spirit of its defenders. "Not to be utterly destroyed was thought a victory." Thanksgivings for the propitious event were offered up in Venice; solemn processions were made through the streets; masses were celebrated in all the churches; and alms were lavishly distributed among the poor.*

Forced, in a certain degree, to assume a tone of decision, Venice, at last, formed an offensive and defensive alliance with Charles V. and the Pope; while she, at the same time, obtained peace from the Porte, by sacrificing some of her possessions in Dalmatia, the Archipelago, and the Morea [1538]. In anticipation, however, of future ruptures, Corfú was strongly fortified, through the advice of Sforza Pallavicino, the Generalissimo of their land forces+ [1559]. In a work published at Venice, in 1573, by one Simon Pinargenti, there is given a plate of the citadel, representing it with a fort upon each of the summits, and a wall, with towers at intervals, extending from the height nearest the sea, to the ditch. The land front is formed of two large bastions and the ditch. The Mondrachio appears to have extended further back. There are but few buildings within the citadel, and no traces of a town beyond it. In a map, which is affixed to the same work,

* Hist. Venice, Fam. Lib. vol. ii.

↑ Diedo, Ist. di Venezia, t. ii.

the villages which are therein indicated, comprise only Casali; Gardichi, a small fort; Pagiopoli, a fort on the site of the ancient town; S. Spirito; San Angelo, a fort; Potamo, a fort; and St. Maria di Cassópo.

For some years, amicable relations were steadily maintained with Turkey, whose strength, meantime, was continually progressing; until the accession of Selim II.; this potentate early manifested an inclination to break through the subsisting alliance, and assiduously sought causes of offence against the Republic [1566]. Throwing off, at last, all disguise, he haughtily demanded the island of Cyprus; menacing that, in case of refusal, he would carry devastation into the uttermost parts of the Republic. His threats were but too soon fulfilled. Cyprus was invaded and taken; although with a loss on the side of the Turks, of fifty thousand men [1570]. Emboldened by success, they laid waste the Morea, and the adjacent islands; and an Ottoman fleet of two hundred sail appeared before Corfú: but, finding the island well prepared for defence, it continued its way up the Adriatic.

The Venetians, alarmed at the near approach of the Turks, fortified their capital, and exerted themselves to rouse the Spaniards in their cause; in which endeavour, with the assistance of the Pope, they at last succeeded. The Turkish Admiral, in the mean

time, satisfied with the glory of having insulted Venice in her own seas, and being apprehensive that, if he protracted his stay, the confederates would hasten to her relief, and blockade him in the gulf, changed his course and steered for Corfú; where his forces continued fifteen days, plundering the villages, and devastating the country, without however adventuring any attempt to lay siege to the fortress. He then made sail for the Morea. Shortly after the departure of the Turks, the Christian fleet, consisting of three hundred sail, and carrying fifty thousand foot, and four thousand five hundred horse, under the command of the celebrated Don Juan of Austria, arrived in the harbour of Corfú. He thence sailed to Gomenizza; and, having there obtained information that the Turkish fleet was off the Gulf of Lepanto, he followed them thither, and defeated them, in one of the most signal victories that have obtained a place in the annals of the world [Oct. 7th, 1571]. After the engagement, he returned to Corfú, where a division of the enemy's spoils took place. But the Venetians soon found that these victories obtained nothing for them, beyond humbling a power, whose friendship was absolutely necessary to their interests, and which they felt the importance of preserving at every sacrifice. The Senate, conse

* Univ. Hist. Venice.

quently, determined to treat about peace. For the sake of recovering all their former privileges in trade with the Ottoman dominions, they gave up the town of Sopoto in Albania, and the rich island of Cyprus; raised their annual tribute for the island of Zante from 500 to 1500 ducats; and paid down 300,000 more as an indenmity for the expenses of the war [1573]. It seemed as if it had been the Turks who had gained the battle of Lepanto.*

During the following century, with the exception of the war against the Usocchi, and the siege of Candia, the Republic was more occupied in upholding its nominal dignity among European states, than in devising military achievements. Corfú, however, was ever jealously guarded, although at great expense. Owing to the constant dread of hostile ravages from the opposite continent and Turkish pirates, the island was but little cultivated: and the inhabitants congregated near a few fortified villages, which had been in feof, as late as 1532, to a Venetian nobleman. The Republic, therefore, obtained but little revenue from it, except from the salt pans of Alefkimo, which were appropriated to the state ; and to monopolise which, it was made a crime for any of her subjects to obtain foreign salt. The house

* Daru, Hist. de Venise.

of the delinquent was razed to the ground, and he himself banished in perpetuity. But this revenue produced so little, that, when Venice admitted the children of Camilla Peretti, sister of Sixtus-Quintus, to the Book of Gold, the Holy Father having expressed his gratitude, the Venetians represented to him that the protection of Corfú and Candia, which were the two bulwarks of Christianity, cost them more than 500,000 écus a-year, and begged they might be allowed to levy a tenth on the goods of the clergy; the Pontiff gave them permission to raise four-tenths and a half a year. This produced from 60,000 to 80,000.* Pietro della Valle, who visited the island in 1614, gives the following description of it:

"Our vessel arrived at the port of Corfú; about which the Venetians have constructed, on roads. which frown defiance, some very strong fortresses. We remained here four days; on each of which, I went on shore to observe whatever was curious, and was treated always with much kindness; Signor Fabio Aronio, an officer there, and a countryman of ours, sleeping at night on board. The only thing that I found remarkable was the fortress, which is defended more by nature than by art, and is im

* Daru, Hist. de Venise.