Barbarigo (Agostino) Doge of Venice

Document on vellum, unsigned, in Venetian Italian interspersed with Latin, to Don Marco Maffei, Vicar General of the Bishop of Ceneda (now part of the city of Vittorio Veneto, Province of Treviso, N. Italy), saying he has learnt with "the greatest displeasure" in the present grave crisis of the Turkish war, affecting not only "our State but all Christendom", that after requiring the people in the Bishop's diocese to collect and cart all available timber planks "to the river banks", for "this occasion only, without derogation from [your people's] privileges", and having had the order repeated on the spot by the representatives of the Venice Arsenal, the collection "has run into no little trouble". He repeats his firm decision that "the people of this district" should comply "absolutely immediately ['subito, subito']", and, "so as they hold dear our favour", the Vicar General is to impose on them and exact "such penalties, whether monetary or physical, as shall seem expedient ... to make them obey you", one page, on vellum, part of surface slightly rubbed but still legible, lacks seal, with 12 diagonal slits for cords, folio, Venice, 4th January 1500.