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The Embassies which had been despatched to all friendly courts had returned with deputations of rejoicing; a fleet from Venice and ships from the East had brought costly gifts of welcome and men, high in dignity, charged to represent their governments: and the Admiral Morenigo, with two Provveditori had arrived to stand sponsors for the Grandson of the Republic.
We read of him sending for twelve men of all classes and various crafts, and, laying the case before them, refounded a charity Provveditori dei poveri vergognosi, which soon became in the mouth of Florence I Buonomini di S. Martino, the good men of S. Martin, for the society had its headquarters in the Church S. Martino; and, was not S. Martino himself, as it were, the first of this company?
And a license is not little to buy for a poor barcariol who would be his own man; one pays three hundred lire not less. Does it drop into one's hand with the first fare? One must belong to the Guilds it is less robbery!" "But for your gastaldo, your great man, for him it is much honor " "Eccellenza, believe it not. If the taxes are not there for the provveditori, it is the gastaldo who pays.
The Provveditori will charge themselves with the details of the Royal progress as the Signoria hath directed." "Let me but sign the parchment, as it may please them," she urged, "for the last time with the Royal Seal of Cyprus but spare me more! I would fain withdraw into the Holy House of St. Francis and be at rest."
They were all silent until Ecciva, less overcome by these tragic memories, resumed her story. "And after that, Tristan came no more; nor his sister, the fair Alicia; nor Rizzo, the dark-browed. Nor was it many days ere Violante, the most holy sister, had left the court. Ask the Provveditori!" "But what message did they bring Her Majesty?"
Santa Maria! the Signori, 'i provveditori alle pompe' have nothing to say, for there is a dispensation! the velvets and satins and golden fringes it will be a true glimpse of the paradiso!"
Besides the Rector there was a town council of ten, which acted as police superintendents. The five provveditori, elected annually from among the "Pregati," looked after the rigorous observance of the statute. No law could be altered without the vote of seven-eighths of the Greater Council, and no new law could be made without a three-quarters majority of the same.
"It is the first time I have the honor of conducting his Excellency; he is perhaps of the Provveditori al Comun?" These officials collected the government taxes and were viewed with jealous eyes by the gondoliers. "Nay; I am Paolo Cagliari; I belong to a better craft. But please thyself, for there is much talk of this matter."
If that question of "sposalizia" is not imminent there is truth enough for any Venetian conscience in the story of the ranks of princely gondolas at the bend of the Canal Grande, on the days when the donna nobile of the Giustiniani gives welcome to her guests princely gondolas they are, with felzes of brocaded and embroidered stuffs, the framework inlaid with ivory and mother of pearl, with metal fittings curiously wrought, and all that bravery of pomp so dear to the Venetian heart, which calls forth surly decrees from those stern Signori of the Council the much unloved "Provveditori alle Pompe," the sumptuary officers of this superb Republic.
He, as I have said, presently disappeared, the victim of a mysterious assassination; and Venice governed Ravenna by provveditori and podesta, as happily and successfully, it might seem, as she governed Venetia and a part of Lombardy.
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