This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1711 edition. Excerpt: ... THE first Inhabitants of the Isles of the *-jif*iv ' gums, amongst which Venice is now seated, p.jbiick'of are by some said to come from Vannet in Vmkt. Britany, called by Ctfar Veneti. Others rive em from the Heneti, who after the Destruction of % came With Anterior into Italy, and landing in those arfiies of the Adriatic DEGREES Sea, inhabited the adjacent mtitry. But without entring into that Dispute, this is rtaih, that they were only Inhabited by poor Fishermen 1 the beginning of the fifth Century; at which time, i Rjalto being declared a place of Refuge, by the Padu. i who were Lords of the Iflands of the Lagunes, the mveniency of a safe Retreat in a time of Calamity and stress, gave rife to this Republick, that has since prov'd: Ornament of Italy. 'Tis well known that after the irperor Constantinc the Great had remov'd the Seat of *. ' Empire to Constantinople, Italy was afflicted with a long iin.or" Misfortunes, and frequently plagn'd with theln10ns of the Barbarians. And'tWas the misery and deition that the Goths, Wefl-Goths, and Huns, made one? er another in the space of half a-century of Years, that t the Inhabitants of the Country adjacent to the Ldgunes, ier a necessity of flying to take shelter in these Marshes DEGREES ere, after they had felt the Benefit of a safe Protection: m such dismal Inundation's, they settled, and, by dees formed a very Potent and well constituted Repubi. tjpon the first Invasion of the Gotbs under their igUadagaisws, in the Year 407, the Neighbouring Iii>i: ants of .the Terra firma resorted tliither with their cxls and Treasure; but soon after, upon the defeat of Mm Radi y judwip* by the two Generals of the Emperor Rmri* they returned tothcir Habitations. But m the Year DEGREES the In