded, that the souerain­ty of gouernment should be recommended not to men but to lawes, to whose will yet some few thinges may be permitted, that are not well in lawes to bee compre­hended: neuerthelesse it is necessary, that there bee A Gardian of the lawes.made a certaine Gardian as Liestenant and minister of the laws, who may gouerne the commonwealth accor­ding [Page 13] to the rule of the lawes. And because all those thinges that come into iudgement cannot be compre­hended in lawes, that he then be an arbiter & ruler of those matters that are in question: now againe retur­neth that controuersie of constitution of lawes, which Whether a few or the whole multi­tude be to bee preferred to the defence of of the lawes.to some might seeme already decided, that is to say, whether one, or a few, or the whole multitude, be to be preferred to the defence of the lawes, & to iudge those things that do not fal into the comprehension of lawes. And though in the opinion of many men, the kingly domination is of highest esteeme and greatest account: neuerthelesse I shoulde thinke that though the prin­cipalitie of one alone, that should lawfully, and by right challenge to himselfe the dignity of a king: if the mat­ter be by it selfe considered, shoulde seeme of all other the best, yet in regarde of the breuitie of life, and mans fraile disposition, which for the most parte enclineth to the worser parte, the gouernment of the multitude is farre more conuenient to the assemblie of citizens, which experience the mistresse of all thinges doth ele­gantly teach vs, because that wee haue not read that there was among auncientes any souerainty of a king, neyther haue wee in our time seene any that had not soone declyned into tiranny: on the contrary side ma­ny commonwealthes that haue continued prosperous­ly many ages, and flourished both in peace and warre, yet is the whole multitude of it selfe vnapt to gouerne, vnlesse the same be in some sort combined together; for No ciuil soci­ety can remain perfect, vnlesse the same be in a vnity contai­ned.there cannot bee a multitude without the same bee in some vnitie contayned; so that the ciuill society (which consisteth in a certaine vnity) will bee dissolued, if the multitude become not one by some meane of reason, so [Page 14] that the best philosophers, and those that haue learned­lyest written of the ordering of a commonwealth, iudg­ed that in the gouernment therof there should be a tem­perature betweene the state of nobility & popular sort, to the ende that the inconueniences of either gouern­mental one might be auoided, and the commodities of both ioyntly inioyed, for which cause they doe highly The commonwealth of the Lacedemoni­ans gouerned by the king, the Ephores & the Senate. The same wholly in­stituted to the offices & ex­ercises of war.commend the commonwealth of the Lacedemonians, in which the kings, the Ephores, & the senates made a cer­tain mixture, so that it is hard to decipher vnder what sort of gouernment the same can be placed: onely this they reprehend, that it was onely instituted to the offi­ces of war without any regard of the offices of peace & quietnesse, wherby it came to passe, that the same being glorious, and renowned in many excellent vertues so soon as euer it began to liue at quiet, presently declined, & at length vtterly fell to ruine: which also and for the same cause befell the Romaines, neyther was the euent thereof vnforeseene of sundry of the chiefe Senators, The cause of the ruine of the Lacede­monian & Romane com­monwealth.among the which Nasica was of opinion, that Carthage (though enuious of the Romane greatnesse, and as it were in competencie withall) ought not to haue beene ruined, to the end that Rome might still haue an enemie with whom to occupie it selfe in armes: lest their e­nemie and corriuall being taken away, the common­wealth being instituted to warre, and the youth nouri­shed in armes, they shoulde turne their weapons vpon themselues, which counsell of Nasica though it was then refused of the Senates, and the contrary decreed: neuertheles the euēt proued the same to haue bin most wise & prudent: for Carthage being destroyed, presently (in a manner) they burst out into ciuill warres through [Page 15] which at length the same being the most flourishing & mighty commonwealth that euer was, fel downe to the ground, and that Citie abounding in such opulency, as being in manner Queene of the worlde, became a pray to the barbarous. But to come now at length to our determined taske, it appeareth that our auncestors, which instituted the commonwealth of Venice, were men indued with admirable wisedome and vertue, in that they omitted nothing which might seeme to per­taine to the right institution of a commonwealth: for first they ordayned the whole life and exercise of their citizens to the vse and office of vertue, and alwaies with greater regard and reckoning applyed their minds to the maintenance of peace then to glorie of warres: The Veneti­ans applyed their minds, more to the maintenance of peace then to the glory of wars.bending alwaies their chiefest care and studie to the preseruation of ciuill concorde and agreement among themselues, not in the mean time neglecting warlike of­fices, such (I meane) as were fitte and conuenient for our Citie, of which the situation is such, that it ser­ueth well, and is commodious for warres by sea, but vnfitte for warres by land: for neyther squadrons of horsemen, nor troupes of footmen can by any meanes be accomodated thereunto, as by my former descrip­tion, thereof may easily bee coniectured. Besides, they vsed such a moderation and temperature, and such a mixture of all estates, that this onely cittie retayneth a princely soueraigntie, a gouernment of the nobilitie, & a popular authority, so that the formes of them all seeme to be equally ballanced, as it were with a paire of weights, as more plainely hereafter shall appeare.

But now finally to come to the institutiō of our Vene­tian commonwealth, the whole authority of the city frō [Page 16] whose decrees and lawes aswell the senate as all other The great councell in which consi­fteth the whol authority of the common­wealth of Venice.magistrates deriue their power and authority, is in that councell, into which all the gentlemen of the Citie be­ing once past the age of 25. yeares, are admitted: and sundry of them not yet come to that age, so that they be full twentie, which priuiledge they obtaine by the benefite of lottes: of which hereafter we will discourse the whole manner: Now first I am to yeeld you a rec­koning how and with what wisedome it was ordayned by our auncestors, that the common people should not bee admitted into this company of citizens, in whose authority consisteth the whole power of the common wealth, then that this definition of citizens was not with lesse wisedome measured, rather by the nobility of li­nage, then the greatnes of wealth, as in auncient com­monwealthes it was wont, & as many old philosophers do prescribe: for though the citie is the company of ci­tizens: yet all those men whose trauaile the Citie nee­deth, yea and that dwell within the walles thereof, are not generally to bee reckoned in the number, nor regi­stred in the right of citizens: for euery citie standeth in neede of artificers, and many mercenarie people, and hired seruants, of which none can bee truely tearmed a citizen: for a citizen is a free man, but those are all ser­uile, eyther priuately or publikely: for mercenarie men Mercenary men and arti­ficers to be held as pub­like seruants.& artificers, are all to be accounted as publique seruants: for it is to bee beleeued that a liuing creature is not o­therwise made of nature, then it is needefull that the citie should bee of men: for as in a liuing creature are many partes that haue no life, yet the creature needeth them towardes the maintenance of life: so in a compa­ny of citizens, there is a necessary vse of many men, [Page 17] who neuerthelesse ought neither to bee, nor to be repu­ted or placed in the number of citizens: for which cause it was wisely ordayned of our ancestors, that the whole people should not haue power in this commonwealth, which they desired to fashion in the highest degree of perfection. Because many troubles & popular tumults arise in those citties, whose gouernment is swaied by the common people, which we haue also read, hath beene obserued in sundry commonwealthes, & also deliuered in way of precept by many and great philosophers, yet many were of contrarie opinion, deeming that it would doe well, if this manner of gouerning the common­wealth should rather bee defined by abilitie and abun­dance of riches: but here againe they fell into great ab­surdities The absurdity of those that elect the rulers & magistrates of their com­monwealth by the abun­dance of their riches.and no small inconueniences: for it happeneth often that those of the basest sort, yea of the very skum of the people, do scrape together great wealth, as those that apply themselues to filthy artes, and illiberall occu­pations, neuer sparing the toilesome and carefull wea­ring out of their liues, but with an intollerable sauing, defrauding themselues of the comforts of life, thereby to increase their substance. Contrariwise the honest ci­tizens, and those that are liberally brought vppe, often­times fall to pouertie, either (as it often happeneth) by aduerse fortune, or els that being wholly addicted to noble and liberall studies, they neglect the increasing of their wealth: whereby it commeth that filthy and ill mannerd men sauouring of nothing but gaine, vtterly ignorant of good artes, by little and little come to go­uerne the commonwealth: and those that are honest & of liberall condition by the decay of their substance, do loose the right of citizens, wherby of necessity there [Page 18] must arise great seditions and troubles to the common­wealth. Therefore our wise and prudent ancestors, lest their commonwealth should happen into these calami­ties, ordered that this definition of the publike rule, Nobility of li­neage to be in election of magistrates preferred be­fore riches.should go rather by the nobility of lineage, then by the estimation of wealth: yet with that temperature, that men of chiefe & supreme nobilitie should not haue this rule alone (for that wold rather haue been the power of a few then a commonwealth) but also euery other citi­zen whosoeuer not ignobly borne: so that all which were noble by birth, or enobled by vertue, or well de­seruing of the commonwealth, did in the beginning ob­tain this right of gouernment: which hath likewise hap­pened in these times of ours, yea and some forrain men and strangers haue beene adopted into this number of Strangers sometimes a­dopted into the right of citi­zens by the Venetians.citizens, eyther in regard of their great nobility, or that they had beene dutifull towardes the state, or els had done vnto them some notable seruice. This whole as­sembly therefore of the citizens (or as commonly it is termed) this great councell (vpon whose authority the whole power of this commonwealth, as also the digni­tie of the senat and of all the magistrates dependeth) re­presenteth The Duke ru­leth during life.in this commonwealth the forme of a popu­lar state. The Duke who hath no time of gouernment limited vnto him, but ruleth during life, beareth the shew of a kingly power, representing in all thinges the glory, grauitie and dignity of a king: the rest of the citi­zens do beare him honor and reuerence as vnto a king: & all decrees, lawes, and publike letters go forth vnder his name. But the Senate, the tenne, the colledge of el­ders or chiefe counsellors, which amongst vs of the cō ­mon people are commonly called the sages: those I say [Page 19] which do consult of matters, & after from the common­wealth do make report vnto the Senat, carry with them a certaine shew of an Aristocracy or gouernment of the nobilitie: which seeing they are the chiefe parts of this commonwealth, before we come to the meaner magi­strates; we will speake particularly of these. We wil take our beginning from the greater councell, vpon which the whole commonwealth dependeth.

All yong men of the nobilitie, which haue accom­plished Yong Gentle­men at 20. yeares of their age admitted to the great councell of Venice.the age of 20. years, do go vnto the office which commonly is called aduocatory, to which the defence of the lawes chiefly belongeth: before which presen­ting themselues with their father, or with their mother: if he be dead, or in case of both their wants, with some neere kinseman, they doe proue with the witnesse be­sides of two honest men (neither of them being of the mothers kindred) themselues to be borne of that father whom they alledge, not bastards, but in lawfull matri­mony, & that their mother liued in fame of an honest woman. The witnesses sweare in this manner, that they do manifestly know it by the report and consent of An oath taken in the behalfe of the yong gentlemen before they are admitted into the coun­cell.al those that know them. Then the father or the mother or (they both wanting) the kinsemen affirme with the oath, that the young man hath passed his 20. yeares: which thinges after they are directly registred by the clearke of the office, they then attend the fourth day of the moneth of Decemb. on which day the names of all these yong men that haue not yet by lotte obtained the right of citizens, nor are not passed 25. years old, are put into a pot, and carried vnto the prince, & there the same set before the counsellors, with which there is another pot, wherin are round balles equall with the number of the names writē in the first, euery one hauing his marks; [Page 20] the fift part of these balles is guilded with gold, the rest with siluer: the prince taketh out of the first potte the name, and then out of the next potte the ball, which if he be of the golden sort, the young man whose name was drawen, hath presently the authority of publike power, and is admitted into the great counsaile, but if it be of the siluered, he leeseth for that time his right, and expecteth his fortune of the yeare to come, vnlesse in the meane time hee accomplish the 25. yeare of his age: for euery gentleman comming to that age hath presently the right of a citizen, and is made pertaker of the publike authoritie, by this meanes the fift part of the noble yong men, that put themselues to this tryall, is e­uery yeare admitted and enabled to giue his voyce with the other citizens: but if it so happen that the fa­ther or grandfather of any gentleman, eyther in regard of absence or other cause, had neuer vsed this publique right, nor his name neuer beene registred in the com­mon booke, that contayneth the names of all the nobi­litie (lest there should be any fraud vsed, or lest any ba­stard shoulde vnder hande enter into this company of No bastard admitted for noble.gentlemen) they would not that this matter should bee iudged and determined of onely by the office of the ad­uocatory magistrates, but it is prouided for by a lawe, that they should proue their nobilitie by witnesses and publike writings, and that the aduocators should make The counsell of the [...].report ouer to the forty men, and so the cause being vn­derstood and throughly examined and debated of by the forty men, it is at length iudged whether the party pretending is to be admitted for noble or no.

But to the end that no one shoulde scotfree aduen­ture the triall of this iudgement, it was also prouided, [Page 21] that whosoeuer should vndertake this proofe of his no­bilitie, shoulde first bring vnto the magistrate fiue hun­dred crownes of gold, by them to be put into the trea­sure, in case the pretendant speed not in his suit. Such was the diligence of our ancestors, to the end that this congregation of nobility should no way be defiled. For which cause those very citizens which are nobly borne, and haue past their 25. yeares, obtaine not yet the au­thority of giuing their voices, till being so presented before the magistrates, they proue the accomplish­ment of the age by the othe of their father, mother, or neere kinseman, and also by two witnesses, that they were born of that gentleman, who they say was their fa­ther, not bastards, nor of a mother any way reproched.

Now that we haue expressed the whole manner by which the citizens do enter into the publike authoritie, I thinke it worthy to be marked, that our ancestors did deeme it a thing of great moment for the maintenance of the citizens in vnitie and loue, if they did often meet and assemble together. Therefore as wel by lawes as by prescription of time, it is an ancient custome that this The great coūcel assem­bled euery eight day.great counsaile should be assembled euery eight day, & sometimes oftner. The especiall office of which is to create all the magistrates: aswell those that administer iustice in the cittie, and inioy other offices in the com­monwealth, as the senate, the tenne, the Pretors, the Captaines and treasurers of castles and Citties, which are vnder the fellowship of the Venetian empire, as also the gouernors of sortresses, the General of their nauie, their ambassadors, captaines of their gallies, and final­ly to conclude all in a word, all those whosoeuer abroad or at home, haue charge vnder the commonwealth. [Page 22] Likewise all such lawes as pertain to the constitution of the cōmonwealth, are enacted by the authority of this councell, which is especially vsed to be done when the Duke is dead, there being no new successor as yet crea­ted. But this shalbe spoken of more hereafter.

Now we wil expresse the whole manner of creating The order of the Session house.magistrates. Euery holliday in manner about noone this great councell is assembled into a great and spaci­ous Ten very long benches in the hall where the great councell is kept.hall, which we will call the Session house. There are in the same ten exceeding long benches, equalling in manner the length of the hall: the cittizens sit downe e­uery one when they come, where it pleaseth them, for there is no place appointed to any, except to some Ma­gistrates of chiefe authority, as the Duke, the Counsel­lors, & the three presidents of the fortie, which sit on a higher seate, & onely haue authoritie to make report o­uer to the great Councell. After these the Aduocatory magistrates, and the three heads of the tenne sit downe in their appointed places, in the midst of certaine ben­ches, that are also somewhat higher then the rest, & are close adioyning to the wall of the hall, & at length very farre from the Duke are the seates of the olde and new auditors, of whom we will speake more hereafter. But the rest of the citizens (as I said) sit downe without a­ny place appointed where it pleaseth them. Then at an appointed houre the dores of the Session house are shut fast, & the keyes brought to the Tribunal of the prince, & there laid at his feete. Then the chiefe Chauncellor (which though it be not an honor of the nobilitie, yet it is of very great dignity) standeth vp, & from a high e­minent place declareth what roomes and offices are va­cant, & then to be prouided for▪ which being pronoun­ced, [Page 23] he passeth straight from that place to the Tribunal of the Prince, and there with a loude voyce citeth the Magistrates being Presidentes of the sessions (as is saide before) that they should come to the Prince, or to the Counsellors if the prince be away. They being sum­moned do presently come, and there with oth do pro­mise to do their vttermost diligence, that the lawes may be obserued, and that they will not in these offices pro­nounce any citizen, that shall any way haue violated the decrees, but that they will cause such a one to be se­uerely punished, according to the rigor of the lawes: which ceremony being ended, euery one returneth to his place except one of the aduocators, and one of the heades of the tenne, which go to the farthest part of the hall right opposite against the princes seat, & there sitte downe in appointed places. The other aduocators sitte downe on the right fide of the session house: and the o­ther heads of the tenne right ouer against them on the left side. In like manner doe the olde and new auditors place themselues in the farthest seate of the hall (which as I said, is far distant from the place of the prince) some on the right hand, & some on the left, to the ende, as it should seeme, that by this manner seating themselues, they should serue (as it were) for gards or watchmen to this great assembly, least any thing should there happen to be done vnespied or vnpunished, against the lawes or order of the Sessions. The Magistrates then being in this manner placed, there are brought before the tribu­nall The manner of choosing their electors,of the prince 3. pots, hauing in them little bals, some of gold, & some of siluer: one of the which is placed in the middest of the Tribunall seate, and the other two at each ende one, in eyther of which there are infinite [Page 24] balles of siluer, but onely thirtie of golde, but in the middle potte, there are not aboue threescore balles in all, of which sixe and thirtie are of gold, and the other foure and twentie of siluer, and the golden balles are all marked with certaine letters, which they bring forth euery sessions by lot, least otherwise there might be de­ceit vsed. The pottes being placed, three of the yongest counsellors arise from their seats, and sit downe on the lowest place of the Tribunall, by the three pottes, euerie counsellor by a seuerall pot. This being thus done and ordered, then that ranke of citizens, whose lot commeth forth, riseth presently on either parte of the session house: for throughout the length of the hall, are placed tenne rankes of benches, in which (as I said before) the citizens sitte as pleaseth them: to two of which rankes one lot onely serueth, that is to say, to those that on ey­ther side of the hall are opposite one to the other. This ranke then whose lotte is drawen, is called by the cryer with a high voice, which ranke, and that which respon­deth to it on the other side of the hall, presently ariseth, and the citizens in order as they sate, go vnto those pots which the counsellors haue charge of, neere vnto the princes seate, and each of them putting in his hande ta­keth out a ball, which if it be of siluer, hee returneth by a contrarie way to the seate whence he came: if it be of gold, hee sheweth it to the Counsellor, who hath the charge of that potte, to bee viewed if it bee of the right marke.

This manner of marke was ordained, least some one otherwise might bring with him a golden ball, which holding priuily in his hande, hee might seeme to haue drawne out of the potte, and so by fraude obtaine the [Page 25] place of an Elector. Hee then to whose lotte befalleth one of these golden balles, goeth straight to the middle potte, and draweth out another ball, which if it bee of filuer, hee returneth whence hee came, loosing for that time his voice of election: but if it be of gold he as­cendeth the Tribunal, and sitteth downe on the princes side in a place appointed him. The seconde that shall haue the like lot goeth also to the same place, and like­wise the third, & so the others vntill they be nine in all, which maketh complete the first number, who are in that ranke placed in order, without respect of any thing, saue onely of their age. Here it is not to be forgotten, that those who by this benefite of lot are made electors, are presently in a loud voyce proclaimed by the Chan­cellor in such sorte, that the whole assembly heareth him: after which no one of his neere kinsemen or al­lyance may by any meanes attempt this lot of making himselfe Elector: neyther may there any more then two of one family be admitted to stand for the elector­shippe: which was with great wisedome ordained of our auncestors, to the ende that this honour of election might stretch to many families, and this publike bene­fite be largely extended among the citizens, for of rea­son it ought to suffice if the lot fauouringtwo of one fa­mily make them pertakers of publique authority. But to returne from whence I haue digressed, so soone as this first number of the nine electors is complete, they The manner of the choyce of magistrates made by the Electors.go presently out of the Session house into a diuided in­ner roome, where also is present a Secretary of the commonwealth, who relateth to the Electors those thinges that are by the lawes ordained, and what they are to obserue in their election of Magistrates. Like­wise [Page 34] hee readeth vnto them the decrees of the senate, and other lawes, by which it is defended, that the Ele­ctors shall not by any meanes suffer themselues to bee bribed or corrupted with money, nor vse in their ele­ction any fraude or deceipt. This being done the nine Electors are placed in seates, euery one according to his age, the eldest in the highest and worthiest place: for the Venetians will not allow among their citizens any other difference, then only of age, because from thence neuer sprang any sedition nor contention: neither is the same omitted of those gret philosophers. Aristotle (I say) in his Politiques, and Zenophon in that famous worke of his, of the institution of Cyrus King of Persia. The Ele­ctors thus placed, there are then nine little bals throw­en into a potte, each of them marked with his number from the first to the ninth: & in a scroll somewhat long are written the magistracies in order that are in this ses­sion to be prouided for. The eldest of the electors first putteth in his hand into the pot, & taketh out a ball, ac­cording to the number with which the same is marked, he hath authoritie to name what citizen hee will in the same magistracy, which is in the scroll by the said num­ber deciphered. So is it with the second, third, & like­wise the rest, so that euery Elector by the benefite of lot is made the pronouncer of a particular magistrate. Af­ter that he, to whome the lot of the first magistrate hap­peneth, hath pronounced the citizen, that to him see­meth Sixe of the 9. voices confir­meth the ele­cted citizen.good, the 9. electors go to voices, of which if the elected haue 6. of his side of that number of the 9. ele­ctors, then he is presently entituled in the magistracy, & his name recorded in the long scroll, in which are writ­ten all those magistracies for which these sessions are [Page 35] called, but if he haue fewer then sixe voices (which sel­dome happeneth) then is there another named of the same elector, & so forward still, vntill in the end one be named, of whom sixe of the electors shal allow: the selfe same manner is obserued in the second, third, & all the rest, vntil the number of those 9. electors haue euery one in particular chosen a particular magistrate: while these things are in handling in the inner diuided roome, the other citizens in the session house keepe on their course in drawing of lots as they began, & going to the pottes accordingly, as by lot it falleth to their ranks, they draw out bals, vntill 9. others haue out of either pot drawen a golden lot. These fill vp the second row of electors, & they also (according vnto the degrees of their age) are placed in the conclaue, or diuided roome: where they find an other chancellor or secretary, who without dif­fering one iot from the former, reciteth vnto them the decrees of the senate, which they are to obserue, & brin­geth forth to the selfe same magistrates a scroll of the selfe same order as the other was, which was brought to the first order of electors in the conclaue: & so then the lots again are drawen of the electors, and as euery one draweth, so according to the number & order aforesaid doth each of them pronounce a particular cittizen in that magistracy, which the number of his lot assigneth him. And in like manner the other third 9. obserue the aforesaid ceremonies frō point to point: & so likewise the fourth 9. so that in all they fill vp the number of 36. citizens, for so many were the golden bals that were in the pot in the middle seat: so that of 60. citizens which drew out the first 60. golden balles 36. doe become ele­ctors, & are diuided into 4. ranks: but the twentie foure which drew the siluer balles out of the middle pot, fru­strated [Page 28] of their hope, returne them to their seates. I know how difficill a thing it is by writing to set downe these small particularities, being so farre different from the vse of the ancient Romaines: but I had rather bee blamed for folly, then for want of diligence, for I will not willingly passe ouer the smallest thing, without ma­king mention of it: so that none how curious soeuer, may in reason desire any more at my hands. But to re­turne where I left, there is then in euery office, (for which that day the sessions are appointed) by the foure orders of Electors, four citizens chosen, I meane by eue­ry particular order of electors a particular citizen, vn­lesse it happen some one selfe man to bee named of two The choise of the competi­tors.or three of the orders of the electors (which sometimes happeneth) but for the most part there are of euery of­fice or Magistracie foure competitors, though in some of lesse dignitie, & marke there are onely two, of which inferior offices the two first orders of electors haue po­wer to chuse and name the competitors, of which pri­uiledge and iurisdiction the two later orders are frustra­ted and depriued: but so soone as the competitors of all the offices are chosen, presently the electors are dis­missed, neyther may they that day giue their voice more to any one, neither bee so much as present at the sessions: And then the chiefe secretarie (which honor as I said, may not be giuen to a gentleman, and yet ne­uerthelesse is of great dignitie and sway) with a high voice pronounceth from his seate the competitors of the first magistracie, and particularly relateth who is chosen, and of what order of the electors. Neyther omitteth he which of the electors was the first author of naming him. In which place me thinkes it ought not [Page 29] to bee let slippe, how that it is by law established, that the same elector (who is the author of the pronunciati­on, The Elector becommeth surety for him whom be pro­nounceth.and choice of any competitor) is reckened to be in manner as a suretie for him: for afterwardes hauing gone beyond his competitors, and obtained the desired office, if hee then chance to conuert to himselfe any of the publike treasure, or goods, and be thereof conuic­ted, and withall remaine vnable to make satisfaction, then that elector by whose authority he was created & pronounced, is bound out of his owne substance to pay the same to the treasure house, The competitors of the first magistracie being then pronounced by the chiefe secretary in a high voice, presently after they are named if they be then present, euery one with his parentage, & dearest friendes and kinsfolke goeth out of the session house, into an appointed conclaue or inner roome, and there stay vntil the magistracy be determined of. Then againe after all this, the chiefe secretary admonisheth them all that they are bounde both by diuine and hu­mane lawes, without any regard of priuate commodi­tie, to fauour and assist him whom they shall thinke fit­test for the honour and commodity of the common­wealth. Then he nameth the first competitor, that is, he which was chosen of the first order of electors: for whome lottes are to be tryed. Then presently rise vp so many young men, as will serue two to euery ranke of benches. They carry in their handes certaine pottes, made and ioyned together with a maruailous kinde of artifice; the vttermost part of which is greene, and the interior white, both couered: whereinto when you put your hande, it is in your choise to let your ball fall into which of the two you please: the manner of the [Page 38] pottes being so contriued, that no one of those that are present, though he behold it neuer so stedfastly, can tell into whether of the two the ball was put: they doe not this with beanes, but with certaine linnen balles, lest that otherwise by the sound of their fal there might be some coniecture made into whether of the pots the bal was let fal for our ancestors deemed it to be a thing most expedient to our commonwealth, that our iudge­ments might bee free, and therefore they tooke great care, that the suffrages might be secrete. The yong men therefore euery one with his pots thus ioyned together go euery one to his owne bench, and offer their pottes to euery one of the citizens in order as they sitte, who shewing euery one his ball openly, putteth his hand in­to the pot, & letteth the same fall into whether parte he listeth. If he will giue his voice in fauour, then into the inner white; if otherwise, then into the vttermost which is greene: and this order is vsed throughout all the ben­ches, whereby it commeth to passe, that in a very small moment of time the whole assembly of citizens haue yeelded their suffrages. Then the pots are brought to the princes seate, and the balles taken out and put into two broad dishes, that is to say, those which were in the white pot, & in fauour into a white dish, & those which were in the greene pot, & in disfauour, into a greene dish. Then they are brought to the counsellors (in mid­dest of whom the prince sitteth) to be numbred & told: the suffrages of the white dish fauouring the competi­titor are numbred of those counsellors which sit on the right hand of the prince: the other of the contrary dish & contrary effect, are tolde by those counsellors which sit on the left hand of the prince: the publike secretaries [Page 39] are present where the counsellors are, and doe presently write vp the number both of the one & the other balles that are reckoned. In the mean time while these recko­nings are in hand, they begin their suffrages for the se­cond competitor, which was chosen of the seconde or­der of the electors & in like sort the suffrages are brought to the counsellors, which presently are numbred, & the secretaries register them in writing: the like order is ob­serued for the third & fourth competitor, if there be so many. All the suffrages being reckoned vp, he that hath them most in his fauour, so that they exceede the halfe is pronounced & chosen of the chiefe secretary: at such time as the sessions being ended the councel is to be dis­missed. But if it so fall out, that none of the competi­tors for that magistracy haue any more then the iust halfe of the lots in his fauour, then is the whole procee­ding held as voide, and the appointment of that office deferred to the next sessions.

After that the first magistracie is in the sessions de­termined of, then are the names pronounced of those that are elected in the second, & the competitors go in­to the conclaue with their kindred and alliance, & those that were shut in before (that is to say, the kindred and allyance of the first competitors) returne into the sessi­ons: and the very like order and manner as in the first do they obserue in their suffrages for the competitors of the second magistracie: which being numbred by the counsellors hee is helde for elected, that exceedeth the rest in number of voyces, so that they exceede the halfe. The Sessions being ended, the names of the elected are pronounced by the chiefe Secretarie, and then the whole Councell is dismissed: which may [Page 32] The councell may not be prolonged af­ter the setting of the Sunne. not at all bee helde or prolonged after the sunne is once downe: so if in that day they make not an ende of all, then do they declare the names of those that are already chosen: and as for those that remaine, there is no rec­koning to bee made at all: so that they remaine fru­strate of the benefite which the nomination of the Ele­ctors had put them in hope of. And this was so orday­ned not without great reason, for if the matter shoulde haue beene prolonged within night, it would not haue beene easie for those magistrates that are Presidentes of the sessions, to containe so great a multitude of citizens in order, but that through fauor of the darkenesse, they woulde haue attempted somewhat preiudiciall to the lawes. Therefore our graue auncestors, men indeede wise & prouident, preuenting the inconueniences that thereby might happen with exceeding carefulnesse and wisedome, ordained that the sessions shoulde not by a­ny meanes be continued after the setting of the Sunne; neither would that by any meanes that light should bee brought into the hall while the sessions endured. This is the whole manner of the proceeding in the sessions: but by the way it is to be noted, that the offices are so di­stributed among the citizens, that two of one family, kindred, or neere alliance, may not by any meanes haue Two of one, kindred on fa­mily may not haue place in office, nor bee Electors.place in one and the same office; neither in the sessions may two of one family, or neere alliance be by benefite of lotte electors (as I said before) the same likewise be­ing ordained with great reason and discretion, to the end that the preheminence of publike authoritie might pertaine to many, and not bee engrossed vp among a few: least thereby through too much greatnesse of power might become disturbers or oppressors of the [Page 33] commonwealth: and on the other side, those that doe find themselues voide and hopelesse of honour and go­uernment, might grow into a dislike and hatred of the same.

The dange­rous estate of that gouern­ment, which many of the citizens doe seeke to alter & vndermine. And without doubt it is almost impossible for that commonwealth to maintaine it selfe afoot, and to stand firme, whose gouernment many of the citizens do seek to alter or vndermine: so that nothing is more proper to a commonwealth, then that the common authority and power should belong to many: for it is iust that the citizens, by whom the state of the Cittie is maintained, being otherwise among themselues equall, should not in this distribution of honours bee made vnequall. But they that do reduce the publike authority into a few fa­milies, doe easily fall vppon that estate of gouernment, which the Greeks call Oligarchia. Therefore in the com­monwealth of Venice, the offices are so diuided among the citizens, that inso much as may be, euery family & kindred may be pertaker of the publike honors and of­fices, and yet in that measure, that not euery one do go­uerne, but those onely that doe excell the rest in hone­stie and wisedome, and are deemed to be such men, as will more regard the publike, then the priuate common­ditie. That first institution hath I know not what of po­pular, but the other sauoureth only of the gouernment of the Nobilitie: whereby it is manifest that there is in this cittie of ours an excellent contriued mixture of the best and iustest gouernments: for though vpon the first viewe this great councell of ours seeme to beare the shew of a popular estate, yet looking well into it, you shall find therein an apparant entermixture of the go­uernment or the nobility. I grant that the election of [Page 34] The commō ­wealth of Ve­nice is neither a popular e­state, nor an Olygarchy, but a wel tem­pered gouern­ment be­tweene both. magistrates by lot is a matter popular, especially where right and iustice is measured, not by a determinate pru­dence, but simply by an arithmetical equality: for consi­dering (say they) that euery one is a cittizen & freeman, one as well as another, and that among equalles things ought equally to bee diuided, euery one ought to bee sweetned alike with participation of the honours and commodities of the commonwealth, without more exclusion of one more then another: now in regarde that all cannot rule at once, but by turnes, they thinke fit that the matter should be committed meerely to lot, & that they should rule, to whome the same should bee fauourable. The contrary is alleadged by those, where full power & authority consisteth in the mightinesse of a few, for they suppose vnequall thinges to belong to vnequall persons, and that therefore mean men should content themselues with a meane & honorlesse estate, & that the great and highest dignities should belong to them that do farthest exceed the rest in riches: in which reckoning eyther of both parties strayeth far wide from the true & perfect path, though eyther of them relyeth vpon a reason in apparance seeming true, for wheras the one affirmeth equall thinges to belong to equall per­sons, & the other that men vnequal in riches should be vnequall in gouernment: the first measuring the equa­lity & likenes only by number, & the other the vnlike­linesse and imparitie onely by riches, they are without doubt both of them besides the cushion: For they that are in number equall, are in some sort equall, but not wholly, & those that are in riches vnequall, though in some sort vnequall, yet are they not wholly to bee ac­counted vnequall: but the institution of a ciuill life ten­ding [Page 35] chiefly to liue wel, it is only vertue that must make this difference. To those then that do excell the rest in vertue, the chiefest honors are due, as being most wor­thy, & aboue the equalitie of the rest, and so likewise e­quall rule and dignitie belongeth to those that are in vertue equall, and in ciuill industry: and this is the true measure & perfect rule to distinguish men. As therefore the choise of electors by lot is popular: so doeth it also sauor of a noble & better gouernment, that they should bee chiefliest aduanced in honor, that do chiefliest sur­mount the rest in vertue, iudgement, and counsell, and that the vnworthier should receiue the repulse. Where­by you may plainly perceiue, that in this manner of our gouernment there is mingled with a popular shew, the forme of a nobler rule, yet vsed with such temperature, that the same doth not exceed, nor go beyond the mean & manner of the popular authority. For in choice of the electors onely chance ruleth; of which dignitie the worst and basest may without hurt or detriment of the commonwealth, be partakers in equall power with the best & worthiest citizens, but in the essentiall distribu­tion of honors and dignities chaunce hath no power at all, the same being wholly done by a deliberate election & aduised iudgement. And here me thinketh, I ought not to ouerslip in silence, that in those sessions, which do concerne the bestowing of offices, to which men of the greatest wisedome, honesty & diligence are requi­red, the senate of it selfe maketh vp a fift order, to the 4. The senate when any principall of­fice is to be prouided for, hath authori­ty to create a fift compe­titor.before expressed orders of electors. For whiles the o­ther electors seperated in conclaues or places appointed for that purpose, do pronounce such to be competitors, as they shal in their iudgements think meet, thē if so be the sessions do concerne any such especial office, as be­foresaid, the senate doth also withdraw it selfe into an [Page 36] inner chamber, and there euery Senator hath power to name such one as he shall please in the office, of which the present question is: and whosoeuer shall chance to haue most voyces in his fauour, is elected in this cabi­net of the Senate, and created the fift Competitor: whereby it plainely appeareth, that in this common­wealth of ours the forme of an Aristocracie is much more excellent then the popular gouernment. But the manner and meanes of this kind of councell is hitherto (vnlesse I be deceiued) of vs sufficiently expressed and made plaine. Let vs now come to that part of the com­monwealth, the which not vnlike to a well tuned dya­pason in musicke, where the base is to the treble aptly proportioned, carrying with it the shew of a Monar­chie, hath notwithstanding a correspondency with the popular gouernment, and finally a middle sort of Magistrates being betweene them both interposed, doth grow (as it were) into a wel concenting harmony of an excellent com­monwealth.

THe exterior shew of the prince in the Cittie of Venice deliuereth to the eyes of the beholders the per­son of a king, and the very resem­blance of a monarchie: Therefore it shal not in my opinion do amisse if hauing described that assembly of citizens, which representeth the forme of a popular estate (though for the dignity of the matter vnsuffici­ently, yet considering the slendernesse of our forces not altogether vndiligently) if we now take vpon vs to ex­presse the first reason that moued our wise & vertuous auncestors to place one man onely at the helme of their commonwealth, and also when and what was the be­ginning of this royall and princely institution. No man (I suppose) is ignorant of that which is so often of vs in this worke repeated, which is, that a Cittie is a certaine ciuill societie, sufficing within it selfe of such thinges as are necessarie to the leading of a happie and quiet life: and there is no question to be made, but that euery ci­uill societie is contained and linked together in a cer­taine vnitie, and by distraction and breach of that vnity is againe as easily dissolued. For nothing hath sooner ouerthrowne the mightie and opulent estate of many [Page 38] great & glorious citties that hereto fore haue perished, then homebred discord and ciuill dissention. Now a vnitie cannot well be contayned, vnlesse one being pla­ced in authoritie aboue, not onely the vulgar multi­tude, but also all the rest of the citizens and officers, haue authoritie to combine them together, being scat­tered & disioynted, and to bind them (as it were) all in­to one entire body: which the great philosophers that were the searchers out, and (as it were) diuers into the secretes of Nature, did notably marke and obserue, as well in the constitution of the whole worlde, as also of this Microcosme or little worlde, which is Man. For they well founde out, that in this vniuersitie of thinges the many and disagreeing motions of each particular thing, according to the nature thereof, were all vpheld and maintayned vnder one heauenly and eternall mo­uer, and so likewise all causes vnder one, the first cause of all things: and as in a liuing creature there are many and diuers members, whose functions are sundrie and different: yet neuerthelesse are all comprised vnder one onely life & member, which is the hart, and are by the same (as it were) gathered & held in a vnity: so like­wise if the multitude be not so ordered & digested, that it may acknowledge one head and superior, in whose heart shal rest principallie engraued, an especiall care to conserue the common good, & the perfection of ciuill agreement (whereunto the actions as well of euery pri­uate citizen, as publike magistrate, as to the last chiefe & principal end ought to be directed) surely the same can­not long time continue, but drawing diuers waies must needs fal to decay & ruine: for if the charge of the com­mon good be not principally to some one committed, [Page 39] of necessity the too intentiue care that euery one will haue of the particular office wherein hee is imployed, must needs turne to the common hinderance: as for example: The officers for prouision of corne wil cause out of all parts great quantities to be brought to the ci­tie, procuring onely the cheapenes and plenty thereof, which perchance woulde not proue so profitable to the publike tolles. The officers likewise of the nauie and sea matters (which are among vs of great estimation & credit) would industriate themselues peraduenture too much thereabout, in building great numbers of gallies, in gloriously adorning thē with all sorts of cost & war­like instruments, spending therin whatsoeuer of the cō ­mon treasure they could get into their fingers, through which ouer costly diligence, the rest of the publike re­ceipts wold hardly suffice to repair castels, & wals of to­wers, to pay garrisons, & to defray other publike char­ges. By which meanes the commonwealth not cohe­ring wel together, might easily sustain detriment, not by the faultines, but by the too much carefulnes of the citi­zens, whilest euery one endeuoureth to set forth & dis­charge his office in the notablest maner he may: where­by it seemeth exceeding necessary, that the care of the publike weale should be committed to some one, who being free from any priuate office, might onely mode­rat & direct the endeuors of the rest to the cōmon good & vtility of all, which authority to be cōmitted equally to many, were very inconuenient: for as Aristotle sayth, that which many haue charge alike of, all do in a maner alike neglect: neither if ther be any thing amisse, can the blame therof be imputed more to one then to another: withall there neuer want most dangerous emulations [Page 40] among those that are alike equall in authoritie. Now if one in this case should bee preferred and aduanced a­boue the rest, in dignitie and rule with a limitation of time, and not for tear me of his life, he then would ima­gine that he had sufficiently discharged his duety, if it went well with the commonwealth during his time of gouernment, carelesse altogether what should become thereof afterward: so that commonly many dangerous afterclappes ensue such reckonings, which by certaine and manifest experience may easily bee proued by the example of many commonwealthes, that in these times of ours haue beene ruinated through such manner of gouernment.

This Monarchall gouernment was therefore esta­blished in this commonwealth of ours with singular wisedome and iudgement, and withall the same so cur­bed & restrained with lawes, that all dangerous incon­ueniences, whereby the commonwealth might sustain harme, are thereby remoued, and those commodities joyntly embrased that proceed from a kingly and royal gouernment: so that there seemeth nothing to remaine which we could wish for, hauing a commonwealth vn­enthralled, enioying a true libertie and freedome, and yet neuerthelesse as it were a king for our gouernor. A prince therefore is chosen, who is entituled with the dignitie of a Duke, retayning the gouernment of the commonwealth while the time of his life endureth, and chiefly and aboue all other thinges, hauing care of the common good and generall vtilitie, by which as I proued before (and that as I thinke with sufficient rea­sons) cities are preserued and maintained.

This Duke of ours hath not any certaine priuate of­fice [Page 41] alotted him, yet neuertheles ther is not in the whole The dignity & authority of the Duke.commonwealth any thing done, but he must be made acquainted therewith, and haue knowledge of the same. He is to containe and keep vnder in their duetie, as well euery priuate man as euery particular magi­strate, and with such moderation to direct them, that euery thing may with an excellent harmony seeme to tune to the common good & ciuil vnion: lest any other­wise through too much diligence, or too much negli­gence in his office, might chaunce to hinder the com­mon profite. This therefore is the office of the prince, that being (as it were) placed in a glasse, hee might be­hold what euery one doth, especially those that are in authority, of whom if he find any faulty in his office, if the matter bee light, hee calleth him before the whole colledge, and there sharpely rebuketh him with words: if his offence be of greater qualitie, he causeth the same to be enquired of and examined before the aduocators and the presidents of the tenne, and to be punished ac­cording to the sentence of the councell. The Duke him­selfe also if he will, may vse the authority eyther of an Aduocator or President, and make report to the coun­cell of any offence, and of any amercement or punish­ment that is thereupon to be inflicted: (wherein what manner and custome is wont to be obserued, shall bee hereafter expressed, when wee shall come to speake of criminall iudgements.) For so great is the princes au­thoritie, that he may in whatsoeuer court adioine him­selfe to the Magistrate therein, being president as his colleague or companion, and haue equall power with the other Presidents, that he might so by this meanes be able to looke into all things.

[Page 42] Yet neuertheles so is this authoritie of his by lawes re­tracted, that alone hee may not doe any thing, neither being ioyned to the other magistrates hath he any far­ther power then euery other president in his office. The authoritie of the magistrates being so small, that no one of them how great soeuer he bee can determine of any thing of waight or moment without the opinion of the Councell. But of this in his place we will speake more plainely.

Besides this the prince hath in euery councell equall authoritie with any of them for one suffrage or lotte. Likewise in the great counsell, and assembly of all the citizens, while the sessions are held concerning magi­strates, hee hath no power to yeelde more fauour to a competitor of his kindred or parentage, then to any o­ther: obseruing the same equall priuledge which the o­ther citizens doe: whereby I thinke any man may ea­sily vnderstand, that the Duke of Venice is depriued of all meanes, whereby he might abuse his authoritie, or become a tyrant▪ which ancient & long continued cu­stome from the first beginnings of the citie, euē to these times, hath now taken such foundation and roote, that there is nothing whereof the citie of Venice need stand lesse in feare, thē that their prince should at any time be able to inuade their liberty, or trouble their common quiet. But now least euery one should refuse this dig­nitie; requiring so great paines & continuall solicitude of mind, vnlesse there should thereunto bee adioyned some sweetnes or reward: this limitation of authoritie is on the other side recompensed with an exterior princely honor, dignitie, & royall appearing shew: for the ornamentes of his bodie are kingly, vsing alwaies [Page 43] purple garments or cloth of gold. On his head he wea­reth in stead of a diadem, a vaile of linnē, vpon the same a hood or miter of purple, garnished about with a fringe of golde, the part whereof that couereth the middle or hinder parte of the head riseth vp in forme of a horne. His seat is somewhat higher then the rest, and in estate kingly. All the citizens, as well those that beare rule and office, as those that are priuate men speake vnto him bareheaded and standing, which in these times is a signe of exceeding honor. The prince neuer riseth vp to any person. All the letters of the commonwealth are sealed, and go forth vnder his name. What prince, em­bassador, Magistrate, Captaine, or whosoeuer els that writeth to the senate, directeth his letters to the prince. The proclamations of lawes, orders, & decrees, all are done vnder his name. All their money, as well gold as siluer is coyned and stamped with his name & picture. Finally to shorten my speech, in euery thing you may see the shewe of a king, but his authority in nothing, which without doubt whosoeuer is wise cannot but confesse to haue beene ordained by the Venetian com­monwealth with exceeding prudence and wisedome: because otherwise without this rewarde of honour, the office of the prince would haue been reputed as burthe­nous & vnpleasing, but that the reward, which is honor following, sweetneth the same, according to the opiniō of great philosophers: so that Aristotle saith in his Ethikes seeing those that do rightly & holily performe their of­fice in gouernment, haue more respect to the profite of other men, then their owne: there cannot by any other meanes be returned vnto them a due and equiua­lent recompence, but onely by making them to exceed all the rest in honor and dignity. Moreouer the dignity [Page 44] of this prince causeth all the other citizens exceedingly to feare his reprehension, and performe the offices in which they are placed, with the greater fidelity & care. There are to the prince adioyned sixe counsellors of Sixe counsel­lors chosen out of sixe quarters of the citie.sixe tribes, into which the Citie is diuided, euery tribe chusing one. Their office continueth eight monethes, & they are continually at the princes elbow: nothing is said vnto the prince but they do heare it: no letters are sent forth but such as shall seeme good and alowable to foure of those counsellors, who also doe in the letters subscribe their names; yet not in those letters which are sent forth, but in those which are first written by the secretaries of the commōwealth, which are reserued, & the coppies of them sent forth. In which also it is to be noted, that those letters which are sent, not by the de­cree of the councell, but by the commandement of the Prince and Counsellors, as they neuer contain but mat­ters of small importance, so are they of small authority. For as wee haue often saide, all authoritie and power is onely to bee attributed to the councell, no one magi­strate hauing of himselfe any ample authoritie. But of the counsellors we will speake more hereafter: now I will returne to the prince or Duke.

The Prince therefore being honored with this king­ly apparance and shewe, because oftentimes it fell out that priuate wealth suffised not to maintayne so great dignity and pompe: there is allowed vnto the Duke out of the common treasure yearely, three thou­sand and fiue hundred crownes of gold: and to the end least some one couetous of increasing his substance, should neglect the honour & dignitie of the common­wealth, & conuert that money to his priuate vse, there [Page 45] are certaine charges imposed vpon him, which at his owne cost he must see defrayed, with an especiall care of the seruice & dignity of the commonwealth: which if through auarice or sparing of money he neglect, there is so great a fine and amercement set vpon the heade of his heires, that whiles by increasing his priuate wealth, and dispensing with his honour and dignity, hee shall think to enrich them, he shall in a manner vtterly vndoo them: besides the leauing of an eternall blot and ig­nominy to his posteritie. He maintayneth of his owne charge many seruants, or as you would say of his guard, but yet such as weare no weapons. Hee alwaies vseth costly garments: he dwelleth in a pallace wonderfully adorned with goodly chambers and tapistry, aboun­ding with vessels of siluer and all other such furniture, as is beseeming the degree of a prince. Foure times a yeare he maketh a solemne and sumptuous banket, to Foure times a yeare the Duke ban­ketteth the citizens.aboue threescore citizens, the same being ordered and set forth with all the magnificency that may be. Wher. in our predecessors brought into our commonwealth the auncient order of the inhabitantes of Lacedemon and Crete (whose commonwealthes were noble and glori­ous) but with a much better moderation and order: for they because they thought the often meeting of the ci­tizens was a mean to combine them together in friend­ship, instituted certaine publike feastes at the charge of the common treasure, to which the citizens assembling had meanes one to be acquainted with the other, and withal by so friendly a meeting to confirm a new friend ship. But seeing that they all went confusedly toge­ther, those assemblies could not be without troubles & tumultes, and besides when those that were to feast & [Page 46] banket the rest, did desire to do it with daintinesse, and magnificence, there could not but ensue a great wast of the common treasure. Therefore with a certain amend­ment & moderation is that ancient manner brought in vse among the Venetians, and the whole care and or­dering thereof committed to the prince. Foure times a yeare therfore are the citizens banqueted of the prince, with fare truely honorable and daintie, and yet for the exceedingnesse thereof not to be enuied: neyther doth euery one come vnorderly as it pleaseth him, but those whome the prince shall vouchsafe to call: vnlesse it bee the Counsellors, the Aduocators, the Presidents of the xl. men, & the Presidents of the tennes, who in prehe­minence of their offices, are vsually present at the princes bankets: the other citizens come not but in­uited.

These foure feastings are in this sort diuided, that the elder and worthiest citizens being inuited, doe in the winter time vpon S. Stephens day assemble themselues in the publike pallace appointed for the princes habitati­on, and with a solemne pompe waite vpon the prince from thence to the church of S. Marke, and there bee present with him at Masse, which being ended, then they waite vppon him backe to his house againe, and there be pertakers of his banquet. Likewise in the mo­neth of Aprill on the day of Saint Marke (whose me­mory is with exceeding honour solemnized of the Ve­netians, as entituling him their patron and defender, e­uer since the reliques of his body were brought vnto Venice, from forth of Alexandria a noble Citie of Aegypt) the cittizens of lesse age and dignitie inuited of the prince, doe in like manner (after the solemnities in the [Page 47] church are ended) conuay him home and dine with him.

Thirdly, vppon Ascention day, being the day of the great fayer at Venice, they are inuited and admitted to the Princes banket, that are fully arriued and entred into that age which we call Virilis or mans estate. These also doe early in the morning waite vpon the Duke from his house, and go aborde a ship gorgeously trim­med and set forth, reserued onely to that vse, and is by the Venetians called Bucentoro: so soone as they are passed the marishes and come to behold the plaine and open sea, by an ancient indulgence of the high Bishops (who honoured this commonwealth of ours, in regard of many notable exploites by it atchieued against the The Dake of Venice mari­eth the sea with a ring of gold.enemies of the Christian faith) the prince throwing a ring of golde into the sea, vseth in a manner these speaches, that with that ring hee doeth betroth him­selfe to the sea, in token of a true and perpetuall Em­pyre. To this there are added certayne ceremonies by the Patriarch of the Cittie, which being ended, they lande at the Church dedicated to Saynt Nicholaus, a thing of great antiquitie, built vppon that shore or banke which diuideth the sea from the lakes. There the holy misteries are celebrated, which being ended, they go aborde the ship againe, and returne to Venice, attending on the Prince home to his house, where they dyne with him.

The fourth and last banquette pertayneth to the young cittizens, who the twelue Kalendes of Iuly, on the day dedicated to the two Martyres Vi­tus and Modestus, doe with solemne pompe wayte vpon the Prince to the Temple of those Martirs, which [Page 48] is situate neere to the great channell that diuideth the cittie in the middest: which channell is for that tyme conioyned with a bridge made vpon two galleyes, least otherwise to make that iourney, would cost a very long and laboursome circuit and compasse. The church be­ing visited, and the solemnities in the church finished, they attend vpon the prince home to his pallace, where they are receiued with a royall & magnificent banket. There are to these bankets admitted dauncers, iesters, and excellent singers, to recreate & delight the guestes, and withal certaine sports and playes are intermingled, which doe moue exceeding mirth and pleasure: and this ancient custome is still obserued in the common­wealth of Venice, though somewhat moderated. For by this means the citizens in a manner of euery degree, yea equals with equalles are entertayned at the princes table: which seemeth exceedingly well ordered and disposed, as well for the dignity of the prince, as also for nourishing & maintayning loue and good will among the citizens. But because euery citizen that is a gentle­man, cannot euery yeare receiue this grace of being in­uited, it is by an olde law ordained, least any one should seeme to be left out, that the prince should in the win­ter time sende to euery citizen that hath priuiledge of A strange ce­remony obser­ued by the Duke of Ve­nice, but now the same is al­tered, & the wild ducks changed into a peece of sil­uer coyne.voyce in the greater Councell fiue wild duckes, as a portion or share of the publike banket, which likewise is a great meane to the Duke of winning the loue and goodwill of the citizens.

In these chargeable expences doth the Duke yeare­ly consume and spend a great part of that money which hee receiueth out of the common treasure: so that though the Duke would be couetous, yet cannot hee [Page 49] in a manner staine with any basenesse the noblenesse & dignity of the place he holdeth.

Here because the whole power and authority of the prince is in a manner already expressed of vs, it shal not be amisse to declare in what season and time the begin­ning was of creating a Duke in Venice, and finally what is the order of the sessions in his election.

The begin­ning of crea­ting a Duke in Venice. Immediately from the first beginning of the Cittie, when the noblest citizens of the Venetian prouince, (their greatest citties, as Aquileia, Altina, Concordia, Vderzo, Padoua, and many other of great opulencie and richesse, being ruinated by the Hunnes, vnder the con­duct of Attyla their Captaine, who filled Italy with fire and blood) did assemble themselues in those flattes of the Adriatique sea, where Venice since was builded, & euery one of them had chosen for his mansion those places which were nearest to the country which hee had abandoned: it came to passe that there were by them built about two and twentie townes, partly vpon that shore or bank which encloseth the inner lakes, part­ly vppon certaine hillockes which appeared out aboue the lakes. But in the beginning when those townes were neither of themselues sufficiently fortified and fenced, neither euery of them so furnished with shipping, that it was able to resist the incursions of theeues and pirates, they thought it meete (seeing their fortunes were all a­like) to gouerne their matters by a common councell, as well for the prouision of corne, wine, fruites, and o­ther necessaries, as also the securitie of their persons and families, thereby to auoide the daunger of pyrates and rouers, to which in regarde of their weake, scattered & vnfortified townes, they lay in a manner open. There­fore [Page 50] when firsteuery towne had chosen from out his o­ther citizens a chiefe and sufficient man, calling him by Euery towne did chuse a Tribune.the name or title of Tribune, they generally altogether ordained, that vpon certain appointed daies these Tri­bunes should meete, and consult together the common businesse: but finding in the end an inconuenience in the varietie of so many opinions and authorities, and suffring withal many incommodities, they thought no­thing would doe better then to lay the whole charge of the generall and common affaires vppon some one particular man, whom all the rest should acknowledge as their prince and ruler. It was therefore by generall consent of the xxij. townes concluded and agreed, that The princes seate assigned him in the towne of He­raclea.there should one Duke or Prince be chosen, & his seate assigned him at the beginning, in the towne of Hera­clea, situated on the inner side of the lakes, in a certaine Ilande neere to the mouth of the riuer Piaue, which in our time (by inundation of the flouds) is now ioyned to the firme lands, But afterwards this place seeming vn­fit, because it was farre off, so that many times afore the prince could haue aduertisement, the Pyrates had alrea­dy entred the lakes, oppressed at vnwares the inhabi­tants, & spoiled their shipping. Therefore they thought The princes seat transpo­sed to Mala­moco.it better that the prince leauing Heraclea shoulde plant his seat in Malamoco, a towne seated vpon the midst of the banke: whence the Duke might easily & soon haue inckling of any whatsoeuer attempt of the Pyrates, and Pipin inuaded Italy.with small adoo bee at hand wheresoeuer his presence The princes seat lastly re­duced to Ve­nice.should be requisit. But at length when Pipin (euen in those very beginnings of the Venetian citie) threatned seruitude & slaughter, & they abandoning (in a maner) the rest of the townes, they came altogether to Rialta, [Page 51] thither also was the seate of the prince translated, by which meanes Venice in time encreased, and grew into that greatnesse in which we now do see it: so that by a perpetuall continuing custome, euen from the begin­ning, there alwayes was a prince and gouernour of the Venetian commonwealth. At first for a while their au­thority was greater: but afterwardes being by vse of time and experience taught, they began with holesome statutes and lawes to abridge his power, bringing it by degrees into this temperature, in which wee now doe see it.

The manner of choosing the Duke of Venice. The manner of chusing a successor to the deceased Duke, was at the first altogether simple, and without ceremony: for our auncestors being men of great soundnesse and integritie, & free from all ambition, did euery one in his particular, draw backe from accepting a matter of so great a charge: so that by a generall crie & acclamation of the people, he was proclaimed prince that was reputed to be the honestest & wisest man: But after those times, the Citie and people increasing to a greater mightinesse & state, it seemed a thing not con­uenient to the greatnes of so noble a cōmonwealth, to commit to the rash & wauering voice of the multitude, a matter of so great waight, honor, and dignity. It was therfore decreed, that there should be chosen out 11. of the most sufficient citizens, & that this authority of cre­ating the prince shold be wholy vnto thē cōmitted: but afterwards as with their empire their ambitiō increased, there were appointed certain seueral parliaments or ses­sions, & a kind of intricate way found out in this electi­on of the Duke, which (least there should be any thing wanting in my vndertaken taske) I wil briefly expresse.

[Page 52] The Duke being deade, and his obsequies deuoutly and honourably solemnized: the Counsellors, who presently vpon the princes death during the interregne or vacancy, betaking themselues to the publike pallace, appointed for the princes habitation, do call & assemble The Dukes actions exa­mined after his death.together the great councell. In that first assemblie after the Dukes decease, there are (according to the maner of the sessions before expressed) 5. citizens created, whose office is diligently to looke into & to examine the acti­ons of the deceased prince, and if they found any thing done by him against the lawes and statutes, then by o­pinion and authoritie of the councell to cancel and dis­anull the same. If he haue receiued a bribe of any man, or haue been sparing in that due and ordinary expence which belongeth to his dignitie, then vpon the report of these fiue cōmissioners, there is such a fine and amer­cement imposed vpō his heires, as the lawes command: the penaltie is onely money, which is leuied vpon the Princes inheritance, & caried into the treasure house.

In the same session are likewise chosen fiue other citi­zens, who immediatly vppon their election doe retire themselues into an aparted roome, or conclaue adioy­ned to the session house, out of which they doe not de­part, till after many matters well debated, they doe at length determine whether there is any thing that in their opinion ought to be taken away, or added to the princes authoritie. The matter being well discussed a­mong them, the councel is called together again, which being done, they then come forth of the conclaue (for before they may not) and euery of them declareth his opinion to the Councell concerning the authority of the prince, and then it being of the whole assembly to­gether [Page 53] aduised on: it is by suffrages decreed which shal be most for good of the commonwealth. And that de­cree is presently registred among the lawes, which the following Prince is bound to obserue. The authority and power of the prince being once setled and deter­mined: the next day after is spent in that intricate kinde of sessions, in which the Prince is accustomed to bee chosen.

No citizen al­lowed in those sessions which concerne the election of their prince, vnder the age of 30▪ yeares. All the citizens that are aboue thirtie yeare olde do assemble and meet together: for no one vnder that age is by an auncient institution of the commonwealth ad­mitted into that Councell or sessions: then the citizens are all of them numbred, and so many as they are in number, so many little balles are throwen into a potte, of which thirtie are golde, and the rest siluer: The pot is placed iust before the tribunal of the sessions, where the Counsellors do stand: and by the same stan­deth a little boy which pulleth out the lottes. The citi­zens are called and doe come vnto the potte euery one according vnto the ranke and order in which he sitteth, but no one is suffred, (as in their other sessions the cu­stome is) to put his hand into the potte, onely the boy which standeth by, draweth out for each of them his ball. Those that chaunce vpon a siluer ball, do present­ly depart forth of the sessions: but hee whome fortune shal fauor with one of those that are of gold, is presently in a high voice published and pronounced by the secre­tary: and immediately goeth his waies apart into the inner roome, and all his kindred and neere allies doe presently arise out of their places, and all go together in­to one part or corner of the hall. There they are num­bred, and so many as they are, so many siluer balles are [Page 54] 30. chosen out of the whole multitude. drawen out of the potte and giuen them, vpon which without delay, they depart out of the hall: so that one­ly thirtie, to whose lot the golden balles do befall, are chosen and elected out of the whole assembly of citi­zens: and that being done, the councell is dismissed. These 30. re­duced to 9.After they are all departed, those thirtie come again out of the conclaue, & trie once more their chaunce by lot­tery afore the Counsellors, so that of their number one­ly nine, whom this new lottery shall fauour, are made Electors: and the rest being dismissed, they go againe into a closet appointed for the purpose, and there are locked in alone, no one, no not a seruant suffred to The 9. chuse 40.speake with them: nor they may not thence depart till they haue chosen fortie men, of which fortie no one can of them be declared as elected and chosen, vnlesse he haue first sixe balles or suffrages in his fauour: so that if there bee foure of the nine contrary to him, hee may not be elected. So soone as they are once agreede in the choise of these fortie men, they sende word there­of vnto the Counsellors by the publique guardian or Porter: presently the Counsellors (vnlesse the day bee very farre spent) doe call and assemble the great coun­cell: which being altogether in the Court, there is a list brought out of the closet, wherein the names are written of the Electors: and then the chiefe Secretary ascending the Tribunall, doth with a high voyce pro­nounce the names of the fortie elected cittizens: of which euery one as he heareth himselfe named, doeth arise from his seate, and going to the Tribunall of the Counsellors, doeth there sitte downe, and then go­eth thence into an appointed closet or inner roome: but if any one chaunce to be away, he is presently en­quired [Page 55] for by the Counsellors, and the Presidentes of the fortie, and sought for with great diligence through­out the cittie. So soone as hee is founde out, hee is immediatly by those Magistrates brought into the sessi­ons, and thence into the Conclaue to his fellowes, without suffring him to speake or talke with any man by the way: thereby to exclude all ambition and su­bornation out of the sessions, which the will of our auncestors was, shoulde be handled with all vpright­nesse and sinceritie. By this meanes the fortie de­signed cittizens doe come together vnawares, and be­ing come together, the Councell is presently dismis­sed. Then these fortie doe come forth agayne out of the closet into a large and open hall before the coun­sellors, and there by the same manner of lotterie as is The 40. redu­ced to 12.before expressed, twelue of the fortie are chosen, and the other eyght and twentie which remaine, are put backe and forsaken. These twelue agayne doe chuse The twelue chuse 25.fiue and twentie others, of which euery one must haue eyght suffrages, for vnder none may be chosen: which being ended and done, they presently sende worde thereof by a messenger to the Counsellors. They, if the season of the day serue, doe call and assemble the Councell, and (in a manner) as before those fiue and twentie also vnawares are assembled and gathered to­gether, The 25. redu­ced to nine.and then the Councell being dismissed, nine of them are by the same sort of lottery as before, elected, the rest do go their wayes. These nine elect fortie fiue other citizens, but no one of them, vnlesse he haue 6. of The nine do elect 45.the nine suffrages, which in the councell in like manner againe assembled are pronounced of the Secretarie, [Page 56] The 45. redu­ced to 11. and so put into the closet. These by the like manner of The 11. doe e­lect 41. who haue authori­tie to choose the Duke.lottery are reduced vnto eleuen, who doe chuse one & fortie of the chiefe and noblest Senators, who so soone as they are pronounced, doe presently withdraw them­selues into a seuerall appointed roome: and these haue authoritie to elect the Duke: but so that there may not be by any meanes two of a kindred in the number of electors, which is among the Venetians a perpetuall custome in all their offices.

Our ancestors (being men most wise and vertuous) The cause of this intricate proceeding in the Dukes e­lection.made choise of this strange and intricate proceeding, to the ende the whole multitude might seeme to haue a part in this creation & election of their prince. For the electors of the first order are made by lotte, of which all the citizens are capable: next which they mingled e­lection, but in sort that election should exceede the lot­terie: because no man may receiue any fauour by the benefite of lottes, vnlesse the same bee allowed and ap­proued of the first order: but in the next order they would not that chaunce or lot should haue any force at all: because they thought it vnfit and full of inconueni­ences, to commit the choice of those that were to be e­lectors of their prince, to the temerity and arbiterment of fortune: in sort that neyther is the multitude wholly depriued of this authority, neyther yet is the same com­mitted to the wauering witte of the inconsiderate peo­ple, among whom commonly a vaine opinion and vn­grounded fauour may doe more, then a setled iudge­ment of those that are wise and vertuous. Besides, the not knowing who they are that are to be electors of the prince, but the determination of the whole depending vpon those that are fortunate in their lottes: all aspiring [Page 57] pretensions and ambitions, are thereby clearely cut off and taken away: because it may easily come to passe, that those with whom there is any practise entertained, shall not haue any authoritie at all. But to returne to the matter: the manner of the sessions being in this sort accomplished, the one and fortie electors of the prince, immediately vpon their election, without salu­ting or speaking to any man doe go into that Court, in which the senate is accustomed to assemble, where hea­ring diuine seruice, which is celebrated with great so­lemnity & deuotion, laying their handes vpon the aul­tar, they do promise with oath to God, and to the com­monwealth, that they will chuse him for their Duke, whome they shall esteeme to bee worthiest and of best desert, as well in loue towards his countrey, as in piety, carefulnesse and prudence, and then the priestes depar­ting, they onely are enclosed & lockt within the Court alone, without so much as a seruant suffred to be among them. Then three of the eldest do sit down by at a cer­tain table fitted for that purpose, vpon the which there standeth a pot, and euery elector writeth in a little scrol the name of him whom he thinketh fitte to bee created Duke, which scrolles being first all well medled toge­ther, are put into the potte, of which one is taken out, such as shall by chance come into the hand of him that taketh it forth. The scroll being read, hee whose name is therein contayned, if he bee present (as for the most parte it happeneth) goeth presently out of the Court. Then if any shall thinke him to be a man vnfit, or vnca­pable, or vnworthy of so great a dignity, or for any other cause shall not thinke his creation to bee for the [Page 58] good of the commonwealth, he riseth vp, and with an honest modestie speaketh his opinion, declaring the cause why he thinketh it vnmeet that he should be cho­sen and created Duke: when he hath ended his speech, the partie is called in againe, and the eldest in the com­pany declareth the obiections made against him, al­waies prouided that he neuer nameth the author there­of: for they are all first bound by solemne oath to ob­serue perpetuall silence. He on the other side excuseth and confuteth (in the best sort he may) the matters al­leadged against him. After which hee auoydeth the court againe, & then if the first or any other will charge him a fresh with any other matter, it is in their libertie to doe it: and he againe being called in, hath libertie to aunswere in his iustification, and so till the matter is by turne handled, till his accusers be silent, and haue no­thing any farther to vrge against him.

Then at last go they to their lottes: Somewhat be­fore our time if the first had had 25. suffrages in his fauour, then was there no farther reckoning made Andrea Gritti Duke of Ve­nice.of the rest, but he was straight proclaimed for Duke: but in our time in those sessions in which Andrea Gritti (a most honourable Senator) was proclaymed Duke, this custome was altered. For although none bee ele­cted Prince vnlesse he haue fiue and twentie suffrages: yet the matter consisteth not as before it did, in him that first obtayneth that number, but proceedeth still forward to the rest, so that if any go beyond that num­ber; hee then is proclaymed Duke, and not the for­mer. After the lottery is ended concerning him whose name was first drawen, then is there an other scroll taken [Page 59] forth of the pot, and all things concerning the same or­dered in euery point as the former: and so the thirde, fourth, & finally all: but if no one of the whole num­ber haue in his fauour the complete summe of those suffrages, then if the day be not too farre spent, the ses­sions are once againe begun in the same manner as be­fore: and to the end that the expedition should be the greater, it is not lawfull for any of the electors to depart thence, neyther haue they liberty to speake with any stranger, till fiue and twenty of them are agreed in the election of the Duke: whom so soone as they haue na­med and chosen, the Counsellors are presently called into the court, who first doe with all reuerence and ho­nor salute the new prince. The fame of which presently flyeth through the citie: in euery parte whereof you may behold the citizens making ioy, and throwing vp The solemni­ties that fol­low the electi­on of the prince.their prayers to heauen for this prince, that his gouern­ment may bee fortunate and happie to the common­wealth. All his parents and kinsefolkes come presently vnto the Court, congratulating with him, of this his great honor and dignitie: in meane while the coyners are set a worke to stampe money, with the face & name of the prince, and all thinges busily prepared that the future pompe requireth: in which season the Duke and the Counsellors doe apparell themselues, and being apparelled and in order, doe so discende out of the Court, and go directly vnto the Church of Saint Marke, being neere thereunto adioyning, a church of wonderfull goodlinesse and magnificence, and re­splendishing in all sortes and varietie of rich ornaments and pompous architecture. They do first religiously, & [Page 60] with great veneration, adore the mighty name of God, & then do all ascend vp into a high & stately seat, made all of Porphire stone, whence the eldest of the electors maketh a speech vnto the people, wherein he declareth the creation of the newe Duke, vttering withall some few wordes in a modest commendation of him. After whom the Duke also maketh an oration, in which after hauing spoken discreetly a few things concerning him­selfe: hee there promiseth and voweth to obserue all such things as shal become a vertuous prince, with grea­ter care of the good of the commonwealth, then of any his owne priuate commodity: chiefly that he will beare himselfe in matter of iustice most holily and strictly, with endeuour that equall right may be administred to all men, that hee will not spare his priuate substance, his labour, no nor his life: if by any incommodity of his the estate of the commonwealth might bee assisted or remedied. Finally, he humbly prayeth vnto God, vn­to S. Marke (vnder whose patronage the Citie of Venice is) and to all the Saints, that they will be all fauourable and helpefull vnto him in the well discharging of this great and honourable office. His wordes are receiued of the people with a great applause: And at the ende therof they do all discend from off the high seat or scaf­fold, and do place the Duke before the high altar, where laying his hand vpon the Gospell, he doth binde him­selfe by solemne oth to God & to his commonwealth, that he will not omit the performance of any such thing as the Duke of Venice is bound vnto by the lawes. This being done, the Electors (that hitherto remained with the Duke doe all depart, he mounteth vp into a pulpit [Page 61] of wood, taking with him one of his kinsemen, such as ofall other he holdeth deerest: which pulpit the ma­riners, such as are best esteemed, doe take vppon their shoulders, and with a great shoute and ioy doe carry the Duke sitting therein throughout the whole place of S. Marke, who from out the pulpit throweth money coined in his owne name round about him. There is no certaine summe herein limited, but euen according as the substance of the Duke may beare, the same being wholly referred to his disposition and pleasure: but once, the people be not negligent in gathering it vppe. At length hauing gone about the place, when they come before the staires of the princes pallace, they there stay the pulpit, and the prince descendeth out. The apparell which the Duke weareth, and likewise a siluer potte, in which the money so throwen about a­mong the people was kept, belongeth by an auncient custome vnto the mariners, that did so beare the Duke vpon their shoulders. The Duke mounting vp the de­grees of the pallace, is there receiued of the Counsel­lors, and there by them crowned with the foresaid Mi­ter, which is as it were the Dyadem or ornament of the Prince. This is the order of the whole pompe. The day following the Senate is assembled in the Court, and the Duke maketh an oration, giuing thankes to God, & to the fathers for this aduancement and honour which he had receiued, promising withall, that his diligence & trauaile shal neuer be spared for the commonwealths commodity. The like oration hee maketh before the whole assembly of citizens in the first sessions that is held after his creation.

Hauing now sufficiently spoken of the Duke or prince [Page 62] of our commonwealth, it remaining that briefly wee speake somewhat concerning the Counsellors, to the end that you may vnderstand what their authority is, and how farre it extendeth.

There are alwaies (as I said before) sixe Counsellors The office & authority of the 6. Coun­sellors.present by the princes side, out of euery quarter of the citie one: for the whole citie is diuided into sixe quar­ters or tribes: three of the which are on this side of the great channell, which diuideth the citie, and three on the other: out of each of these quarters is chosen one counsellor in the sessions, according to the manner be­fore expressed in the choyce of other magistrates. Their office continueth onely eight monethes, in which ioint­ly with the Prince they take care of all such affaires as pertain to the commonwealth. But the whole maner & handling of the sessions, an auncient ordinance passeth chiefly through their hands. Likewise if report is to be made vnto the great councell of any matter, and by au­thority therof to be confirmed, they are to make report thereof, as those to whose authority that right only be­longeth, yet somtimes the Presidents of the 40. are ad­ioyned to thē, who otherwise were insufficient & with­out power to make report ouer to the councell. No o­ther magistrate (the Duke onely alwaies excepted) hath this authority. They may likewise (if it please thē) make report of any thing to the Senate or the tenne men: but the charge of assembling the Senate, and reporting to the same chiefly belongeth to the Preconsultors, like as the office of the Presidentes of the tenne is to assemble the tenne, & to make report vnto them: the manner of which shall hereafter be more largely handled. But the Councellors are endued with greater priuiledge, as [Page 63] those that haue in the senate equall authority with the Preconsultors, and in the courtes of the tenne men, with the presidentes of that Court: for the space of eyght monthes they are alwaies present with the Duke: and do exercise these offices of which I haue made menti­on. But foure monthes they are present or rather Pre­sidentes of the fortie men, who haue the handling of waightie and capitall matters, which are by their iudge­ment decided & determined of, as shall hereafter more plainly be declared. Now seeing that which concernes the great councell, which representeth in this common­wealth popular estate, and that likewise of the prince, which beareth the person of a king, is handled of vs, though vneloquently, yet faithfully, & with diligence, the vndertaken worke seemeth to require at my hands, that I should likewise speake of the other partes & bran­ches of this gouernment, which in seeming doe repre­sent the rule & gouernment of the nobles and best citi­zens, seeing that especially the same doth in the city of Venice excell the rest: as in the following volume I will by Gods help, make manifest and plaine.

EVery institution and gouernment of man, the neerer it aspireth to the praise of perfection and goodnesse, the nearer shold it imitate nature, the best mother of all thinges: for so hath she disposed the order of the whole world, that those things which are deuoide of sence and vnderstanding, shoulde bee ruled and gouerned by those that haue sence and knowledge: and therefore in this assemblie of men, (which of vs is called Citie) olde men ought to bee preferred before the younger fort, as those that are lesse subiect to the perturbations of the minde, and withall hauing beene of longer life, must needes be of greater experience in the affaires of the world. Therefore Aristotle in his Politiques most wisely saith, that in euery commonwealth which wold emulate and follow the wisedome & policie of nature, olde men should be placed at the helme, and the office of the young men should bee to obey and to execute those thinges, which the olde men should commande them. Neither can the young men, seeing this institu­tion is nearest vnto Nature, by any meanes finde fault [Page 65] or repine at the gouernment of olde men, or stirre vppe therefore any sedition in the commonwealth: seeing that in this difference which age onely maketh, enuie hath no place, neyther may there iustly bee any com­plaint, so long as the young men shall assuredly hope to receiue the like obedience in their age, of the follow­ing younger sort: which opinion of Aristotle is allow­ed of all commonwealthes that euer were of any fame, who alwaies preferred the counsell of the elder sort, as The name of senate deriued from Senes signifieth olde men.well in the gouernment of their Cittie, as in the admi­nistration of their other publike affaires, neither is the name of senate from else where deriued, then from old men, who in the Latine tong are called Senes. I woulde alleadge heere the commonwealth of the Romaines, of the Athenians, of the Carthaginians, of the Lacedemo­nians, besides the lawes of sundry other cities, but that the matter is of it selfe so manifest, that it standeth not in need of any such proofe.

With this reason therefore was the Senate ordayned and established in this commonwealth of ours, & like­wise the councell of the tenne, who in the cittie of Ve­nice in whose commonwealth (as I said) there is a mix­ture of the three gouernments royall, popular, & noble, do represent the state of the nobilitie, & are (as it were) the meane or middle, which reconcileth and bindeth together the two extreames, that is, the popular estate represented in the great councell, & the prince bearing a shew of royaltie. So saith Plato are the extreame ele­mentes, the earth and the fire, ioyned and bound toge­ther with the middle elementes, as in a well tuned dya­pason the extreame voyces are concorded together by the middle tunes of the Dyatessaron and Diapente.

[Page 66] The number of right and lawfull sena­tors are 120. To go forward therefore with my purpose, the senate of Venice hath a hundred and twenty lawfull senators, besides many other magistrates that do also obtaine the priuiledge and right of Senators, so that now in this time of ours there are aboue two hundred and twentie that haue the authority of vsing their suffrages in the senate. The lawfull Senators are euery yeare created by that assembly of citizens, which (as I haue often repea­ted) is tearmed the great Councell: Neyther hath this honour any vacation, as the other magistrates haue, but they may if their lot fall out, and that the great councell bee therewith pleased (which for the most parte hap­peneth) continue euery yeare in that office. The man­ner and meane of their election is of vs before declared, when wee expressed the forme of the whole sessions. There are in the monthes of August and September in euery session sixe Senators elected: which session be­ing in those sessions tenne times remoued, make vp the number of threescore elected Senators, the other threescore are ioyned, or (as it were) ascribed to the former, and they all are chosen together at certain par­ticular sessions. For vpon the nine & twentieth day of September, the senate doth assemble, & then euery sena­tor and other that hath authority of suffrages, nameth a citizen in the Senate. And the next day early at three a clocke in the morning, the whole number of citizens commeth into the session house, and then the names being rehearsed by the Secretary of all those citizens, who the day before were named of the Senators, the names of all are put into a potte, and afterwardes taken out by chaunce. By and by they go to their lottes, of which threescore of those that shall haue most lottes in [Page 67] their fauour (so that they exceed not the halfe) are that yeare ascribed in the number of Senators, but yet in that sort that there may not bee in that last number a­boue two of a kindred: so that in the whole number of lawfull Senators, there cannot in all be aboue three of a kindred, which ordinance seemeth to haue beene established with exceeding wisedome in behalfe of the commonwealth: considering that there cannot hap­pen to a commonwealth a more daungerous or pesti­lent contagion, then the ouerweighing of one parte or faction aboue the other: for where the ballance of iu­stice standeth not euen, it is vnpossible that there should bee a friendly societie and firme agreement a­mong the citizens: which alwaies happeneth where many offices of the commonwealth meete together in one. For as euery mixture dissolueth, if any one of the elementes (of which the mixed body consisteth) ouer­come the other: and as in musicke the tune is marred where one string keepeth a greater noyse then hee shoulde doe: so by the like reason, if you will haue your commonwealth perfect and enduring, let not one parte bee mightier then the other, but let them all (in as much as may bee) haue equall share in the publique authoritie. With excellent wisedome and prouidence therefore did our auncestors cause this to bee established as a perpetuall law and decree in our commonwealth, that not onely in the senate, but also in all other offices there shoulde not bee any more of one kindred or allyance, then the preseruation of equalitie required. Neyther seemeth the order of e­lecting the Senate inuented with lesse forecast and pru­dence, which is that threescore citizens should bee [Page 68] chosen, according to the accustomed vse of the sessions, chaunce, election and iudgement, being therein min­gled altogether, but that the choyce of the other three­score should bee after another sorte, such as you haue heard, wherein chaunce hath no force at all: for if in them all chance should haue borne sway, it might easily haue happened, that the principall citizens might haue beene left out, to the great preiudice of the common­wealth. They ordayned therefore that there shoulde yearely be chosen threescore fathers, not by casualty of The last 60. senators which are e­lected are cal­led adiunctes.lottes, but by soundnesse of iudgement. So you see that the Senate first consisteth of a hundred and twenty, of which threescore are by their proper tearme, called Se­nators, the rest, Adiuncts: in the session of whose choice, there is commonly a whole day passed ouer. Now be­sides this hundred and twenty lawfull Senators, those of the councell of tenne haue in the Senate equall au­thoritie with the Senators, as also beside the Duke and the other councellors, the councell of the fortie haue the like, the iudges of capitall & waighty crimes, the maisters ouer the salt and corne, and the procurers of S. Marke, besides many others: so that in our time their number exceedeth two hundred & twenty, who in their offices haue all the power and authority of Se­nators. The whole manner of the commonwealths go­uernment belongeth to the senate. That which the se­nate determineth is held for ratified and inuiolable. By The great au­thority & po­wer of the se­nate.their authority and aduise is peace confirmed and war denounced. The whole rents and receipts of the com­comwealth are at their appointment collected and ga­thered in, and likewise laid out againe and defrayed. If there be any new taxations or subsidies to be laid vpon [Page 69] the citizens, they are imposed, & likewise leuied by the Senates decree. And if at any time it shall seeme ne­cessary for the good of the commonwealth, to create a new officer or magistrate vpon any sodaine vrgent oc­casion, he is by the senate elected. Besides, the senate by a perpetuall prerogatiue, hath authority to chuse such Embassadors as are to bee sent to forraine princes, and likewise to create the colledge of those, whose of­fice is to assemble the senate, and to report vnto them. Those are of Aristotle tearmed Praeconsultores, but wee Preconsultors or Sages.honouring them with a prouder title, do call them Sa­ges, which name wee must in this discourse often vse, least otherwise I shoulde seeme to mislike of our com­mon phrase of speaking. Neuerthelesse these sessions of the senate, in which both the Ambassadors and the Sages are elected, stand nothing so much in the arbiter­ment of chaunce, as those before described, that is to say, the great councels, wherein the whole number of the citizens is assembled & gathered together: for eue­ry one of the senators nameth one whom hee thinketh good, and then go to their suffrages, of which whoso­euer shall haue more then the rest, prouided alwayes, that he haue about the halfe of the whole number on his side, is presently ratified and chosen, And if at any time the seruice & necessary occasion of the common­wealth seeme to require the employment of some one in an office, which they thinke he would be vnwilling to accept, then doth euery one of the senators secretly in a little scrol note the name of him whom he thinketh fit for the charge, putting the same into a pot prouided ready for the purpose, after which the Secretary taketh those scrolles out, and readeth them all openly: & then [Page 70] againe they go for euery one of those to their lottes, of which on whomsoeuer the greatest part doth fal, is pre­sently pronounced chosen: prouided alwaies that hee haue more then halfe of the whole number. This manner of writing in scrolles was inuented, least other­wise some might refrain from naming him whom they thought fitte for gouernment and discharge of that of­fice: least in regarde of his vnwillingnesse to accept it, they might thereby incurre his displeasure & euill will, whereby through a priuate regard the common good might receiue preiudice.

The manner which the Se­nate vseth in their consulta­tions and de­crees. Now it remaineth that we declare the manner that the Senate vseth in determining, decreeing, and con­sulting vpon those thinges which are to bee done: and in what sort the decrees of the Senate were wont to be executed.

Sixteene Sages elected. Our elders were not ignorant, that if euery Senator should confusedly make report vnto the Senate, & then deliuer his opinion without limitation or restriction of that office to some particulars: there must of necessity follow a great trouble and intricatenesse in the Senate. Besides, it is by experience approoued, that the thing which dependeth generally alike vpon the care of all, is generally alike in a manner of all neglected.

Therefore it was by our lawes ordained, that there shoulde bee chosen sixteene citizens out of the senate, which in respect of their farther knowledge and suffici­ency aboue the rest, are of the common sort called Sages, we imitating Aristotle (in regarde that they are to con­sult afore hand among themselues & then to councell the senate in those thinges that are to be handled) may well call them Preconsultors. These haue authority to [Page 71] assemble the senate, and to make relation of each mat­ter vnto them. This magistrate doeth not continue in The Sages di­uided into three sorts or orders.office any longer then sixe monthes. But now these Sages are diuided into three sortes, of great difference and diuersity the one from the other: for in the first are sixe senators of the most noble and citizens, excelling the rest as well in dignity and estimation, as in prudent grauity and profoundnesse of knowledge. Their office principally is, that in waighty and important causes concerning the state of the commonwealth as well in matter of warres, as in thinges of peace, they are first a­mong themselues to hold a long and deliberate consul­tation, and then to giue ouer their councell and opini­on to the senate. In the second sort or order are onely fiue, who though they haue equall authoritie with the other, in making report of all thinges to the senate, yet are they of farre lesse estimation and dignity. To them chiefly belongeth the care of the soldiers that are by the commonwealth entertayned in pay, and are vnder the gouernment of the Generall of the Venetian for­ces. Of the third order there are also fiue to whom the charge of all sea matters is committed, of which onely and of nothing els they haue authority to make report vnto the senate. This office was held of our ancestors in great reputation, during the while that our common­wealth did flourish & was famous in matters of nauiga­tion: but when once our minds were bent to the enlar­ging of our limites, and to the greatnesse of rule by lande: then beganne our seafaring matters to decline, and with them the reputation of this office, so that in this age of ours, young men and some in a manner beardlesse are admitted thereunto. These sixteene ci­tizens [Page 72] therefore, whose assembly among the Venetians by proper terme called, the Colledge, doe early in the morning meet together with the prince and the coun­sellors, & first they spend the day till it be three a clocke, in giuing audience to priuate sutors, that haue any cause eyther with the commonwealth or with any par­ticular magistrate, whose suits and causes they do there altogether determine and end, vnlesse the matter bee of such importance, that it behooueth them to make re­port thereof vnto the senate.

After three a clocke all priuate men are dismissed out of the court, & presently all such letters as are sent vnto the senate are read by one of the secretaries that belon­geth to the state: after which the Sages or Preconsul­tors do withdraw themselues apart into a Conclaue or councell chamber, there to consult of publike busines, vnlesse they be detayned by the Ambassadors of some Prince, that desireth audience of the Duke & the Col­ledge, or by some other businesse of great and waighty moment.

After that they are withdrawen & placed euery one in his seate: he which there presideth (which preroga­tiue each of them inioyeth seuen dayes together, one after the other as his turne comes about) propoundeth that cause or matter, which they are in councell to de­bate of. Then he demandeth of euery one his opinion, yet obseruing such order, that those of the first sort, as they are noblest in degree, so they bee first intreated to speake their aduise, and after them the other fiue, whom wee placed in the second ranke or order. Lastly if the question concerne any sea matters, the five of the last order, who haue charge therof are asked their opinion. [Page 73] But if the matter propounded doe not pertaine to sea businesse, they are to holde their peace. In each ranke or order hee alwayes first speaketh his aduise, that had the Presidencie the last seuen daies, and then next vnto him the eldest of the company, and after him the rest accordingly vnto their age. Lastly of all, he which did propound the matter, & sitteth during those seuen daies as President and chiefe, vttereth his conceipt. The matter being at length well disputed of among them: whether they be all of one opinion or diuided into sun­dry (as the dispositions of men are different and diuers) they go first to the prince & councel, before they assem­ble the senate: & there do repeate the seuerall opinions of all, to which if the prince or any of the counsellors doe seeme to leane or giue his assent, or shall otherwise of himselfe yeeld any other different reason, the matter is then once againe debated of among them, and final­ly euery mans opinion put in writing, which belongeth to those to doe that are secretaries of this three seuerall orders. The businesse then being well debated of, that is to be determined by authority of the Senate, the Se­nate is assembled.

When the senators are come into the Court, first all such letters as are of moment, and were deliuered to the Duke and Sages since the dismissing of the last Se­nate, are there recited. Then are the opinions of the Sa­ges repeated concerning those matters that were in their Colledge debated, whether they were all of one mind or of sundry, euen in a manner in the same sort, as the requestes of the people, of which Plato speaketh, were wont to be among the Athenians. But none other besides those, who (as I told you) are of the Venetians [Page 74] called Sages, hath power or authority to make report vnto the senate, and then to confirme & establish his o­pinion by authority of that order: alwaies I accept the Duke, the counsellors and the Presidents of the forty, of whom I will at large declare, and speake more here­after.

The opinions of all being read and perused in the senate, he that is for that weeke president of the first or­der of Sages, ariseth if he so thinke good: if not the el­dest or els any of the other, to whom being desirous to speake, the rest are contented to giue place, and from a seate or scaffold made of purpose somewhat higher then the rest, hee maketh his oration to the senate: al­leadging such reasons as hee thinketh meetest to con­firme his opinion, and to refute that which is maintay­ned to the contrary, yet modestly, and with grauity, as it beseemeth a senate of so honourable a degree and order. After that he hath ended, another of the Sages that differeth from his opinion, ariseth, fortifying his owne aduise with the best reasons hee can yeelde, and refelling the former, and likewise the rest, if there bee any more that doe disagree from his. Then the third, (if there bee so many diuersities of censures among them) standeth vp, by proofes and argumentes en­deuouring to maintayne and confirme that which he thinketh meete and conuenient: and so by course still is the matter pleaded and argued among them, till there remaine not any one more that will speake: as for the Senators no one of them may speake, till the Sages that will take the matter vpon them, haue made an ende: but when they haue with reasons, argu­mentes and proofes contended and throughly deba­ted [Page 75] the matter of each side as much as shall seeme good vnto them, then haue the other Senators also libertie to speake: of which if any will gainesay or confirme a­ny of the former opinions, or alleadge any new of his owne, he may freely do it at his pleasure: though as for the opinion of which himselfe shall bee author and in­uentor, he may not himselfe make report thereof vnto the Senate: but if it shalbe thought good and profitable for the commonwealth, then commonly one of the Colledge, or a counsellor, or the President of the forty relateth the same vnto the Senate. By which means the matter being at length wel & throughly sifted and dis­cussed: then doth the senate determine by the suffrages of those that are of that order, whether of the opinions is to be allowed: yet do they not with words or signes confirme or refute that opinion, as we reade the aun­cient Romaines did, neyther do they speake it publike­ly for euery one to heare: but their manner is to decide it with pots and suffrages, not much vnlike the order I told you was obserued in the Sessions.

The secretaries of the senate bring forth as many pottes as there are opinions concerning the matter debated of, and one besides which is greene, into which are put the lottes of all those that do dislike that aduice and counsell: and another redde, which recei­ueth the balles of those Senators, that remaine doubt­full to whether opinion they shoulde encline. The other Senators euery one putteth his ball into his pot whose opinion he liketh and esteemeth aboue the rest: if hee like none at all then he putteth it into the greene potte, and if hee bee doubtfull, into the redde. The Counsellors do tell the balles, and that opinion is held [Page 76] for ratification and decreed, which shall haue in fauour thereof the balles of halfe the senators, which number if none of them attaine vnto: then first, that opinion which is fauoured with fewest balles, is quite reiected, & for the rest they go to their lots againe: and so in that maner stil reiecting that which hath fewest bals, the con­trouersie is at length brought onely betweene two, of which the one must of necessity haue aboue halfe the suffrages, and then the same is by the decree of the se­nate authorized and allowed. One matter being dis­patched, they beginne with another (vnlesse it bee too late in the day) alwaies obseruing the same manner as is aforesaid.

The manner of giuing au­dience & dis­patching Am­bassadors. If there come an Ambassador from any prince to the commonwealth of Venice, he is receyued of the Duke, the counsellors and the whole colledge, and doth be­fore them expresse his ambassage: which being hearde, they do for that time dismisse him, demanding space to consult vpon the matter, which hauing done in sort & forme as you haue heard, they then demand the opini­on of the Senate. To which the Duke first declareth the effect of the Ambassadors demande, and then the opi­nions are read of all those that haue authoritie to make report to the senate, & finally in manner as before. The senate determineth what aunswere shall bee made vnto the Ambassadors demand: who being called in, a Se­cretary readeth vnto him the decree of the Senate, vp­on which hee is dismissed. This is in effect the whole summe, manner, and forme that the Senate vseth in The councel or colledge of the tenne.their consultations, decrees and councels: and there­fore now I thinke it requisite in this place to say some­what of the councell of the tenne, of which you haue [Page 77] often heard me make mention. This councell or Col­ledge of the tenne is among the Venetians of great and eminent authority, and of which any man may boldly say, that the whole safetie of the commonwealth de­pendeth. I will therefore touch the beginning and ori­ginall thereof, to the ende that the whole manner and course of the same may be the easilyer conceyued. Our elders did with a maruellous & in manner diuine pro­uidence foresee, that as in mans bodie, through the cor­ruption and putrefaction of one humor, many & most daungerous diseases doe commonly happen, which growe in time to bee the causes of death: so also in a commonwealth there are sometime wicked and disloi­all citizens, that are causes thereunto of great troubles and calamities, whiles they aspire rather to the pride of a wicked and vniust commandement, then to the praise of an honest and quiet obedience: carried away in those damnable endeuors eyther with ambition, and desire of rule, or oppressed with intollerable debt, or otherwise hauing committed some haynous wickednes or crime, for which they stand in doubt of punishment: such as we reade was in Rome, Cateline, Silla, Marius, and finally Iulius Caesar, who hauing by tyranny gotten the com­monwealth, did (in a manner) bring it to vtter desola­tion and ruine. The like we reade of sundry common­wealthes Sundry great and famous common­wealths ouer­throwen by the infidelity & ambition of some their priuate citi­zens.of the Greekes, yea and those sometimes fa­mous and of great glory, which by the vndermining ambition and treachery of some their wicked and vn­faithfull citizens, were brought into seruitude and bon­dage. But in these times of ours Italy it selfe hath yeel­ded vs sufficient examples, all the cities whereof (in a manner) that were eyther gouerned by the people, or [Page 78] by the nobility, being brought vnder the yoke or tirany of someone of their citizens. For which cause our pru­dent elders laboured to establish this commonwealth of ours in all perfection and beauty, and to strengthen the same with such & so holesome lawes, that it might as much as in mans wisedome lyeth, preuent the incon­uenience of so monstrous and miserable a fall: for they Nothing more to be feared then intestine broiles and cauil dissentiō.imagined that there was not any thing so much to bee doubted and feared, as an intestine enemy, or ciuill strife & sedition among the citizens. Calling there­fore to minde, that among the Lacedemonians the E­phores were mighty and of great authority, and among the Athenians the Areopagites, and so likewise among the Romaines the Decemuiri or tenne men, insomuch The cause of the creation of ten in the city of Venice.that they made lawes: they thought it not amisse by imitation of their example, though in an vnlike cause, to create in this our citie some magistrate of authority and power, whose office aboue all other things should be, to haue especiall care to see that among the citizens should not arise any strife or dissention, whereby there might ensue any scandall or vprore: and to preuent factions, or the attemptes of any wicked citizen that shoulde conspire against the liberty of the common­wealth: of which sort of mischiefe if there should by euill destiny, any creepe into the commonwealth, they then to haue absolute authority to punish and chasten the same, least otherwise the commonwealth might thereby receiue harme.

But so great an authority and puissance coulde not haue beene committed to few without danger, neither if to many, woulde it then haue been formidable: there­fore to auoide the one and the other inconuenience, [Page 79] they ordayned and established this Colledge of tenne. They continue in this office a yeare, and haue adioy­ned vnto them the Duke and the sixe Counsellors, so that the whole Colledge commeth to make vp the iust number of seuenteene citizens, to whome this great power and authoritie is giuen. Of these tenne there are three euery month chosen and elected by lotte, who are Presidentes of the Colledge, and The heads of the Tenne.by common phrase of speech called the heades of the tenne, and they haue authority to assemble the whole Colledge of the tenne, and to make report vnto them. They haue aparte by themselues a chamber, wherein they assemble when they sitte in councell. They haue also vnder them priuate and particular officers, as Por­ters, Vshers, and certayne that are allowed for their garde. So that there is not any other Tribunall of ma­gistrates gone vnto with greater obseruaunce and ce­remonie. Thither resort allthose that haue any thing to do in their Colledge. They likewise reade all letters written to the Colledge, and make report of them to the same, for doing of the which with the greater suf­ficiency, one of those Presidents alone by himselfe hath not authority to make report, but they must bee eyther two to make reporte of the same matter, or els foure Councellors. For the same cause also and to auoide the rashnesse and temeritie that some fewe of them might otherwise vse in alteration of any thing, it is orday­ned, that if they will cancell or vndoe any thing that is already established and fully confirmed, they must at least haue the Suffrages of two partes of the Colledge, for confirmation of that which they [Page 80] shall doe, which otherwise is helde to bee voide and of no effect. They haue also an order that the offendor is The offender neuer suffred to come into the Colledge, not any friend or Lawyer to plead for him.neuer suffred to come into the colledge, when they are to giue iudgement of him, nor any friend, kinseman, or Lawyer for him to pleade his cause: which priuiledge is granted to offendors in any other court whatsoeuer, where their cause is handled. The manner vsed in their iudgements is in this sort: The offendor is examined of the Presidents of the colledge, and his confession writ­ten, & then the matter is reported to the Colledge, the presidents of which & the other Iudges that are present do plead as well in the behalf of the accuser as of the of­fendor neuer determining of any great matter, but with an exceeding moderation of iudgement. In the begin­ning the charge onely of preuenting and remedying all such things as any way should offend the ciuil agree­ment of the commonwealth, was committed to the care of the tenne. But afterwardes certaine other grie­uous & enormous offences, as making of false money, sodomie, and such like were also brought vnder the se­uerity and censure of this sharpe and stricte manner of iudgement. And in these times of ours this authority of the tenne hath yet much more enlarged his bounds: for they haue power giuen them to set amercements vp­on sundry offences, and to punish those that shall blas­pheme the name of God, or of the blessed Virgine: and it is likewise or dayned, that whatsoeuer secrete matters that should concerne the state of the commonwealth any way: that such (I say) should bee brought and dis­closed vnto them: who neuerthelesse do not determine any thing of great moment without the opinion of the [Page 81] Senate. To the end therefore that a few citizens should not alone haue such successiue authority in so waighty affaires, there are called and admitted into this colledge the Sages of the first and seconde order: likewise the Fifteen sena­tors ascribed to the colledge of the ten, who are called Adiunctes.Aduocators and procurers of S. Marke, whose office is held in great estimation and reuerence. There are be­sides fifteene Senators ascribed to this Colledge, who are called Adiunctes, but all these here rehearsed haue not the priuiledge of suffrage, but onely the seuenteen first, and these fifteene Adiunctes: so that the whole number of those that haue authority of suffrage are two & thirty. The rest are depriued of this power and priui­ledge, though otherwise they be present at all their bu­sinesse. The fifteene Adiunctes were not accustomed to be elected neyther of the Senate, neyther of the ses­sions of the great Councell, but the tenne men did of themselues make choyce of fifteene such Senators as they best liked for their assistantes and companions: though now the same is altered, and the fifteene are chosen by the sessions of the great Councell, as the o­ther magistrates are. That there hath great vtilitie re­dounded to the commonwealth of Venice through this councell & Colledge of tenne: experience it selfe hath made most manifest & plaine. For two hundred & ten yeares since Marino Phalerio that then was Duke, hauing turned all his thoughtes to tiranny and vsurpation, was likely to haue giuen a great & deadly blow to the liber­ty Marino Pha­lerio Duke of Venice, pub­likely be­headed.of our commonwealth, if by the graue authority & wisedome of the tenne, he had not beene oppressed & put downe, and receiued the rewarde of his impiety & wickednesse: for by their iudgement and sentence, hee had his head publiquely stricken off, and with him sun­dry [Page 82] other citizens of great nobility, that together with him had conspired the ruine of their countries libertie, and besides his memory was deliuered to posterity with an eternall blot of dishonour and infamy: For in those places where the pictures of our princes are curiously set forth and painted, with Epitaphes and re­membraunces of those vertuous deedes, which they haue done in the behalfe and seruice of their countrey, the seate of Marino Phalerio is left bare without any picture at all, saue onely a few verses, signifying vnto the reader, that this Duke was for his offences (because I will not vary the wordes as they stand written) stric­ken with the axe: a conspiracie without doubt of passing wickednesse, and exceeding daunger, in appa­rance not vnlikely to haue wrought the vtter ouer­throw of the commonwealth, if by the authority of the colledge of ten, the same had not beene presently extin­guished. Likewise sundry other citizens, that being tickled with this rumor of ambition, had published certaine plausible lawes, to draw vnto them the good willes of the people, were ouertaken by the authority of this colledge, & presently cut off: whereby it is come to passe, that through the power of this Colledge al­waies assisted by the goodnesse of God, no such perni­cious infection hath as yet beene able to eate into our commonwealth. Thus the principal partes of our com­monwealthes are by vs already expressed, but now to the end that our vndertaken work may be in euery part perfect and accomplished, we will speake somewhat of the remaining magistrates, as well those, to whose handes is committed the administration of iustice, as those that haue the handling & ordering of the publike [Page 83] rents, and withall of the manner of gouerning those ci­ties that are vnder the Venetian commonwealth, as also of their captaines, nauies & armies, both by sea and by land. Lastly I will make mention of certaine statutes & ordinances, by which the danger of the common peo­ples mislike, in that they also haue not part in gouerning the commonwealth is cleerly auoided, with their great satisfaction and contentment: I will likewise shew, that the training and exercising the youthes to the exercises of warre is not in the Citie neglected, as some suppose. But before I proceed farther to these particular demon­strations, I thinke it not beside the purpose to aduertise the reader, that in this manner of the Senates consulta­tion, of which I haue spoken, and likewise in that of the Colledge of Tenne, there doth plainely appeare a cer­tain mixture of the lawes of a popular state, with the go­uernment of a nobilitie. For whereas the senate cannot deliberate of any thing if first report therof be not made vnto them of the Sages, therein appeareth a state of no­bilitie: but that the Sages haue not any power, vnlesse they consult with the Senate, and haue by authority thereof, their opinions confirmed, tasteth altogether of a popular gouernment, so that this iust mixture & temperature, which maketh the perfect measures and meanes of gouernment to be vnited in the true forme and shape of a commonwealth, is founde not onely in the whole body together, but also in euery parte and particular member of this our commonwealth. But returning whence I digressed: I will first of all handle that part which pertayneth and belongeth vnto Iustice.

All right & iustice therfore which is wont to be admi­nistred [Page 84] of magistrates, is diuided into two parts, for ey­ther it consisteth in the punishmentes of lewde & wic­ked men, that shall in any notable sorte trespasse impi­ously against God, and traiterously against their coun­trey, or wickedly against any citizen, or member there­of in particular: or els it concerneth the iudgement and determination of litigious controuersies and ciuill cau­ses. Criminall and ciuill iudges.Therefore are there also in Venice two kindes of Iudges, the one seruing for the decision of ciuill causes, the other for the iudgement of capital crimes, of whom we will first speake, and then of the other.

Some offences are esteemed to be small and light, in regard of the proper nature of the offence, or els of the condition of him that offended: others are accounted to be more grieuous and of greater importance, eyther through the qualitie of the misdeede it selfe, or els through the nobility and degree of him that doth it: whence it commeth that these capitall iudges are also diuided into two: the one for matters of great mo­ment and grieuous enormity: the other for crimes lesse haynous and of smaller waight: which diuision of iudgements as it was first ordained with an exceeding reason and founde foundation, so hath experience ap­proued it for allowable & of high commendation: we will first speake of the chiefest, and then of the rest.

Besides those offences, which we told you were com­mitted to the censure of the tenne: all other great and waightie crimes, being by the Aduocators reported of, and by the Colledge of fortie well pondered and de­bated, are wont all to be determined, and punnishment according to the qualitie of the crime to bee inflicted vpon those that shalbe found faulty therein. These forty [Page 85] that haue the examination & handling of waighty cri­minall causes, are commonly called the xl. criminall Iudges: we will speake of eyther, but we will first begin with the Aduocators.

The office of the Aduoca­tors.The office of the Aduocators was in times passed in great authoritie and maruelous estimation: the duety and function therereof being to defend the lawes pure and inuiolate, without suffring them in any one point The Aduoca­tors in Venice resemble the auncient Tribunes of the Ro­maine people.ro be blemished, so that their authority and power is much like vnto that of the Tribunes of the Romaine people, but that they were to defend the liberty of the people, and ours onely the force of the lawes: so that in my iudgement they may, and not vnfitly be tearmed the Tribunes of the lawes. But we to auoide all ambi­guities, will still retaine the common and accustomed worde: they onely pleaded and made report vnto the people, but ours to the xl. men for small causes, for greater to the Senate, for greatest of all to the greater Councell, if so they shall thinke good: so that in aunci­ent time the anthority of this office was passing hono­rable. But now since the mightinesse and encreased greatnesse of the Tenne, this office is growen to bee of lesse account, and the estimation thereof much obscu­red. Neuerthelesse seeing there belongeth to this of­fice so ample an authority of reporting in all causes, but especially the guarding and defending of the lawes: & seeing that those which haue committed any excesse or crime, seeme to haue broken and transgressed the lawes, it seemed good that those offences should in a certaine peculiar sort bee corrected by the censure of the Aduocators, though of themselues they haue not any authority of determining any thing absolutely a­gainst [Page 86] the offendors, vnlesse it be in some small cau­ses: the rest are all ordered by the sentence of the Councell.

In this place, I thinke it not from the purpose to ex­plane The manner of capitall iudgements.the manner and meane of capitall iudgements, which are giuen vpon the reporte of the Aduocators, seeing that (vnlesse I be deceyued) the like custome is not any where obserued, withall I shall thereby the bet­ter and plainlier make you vnderstand what the autho­rity is of this office of Aduocators.

When any crime or offence is brought before the Aduocators (if the same be thought worthy of their censure) then presently is he, whose name is brought by some one of them (the charge thereof belonging chief­ly to three) declared and argued to be guiltie, and then report is thereof made ouer by him that argued him, to what councell himselfe shall best like, though vsually such matters are referred to the colledge of the xl which haue presidence, and authority ouer capitall crimes & iudgements. And there the matter beeing well debated of, the councel determineth, whether the offender shal be put in prison or tortured, or otherwise allowed to de­fend his cause at libertie, who is either by the decree of the councell presently sent for, or els secretly apprehen­ded by the Officers and Sergeantes that attende vpon the Aduocators: and then hee is eyther at libertie, or as a prisoner examined vpon the matter: he maketh his aunswere, and witnesses and proofes are produ­ced on each side, and each particular registred in wri­ting, as well in the behalfe of the offendor, as against him, and a coppie thereof giuen him, and a time of re­spite appointed him to instruct his Aduocators, & such [Page 87] as hee shall chuse to pleade for him: and they likewise prouide themselues of such proofes and argumentes, as may best serue for his defence, and for the dis­proofe and confutation of such reasons and testimo­nies, as shall be vrged against him, and then the matter commeth to the pleading.

I cannot here ouerslip an ancient custome obserued of our forepassed elders euen vnto this age of ours, which is, that if any doe want meanes and abilitie to entertayne an Aduocate or Lawyer to pleade and defende his cause: then are there two Aduocates ap­pointed him at the charge of the commonwealth, to speake and argue in the defence and maintenance of his right. For thereof the lawes haue a speciall regarde, Two aduo­cates appoin­ted by the common­wealth to de­fend the cause of those that want meanes & abilitie to entertaine them.that no one doe receiue punishment without being first admitted to say what hee can in iustification of himselfe. But after that due ceremonies are obserued with the offendor, and all respectes and liberties affor­ded him, that the defence of his cause requireth, the ad­uocators doe warne the councell, and a day is appoin­ted for the tryall of his cause.

The Councell being assembled, the accusation of the parties that stande vpon their tryall, belongeth to the Aduocators, who are in that behalfe to behaue themselues with great sharpenesse, vehemence and se­uerity, euen in as inuectiue a manner (if possible they could attaine and reach thereunto) as that which Cice­ro vsed against Verres or Antonius, yet so that they refrayne from vnseemely rayling, and do not digresse or wander out of the matter with extremitie of spite­full words. For whosoeuer maliciously raileth, seemeth [Page 88] rather to bewray a mind intemperate and hatefull, then any way to aduaunce the commonwealthes cause. For in this point the matter is farre otherwise among the Venetians, then it was in times passed among the Ro­maines. Aunciently in Rome any citizen whatsoeuer might impleade another, and with all bitternesse accuse him before the Iudges: but in Venice no priuate man may performe such office, the same by the lawes of the commonwealth belonging to the dignity & magistra­cie of the Aduocators. In which point mee thinketh our ancestors did rightlier imitate the nature of things, and had therein a more regardfull foresight to maintain the citizens in agreement, then had the Romaines. For seeing that an offence committed is a breach of the lawes, & a scandall to the commenwealth, & the lawes and the commommonwealth are to exact punishment thereof: who can be fitter to require the punishment of him that offendeth, or who ought thereunto to bend greater indeuour, then that Magistrate whose authority, rule & dignity is wholly giuen him to defend the laws? Neyther can any priuate citizen play the part of an ac­cuser, without exceeding enuie and hatred of him whom he shall prosecute, whence easily there might sedition & trouble arise among the citizens, which in­conuenience is by vs notably auoyded, by laying this whole charge of accusations vpon a Magistrate, who is not to handle the same according to any priuate or par­ticular dissentious conceipt, but according to the pre­script rule and forme of the lawes: so that it hath neuer lightly beene hearde of, that euer any blame was impu­ted to an Aduocator for vsing vehement inuectiues, or [Page 89] being a sharpe accuser, but rather the greater applause and praise thereby to arise vnto him among all the citi­zens. But let vs now returne to our before mentioned manner of iudgements.

The Councell being assembled, the Aduocator plai­eth the parte of a bitter accuser, strayning the vttermost inuention of his wittes with all vehemence against the offendor, first obiecting vnto him the offence, confir­ming the same with witnesses, and then strengthening his obiection with probabilities and likelihoodes of coniecture: hauing ended his speech, the aduocate of the offender pleadeth in the Clyentes behalfe: After which if any of the Aduocators will speake afresh, be­fore the Iudges giue sentence, he hath libertie so to do: likewise the Lawyers of the defendant haue leaue to aunswere and to confute, if they can, the opposed argu­ments. And so of eyther side the cause is debated and tossed to and fro, till eyther the offender or the Aduo­cator whose turne it is to speake, doth declare that he hath no more to say, which done, the offender and his aduocates are commanded out of the Court, and the Aduocators are shutte into a roome apart with the Iudges and their Secretaries, not any one else being suffred to be there. The Aduocators first doe make a motion vnto the Iudges of punishing the offender, demaunding their opinions whether they thinke him worthy of punishment or no, not naming or appoin­ting any one certayne kinde of punishment, which Two manner of iudge­ments.custome was (in a manner) obserued by the Atheni­ans: for in Athens the Iudges gaue two sentences, in the first eyther condemning or absoluing the priso­ner. If in the first hee were condemned, then was the [Page 90] manner of his punishment determined of in the second, as out of Platoes Apologie of Socrates may plainly bee perceiued, the very like order of iudgement is that in manner which we do vse: first (as I say) the aduocators make a motion vnto the Iudges of punishing the offen­der. Then the Iudges go vnto their suffrages, for by suf­frages among the Venetians all things are determined. Three pots are brought forth, by the one of which the offender is condemned: by the other hee is absolued in maner without any correctiō, & by the third are known the opinion of those, which doe seeme yet to doubt whether course is to be taken: the first of condemnation is white, the second of absolution greene, the third of doubtfulnes redde. Euery of the Iudges, whether the cause be disputed of by the forty (as vsually it is) or els that the senate be consulted with (which seldome hap­peneth) & that only in great & waighty causes, or whe­ther it be by the aduocators reported ouer to the great councell, which is most seldome, & neuer but in mat­ters exceedingly enormous, to the ende to haue his suf­frage vndiscerned, letteth fall into whether of these The manner of the priso­ners tryall.three pots he pleaseth a little linnen ball: which being done, the presidents of the councell doe number the balles, and if more then the half be in sauor of the priso­ners liberty, he is presently pronounced free, & the re­quest of the aduocators reiected. But if more then the half of those bals, be found in the pot of condemnation, he is presently condemned: if neither of both exceede the half, but that the greater part of the Iudges put their suffrages into the pot of doubtfulnes: then his cause is deferred ouer til another day, & to the better discussion of the Iudges: if he be absolued, he hath no more to do [Page 91] but is presently set at liberty: if his terme be prolonged, then there is a new day appointed both to him and the Iudges for the handling of his cause: the Aduocators accusing him and his Lawyers, as wel as they can, refu­ting the obiected crimes. After that the matter is deba­ted & pleaded on both sides, the Iudges go to their bals againe, and if then neyther there bee any thing conclu­ded in regard that the greater part of the lots be found in the pot, that agreeth the doubtfulnesse & irresoluti­on of the Iudges, then once againe is the cause put o­uer, and a new day appointed both to the prisoner and the Iudges: which being come, and the Iudges casting their lots as before, there is no farther regard helde of those that are doubtfull, insomuch that if the lottes bee not in eyther parte iustly equall, of necessitie the priso­ner must bee eyther acquitted or condemned: if hee bee acquitted, hee hath (as I said before) no more to doe: but if he bee condemned, then they are to de­termine of the manner of his punishment: concerning the which both the Aduocators and the presidents of the Colledges of Iudges doe make motions. Alwaies The office of the Aduoca­tors enclyning more to seue­rity thē mercy. The heades of the forty and the counsel­lors propound lighter penal­ties.the Aduocators doe propounde that punishment, which to that sorte of offence doth seeme most sharp and grieuous, their office and dutie being more to incline to seuerity then to mercie. The other doe ac­custome to propounde lighter penalties, vnlesse the fault be so hainous, that there remain no place for pitty, or els that the Aduocators haue vsed greater lenitie then becommeth their place and office. The opinions of all being proposed, the punishment that the priso­ner must suffer, is in the very same manner and fashion concluded & determined on (as I told you aboue) that the decrees of the senate are wont to be ratified, when [Page 92] the Sages are of sundry & diuers opinions. The manner of which if I should repeat againe, I should trouble the reader with a needlesse iteration, and perchance be ac­counted tedious for my labor: Let this suffise, that that opinion of the Iudges is pronounced and executed, which (the other being reiected) hath in fauour there­of more then halfe the suffrages.

No one citizē nor magi­strate allowed for an abso­lute iudge or arbitrator in any thing. Here me thinketh I shall not doe amisse to acquaint you with two statutes wisely enacted by our ancestors.

The first is, that they would not by any meanes, that any citizen, no nor magistrate, should bee an arbitrator without appeale in any thing, but that the supreme right & iudgement of all things shoulde belong to the councels or colledges. And the other no lesse profita­ble then the former is, that the Iudges should not open­ly with their tongue pronounce their opinions: but se­cretly by suffrages, the maner of which you haue heard: either of which in my opinion, grounded vpon excee­ding reason: First for so great an authority in determi­ning matters, to haue been cōmitted to one magistrate as it had beene dangerous: so if now the matter fall by chaunce otherwise then well out, the Citie cannot find fault with any particular citizens. And with as great wisedome was it ordained, that iudgementes and de­crees should not bee openly with speech pronounced: for the Iudges by this inuention of secret suffrages doe iudge much more freely then they woulde haue done, if they had beene to deliuer their iudgementes with their tongue, in which case sometimes eyther through ambition they wold haue been seduced from iustice, or els feared the offence of their well deseruing friendes, or els doubted the indignation and mislike of some greater person: withal this commodity ther is, that [Page 93] euery Iudge followeth his own iudgemēt, without de­pending vpon the authority of any other Iudge: which might easily happen, that hee that had before spoken, were, reputed to be graue and wise, which point hath not been omitted of excellent Philosophers: but now seeing the whole manner of iudgementes is of vs ex­pressed: wee will returne to the forty iudges of Capi­tall causes, of which I had begunne to speake. Their Colledge was instituted of our City, to the ende that the Aduocators making report vnto them of Capitall causes; by their deliberation, wicked men and male­factors might receiue condigne correction & punish­ment: for vnlesse it be in great and waightie matters, and such as the commonwealthes may bee interessed by the decision of them, the Aduocators doe neuer consult with the Senate, and verie rarely with the great Councell: but all Capitall causes are brought to this Colledge of the forty, whose sentence is helde for ra­tifyed and firme without admitting any appeale. Their office lasteth eight moneths, after that they haue before spent sixteen moneths in determining of ciuill causes. For there are in the common wealthes of Venice three The office of the forty cri­minall IudgesCourtes or Colledges, euery one consisting of Forty iudges, two of them are for the iudging and determi­ning of ciuile causes, and the thirde of which wee speake for Capitall: but they are in this sort distribu­ted, that these forty Capitall Iudges, so soone as they haue finished their lymited time of office, do returne priuately into order, and forthwith other forty are cho­sen into their places by the session of the great Coun­cell, and yet the forty new chosen, doe not presently come to the iudging of Capitall causes, but in place [Page 94] of these former Capitall Iudges, doth the other Col­ledge of Forty succeede, that did in the meane space of these eight moneths, exercise the iudgemēt of ciuile causes within the City. And againe in their place doth succeede the other Colledge of forty, which also in this eight moneths space, had the handling of ciuil-foreyne causes, and in their place do succeed these last forty new­ly created, and so by turne they passe from foreyn causes to causes of the city, and lastly to those which are capital, in which iudgements, from one as I say to another they continue two years. These three courts of iudges haue their three peculiar appellations. The first of forreyne causes is called the new Colledge, the second of home­ciuil causes, the old, and the third that iudgeth vpon life and death, the criminal Colledge: these last forty, beside the high power of their iudgement in capital offences and crimes are also admitted into the Senate, and haue in that honorable Councell also their authority of suf­rages. They haue besides three heads or presidentes of their company, which are euery two monethes chosen new by Lot, and in their turnes they sit with the Duke and Councellers, and haue with them equal authority of making report ouer of whatsoeuer they shal please, eyther to the Senate or to the great Coun­cell, the same neuerthelesse in such manner as I tolde you before: neyther without reason are these forty yonger men mingled with the Senators, which are for the most part olde men in regarde that the heate of their nature maketh a temperature with the others coldnesse, yet are not these young men equall in num­ber to the olde men, but much fewer, onely inough to put some heat into the cold deliberatiōs of the Senate; [Page 95] which somtimes exceeding & in matters of some nature is necessarie. Besides by this grant of Senator like autho­rity to the forty, there may seeme to bee in some forte a communication of the commonwealths gouernmēt, with the lower and meaner sort of citizens, such as for the most part they are that do exercise this office of the forty▪ wherein our auncesters haue seemed to vse & obserue a certaine kinde of popular lawe: for to euery of these three Colledges of forty men there is a certain rated allowance of mony appointed and giuen for e­uery day that they shall assemble and meete, and there­fore very seldome do those that are rich, require this office, and if they should, they would as easily be repul­sed. The honor thereof being without difficulty gran­ted to the needier sort, prouided alwaies, that their life beare with it the fame of an honest conuersation: by which meanes the pouerty of meane gentlemen is not only in some sort prouided for, but alsoo the gouern­ment and administration of the common wealth, is as­well in some sort communicated with the meaner and poorer sorte of Citizens, as with those that are highliest remarkable eyther for riches or nobilitie, which custome hath a reference to the popular estate. By these thinges you may perceiue that there appea­reth in eueriy parte of the Venetian common wealth, that moderation, and temperature, which in the be­ginning of this worke, I tolde you our auncesters did so highly indeuour to establish, which is, that the po­pular estate should haue an intelligence and mixture with that of the nobilitie, yet the same in that order seasoned, that the parts of the Nobilitie should bee both [Page 96] more in number and mightier in sway.

We haue now in my opinion sufficiently discour­sed both of the Aduocators, as also of the forty crimi­nall Iudges▪ who are to that ende instituted, that they should carefully looke into all such offences as are any way notorious, eyther through the qualitie of the of­fence, or the condition of the offendor: Now the time Two sorts of inferior ma­gistrates.requireth, that we should briefly speake of some infe­rior magistrates, that haue authority to punish offences of lesse qualitie, and moment, eyther in regarde of the meanes of the faulte it selfe, or the slender regard & quality of the person that commiteth the same. These also are of two sortes, the one hath power of life and death, the other not, their authority stretching no farther then to the punishment of Rogues and Har­lots, whome they cause to bee imprisoned or whipt with rods, euery of them according to the proportion of their committed lewdnes. The first magistrate also that hath power to giue sentence of life and death, is likewise deuided into two sortes. For the selfe same Iudges doe not search out and examine and call to try­all the offendor, but the first being the heades of the officers by night doe throughly examine the cause of Officers of night.the offender, and register vp in writing the deposition of the witnesses, & whatsoeuer else the party hath con­fessed, eyther of his owne accord, or els by the con­straint of torture: and then finally represent the whole to the iudges of the Properties. This Magistrate diffe­reth Iudges of the properties.much from the former, and giueth sentence of death, when the cause in handling is capitall. But if it be a lighter offence to bee punished onely with whip­ping [Page 97] or imprisonment, the captaines of the officers by night, do of themselues dispatch the matter without as­king the aduise of the Colledge, eyther for the impriso­ning or torturing the offendor, which authority neuer thelesse the office of the Aduocators hath not, but must first acquaint the Colledge and proceede according to the decrees thereof, neither is the same so ordayned without exceeding reason and foundation, for that for euery small matter, and the offence of euery baggage fellow, the Councell should haue been mooued, both the common wealthes should haue beene ouermuch troubled with many impertenent brablers, and also lewd fellowes should haue had a greater scope of liuing licentiously, through the hope of escaping punishmēt. For greater expedition thereof, of these kinds of iudge­ments, the heads or chieftaines of the officers by night do obtaine that authority, of which the Aduocators are depriued. These officers of the night are six, and six likewise are those meane officers, that haue onely power to correct base vagabonds and tryfeling offen­ces.

Those that do execute this office are called heades of the tribes of the city, because out of euery tribe (for the city is deuided into six tribes) there is elected an officer of the night, and a head of the tribe, which cu­stome also we obserue in the election of our Coun­cellers, as here before I haue expressed.

The duty of eyther of these officers is, to keepe a watch euery other night by turn, within their tribes and now the one and then the other, to make rounds about his quarter, till the dawning of the day, being al­wayes guarded and attended on with weaponed offi­cers▪ [Page 98] and serieants, and to see that there be not any dis­order done in the darkenes of the night, which alwaies imboldneth men ill disposed to naughtinesse, and that there be not any houses broken vp, nor theeues, nor rogueslurking in corners with intent to do violence.

At the first beginning of the city, eyther of these of­fices was of great estimation: but since, new Magi­strates being added, according to the chaunge of the times, and the occasion of the common wealth: the same is much diminished and of lesser respect, for the chiefe authority being transferred ouer to the new of­ficers, there remaineth onely in their courtes the deci­sion of base and baggage matters, as the suddes or lees of the rest.

Hetherto there is inough saide of those Magi­strates that do determine Capitall causes: In the next volume we will speake of ciuile Iudgementes.

IT hath beene alwaies a perpetuall continuing custome in the commō The whole high and chief authority of all thinges be­longing to the Councels and not to any particular magi­strates.wealth of Venice, that no magistrate whatsoeuer should haue in matters of waight and importance, high & chief authority: but that the same shoulde wholy belong to the col­ledge, or rather vsing the common manner of speech to the Councels, insomuch that in ciuile causes such as In ciuile cau­ses the party preiudiced may after iudge­ment giuen appeale to the Auditors and to the Col­ledge of the Forty.shall exceede the summe of fiue and forty crownes, there is not any magistrate from whose iudgement, the party may not appeale to the Auditors of the ci­uile causes, and to the colledge of forty, of whome we haue heere aboue made mention.

But to the end that the whole manner of these ciuile iudgements may be made manifest and plaine, wee Two sorts of Auditors the olde and the new.will begin with the Auditors, which are of two sortes, that is to say, the olde and the new, the olde doe de­riue their name from the antiquitie of their office, The old Auditors more an­cient then the new.and being much more ancient then that of the new, which was altogether vnknowne in this common­wealth, till the same beganne to haue Dominion [Page 100] ouer the maine Lande, many ages after the building of the City. These olde Auditors haue in manner the same authority in determination of ciuile causes, after they are debated of & iudged by the ciuile iudges, as the aduocators haue in all such matters, as any way they shall thinke to be offensiue to the lawes, I meane in re­ceauing of appeales, or making of report ouer.

When therefore by the ciuile Iudges, there is any sentence giuen against any man: it is lawfull for him who receiueth preiudice thereby, to appeale from their indgement to the Auditors, the cause then being brought into their court, and of eyther side pleaded & debated of those betweene whome the controuersie dependeth, if the same exceed not the summe of fiftie crowns, they may of their own authority, so they agree all in one end and determine the same, without the Colledge of the forty: or if they disagree in opinion, then one of them hath authority to make report ouer Three Iudges that haue au­thoritie to iudge and de­termine on thinges that are found,to a very small Colledge, where the company of ey­ther Auditors do note, and likewise three other Iudges, that vsually do sit vpon thinges that are founde: and there these lesser affaires are absolutely determined.

But if the whole cause did amount aboue the rate of the foresaid summe, before our time the matter coulde not haue beene brought into the Colledge of the Forty, vnlesse someone of the Auditors had interposed himselfe, and made reporte of the sen­tence so giuen by the Iudges, vnto the forty. But in this time of ours there is a Law made, whereby li­berty is graunted vnto him against whome the for­mer Iudges haue pronounced sentence, that [Page 101] he may after three monthes (though none of the Au­ditors intermeddle) call his aduersary a fresh into A law lately made, by which the au­thority of the Auditors is greatly dimi­nished.question by appeale vnto the Colledge, by whose lawe the authoritie of the Auditors is greatly diminished: yet neuerthelesse is their report of great auaile to the fur­therance of the cause, and besides the cutting of the de­lay of three monthes, seemeth to be as a prerogatiue to the Iudges. Presently vpon the Auditors report the former iudges were before our time summoned into the Colledge of the fortie, and there eyther magistrate admitted to the maintenance of his cause by plea: but now I know not by what negligence by little and little it is brought to passe, that the former Iudges, from whose sentences the appeale is brought, doe neyther pleade, nor bee so much as present at the handling of their cause in the Colledge of the forty: onely being ci­ted by an officer, their answere is, that, that which lawe and iustice is, may go forward.

But this custome that the auditors should first make re­port vnto the colledge of such causes as were by appeale brought vnto them, and plead in maintenance of them, hauing continued till our time, is now wholly abroga­ted: and onely the Aduocates of those between whom the controuersie resteth, doe vse that office, in defen­ding the cause of their clientes: whereby it is come to passe, that this office which was before time so honou­rable, is now become to bee greatly obscured and e­clipsed. The iudges of ciuile causes obserue the same order in their iudge­ments as the criminal iudges.

These fortie Iudges of ciuill causes doe in a manner obserue that order and custome in their iudgementes, as you heard me say before is vsually wont to bee obser­ued of the forty Iudges of capitall causes: onely this dif­ference [Page 102] there is that in causes wherein the life and e­state of any man is called in question, there is no cer­tayne time of speech limited or imposed, whereas in A certaine time of speech limited.ciuile controuersies there is a certaine time appointed, beyond which they may not by any meanes lengthen or extend their plea: that is to say, an houre and a halfe onely to each of them that pleadeth: neyther are there in the decision of these ciuile iudgements many opini­ons alleadged, out of which the Colledge may con­clusiuely chuse one that shalbe best to their liking, as in consultation vpon the punishment of malefactors, (I told you aboue is vsually the custome) but it is onely here debated, whether the sentence giuen by the for­mer Iudges shall be confirmed or abrogated: if any of the Auditors make intercession to that ende, then shall the question be of abrogating and cancelling the same: but otherwise if the matter come vnto the Col­ledge without the intercession or addresse of any Au­ditor, then the Presidentes of the Colledge, after the matter is of each side throughly pleaded, doe rather propose the strengthening and confirming of the for­mer iudgement then the disalowance or cancelling thereof. Presently all the sworne Iudges doe prepare Three seuerall pots brought forth, a white, a greene▪ and a redde.themselues and go vnto their suffrages, and three pots likewise are brought forth: in the greene the former iudgement is cancelled: in the white it is approued, and in the thirde which is redde, are the balles of those that doe yet remaine doubtfull, and would haue the matter to bee adiourned and deferred. Nothing is helde for absolute and decreede, vnlesse more then the halfe doe conclude and agree together in one opi­nion, eyther for the ratifying, or disanulling thereof: [Page 103] of which if the iudges bee not throughly perswaded, so that neyther of both bee decided, the same is then deferred ouer till the next day, and the same ceremo­nies againe renewed: and if neyther then it bee de­termined, the Colledge is called agayne the thirde day, and the selfe same proceedinges vsed as before, saue onely that after eyther side hath sufficiently plea­ded, and that they go againe to their suffrages, there is no farther reckoning made of those that remayne doubtfull and vnperswaded, so that vnlesse the suffra­ges bee altogether equall, it is determined, and fully ended one way or other, and the former iudgement Vpon abroga­tion of the former iudgement the plaintife hath libertie to re­nue his acti­on.eyther fully confirmed or vtterly abrogated. Ne­uerthelesse vppon abrogation of the former iudge­ment the playntife is not so put off and debarred, but that hee hath libertie to renewe his action agayne: for this newe cancelling serueth to no other ende, but onely to frustrate and make voide and inualide But vpon the confirmation of the former sentence the party interes­sed is vtterly debarred.the force of the former iudgement: whereas the ap­probation and allowance confirmeth and ratifieth for euer the iudgement that was giuen and pronounced, neyther is there left to the defendant, any place ey­ther of prouocation or appeale, or meane to call the matter in question, vnlesse there fall out some new mat­ter or occasion.

This shall bee sufficient as concerning the olde Auditors: now wee will briefly say somewhat of the newe. This Magistrate was vnknowen and not crea­ted in our commonwealth, till such time as the Vene­tian Empire beganne to imbrace the mayne lande that bordered vppon our Lakes. To these may ap­peales be brought from the iudgements & sentences of [Page 104] The New au­ditors meddle onely with forraigne matters. such gouernors & magistrates as without the precinctes of our Citie doe administer iustice to people that doe liue vnder our subiection: for the olde Auditors were not of themselues able and sufficient to vnderstand and dispatch both the causes of the citie, and those also of forrayne places: for which cause this Magistrate was called by the name of New, in regarde that after the commonwealth was once setled and established, the ci­tie began to stretch and enlarge her dominion ouer the maine land of the prouince of Venetia, which as though it had neuer beene seperated from the same, returned willingly with a franke and liberall good will. For as I shewed you in the beginning of this worke, the noblest sorte of people that inhabited the countrey of Venetia, flying the barbarous crueltie of forraine nations, & the generall deuastation of all Italie, did get themselues in­to these lakes of ours, and then did lay the first founda­tion Why the City was first cal­led Venetia.of this most opulent and flourishing citie, calling it by the name of Venetia, to leaue thereby a remem­brance vnto their posteritie, that there in the same were ioyntly together assembled the chiefe prime and flower of the nobilitie of all the cities of the territories of Vene­tia: so that in short space, when the rule and empire therof began infinitly to increase, one Magistrate could not serue for the dispatch both of forraine and domesti­call causes: and therefore this New Magistrate was The New col ledge of the forty ciuile iudges.ordayned, and likewise the New Colledge of the forty: into whose courtes are brought the appeales from the indgementes of such forrayne magistrates as haue go­uernment abroade: where being throughly handled and discussed, they are finally ended and concluded. The manner and forme of proceeding in this colledge, [Page 105] is such in all points (as before I told you) is obserued of the olde Auditors, and the councell of the forty ciuill The councel of fortie for causes onely within the citie.Iudges, concerning causes within the cittie: onely this is added to the authoritie of the new Auditors, that in any matter brought vnto them by appeale, so the same exceed not the summe of fortie crownes, they may o­uerrule the former iudgement, or abrogate it, or allow it eyther in whole or in part, as shal seeme best vnto them, prouided, that they do all agree in one opinion: which The causes of strangers soo­ner dispatch­ed then those of the citizens.course was thought fit to be ordayned, to the end that forrayners and strangers (of whome according to the preceptes of many great Philosophers there is especiall regarde to bee had) should not be molested and lin­gred off with long delayes, but quickly come to an ende of their suites. This priuiledge the olde Audi­tors haue not: for they of necessity must eyther whol­ly allow the iudgement, or els vtterly cancell and make voide the same, and whereas the new (as I said) may, leauing the rest, meddle onely with parte of the cause, they must either embrace the whole entire cause, or els vtterly leaue it vnmedled withall. So that by this means thesuites of strangers are sooner ended & determined, then the causes of the citizens, though through the sut­telty of Aduocates and Lawyers (who leaue nothing vnattempted, how farre soeuer the same be from right) processes and suites are sundry times drawen out to an infinite length: as in all places it is vsuall, where iudge­mentes are not rashly pronounced, but leasurely and considerately at appointed times.

Now (in a manner) haue we expressed the whole form which is vsually obserued in iudgements, it remai­neth that we briefly speak somwhat of those magistrates [Page 106] who first of all do giue sentence in causes of the Citie, & Sixe seuerall kindes of Iudges.from whom the appeales & prouocations are brought to the old Auditors, and to the councell of the fortie: of these Iudges there are six seueral courts, diuided ac­cording to the qualitie of the causes and of the persons. For eyther the suites are about marchandise, or matters pertayning thereunto, or about houses or groundes that are within the Lakes, or about possessions and landes that are on the Continent, or els about other contractes, or bargaines: as for the persons that con­tend, they are eyther citizens or strangers, or one with another strangers and citizens together: or the con­trouersie is betweene orphelins, or els moued at the suit of the widdowes, for the recouery of their dower after the death of their husbands. Lest therefore there might fall out a confusion among iudgements of so dif­ferent kindes, to the end that the one should not bee a disturbance or hinderance to the other, there were ap­pointed seuerall Courtes of iudgement, in so much that as farre forth as possible it might bee, euery one according to the quality of his businesse might know the proper and peculiar Iudge of his controuersie: for Iudges of the properties.whatsoeuer differences arise about houses, groundes, or leases, situated or lying within the boundes of Ve­nice (that is, being within the lakes) are all determined by those that are called Iudges of the properties, to whose Courtes also widdowes haue recourse in de­mandes of their dower, after the death of their hus­bandes. This name and appellation of properties was first giuen them, because our auncestors did take those thinges to be properly their owne, which were seated within the Lakes, as not being easie to bee transferred [Page 107] to the dominion of other maysters: as for such goods as they had vpon the Continent, whether they were landes or houses, in regarde that they lay open to vi­olence, and might in dispight of their maysters suffer rapine and spoyle, they called by the name of moue­ables: if then the controuersie arise concerning any possession vpon the maine landes, for redresse thereof recourse is to be had to the Iudges of the Procurators: Iudges of the procurators.vnder whome the matters of Orphelins that are yet vnder gardians are handled, for among the Venetians both gardians and tutors were wont to be called Pro­curators. If the contention and strife do any way con­cerne Merchantes or matter of merchandise, then for the decision of those causes are there certaine peculiar Iudges or Consuls of the merchants.Iudges, called properly Iudges or Consuls of the mar­chantes. These doe in their Iudgements vse a speedier dispatch then any other of the ciuill magistrates: which was so ordayned, to the ende that marchantes, whose affaires might otherwise receyue great detriment and hinderance, with lingering and delayes might not bee deluded or entertayned with long expectation of their Iudges of strangers.right. But if the question bee betweene straungers, or that if any citizen will sue a stranger that commeth to lodge in Venice for some fewe dayes, those Iudges must then bee repayred vnto that are appoynted to heare the causes of straungers, and haue thereof their proper nomination and tytle. But all other causes of sales, bargaines, or contractes, by which any citizen pretendeth eyther breach of couenant or duenesse Iudges of re­questes.of debt, are referred to the Iudges of requestes, who serue in steade of the Mayor or Pretor of the Citie. [Page 108] There are besides certaine small thinges, whose iudge­ment Iudges of the moueables.and determination is committed to certaine offi­cers, that are called Iudges of the moueables. Likewise there is another kinde of magistrate, whose office is, if any thing happen to bee founde, that had layne long hidden, or els beene lately lost, to iudge and determine Iudges of things that are found.whether the same ought to belong to the commō trea­sure, or to any priuate man, or els to him whose chaunce it is to find it, all things of the like kind and nature being vnder the compasse of his authoritie and iudgement.

Hauing expressed the seuerall kinds and manners of Magistrates that haue charge of common trea­sure.iudgements, we wil now passe ouer to those magistrates that haue charge ouer the common chamber or treasu­rie, and the receipt & employment of the publike reue­new. These perchance may seeme to some body more in number then is conuenient, and that a few might as sufficiently discharge the whole businesse pertaining to the treasure: but here they must marke, that our fa­thers omitted no kinde of heedfulnesse to preuent all fraude & deceipt in the administration of their publike treasure, supposing the same to bee the very fountayne whence the other parts of the commonwealth receiue their nouriture and sustenance, and likewise grow to an exceeding weakenesse and empouerishment by the drying vp and decay therof, in so much that they made a solemn decree, that what citizen soeuer should be cō ­uicted of hauing abused or defrauded the commō trea­sure, shold be to al posterity defamed with a perpetuall note of dishonor: and the same perpetualy euery yeare should to his eternal shame be renued. For vpō a certain appointed day the great councel is solemnly assembled, [Page 109] and there in a publike oration made by one of the Ad­uocators, all such as haue beene conuicted of this crime as named with titles of reproach, to the end that the shame and infamie of so foule a fact may neuer growe out of date or be forgotten.

The magi­strates who haue charge o­uer the trea­sure are of two sortes. But returning to the purpose: The magistrates who haue charge ouer the Treasure are of two sortes, as like­wise is the treasure it selfe, for eyther it consisteth of the publike rentes, reuenewes, and tributes, or else when great and important occasions shal so require the same, is raised of taxes and subsidies that are leuied according to the abilitie of the citizens: which oftentimes hap­neth, when warres with which our city hath been much afflicted, do grow vppon vs eyther by sea or land, as when the Turke incrochingly assaileth our dominions, whose mighty puissance and formidable attempts as­well against vs, as against the whole commonwealth of Christendome, wee alone not without exceeding charge and detriment haue resisted and kept at a baye many yeares, or else when christian princes not broo­king the greatnes of the Venetian empire, haue con­spired against the same, as in the fifteenth yeare before this, in manner all the greatest princes of christendome were strongly linked, leagued and confederated against vs: but God be thanked: their endeuours were with­stoode, and our affaires though for a while declining, were yet at length restored into their former estate & flourishing erected grearnesse.

Seeing then that this common treasure consisteth of two kindes, two likewise are the kinds of magistrates to whose charge they are committed. The one for the subsidies leuied of the people: and the other for [Page 110] the common rents and tributes: These tributes are le­uied eyther of goods transported out of the City, or els of such as are brought into the same: others the like al­so are collected and gathered out of those other citties that are vnder the Venetian dominion. The tributes Tolles, and customes of the citie, aswell through the great aboundance of marchandize, and infinite assem­bly of marchants, as also the innumerable multitude of people that dwell within the same, are farre greater then a man would imagine, and as the kinds of these matters & marchandize are diuers, so likewise are the officers ouer them instituted & ordained, as it best seemed vnto thē, to whose supremecharge & superintendance they belong to acquaint you with the particularities & pe­culiar offices of euery one of which would rather breed a vaine and werisome tediousnes, then any necessarie or pleasing delight, for which cause I thought it not amisse to ouerslippe those magistrates, whose offices are not of continuance, but are onely instituted vppon occasions. In summe the chiefest point belonging to all these officers is to be heedefull that no parte of this commō treasure be embezeled, misemployed or care­lesly regarded, all controuersies likewise arising about this money, are by them iudged and determined, so soo e as they haue gathered in their mony, they carie The Gouer­nour [...] of the publike rents.the same to the gouernours of the publike Rents: for so is this magistrate called, to whose presidence this matter is committed: which because it is a very great and a very honorable charge, the same is not wont to be giuen, but vnto the noblest citizens, which to the end they should the more willingly of themselues de­sire, or at least not refuse the same, being profered, as [Page 111] the burthen and care there of, is great and weightie: so are there thereunto many both profitable and ho­norable The creation of the vnder Officers be­longeth to the gouernours the common Treasure.authorities annexed for the creatiō of all such vnder officers, as are paid out of the common treasure, as Serieants, Somners, Purseuants, Ordinarie gardes, and therest of that kinde, lyeth wholy in their power, whome hauing satisfyed and payd, they bring the rest The Treasur­ers of the Chamber of the City▪that remaineth to the Treasurer, at the Chamber of the City: to which magistrate finally is brought the whole summe of the common money collected ey­ther within or without the towne, by whatsoeuer of­ficer or treasurer, and they do againe imploy the same vpon publike vses, according to the order and directi­on of the Senate: keeping a Register both of their re­ceipts and paymentes, which office because it requi­reth a painefull trauell and continuall diligence, the same is wont to be giuen to the yonger sort of the no­bilitie, prouided alwayes that they be such, whose sin­cerenesse and integrity of life do no way degenerate from the noblenesse of their stocke, to the ende that the publike mony bee not priuately misemployed, and these treasurers of the City haue in manner as greate authority in the Senate as the other lawfull Senators: Peculiar Offi­cers appointed ouer such mo­ny as is leuied by taxation.but as for the money which in the necessities and di­stresses of the commonwealth is leauied of the citizens by way of taxation: though at length the same come as to the treasurer of the town Chamber, yet are there peculiar and proper officers thereunto assigned some­times vpon an occasion of collecting a summe of mo­ney, the Senate maketh a decree for the raising thereof without any clause of restirution, interest, or vtilitie to returne backe to those of, whome it is leuied, which [Page 112] happeneth neuerthelesse very seldome, for commonly, or rather alwaies, vnlesse extreame occasion require the contrarie, the Senate (as their chiefest care is di­rected to the generall good of the commonwealth:) so also haue they a most especiall and singular regarde of the particular estate of the citizens.

The summe that is to be leuied being determined, & time appointed for the payment thereof; euery one bringeth in as much thereof, as he was rated at, which is exacted and gathered in, by the gouernors of the rentes, and by them brought to the Treasurers of the Chamber. But oftentimes vpon these taxations of money the Senate limites and appointes a time for restitution thereof vnto the Citizens, with some al­lowance Interest allow­ed vnto the ci­tizens for such money as is leuied of them.also of profite, and interest for the same, and to that ende are there certaine rentes and determinate tributes assigned and made ouer, but afore our time the Senate sundrie times were wont to make a decree concerning this exacted summe of money that there should not be made any mention of restitution, nor a­ny time thereunto appointed, vnlesse the same should be for the generall good and benefite of the common wealth, onely the magistrate, which was called presi­dent of the lones, and as yet retayneth that name, re­corded President of the Lones.in a booke, the seuerall summe contributed by euery particularr cittizen, and in the meane time till the same were repayed, there were allowed fiue crownes in the hundred, to euery one of those that had beene taxed, and thereunto were sundrie rentes appointed, so that in those ancient warres it was an ea­sie matter to leuie mony by this manner of taxation, and surely in my opinion it was a thing very iust and [Page 113] reasonable, that somewhat should bee againe restored vnto them out of the common reuenew, that had in the necessarie times of the common wealth, spent and empayred their substance: for as the partes ought to haue regarde to the safety of the whole, so in naturall reason also ought the whole to defend and preserue the partes, in asmuch as may bee from all inconueni­ence and wrong, and to participate with them some part of the common nouriture, thereby to restore & enharten them, but in our time this debt of leuied mo­ny was so excessiue and great, that the very interest thereof, after the rate I spake of, amounted to three hundred thousande Crownes by the yeare, which payment being of late, by reason of the extreame ne­cessities and dangerous warres, wherewith the com­monwealth was enuironed, withholden, and kept backe, now finally, some foure yeare since, there was a statute and decree enacted by the Senate, (the mo­tioners and perswaders thereof being Dominico Tre­uisano, Andrea Gritti Duke Venice.a graue and honorable Councelor, and Andrea Gritti, a Senator of singular prudence and integrity, who now to the generall contentment and exceeding happines of our commonwealth, wee acknowledge for our Duke and Prince) that there should not thence forwarde be any mention made of paying any yeare­ly interest, neither that any suits, kinde of subsidy, or contribution shoulde thereafter be registred or en­rolled in the common bookes, and yet least the citi­zens should thinke themselues defrauded: it was pro­uided that they should be paide their principall, and likewise the interest, due vntill the day of the decree, [Page 114] for satisfaction of which they appointed out, not onely An Officer appointed for the payment of the rownes debtes.a great part of their tributes, but also the whole pos­sessions belonging to the common wealth in the teri­torie of Rouigo. The medling in which busines happe­ned partly to my lot in regarde of an office that I then bare, instituted of purpose before our times to diminish and lessen the debts of the common wealth, or if it were possible, vtterly to extinguish them, of which I wil speak somewhat hereafter, and so a great part was discharged of those heauie and vnmeasurable debtes, with which the commonwealth was burthened, and likewise the estate of the priuate citizens, not left vnconuenientlie regarded, yet alwaies so that the generall good was first prouided for, and then the priuate, which order is dis­cended euen to our times from our auncesters, from hand to hand.

Now then to turne our speech thether againe where­in we digressed. The Presidentes of the lones are those that do gather together the money wherein the Citti­zens are taxed at such times as the commonwelth nee­deth their helpe, of which when in their bookes they haue taken a particular note and reckoning, then finally they deliuer the same ouer to the Treasurer of the Chamber of the Citty, from whome it belon­geth to their charge to exact such summes of money, as were yearely accustomed to be yeelded in steade of rent to the priuate Cittizens: and likewise to register vp in their bookes both the receipt and expence there­of. But this money which by the Senates decree is leuied of the Cittizens, and is after a certaine time to bee restored vnto them againe, was wont both [Page 115] to bee collected and repayed by a certaine peculiar Magistrate thereunto appointed: Now this office Officers that do seaze and sell the goods of those that do not at the time appoin­ted pay the mony in which they are taxed.belongeth wholy to the Gouernours of the Rentes. There is also an other money-Magistrate not to bee omitted, to whose office it appertaineth to search, seaze, and to sell openly the goodes of such as do not at the time appointed pay the summe of mo­ny at which they are taxed. There are also other money-Magistrates, that do seeke out the endebted Cittizens, and do aswell peruse the bookes of ac­count of priuate men, as also those of the common welth, to the end that the treasurie and common welth may not any way bee defrauded, which for auoiding tediousnesse I will ouerpasse, because they are not of a­ny moment, to that order and gouernement of our common wealth which I haue taken vpon mee to de­scribe.

Presidents o­uer the coyne or mintmai­sters. Besides these heretofore mentioned, there are also certain other magistrates, whose offices are of greate auaile, to the commoditie, quietnesse, honour, health, and happinesse of our Countrie, and therefore not to be ouerslipped in silence. First are the maisters of the coyne aswell golde, as siluer, the currant good­nesse of which as yet entertaineth the willing trafique of straungers: so is it comfortable and commodious to the Citizens within themselues: then the corn­maisters, and health maisters of Venice, both being Corn masters. Helth masters. Presidentes of the Arsenall.of great and exceeding consequence, as likewise are the worshipfull Presidentes of the Arsenall. Then are there certaine officers, such as among the Romains Aediles.were called Aediles, to whose care belongeth the [Page 116] mending and repayring of the streetes and Bridges, and other the like matters of that kinde and office, ex­ceedinglie requisite and necessarie in this common wealth of ours, and lastly the office of those whome Procurators.the Venetians call procurators, being of great dignity and singularly auailable to the City.

Of the Presidents of the money or Mintmaisters I knowe not what I should say more, then that their chiefe charge and care is, that the gold and siluer be not coyned in any baser allay, then that which by the law is appointed, neither that the same beare a­ny whit lesse weight then it should doe: which hath beene of vs all most religiously obserued, insomuch that the money of Venice is of great account, and runneth currant aswell among the barbarous Nati­ons, as it doth in Christendome. For whereas all other Christian Princes in a manner, cause their mo­ny to be stamped in a baser allay, to the end to make it stretch the farther: ours haue alwayes herein most constantlie retayned that dignitie which they recey­ued of their auncesters.

The magistrate that hath the charge for the prouision of corne is exceedingly necessarie to this city of Venice, because there being but a small quantitie of corne to be gathered out of the territorie of Venice, and the cittie being most populous, and round about encom­passed with lakes, of necessitie there is greate care to bee had of these prouisions: least the people whose benefit and commoditie was so exceedingly of our an­cesters respected through dearth and scarsity of corne, might fall into the extremitie of Famine. There [Page 117] are therefore appointed three maysters or ouerseers of this matter of corne, whose Magistracie endureth six­teene monthes: their office & charge is carefully to pro­uide that the Citie bee neuer at any time afflicted with the scarcitie of corne, of which if at any time they stand in doubt, they presently repaire vnto the Duke, and to the Colledge of the Sages, and there the matter being well debated, doe at length determine what course is therein best to be taken. Sometimes there is a certaine rewarde and recompence out of the common treasure appointed to those that shall from farre countries trans­port any corne to Venice. Sometimes they bargayne with merchantes for the vndertaking to bring by a cer­tayne time such quantity of corne as they shall agree vpon to Venice, from out of forraigne regions, and for the same to be payed out of the publike treasure, which promise vnlesse the marchantes faithfully performe, they are by the senate amerced in a great summe of money. And whereas the commonwealth buyeth this corne deerely and at a great rate: it selleth the same a­gaine to the common people very good cheape, and at a small price, suffring sometimes therein a great and ex­ceeding losse.

There are besides this many other excellent lawes and decrees concerning this matter of corne, which if I should perticularly rehearse, I should digresse farther from my purpose then were fit.

Now followeth that Magistrate to whose prouidence and care all such thinges as tend to the health and hole­somenesse of the citie do appertain. His chiefest office is to foresee, that there come not into the citie any con­tagious infection, which if at any time it happen to [Page 118] creepe in (as sometimes it chanceth) then to take such diligent and carefull order, that in as much as may bee the same come not to spreade any further. To which ende there are certaine goodly commodious houses built in the lakes three miles off from the citie, and ad­ioyning neer vnto them there are gardens of great plea­sure, into which houses if any of the people fall sicke, he is presently conueyed with his whole familie: and those that haue had any cōuersation with him that is so fallen sicke, to the end they infect not others, must also (lea­uing their owne mansions) be remoued to other pub­lique houses built to the same vse, but in a part without the citie quite contrarie to the other, where they are constrained to remaine the space of fortie daies: if du­ring which time they continue sound and well, then they are suffred to returne to the citie and to their dwelling places. There is also a great care had of their housholde stuffe, least by the contagion thereof, any one should get infection. This Magistrate likewise hath a care that there bee not any stinking or rotten meate, or any other vnholesome thing solde, that might any way offend or bee noysome to the health of the Ci­tie. Finally his onely care is to preuent infection and sicknesse, and to preserue purenesse and health within the citie: This office was instituted not long before our time; whereas before the cittie was sundry times so mortally afflicted with the plague, that whole fami­lies flying the infection thereof, leauing their proper habitations, forsooke the towne, & went to the next countries vpon firme lande. But since the creation of this new magistrate (Gods goodnesse be thanked) there [Page 119] hath not beene (in a manner) any pestilence at all: though sometimes (as in such a maruellous concourse of people out of all partes can hardly bee auoided) some houses haue beene infected: but by the diligence of this magistrate, and especially Gods fauour assisting him therein: the disease hath not taken roote, nor been suffred to spread it selfe abroade.

The gouern­ment and manner of the Arsenall. Now we come to speake of the honourable gouern­ment of our Arsenall: the same being a singular orna­ment not onely to Venice it selfe, but generally (such is the statelinesse and glorie thereof) an honour and dignitie to all Italy, because it is a matter of infinite magnificence and maiestie, and worthy of all admi­ration.

The Arsenall is built on that side of the citie, which of all others is neerest to the maine sea, hollowed out into three bosomes, or to speake more properly, into three diuided entries, into euerie of which the sea en­treth by one onely gate, the same being so large, that it is capable of the greatest Gallies▪ This gate is for­tified on each side with two strong Towers, which are ioyned together with a mightie drawbridge, and a huge percullisse, which are neuer opened but vpon the occasion of letting Gallies out or in. There is no other passage to go into the inner partes of the Arse­nall, but onely by this gate. The first bosome or en­trie within the same, though it be the least of the three, yet notwithstanding it is very great and spacious: being roofed, couered and tyled round about on euery side in manner of certain vaults, vnder which the gal­lies that are come from sea do repose til new ocasion fall out of employing them safe & free from the annoyance [Page 120] eyther of wind or weather, so that they continue many yeares sound and good: likewise vnder these vaultes doe they build their new Gallies, and mende and make vp their old: a worke surely of great goodlinesse and glory, and most fitte and commodious for the mainte­nance of a nauie. Next this bosome or gully there is an inwarder maruellously great and large, ordered round of euery side with such vaultes as I spake of: of which vaultes you shall not see any one emptie: but in those that are wide two Gallies, and in the narrower one at least.

The third, being not much inferior to the second in largenesse, was but a little before our time added to the two former, and is compassed about with goodly wals, and builded with many vaults, which though they bee not all as yet finished: yet dayly they are diligently in hande, about the ending and accomplishing thereof. There is onely one way by which men go from one to the other: and on the outside they are compassed all a­bout with one wall, distinguished here and there with certaine towers, in the which there are nightly watches kept to preuent the daunger of fire, the treachery of any ill disposed person, or any other casualtie, whereby so goodly and excellent a worke might come to be spoy­led or defaced. Within the walles are certaine roomes, replenished with all manner of Nauale instruments, & all kindes of artificers thereunto belonging, haue there their workehouses and shops. There great quantities of brasse are melted for the making of their artillerie: & likewise there are also made infinite prouisions of gun­powder: so that within the Arsenall there wanteth not any thing which appertayneth to the affaires of the sea: [Page 121] There you may beholde an infinite number of worke­men, euery one exercising his owne particular trade & office.

There are besides these certaine great and ample roomes, wherein there is alwaies readie an vnmeasura­ble abundance of armour, weapons, and artillerie of all sorts: likewise of sailes, cables, tacklings, ankers, oares, and such like, euery kinde laide vp seperately by it selfe. In so much that when the senate shall determine to set forth a nauie, all thinges thereunto belonging are rea­die in a moment. All these thinges and seuerall workes are vnder the authoritie of this Magistrate, of which I determined to speake: hee maketh choyce as well of the Carpenters, as of the smithes and tryers of met­tall and all other kindes of workemen belonging to the businesse of the sea, hauing care that each of them per­forme his businesse with diligence: for the payment of all which Nauale workes and other charges there­unto belonging, there is mony deliuered vnto him out of the common treasure. The Colledges allowance being therein first demanded, and they made acquain­ted with his reckonings. This magistrate, in the time of our auncestors was of singular reputation and ho­nour: but in these times of ours the same is much di­minished and of lesse estimation. In so much that when any great occasion happeneth, requiring extraordinary diligence and care, the senate electing certaine counsel­lors of the grauest and best experimented sort, doth ap­point the managing of those waighty sea businesse vn­to them, appointing the others to be by them wholly directed.

[Page 122] Now last of all wee are to speake of the Procurators The procura­tors of Saint Marke.of Saint Marke, being of all the other magistrates the greatest and most honourable next vnto the Duke. For their time of authoritie is not limited, but continueth during life. To this honour is also adioyned the per­petuall dignitie and place of a Senator: and equall po­wer of suffrages with the lawful Senators: and this they haue besides aboue all other magistrates, that where­as the elder citizens doe not giue any preheminence of place to the other, but onely in certaine courtes the honour thereof is alwayes and in euerie place yeel­ded to the Procurators: for in what Court or place soeuer they sitte, they are euer alike honoured with the highest place, as though they did in euerie place performe the office of the magistrate there presiding. Their office is to take vpon them the defence & tutor­shippe of Orphelins, who being vnder age, and their fathers deade without making any will, haue not any tutor or ouerseer appointed them: for which cause this charge and office is neuer giuen to any, but to such as are throughly knowne to be of singular good conscience and integritie of life, and haue passed (in a manner) through all the other offices of the ci­tie, without any touch of dishonour, and a generall approbation of an vncorrupted vertue: and so at length after their long seruice to the commonwealth, doe obtayne therein this great and principall dignity, which continueth with them during their liues.

In times passed this office was of passing great and honourable estimation, not onely within Venice, but also in forrayne regions, in so much that not onely the [Page 123] subiectes and neere borderers, but also forreners and strangers, made them by testament their executors, and put wholly into their hands the administration of their goodes, during the minority of their children. Like­wise great summes of money are committed to them, to bee by their discretion dispensed and bestowed a­mong the poore, so that in these times of ours great and mighty summes of money are committed to their fi­delity, as well to the vse of Orphelins, and the poore, as otherwise. This office was at the first instituted, to the ende that the heritages and substances of those citizens that should eyther die in seruice of their coun­trey, or in traficke of marchandise among forraine na­tions, shoulde not bee by fraude misemployed or diuerted from their heires. This charge & confidence therefore is especially giuen to those, whose conscience, behauiour, and conuersation, a long approouedexperi­ence hath allowed for excellent, & without exception.

The addition of new pro­curators from time to time. At the first beginning they were onely three that did exercise this office. Afterwarde vpon the increase of the citties greatnesse, three more were added vn­to them, but their authoritie so diuided, that the old shoulde still retayne the charge of those pupilles and Orphelins which are on the farther side of the channel that runneth through the middle of the Citie, and the new to haue the gouernment & looking to of those that are on this side, halfe of the city belonging to the charge of the former three, and halfe to that of the later three. Besides these there are other three that are (as it were) patrons of the royal, sumptuous, and magnificent Tem­ple of Saint Marke, vnder the protection of which blessed & holy Euangelist the commonwealth of Venice [Page 124] being directed with excellent lawes, hath at length in­creased into this greatnesse of empire, and of these last as of the noblest they all do take their name, and are cal­led Procurers of Saint Marke. I will not at this pre­sent say any thing of the gorgeous architecture of this Temple, nor of the abundance of beautifull marbles, nor of the multitude of goodly pillers, nor of the glori­ous workes as well guilded & carued, as richly wrought in Porphire and Iasper stone, of which the whole roofe and pillers are made, yea and the very pauementes: because I thinke there are very fewe but haue seene the same, or at least hearde the fame of the magnificence thereof. These three Procurators haue charge conti­nually to looke to the maintayning of this goodly Temple, and amending the decayes thereof, as also to the priests, to the end that diuine seruice may therein be said, according to the dignitie of our city, & the worthi­nes of our blessed patrone & aduocate S. Marke. These therfore in my iudgement, beyond al other magistrates are most necessary and expedient in this prosperity and happinesse of our citie. The carefull vsage of the mint is a matter not lightly to bee esteemed, because nothing strengtheneth more the trafick & trading of a citie, then the purity & goodnes of the mony: neyther is the care­full prouision of corne a matter of light regard: likewise the prouiding for the health of the citizens, & the repai­ring of wayes, bridges and common buildinges are of­fices of singular auaile, fitnesse and necessitie. All these thinges are (in a manner) common to euery o­ther citie. But this other chiefly and aboue all the rest pertayneth vnto Venice, that is to say, the carefull proui­sion and superintendance of sea matters & the defence [Page 125] of Orphlins, because many of the Cittizens, aduen­turing their liues abroad, eyther about the publike bu­sines, or els in traficke of marchandize come to ende their dayes, and therefore these magistrates are ordai­ned to the ende to defend their children from wrong, wherby it may appeare to those that shall considerate­lie, and with an indifferent eye looke into the order, and gouernment of this common wealth, that our an­cesters did not omit anything that might tend to the common benefite and good of their Countrie.

SEing that the whole forme, and order of the gouernment of our common wealth, is in manner of vs already expressed, and the office and order of the magistrates with­in the Cittie, I thinke I shall not doe a thing vnpleasing, or vnfitte [Page 126] for the matter I haue in hand, if I speake somewhat of The gouernment abroadethe magistrates abroad, The gouern­ment of the wat [...]es.those I meane that haue rule, and authority in such citties, as are vnder the subiecti­on of the state of Venice, then of our militare charges & The offices of the citizens that are not nobly born.gouernments, and lastly of the offices of the other cit­tizens, that are not within the order of nobilitie, which being declared and made manifest, I may and that as I trust without reprehension conueniently, and with the conclusion and shutting vp of this worke.

The manner vsed by the Venetians in go­uerning such Cities as are vnder their subiection. Ouer the nobler Citties of the state, there are ap­pointed foure magistrates, one onely Gouernour doth iustice to all, determining and sentencing all causes aswell ciuile as criminall: This Gouernour hath alwaies sitting with him in iudgement, men skil­full in the lawes, whose counsell he vseth, though the whole authoritie rest in himselfe. Besides him there is a Captain generall commander ouer the souldiers of that territory, aswell those that are in garrison in the citties, as those that are encamped or lodged abroade in the countrie, ouer them hath the Gouernour no charge at all, but onely the Captaine generall, besides the care of the Castell, the walles and the Gates are committed to the Captaine likewise of the rentes and tributes, aswell of the citie, as of the whole countrie be­longing vnto it, besides these, there is a Treasurer, or two that administreth, payeth, and recouerth the pub­like money, and keepeth the bookes and register of the publike accountes: but he doeth not any thing with­out the commandement of the Captaine and some­times both of the Captain and the Gouernour, which manner of administration seemed much more fit, then if both the authority and the handling of the money, [Page 127] should haue beene committed to one of them alone: whereby the publike treasure might much more easily haue beene embezeled and mispent: but the money that remaineth ouerplus, aboue the charges of the Pro­uince, is carried to Venice, and deliuered to the Trea­surers of the Citie, to whose office as I saide before the publike money is brought from all partes. The fourth magistrate of authority in euery principall Cittie, is the Liuetenant of the Castles, in some places there is but one, and in some more, they command ouer those soul­diers that are in garrison of the Castles, and haue the charge of such weapons, victuall, artillery, and muni­tion as are within the Castle: yet the Lieutenant hath not so absolute authority within the Castle, but that he is alwaies subiect to the commandement of the cap­taine generall, to whose authority and power all things of that kinde are wholy attributed: but in lesser citties or townes there is no captaine generall: all thinges be­ing there vnder commandement of the Gouernour. Likewise in such townes as are within the precinctes of greater citties, the Gouernour onely administreth right to the townsmen, and no other magistrate, though the Treasurers & captains haue also authority through­out the whole Territory of the chiefe Citties, from all these Gouernours appeale may be brought to the new Auditors, sometimes also the Aduocators were wont to sit with the Gouernours vpon sentences of life and death: but because thereby iudgements were oftentimes delayde, and lewd persons in the meane time not punished, there was a lawe made by the colledge of the ten, that the Aduocators should not haue any farther authority in such iudgements as were [Page 128] giuen by the gouernour, but that he should onely vse the aduise of such Doctors of law as before I said were to sit with him in iudgement.

And this in my opinion already saide, may suf­fice concerning the magistrates by whome our commō wealth is gonerned both abroade and at home

But seeing there is aswell a reckoning to bee made of managing warres, as of maintaining peace, which whosoeuer wholy do reiect, cannot as Plato sayth in his Polytiques, long defend and maintaine themselues in freedome and libertie: But those that haue left vnto their posterity the true directions of a commonwealth, commended the vse of both, to the end that in times of warre, they should not bee vnfit for the exercises thereof, and that in peace they might liue in honest ex­ercises vnder the lawes and statutes of their Country, so that alwaies the vertue and exercises of warre haue a reference to the studyes of peace, as being of the two the most excellent and desirable, for such is the verie force, working, and operation of nature it selfe in e­uery thing, that first it should couet and seeke, that which is to it selfe conueuient, and then resist and de­fend themselues from that which is contrarie there­unto, which in all liuing creatures that are created, with any perfection of nature is easie to bee discerned: for there is none of them which wanteth a desire leading him to that which to his nature is most agreeable, and likewise there is adioyned to the same a force and abi­litie to be angrie, which Plato placeth in the heart, to the end that through the stirring therof euery creature might be prone to resist and repell that which is to his nature noysome and contrarie, the first seedes then of [Page 129] eyther of these partes being by nature placed in the mindes of men as being of all other creatures the most perfect: ought of ciuile men to be embraced, that they may bring forth the fruites of eyther effect, that is, both of warre and peace, which course was not neglected of our ancesters, howsoeuer to some it seeme otherwise: for though the citty being builded in the sea, and at the first for many years careles of extending their domini­on and rule ouer the continent, did not apply them­selues to land wars, yet did they with maruelous glory of successe bend themselues to warres by sea, atchiuing therewith many notable exploits, aswell in defence of their owne liberty, as in reuenge of iniuries done thē by their enemies, and many great and glorious deeds of the Venetians do yet remaine in ancient recorde, & many triumphes and victories wrested by sea, from fierce and puissant nations, whereby it is easie to con­iecture of the mightinesse of the Venetians by sea in forepassed times, but in the end yeelding to the instāt petition of the oppressed bordering people, who could not endure the rapines and cruelties of seuerall tyrants, that had brought them into subiection, they sent for­ces into the mayneland, and expelling the tyrants, did with an infinite applause and willingnes of the people receiue all those Prouinces of their olde consideration into their protection, as though they had neuer beene disunited thereby setting them free from out the serui­tude of insolent strangers, which being the remainder & ofspring of those Barbarians, that had wrought that general deuastation in Italy, had then nestled themselues and helde the people in a most cruell and miserable bondage.

[Page 130] This increase therfore of dominion being added to the former greatnesse of the city, their desire and inde­uour was not onely to comfort and cherish this new receiued people with wholesome and profitable lawes, but also to finde out meanes, whereby to maintaine and preserue their recouered freedome and tranquili­tie: but the situation of their City being in the sea, on the other side vtterlie diuerted their mindes from wholy applying themselues to land wars, aswel through the inconueniency of the City thereunto, as also for the auoiding of ciuill disturbance and tumult, for of necessity those citizens: to whose lot the managing of these saide wars should haue befallen, might haue spent the greater parte of the yeare vpon firme land, aswell to ride and practise their horses, as also to inure and ex­ercise themselues in sundry manners of skirmish, and kinds of fight: and withall for their better skill in mili­tary and martiall affaires, it should haue beene neces­sary for them, when occasion of employment wanted at home to frequent forrein warres, thereby aswell to confirm their courages, as to strengthen their bodies, and so to enable themselues in that function, for the ser­uice of their country, whereas otherwise, without this kinde of exercise, they would haue beene vntill eyther to command as captaines, or to obey his scutchions. But now this their continual frequentation of the con­tinent and diuorcement▪ as it were from the ciuile life, would without doubt haue brought forth a kinde of faction different and disioyned, from the other pea­ceable Citizens, which parcialitie and diuision wold in time haue bred ciuile warres and dissentions within the City, I omit in the meane time to speake of those [Page 131] high and ambitious thoughtes, that such would haue entertained, as did see themselues mighty in armes, & followed with affecting troupes of vnquiet souldiers, who according to the nature of men enclining still to the worse, might easily bee stirred to mischiefe, which The ouer­throw of Rome procee­ding through the mightines of her owne Cittizens.onely cause among the Romains (as many of their an­cient histories do notably remember) wrought strange effectes in sundry of their Cittizens, prouoking them to disobey, and set at nought the lawes of the Senate, and their country, and finally Iulius Caesar exceeding the limites of all respect, to tyrannize ouer that com­monwealth, to which hee did owe all duty and obe­dience. To exclude therfore out of our estate the dan­ger or occasion of any such ambitious enterprises, our auncesters held it a better course to defend their do­minions vppon the continent, with forreyn mercena­rie souldiers, than with their homeborn citizens, & to assigne them their pay and stipende out of the tributes and receipts of the Prouince, wherein they remayned: for it is iust, and reasonable, that the souldiers shoulde be maintained at the charge of those in whose defence they are employed, and into their warfare, haue many of our associates been ascribed, some of which haue at­tained to the higest degree of commandement in our Straungers receiued into the Venetian nobility Bartholomeo Coglione cap­tain generall of the Vene­tian armie.army, & for the exceedingnes of their deserts been en­abled, with the title of citizens & gentlemen of Venice, amongst which the name of Bartholomeo Coglione of Bergamo is yet honorable among vs, who after many great exploits & prosperous successes being captaine general of our army, & hauing amplified & enlarged the boundes of the Venetian Empire, was in eter­nall [Page 132] memory of his great and glorious actions hono­red of our commonwelth, with his statue on horseback, set vp and erected in the fayrest and goodliest place of our Citty. The Cittizens therefore of Venice, for this only cause are depriued of the honors belon­ging to warres by land, and are contented to transferre them ouer to straungers: to which ende there was a lawe solemnely decreede, that no Gentleman of Ve­vice should haue the charge and commaundement of aboue fiue and twentie souldiers, though the same law hath not beene in these times of ours altogether ob­serued but through the course of custome in a manner abrogated, by reason of the many and sundrie warres, wherewith we haue beene encombred, so that nowe when wee haue any warres by land, there are some of Legates or proueditors.our Gentlemen sent into the Armie, who therein doe beare office and authority, while the warre endu­reth, as namely, the Treasurers, and Legates, who neuer stirre from the side of the Captaine Gene­rall of our Armie, who is alwaies a straunger, which hath no authority to doe or deliberate any thing with­out the aduice of the Legates. The warre being en­ded, eyther Magistrate returneth home, giuing vppe his authority, and putting himselfe into order, and this is wholy the manner of the Venetians warfare by land. But for warres by sea and nauigation, both our citie is much more thereunto opportune and cō ­modious, as also our people much more thereunto by nature addicted and enclined, for our Citty lying seated in the sea, needeth not greatlie feare any harme from forreyne land armies, and as for it selfe to haue [Page 133] fostred or nourished forces to send vnto lande warres, thereby to wrong or prouoke the bordring people, that had not onely beene vniust, but also very incommodi­ous: onely from sea therefore was their daunger, and the same great, if they should not haue beene through­ly furnished with meanes of defence. Therefore did the Citie turne all their care to strength and puissance by sea, trayning vp their youth, & framing their whole manner of life thereunto.

The educati­on of the Ve­netian gen­tlemen. For the education of their gentlemen hath alwayes beene such, that from their infancie till such time as the heares of their beards beginne to appeare, they should be vnder the tutorship of schoolemaysters, and instru­cted in learning according to their capacities: and from thence forward (except some fewe wholly addicted to some profession of learning) they shoulde apply them­selues to nauigation, being thereunto (as it were) euen drawen by their owne inclination and nature. Many do saile into farre regions, as well by trafique to increase their substance, as also by experience to gain the know­ledge of the gouernment, lawes, conditions & customes of other countries. Many put themselues into the gal­lies of warre, there enuring and practising their bodies to labour, and their minds to the knowledge of the ex­cellent arte of Nauall discipline, in which the Venetians haue (as I say alwaies) beene worthily renowned. And there is an ancient law, continuing euen till these times of ours in force and vigor, that there should be a yeare­ly Encourage­ment for yong gentlemen to to frequent the sea.stipend allowed out of the common treasure to two young men of the nobilitie in euery armed galley, one­ly thereby to breed in them a skilfulnesse in matters per­tayning to the sea: for the better attayning to the which [Page] there are ordinarily certaine offices assigned vnto them, in the exercise of which they do both profit themselues, and become better enabled to the discharge of greater matters. But to euery of the greater gallies there are These as I suppose are those which they call Galleasses.commonly assigned eight young men of the nobilitie, with a yearely great allowance and stipend, eyther out of the common or priuate mens treasure, accordingly as those Gallies are destinated eyther to the warres or marchandise, and this to no other end, but onely to ac­custome them to sea seruices: it is also ordayned by a law hauing principall relation to the common vtilitie, that euery priuate merchant shall in the ship wherewith he trafiqueth, allow a yearly pensiō to one or two yong gentlemen, according to the burthen and abilitie of his ship. To which young men is also granted a liberty & priuiledge that they may within the galleyes of bur­then, or shippes of priuate men, to which they are assig­ned, carrie a certaine quantity of marchandise, without paying for the lading thereof any custome or tolle, & if they haue not, or will not carry any themselues, they may sel and passe ouer their right to do the same, to any other that they shall thinke good: wherein there was not onely a regard had to the exercise of the youth, but also to the pouerty of many of the meaner citizens that are in any sorte distressed: so that any man may easily perceyue, that the institution of our youth to warlike exercises was not (as some do suppose) neglected of our auncestors, but that there were two hundred yong men of the nobilitie at least, trayned vp in these shippes and Gallies at other mens charges: and besides there was not any of the gentlemen, but that was eyther brought vp to learning, or els to this seafaring and maritime dis­cipline [Page 135] benefiting thereby not onely their country, but also sundry times exceedingly increasing their wealths and substance.

These ancient lawes and goodly institutions do still continue euen till this time of ours, though sundry young men, being since the increase of our dominion corrupted eyther with ambition, or ryot, haue neg­lected their countrie customes, and withall the num­ber of citizens is so increased, that through these late afflictions of the warre, and the many charges growing vpon them, there are many more fallen into pouertie, then by the benefite of this law may bee sufficiently re­lieued: for such is in all worldly thinges the course of nature, that nothing may bee among men perpetuall. But all thinges howsoeuer they seeme at the first per­fectly and well ordained, yet in course of time nature still slyding to the worse, they had neede to be mended and renewed, euen as a mans bodie satisfied with his dinners appetite, will not yet maintaine his health, vn­lesse it be seconded with a supper: so in euery thing there must be a reliefe and reparation added to the wea­ring and alwaies downe declining course of nature, of which remedy herein also (if it please God) we wil haue regard: so that there may not any necessary prouision be wanting in this commonwealth of ours. But hither­to of these thinges: now we will speake of those offi­cers and magistrates that haue charge at sea ouer our shippes and nauies.

This Captain they call So­pracomit [...]. Euery Galley being furnished, and in order for the warres, hath for Captaine thereof a Gentleman of the state, who hath power and authoritie ouer all that are in the Galley, saue onely that hee cannot punish with [Page 136] death: euen as in land warres a captayne or a Coronell hath authoritie ouer those that are vnder their compa­nies or regiments: so hath this Captayne of the Galley ouer the mariners and all thinges that are in the Galley, or tending to the prouision thereof.

Gallies set forth by the Venetians to cleere the sea from pyrates. The Venetians do yearely arme forth certain Gallies, though there bee not any other necessitie, yet to make the sea safe and secure from pyrates, and to defend from their oppression honest merchantes that crosse the seas about their businesse, without doing wrong to any man.

Besides these Captains of the Galleyes, there is a Le­gate The Legate or lieuetenant of the nauie.ouer the whole nauie, who hath full and whole authoritie ouer the same, and ouer the particular Cap­taines of euery Galley. He (as a Lieutenant generall of the armie, if the Captayne generall bee not present) hath power of life and death, and authoritie to direct the nauie whether it shall please him.

This magistrate is commonly created in time of peace, and hath in his handes the charge of the Gallies of war: but if the occasions of the commonwealth doe so re­quire, and that there be a great nauie indeede to bee set out, then there is appointed & preposed ouer the whole nauie a Captaine generall with high and preheminent A Captain ge­nerall ouer the nauy in manner like vnto the Ro­main Dictatorauthoritie not onely ouer the same, but also ouer all ma­ritime prouinces in manner as great, as that the Romain Dictator was wont to haue, saue onely that this in all things obeyeth the authority of the Senate, and the de­crees of the commonwealth. Neuertheles his power is singularly great, as wel ouer the nauy, Legates, captains and Lieuetenants of the same, as also ouer all gouernors and magistrates, that haue gouernment or superinten­dence [Page 137] in any of the Islandes or maritime places: in so much that when the Captaine generall of the nauie shall come to any Citie, the cleargie is presently to meete him with solemnitie, and the keyes of the gates and castels are to be deliuered vnto him. The authori­tie of all the other gouernors for that time ceaseth: and whosoeuer in whatsoeuer cause may appeale from any other magistrate to the Captaine generall: who onely if it shall so please him, may administer iustice, dispose of the publike money, and alone himselfe exercise the office and authority of all the rest. There is among the Venetians no magistrate of higher power, and there­fore hee, but seldome and vpon most vrgent occasions created: for not rashly but vpon most waighty & groū ­ded consideration, is this mighty dignitie, inuesting a priuate citizen with so great and absolute an authority committed to any one.

No General or Captaine may returne into Venice with armed hand. Heere that law is not to be omitted, by which it was ordayned, that no Generall, Legate, or Captaine of a nauie may enter into the citie of Venice with his armed Gallies, no not vpon his returne homewarde: but pre­sently vpon his arriuall at Histria (which prouince is a hundred miles distant from Venice) hee is to deliuer vnto the mariners their stipend and pay, and there to dismisse them, and thence the Gallies are wont to bee brought vnto Venice by some fewe, and to bee placed in the Arsenall vnder the vaultes built for that purpose, where they are preserued from the iniurie eyther of winde or weather: But now this lawe is not wholly obserued in sorte as it was of our auncestors ordayned. Wee haue (in a manner) already reckoned vp all the sortes of magistrates to whome our auncestors haue [Page 138] added as a crowne or toppe, those which by proper ap­pellation deriued from the Greeke, were wont to bee Syndi [...]ks or Reuiditors: in Latine they call them Recognitores. So that we may and not vnfitly call them, I think, Ouerseers, or Examiners.called Sindiks: we by a new name, but perchance more fit to expresse their office, do call them Reuiditors. These are wont euery foure or fiue yeares to be created, and to bee sent into the countries vnder our dominion, as well vpon the firme land, as also the Islandes and mari­time places, and there to looke into, and examine the doings of such magistrates and gouernors as haue there authority vnder vs: vpon whome they vse in manner that authority of correction, as is attributed to the Ad­uocators. For as Aristotle wisely sayeth: They that beare rule, vnlesse they depend of others, doe (such is the euill sway and bent of euerie mans nature) hardly discharge their office well.

We haue now reckoned vp and made an ende of all those offices belonging to Gentlemen, by whome the commonwealth of Venice doth gouerne eyther abroad or at home, it remaineth that we shew you the manner whereby our most prudent auncestors haue retayned the common and meaner people in dutie: a matter surely strange and scarcely credible, that the people being so many yeares depriued of the publique go­uernment, did neuer yet refuse nor vnwillingly sup­port the gouernment of the nobilitie, neyther yet did euer attempt any thing whereby the forme of the com­monwealth might be altered, and they receyued into the fellowshippe of rule, but haue alwayes hetherto faithfully loued and willingly obeyed the Nobilitie. But now whosoeuer, besides the situation of our Citie (being in deede most opportune and commodious to maintayne a commonwealth) will consider our mode­ration [Page 139] & temperance in gouernment shall find that the people hath not beene wholly reiected, but receiued into such offices & charges, as might be committed vn­to them without detriment or hinderance of the gene­rall good: and that there hath beene in this common­wealth of ours that temperature vsed, that both elder & later commonwealthes haue wanted, the most parte of which were continually disquieted with ciuill dissenti­ons & popular seditious tumults: & lastly by them tur­ned vp side downe & ouerthrowen: whereas in this ci­tie of ours there was neuer any such sedition or vprore of the people, For as I said in the beginning it was ne­cessarie and fitte for the true and perfect institution of a commonwealth, to exclude the common people from the gouernment thereof, wherein our ancestors haue not onely followed the authoritie & opinion of many great philosophers, but also imitated Sesastris that most ancient lawmaker of the Aegyptians, who as Aristotle The opinion of Sostrates the ancient lawmaker of the Egyptiansalleadgeth in his Politiques, woulde haue them that are to defende the commonwealth with armes, or to consult vpon the common good thereof, or to sit in ex­ercise of iustice, to be in their kinds distinguished from husbandmen, & marchants, & those that do liue by me­chanicall occupations. Neuerthelesse easily might this institution ouerthrow the commonwealth, vnlesse that temperature bee thereunto adhibited which our most wise and foresightfull auncestors haue vsed.

First therefore among the Venetians this alwaies hath beene most constantly obserued, that iustice should be equally administred to all, and that it be not lawfull for any how great soeuer, to doe wrong or iniurie to the least of the lower or meanest people, in so much [Page 140] that it hath alwaies beene held as a haynous abhomina­tion, & detestable sacriledge, for any gentleman to mis­vse Plebeyan one of the commō people.a Plebeian: which if at any time any hath rashly, or vnaduisedly presumed to do, he neuer escaped scotfree: and so much more grieuous was his punishment as hee himselfe was greater in degree and estimation. Be­sides, there is not any thing more carefully prouided for by the Senate, then that there may bee plentie of corne & of all other things that are necessary eyther for the sustenance or safetie and healthinesse of the peo­ple: in so much that to preserue the people from want and famine, the common treasure is sometimes ex­ceedingly spent & wasted: which any man may easily perceyue, that shall attentiuely marke that which is be­fore expressed, concerning the presidents of corne, and the healthmaisters of the citie. And commonly all peo­ple do require this at the hands of their rulers, that they may liue cōmodiously & in plenty, & that they be not subiect to the oppressions and iniuries of those that are mightier then themselues: which when they haue attai­ned, they go on with their busines secure & carelesse of the rest: of which there was not any thing omitted of our ancestors pertaining to those two pointes: But ma­ny things besides added, whereby the commodities of The reliefe of the poorer sort.the people are exceedingly respected, and their pouer­tie carefully relieued, especially of such that eyther pre­sently do, or at any time haue employed themselues in honest trades of vse and seruice to the commonwealth, and grow at length eyther by age or weakenesse vnable to perseuer therein: for in Venice there are built infinite many houses fitly and commodiously, which are frankely giuen to such kindes of men, wherin during [Page 141] their liues they may liue and their Families without charge: besides within the Arsenall (which is so am­ple and large, that it representeth the shew of another towne) there is a determinate stipend and yearly allow­ance giuen to a great multitude of men vnable eyther through age, impotencie, or weakenesse to doe anie worke, onely in regard, that when in their better times they were able, they had imployed their labour in do­ing seruice to the common wealth, likewise by an an­cient statute it is ordained, that in all bargaines of buy­ing and selling of rich marchandize, the one and the The releefe of poor mariners.other, that is both the buyer and the seller, do pay ac­cording to the quantitie of the summe, a certaine price which is deuided among poore mariners, that hauing spent their time in that exercise, are through olde age vnable anie longer to continue therein.

But now besides these good institutions and means to retain the common people in duty, there are also certaine lawes, which were as me seemeth established with exceeding wisedome of our auncesters; such as thereby both the peoples ambition, and desire of ho­nour being a humor inseparably possessing the minds of men, may be throughy satisfied, and yet the gouern­ment of the Nobilitie no way disturbed.

The whole people are deuided into two partes, the one of the honester & best respected sort, the other of the very base common people, as mechanicall, & handi­craftes men, and such like whome Aristotle in his poli­tiques The people di­uided into two sorts or kindestermeth to be in steade of publike seruantes, ey­ther of these in my opinion are both fitly and commo­diously prouided for, because to this meaner people, who of nature are rather intentiue to gaine then to [Page 142] The people diuided into cō ­panies fraternities. honour, there are also granted certaine meane degrees, and dignities: for they are deuided into so many com­panies as there are seuerall trades and occupations, and euery company hath certaine peculiar lawes, vnder which they are in the exercise thereof directed and go­uerned, ouer euery of these cōpanies there are chosen by suffrage of the whole company, certaine, that they may well be called as it were maisters of that company: for by their commandement many thinges are prescri­bed, and many small controuersies by their arbitrement ended, whence it commeth, that all such artificers as can once attaine to that honour, do exceedingly con­tent and please themselues therewith, and do thinke themselues not smally aduanced when they once are come so far, that they are by the rest of their conditiō & company thought worthy of that preheminence, there are besides in euery Company certaine other Officers elected, though inferior to the maisters thereof, yet notwithstanding of good credite, and much respec­ted among the rest, in some sort therefore you see that this desire of honour, which seemeth to be setled e­uen in the mindes of the lowest and meanest people, is satisfied and prouided for. The other better kinde of people obtaineth also in the Citty of Venice, a better and more honorable place, enioying certaine particu­lar offices and decrees, of especiall reckoning and ac­count, into which no gentleman may be admitted, though some of them be such that aswell for the com­moditie, The office of the Secretariesas title of honour thereunto belonging, they might beseeme any Gentleman of Venice, the office of the Secretaries is honest, and of great regard, they sit at the tribunals with euery magistrate, the same is onely [Page 143] geuen to plebeians, and not to any gentleman, which though it be not honorable, yet it is of good respect & estimation, for to their fidelity and carefulnes are com­mitted all the publike bookes and registers, wherein all both publike & priuate matters are contained, of which charge and office whosoeuer is accounted worthy, is both reputed to be a man honest and industrious, and much regarded in euery place, where he commeth, and withal their allowance frō the cōmonwelth is such, that they haue not only means to mantain their families, but also to amplifie their substance, those also that are secre­taries Secretaries to the Senate.to the Senate, are all plebeians, and not any gen­tleman admitted among them, and these are more respected then the other, and therefore wont to bee chosen out of those that are of the honester sort, and ciuiller kinde of people, they haue great stipends out of the common treasure, & are still acquainted with all the proceedinges and deliberations of the Senate, for they are alwayes present at the counsels of the colledge & senate, & therfore held of all men in high estimation, some of these are selected and chosen out to attend vpon the counsell of ten, whose decrees they register vp in bookes, and are priuie to all such things as are handled in the colledge, in which honor they remain as long as they liue, not by turns, as the gentlemen do in their of­fices, of which there is not any perpetuall, but that of the Procurators: of these Secretaries to the Senate one The chiefe Se­cretarie to the Senate is Chā celor of Veniceis aboue the rest, & is called Chancelor of Venice, a name of great dignitie and honour, for the Procurators one­ly excepted, there is not any Gentleman but giueth him place, he is acquainted with euery secret of the common wealth, & hath great rents allowed him out of [Page 144] the common treasure, and when he dyeth, his obsequi­es are honored with a funerall oration, which dignity is not in Venice yeelded to any, vnlesse it be to the Duke or to some Cittizen of extraordinarie deserte, and to none else, the Chancelour representing as it were the prince of the common people, hee onely is chosen in the Sessions of the great Councell, the other Secretari­es are created by the Colledge of tenne, and are subiect to their censure, if they make any faulte in the publike office, which they execute, likewise are the popular as­semblies and companies of artificers and maisters of e­uery occupation, and some others of whome wee will speake hereafter, depend vppon the arbitrement of the tenne, and are subiect to their authority, being by the same instituted at the first, and now still ordered and maintained, and surely the creation of this officer being at the first onely to auoide the daunger of these popular meetinges and assemblies, was not done with­out exceeding prouidence and foresight, least other­wise their fraternities and assemblies being at the first ordained for the common good, might in time vnder colour of assembling, to doe their dutie, haue tempted something preiudiciall to the common welths quietnesse.

There are besides these fiue fellowshippes and so­cieties Fiue other fellowships and societies vnder the names of plaine sancts.in Venice protected vnder the name and religion of certaine saintes, in which there are innumerable nū ­bers of men both plebeians and Patricians, of which e­uery one hath his peculiar kinde of attire, ornament, & ensigne, which they neuerthelesse do not vse at all times but onely when they goe in procession, or to honour a­ny mans funerall, or else to any solemne seruice, they [Page 145] do vsually assemble euery holyday, first hearing diuine seruice, and then going about vnto the churches o the Saintes, honoring the high and immortall God, with pompous solemnitie of supplication and pray­er.

Euery of these fellowships hath his particular house, and in the same a goodly and spatious hall, in which v­pon appointed dayes they do all meete to performe the duties which they do owe vnto religion, sometimes they haue Masse there solemnly celebrated, sometimes they go altogether to visite the church of some Saints oftentimes they solemnize the obsequy and funerall of one of their deceased brothers, offering oblations and dirges for his sinnes: besides those spatious halles eue­ry of them hath an appointed seuerall roome, wherein both the heades and presidentes of these fellowships do meete, their office continueth but a yeare, and is among the Plebeians of especiall dignity and preroga­tiue, their meetinges are to consult and take care for such thinges as are necessarie and fit for the good of the fellowshippe, and likewise there is committed to their trust a great quantitie of money, which i s to bee bestowed vpon the poore: for such and so exceeding in times past, was the estimation of these fellowshippes, that many who by testamēt had ordained and bequea­thed the distribution of their goodes to the vse of the poore, would make these to bee their executors, and wholy referre the bestowing thereof to their discreti­on, insomuch that some of these fellowships in great­nesse of matters committed to their charge do scarsely giue place vnto the Procurators of that marke, which is one of the most honourable offices belonging to [Page 146] the Patrician, of which none though he be a brother No Patrician may be head of these fiue fellowships.of the fellowship, may attaine to any of the precedent­ships thereof, that dignitie belonging onely to the plebeians, wherein also they imitate the nobility, for these heades of societies doe among the people in a certaine manner represent the dignitie of the procura­tors, but to the end that neither their societies, nor their heads, may any way be daungerous or cumbersome to the common wealth, they are all restrained vnder the power and authoritie of the Councell of ten, so that they may not in any thing make any alteration, nor assemble together, vnlesse it be at appointed seasons, without their leaue and permission, such honours doe the plebeians of eyther sort attaine vnto in this com­monwealth of ours, to the end that they should not altogether thinke themselues depriued of publike au­thority, and ciuile offices, but should also in some sort haue their ambition satisfied, without hauing occasion either to hate or perturbe the estate of nobilitie, by which equall temperature of gouernment, our com­mon wealth hath attained that, which none of the for­mer haue, though otherwise honorable and famous, for from the first beginning till this time of ours it hath remained safe and free this thousand and two hundred yeares, not only from the domination of Straungers, but also from all ciuile and intestine sedition of any mo­ment or weight, which it hath not accomplished by a­ny violent force, armed garrisōs, or fortified towers, but onely by a iust and temperate manner of ruling, inso­much that the people do obey the nobilitie with a gen­tle and willing obedience, full of loue and affection, & farre from the desire of any straunge change, of which [Page 147] this time of ours hath made euident proofe, for when all the greatest princes of Christendome had combi­ned themselues together with intention vtterly to o­uerthrow, deface and abolish the greatnesse, glorie, & the very name of the Venetians, and that our armie had beene vanquished by Lewes king of France, neare to the Cittie of Cassano in the territorie of Cremona, with incredible slaughter: and the Almaines of one side, and Iulius Bishop of Rome, threatning and besieging vs with their armies, and all our dominions vpon the maine land, being reuolted from the Venetian gouern­ment. In this our extremitie and generall perturba­tion the people of Venice, were so farre from attempting any thing against the Nobilitie, that weeping, they threw themselues at their feete, offering their liues and goodes to the defence of the common wealth, and in effect reforming it, for hauing easily recouered Iadoua through the great loue and affection of the inhabitants towardes vs, when Maximilian the Emperour, raising euery where forces, came with a mighty Armie to be­siege the same Cittie, many not onely of the Gentle­men, but also of the plebeians, waging sundrie souldi­ers at their owne charge, went vnto the defence there­of, indeuoring themselues there, in such noble and va­lorous sort, that the Emperour was constrained to with­draw his Army, without deliuering so much as one as­sault to the Cittie, neither with greater adoe were the rest of the Citties recouered, they all flocking againe to the Venetian Empire, as to a wished hauen of all securi­tie and calmenesse: an excellent argument of a iust do­mination to gouerne those that are desirous and wil­ling so to be gouerned, which that it falleth not out so [Page 148] without cause, as any man may perceiue that shall marke the course of our proceedinges, for we leaue to euery The equity & temperance of the Venetians gouernment.citty that commeth into the fellowship of our gouern­ment, their own municipate lawes and statutes, and the Cittizens, euery one in their owne citties, obtaine many great and honorable places, and not a few towns of those abroad in the countrie, are gouerned by ma­gistrates of their owne, chosen among themselues, as for those citties that are of greater fame, and in which our gouernours do rule, there do alwaies sit with them in Iustice, Doctors of the law, with whome our gouer­nours are to consult before they determine any thing, which is both a matter of great honour and reputation, as also of great gaine and commoditie vnto them, these manner of offices may not bee executed by any of the Nobilitie of Venice, but are eyther chosen from among the plebeians, or else, and that in a manner alwaies from out the citties, subiected to our fellowship. And ther­fore it may easilie appear, that this our commonwealth is tempered with that moderatiō, which seemeth chief­ly and neerest to imitate nature.

For in the body of a liuing creature the office of loo­king about, and seeing is attributed onely to the eyes, and the other lesse noble offices, left vnto the other members that are depriued of the vse of seeing, obay­ing and not dissenting from that which by the eyes they are enformed, but going and bending themselues thether, whether they are by them directed, and so the whole frame of the body is preserued and maintained in an excellent vnity and agreement, which not vnlike reason is the supreme rule of thinges in the common­wealth of Venice committed to the Gentlemen, as to [Page 149] the eyes of the citie, and the vnnobler offices to the peo­ple, both together making a happie and wel compacted bodie: The eyes of the commonwealth, not onely see­ing for themselues, but for all the other members, and the other partes of the citie, not so much regarding themselues, as willingly obeying the direction of the eyes, as being the principallest partes of the common­wealth, whereas whatsoeuer commonwealth shall suf­fer it selfe to be carried away into that folly and madnes, (as to many it hath happened) that the people will chal­lenge vnto it selfe the office of seeing, & vsurpe the ex­ercise of the eyes, necessarily the whole commonwealth must tumble into a downefall and ruine: And on the other side if the gentlemen shal onely prouide for their owne good, neglecting that of the other members, stir­ring thereby the people to enuie & indignation, it were impossible that it should go wel eyther with the one or the other. Our ancestors therefore by the imitation of nature haue prouided both for the one and the other inconuenience, and haue therein vsed the iust tempe­rature and excellent moderation, that none (vnlesse he be worse then a detractor) may any way blame or finde fault with a gouernment so vertuously established, and so temperately maintayned: which I beseech the Al­mighty and euerliuing God long to preserue in happi­nesse and safetie. For if it bee credible that any good thing commeth to men from God: then can there no­thing bee more assured then that this great felicity is happened to the Citie of Venice through the onely blessing of his bountifull goodnesse.