NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

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NOTE XLVIIL Sect. III. p. 139.

In the hiftory of the reign of Charles V. vol. i. p. 163.I obferved, that, during the war excited by the famousLeague of Cambray, while Charles VIII. of France couldnot procure money at a lefs premium than forty-two percent., the Venetians raifed what fums they pleafed at fiveper cent. But this, I imagine, is not to be confideredas the ufual commercial rate of intereft at that period,but as a voluntary and public-fpirited effort of the citizens,in order to fupport their country at a dangerous crifis.Of fuch laudable exertions , there are feveral {hikinginftances in the hiftory of the republic. In the year1579, when the Genoefe, after obtaining a great navalvictory over the Venetians , were ready to attack theircapital, the citizens, by a voluntary contribution, enabledthe fenate to fit out fuch a powerful armament as favedtheir country. Sabellicus , Hilt. Rer. Venet. Dec. ii.lib. vi. p. 385- 590. In the war with Ferrara, whichbegan in the year 1472, the fenate, relying upon theattachment of the citizens to their country, required themto bring all their gold and filver plate, and jewels, intothe public treafury, upon promife of paying the value ofthem at the conclufion of the war, with five per cent,of intereft; and this requifition was complied with cheer-fully. Petr. Cyrnaeus de Bello Ferrar. ap. Murat. Script.Rer. Ital. vol. xxi. p. 1016.

NOTE XLIX. Sect. III. p. i 4 o.

Two fads may be mentioned as proofs of an extraoc.dinary extenfion of the Venetian trade at this period. - 1,There is in Rymer’s Great Collection, a feries of grantsfrom the kings of England, of various privileges andimmunities to Venetian merchants trading in England, as