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CHAPTER IV.

Festival of the Corpus Domini.—Service in Saint
Mark*s. —The Five Great Schools. — Procession
Round the Piazza.—New Contract with Agostino
Contarini.—Preparations for the Departure.

On Thursday, the 29th of May, there was the great festival
of the Corpus Domini (Note 45). I had heard from those
who knew, that all the pilgrims were expected to assemble
in the Church of St. Mark to join the procession. In
order therefore, not to neglect my duty, and fearing lest
otherwise I might not find a place, I went early in the
morning to the palace of St, Mark, thinking to be among
the first. There I found the royal and ducal ambassadors
already congregated, and several bells were ringing
continually in the bell-tower of St. Mark's. About the
eleventh hour the most illustrious Doge descended from
the palace to go into the Church of St. Mark. His name
is the Lord Agostino Barbarigo (Note 46). He is a
handsome old man, with a fine white beard, and wore
his tiara on his head and a mantle made in the ducal
fashion, as he always does when he appears in public. He
was accompanied by the Beverend Father, the Lord Nicolo
Francho, Bishop of Treviso (said to be the Papal legate),
by the magnificent ambassadors aforesaid, and by a great
number of Venetian gentlemen. These were dressed, one
better than the other, in cloth of gold—^each more beautiful
than the other—crimson velvet, damask and scarlet; and
each had his stole over his shoulder. As they entered the
Church of St. Mark all the noises of the bells and every
other noise ceased.