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MEDIEVAL AND MODERN HISTORY 27
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and
still continues with the gravest injury to private persons. Therefore,
as it is necessary to remedy, by a new provision, not only this
considerable incommodity, but also to prevent in the future the
introduction into the city of a greater quantity of pearls than are
found here at present, it is enacted, that married women as well as
those who shall marry in the future (except the Serene Dogaressa and
her daughters and her daughters-in-law living in the palace) of
whatever grade and condition they may be, who have resided in this city
for one year, cannot wear pearls of any kind except for ten years
immediately following the day of their
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first
marriage; and after that period they must lay aside these pearls which
they are forbidden to wear on any part of their persons, at home or
abroad, and as well in this as in the other cities, lands, and other
places of our dominion, under the penalty of two hundred ducats. And
if the husband of the offending wife is a noble, he shall be
proclaimed in the greater council and declared a debtor to the office
of the governors of the revenue in the sum of twenty-five ducats for
each fine ; and if he is a citizen or of any other condition, besides
the penalty of two hundred ducats and the fine of twenty-five ducats
above mentioned, he shall be banished for three years from Venice and
the Duchy, and the same for each offence. And pearls or anything which
imitates pearls, shall be forbidden to all other women, men and boys or
girls of every age and condition at all times and in all places, under
the same penalty of two hundred ducats. In the future no one shall in
any manner bring pearls to this city as merchandise, under the penalty
of their seizure and forfeiture. And the merchant shall be imprisoned
for five consecutive years ; and if he flees, he shall be banished from
the city and district of Venice and from all other cities, lands, and
places of our dominion for eight consecutive years. . . . And all who
at present have pearls to sell are required to deposit a list of them
with the sumptuary office, so as to avoid all fraud which could be
practiced in this matter.
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A copy of the title-page of this enactment is presented above.
The
decrees and edicts were not confined to Venice, or to Italy, France, or
Germany; they made their appearance quite generally throughout western
and northern Europe and the interdictions of the
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