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THe first that liued about Venice (according to the opinion of some) were fishermen, [ XVI] who liued only of such fish as they could take. Afterwards they began to build some houses, especially at Riualto; and this towne began to florish by the ruine of the townes of Aquilea, Concorde, Alcina, Padoua, Mont Oppiterge, Heraclea, Aquilin, Grada, Ca∣p••eola, and Laureota, at the comming of Attila in the yeare 456, or as others write 450, and the inhabitants haue retained the diuers humours and manners of all these places. [ B] Finally, the citisens of Venice haue been alwaies graue and desirous by all meanes to pre∣serue their libertie.
As for the other places of the marquisat of Treuiso and Friuli they haue imbraced [ XVII] them that haue beene maisters, but especially the factions which haue raigned through∣out Italie.
The Island of Candie did florish in former times, whenas her king did hold all Greece [ XVIII] in awe. The Cretois were held the best archers in the world: they inuented the Pytricke dance in the time of their king Cydon. They were all armed whenas they daunced; and it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 been so continued in this Island, as the Pesants daunce on holie daies in the hot∣test time of Sommer, not caring for any shadow, and with their armes, that is to say, a [ C] how, a sheafe of arrows, & a sword, as if without it they could haue no good grace in dan∣cing. The most famous nations among the Grecians haue taken their laws from the Can∣diots, as Plato doth witnesse, especially the Lacedemonians tooke their practise from them. They had one which did enioine that all their children should be bred vp in pub∣licke, to the end that the poore hauing the like breeding to the rich, they should haue no cause to enuie them; and it was also ordained by the lawes, that to inure their children not to feare any thing, but to beare all things with patience, they should be accustomed to armes; and to make them contemne heat, cold, hunger, and thirst, they should carrie a bow and arrowes in dauncing, and their apparrell should be fit for warre. All the Can∣diots were forced to marrie being of age, and then they were dismist from the compa∣nie [ D] of young men. They did not presently conduct their wiues home to their houses, but they attended vntill they were able to manage the affaires of a ho••should, and kinsfolks married indifferently one with another. There was a law, that if the brother did marry his sister he should make her a dowrie of halfe his patrimonie. To rauish a maid was more esteemed than if he had obtained his desire with her free consent. In the end the Can∣diots leauing their auncient discipline became pirats, hauing beene alwaies powerfull at sea, and had carried themselues so valiantly, as they had vanquished them of Attica, and led armies fortunatly into Sicilie.