The history of the government of Venice wherein the policies, councils, magistrates, and laws of that state are fully related, and the use of the balloting box exactly described : written in the year 1675 / by the sieur Amelott de la Houssaie ...

The Sages des Orders.

THere are likewise Five Sages commonly called Sages des Orders, who are young Noblemen of Principal Quality; admitted into the Colledg, not to deliberate for they have no voices, but to hear, and adapt themselves to the Government by the example of the other Sages, whom they respect as their Masters; and therefore when they speak to the Colledg, they are obliged to be standing and uncovered. 'Tis probable upon that account they are called Sa∣ges des Orders, because they are to obey the Orders of the Sages Grans, and Sages de Terra Firma, who have Power to exclude them from their respective Assemblies, when any affair of im∣portance is before them that requires their Mi∣nistry: Whereas the Sages des Orders have no pri∣viledg to exclude the other Sages from their Consultations, nor to exclude them from their Maritime transactions which are all under their Cognizance, and therefore they are called most properly Sages de Mer.

When present at the Consultations of the Sa∣ges Grans, and Sages de Terra firma, they may modestly give their advice; but their advice not being deliberative, nor proposable to the Senat, the Secretary does not enter it, unless one of the Sages-Grans or Terra firma approving their motion, ownes it for his own, and then it is Registred in the Secretaries Roll under the name of the said Sage, to be Baloted in the Pregadi; according to the Custom of the Lacedemonians;

where the * 1.1 Ephori caused to be pronounced by some person of authority and desert, the Advice that another Citizen of less quality proposed, when they thought the proposition was for the advantage of their State, thereby preventing the rejection of good Counsel upon prejudice to the Author. But when Affairs of Sea are before them, these Sages have deliberative Voices, as the other Sages have.

This Office was formerly one of the highest and most important in the Commonwealth: But since the Venetians extended in Lombardy, and be∣gan to relish the delights of the Terra firma, they neglected their Sea-Affairs so much that the Sa∣ges de Mer, who before were respected according to the greatness of their Imployment, lost all their Credit in a moment † 1.2: In so much that they put into those Places only young Gentlemen, who ha∣ving little experience are received into the Col∣ledg to be indoctrinated; and therefore they wil∣lingly give place to the Sages de Terra firma, whose share in the Government is so great.

These Sages are chosen likewise for six Moneths by the Senat, in which they have their places du∣ring their Office. Their Robe is Purple with streight Sleeves.

Though this Office be of no great Power, it is mightily sought after by the young Nobility, it being a step to greater Preferment, if they know how to Conduct: Otherwise it is a Rock

upon which many miscarry that have not that Aptitude, or Propensity to Business, for there they are exposed to the Observation of wise and penetrating people, who do them good or hurt afterwards, according to the Impressions they re∣ceiv'd of them: One Alexander Contarin a Sage des Orders, would needs speak in the Colledg with∣out standing up, contrary to common practice in that case; desiring to see the Part, or Law by which standing was required; But he under∣stood afterwards to his cost, the Obedience he ought to his Superiours. And here let me add by the by, That in Venice, as well as antiently in Lacedemon, there are many Laws unwritten, unless it be in the Hearts and Memories of the Citizens, upon whom the example of their An∣cestors have more effect and influence than all the Writings in the World, good Manners being much better than good Laws * 1.3. Besides, it is indecency and too much forwardness in young Men to enquire into the Institution of their Laws † 1.4, and demand Reasons for them. And in Sparta this Curiosity was expresly forbid, lest it should be used as a pretence to their Dis∣obedience, Si quaerere singulis liceat, pereunte ob∣sequio, etiam imperium intercidit. Tac. Hist. 1.

Thus have I shewn all the Magistrates of which the Colledg subsists, and I have treated of them together, for that reason, without consi∣dering their respective Ranks in the Common∣wealth. Let us now pass to the Procurators of St. Mark, which is the second Dignity in that State.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lacede∣mone qui∣dam De∣mosthenes homo im∣purus Au∣tor fuit sententiae idoneae: Ad quam repudian∣dam pro¦indignitate Authoris populus visus est propensior. Proinde Ephori al∣terum ex senioribus forte legere, cui negotium ejusdem sententiae dicen∣dae demandaverunt. Plutar.
• † 1.2

  Re Ma∣ritima di∣minuta, nostrorum∣que studiis ad Conti∣nentis Im∣perium conversis, coepit hic Magistratus in parvo precio haveri. Cantar. 3. Reipub. Ven.
• * 1.3

  Plus ibi boni mo∣res, quam alibi bonae Leges va∣lent. Tac. Ger.
• † 1.4

  Haec una inter cae∣ter as prae∣stantissima Lex, ne juvenum cuiquam fas sit in Leges inquirere. Plat. 1. de Leg.