The policy and government of the Venetians both in civil and military affairs / written in French by the Sieur de la Hay, and faithfully Englished.

CHAP. I. Of the Duke.

THat a body without a head how vigorous and robust soever it may be, is notwith∣standing but an im∣moveable Trunck, and inanimate Mass, is so clear,

and inexpugnable a truth, that be∣ing but alleadg'd in a Fable to the people of Rome, when in defiance of the tyranny of the Senate they were retired into the Mount Aven∣tini, it brought the numerous and unquiet multitude down again to their obedience, and wrought up∣on them to submit to a domination they believ'd before insupportable. Accordingly the Republick of Ve∣nice understanding of what impor∣tance it would be, never thought themselves safe or compleat, till they had made themselves a Chief.

And this Election as I conceive was grounded upon three principal Reasons: The first was to fru∣strate the hopes of the ambitious, who would not so readily embrace any design against their Countrey, nor attempt the subversion of their liberties, seeing a Prince already

in possession of the place, (by the universal consent of the Common∣wealth) which he might other∣wise desire to usurp. The second, to cool and asswage that heat of dominion which reigns in the breast of most of the Gentry, by giving every man hopes of arriving one day at the Supremacy, it being most certain, there is not one a∣mongst all the Nobles but has his expectation, and sometime or other may pretend to it. The third is to satisfie and fix the vola∣til spirit of the Commons, giving them an appearance of liberty in their Republick, and in their Dukes the shadow of a King.

I call it the shadow of a King, because in reality the Prince which they choose has more of the Name than Authority, and is so strictly limited and circumscrib'd, that in an hours time the Grand Councel

(which they call the Councel of ten) can call him to account, form a Process against him, and cashier him. He is I must needs say accommodated well enough, and magnificently lodg'd, yet he is but as it were an illustrious Pri∣soner, seldom permitted to go out of his Pallace, and when he does, it is incognito, without any Ensigns of his place. That which is most strange, is, to oblige him to keep close and at home, if the people have taken any disgust against their Doge or Duke, they are al∣low'd to throw stones at him, and to commit what insolencies they please, if they meet him in the Streets, or in his Gondolo, except it be upon Festivals or publick Ceremonies, when he is accompa∣nied by the Senate, and all the Ambassadors in the Town.

Being the most jealous people in

the World of their liberties, they could not find a better expedient than that, to keep their Prince low and dependant, and to cut off all wayes he might possibly take to make himself absolute. For not being allowed to do any thing of himself, it cannot be apprehended he can attempt or accomplish any thing of importance, besides the very Officers and Servants of his Houshold, are recommended and paid by the Commonwealth, and by consequence expecting nothing from him but the honour of his ser∣vice, they are not so weak, to ha∣zard the preferment they may rati∣onally hope for, by being faithfull to those which plac't them in that Sphear.

Nevertheless in some things he has the reverence or resemblance of a Prince, he has admission into all publick Counsels, he has a

double voice in respect of his qua∣lity, he has precedence of all the Nobility, and the whole Senate, he creates all Officers, and sup∣plyes all Offices, he gives out Or∣ders and makes most part (though not all) of the Ordinances, yet all this is with so much dependance, that he may be said to do nothing alone without the assistance of the said Number, some of which un∣der pretence of attending him in point of honour, are as so many Spies watching over his actions perpetually. They choose their Dukes commonly the most ancient that they can, as well to satisfie many in a short time, as believing the ardour of dominion to be dead and extinguish't, in persons of their age.

In the four years time which I spent in their service, I was a spectator of the Reigns and Fune∣rals

of Contarini, Valiero, and Pezaro.

The Ceremony in which the Doge appears in the greatest splen∣dor and Majesty is at the Celebra∣tion of the Ascension, upon which day he marries the Sea with a Ring. At that time he makes a publick Feast; to which (in great State) he comes in very late, and makes but little stay, after which he marches in a most triumphant pro∣cession from the place where he lands, to the Church of St. Mark.

Take him in his Gondolo, (which is call'd le Bucentaure) and he is a Prince indeed, it is guilt all over to the very water, cover'd from the Poup to the Stroud with a large Baldaquin or Cloth of State, of Crimson Velvet embroider'd with gold and silver, with a rich Fringe of the same: he is set upon a kind

of a little Throne, the Senate ran∣ged on both sides of him, bare: he is in a purple Vest with a Dia∣dem upon his head, which is a Bonnet of an odd kind of fashion, encompast with a Band Royal of white a l'antique, a habit which nevertheless has something August and Majestick in it. In this man∣ner, at no great expence they suf∣fer their Prince to reign for one day; yet 'tis remarkeable also that even in the midst of this Grandure, they give him a gentle remem∣brance of his dependance, and the hazard he will run if he exceeds the bounds they have prescrib'd, and that is by conducting him betwixt two pillars, which is to be the fa∣tal place of his chastisement, if he attempts any thing against their liberties.

Could any body with greater address restrain the imperious spi∣rits

of those, who transported with the Grandure of their dignity, are not contented with the station and mediocrity in which the Rules of the Republick have plac't them? Could any more gently and more agreeably lull that furious passion asleep, which not only disturbs, but subverts so many States?

But the excellency of their Po∣liticks consists in the Election of their Dukes, it being a fundamen∣tal and inviolable Law amongst them, That no person how quali∣fied soever in respect of his Ex∣traction, can be admitted to that dignity if he be married, and if all their Chronicles be consulted from the very foundation of the Com∣monwealth to this day, there will not be above two or three to be found who have had Wives. For knowing very well the ambition of that Sex, and their insatiate appe∣tite

to govern, they have excluded them by a Law which allows them no preheminence though their Husbands be Princes. Knowing likewise how violent the passion of that Countrey is towards them, and how inclinable even to the most servile respects, and conside∣ring that a man though otherwise very honest and devoted to the in∣terest of his Countrey, may not∣withstanding be too weak to defend himself against the importunities of his Wife, and it being contrary to the Laws both Humane and Divine to separate those who they have mutually joyn'd, by a singu∣lar dexterity they have avoided both the one inconvenience, and the other, and decreed no person capable of Election but such as are single, whereby it proceeds that neither their Sons, nor Relations, are the more considerable amongst

them, nor live in any greater splendor than before, not being al∣low'd the least priviledge to signi∣fie their alliance to the Prince. Nay so far is it from that, the Duke is not permitted to con∣verse privately with any of them unless some body be by, inso∣much that as soon as he is chosen to that dignity, he bids adieu to his Children, his Friends, his Family, and all that is dear to him, none of them being suffer'd to enter into the Palace with him.