unexpected cause of my hasty departure You know O Angell of God that I was sent from Heaven to Earth to hear the complaints of Mortalls and to form a proces against this adulterons naughty Spouse I lighted to this purpose in many places wher having fully understood by all degrees of people her dissolute deportments to confirm with mine own eyes what came from other tongues I resolvd at last to come to the City of Rome it self I passd too and fro at first in the froc of a Frier There as I went through a little blind Hamlet I was calld in to confesse a dying Cardinall which gave me warning that the habit descrying me to be a religious person t was likely that entring so to Rome I might according to the custome be questiond for the Patent of my Orders or the License of my Superiours I hereupon to evade the telling of any lye held it expedient to lay down the Froc and take my Sword So I came into Rome intending to lodge in some Covent of Friers who being usd to thrust themselves into worldly affaires more than the Seculars themselves I thought I could there very leisurely have a free and exact information of all things specially because the freedom of speech is retird now into Cloisters for more security in regard of the extream rigour which is usd to punish those who speak any thing against the Court. The Monastery where I was lodgd was famous for the study of Letters and so it was frequented by many Learned men But the greatest concours was of Strangers who so abound in Rome of all Nations where desiring to know what conceit Forrenners had of that Church I disputed often upon some point of Religion There happened to come thither a Turk rather to hear as I imagine the noise of the disputation than to inform his judgment so I askd him his opinion of Christian Religion wherunto beyond all expectation he answered thus Amongst the Turks it is held for certain that God doth favour those people most where he is truly ador'd so from the prosperity of the Turkish Empire we inferr that our faith is good and the observance of it not displeasing to God Touching the Christians Religion we have an opinion that she was not naught untill she was adulterated and made naught by Christians themselves But in the state she is now in this City we believe her to be abhominable to God Almighty specially since we see that of late she goes annihilating and mouldring away by little and little by her own inward and endlesse discords Such was the conclusion of the Turk which made me I confesse to marvell not a little while I observed that even those who professe not much knowledge can deduce from far-fetchd Principles Consequences so near the truth Having had his opinion I went on in making a further scrutiny and I fell to expostulate with a Greek who was usd to repair to Rome for the opportunity of studying in Clementine Colledg who answered to my interrogatories thus The Roman and Greek Churches are Sisters issued from one Father but the Greek is the first born and I know not by what wiles the Roman came to take away her birthright For this cause they live in most grievous disgusts one with another But the one enjoyes the possession of all her Paternall goods wheras the other lives as Esau did excluded and under the dominion of another Touching the particular customes of the Roman Church I say nothing for the that censures her in this City shews he knows not his own danger And he who approves her carriage understands not the Law of Christ. With such words the Greek satisfied my demands As touching the opportunity which was offered me to mingle speech with a Frenchman upon the same subject I understood his conceit thus The name of the Church is reverenced by a great part of the Kingdome of France but the wisedom of our Governors hath never permitted the Pope to extend that excesse of pre-dominion beyond the Alps which he doth exercise in Italy for our policy is supported by particular Gallican rites And the reason is because the French being naturally impatient and now that nere halfe France to withdraw it self from under the Roman yoak is infected with Heresy certainly if the Pope should exercise upon the Consciences of that spritfull people the tyranny he doth exercise in Italy the rest of that great Kingdome would fall from him quite Such were the expressions of the Frenchman which did stir in me a curiosity by way of opposition to hear what the Spaniard would say Nor was it difficult for me to obtain my desire by meeting with a Nobleman of Sevill who frequented the same Convent I entred into his friendship and he rendred me satisfied by such discours Friend to serve you I will speak beyond the customes of this Nation with all ingenuity of heart The reverence which the Spaniards do professe to the Roman Church may be considered in two manners inward and outward If you ask me of the inward reverence suppose it to be not unlike that of other people who have full knowledge of her Customes The Spaniards being of a genius apt to esteem things as they are in value But if you ask me of the outward reverence knew that the Spanish Nation in extern appearance shew themselves very observant of the Roman Church because that having found her alwaies most partiall to the interests of their Crowns they hold themselves obligd by termes of gratitude to correspond with her at least in outward observance My King knows well how available for depressing of the suspected greatnes of his Subjects hath bin the pretext of the holy inquisition He lives mindfull of that promptitude shewd in the Court of Rome to deny an absolution to the House of Bourbon untill he had conformd himself to the Austrian satisfaction And lastly he knows how much to this very howr the pragmaticall Iesuits have serv'd him to dilate in evry part with their own advantage the bounds of the Castilian Empire So that in contemplation of all these respects the Spaniards hold themselfs oblig'd to reverence the Roman-Church in exterior appearance at least though she were far wors than she is Here the Spaniard did terminat his censure while my diligence which desisted not to procure all punctuall advertisements brought me to discourse with an English-man who gave this modest Answer Sir I am a declared Enemy of the Roman Church therfore I presume my words can gain no credit with you but if you desire to know what respects this Church finds Northward read our Doctors and perchance your curiosity will be fully satisfied Thus O Angell of God I endeavour'd in Rome to bring to perfection the Proces which was committed to my charge against the adultrous spouse And passing one Morning by a Church where they wer casting out a Devill I went in because of the noise and then the ill Spirit
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
tranquillity in Italy not of troubles he discours'd further of the domages of war and the mâ—…schiefs of heresies saying That although the Republic by her own strength and greatnesse could repell all sorts of violence and was able to withstand sufficiently all that shold assault her nerethelesse other succours not expected or desired wold unâ—…all'd for offer themselfs and such as might be suspected hard to dismisse c. We will now take a little more pains then ordinary to acquaint the Reader with the manner of that Ban by which the Jesuits were exterminated from the Venetian Dominions which was exactly as followeth Of the expulsion of the Jesuits THe Republic of Venice having taken as formerly was sayed into their prudent and cautious consideration the multitude of Religious Orders the daily encrease of them up down that almost half the Revenues of the State was by that means got into the Churches hands perceaving also the multitude of Monasteries that they were seated in such posts as might prove a hindrance to the public defence being places fitter rather for Fortresses then Convents considering also that ther were instituted already Religious Orders enough for the propagation and preservation of Christian Religion and for directing them in the way to heaven and having upon these reasons pass'd those two Decrees the first wherof was That no other Order but what was already establish'd shold be admitted into the Territories of the Republic and that none shold build any Churches without the concession of the Senat The second That no person whatsoever shold give or leave any Lands by way of Legacy unto the Church but those Lands shold be presented to the Senat who in lieu of those Lands wold give the Church a countervailable summe of money and annex the Lands to the public demeans of the State to prevent least in tract of time the Church might ingrosse all the staple possessions of the Signory The Republic I say having pass'd these preventive edicts the Jesuits who not long before had crept into the Republic began to stir and storm at these new Decrees conceaving that they were made directly against Them and their Society wherupon they complain'd to the foresayed Pope Paulus Quintus a Borgheze desiring his Holines that he wold write to the Senat to have these Decrees revok'd and abolish'd as being destructive to the Church to piety and charity in generall as also to some particular Orders of Religious men who subsisted by the secular charity which if it were thus restrain'd wold be of exceeding ill consequence herupon the Pope writ to the Senat as was sayed to recall their Edicts they refuse it he therupon interdicts and excommunicats the Republic commands all Religious Orders to come out from amongst them and that none shold say Masse or officiat in any of their Churches wherupon many departed The Senat herupon to justifie and uphold what they had done sent for all the Religious Orders and commanded them notwithstanding this Interdiction to officiat and sing Masse as formerly otherwise they shold expect severity from the Duke and Senat The Jesuits among others were convented before the Senat who appearing they were interrogated if they wold continu to officiat and say Masse notwithstanding this Interdiction they answer'd That they wold do their Offices The Senat herupon not expecting any equivocation dismiss'd them to their Cells so they departed and instead of officiating they did shut up their Church doors and refuse to say Masse Herupon the Senat sent for them again and ask'd them whether they had not promis'd to officiat and celebrat the Masse they answer'd We promis'd to do our Office by which they meant to read so much ev'ry day in the Roman Breviary as was enjoyn'd them The Senat finding themselfs thus trifled withall and affronted by these equivocations presently dismiss'd them for the time and falling to a serious consultation what to do and weighing well the danger of their stay took occasion forthwith to banish them both from the City of Venice and out of all the rest of Her Dominions this businesse was carried so closely that within two daies after in one and the same day and hour they were exterminated out of ev'ry part of the Republic to Ferrara and to other parts of the Popes State But the Jesuits themselfs all this while having not the least suspition or fear of such a rigid proceeding they were surpriz'd upon a sudden and the Decree executed upon them in this manner At night som Senators were appointed to go to the Jesuits Monastery which was done in other parts at the same houre where being com they call for the Rector to appear presently before them he in Venice comes out half unready he was demanded what nomber of Jesuits ther was in the Convent which being known they were also suddenly sent for som were taken out of their beds som without shoes or stockins and generally all unprovided The Senators demand strictly whether ther were any more of the Order they sayed ther were one or two who were in nature of Cooks and did other servile offices they were sent for also and so the whole Society standing thus before the Senators they acquainted them with the substance of the Decree viz. That forthwith without returning any wher back they must immediatly quit the City and Republic the Jesuits being astonish'd at the suddennesse of the thing desir'd they might have time to put their affairs in order 't was replied no they must away instantly for ther were boats ready for them since ther was no remedy they desir'd their books and papers but it wold not be granted nor leave to fetch their cloaths but just as they stood they must pack thence which they did being som of them half naked and so they were transported to Ferrara Afterwards ther were som appointed to peruse their papers notes and books wher many discoveries were made The next day the Senat met and confirm'd the former Decree wherunto was added this new clause That if any Prince dâ—…d mediat for them before they shold enter into any consultation for an Answer the old Decree shold be first solemnly read and if it was to be put to the question ther shold be an hundred of the hundred and twenty Senators of the Pregadi concur in their suffrages for them els the determination shold be of no effect Immediatly herupon they sent a solemn Embassie to the Pope to declare unto him the motives that induc'd the Republic to such an extraordinary proceeding hoping that he wold not prefer so upstart an Order before so ancient a Daughter to the Church of Rome c. This high Act of Ostâ—…acisme for the expulsion of the Jesuits was not much displeasing to the Venetian people but men women and children sent these acclamations after them as they departed Andate minte pigliate maâ—… retornate go your waies take nothing and never return and a solemn suffrage pass'd afterwards in the
Italie except the Venetian Republic in the conciliation of whose frendship the King ought to labour much for by Her Lawes it is severely prohibited that none of Her Subjects receave any pension from a forren Prince Cardinall Arnoldus Ossat in his 353. Epistle THe Venetians to speak truly have no more devotion than needs yet they manage their affaires with as much prudence and gravity as any other Prince you remember without doubt how after the death of the last King they presently acknowledgd this present King viz. Henry the 4. and how they respected our Ambassador as formerly yet they would not admitt him to com with the other Ambassadors to the Chappell till the King was reconcild to the Church of Rome This they did because the Pope with the King of Spain and all the world might bear wittnes that howsoever what they did for politicall reasons yet they were exact observers of the Catholic Religion Interdicti Veneti Histor. Lib. 1. THe Republic of Venice excludes all Ecclesiastiques from the participation of Her goverment and only She neither gives or takes any pensions from the Court of Rome Paulus Paruta in Histor. Venet. Lib. 4. OUr Progenitors took singular care that the Cittizens of Venice shold employ their industry to navigation and maritime negotiation for the encrease and improvement of public and privat wealth and that the Venetian name might be propagated to remote and outlandish Nations The situation of the Cittie seemes to invite Her to such studies and exercises and to infuse such a propensity into the minds of Her Inhabitants In regard that the Citty having not of Her-self any Lands to cultivat which might answer their industry and make them rich and being destitut of all things els that are necessary for humane subsistence necessity herself did excite them to naval industry and to furrow the Sea which fills her with abundance and affluence of all things conducing to a being and well-being This made Her employ hundreds of Shipps and Gallies abroad into forren Countreys as well to Christian Regions as to Infidells and bring back rich commodities of all sorts not only for Her own ocasions but to exercise comerce and exchange comodities with Her neighbours farr and neer to Her unspeakable advantage In these Gallies many young men of the Gentry and Patrician Order do use to imbark themselfs as well for marchandizing as to gain experience up and down the world specially in the Art of Navigation Many wherof use to sojourn a long time among forren peeple and dispatch not only their own affaires but do favours and negotiat for others Wherby they attain to a great proportion of knowledg in all things and being returnd and salted as it were in the world and composd to frugality and modesty they com to the management of the public affaires of the Commonwealth Bodinus de Repub. Lib. 3. BUt because no man may think that so many Counsells shold breed a confusion in so well ordred a Republic he must think that She divides Her Councells into â—…ower principall Classes besides the Senat ther is the Councell of Sages which is calld the marine Councell then is ther the Councell of Sages who have the incumbency of matters by Land Then is ther a Councell of Decemvirs and Septemvirs wherin the Duke as in all other Colleges presides Which Councells though they be sejoynd in Colleges and Offices yet when the quality of the affair requires they all consociat The Senat is composd of 60. Gentlemen who with so many more Cittizens have the greatest management of affaires Idem ibidem WHat we have spoken for matter of taking Counsell it is no where practisd better than it is in Venice for when ther is a doubtfull deliberation of things in both the Councells of Sages they use to expedit it conjunctly with the Decemvirs Therfore it is subscrib'd underneath the decree con la giunta but if all this be not sufficient to put a period to the busines in agitation in regard of discrepancy of Opinions the Septemviri are consulted and if this will not serve the turn for discrepancy of censures the Senat is assembled where the whole matter is displayed but if the authority of the Senat will not suffice but ther will be still dissentient suffrages then it is finally determin'd by the Great Councell Idem Lib. 5. THe Venetians restrain Dowries by a specall Law viz. that the Portion of a Patrician Damsell or Gentlewoman be but 1600. Crownes lest the wealth of illustrious Families be exhausted but if a Gentleman marry a Plebean the dowry is terminated to 2000. Crownes But they suffer now this Law to be in a maner antiquated that the poverty of som Gentlemen may be repaird by the dowry of a Wife But this is prudently observ'd that they use as much as may be to remove Women from hereditary right if ther be any Male extant Idem Lib. 6. NOt long since in the yeer 1566. the Venetians created three Magistrats and endowd them with a Censorian power whom they calld a Triumvirat for the Reformation of the manners of the Citizens commonly calld I Signori sopra il ben vivere della Citta and they were thus entitled because the word Censor seemd to grave and severe for a Cittie that was so free from the beginning and abounding with affluence of all plesures Idem Eodem Lib. THe Venetians do dayly exercise and entertain above 4000. persons in public works than which nothing can be more profitable to the common peeple more commodious to the Citty and more delightfull to all men And as they employ so many in public works so with wonderfull benignity they distribut part of the public wealth for the relieving and sustentation of the aged and indigent Paulus Paruta in Hist. Ven. Lib. 7. IT hath bin provided by a singular way of circumspection and for the advantage of the Republic that Her Ambassadors which She employed abroad upon legations of State to forren Princes shold not reserve to themselfs what is given them by way of gift but to confer it to the public but if by particular favour such Ambassadors were permitted to retain such presents such a grace must passe by the suffrage of the Senat to oblige them therby more to the benevolence of the Senat than to the bounty of any forren Prince Paulus Iovius Lib. 1. THe Citty of Venice is ample and magnificent by navall study and Mercantile Negotiations She grew up from small beginnings but for Her incredible advantage of situation She is admird and preferrd before all other Citties under the Sun because that She being girt about with the waters of the interfluent Hadrian Sea and so not exposd to any sudden surprises or assaults She securely enjoyes Her-self and Her tresure hoording it up for times of danger For ther is no approch to Her by Land in regard 40. Stades of Sea intercede nor any advenue by Sea in regard of the blind and low foords