LAURENCE ALDERSEY a.d. 



1581. 



garments, which reacheth from their head, downe to 

 the ground. 



The Psalm es they sing as wee doe, having no image, 

 nor using any maner of idolatrie : their error is, that they 

 beleeve not in Christ, nor yet receive the New Testa- 

 ment. This Citie of Venice is very faire, and greatly to 

 bee commended, wherein is good order for all things : 

 and also it is very strong and populous : it standeth upon 

 the maine Sea, and hath many Islands about it, that 

 belong to it. 



To tell you of the duke of Venice, and of the 

 Seigniory : there is one chosen that ever beareth the 

 name of a duke, but in trueth hee is but servant to the 

 Seigniorie, for of himselfe hee can doe litle : it is no 

 otherwise with him, then with a Priest that is at Masse 

 upon a festival day, which putting on his golden garment, 

 seemeth to be a great man, but if any man come unto 

 him, and crave some friendship at his handes, hee will 

 say, you must goe to the Masters of the Parish, for I 

 can not pleasure you, otherwise then by preferring of your 

 suite : and so it is with the duke of Venice, if any man 

 having a suite, come to him, and make his complaint, and 

 deliver his supplication, it is not in him to helpe him, 

 but hee will tell him. You must come this day, or that 

 day, and then I will preferre your suite to the Seigniorie, 

 and doe you the best friendship that I may. Further- 

 more, if any man bring a letter unto him, hee may not 

 open it, but in the presence of the Seigniorie, and they 

 are to see it first, which being read, perhaps they will 

 deliver it to him, perhaps not. Of the Seigniory there 

 be about three hundreth, and about fourtie of the 

 privie Counsell of Venice, who usually are arayed in 

 gownes of crimsen Satten, or crimsen Damaske, when 

 they sit in Counsell. 



In the Citie of Venice, no man may weare a weapon, 

 except he be a souldier for the Seigniorie, or a scholler 

 of Padua, or a gentleman of great countenance, and yet 

 he may not do that without licence. 



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