On this page
-
Text (2)
-
1170 EHE LEADER. __Jggo«a»r.
-
A VENETIAN EMBASSY TO ENGLAND. Selection...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Stories Of The War. Our Camp In Turkey, ...
same cruel despotism that has so long shed Its withering breath over her mountains sad ' her plains , her flowery-prairies , and the banks of her lovely rivers . "War , with its terrH > l » incidents , is not for ever ; and wlen Pteace , with her pruaing-hook and scythe , her arts and learning , at length dwells safely on the shores of the old Propontis , then may arise on tbe site of filthy Galata a noble city , worthy its position , and the ; Fire Tower of Pera may at length find rest when it is surrounded by houses and factories , libraries and schools , wbi < sh would defy all the racifer-Eaatchces in Christendom to destroy them .
1170 Ehe Leader. __Jggo«A»R.
1170 EHE LEADER . __ Jggo « a » r .
A Venetian Embassy To England. Selection...
A VENETIAN EMBASSY TO ENGLAND . Selection of Despatches written by the Venetian Ambassador Stbastum Givstinian—1515-1519 . Translated by Rawdon Brown . Smith , Elder , and Co . Hebe is a book illustrative of secret di p lomacy—a l > ook precious in a week in "which the popular mind , is agonised m fear of what our governing classes may he doing with the Austrian alliance . The comparison between Venice and England dates from "before Mr . Posraeli ' s time ; a parallel between the position of Venice when , from 1500 to 1550 , she was allying herself with , all the despotisms , in order to keep the Turks out of Constantinople and her Egypt ; and the position of England at this moment coalescing herself with ihe dynasties of Germany and France , in order to keep the Russians out of Stamboul , might now be worked oat with great effect : the moral being , thai as Venice suffered from sacrificing the Italian republicans to her haute pdliti que and commercial interests , soEngland mav he driftinsr into aLeasrue
of . Cambray catastrophe * , because she is neglecting nationalities and cultivating the alliances of those who are the enemies of all the Reform ideas of the £ ge . From considerations of this sort , we think Mr . Rawdon Brown ' s puhlicatioa is timely , aitd we have read hia translations of these diplomatic letters with singular urterest . They" deal with a remarkable period , and throw the strongest light apoa the personal history of that period . The diplomatist wha is the . hero-iras ohTiously a very able man , a mate picked for a delicate duty ; and the eharm of his letters consists in the fact that iihey were written for a " Foreign office" whi « h never had u blue books , " aaid whiehL never contemplated possible publication . They describe the actual social and political circumstances of England of that day with
minuteness , and with the cosmopolitan philosophy of Venetians . But it is for the personal sketches that they are chiefly valuable—of Henry VIII . in his ^ rand time * when he was young , rich , and honest ; and of the Lord Cardinal of Tbrk > in Wolsey ' s happiest period , when England was the arbiter in Europe , and ivhen Rex Meus was too much engaged in jousting and loving to interfere with Ego . We , however , cannot make extracts with any effect from the correspondence ; , for the single letters are only fragmentary references to a question detailed in a series , and for a series we have no space . " We refer our readers to the two volumes—delightful reading . IS & t the least interesting portion of the book is the account of the d-iustixikm family , a perfect family romance : —
O » ih « fall of-the Heracliaa Dynasty ( a . p . 711 ) , in the person of the Emperor -Justinian II ., the survivors of his family emigrated first to Istria , where they founded i ; h , e city of Justinoppli , bow called Capo d'Istria , and in the course of half a -century , ¦ w e fiad' some of their descendants- established in Venice ; for amongst the tribunes in Ahe year 756 , wae- a Giostinian , whose- daughter subsequently married Doge Angelo Badoer . In the 12 th century , three members of the Ginstinian family were Procurators of & t . TVIarfe , a dignity inferior only to that of the Doge , -who was almost invariably ¦ chosen from their body . ;
After the lapse of four centuries and a half the Giustiniani seem not to hav « lost the Tecolleetion of their wrongs and of their former greatness , and accordingly , in the year HTfy when in consequence of the seizure by the Emperor Manuel Comnenus of all ¦ the Venetian traders in his dominions , the Republic declared war against the Greeks , they eagerly availed themselves of so fan- an opportunity for avenging the nnurder of their ancestor , ana after the example of the Roman Fabii , volunteered tho services of their whole racer in the cause of their adopted country , and in her defence they embarked'not less than one hundred , combatants , all bearing the name of Giustimian , and including Qven an aged Procurator of St . Mark ' s .
Doge Vitale Michiel ami the Giustiniani steered their gallant fleet first to Dalmatia , fi » the ^ unishinont of certain rebels there , and then made for Negropont , the © avOrnw of which island apologised for his master the Emperor most abjectly , and prevailed upon the Doge to avert the calamities of war by sending an embassy to Constantinople : this artifice , which concealed the most atrocious treachery , succeeded ; the Venetian fleet retired to winter at Scio , where the springs had been poisoned , and ofre > m bundred and twenty sail , only sixteen returned to the Adriatic , with the scanty remnant which had escaped the treachery and pestilence of the Greek islands . Amongst the survivors of this Venetian expedition there was not found one of tho < 2 i « 8 tm » ani ; their resemblance to tho Tabu was complete ; and all Venice , patricians and plebeians , mourned tho extinction of such a race . They felt that high name and -descent are pledges for honourable exertion , and as the laymen of the Giustinian jfarml y had perished , the Republic detormined , if possible , to preserve the name by means'of a Benedictine monk , the sole survivor of tho family , who dwelt at the Lido
3 xk the * monastery of St . Nicholas . An embassy waa forthwith despatched to Popo . Alexander III . 5 and Barbone Morosini and Tommaso Falier obtained from his Holiness a dispensation- from the- monastic v < m » taken , by Father Nicholas Giustinian , and to hha !>© ge VJtalo Michiol ; gave the hand of his daughter Anna , together with an . ample dowen , consisting of the three Venetian parishes of St . Moiae " , St . Giovanni Biagpla , and St . Pantaleone * Tho offspring of this marriage wore numerous : of nine sons , ono . byname Motteo had the satisfaction of taking part in the conqnost of Oonutantinople , a . » . 12 ( H ; another , Marco , established himself in tho island of Cundia and-was probably one of the first shippers of sock and malmsey , winoa -with which Engl & nu was supplied by the Venetians during several centuries ; and a third < Ji « 5 oauo , also accompanied Doge l > Jindolo when he entered Constantinople ; of tho danighrtexH , Martha , Margaret , and Bertolotta , ono married into the house of Kste the > eceond became- the wife of ono of tho Sealigera of Verona ; and the third took the vei * .
BVithwr Nicholas Giuatinian , having fnlly realised tho hopes of tho Venetians who ¦ d rew him from hit ) cloister , returned onco moro to hia cell at the Lido ( that strip of land' -which separates the lugoona of Venice from the open Adriatic ) , and Anna Michiel withdrew to a nunnery on the island of Aminno , in which places these two rogencmrtora of the family of Horaclius died ohortly after , in what is termed " the odour of sanctity . " Tho Lombnrdl / m historian of the " Illustrious Fumiliet * of Italy , " tho Count Littn epoakfng of thoxolica of Father Nloholaa in the church of 8 . Goorgio Mnggioro , nfllrinH that from him all tins Graatinlani of Vonlco are descended , and poaltivoly denies that
the Giustiniani of Genoa are in any way authorised to claim the same origin indeed he asserts that no family ever existed in Genoa who were lawfully entitled to the hereditary surna-me of Giustinian . In the palmy days of the Venetian Republic the descendants of the Benedictine monk numbered fifty distinct families ; and a * monv as two hundred individuals bearing the name of Giustinian are said to have sat at one time in the Grand Council of Venice , a tradition , however , which Count Litta gives cood reason to doubt . At the close of the t 7 th century , forty o-f the Giustinian families were extinct , a » d at this present time there remain only four . Amongst the twelve children of Nicholas Giustinian , one bore the name of Stefano ; and bis lineal descendant , Sebastian , it is who has furnished matter for the present volume . He was the son of Marino , by the daughter of Piero Gradeni ° -o and was born in the year 1460 . ° ' Another episodical passage is the following account given , by another " Venetian diplomatist , ^ Badoer , who was sent to the court of our Henry "VIII , and was found in London by Giustinian . Badoer . appears to have been of the grumbling class of travellers ; but his chapter of complaints presents a singularly vivid picture of Europe of the period . His conceit is splendid : —
BBOM TtCE AMBASSADOH IN ENGLAND , ANDRETT BADOEB . { Describing his journey and arrival there . ") London , July 24 , 1512 . Hon-opbed AND Noble Bkothkb , —In the month of January , in the year 1508-9 when the hostilities of France against the most Illustrious Signory began to manifest themselves , remedies being sought against the Gallic toils , the most sage counsellors appointed to govern us determined to send hither privily an ambassador to induce this most serene King to attack France ( on whose crown lie has claims , it injustice appertaining to him ) , and to arouse him to make a diversion , over there in our favour ; the need being extremely urgent , and to despatch some one forthwith , and speedily ; though , as the roads were intercepted everywhere , it was impossible to eflfect the journey save at the most manifest peril of one ' s life .. Inquiries were made over Venice for one who had the heart to venture through such a hurricane , the fire raging most fiercely in every quarter ; and at length , after many consultations , ho one else being found to their taste , I was elected to this mission , without my knowledge , by the High Council of Ten and the Junta , according to a motion carried therein , and assuredly by the will of God and for the most excellent Signory ' s weal , with one hundred ducats per month for my expenses , whereof I was not required to give account to any one .
This took place on the last day of January , 1508-9 , when his Serenity the Doge ( to whom may God grant long life ) sent forme , and as I knew nothing of the matter , I stared at him in surprise ; whereupon , he told me 1 had been appointed Ambassador here , exhorting me to serve the State in so sage manner , binding me in such wise , that I could only reply Jiat voluntas tua ; and pardon my piesumption , brother , Master Luke , but b y God no one save myself was capable of executing this mission . In the first place , laying aside the perils aforesaid , it was easy for me to go in safety by any road , being well acquainted with the French and German tongues , and-with that 01 this country , which is as little known at Venice as modern Greek or Sclavonic in London ; ask those who know me , and you will hear , and for so great an accomplishment I thanck Almighty God . I thus in fine resolved to come and serve the most illustrious State , especially being sent by the Council of Ten , having always understood that whosoever obtains their esteem , may be deemed fortunate . I therefore looked forward and not behind me , inflamed by the most ardent love for my country
and left my affairs in confusion , starting with a trifle of money that might have sufficedj had I merely been ; going to Mestre or Treviso , aad riot to travel through fire and water , as I may say , to the end of the world , and in peril of my life . This , however , was nvy folly ; induced by the hope of obtaining , besides the certain promise of 100 ducats per month , great credit with the Government , as has been the case , to my knowledge , with many more fortunate than myself , though their deserts are far inferior to mine , "With these aspirations , then , I set out , and so much the more willingly , being persuaded by his sublimity the Doge , who loves me , and urged my undertaking the service . " Knowest thou not , " said he , "how those whom the Council of Ten sends on similar errands of need are rewarded ? " In short , I allowed myself to bo persuaded ,, and in six days got ready ; and departed in so auspicious an hour , that after riding twenty-six days I reached London , where I am now ; nor do I know what more could have been expected of a man at my age , which was then siufty-two years , and encountering on the road such disasters as the following : —First ,
I rode incessantly day and night in disguise , crippling and laming myself so , that 1 shall never again be as sound as I was previously ; for when on the Mount St . Gothard , my horae fell under me , whilst riding over ice and in the dark , I received such a wound on my right leg , that it was bared to the bone two inches deep , and by good fortune he foil to the right ; for had he slipped on the other side , I should have gone down « . precipice , and no further news of mo would ever have been hoard , except from tho two cantonniers , who wexe at my horse ' s head to guide my way . At length , by God's grace , I got to the inn , and it was the night of the Carnival , and being late , I could got nothing bu £ bread and wine for my supper , and dressed my log myself . On the following morning , which waa Ash Wednesday , I got to Busle ( sic ) at about nine , and there embarked , to proceed by water , the Rhino being , moreover , very much swollen ; and having gone thus seme way down the stream , wo got into a large vessel loaded with merchandise , on board of which wcro my horses likewise ; and tho bottom of this boa , t struck upon some sedges under water , in tho middle of the stream , near a
shoal , past which tho water rushed with great violence : tho boat went over on its side , and there wo woro , between tho sedges and tho shoal , when , from tho shock , tho planks of tho boat separated , and she was carried to tho shoal , on which we all jumpediminpilitttely , landing the horses also , and ^ hoboat filled with water , for it waa neither pitched nor caulked , but merely nailed together like the little barges which bring eggs to Venice . Wo passed tho night counting tho hours ; and I , with my wounded leg , « jid all tho rest of ua likewise , well dronched . Finally , praised bo God , the boat \ ros repaired , und took us safe to Strnsburg . This part of my adventures 1 have chosen to tell you in detail 5 and for tho rest , it will suflica to say that , ub suspicion was everywhere alive , it behoved mo to give account to everybody of what I was doing , and not change colour whilst tolling my tale ; so sometimes I passed for nn Englishman , aud sometimes for a Scotchman , whilst at others I thought it aafor to make myself out a Croat , and subject of tho Emperor ' s , saying 1 was on my way to
tho court , whither I had boon sent , for a good nocrot mason , to hia Ciwsarian Majesty , who was then on tho borders of Ilnndors ; with this pretence , I wont ow for some days , having nxtiila my fuco very black according to a . device of my own ; aud when 1 had passed tho territory whore ho wa » , I replied to all inquiries that I was a messenger of fcho King of Rngluud ' n , returning from court , anil 1 oaiuo on tUun , in another suitable < li » guiso , until I yol , near CalniH , which in a fortiuort U > wn in Vionnly , on tho main land , belonging to tho King of England . I oxporioiiood greater difficulty in g « ttiiity into thia place than had befallen mo throughout the rest , of my journey , tho country being opon on every aide , with numoroutJ I'ortiiiod ttnvim bolonging to tho French on tho borders , whioh u . ro very strictly guurdoil from four of tho English , ho that , on ono mid tho Httujo morning , I wn » thrice stopped by three French companies , who inquired my errand 5 11 ml duding 1 mynolf at ono thno distant two miles from C ' alalu , and ait tho othor ono milu . 1 unuwurud haughtily , that 1 waa na Kiiglinhumn coming from Finn-
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 9, 1854, page 18, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_09121854/page/18/
-