Admit this honest paper; and allow It such an audience as yourself would ask; What you would say at Venice, this says now, And has for nature what you have for task: To swear much love; nor to be changed before But 'tis an easier load (though both oppress) In this, we must for others vices care. "Tis therefore well, your spirits now are plac'd In their last furnace, in activity; Which fits them: schools, and courts, and wars 'ore past To touch and taste in any best degree. For me! (if there be such a thing as I) That she thinks nothing else so fit for me. But though she part us, to hear my oft prayers Sir Henry Wotton was received by the state of Venice, with much honour and gladness, both for that he delivered his ambassage most elegantly in the Italian language, and came also in such a juncture of of time, as his master's friendship seemed useful for that republic. The time of his coming thither was about the year 1604, Leonardo Donato being then duke; a wise and resolved man, and to all purposes such (sir Henry Wotton would often say it) as the state of Venice could not then have wanted; there having been formerly in the time of pope Clement the eighth, some contests about the privileges of churchmen, and power of the civil magistrate; of which for the information of common readers, I shall say a little, because it may give light to some passages that follow. About the year 1603, the republic of Venice made several injunctions against lay-persons giving lands or goods to the church, without licence from the civil magistrate; and in that inhibition they expressed their reasons to be," For that when any goods or land once came into the hands of the ecclesiastics, it was not subject to alienation; by reason whereof (the lay-people being at their death charitable even to excess) the clergy grew every day more numerous, and pretended an exemption from all public service, and taxes, and from all secular judgment: so that the burden grew thereby too heavy to be born by the laity." Another occasion of difference was, that about this time complaints were justly made by the Venetians against two clergymen, the abbot of Nervesa, and a canon of Vicenza, for committing such sins, as I think not fit to name: nor are these mentioned with an intent to fix a scandal upon any calling; (for holiness is not tied to ecclesiastical orders, and Italy is observed to breed the most virtuous, and most vicious men of any nation.) These two having been long complained of at Rome in the name of the state of Venice, and no satisfaction being given to the Venetians, they seized the the persons of this abbot and canon, and committed them to prison. The justice, or injustice of such or the like power, then used by the Venetians, had formerly had some calm debates betwixt the former pope Clement the eighth, and that republic: I say, calm, for he did not excommunicate them; considering (as I conceive) that in the late council of Trent it was at last (after many politique disturbances, and delays, and endeavours to preserve the pope's present power) in order to a general reformation of those many errors, which were in time crept into the church, declared by that council, "That though discipline, and especially excommunication be one of the chief sinews of church government, and intended to keep men in obedience to it: for which end, it was declared to be very profitable; yet, it was also declared and advised to be used with great sobriety and care: because experience had informed them, that when it was pronounced unadvisedly, or rashly, it became more contemned than feared." And, though this was the advice of that council at the conclusion of it, which was not many years before this quarrel with the Venetians; yet this prudent, patient pope Clement dying, pope Paul the fifth, who succeeded him (though not immediately, yet in the same year) being a man of a much hotter temper, brought this difference with the Venetians to a much higher contention: objecting those late acts of that state, to be a diminution of his just power, and limited a time of twenty-four days for their revocation; threatning, if he were not obeyed, to proceed to excommunication of the republic, who still offered to shew both reason and antient custom to warrant their actions. But this pope, contrary to his predecessor's decessor's moderation, required absolute obedience without disputes. Thus it continued for about a year; the pope still threatening excommunication, and the Venetians still answering him with fair speeches, and no compliance, till at last, the pope's zeal to the apostolic see, did make him excommunicate the duke, the whole senate, and all their dominions; and that done to shut up all their churches; charging the whole clergy to forbear all sacred offices to the Venetians, till their obedience should render them capable of absolution. But this act of the pope's did but the more confirm the Venetians in their resolution not to obey him. And to that end, upon the hearing of the pope's interdict, they presently published by sound of trumpet, a proclamation to this effect: "That whosoever hath received from Rome any copy of a papal interdict, published there, as well against the law of God, as against the honour of this nation, shall presently render it to the council of ten, upon pain of death. And made it loss of estate and nobility, but to speak in the behalf of the jesuits." Then was Duado their ambassador called home from Rome, and the Inquisition presently suspended by order of the state; and the flood-gates being thus set open, any man that had a pleasant or scoffing wit might safely vent it against the pope, either by free speaking, or by libels in print; and both became very pleasant to the people. Matters thus heightened, the state advised with father Paul, a holy and learned frier (the author of the History of the Council of Trent) whose advice was, "Neither to provoke the pope, nor lose their own right:" he declaring publicly in print, in the name of the state, "That the pope was trusted to keep keep two keys; one of prudence and the other of power: and that if they were not both used together, power alone is not effectual in an excommunication." And thus these discontents and oppositions continued, till a report was blown abroad, that the Venetians were all turned protestants: which was believed by many, for that it was observed, the English ambassador was so often in conference with the senate, and his chaplain Mr. Bedel more often with father Paul, whom the people did not take to be his friend: and also, for that the republic of Venice was known to give commission to Gregory Justiniano, then their ambassador in England, to make all these proceedings known to the king of England, and to crave a promise of his assistance, if need should require: and in the mean time they required the king's advice and judgment; which was the same that he gave to pope Clement, at his first coming to the crown of England; (that pope then moving him to an union with the Roman church) namely, "To endeavour the calling of a free council, for the settlement of peace in christendom and, that he doubted not, but that the French king, and divers other princes would join to assist in so good a work; and in the mean time, the sin of this breach, both with his, and the Venetians dominions, must of necessity lye at the pope's door." In this contention (which lasted almost two years) the pope grew still higher, and the Venetians more and more resolved and careless: still acquainting king James with their proceedings, which was done by the help of sir Henry Wotton, Mr. Bedel, and Padre Paulo, whom the Venetians did then call to be one of their consulters of state, and with his pen to defend their just cause: which was by |