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. VII. Of their Ambassadors.

THe principal aim of their Po∣licy is to obtain and preserve an amity with all the Princes of Europe by all possible means, of which they are so great lovers, they have many times purcha'st it at a dear rate, of the cruellest of their enemies. One of the most powerfull and dexterous wayes of maintaining this union with forreign Kingdoms, is by this ancient mode of Ambassadors, which they send to all Courts in Christendom with great equipage and splendor. They choose them constantly out of the Patrician race, that is to say

of the ancient Senators, such as were the first of their State, and such if possible as have merit and abilities added to the Nobility of their bloud.

They are permitted to habit themselves according to the fashion of the Countrey to which they are designed, and to live after another manner than they do at Venice, which scarce one of the other Ma∣gistrates dare venture to do.

In these kind of Negotiations they are so subtil and accute, they can penetrate the most secret Ca∣binets of Kings, and by a Key of gold which is forg'd in the Senate, open and shut the most obscure and intricate Springs in any soveraign Counsel. They spare no charges upon such an occasion, espe∣cially where they have any sus∣pition.

These Ambassador 〈…〉〈…〉 seem

Plenipotentiaries, and to have a full power and authority, but they are really circumscrib'd. They dare not come to a definitive Con∣clusion upon any affair whatever, till they have given notice of their progress at Venice, and receiv'd the directions of the Senate, which is punctually to be observ'd. They have not the liberty to open and peruse any Packets or dispatches alone: to prevent that, they ap∣point them certain Citizens of Ve∣nice, selected out of the most judi∣cious and experienc't persons of the City, who as Secretaries are al∣wayes to be present at the opening and reading of their Letters.

And this is no small check to the Nobility, for however glorious they may appear in their station, we see them liable to be curb'd, and that by one single Citizen. With such admirable prudence do

these great Statesmen confine all their Grandees to their particular circuits and bounds, that 'tis im∣possible for them to arrogate any absolute jurisdiction to them∣selves.

The reports which these Secre∣taries make, either by their Let∣ters or word of mouth, are of so great credit with the Senate, that they are not only sufficient to de∣stroy a man, but to create a jealou∣sie, and interrupt that harmony and consort which might otherwise be found amongst persons of the same condition. The Republick names a Nobleman expresly, to whom it gives the appearance of being chief of the Embassie, but when that is done, he is sure to have a Citizen clap't at his Elbow, to peep into the most secret of his actions. It is an incredible thing to see with what generosity these

illustrious persons the next day af∣ter they are return'd from their Embassies, lay aside all the Gran∣dure and Glory which they had ta∣ken upon them for the honour of their Conntrey, and march up and down the Streets as it were incog∣nito, with the same modesty as an ordinary Citizen. This condes∣cension of theirs gains strangely up∣on the affections of their Subjects and disposes them to obedience without violence or coersion, for observing how quietly their Go∣vernours resign, they cannot think much to conform to the Govern∣ment themselves.

As to the Ambassadors which are sent to Venice, they are receiv'd with great honours. The Senate in their Robes of scarlet go out in their Gondoloes to meet them, in some of the Isles about the Town and having made their Comple∣ments,

they conduct them to the City with a great train of Boats at∣tending, every Senator taking a Gentleman of the Ambassadors Equipage into his Gondolo with him.

But after this day they have no liberty to see or converse together more, nor can the Ambassador himself speak or negotiate with ••ny of them upon any pretence whatsoever. All things after∣wards are transacted in full Senate, ••he Duke and Counsel being pre∣••ent, where no immediate Answer ••s ever given to any Proposition, ••ut the Ambassadors withdrawing, ••he business is debated, and then put to the Vote what shall be re∣ply'd.

The Laws are so jealous, and so ••evere in matters of Intelligence or Correspondence, that if it be known a noble Venetian has had

conference, not only with an Am∣bassador, but the least person in his Retinue, he runs no less hazard than of his life, insomuch that they run as fast and with as much horror from any of them, as from a Basilisk. About twenty six years since, one of the Family of the Contarini, and Nephew to the Doge that was then, was strangled in Prison for having been seen in a Gondoloe with a Secretary of Spain. A Friend of mine, one Labia a no∣ble Venetian, who had spent much of his time in France, when Monsi∣eur du Plessis Besancon took his leave of the Senate, admiring the beauty and accomplishment of the young Chevalier his Son, he could not contain himself from ac∣costing him, and paying his re∣spects, but suspecting that one of the Counsel of Ten (who are al∣wayes about the Ambassadors)

had observ'd him, he was glad of his own accord to throw himself at the feet of those terrible Judges, to acknow∣ledge his fault, and implore their pardon, which at length though with severe reprehen∣sion he obtain'd, because he had prevented their Inform∣ers by accusing himself.

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