ABSTRACT
From Milan we rode through Venetian land to Bern [Verona], Vicenza and Padua. They are three large and powerful towns in which my lord received great honour from burghers and chief people of Venice. It is said that the Venetians receive from these three towns some 300,000 crowns. My lord sent his herald forward to the Venetians for safe-conduct. They were pleased at my lord’s arrival and showed him much honour, and caused a fine house to be prepared for him. And the Doge’s boat with the procurators was ordered to come to meet my lord and orders were given that the podestà at Terfus [Treviso] should receive my lord and entertain him well and conduct him to Venice, all at their expense, for my lord had informed the Venetians through his herald that he would be at Treviso. But at Padua my lord took to the water and travelled to Venice to a wretched inn. This the Venetians took very ill and sent to my lord at the inn nothing but sugar, ginger, wine and wax. If my lord had stayed there long he would have been undone. 1 Nevertheless they showed him this honour, that they conducted him, together with his companions, to the great Council. My lord sat beside the Doge, while his companions were disposed of among the others of importance, and we were allowed to hear all their debates. We remained until the Council was ended. 2 It was said that this had not happened to any lord for many years. They let us see their treasure and took us to the Arsenal, and to meet beautiful ladies. They showed my lord 153the whole of Venice and saw to it that the councillors came each day to my lord’s inn and accompanied him to the churches, or wherever he wished to go. My lord made a request for money, but in vain. I acted as my lord’s interpreter before the Doge. 3
