Venice, they are so free from this treacherous Impiety, that
all states which transact with them must doe it above-board,
consult beforehand with their Brains, and not their Purses;
so that (as Thuanns faith) the King of France need not use
much labour to purchase an Interest with any Prince or state
in Italy, unless it be the Venetian Republick where all forein
Compliance and Pensioners are punished with utmost severity;
but escape well enough in other Places.
4. it is Treason for any of her senators, to have any privat
Conversation with forein Ambassadors and Agents. And
that it may appear how extreme strict they are in this Particular,
it cannot be amiss to set down here a very sad story
concerning Antonia Foscarini one of the senators, as it was
written by Sir, Henry Wotton; who being Ambassador at Venice,
chanced to be there at that very time when the Tragedy
was acted. There in (faith he) ii the Partitions of this Government
a very awfull Magistracy entituled Inquisitory distato,
who receive all secret accusation in matter of practise
against the Republick and then referr the same, as they see
cans, to the Councel of Ten, who are the suprem Tribunall
in Criminall Cases. To these Inquisitors came two men, and
capitulated for a reward to discover some Gentlemen, who at
unseasonable times, and in disguised Forms did haunt the
Houses of forein Ministers; in particular they named the Spanish
Agent, being likeliest to gain a favourable hearing upon
that subject. In the head of their secret list they name done
of the senators called Antonio Foscarini, Who being of the senate
was thereby restrained upon pain of death from all conference
with publick, ministers, unless by speciall permission:
And to give some Colour to their discovery, they did, besides
their own Testimonies, alledg one Giovan Battista, who served
the aforesaid Spanish Agent, and had, as they said, acquainted
them with the accesses of such and such Gentlemen
unto him. But first they advised, or so the Inquisitors thought fit
to proceed against Foscarini, without examining the aforesaid
Giovan Battista, lest it might caus a noise, and then perhaps
those other that they meant to accuse might escape.