It is manifest therefore , that the seat of this Citie must needes bee exceedingly secure , in regarde that the first building thereof was vndertaken by men , who to auoid the calamities of Italy , in midst of so great a miserie , remained there in most sound and quiet safetie with their Venice hath remained vntouched from the violence of any enemy since the first building there of , which is aboue 1100 ▪ yeares . families . But which is more , since those times ( which we haue not read hath happened to any other city ) from the first building therof , euen vntil this time , being now a thousand and one hundred yeares , it hath preserued it selfe free and vntouched from the violence of any enemie , though being most opulent and furnished , aswell of gold and siluer , as of all other thinges that might , yea euen from the farthest parts of the world allure the Barbares to so rich a bootie and spoile . So that I doe not disalow their opinion , that haue deemed the Citie of Venice , to excell and go beyond all other Cities . But yet there is one thing more in this citie , which not onely in my iudgement farre exceedeth all those thinges , which wee haue spoken of , but likewise in all their opinions , that do not account a Citie to bee the walles and houses onely , but rather the assemblie and order of the citizens , chiefly and with greatest worthinesse to challenge that name , and this is the true reason , manner , & forme of commonwealthes , through which men enioy a happie and quiet life : This is that rare and excellent thing , wherein Venice seemeth to shine , and to surpasse all antiquitie , for though it is apparant that there hath beene many commonwealthes , which haue farre exceeded Venice as well in empire and greatnesse of estate , as in militarie discipline and glory of the wars : yet hath there not beene any , that may bee paragond with this of ours , for institutions & lawes prudently decreed , to establish vnto the inhabitantes a happie and prosperous felicitie , the proofe whereof is made manifest by the long continuance thereof in such security and happinesse , which when I consider with my self , I am wont greatly to wonder at the wisedome of our ancestors , at their industry , the vertue of their minds , & their incredible loue and charity towardes their country . There were in Athens , Lacedaemon and Rome , in sundry seasons sundry rare and vertuous men of excellent desert , and singular pietie towardes their country , but so fewe , that being ouerruled by the multitude they were not able much to profite the same . But our auncestors , from whome wee haue receyued so flourishing a common-wealth , all in one did vnite themselues in a consenting The nobility of Venice not so ambitious of their owne as of their countries honor . desire to establish , honour , and amplifie their country , without hauing in a manner any the least regarde of their owne priuate glorie or commodity . And this any man may easily coniecture , that the nobilitie of Venice was neuer so ambitious of any priuate matter pertayning to themselues , as they were alwayes infinitely zealous of the honour , commodity and aduancement of their country , in regarde that there are in Venice to bee found none , or very few monuments of our auncestors , though both at home and abroad many things were by them gloriously atchieued , and they of passing and singular desart towards their countrie . There are no stately ●ecchi di naui tombes erected , no military statues remaining , no stemmes of ships , no ensignes , no standrads taken from their enemies , after the victory of many and mighty battailes .

Andreas Contareno Duke of Venice . I wil among innumerable others touch onely the example of Andraeas Contareno an ancestor of mine : who being prince of our commonwealth in the Genowes war , the greatest and most dangerous that euer we endured , did not onely preserue our countrey with his singular wisedome , and maruellous greatnesse of courage , but did so vtterly ouerthrow our enemies ( they triumphing euen then as it were in an assured victory ) that they in a manner were all eyther slaine or taken prisoners . Finally , hauing so mightily preserued his country , and amplified and established the commonwealth , hee passed out of this life , or dayning by testament , that on his sepulcher ( which at this day is to be seene in S. Stephens church ) there should not be placed any armes or ensignes of our familie : neither , which is more , is there so much as the name of so great a Duke engraued , but rather by his modestie is it come to passe , that the sepulcher of so famous & excellent a prince is in a manner vtterly vnknowen .

I imagine this to be a most certain argument , that our auncestors delighted not in vaineglorie or ambition , but had only their intentiue care to the good of their country and common profite . With this then exceeding vertue of mind did our auncestors plant and settle this such a commonwealth , that since the memory of men , whosoeuer shal go about to make compare between the same & the noblest of the ancients , shal scarcely find any such : but rather I dare affirme , that in the discourses of those great Philosophers , which fashioned & forged commonwealths according to the desires of the mind , there is not any to be founde so well fayned and framed , for which cause I thought I should doe a thing very gratefull to strangers , if I shoulde describe the order of so renowned a commonwealth : especially because in this time among the number of so many men learned , and of pregnant wits , ripe in the knowledge of all things , and excelling in eloquence , I see not any that hath vndertaken this honorable taske . To which though I know the weakenesse of our stile cannot yeeld any ornament , yet the same is of it selfe so noble , that it is able not onely to yeeld dignitie to it selfe , but also to the vnworthinesse of my speech .

Being therefore determined to write of this our commonwealth , to the end that euery one may know whether the same be well or ill disposed , I thinke it best to take my beginning from hence .

That man is by nature made a ciuile creature , but alone by himselfe , neither able to liue well , not to liue at all , which euery daies necessitie , and the manner of victuailing and clothing approueth : and for this cause euen from the beginning did men enter into ciuile societie , and therein continued to the ende , that so they might liue happily and commodiously , which is , that with mutuall helpe and diligence they might obtaine the chief good incident to men , so long as the course of this their mortal life endureth , wherunto the whole reason of ciuil institution pertaineth , that by the easiest way No life happy and blessed but that which contayneth in it the vse of vertue . possible the citizens may be made possessors of a happy life . But a life happie and blessed is so tearmed of great Philosophers , the which containeth in it selfe the vse of vertue , which they do approue with most assured reasons and vndenyable arguments . Now the vse of vertue appeareth as well in the offices of warre , as in the functions of peace : which notwithstanding though the praise of warre , and the manner of discipline thereunto belonging , be necessary to a Citie , for the preseruation of the libertie and defence of the confines , and contayneth in it selfe great dignitie and goodlinesse : yet the common sence of men doth not allow these offices of warre ( by which the ruine and slaughter of mankinde is procured ) to be for themselues desired , and that all other ciuile offices should be thereunto referred : for it were the token of an vnciuile disposition , or rather of a man hating humanitie to wish for warres , slaughters , & burnings , for this onely cause that he might be famous in matters of warre , and adde thereunto ( if it please you ) that he might be honored with the name of a great captain : wherefore all philosophers of greatest marke haue Warre is to be desired for the cause of peace . in this one point agreed , that warre is to be desired for the cause of peace , and that the whole function of militarie vertue , and the commendation thereof ought to be referred to the offices of peace : wherefore that gouernour of a commonwealth that would be accounted worthy of praise , & ( as the saying is ) a man perfectly accomplished , ought to vse that temperature , & to maintaine that order , that the whole commonwealth may seeme accommodated to vertue , and withall , that it bee rather thought to attend to the exercises of peace , then to the offices of warre , yet in the meane time not contemning such thinges as pertaine to the discipline of warres ; because many times the militare vertue ( so that the same be vsed without iniurie ) is necessary to defend and to enlarge the confines . But things being once ordered as we haue said , it is wont then to be doubted of , whether it bee better that one or few haue the gouernment of the whole citie , or rather the whole multitude , as many doe describe the estate of that , which ought properly to be called a commonwealth . And truely to me it seemeth exceedingly well and wisely said of them , Howsoeuer the successe hath allowed the gouernment of Venice , either in regard of the smalnesse of their territory , or the strong situation of their citie : yet there was neuer any example of any other great commonwealth but that did soone perish by the plurality of commanders : all great philosophers chiefly extolling the monarchy ; & all course of times & examples confirming their opinion . that deemed the gouernment of men to bee vnfitly granted to one alone , but that there should bee a thing more diuine to whom this office should be giuen , as out of many sorts of creatures may be gathered . For a sheep gouerneth not a flock of sheep , nor an oxe , nor an horse a heard of oxen , or horses ; but a creature more excellent defendeth and gouerneth them , which is man , which is a thing manifest to al men , of how much more worth he is then those brute creatures : by the like reason ( if so it might be brought to passe ) should man be gouerned by som thing more diuine & excellent than man , but seeing in worldly things ( which are with sence perceiued ) there is nothing found more excellent than man , & man being a certaine diuerse creature , & consisting of different parts , as hauing the inferior forces of his mind common , as it were with brutish creatures : but with the superior powers therof , participating ( in a manner ) with the immortal Gods : that rightly ought amongst men to obtain the place of gouernment & rule , which is in man highest & of greatest participation with dignity : which is as all men do acknowledge the mind , being by nature grafted in vs as a beame of the heauenvly brightnes : therfore euil shal that commonwealth be prouided for , that That ought amongst men to obtaine the place of gouernment and rule , which is in man highest , & of greatest participation with diuinitie . shal be committed to the gouernment of a man , whom many times those inferior and brutish powers doe perturbe , & call backe from the true path of reason : but that office is rather to be committed to the mind , pure and void of perturbations : wherefore by a certaine diuine counsell when by other meanes it might not , mankinde through the inuention of lawes seemeth to haue attained this point , that this office of gouerning assemblings of men should be giuen to the minde and reason onely : the same being free from passion , which among many other the infinit blessings & gifts of heauen , is not to be accounted in the lowest , but rather the highest ranke , if we will truely consider the vtilitie of lawes : for first in enacting them , many wise men meete together , who by long vse growen skilfull in many things , by comparing the inuentions and examples of others with their owne experience , do at length after long consultation determine that which shall seeme best vnto them , their minds being then directly bent to vertue , free from hatred , friendship , or other perturbation : the cause of no The excellency of lawes . priuate man being interessed in the establishing of laws , which in courses of mans iudgement often happeneth . But after that lawes once are enacted , if any then transgresse them , & chaunce to suffer the punishments that they inflict , he cannot in reason blame any man , and in this case it is not to be feared that any sedition or rancor growne among the citizens , being the greatest & most dangerous contagion of commonwealths : whereas contrariwise when any man is punished by the iudgement of men not fortified with lawes , great & grieuous enmities do sundry times ensue ; for it scarcely can be chosen , but that we remaine ill affected towards him , of whom we haue receiued harme , so that I cannot well resolue whether mankind be more beholding for any other The inuention of lawes was by the ancients , consecrated vnto the immortall Gods . thing to nature the mother of all things , then it is for this inuention of lawes , which was of the ancients and not vnworthely consecrated to the immortall Gods : but which serueth more meruailous , Aristotle ptince of philosophers , in that booke of the world which he did dedicat to great Alexander , found not any thing to which he might likelier resemble God , them to an autentike law in a Citie rightly gouerned : so that the opinion of this great philosopher was in manner , that God was the same in the vniuersity of things , as an ancient lawe in a ciuill company : and in his bookes wherein hee entreateth of a commonwealth , he tearmeth law to be a mind without appetite , which is to say pure , cleare , and free from the infirmitie of any passion , whereby any man , of how slow conceit soeuer , may perceiue the fitnesse & necessitie of that of which we spake before : that is , that something more diuine then man shoulde rule and gouerne the companies of men : for a man being aduanced to this office of gouernement , ( as men endued with wisedome , and integrity are rare ) and they for the most part may erre in iudging and decerning things through the force of their affections , which do perturbe and diuert the mind from her true course and intention , it followes of necessitie , that thinges cannot go so currant as they should , yea though it might be so , that wee might find out a man so wise and vertuous , and of such stedfast constancic , that no perturbation were able to make his mind recoile from his duetie , yet neither on this condition were the rule of man to be wished for before the gouernment of lawes : for he being of a mortall & fraile nature could not long enioy that function , when lawes ( as I said ) do in a manner concurre with eternitie . By these I thinke it sufficiently persuaded , that the souerainty of gouernment should be recommended not to men but to lawes , to whose will yet some few thinges may be permitted , that are not well in lawes to bee comprehended : neuerthelesse it is necessary , that there bee A Gardian of the lawes . made a certaine Gardian as Liestenant and minister of the laws , who may gouerne the commonwealth according to the rule of the lawes . And because all those thinges that come into iudgement cannot be comprehended in lawes , that he then be an arbiter & ruler of those matters that are in question : now againe returneth that controuersie of constitution of lawes , which Whether a few or the whole multitude be to bee preferred to the defence of of the lawes . to some might seeme already decided , that is to say , whether one , or a few , or the whole multitude , be to be preferred to the defence of the lawes , & to iudge those things that do not fal into the comprehension of lawes . And though in the opinion of many men , the kingly domination is of highest esteeme and greatest account : neuerthelesse I shoulde thinke that though the principalitie of one alone , that should lawfully , and by right challenge to himselfe the dignity of a king : if the matter be by it selfe considered , shoulde seeme of all other the best , yet in regarde of the breuitie of life , and mans fraile disposition , which for the most parte enclineth to the worser parte , the gouernment of the multitude is farre more conuenient to the assemblie of citizens , which experience the mistresse of all thinges doth elegantly teach vs , because that wee haue not read that there was among auncientes any souerainty of a king , neyther haue wee in our time seene any that had not soone declyned into tiranny : on the contrary side many commonwealthes that haue continued prosperously many ages , and flourished both in peace and warre , yet is the whole multitude of it selfe vnapt to gouerne , vnlesse the same be in some sort combined together ; for No ciuil society can remain perfect , vnlesse the same be in a vnity contained . there cannot bee a multitude without the same bee in some vnitie contayned ; so that the ciuill society ( which consisteth in a certaine vnity ) will bee dissolued , if the multitude become not one by some meane of reason , so that the best philosophers , and those that haue learnedlyest written of the ordering of a commonwealth , iudged that in the gouernment therof there should be a temperature betweene the state of nobility & popular sort , to the ende that the inconueniences of either gouernmental one might be auoided , and the commodities of both ioyntly inioyed , for which cause they doe highly The common-wealth of the Lacedemonians gouerned by the king , the Ephores & the Senate . The same wholly instituted to the offices & exercises of war . commend the commonwealth of the Lacedemonians , in which the kings , the Ephores , & the senates made a certain mixture , so that it is hard to decipher vnder what sort of gouernment the same can be placed : onely this they reprehend , that it was onely instituted to the offices of war without any regard of the offices of peace & quietnesse , wherby it came to passe , that the same being glorious , and renowned in many excellent vertues so soon as euer it began to liue at quiet , presently declined , & at length vtterly fell to ruine : which also and for the same cause befell the Romaines , neyther was the euent thereof vnforeseene of sundry of the chiefe Senators , The cause of the ruine of the Lacedemonian & Romane commonwealth . among the which Nasica was of opinion , that Carthage ( though enuious of the Romane greatnesse , and as it were in competencie withall ) ought not to haue beene ruined , to the end that Rome might still haue an enemie with whom to occupie it selfe in armes : lest their enemie and corriuall being taken away , the common-wealth being instituted to warre , and the youth nourished in armes , they shoulde turne their weapons vpon themselues , which counsell of Nasica though it was then refused of the Senates , and the contrary decreed : neuertheles the euent proued the same to haue bin most wise & prudent : for Carthage being destroyed , presently ( in a manner ) they burst out into ciuill warres through which at length the same being the most flourishing & mighty commonwealth that euer was , fel downe to the ground , and that Citie abounding in such opulency , as being in manner Queene of the worlde , became a pray to the barbarous . But to come now at length to our determined taske , it appeareth that our auncestors , which instituted the commonwealth of Venice , were men indued with admirable wisedome and vertue , in that they omitted nothing which might seeme to pertaine to the right institution of a commonwealth : for first they ordayned the whole life and exercise of their citizens to the vse and office of vertue , and alwaies with greater regard and reckoning applyed their minds to the maintenance of peace then to glorie of warres : The Venetians applyed their minds , more to the maintenance of peace then to the glory of wars . bending alwaies their chiefest care and studie to the preseruation of ciuill concorde and agreement among themselues , not in the mean time neglecting warlike offices , such ( I meane ) as were fitte and conuenient for our Citie , of which the situation is such , that it serueth well , and is commodious for warres by sea , but vnfitte for warres by land : for neyther squadrons of horsemen , nor troupes of footmen can by any meanes be accomodated thereunto , as by my former description , thereof may easily bee coniectured . Besides , they vsed such a moderation and temperature , and such a mixture of all estates , that this onely cittie retayneth a princely soueraigntie , a gouernment of the nobilitie , & a popular authority , so that the formes of them all seeme to be equally ballanced , as it were with a paire of weights , as more plainely hereafter shall appeare .