In the Basilica San Marco, Venice, from ...*
Editor's footnote: "Only by invitation and on special occasions did the patriarch... come to the doge's chapel... to celebrate Mass." p 364.
Sanudo Diaries: Oct 20, 1511 (con't); (13:132-5): "When it was over, the procession was allowed to enter the church. As is customary, it was led into the church by the first scuola to arrive in the Piazza, which entered the choir and passed in front of the doge. Upon leaving the church, the procession wound around Piazza San Marco, starting at the door to the Ducal Palace. The procession did honor to the city and is worthy of being recorded, and it took place with the great pleasure and jubilation of the city. Therefore I will explain here exactly how it was organized. First of all came the Scuola di la Misericordia bearing gilded double candleholders with ------- wax torches in them and the standard of the scuola, then twenty-seven little boys dressed like angels, all carrying silver objects in their hands, while others bore the arms of the league, that is, of the pope, the king of Spain, the king of England, and St Mark, who represents our government. Next came fifty-eight flagellants arranged in pairs carrying in their hands various silver objects, such as pastry trays, vessels, and basins [Ed. Footnote: "demonstrating the wealth of the scuola."]. These were followed by an icon carried on a little platform, sheltered by an umbrella. This icon had belonged to Cardinal Nicenus [Bessarion], who gave it to that scuola when [1439] he was a papal legate here. Next came the hand of Saint Theodosia encased in silver, followed by the thorn from the crown of Christ, housed in a tabernacle and also carried on a small platform and sheltered by an umbrella whose ribs were made of silver. Following that came more flagellants carrying beautiful silver objects, among which I spied an elaborately worked hand-held cross and a silver ship decorated with everything that a ship requires and weighing ------- marks. Last came a large number of flagellants with their green candles in their hands....
They were followed by the Scuola di San Rocho, carrying their gilded candleholders and crucifix. Since the scuola does not have a standard, they next carried an umbrella that sheltered a small platform bearing a tabernacle with the finger of San Rocho [famous for curing leprosy]. That scuola has his body, which they put on public display. There were also four Greek icons of silver and mosaic.... Next came the flagellants, carrying a large basket lined in crimson satin piled high with silver objects of great weight, that is, pastry trays, vessels, basins, and such silver pieces. These were followed by a silver tray surmounted by a horse and rider, also in silver, with an inscription that read "Zuan Paulo Baion." [Ed. Footnote: "Recently made governor general of the Venetian army." p. 365] Next came two baskets full of silver items, and finally twenty-eight little [children dressed as] angels, walking two by two and carrying silver objects. They were followed by two beautiful, elaborately decorated Parisian-style silver coffers, which were quite large, then two large silver goblets, containing two crocodiles. Following them on foot came a figure dressed to resemble Justice and carrying a sword and silver scales. Next appeared a life-size wooden statue of San Rocho dressed in a gold mantle and preceded by [a young boy dressed as] an angel. Then came flagellants carrying six large basins; they were followed by trumpets and a platform upon which was seated a figure of St Mark dressed as an apostle, in front of which stood a clothed woman representing Venice. [Above her was] a little dove representing the Holy Spirit; it carried a scroll in its beak that read, in Latin, "I have seen your tears." [Ed. footnote: "From 2 Kings 20:5...". p 366] The figure of Venice carried another scroll that read, "I give thanks to you because you have shown me everything." St Mark carried another scroll, whose comforting inscription was directed toward [the figure of] Venice: "Do not fear to confront them for I am with you." The float also bore two young handmaidens. One was Peace, who carried this scroll: "God has restored peace to us." The other was Mercy, whose scroll read: "The city is full of the mercy of God." Preceding the platform was a gold banner with an image of St Mark to show that it symbolized Venice. Then came a platform carrying the king of England on horseback, a remarkable sight, with a scroll reading: "Fear not: I will multiply your seed and your city." Next came another platform bearing a ship, and its legend read: "Fear not, for the wind has ceased." Then came the king of Spain on horseback; he too had a scroll, which read, "I have never found so much faith as was and abides in you." Next came the fourth platform, with the pope, who was seated, and two cardinals, one standing on each side of his chair. The king of France stood before him enveloped in gilded flames; his scroll read: "Help me, O Lord, for I am being tortured in this flame." The pope responded by saying, "Why has your faith grown cold?" One cardinal's scroll read, "It would have been good," while the other's read, "Had he not been born." The pope wore a miter and a cope of gold brocade. Borne along on one of these platforms was the world in the form of a globe and a woman dressed as Justice, a magnificent sight. The platforms were decorated around the edges with various silver items of great value; they were followed by the flagellants carrying ash-colored torches rather than candles in their hands."
nedits: there were three other scuola in procession described but our editors move on ...
Sanudo Diaries: Oct 20, 1511 (con't); (13:137): "Next came the Servite friars and the friars of San Jacomo on the Giudecca, one by one, numbering fifty. Thirty-four of them were dressed in copes and [vestments] to celebrate Mass. They carried many of their silver items and relics, crowns of Our Lady, and tabernacles. Indeed, they have very beautiful things, including a large silver bust of St John the pope and martyr [Ed. footnote: "Pope John I (AD 523-6)." p. 367] and another bust of about the same size, which is of St Mary Cleophe [wife of Cleophas, stood with Mary and Mary Magdalene at the crucifixion of Christ] and which was carried in a large chalice. All in all, these friars were well appointed with various kinds of relics.... The friars of San Stephano and San Cristoforo di la Pace came next in single file, numbering sixty. First came the young friars, twenty-eight in number; they were dressed in surplics and carried various silver objects, that is, basins, pastry trays, and goblets.... and clothed statues of saints decked with jewels, among which I noted a small St Hironimo dressed as a cardinal with a cardinal's hat on his head. Next came the friars wearing vestments.... And then came six friars wearing Mass vestments; their chasubles were all embroidered with pearls of great value, and they carried silver objects in their hands. A platform bearing the seated pope appeared next, with the two kings of the league flanking him. A small manger scene was also included, and pastry trays were placed along the edges. Finally there came twenty elderly friars who are masters in theology; they carried candles in their hands and were dressed in their usual black habits; they are called elsewhere Heremitani."
Editor's note: "Included in addition were 110 Dominican preachers, followed by those having theological degrees, numerous reliquaries, including two arms, one of St Luke the Evangelist and one of St Matthew the Evangelist, both "with pens in their hands" (13:139); various groups of canons, the nine congregations of the clergy (13:140), the chapter of San Marco, followed by the doge and other dignitaries." p. 368.
Sanudo Diaries: Oct 20, 1511 (con't); (13:141-2) "At this point the doge exited the church, and the bells of San Marco began their usual peal. The procession made its way to the Pietra dil Bando, where such accords are normally made public. Many trumpets and battle trumpets having sounded and then fallen silent, the league was proclaimed by Baptista, the steward of the Zudega di Proprio, as [the document] had been consigned to him by Gasparo di la Vedoa, the doge's secretary. A copy of it will be included below. The announcement concluded to great cheers of "Long Live St Mark" [Vita missier San Marco], the playing of a wind band, and the booming of artillery from the ships that were in port. While music continued to play in the Piazza San Marco, following the procession as it made its way around the square were..."
Editor's footnote: "Here Sanudo lists the participants in the procession: government officials, young women, musicians, men carrying relics, prelates, and scores of patricians. The list occupies seven columns." The 'Zudega' or Giudici del Proprio is given in Appendix B: Glossary and Terms as "One of the oldest courts in Venice, with jurisdiction over dowry restitution, intestate succession, divisions between brothers, and some property disputes." p.368
Editor's Note: "The entire celebration was both an affirmation and an assertion of Venetian glory to hearten the Venetians themselves and to send a message of strength to those who lived in the Venetian dominion, so recently challenged and now being recovered." p. 368
nedits: The plain that stretched from the mainland near Venice all the way to the Alps and the Lake regions to the East and including protected cities like Padua, Treviso, Vicenza, Verona, Ferrara, also had to handle the swarming hordes of Maximilian I's armies and then the French and Spanish contingents for the previous 36 months. Back and forth they traded masters. imperial governors were sent and became unpopular. Padua was laid siege to and broke it. Vicenza and Este were retaken by Venetian forces late in 1509, but Louis XII retook Vicenza in May. An accord was struck in 1510 with Pope Julius II but they were humiliating for Venice. A clear defeat for Venice. She could no longer select her own clergy. And that wasn't the half of it. Because the reason this pope Julius II was in this fight was itself a long story. There is plenty of evidence to show that he wanted more Papal Lands to draw tithes and indulgences from for sure. But in particular he wanted Ferrara and to keep Bologna and Ravenna and Rimini. But the French kept heading south along the length of Italy. The Italian Gian Giacomo Trivulzio took Bologna in 1511 for Louis XII and held it after Alfonso d'Este had destroyed the Venetian forces at the mouth of the Po in the spring of that very year 1511. So the Venetians needed good news and threw a party.
* All quotes as Sanudo Diaries or Editor's notes or Editor's Footnotes, as well as bibliography entries, from Venice, Cita Excellentissima, Selection from the Renaissance Diaries of Marin Sanudo translated by Linda L Carroll, editors: Patricia H LaBalme and Laura Sanguineti White, published by Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008
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