NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

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NOTE XLVIII. Sect. III. p. 139.

In the history of the reign of Charles V. vol. i. p. 163.I observed, that, during the war excited by th® famousLeague of Cambray, while Charles VIII. of France could,not procure money at a less premium than forty-two percent., the Venetians raised what sums they pleased at fiveper cent. But this, I imagine, is not to be consideredas the usual commercial rate of interest at that period,but as a voluntary and public-spirited effort of the citizens,in order to support their country at a dangerous crisis.Of such laudable exertions , there are several strikinginstances in the history of the . republic. In the year1379, when the Genoese, after obtaining a great navalvictory over the Venetians, were ready to attack their'capital, the citizens, by a .voluntary contribution , enabledthe senate to fit out such a powerful armament as savedtheir country. Sabellicus , Hist. Rer. Venet. Dec. ii.lib. vi. p. 383. 390. In the war with Ferrara, whichbegan in the year 1472, the senate, relying upon theattachment of the citizens to their country, required themto bring all their gold and silver plate, and jewels, intothe public treasury, upon promise of paying the value ofthem at the conclusion of the war , with five per cent.of interest; and this requisition was complied with cheer-fully. Petr. Cyrnæus de Bello Ferrar. ap. A mat. Script.Rer. Ital. vol. xxi. p. 1016.

NOTE XLIX. Sect. III. p. 140.

Two facts may be mentioned as proofs of an extract,dinary extension of the Venetian trade at this period. 1.There is in Rymet’s Great Collection, a series of grantsfrom the kings of England, of various privileges andimmunities to Venetian merchants trading in England, as