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
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
lost then above sixty Gallies yet she appear'd again shortly after and about the streight of Gallipoli she lost again sixteen Gallies and the Genoway a little after took Canea in Candy but a peace was at last mediated ' twizt Venice and Genoa Upon these ill successes abroad ther were some treasons detected in Venice but quickly suppress'd Padoa also stir'd but to little purpose The next yeer notwithstanding all the late losses the Republic sends a considerable Fleet against Paleologus the Greek Emperour whereof Iustiniano was Generall because he refus'd to pay the Republic a great sum of money which he ow'd her this Fleet sailing into the Pontik Sea quickly brought Paleologus to reason to repay the mony This victroy did much heighten the spirits of Venice which had somwhat languish'd for her great losses in the Ligustic war with Genoa she also made her self Mistress of Ferrara a little after which being a City fewdetary to the Church of Rome the Pope excomunicated Venice interdicting her from the use of the Sacraments which drew a great deal of odium upon her so that she thought it high time to restore Ferrara to the Popes Legat yet she wold pause a little further upon 't About this time the famous conspiracy of Baâ—…amonti Tepulo was suppress'd who was kill'd by a Venetian woman out of a zeal to her Countrey who had an honorable Pension ever after during life MARINI GEORGO was now created the fiftieth Duke of Venice in his time Zara revolted the sixth time from the Republic but was reduc'd GIOVANNI SOVRANZA succeeded GEORGIO who had govern'd but ten moneths the City which had bin a good while anathematiz'd sent Francisco Dandulo to the Pope this Nobleman being admitted to the presence of Clement who perfectly hated Venice because of Ferrara by a wonderfull example of piety to his Countrey and love to Religion continued a long time on the ground before the Popes Table with an iron chain about his head like a dog untill the Excommunication was taken off which was don upon those acts of penitence Hereupon a little after Venice had a notable successe against Genoa in the Pontik Sea where above thirty bottomes were sunk and taken by JUSTINIANO the Generall FRANCISCO DANDULO who had bin Ambassador with the Pope and by that penance formerly spoken of had got the Excommunication taken off was elected the next Duke the Polani and the Valesians who had bin a long time subject to the Patriark of Aquileia did voluntarily yeeld themselfs under the protection of Venice About this time the Republic did divers exploits upon the Coasts of Syria against the Turks for securing of Navigation upon those Coasts she likewise did many feats in Lombardy her Army took Padoua and Bergamo Brescia also fell under her protection BARTILMEO GRADONICO was chosen next and a little after ther arose one night a most furious Tempest which caus'd such an inundation three foot deep above the streets of the City In this Dukes time ther came Ambassadors from England craving aid against Philip the French King whom the Genoways who were mortall enemies to Venice did favour but nothing could be obtain'd and this was the first time that ther was any acquaintance 'twixt England and Venice which was in the yeer 1332 ther was another revolt in Candie suppress'd ANDREA DANDULO came next to the principality a man of extraordinary parts of learning as well as valour for he compil'd the Venetian story in two styles The Republic sent a Fleet against the Turk which took Smyrna again There was an Ambassadour sent by the Senat to the King of Babylon concerning the Venetians free Trade into Egypt which though stood upon by the Pope in regard they were Infidells was setled Zara had rebell'd now the seventh time but was reduced and Lewis King of Hungarie repuls'd There happen'd a fearfull earthquake in Venice about this time which overturn'd divers steeples and palaces This Earthquake usher'd in a fearfull contagion which brought the City to a pitifull desolation for the time the said earthquake lasting fifteen dayes by intermissions This terible earthquake gives me occasion to desire leave of the Reader to step a little aside out of the great Road of this History and make a short excursion to give a touch of the causes of these dreadfull effects of nature of these tremblings and shiverings of the earth or rather Aguish shaking fits wherunto we find her body is as subject as the body of men or lions who are observed to have their monthly paroxismes The Babylonian Philosophers think the cause of these impetuous motions hapneth by the force of som Planet meeting with the Sun in the region of the earth others hold it to be a vapour a long time engendring in som concavities of the earth and restrain'd from salâ—…ying forth into the air others affirme that 't is a wind peâ—…'d up in the entrails of the earth Pliny sayeth that the earth never quaketh but when the Sea is very calm and the air so still and clear as the birds can hardly bear themselves up and that the winds are then shut up in the bowells of the earth their improper station He addeth further that an earthquake is nothing else but as thunder in the air or an overture and crevice in the earth or as lightning breaking forth violently and making irruptions from the midst of the clouds the wind inclos'd therin and strugling to comforth by force The Stoicks speak of divers sorts of Earthquakes that cause the gapings of the earth the swellings of the water and boiling of the same a horrid confus'd sound commonly precedeth and accompanieth this quaking somtimes like to the roaring of a Bull somtimes to the lamentable cry of som humane creature or like the clattring of armor according to the quality of the matter which is inclos'd or according to the form of the cave and hole or Spelunca through which it passeth which resounds in vaulty and hollow places It waxeth hot in sharp and dry places and causeth defluxions in those that are moâ—…st and humid Now amongst all Earthquakes the agitation of the waters is most dangerous for lightning is not so hurtfull nor the shaking of buildings or when the earth is puff'd up or falleth down by an interchangeable motion because the one keeps back the other The safest buildings are those upon vaults the corners of walls and on bridges leaning one against another beside brick buildings are lesse dangerous in such accidents your skilfull Navigators can foretell these earthquakes at such time as they perceive the waves to swell on a sudden without a wind and likewise those on land may likewise foretell them when they behold birds in a maze to stay their flight or when waters in wells are troubled more than ordinary having a bad unsavoury smell all these are presages of such hideous motions Pherecydes the Syrian drawing water out of a well foretold an Earthquake
Prolocutor which they were to erect in the midst of their City he wish'd they might prove to themselfs to the Venetians ever happy and being so erected to hold them in reverence then he will'd them to execut justice in regard they had in times pass'd obey'd the commands of a Tyrant so they were dismiss'd those of Padoua following their example came soon after only with this difference that in lieu of white the Padouans were cloth'd in purple Anno Dom. 1405. THOMASO MOCENIGO was next chosen and ther being great dissentions raiis'd 'twixt the Bishop of Aquilea and them of Udine the Venetians recover Feltre Bellluna and other places The Udinois did also yeeld themselfs to the Republic with the whole Countrey of the Patrians in Friuli But upon these notable successes by Land ther happen'd a most raging fire in Venice which burnt the Dukes Palace and melted all the Lead upon S. Marks Church which was contiguous The fire being quench'd the Senat decreed that no man under pain of forfeiting a thousand ducats shold dare to propound to pull down the old palace and reedifie it more sumptuously The Prince then preferring the honor of the City to his own private profit brought the same sum to the Senat requesting that they wold permit the fore part of the Ducall palace might be reedifi'd in a more magnificent manner as was befitting the majesty of the Republic and so willingly forfeited his thousand Ducats so the work was done accordingly but the Duke died before 't was finish'd FRANCISCO FOSCARD was then elected Duke the same year ther was warres begun against Philip Duke of Milan and the Republic concluded a League with the Florentines against him which League consisted of these heads that the Venetians and Florentines shold arm at their own common charge one thousand six hundred horse and eight thousand foot they shold furnish two Navall armies with the one the Venetians shold sail up the River Po to resist the Forces of Philip the. Florentines along the River of Genoa that none shold speak of peace till the Venetians shold command it That all the Cities Forts and Towns taken on the confines of Flaminia shold belong to the Florentine the other shold be joyn'd to the Vetetian State or given to whom they pleased Lorenzo the Florentine Ambassadour did herupon cast himself at the Dukes feet and with a loud voice sayed that the Florentine peeple shold be ever mindfull of such a signall benefit and besought God that the glorie of Venice might increase and if ever it happen'd that the Venetian peeple shold have need the Florentines wold be ever ready with their utmost means to aid the Republic divers others as Amadeo Duke of Savoy King Alonso and Syena entred into this League This enforc'd the Duke of Milan to a peace which imported that he shold quit to the Venetians Bressia with her confines together with that part of Cremona's Territories which is contiguous to the River Olio as also that part of Bergamo which stretcheth towards the River Adiâ—…e The Marquesse of Monferrat being oppress'd fled to Venice for refuge who restored him to his Territories There arrived about this time Iohn Paleologus the Grecian Emperour Ioseph Patriarch of Constantinople with the Prince of Morea to confer with the Pope about matters of Religion They went to Ferrara to find out Eugenius the Popâ—… who was a Venetian born and this conference produced good effects and an union for the time About this time there came to Venice the Bishop of Aquileia and Pietro Barbe Cardinall that was Pope afterwards that had splendid entertainment But the Emperour Frederick with his wife Loenora had more magnificent reception for besides the Buccentoro richly hung with cloth of gold wherin the Prince and Senators were divers great vessells were set forth besides whose poopes were all new gilded in which were many hundreds of the Venetian Clarissimi the Ganzari and Patischerme that are lesser vessells which were numberlesse were as allantly deck'd wherin were the common Citizens who did strive who shold exceed one another in bravery the whole City was hung up and down as they pass'd with Cloth of gold and rich tapestry in every corner musicall instruments songs and melodious voices were heard The Empress landed a little while after in the same glory attended by two hundred of the prime Venetian Ladies she was presented with an Imperiall crown of gold set with rich stones and a coat for a little child with a cradle cloth of purple powdred with peaâ—…ls in regard 't was thought she was with child c. The Emperour being gone the Senat to furnish the warres of Lombardy decreed that all Officers as well in the City as abroad Judges Registers and others of meaner quality under great Officers who in any kind had pensions of the Republic shold pay a certain sum and that other sorts of Clarissimi shold serve the Signiory gratis for six months In this Dukes time a cunning Candiot by sapping under the Church got into S. Marks Tresury and stole thence jewells and other things to a mighty value but he was detected by his companion before he could get away and hang'd betwixt the two columnes in S. Marks place In this Dukes time also was Constantinople won by the Turk in regard of the sloth supiness and stupidity of the rest of the Christian Princes but especially for the frowardnesse of the Constantinopolitans themselfs who wold not give timely aid to the Emperor out of a base kind of covetousnesse and with Constantinople the whole Greek Empire perish'd which had stood above eleven hundred yeers this gave an alarum to all Italy and caus'd a generall peace about Anno Dom. 1459. Mahomet at the taking of Constantinople did endeavour to oblige the Venetians more then any other Christian Nation ther wherfore in the generall slaughter he savâ—…d them knowing that none was more powerfull to do him hurt then Venice PASCHALIS MARIPIETRO succeeded Foscaro who continued in the Principality longest of any of his sixty five Predecessors for he govern'd above thirty six years and being stricken in age he made a voluntary resignation to Paschalis who preserv'd the Republic in peace all his life time in his government happen'd that universal Earthquake which shook most parts of Italy Anno Dom. 1460. CHISTOPHORO MAURO was next elected the I le of Lemnos was delivered to the Venetians in this Dukes time and Oenos was taken but the Republic had very ill luck in the Morea and before Corinth moreover they lost Negrepont MICOLAO TRONO succeeded Moro whose short government was very fortuâ—…at because thâ—… Republic in his time made a League with the King of Persia and united the Iland of Cyprus to their Dominions the Pope at his time sent a Fleet of Gallies to second the enterprises of the Venetians in the Greek Seas and being met Mocenigo the Generall for the Republic made this Speech to the
any sort subject to the secular Jurisdiction or he who foundeth a Church were worthy of so rude a chastisement as if he had committed som great Crime moreover that in the moneth of May last the Senat having regard to another Law made in the year 1536. wherby was prohibited the perpetuall alienation of Lay-mens possessions within the City and Signory of Venice to Ecclesiasticall persons without permission of the Senat under certain penalties instead of revoking that Law as their duty requir'd they had renew'd it and extended the penalty to all their Dominions as if it were lawfull for temporal Princes to ordain any thing for the exercising of any Jurisdiction or to dispose in any sort without the Ecclesiastics and particularly of the Pope of the goods of the Church specially of such goods as have bin given to the Church of persons spirituall and other places of devotion granted by the faithfull for remedy of their sins and discharge of their consciences That these Ordinances tending to the damnation of souls to public scandalls and also contrary to the Ecclesiasticall Liberty were of themselfs void and of no validity as furthermore he declar'd them to be such no man being oblig'd to observe them on the contrary that they who had made the Statutes or any like or they who had further'd them had incurr'd the Churches Censures and depriv'd themselfs of all such possessions as they held of the Church as also their estates and demains were subject to other penalties in such sort that they could not be absolv'd unlesse they revok'd all such Laws and re-establish'd all things in their former estate That therupon being plac'd in the Soveraign Throne and not being able to dissemble or indure these things he admonish'd the Republic to consider well the danger wherinto they had cast their souls upon this occasion and to seek remedy betimes otherwise in case of contumacy he commanded under pain of Excommunication latae sententiae that the afore sayed Lawes ancient and modern shold be abrogated That this Monitory shold be publish'd in all places throughout the Republic expecting from them an account herof if not upon notice had from his Nuntio he wold proceed to execution of the Penalties and to such other remedies that were meet remembring the reckoning that he was to give to God at the day of Judgment and that he could not in duty dissemble when the Authority of the See Apostolic was diminish'd Ecclesiasticall Liberty trod under foot the Holy Canons neglected the right of the Church and Clergy violated Of all which the charge lay upon him affirming that he was not induc'd hereunto for any worldly consideration for he desir'd nothing els but the glory to acquit himself of his Apostolicall function and as he intended not to usurp anything upon the secular Authority so he wold not permit the Ecclesiastic shold be diminish'd he concluded that if the Republic wold conform they wold deliver him from much pain which he endur'd in their behalf and they might still retain the Lands which they held of the Church That the best means wherby she might prevent the incommodities that might fall upon her from Infidells were to conserve the Church-men in their rights who watch in perpetuall prayers to God for her conservation The Senat with much maturity ponder'd these Breves and therupon sent to confer with their learnedst Counsellors in the Civill Lawes amongst whom they admitted Paul of Venice of the Order of the Servites an eminent Divine and Canonist with other Padouan Doctors to consult what answer they shold return the Pope The Republic also sent to consult other Doctors themost renowned of Europe for sound knowledge as Henry the VIII of England had don touching the legality of a divorce with Katherine of Aragon Having receav'd the judgments of the learnedst men in France and Spain specially of Giacomo Monochio President of Milan a man much cried up in those daies for learning the Senat fram'd the Answer to the Popes Monitory as followeth That with much grief and wonder they understood by the Letters of his Holines that their Laws observ'd carefully through so many Ages and never question'd by any of his Predecessors the revokement wherof wold shake the very Foundations of the Republic were reprehended as contrary to the See Apostolic and that they which made them having bin persons eminent for merit and well deserving of that See who are now in heaven were noted for Violaters of Ecclesiastic Liberty that according to the admonition of his Holines they had examined with much exactnesse their Laws Old and New but had not found anything which a Soveraign Prince might not have well ordain'd without any just offence to the Popes Authority it being a thing evidently belonging to a secular Prince to have regard what Companies are erected in hâ—…s Dominions as also to prevent the building of such Edifices as in time to com might be hurtfull to the public safety and though their State abounds with Churches and places of piety as much as any other yet when they saw it convenient they never refus'd to permit new Foundations themselfs contributing liberally therunto That in the Law against perpetuall alienation of lay goods unto Ecclesiastics the question being of things purely temporall they could not be tax'd to have don any thing contrary to the Canons or Decrees That if the Popes have power to forbid the Clergy to alienat any goods of the Church unto persons secular without leave Princes may do the same and take Order that the goods of seculars shall not be alienated to the Clergy without permission nor do the Ecclesiastics lose any thing bequeath'd unto them herby seeing they receave a price answerable in value to the immoveable adjoyning that it tends to the great prejudice not only of the temporall State but also of the spirituall to weaken the Forces of the Republic which by such alienations is depriv'd of necessary services and which in effect is a vangard or fortresse for all Christendom against Infidels That for these reasons the Senat could not perswade themselfs to have incurr'd any Censures since secular Princes have by Divine Law from which no human Law may derogat a power to establish Laws in things temporall as also that the admonitions of his Holines have here no place wher the question is not of any thing spirituall or any way trenching upon the Papâ—…ll Authority much lesse yet could they beleeve that his Holines so ful of Piety and Religion wold persist without knowledge of the cause in his Comminations This was the substance of the Senat 's Answer remitting themselfs further to their Ambassador extraordinary Ther happen'd a businesse in Savoy about this time which might have scatr'd the Venetian being much of the same nature for Pope Paul hahaving notice that the Duke of Savoy had commanded the Bishop of Fossano to depart out of his Dominions the Pope being incens'd therat did so menace the Duke with Excommunication
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
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
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