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]

¶ PIETRO VRSEOLA, the 23. Duke of Uenice.

[ 10]

[ 20]

THe vertuous wisedome of Pietro Vrseolo, being at the same time knowne to all men, was the cause, that at the generall assembly held at Saint Peters Church for the same purpose (which is at this day the Patriarks seat) he was with a generall applause declared Prince: who refusing this charge, tooke it vpon him at the peoples entreatie, who told him that he ought not to forsake the Commonwealth in so dangerous a season. Yet it is most certaine that hee vnwillingly embraced it. For being from his youth brought vp and trained in the loue of Iustice, hee was afraid of popular gouern∣ment, which seldome or neuer respects the innocent. But the affection which hee did beare to his Countrie, for the which we are chiefly borne (as saith diuine Plato) [ 30] made him not to abandon his fellow-citizens in so great a danger. So soone there∣fore as hee was chosen Prince, because there was some likelihood, that the state of the Common-wealth could not bee on a sodaine established, but that greater trou∣bles were to be expected in a Citie newly mutinied for her Princes massacre; to the end to make the people more obedient, he bound them vnto him by oath: and pro∣tested, that hee would in no sort endure any enterprise to bee vndertaken against himselfe, nor the State, whilest hee should manage the soueraigne dignitie. And be∣cause the Pallace had beene burnt, he transported the ensignes and Ducall dignitie into his owne priuate house: meaning neuerthelesse to returne to the Pallace so soone as it should be reedified, [ 40]

His gouernment began by repairing these two places, which he did at his owne costs, more magnificently than they were before. Now the Church being thus beautified, hee caused the bodie of the Euangelist, which few people thought had escaped the fire, to be brought againe into it. He gaue besides to the same Church a table of gold, richly wrought at Constantinople, which hee caused to be dedicated with greate solemnitie on the high Altar.

About the same time, or a little before, the Sarracens, being entred in two com∣panies into Italie, after they had taken Capua, they beseiged Barri by land and Sea, a towne seated betwixt Brundusium, and the mouth of the Riuer Aufida: the poore inhabitants where of enduring all miseries through want of foode, were suc∣cored with victuals by the Venetians fleet vnder the conduct of Vrseolo. But because [ 05] the Barbarians did notwithstanding ouer-streightly presse those of the towne, Vr∣seolo accompanied with the aide of Greece, came and fought with the enemie on the Sea, and hauing defeated the greatest part of them, and put the residue

to flight, he purchased great glorie to the Venetians. He had but one sonne by his wife Faelicia, and as soone he was borne, they both vowed chastitie. He gouerned the State in the meane space with such wisedome and integritie, as men did easily perceiue by his carriage, that he had not accepted the charge thereof for any de∣sire that he had to command, but for the good onely of the Common-wealth; in such sort as a peaceable gouernment had succeeded the tumults of the deceased Duke, if certaine Authors and Ministers of the late Duke Candianos furie had not re∣solued to trouble the publike peace.

At these mens perswasions, Vitalis Bishop of Grada (who was as h•…•…th beene said, reiected by his father vnder colour of entring into religion,) fled into Lombardie [ 10] to the Emperour Otho the second;

where after hee had greatly complained of the miserable death of his father Pietro, hee besought him with great instance to re∣uenge it, in regard he had beene some time his frend and guest. Happily some would say, that hee was iustly slaine: but they could not say so of the young infant his brother, whom they had cruelly murthered in his fathers armes. He did moreouer manifest his owne banishment (which his very enemies lamented,) wherein he was likely to wax old and to die farre from his natiue Countrie, if he were not by some forraine aide reestablished in the Citie, from whence he had beene so vniustly driuen by his fellowe Citizens.

His complaint and teares did greatly mooue the Emperour Otho, who seemed [ 20] priuatly to be greatly displeased at his guests miserie, whereupon, after hee had gi∣uen him some hope of returning into his Countrie, hee willed him to be of good courage, and to be merrie in his companie, till a fit occafion were presented to send him home, which he promised shortly to effect with all his power.

Vualderta in the meane season, Vitalis his mother in law, being come along with him, went to Adheleta, Othos mother, who then laie at Placentia, and by her meanes she was soone after, with the consent both of the Prince and people, ad∣mitted into the Citie. It is not vnnecessarie (in regarde it bolongs to our Historie) briefly to rehearse, by what meanes Adheleta returned to the Imperiall dignitie, from whence she fell by the decease of her first husband. [ 30]

She married first of all the Emperour Lotharius, a great friend to the Venetians. He being dead, Berengarius his successor confined her for euer into the Castle of La Garda, (whereof the goodliest Lake of Italie doth at this day beare the name) where she was brought to such pouertie, as begging her bread by letters and mes∣sages, she led a miserable life. Whereby wee may leame, that there is no man so great (did not the foolish admiration of wordly riches make men forget their weakenesse) but may confesse, that there is nothing in this world so firme and cer∣taine, which a man may promise to himselfe long to enioy, Adhele•…•…a escaping se∣cretly from this place, came to Verona, to Alard, who (as I thinke) was Bishop of the Citie: for it is certaine that the familie of the Alardi, are at this day of great [ 40] account there. This man, because hee had no place where he might hide such a La∣die, sent her to Accioni his vnkle, who was in times past a good friend to Lotharius, who hid her a long time in a countrie-house, tenne miles distant from the Citie, vntill such time, as (knowne to himselfe alone) she married for her second husband Otho the first, who carried her into Germanie; by whom he had a sonne, which was the Emperour Otho the second, of whom wee euen now spake: Who after he had not onely defeated Berengaria, and Albert his sonne, but wholly ouerthrowne them, and by their ruines confirmed the Empire to himselfe: hee made peace with the Venetians at the request of his mother Adheleta, against whom he was incensed for the murther of Prince Candiano.

About the same time there arose a new strife with those of the Cape of Histria, [ 50] which was soone appeased by the meanes of a new League; wherin it was expresly couenanted, That they should paie vnto the Venetians euerie yeare an hundred Hogsheades of wine. The Bishops of Grada haue for a certaine time gathered this tribute in the peoples name.

Thus stood the State of the Common-wealth, which was sodainly depriued of the presence of this good Prince, by an vnheard-of accident.

A certaine man, named Guerin, comming from Aquitaine in pilgrimage to Ve∣nice, to visit Saint Markes bodie, was brought before the Prince according to his appointment, which was, that all those who should come to the Citie for anie de∣uotion should be bountifully entertained in his Pallace. This man hauing a great while discoursed of religion and of Pennance (for this stranger was by profession a Moncke) brought the Prince by little and little to this passe, (who of himselfe was sufficiently addicted thereunto,) as he forthwith thought vpon meanes how he might giue ouer the gouernment. And to put it in practise, hee craued but so [ 10] much time of the stranger, as was sufficient for the quiet setling of the Common∣wealth; and hauing prayed him to returne within a yeare, he dismissed him. Vrse∣olo in the meane time gaue himselfe to all exercises of pietie, and taking vpon him∣selfe the cause of the poore, he did comfort their pouertie with a meruailous af∣fection. He built, besides, a deuout Hospitall which is yet to be seene at this day right ouer against the great market-place. He did moreouer take into his owne pro∣tection, and maintained with an incredible charitie, the Colledges, the Clergie, and all Religious sorts of people. He did patiently beare whatsoeuer Vitalis, (who was absent) and his adherents did daily practise against him, whose wicked de∣seignes were likewise (as some say) diuinely reuealed vnto him. At the last, after [ 20] hee had spent the yeare in these good exercises, vpon a night, (for Guerin failed not to returne at the prefixed time) he left the Citie in disguised habite, vnknown to his wife, his sonne, and all his kins-folkes, and went on his iourney. When he for sooke his charge and Countrie, he was followed and accompanied by Giouanni Gradonico, Giouanni Morosini, Remoaldo, and Marini of Rauenna: they all being partakers of his enterprise. He led in processe of time so holie and religious a life, as after his death in Aquitaine, where he passed the remainder of his daies, hee was (as hath beene said) honoured for many miracles.

Notes

• He refuseth to take the charge vpon him.
• The people •…•…weare to the Prince.
• The Palace and Saint Markes Church repaired
• Vrseolo ouer∣comes the Sara∣zens before Barri.
• The husband & wife •…•…ow chasti∣tie.
• The complaint of Vitalis Bishop of Grada.
• The Emperours answere to Vi∣talis.
• A maruailous example of for tune.
• Berengarius & his some Albert defeated.
• The Histrions tributarie to the Venetians.
• Guerin comes in pilgrimage to Venice.
• The Prince re∣solues to giue o∣uer his place.
• How the Prince spent the time, in the meane space, till he de∣parted.
• The Dukes se∣cret departure.