Observations topographical, moral, & physiological made in a journey through part of the low-countries, Germany, Italy, and France with a catalogue of plants not native of England, found spontaneously growing in those parts, and their virtues / by John Ray ... ; whereunto is added a brief account of Francis Willughby, Esq., his voyage through a great part of Spain.

The COVNSELLORS.

The Duke cannot determine, nor so much as ex∣cute any the least besiness alone without the presence of the Counsellors, who are in number six, one for each Sestiero. They are always chosen of the most ho∣nourable Gentlemen of the City; the greatness and dignity of their office requiring it. They are not all six chosen at the same time, but by three and three; those for the three Sestieri on one side the Great cha∣nel at one time, and those for the Sestieri on the other side at another. They are chosen by the Great Coun∣cil, and are of the number of those Magistrates that require four Competitors: but the Council of Pre∣gadi

for each of these makes one Competitor; who is afterward balloted in the Great Council. So then when there is an Election to be made of three Coun∣sellors, the Great Council is assembled, and after that the four sets of Electors are made, and with∣drawn into their several rooms, to make their Ele∣ctions after the order before set down, one of the Secretaries gives notice to all who have votes in the Council of Pregadi, that they withdraw into the Chamber adjoyning to the Great Council-chamber, where the Council of Pregadi, uses to meet. Where when they are all met, the Duke with the Counsel∣lors and Capi de Quaranta goes in to them; and it being by lot determined for what Sestiero a Counsel∣lor shall be first chosen, every one names him whom he would have to be Counsellor. All the persons nomina∣ted are written down, and afterwards balloted; and he that hath more then half the number of suffrages is cohsen Competitor: and this manner of chusing in the Council of Pregadi is called Scrutinio. The Council of Pregadi and the Duke being returned into the Great Council, and the Competitors made, they are all balloted after the manner fore-mentioned, and he that hath most above half the number of suffra∣ges is understood to be chosen Counsellor. It may happen that in the Great Council one only may come to be nominated Competitor, and sometimes the same that is chosen by the Pregadi, in which case he ought to be balloted; notwithstanding that by the Law none can be balloted without a Competitor: because being nominated in divers Councils, he is understood to be Competitor with himself, as hath been before intimated; and if he hath more then half the suffrages he is chosen, [NB. Where there are more Competitors then one balloted for any place for which the Pregadi chuse a Competitor, it hap∣pens for the most part that he is chosen who was made Competitor by the Pregadi, because of the Dignity

and Reputation of that Council.] The six Counsel∣lors sit with the Duke, and with him administer all affairs, and dispatch especially all private business: as for example, give Audience, read publick Letters, grant Privileges, and the like; which things cannot be done by the Duke, if there be not four Counsellors present; and yet the Counsellors may dispatch any the like business, though the Duke be not with them. They have power of propounding in the Great Council, the Council of Pregadi, and Council of Ten; which he Savi who have power of pro∣pounding matters in the Council of Pregadi, and the Capi di Dieci who have privilege of propound∣ing in the Council of Ten, have not; so that the the Authority of the Counsellors is greater then that of the Savi, or Capi di Dieci. [NB. That any one Counsellor, though no other concur with him, may propound in the Council of Pregadi, but not in the Council of Ten, unless three more concur with him in the same opinion.] This Magistracy continues for a whole year, but is exercised but 8 months; the other four months being spent in the Quarantia criminale, wherein three Counsellors continually sit, who during that time are called Consiglieri da basso, i. e. lower Counsellors. They may sit in this Court either the first 4 months, or the last 4, or the two first and two last, And therefore it is necessary that there be always nine Counsellors, six who sit constantly with the Duke, and the three now men∣tioned: and when these are to go sit with the Duke, or go out of their office, three of those which sit with the Duke come down to sit in the Quaranatia or finish their office, and there are three new ones crea∣ted. Moreover it is to be understood, that with the Duke and six Counsellors do also sit three of the Quarantia criminale, i. e. the 40 Judges in criminal causes, whom they call Capi de Quaranta, who hold this Dignity two months: so that by the Signoria

is understood the Duke, the six Counsellors, and the three Capi di Quaranta. Anciently the Duke with his Counsellors was wont to be present at the judg∣ments of the Quarantia; but Marcus Cornarus who was made Duke in the year 1365. by reason of the multitude of business which daily encreased in the Commonwealth, left that care to those Counsellors we have been speaking of. The three Capi de Qua∣ranta sit with the Duke and Counsellors, that as the Quarantia participates with the Signory, having three Counsellors joined with them; so the Signory may partake of the Quarantia, the three Capi de Qua∣ranta sitting with them. And so the Signory comes to intermeddle with the business of the Quarantia, and the Quarantia with the affairs of the Signory. And now to acquaint the Reader with all the Dukes management. First, he with the Counsellors inter∣venes in, and is part of the College, the Council of Pregadi, and the Great Council, as we have already signified. He is also present in the Council of Ten, and hath power of propounding in all these Coun∣cils; so that no affairs can be cannot treated of without his presence, though alone he cannot dispatch any busi∣ness. Public Letters are written in his name, as also all Privileges and publick Writings, as though he were the Author of them. All Letters that come from Forein Princes and Embassadors, and Agents sent abroad by the Commonwealth, are directed to him. When the Savi of the Land or Sea, or other Magistrates write Letters to their Proveditors, they subscribe them with the Dukes name thus, Domini∣cus Contarenus Dux Venetiarum. And this mode is observed in all other sorts or public Writings, as Patents, Privileges, Obligations, Laws, &c. The Council of Ten varies this form and subscribes in two manners, for either the whole Council writes and then they subscribe Dominicus Contarenus Dux Venetiarum, &c. cum nostro Concilio Decem; and those

that answer superscribe accordingly. Or only the Heads or Chiefs of the Council of Ten, called Capi di Dieci, write; and then the Subscription is, Domi∣nicus Contarenus Dux Venetiarum, &c. cum Copitibus Concilii Decem. And those that return answer super∣scribe accordingly. Every eighth day, that is on Wednesday weekly, the Duke is wont to go down and visit the Courts of Justice, making a tour round the two Corridores, where the Magistrates sit, stop∣ping a while at each Court, and stirring up and en∣couraging the Judge or Magistrate that presides there to administer Justice impartially. And if there be any one that thinks he hath not right done him, he recommends himself to the Duke, acquainting him with his cause; and if the Duke judges that he is in∣jured by false judgment, he presently commands that Magistrate or Judge to do him right; but if the contrary appears to him, he reproves him that thought himself agrieved, and goes on in his Visita∣tion. Some Dukes have changed this order, not vi∣siting always on the same day, that they might come upon the Mgistrates unexpected. Multitude of bu∣siness sometimes constrains the Duke to intermit this usage for a week or two. All the money of the Com∣monwealth is also stamped with the Dukes name, but not with his face or image. That he may be the better enabled (saith my Authour) to maintain his port, and live with that magnificence such a place requires, he hath an allowance from the Public of 3500 Ducats per annum; a sorry Revenue for one that hath the shew and Title of a Prince, being less than so many French Crowns. And yet he is obli∣ged to keep a Family that may be honourable and suitable to such a Dignity; and moreover to make 4 Feasts yearly at 4 several times, viz. upon St. Ste∣phen's day, St. Mark's day, Ascension day, and St. Vit's day: to which Feasts it is the custom tō invite all the Gentlemen according to their ages. To the

first, besides the Counsellors, the Capi de Quaranta, the Auvogadors, and the Capi de Dieci, are invited those that are of greatest age and gravity: to the second those that are younger; and so to the third and fourth still those that are younger and younger: besides which Feasts, he is bound also to send to eve∣ry Gentleman that comes to the Great Council a Pre∣sent, which was formely 5 wild Ducks: but now adays there is a sort of money coined for that pur∣pose; upon one side whereof is the figure of St. Mark reaching out a Standard to the Duke, on the other side the name of the Duke, and the year current of his Dukeship, on this manner, Dominici Contareni Venetiarum Principis munus, Anno IV.