The generall historie of the magnificent state of Venice From the first foundation thereof vntill this present. Collected by Thomas de Fougasses, gentleman of Auignon, out of all authors, both ancient and moderne, that haue written of that subiect. Englished by VV. Shute. Gent.

[illustration]

¶ ANDREA CONTARENI, the 60. Duke of Uenice.

[ 40]

[ 50]

ANdrea Contareni succeeded him, who hy some apprehension of future matter did for a time refuse this dignitie, and had of purpose retired himselfe to a house of his owne in the territorie of Padua; resoluing not to returne to the Citie vntill they had chosen a new Duke. But by no meanes yeelding to come to the Citie neither by the Senates letters, nor yet by those of his familiar friends, certaine of his kinsmen were com∣maunded to goe and tell him, That if hee continued in his wilfulnesse, the Senate determined to confiscate his goods, and to banish him for euer from the Common∣wealth. It is reported that then, the feare of his owne particular losse made him obey and returne to Venice. If he did this feeling himselfe not to be fit for such a [ 10] charge, it was (as all men may perceiue) a verie profitable example: to the end that no man should presumptuously thrust himselfe into the gouernment of a Common-wealth: the profit whereof he ought chiefely to respect whosoeuer he be that is called to such a dignitie. For it ought not to be accepted so much for a mans owne particular gaine as for the common good. They therefore which aucupate publique honours, ought to examine themselues what they are, and what their sufficiencie is; and if they feele themselues vnfit for such place, let them know, that it shalbe as profitable for themselues, as for the Common-wealth to make an honest excuse. But Contareni was not guiltie of such a fault who wanted neither wise∣dome, nor skill to gouerne. But if he did it (as I perceiue) to auoide the labour and [ 20] trauaile which accompanies such dignities, he did not well; and I know not whe∣ther hee erred more in so doing, than if hee had rashly thrust himselfe into the Throne. For that would haue beene accounted a follie, and this malice. It is cer∣taine that in his time the Common-wealth was much afflicted by forraine warre, and that there was great dearth in the Citie.

So soone as he had accepted the charge, the Thryestines reuolted. The Ve∣netians kept an Armed Gallie in Histria for the guard of the Toll. The Thrye∣stines, who along time before had hatched alterations, fell on a sodaine vpon the Venetians who were there by chance, and picking quarrells with them, slew the Committie of the Gallie, and hauing hurt some others they would haue [ 30] murthered the residue, if the Gallie had not presently put to Sea. But not sa∣tisfied with this brauado they came on an holiday into the Market-place, and threw downe the Venetian ensignes which were set vp there (as the custome was) tearing and treading them vnder feete, with reprochfull speeches.

The Senate perceiuing whereunto the Thryestines dealings tended, and knowing that they ought no longer to temporize, did speedily send an Armie thither; which besieged those mutinous people both by Sea and Land. The Land-Armie was committed to Dominico Michaeli; and that by Sea to Cressio Molino. It was then the middest of winter. And because it was to be feared that if the Venetians should procrastinate, the enemies might fortifie themselues with [ 40] some forraine aide, all that which was necessarie for the warre, was forth with in a readinesse. The Citie being at their first arriuall assailed, the Thryestines with the helpe of the Forlani did brauely defend it, and making a sodaine sallie, they did greatly trouble the Venetians neare to the walles with an vnexpected fight. Afterwardes likewise they fought diuers times with different successe: but the Ve∣netians perceiuing that it behooued them to haue greater forces, supplies were sent thither, and new Prouidatori; Paulo Loretano succeeded Dominico Michaeli; and Thaddaeo Iustiniano, Cressio Molino: who brought two thousand Treuisans to the Campe.

The Thryestines being daunted to see the Venetian forces daily to encrease be∣ganne [ 50] to bethinke themselues whence they might bee releeued. They resolued to haue recourse to the Duke of Austria, to implore his fauour and assistance, and to deliuer their Citie, meanes, and estate into his hands. To this purpose they sent Ambassadors to him, by whom they yeelded themselues to his protection, and on

a sodaine they set vpon the toppe of the highest tower the Dukes ensignes. The Duke soone afterward came thither with ten thousand horse, and great numbers of foote. The Venetian in the meane time hauing spoiled round about, had brought all the townes neare to the Citie vnder their subiection. The Almaines at their first arriuall came and besieged the Venetians Campe with such vehemencie as in a moment they seized on the trenches. The Campe would hardly haue sustained this assault had not the Souldiers and Marriners who were a farre off hearing the noise ranne to the rescue of their fellowes. Those of the campe were so encouraged by their arriuall as they did not only driue the enemies forth of their trenches but with great losse constrained them to retire. Truce for a day was granted to the Al∣maines [ 10] to burie the dead. Being afterwards put to flight in a skirmish, and percei∣uing their bad successe in releeuing Thryeste, and that it was an hard matter to di∣uert the Venetian from his purpose, with great griefe he brought backe his troupes into Germanie. The Thryestines when hee was gone, desparing of all other for∣raine aide, did on certaine conditions returne to the Venetians obedience, which being done, the victorious Armie returned to Venice.

The Citie was not long at rest. For a new war was raised against Francisco Carra∣rio: the cause thereof proceeded (as is said) from Carrario, who vsurped a certaine place neare to the lakes, the which belonged to the Venetian. The Venetians be∣ing moued with this iniurie did forbid the Paduans the trafficke and commerce of [ 20] their Citie, which is (as all men knowe) an euident signe of future warre. The neighbour Princes being highly displeased that by the Paduans meanes the trafficke was likewise forbidden to their subiects, did endeauour all they might to quench this strife and to make them friends. But all their attempts proued vaine. The King of Hungaries Ambassadours came afterwards for the Carrarians: (for they said that they were vnder the protection of King Lewis) and those of Florence and Pisa for the Venetians; and by their meanes truce was taken for two moneths. The Venetians deputed fiue commissioners; and the Carrarians as many, who should de∣bate the matter, and search out their bounds in frendly sort and afterwards marke their limits. But they could effect nothing. [ 30]

At the same time the Venetians were informed that the Tyrant had practised with certain bad persons to murther diuers of the Senate. Diligent search was made for them ouer all the Citie, and some of them were found and taken in the house of a poore woman named Gobba. The womans life was saued, because shee had freely confessed the truth; but she was confined to prison for ten yeares. All the rest were punished according to their deserts being drawn through the Citie with horses, and then cut in quarters at the Colummes. Their hostesse sonne who had promised to shew the murtherers those whom they should kill, was hanged in the same place. Not long after, others being conuicted of the same crime were punished in the same manner. The Senate fearing, that by these murtherers the Common-wealth might [ 40] receiue some great mischiefe, appointed that all those who were known to be hated by Carrario, should bee guarded by Armed men from their houses to the Pallace. They commanded besides to looke carefully to the welles, for the reporte was, that he intended to poison them, and by that meanes to vndoe the whole Citie.

The Senate were not yet freed from care, when as a new feare surprized them. For they suspected that some of their owne companie did by close intelligence ad∣uertise Carrario, of whatsoeuer was secretly done in the Senate. Enquirie here of be∣ing made, they found certaine Senators to be guiltie of that fact. Whereupon those who were found least faultie were dismissed from the Senate, and were declared to be for euer vnworthie to execute any publicke charge, the others were condemned [ 50] to perpetuall prison. In the meane time the Ambassadours who had beene sent vp and downe from all sides, could not preuent a future warre, which the Venetians perceiuing, they made speedie preparations for the same.

Notes

• How hardly Con∣tareni accepted of his dignitie.
• What those ought to doe that are called to publick offices.
• Contareni his fault inexcusa∣ble.
• The Thryestines reuolt.
• A Venetian Armie against the Thryestines.
• New supplies comes to the Armie.
• The Thriestines resolue to yeeld to the Duke of Au∣stria.
• The Duke of Austria brings aide to the Thryestines.
• A base retreate of the Almaines.
• The Thryestines returne to the Venetians obedience. A new warre with Francisco Carrario. The cause of the warre.
• Commissioners appointed on, both sides to en∣quire of their strife.
• Carrario his pur∣pose discouered.
• Traitours in the Senate, knowne and pu∣nisted.
• •…•…arre prepared against the Car∣rarians.