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THE HISTORY OF The Government OF VENICE.
I Write the History of the Government of Ve∣nice, without contradiction, in its kind, the best in all Europe; as being a true Copy of the ancient Republicks in Greece, and as it were an Amass, or Collection of all their most excellent Laws. Some Authors have handled this Subject before me, among which Cardinal Contarin, San∣sovin, and Jannotti were the chief. But all three of them have given us no more than a bare de∣scription of the Magistrates and Tribunals in Ve∣nice; and so far have they been from sounding the mystery of that Government, that they would not so much as touch it by the by, in respect of some pri∣vate interests of their own. Wherefore I under∣take this Relation, out of an opinion it may satisfy sober men by the importance and variety of its matter, in which something possibly may be found, that being new will have at least its novelty to recommend it.
To begin with Order, It seems to me convenient to premise something about the several States and Conditions through which this Republick has past since its Foundation; which will be, as it were, an Epitome of the whole History, and serve as a Scheme or Ground-plot to my Work.