his Censures he publisheth me for a disobedient son to the universall Father of Christianity But whether he is to be acknowledg'd as a Father who enemy-like robs his children judge you Can he expect to be reverenc'd as S. Peters Successor when diffring from S. Peter he stops his ears to the words of Christ who commanded him to sheath his sword Christ did institut a peacefull Kingdom nor did he ever ordain that his Cause shold be handled with Armes Neverthelesse the present Bishops make use of them because they are ready to meddle with any other Cause then with that of Christ In the interim good Fryer my fortune is worse then that of Malchus for if Malchus was offended with the weapon of Peter he was heal'd again by the hands of Peter but I find my self hurt by S. Peters sword yet cannot perceave his hand is dispos'd to cure me or restore me mine own S. Paul being departed from Parma goes to Florence wher being brought to the Court he heard the Gran Duke much transported with choler speaking to a Councellor of his in this manner Then Vrban the VIII intendeth that a Clergie-man shall go exempted from the imposition of Milstone wherunto the interests of my State oblige me to subject without exception any one that lives under my Government and who is he that arrogats temporall Jurisdiction over anothers Authority In the time of Christ secular Princes had their tribut and shall they now be refus'd in Vrban's time By this means the credulous simplicity of the Laity shall be continually taught to contribut so many Gabells to the Clergy and the Clergy shall be free from all taxes to them and who at any time leaves possessions to the Ecclesiastics they must be free from such Contributions which the Law of Nature awards ev'ry protecting Prince Who did ever affirm that the Legacies of privat men can be exempt from the public Jurisdiction of their Prince These are new Doctrines which tear the world in pieces being introduc'd by those Bishops who together with the Evangelicall precepts have forgot that Christ himself when he was upon earth payed tribut to Caesar professing that he came to fulfill the Law not toabrogat it and shall we admit in our free States an Authority which beyond the Order and example of Christ pretends to have power to controul and transvolve the Dominions of others yea to trample upon the Princes themselfs Is this the paradise that Christ promiseth to them that observe his Law or rather a Hell which they worthily deserve who beleeve too much in an adulterated Church But I observe that the Ecclesiastics by too many stiles do subject the simple seculars to pay contribution for Indulgencies for Dispensations for the Word of God for sacrifices of the Altar and in sum for all the Sacraments which the Divine goodnesse â—…ath afforded gratis to all the faithfull But what do I say the avarice of the Clergy is grown to that height that it doth not permit those poor souls that are under the agonies of Death to depart from this world to the other till they conjure them under the pretext of pious Legacies to pay a toll for their safe conduct constraining to bargain for their very graves they sell them for ready money the embraces of our common Mother the earth and I in my free State must not impose the least Tax as that of the Milstone upon my subjects But let Vrban practise what he please let Him thunder what Excommunications he will upon my Gabelleers I shall learn well enough how to fence away his blowes I will make the Jews my Receavers nor shall I ever suffer that Toscany be oppress'd by such rapacious Tyrants who under the mantle of Religion exercise such robberies upon us S. Paul leaving Florence resolves to visit the State of the Church in his journey he is accompanied with a subject of the Popes who vented forth his discontentments unto him in these words upon som expostulations of S. Pauls I was born a subject under the particular Dominion of the Church of Rome and that 's enough good Frier to pronounce me miserable The Civill Justice administred in my Countrey by Ecclesiastics the Authority abus'd by them that govern and their custom degenerating daily into cruelty and rapine have made the subjection insupportable and the life 's of those unhappy who live under the temporall Scepter of the Roman Clergy my toung cannot sufficiently expresse the rigidnes of their Government let ev'ry one comprehend by their tyrannicall practises they do exercise abroad what they do at home I was enforc'd to forsake my house for a Tax impos'd upon me for living well when a young rich man is discover'd by greennesse of Age and heat of bloud to be prone to any lightnesse presently comes a new Edict which will make him lie under a grosse sum of money herby it comes oft to passe that a small fillip somtimes doth equall murther and words are as dangerous as deeds for all comes under the title of transgression though the fault be no other then a slip of youthful lightnesse Furthermore the Ministers who govern our State of Rome under colour of zeal to our Salvation are wont ever and anon to send certain Catchpouls to search mean blind places cottages to see whether any subject cohabit with a Concubine ev'ry thing lies under the search of prowling eyes and the insolent hands of those Ragamuffins I will say no more then this that under the Domination of other Princes the Jews are more gently us'd then we are under the regiment of the Ecclesiastics nor is it a wonder for som Churchmen of our times are haply greater Enemies to the Gospell of Christ then som Christians are to the Talmud of the Hebrews S. Paul a little after meets with a Maronit passenger who had taken a journey from Mount Libanus in Syria to see Rome and was returning homewards S. Paul begins to mingle speech with him asking him of his Countrey and of the Motives that induc'd him to com to Italy and what opinion he had form'd within himself of Rome wherunto he answer'd thus My Countrey is Armenia the cause which brought me to Italy was no other then a desire to learn the tru Tenets of the Catholic Doctrine which in our Region is adulterated with such a multiplicity of Sects that they confound one another The eleventh year is now coming about that I have breath'd air under the climes of Europe having sojourn'd longest in Rome being led thither by Fame which somtimes useth to represent things otherwise then they are in their own essence I figur'd within my self That City to be She who as She pretends so She had deserv'd to be the Head of all Christian people as being the School of Sanctity and patern of all vertu And truly at the first sight I thought I was not a whit deceav'd by any extern appearance which oft times doth dazzle and fascinat the eyes of
their charge is that the Sea be kept secure for Marchants and Navigators that they suppresse Pyrats and scowre the Gulph of Corsaries Ther is another Officer or Admirall calld Classis Legatus and he hath comand ore the whole Fleet and over the Prefects or Captains of evry Gallie Ther is seldom any Generall of a Fleet but in time of warr and then he hath absolut comand ore the whole Fleet and a kind of Dictatorian power in all the maritime Provinces yet hath he no implicit Commission but before he attempt any thing considerable he must receave directions and commands from the Senat. Of other Extern Magistrats which use to be created upon extraordinary occasions THese are calld Syndiques who are created evry five yeers and use to be employd abroad both in the Continent and maritime Provinces which are subject to the Republic They take knowledg and make Scrutinies into the cariage and actions of all Pretors or Podesta's and other Magistrats who are employed abroad upon the Service of the Signorie If they find any to have exceeded their Commissions and perpetrated any thing against the Lawes they give information accordingly which is unquestionable and taken for certain truth Ther is an Officer who in time of exigence is appointed Proveditor generall of Candy and he is chosen by the suffrages of the Senat He during the time comands the whole Iland in a supreme way of authority and hath a kind of Dictatorian power for the time If he comes to any Town or Castle they presently bring him the Keys He administers the Law himself if he please and disposeth of all public levies of moneys he superintends all kind of Magistrats and Officers both by Land and Sea and is subject to no controulment but what comes from the Senat. Ther is another great Officer calld Proveditor Generall of the Continent and he allso useth to be created upon extraordinary ocasions He comands all the firm Land in the highest way of authority He hath a transcendent power over all Prefects or Captains and all other Magistrats and Officers that are under the Empire of the Republic yet ther is nothing of moment can occurr or be putt in execution but he must receave directions and comand from the Senat. Ther are other Officers calld the Proconsulls of Syria and Egypt who are created by the suffrage of the Senat and they are trienniall Magistrats They have their residence either in Aleppo in Syria or in the Gran Cayro in Egypt where they live in a decent and splendid equipage All differences twixt any Marchants that acknowledg obedience to the Signorie of Venice are brought before them and they have power to determine the controversie These Proconsulls do allso good offices to all other Christians whether Italians or any other Nation that resort thither either for curiosity or comerce and they are respected as if they were in qualitie of Ambassadors or Soverain Agents The Republic of Venice employeth divers Ambassadors abroad and no State more and they are either Ordinary or Extraordinary The Commission of the Ordinary Ambassadors continueth for three yeers These are employed to the Pope the Emperour the Kings of France Spain and England to the Duke of Savoy the States of Holland and they have commonly allwayes one residing in all these Courts in a magnificent maner They have allso an Ambassador in Constantinople attending the motions of the great Turk calld the Bailio residing there perpetually and the Republic allowes him a greater Salarie than to any other nor indeed hath he any sett Salarie but whatsoever he spends is allowd him upon his own accounts without examination all these are elected by the suffrage of the Senat. The Republic employs allso abroad Ambassadors Extraordinary very often who have a greater latitud of power and are soly for matter of State or som particular negotiation The ordinary scope of their Legations is either to congratulate or condole with Soverain Princes when occasion is offerd All these Ambassadors have Secretaries whom the Senat takes notice of and the Republic allowes them a Salarie and they are persons of good extraction and breeding this is don because they may afterwards be in a capacity for their knowledg and experience to be Ministers of State themselfs But touching Ambassadors Extraordinary ther are never any employd unlesse they have bin Ambassadors formerly And touching this kind of employment the Republic hath certain degrees or Scalary ascents and rules of removall which are never transgressd These kind of political and public Ministers are strictly examind by a Junta expressly for the same end at their return touching their comportment in the Legation They are to discover what Presents they receavd from the Prince or State to whom they were sent and it is of dangerous consequence for them to conceale any thing These are the Magistrats and Officers wheron the Republic of Venice hath stood firm as upon so many pillars so many centuries Now ther are few or none who are greater Patriotts than the Venetian Gentlemen their prime study is the public good and glory of their Countrey and civil prudence is their principall trade wherunto they arrive in a high mesure Yet as it may be easily observd though these Gentlemen are extraordinary wise when they are conjunct take them single they are but as other Men. Of the Dominions and Territories that belong to Venice wherof She hath absolut and Soverain Command THis Mayden Cittie hath large fardingalls and long sleeves which reach farr by Land and they stretch by Sea farther than many Kingdoms Upon the Continent of Italie She doth Signorize over three entire Provinces The Mark of Treviso as they calld it Friuli and Istria She hath allso a good part of Lombardie viz. the Territories of Brescia of Bergamo and Verona then She hath Crema Eastward She confines partly upon the Arch-Dukes of Austria partly upon the Adriatic Sea Northward She confines allso upon the Austrian territories upon Trent and Swisserland Westward She hath the Duchy of Milan for her neighbour the same Duchy is her contiguous neighbour Southward allso together with the Duchy of Mantoua and the Ecclesiastic Dominions The Mark of Treviso is a very plentifull and generous Countrey full of opulent Townes and splendid Citties the Natives are esteemed very dextrous and apt to make Statesmen of being a peeple much given to contemplation and gaining of knowledg they are allso active when necessity requires in the management of armes the Country abounds with corn wine and all sorts of fruit and they have many pleasant spacious fields ther are hott and wholsom fountaines there divers sorts of mineralls many noble rivers and lakes the air is temperat healthy and delightfull in fine She is endowed by benign Nature with so many gifts that She may well take place among the Noblest Regions of Italie The Countrey of Friuli in old times forum Iulii is terminated Eastward by the River Formio Northward by the Julian Alps and
custom which is often so much the worse as it is ancient and for the Breve's ther were no other Archive of the Papall Breve's but at Rome that those which they pretended for their justification were but wast papers c. To this occasion ther was superadded another which was the imprisoning of Count Brandolin Valdemanno Abbot of Nervese as was formerly mention'd the Pope sent Order that both the sayed Count Canon shold be releas'd but the Senat pass'd it over with a complement the Pope also excepted at that Decree in Venice That none shold erect either Church or Chappell without the permission of the Senat He adjoyn'd further that the Republic retain'd in her hands five hundred thousand Crowns of Ecclesiasticall Legacies charging that in all these particulars she shold give him satisfaction answer was made That God had not given to Popes any greater Authority in the Government of their Estates then to other Princes who by the Law of Nature have all power which is necessary and as it appertain'd not to the Venetians to govern the State of the Church no more doth it belong to Ecclesiastics to govern the State of Venice and wheras it was alledg'd that the Republic had reserv'd such a portion of Legacies Ecclesiasticall it was a meer suggestion and if his Holines wold give credit to ev'ry such calumny differences wold grow infinit Here the Pope stayed saying that touching the Legacies he wold say no more but he wold reduce all the differences to three heads viz. 1. To the Decree touching building of Churches 2. To another Decree against the aliening of Laymens possessions to Ecclesiastics 3. To the wrong imprisonment of the Canon and the Abbot aforesayed In all these he expected to be obey'd otherwise he wold apply such remedies as the nature of things requir'd About this time Genoa publish'd a Manifesto by revoking a Decree which the Pope had excepted against he made use herof for an example to make the Venetians conformable to his will using these words Sequimini paenitentes follow the penitent answer was made That ther was not the same reason for the Republic of Venice seeing she had not seven Cardinalls her Citizens as Genoa had to mediat for her upon all occasions with his Holines That the Decrees of the Senat were the main Pillars of the Republic That they were well known to his Predecessors who before their Election to the Papacy had lived at Venice in quality either of Confessors Inquisitors or Nuntio's and that after their promotion they never question'd them This gave no satisfaction at all to the Pope therfore he sayed he wold send a Breve hortatory to the Republic concerning the three points before mention'd and if he were not obey'd by such a time he wold proceed further for he must not suffer the Authority of the Church to decline but according to his Office he wold vindicat and uphold it to his utmost and to which end he had Legions of Angells for his aid and assistance c. Herupon he seal'd and sent two Breves a little after to his Nuntio in Venice with charge to present them accordingly they were address'd Marino Grimani Duci Reipublicae Venetorum After this he call'd a Consistory wherin he declar'd how the State of Venice had violated the Ecclesiasticall Liberty by publishing two Laws prejudiciall therunto and by detaining in prison two persons of the Church c. The Cardinalls were very sparing to deliver their Opinions herin and when it came to Bellarmin to speak he sayed That his Holines shold rather think on the residence of Prelats in their Churches The Venetian Senat thought good to send an Ambassador expressely for this purpose and to shew their high respects to the Apostolic See they made choice of the Lord Leonardo Donato an ancient Senator of the wide Sleeve who was afterwards Duke The Nuntio in Venice having receav'd the Breves but the next day after the Embassador extraordinary stayed the presentation therof and sent advice by an expresse of the choice of the sayed Ambassador the Pope was not well pleas'd when he heard of this that the Nuntio shold presume to interpose his own judgment after his Ordinance therfore he dispatch'd unto Venice an expresse Courier with a mandamus to the Nuntio to present the sayed Breves immediatly after the receit of his Letter that this might be conceal'd from the ordinary Ambassador of Venice then resident at Rome he caus'd the Courier to go out in a Coach without boots and so take horse at the second Stage The Nuntio having receav'd this command on Christmas Eve that he might punctually obey his Holines did present that solemn high Festivall day the sayed Breves unto the Senators assembled to assist at a solemn Masse in the absence of the Duke Grimani who was then strugling with the pangs of death and expir'd the morning after so that the Breves were not open'd till the creation of a new Duke The Pope having advice herof writ to his Nuntio to make a protest unto the Senat and enjoyn them not to passe to a new Election in regard it wold prove void being made by men excommunicated the Nuntio pressing for Audience herupon was delayed in regard it hath ever bin the custom of the Signory to treat of no businesse of State during the Vacancy Duke Grimani being buried they fell to ballotation for another nor according to the Constitutions of the Republic can they fall to the Election of another till the former Duke be under ground so it fell to the lot of LEONARDO DONATO to be chosen all Ambassadors went to congratulat the new Prince except the Nuntio yet did the Prince write unto the Pope as the custom is to give him advice of his Election Pope Paul herupon though it was beyond the expectation of divers did receave this Letter from the new Doge by the hands of the ordinary Venetian Ambassador then sojourning at Rome and return'd a congratulatory Amswer therof revoking the Order formerly sent to the Nuntio of presenting himself to the Duke The first affair that was agitated in the Senat after this new Election was this difference with the Pope and Pietro Duodo Knight was nominated Ambassador for Rome instead of Donato The Breves were open'd and they were both of the same substance viz. That it was com to his knowing how the Republic in former years had determin'd in her Councells many things contrary to Ecclesiastic Liberty and to the Canons Councells and Constitutions Pontificall but among others that in the year 1603. she had in the Decemvirat having regard to certain Laws of their Ancestors who had forbidden to erect Churches or other places without permission instead of nulling the old Ordinances touching this matter she had reviv'd the same extending that Statute which only concern'd the City of Venice to all other places of their Dominions under great penalties as if Churches and persons Ecclesiasticall were in
busines of himself without the adjunction of other Senators nor can he leave the Cittie or marry any forrener without the knowledg and consent of the Senat Insomuch that we read of Duke Falerio that was putt to death for marrying a Stranger without the suffrage of the Senat In fine this high politicall Magistrat hath only the presence of a Soverain Prince but nothing of the power In the old records of Venice the reasons are yet extant which inducd the Republic to elect this formall Prince for her Head wherof these are the remarkablest We have observd that in this vast Universitie of the World bodies according to their severall natures have multiplicity of motions yet they receave vertu and vigor but from one which is the Sun All causes derive their originalls from one supreme cause We see that in one Creture ther are many differing members and faculties who have various functions yet they are all guided by one soul c. The Duke for his Salary hath 100. Zecchins which coin wants above twelvepence of ten shillings English brought him every Wensday to his Palace Among all these restraints which keep him from trenching upon the Common Liberty and doing injustice ther is another and that a shrewd one which is that Lex repetundarum may be executed upon his Heir after his death for there is a Iunta appointed to make a scrutiny of the actions of the deceased Duke and if any can prove he was wrongd by him he shall have reparation out of the Heirs estate Of the Venetian Senat. THe Senat consists of 120. grave men wherof ther are threescore calld Ordinary Senators and threescore of the Junta they are calld all together the Pregadi because being taken for wise men they are prayed to be assisting the Commonwealth with their Counsells The sixty ordinary are created yeerly by the suffrages of the great Councell in the months of August and September observing this order that at every meeting six be chosen of the sayed Senators untill the whole nomber be compleated The other sixty Senators of the Junta are ascribd unto these other sixty but there is one caution observd that ther may be but two of a kinred chosen among these sixty but the other allow three of a kinred To these 120. Senators are adjoind the Duke and Decemvirs with other Orders the 40. Judges of Capitall Causes the Provosts of Salt and Corn the Sages of health the Prefect of the Arsenal and Proctors of Saint Mark with other Magistrats and these in effect have the management of the whole Republic They treat of peace and warr their power extends to lay taxes to make extraordinary levies and erogations of moneys They make choice of Ambassadors to be employd to forren Princes they have power allso to summon the Sages of Land and Sea with all the chief Magistrats Of the Decemvirs and their Colledg THe Colledg of Decemvirs is composd of 17. Senators ten of these are chosen by the great Councell and are in Ordinary having this priviledg that he who is in that Magistracy may not procure in two yeers that any mention be made of him in other meetings and conventions Of these evry month three Senators are chosen to be of the quorum these are the chief of the Colledg are commonly calld Capi di dieci the Heads of ten and have power to summon the Decemvirall Colledg and referr matters unto it They have a privat Conclave where they daylie meet having Oâ—…icers of sundry sorts to attend them They read the Letters addressd to the Decemvirat Colledg and make relation unto them of the substance therof and ther must be two of them which must do it To these Decemvirs is adjoind the Duke in chief and six Councellors whose peculiar priviledg is to be chosen out of the six Precincts or Sextaries of the Citty this order observd that three be chosen this side of the Rialto and three on the other They are to be assistant to the Duke eight months with Him they are to take care of all things that concern the Wellfare of the Republic and Citty It is sufficient that fower of them subscribe all public Orders Touching matters of moment they are to make relation to the great Councell The Prince therfore with the Decemvirs and six sayed Councellors do constitut the Decemvirat Colledg which is the supremest authority and hath a kind of Dictatorian power They are to take care that no discord or any public quarrells happen which may disturb the peace of the Citty and draw after them any insurrection They are to have an eye that no factious or fantastic Cittizen introduce any dangerous innovation That no counterfeit coyn be stamped or brought in That Sodomy and all other flagitious crimes be enquird after which they have inappealable power to punish Of the Colledg of Sages or Preconsultors THis Colledg consists of 16. Senators which are of the chiefest Cittizens and they are calld Savii or Sages because they are presumd to antecell others both in dignity and experience These use to preconsult of generall matters tending to the administration of the Commonwealth as allso of peace and warr with other the most important affairs and make relation therof to the Senat. This Colledg is divided to three Orders the first containes 6. Senators which are calld Savii grandi the great Sages who consult of all things touching the honor of the Republic in generall specially of Sea matters and other requisitts reflecting upon peace or warr and make reports of their Consultations to the Senat. The second Order consists of 5. Cittizens or Gentlemen of Venice commonly calld Savii de terra firma the Sages of the Continent who allthough they have the like authority to make report of matters to the Senat yet are they much inferior to the former in dignity and trust Their chiefest duty is to have care of the Militia by Land and of salaries of such soldiers that are entertaind by the Republic whether Forreners or Natives The third degree consists of 5. Cittizens or Gentlemen of Venice who are commonly young men primae lâ—…nuginis of the first shaving of the razor as they say but learned and well versd in the Sciences which are inferior to the other two and make report of all Sea businesses to the Senat and these are calld Savii de gli ordini and they are culld out of the choicest Witts to be made capable for future employments To this Colledg of Sages or Preconsultors are adjoind the Prince the six Councellors the Triumvirs of the forty who preside over Criminall Causes So that the whole Colledg may be sayed to consist of 26. Senators or Cittizens of the Patrician Order The maner of the convention of this Colledg is thus the Prince sitts in the middle mounted upon a high Seat and about him those Councellors who were chosen out of the six Precincts of the Cittie three on the right and three on the left hand and after
lendings On the tenth Tribunall sit Iudices Examinatores the Judges Examiners who determin all causes touching depositions and oaths On the eleventh Tribunall sitt Iudices praefectorum noctis the Provosts of the night that heare all brabbles or misdemenures committed in the night and punish them To them allso it belongs to adjudg all controversies twixt men and mayd servants c. The highest Councell for criminall causes except the Decemvirat is a Councell calld the Councell of forty for so many meet there upon life and death and they are very choice men In the Cittie of Venice ther are allso Officers who are Supervisers of all Manufactures and other things of moment The first are Signori di panni d'oro the Superintendents of cloth of gold these do warily looke that no fraud be usd in any cloths of tissue or other cloths of gold sylver or silk and severely punish the transgressors herin Ther are other Officers calld Proveditori della Zeccha their charge is to look to all sorts of bullions and coines that they be not embasd and adulterated and that the par of the Standard be kept even Ther be other Officers calld Signori alla farina who are to look to all sorts of grain that they be well conditiond they are allso to looke to the corn that is stord up in the public Magazins that if any grow musty they are to putt good into the place Ther be other Officers calld Signori al Sale and this is a great office for all the Salt which is brought into the Cittie out of Salt pitts round about is to be brought to them who store it up in Magazins and no privat man can sell Salt unlesse he buyes it of these Magistrats who are strictly accountable to the Senat these Salt Officers have power to decide all controversies that may arise touching this commodity Ther be other Officers calld Signori delle biaui whose care is that the Cittie be allwayes provided with a sufficient proportion of wheat and other grain Ther is no Cittie that is more carefull of her health than Venice therfore ther be Officers and they are qualified persons whose charge is to have a speciall care that the Plague creep not into the Cittie and if any infection com they are to suppresse it with their utmost endeavours they are to see that the Pesthouse be at least three miles distant from the Cittie if any hath conversd with an infected body he must for 40. dayes to the Pesthouse before he can return to his own dwelling Ther is no Shipp whatsoever that comes thither from another Countrey can have pratique or be permitted to com ashoare and sell his mar chandise unlesse he produce a Certificat that he comes from a place not infected otherwise he is to stay aboard 40. dayes Ther are other Officers calld Proveditori di comun and they are three they supervise the minor fraternities among others they looke to Printers and Stationers and sett prizes upon all new Books They have the Superintendency of Bridges Wells Conduits Wayes Cawses and such public things which they must see repaird They are allso to see that Shipps be not over laden and they have power to punish such who transgresse herin Ther are other Officers calld Proveditori all' Arsenale Provisors of the Arsenal they have care to furnish that huge Magazin of strength one of the greatest on Earth as shall be declard herafter with all things that shall be necessary as Carpenters Smiths and all other Opificers but to have speciall care that they be choice able Artists and of the most ingenuous sort unto whom they pay their wages evry eighth day Ther be other Officers of great trust calld Signori all' acque these are to have speciall care that no man whatsoever do any thing that may impaire the Banks Dikes and Stronds about the Cittie that no Carrion be thrown into the Channells running through the Streets of the Cittie that no place be choakd up with Sands to stopp Navigation These Officers have power to punish severely all such that transgresse in this kind and they may be sayed to be Conservators of the Walls of the Cittie which are the Waters These Officers are allso to appoint the Stations where Shipps shall ride at anchor and lastly that the Channels be clensed once a yeer Ther are other Officers calld Signori sopra il ben vivere which are no other than Censors but because that word is too rigid for such a free Cittie they modifie it by another title These are to take care that the Lawes and Customes of the Cittie be observd and if any one offend they have power to punish by pecuniary fines they take cognisance of the wages of Servants and punish such that have embezeld any things from their Masters Ther are other Officers calld Syndicks who supervise the acts of public Notaries that serve the Cittie and the Magistrats therof taking care that they exact no unlawfull reward and they have power so sett rates upon all commodities Ther be other Officers calld Sopra Consoli they take cognisance of Marchants and Creditors affairs and compose differences between them they preserve the Debter from Prison and allow him two months time to pay his Creditor and in the interim he hath liberty to go abroad to negotiat and compound with his Creditors but if the Creditors be so refractory and perverse that they will not hearken to any composition they may by authority compell them therunto These Officers have power to sell the goods of Bankrupts and Fugitives under the Spear as they call it They have power allso to keep moneys depositated Ther be other Officers calld Signori alla mercantia these have power to appoint wages for Mechaniques and to end all controversies twixt Man and Master they supervise the prises of all marchandises and moderat them they take care that no Mechanic use any fraud in his work and if it be found they punish him severely Ther are other Officers calld Signori della grassa they supervise all Sellers of Cheese Butter Oil Salt flesh as Bacon and Lard and sett moderat prizes upon them which if not obeyd they have power to punish by pecuniary amercement Ther be other Officers calld Ragion vecchia their charge is to register in Books the expences made upon the coming of any Prince or Ambassador into the Cittie by decree of the Senat and to take care that while a forren Prince be in the Cittie he be honorably entreated and not overreachd in the prizes of things Ther be other Officers calld Giustitia vecchia their charge is to supervise all weights and mesures and that whatsoever is sold or bought be according to the Standard they have power to impose rates upon all sorts of fruits and roots and punish such that obey them not they preside allso over Shoppkeepers and Mechaniques that none take down an old sign and set up a new without their leave If any hire a
had surpass'd by this time all the Citties of Europe whereas she is now forlorn and squalid coverd over with ashes ignominy and shame having in a moment as it were had her beauty blasted and becom a derision to all Nations and lost the glory of all her former victories But that my speech may return where it began it lieth in your power O Caesar that pardoning and absolving your Venetians you pourchase now to your self a name and glory then which never any got a greater by conquest or victory This Monument no age no time no antiquity or cours of mortall things shall ever deface out of our memories but all Ages shall confesse declare and proclaime you to be the most pious and most glorious of all Princes We your Venetians shall ascribe it to your goodnesse that we live and breath the celestiall air that we have the conversation of men we impute it all to your vertu felicity and clemency This was the lamentable speech that the mayden Republic breath'd out before the Emperour Maximilian by the mouth of her Ambassador Antonio Iustiniano but 't is known that Mayds have teares at will therefore most men thought these words were not cordiall but meer complements and to temporize yet they produced a peace and 't is a cheap peace that is got by a complement but this submission the Republic made was partly recompencd by a generous and pious act she did in refusing the help and Auxiliaries which the Turk offered her so earnestly in those her extremities About Addua she receavd the mortall'st blow that ever she had and it was like to have bin as fatall to her as Canna to the Romans or Pavia to the French King The Genoways also brought her once to a low ebb so that she sent very low proposalls to him which he refusing she made vertu of necessity and reinforcing her self soundly bangd him Before I part with this Mayden City I will make a parallel betwixt her and old Rome for of all the Cities of Italy ther 's none resemble her more in her constitutions and policy nay she is more like old Rome then Rome her self as now she is as if the soul of old Rome by a Pythagorean kind of meterapluchosis were transmigrated into her she is obdurated with the same kind of vigor and vertu as old Rome but it seemes that she is of a far stonger constitution and more constant in her way of policy som do brand the one to be a Shepheards Town at first and Venice a Fisher Town 'T is tru that Rome is fabled to be so so that it might be said that when the Pope came to be her head she was reduced to her first principles for as a Shepheard was the founder so a Shepheard spirituall is still her preserver from utter ruin otherwise she had bin long since turn'd into a heap of rubbish which had becom her Tomb So that Providence seems to have a care of her still though present Rome may be sayed to be but the monument of her self compard to times passd when she was in that florish wherin Saint Augustin did wish to see her She was then of 50. miles circumference as Vopiscus witnesseth and she had 500000. free Cittizens in a famous cense that was made in Claudius his time which allowing but six to evry family in Women Children and Servants came to 3. millions of Soules but She may be sayed to be now but a Wildernes in comparison of that nomber yet She is esteemd to have yet bout 14. miles incircuit Moreover She is much humbled since the Church came to be her Head for wheras She was before elevated upon seven Hills She now spreads her-self upon a flatt having descended to the Plaines of Campus Martius So She who tamd the World seemd to tame her-self at last and falling under her own weight grew to be a prey to Time who with his iron teeth consumes all bodies at last making all things both animat and inanimat which have their being under that changeling the Moon to be subject unto corruption and dissolution A Parallel twixt the Government of old Rome and Venice THe greatest thing wherin old Rome differs from Venice is that after Kings or Souverain Princes Rome was governd by Consulls but here clean contrary after Consulls a Doge or Princely Head came to govern yet doth he carry still the badg of a Consull in the vest upon his back Among the Romans Tribunus Celerum he who had the comand of the Cavalrie had the chiefest charge just so the Venetians use to create a Captain General of the Armies in the Continent and as he at Rome defended the King and Cittie and was the first that assalted the Enemy and the last that left the field so doth the Venetian General therfore he hath the next place to the Prince himself Moreover a good while passd when the Consulls could not levy the cense which evry one according to his substance was bound to pay in regard of other more important affaires wherin they were involvd therfore the Censors were chosen so calld because their first office was to gather the cense which was to know the nomber of Cittizens and putt an estimat upon their states and so a tax afterwards this Magistrat did grow to that esteem and use that he came to have authority allso over the maners and customes of the Romanes and to have Superintendency both of the Senat the Cavalry and Gards In conformity to this office ther are ten Censors in Venice which are calld vulgarly Gli dieci Savii the ten Sages who supervise not only the cense but the Customes allso of the Cittie But the Cittie encreasing and peeple multiplying daylie with busines Venice did choose other Censors giving them authority over the pomp the food and rayment of the Cittizens which Magistrats are calld la Giustitia nuova instituted in the time of Renier Zeno who have authority over all Inns Hostries and Lodgers of Strangers The Romans peeple still encreasing and having Warrs in divers places created in tract of time a new Officer of greater authority whom they calld Dictator from him ther was no appeale to be made and he had in the highest way of authority power over the life 's of men The General of the Sea among the Venetians hath som resemblance with this Officer only with this difference that he is chosen upon extraordinary ocasions but as long as he is abroad he hath a Dictatorian power for to what maritim place soever he arrives he hath the Keys of the Town brought him with those of any Castle or Fortresse But here it is to be observd that this Officer cannot enter Venice with any armed Gallie but as soon as he comes to Istria which is distant 100. miles from Venice he payes the Mariners and all other Officers their Salaries and so disbands them and returns to Venice with a very few of his retinue This corresponds with the custom of the
to induce him to consider better of the matter delayed the presenting of those Injunctions which the Pope took in ill part whereupon in all hast he sent him an expresse Commandement to present them without further procrastination In regard whereof upon Christmas day when Duke Grimany lay at the point of death and that the Senators were solemnly assembled som wherof had receav'd the Holy Sacrament and others were ready to receave the Nuncio craved Audience and produc'd the two Injunctions but the Dukes death hapning the next day they were not open'd till after the Election of the new Prince LEONARDO DONATO Knight and Procurator of S. Mark succeeded GRIMANI after whose Election the two Injunctions being open'd were found to be both of one substance which in effect was That his Holines was advertised that the Venetian Senat had decreed divers things contrary to the Liberty of the Church and Authority of the Sea Apostolie and divulg'd through all the Dominions of the Signory certain Laws peculiar only to the City of Venice forbidding to build Churches or Monasteries or to alienat the secular possessions of the Clergy without the Senats permission which as repugnant to the Churches Liberty his Holines declared to be invalid and they who enacted them to have incurr'd Ecclesiasticall censures commanding them under pain of Excommunication presently to revoke and abrogate the sayed Lawes threatning to proceed further in case they did not conform To this the Senat answer'd 28. of Ian. Anno 1606. as followeth That with grief and amazement they understood by his Holines Letters that he dislik'd the Laws of the Venetian Republic prosperously observ'd for so many Ages and never tax'd by any of his Predecessors the revokement wherof wold not only shake but utterly overthrow the very fundamentalls of the State that he interpreted those Laws to be prejudiciall to the Sea Apostolic and the Authority thereof blaming those who had made them as infringers of the Churches Liberty notwithstanding that they were known to be persons of singular piety and to have done good service to the Sea of Rome and were now doubtlesse in heaven that the Senat according to his Holines advertisement had narrowly examin'd both the New and Old Laws and could find nothing in them but what might be decreed by a Soveraign Prince concluding that the Venetians did not think they had incurr'd any censures and that therfore his Holines so repleat with Religion and Piety wold not without pondering well the cause continue his menaces This answer did much displease the Pope who presently awarded an Excommunication against them which on the seventh day of April of the same year was publish'd throughout all Rome and hung up in the usuall places namely on the great Gate of S. Peter's Church the Chancery and Market place of Campo di Fiore by Christophoro Fonduto and Gio. Dominico di Pace the Popes Poursuyvants The Prince and Senat having intelligence of what had pass'd at Rome to prevent all popular tumults and commotions which might peradventure thereby arise in the Towns and Cities subject to their Jurisdiction were desirous to acquaint all sorts of people therwith to which end they fram'd two Declarations the one directed to all the Clergy of their Dominions and the other to all secular Magistrates and Officers to stop and restrain all disorders that might hence ensue wherupon all that year divers books were written pro and con som condemning the Venetians others the Pope ev'ry one as his passion did transport him but at last this great contention had like to have bin decided by the sword both sides making preparations for war For the Venetians having understood that a great number of Foot and Horse was levied at Ferrara and that the Romanes had offer'd to aid the Pope in that war with men and money They likewise rais'd forces accordingly and fell to fortifie their Towns with greater strength because they wold not be surpriz'd or taken unprovided so that there was a great likelihood of an eager bloudy warr had not France vigorously appear'd as Mediatrix in the businesse Hereupon Henry the IIII. to prevent the danger and scandall which might arise by this war did speedily send the Cardinall Ioyeuse both to the Pope and the Venetians from him and in his name to intercede for a peace amongst them which Embassie took very good effect for the Cardinall being speedily dispatch'd from France with instructions other dispatches necessary for his Negotiation He arriv'd at Rome on a Thursday night 23. Martii 1607. and the same Evening confer'd with the Cardinalls and the French Ambassador there resident to propound the businesse to his Holines therupon the next day the Cardinall accompanied with the Leger Ambassadour went to see his Holines unto whom the Cardinall did largely relate the occasion of his coming But the Pope seem'd to be inexorable to any terms of agreement with the Venetians til the Clergy and Jesuits who had bin banish'd not long before were restor'd to their Churches Colledges The Cardinall at this first Audience wold not put him out of hope of their restitution but only told him that he did not despair of reconciling the Jesuits to the Venetians having bethought himself of a fit meanes whereof if his Holines wold not make use he doubted not but it wold be prevalent The Pope being much desirous to know this new devise did the next day early send for him then the Cardinall de Ioyeuse told him That to hope by any expresse Treaty to obtain of the Venetian Senat the restauration of the Iesuits were but to spend time to no purpose but if his Holines wold give ample Commission and Authority to revoke the Censures and send him to Venice with such a power some good might be done upon the public producement of the sayed Commission The Pope made shew that he neither could nor wold approve of this motion therfore he sayed That he had engag'd his promise not to abandon the Iesuits who had bin expuls'd for favouring his Interdiction unto whom he had pass'd his word never to be reconcil'd to the Venetians till they were re-establish'd but after sundry other Allegations this conference was to little purpose ev'ry man perceaving by his Holines countenance that he was perplex'd The French Cardinall and others meeting to reconcile these differences and remove the difficulties entreated Cardinall Perron to go the next day after dinner to get expresse Audience of the Pope and if it were possible to induce him to grant certain points for the advance of the businesse Cardinall Perron at their intreaty undertook the task and a good while debated the point with his Holines about the restoring of the Jesuits shewing him the danger whereunto he expos'd the Church and Christian Religion for one particular Order whose restauration was to be hop'd for therafter though for a time defer'd He told him that his Holines shold first re-establish his own Authority in Venice and
which we bear to the See of Rome and thereby to take away all cause of strife we as we have ever desir'd and procur'd Unity and good correspondence with the sayed See of which we are loving and obedient children do receave likewise this contentation to have at last obtain'd the accomplishment of our holy desire therfore we thought good by our Declaration to advertise you herof giving you besides to understand that whatsoever did belong herunto hath bin faithfully perform'd on both parts and the Censures and Interdiction remov'd the Protestation likewise we made against them hath bin and is revok'd we being desirous that herin as well as in all other our actions the Piety and Religion of our State may still more and more appear which we will carefully observe as our Predecessors have ever done Given in our Ducall Palace the 21. of Aprill 1607. Sign'd Marco Ottobon Secretary The Duke having publish'd this Declaration the Senat was not a little perplext with a doubt of no mean consequence which was that the Pope for his part having made no mention at all concerning books and writings publish'd in the behalf of the sayed Decrees nor of the Authors of the sayed books which were two very important points and which did threaten â—… breach of the whole reconcilement the State doubting that the Pope by this silence and Omission had an intent to proceed afterwards against the Authors of the sayed books by the ordinary way of Ecclesiastical Justice and thinking it dishonorable to abandon those that had done them so good and faithfull service after mature consultation the Senat made a very notable and honorable Decree that the Signory shold protect them against all dangers and assign them a perpetuall Pension A particular Narratif of the notable Contestation 'twixt Paulus Quintus and the Republic of Venice 1606. c. NOw in regard that ev'ry Corner of Christendome did ring aloud and sounds yet to this day of that high Contestation 'twixt Pope Paulus Quintus and the Republic I shall spend a little more oil and labour to acquaint the judicious Reader with the circumstances therof Paulus Quintus having ascended to the Pontificat the bent of all his consultations were to advance the Priviledges of the Church and mortifie the presumption those were his words of such secular Princes and States that seem'd to bandy against them specially of the Signory of Venice wherupon he employed thither in quality of Nuncio Horatio Maâ—…hei Bishop of Gâ—…erace a man so fervent in this cause that in full Assembly he told the Duke of Venice That Almes and other works of piety the frequenting of the Sacraments with all other good and Christian actions ad nihilum valent ultra were nothing available if men did not favour the Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction In privat Communication he also sayed That he had heard the piety of the City of Venice often and amply magnified yet he himself could perceave but little considering that Christian perfection doth not consist in deeds of charity and devotion as much as in exalting the Ecclesiasticall Authority which is the true Câ—…ment of that perfection Ther happen'd a little difference betwixt Paul the V. and the Republic of Luca at this time who in regard that many of her Citizens having chang'd their Relâ—…gion had retir'd themselfs to Protestant Countreys She publish'd an Edict by which all her Subjects were forbidden to have Comerce or to correspond any way with such persons This Edâ—…ct being come to the Pope he highly approv'd of the Law but he sayed That the State of Luca had no Authority to make any such Ordinance of her self because it concern'd Religion therfore he commanded that the sayed Edict shold be raz'd out of the Records promising to form another which shold be the same in substance but to be publish'd by his Pontificall Authority Ther happen'd about this time another clash 'twixt him and the Republic of Genoa who being inform'd that the Governors of certain lay-Fraternities instituted by devotion had not dispens'd the revenu with requisit fidelity She resolv'd to examin their accounts to which effects the books were commanded to be brought before the Duke but this was not well accepted by Paul the V. therfore he gave the Republic of Genoa to understand that these proceedings were against the Liberty Ecclesiastical So he expresly enjoyn'd them to revoke their Edicts otherwise he wold proceed to the Censure of Excommunication both these States complied with the Pope but the State of Venice was more stiff-neck'd and constant in the maintenance of her Decrees The first cloud of discontent 'twixt this Pope and the Venetians appeard when he having solicited the Republic for a contribution of summs of money to aid the Emperor in the warrs of Hungary against the Turk he receav'd from her a complementall deniall He afterwards propos'd the revocation of an Ordinance made by the Senat a little before forbidding the Subjects of the Signory to set forth any Vessells by Sea or to make any assurances or Companies for the traffic of any Merchandize whatsoever to be exported out of the State of Venice into any other Countreys unlesse it pass'd first by Venice alledging that this wold hinder the Commerce in the State of the Church and was against the Ecclesiasticall Liberty The Republic answer'd herunto That ev'ry Prince commands his Subjects in that which may serve for the commodity of his own Estate without considering what may follow therupon to neighbour Princes who cannot justly be therwith offended howsoever they may be in some sort incommoded therfore whensoever his Holines shall command his Subjects any thing which may turn to the profit of his Government the State wold not take it in ill part nor esteem it against their Liberty The Pope perceaving by this Essay that he could not compasse his ends these differences being not within the bounds of things spirituall and finding that his desires were so little prevalent with the Venetian thought to be quit with him som other way and an opportunity was offer'd a little after touching one Scipio Sarraceno Canon of Vicenza and upon the complaint of a young gentlewoman his cosen whose doore and ring therof which is a common kind of revenge in Italy he had besmear'd with excrements and don her som other wrongs she herupon complain'd to the Senat who therupon cited and imprison'd the Canon complaints herof being made to the Pope the Republic answer'd That the just Title and Authority which She hath to judge Ecclesiasticall persons in causes criminall were founded on the power of a naturall Prince and on custom never interrupted by the space of a thousand years and upwards which hath bin approv'd of by the Popes Breve's themselfs yet extant in the public Archives This being deliver'd by the Venetian Ambassador to Pope Paul he receav'd it with som impatience saying That the reasons alledg'd were frivolous that to judge of an affair it was to no purpose to ground it upon
perswaded to bequeath in the behalf of their souls perpetuall Legacies and Mansionaries Moreover your Serenity ought to consider that the obligation of Masses multiplying ev'ry day with the nomber of Legacies a necessity seems to arise hâ—…nce either to increase the nomber of Churchmen who are uselesse for public service or to defraud the wills of the well devoted Testators wheron if the public eyes wold fix themselfs they shold see that the Ecclesiastics do not perform no not the least part of those daily Sacrifices which they are tied unto but they salve their consciences by saying that the Masse being of an infinit value one Masse may supply the necessities of many souls one Masse may also suffice to releeve the urgencies of one soul alone and the remainder shall be thought a superfluous nomber proceeding not from the necessity of the soul but rather from the cheat arising out of the avarice of the Priest The second abuse consists in the multiplicity of Pensions which are payed annually to Rome from the State of Venice Touching this it comes into my mind to remember your Serenity that the Court of Rome is like the middle Region of the Air who useth to make her thunderbolts against the earth ouâ—… of those exhalations She draws from the earth it self so the Roman Church is us'd to form her power for oppression of other States out of the rents contributions and pensions which She receaves from those States themselfs and let this suffice for the high wisdome of your Serenity in this particular S. Paul being arriv'd at Venice and sojourning there som daies saw a Priest drag'd into prison by order of the secular power and it being ask'd why the temporall Magistrat did exercise his jurisdiction so over an Ecclesiastic a Venetian answer'd him thus The Republic of Venice nor for any other mens threats or insinuations ever deviated from that constant path which Her Progenitors hath pointed her out for her own safety from the beginning among other jurisdictions which She hath alwaies conserv'd in the very face of Romes pretensions and power one is to have authority to punish the persons of Ecclesiastic Delinquents esteeming that Dominion to be absolute and universall which heaven hath afforded Her within Her own Territories This Republic knows well That when God did institut Soveraign Power he confer'd it upon Saul over all his people and over all the Tribes of Israel without exception Now you cannot deny but among the twelve Tribes ther were a great nomber of Levites and Priests ought the Priests therfore to disswade the people from that obedience which was ordain'd by the Divine Majesty it self towards their naturall Princes The Sacraments were ordain'd by God to wash away the pollutions of sin in the soul but not to deface the Characters of subjects on the body Nor was the Law of Christ ever incompatible with the jurisdiction of Caesar but in their opinions only who seek pretences to traduce and calumniat it The Ecclesiastics who interpret all things to their own advantage pretend to withdraw themselfs from the secular Power by those words of the Gospell Nolite tangere Christos meos but he who is of a sane and sound understanding will easily discern how much they are deceav'd in the sense of these words For although the same God forbad murther to all men by an expresse Commandement yet it is lawfull for Magistrats to take away the life 's of Malefactors In the administration of Justice Lay-Princes also represent God Now for any to pretend a withdrawing of himself from their authority is no other thing then to be unwilling to be subordinat to divine institution If Ecclesiastics wold interpret Scriptures with more reason then passion and partiality they wold discern that those words Nolite tangere Christos meos bear no other sense then to prohibit any injust outrage against those Ecclesiastics who for the goodnesse of their lifes and innocency of their manners deserve the title of Christs when a Church-man is naught he falls from that title and consequently from the priviledge of it nor can the Clergy of these times pretend to be exempted from the power of temporall Justice by the foresayed words unlesse it had bin in case that Christ had sayed Nolite tangere Anti Christos meos This Signory which can discern things in their tru essences doth not admit the falshood of any interessed opinion to purblind Her own proper understanding If a Clerk may err temporally against the State the State thinks it reasonable that he may be punish'd temporally by no other hand then by that to whom God hath committed the care of the State The danger of a State wold be too too evident and the confusion also if the Crimes that are committed against the conservation and common tranquillity therof shold stand in fear of no other punishment then what shall come from a forraign Prince who regulating himself by certain politic interests in lieu of correction wold haply tolerat orâ—…connive at the Crime to the public domage of that State and for his own advantage Behold for example how many Princes in Italy wher the Pontificiall Power predominats are disquieted ever and anon and corrupted by reason of the impunity of â—…lericall Libertines and what other thing can be hence expected but that the Ecclesiastics being exempted totally from secular Justice they may arm themselfs joyn in bands and turn their Cloisters to so many Castles that trampling so under foot the authority of their own Prince they may establish another Kingdom within a Kingdom That wisdom which sits at the Stern of the Republic of Venice will never suffer Her own subjects to be able to supplant Her by the protection and support of any forraign Authority Clerks are punish'd temporally when they offend temporally against the tranquillity of the State not els and if it seems strange to the Pope that the Venetians assume to themselfs civill jurisdiction over the Ecclesiastics much more seems it strange to the Venetians that the Ecclesiastics shold usurp worldly dominion over the persons of Seculars In the mean time they know well that Christ profess'd openly to have no Kingdomin this world This Speech being ended and S. Paul desiring to understand the late differences which had bin controverted 'twixt the Republic and Rome is inform'd by a Noble Venetian as followeth The Church of Rome was reverenc'd by us in that manner which was sitting for Christs lawfull Spouse but she corresponding with little gratitude hath not only conspir'd our ruine more then once but at last hath thrown out of doors the ancient monument of our services which have bin proclaim'd to the world for so many ages by the Trump of Fame by the trâ—… Narration of Historians approv'd by all precedent Popes in public Elogies S. Marks Lion can hardly endure to have that glory eclips'd which was alwaies the food of his generous thoughts and it seems strange to us that Venice having