DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9841#0174
XXXIII.] PARDON OFFERED ON CERTAIN CONDITIONS. 155
mission." Some of them ventured to do so, but the
leading families, and the mountaineers, could not trust
themselves to the word or mercy of persons, by whom
all ordinary principles of justice and humanity were
so wholly disregarded. Their property was therefore
declared confiscated, their lives forfeited, and a price
was set on their heads. The life of any inhabitant of
the several proscribed districts could only be redeemed
on a condition, which is perhaps more revolting to the
common feelings of mankind, than any other savage act
of these unchristian rulers. Pardon was promised to
any one of the proscribed, on condition that he pro-
duced, in Khania, " the head of his father, or brother,
or cousin, or nephew." This generous humanity was
extended even further: each additional head which one
man might bring into the city, would entitle him to
demand from the governor the forfeited life of another
relation. It is painful to learn, that the lives of many
of the unfortunate objects of this barbarous and in-
human persecution, were thus redeemed by the deaths
of their dearest relatives27.
At length a priest, of the family of the Pateri-Zapa,
entered the city, accompanied by his two sons, and by
two of his brothers, each individual of the mournful
party carrying in his hand a human head. We know,
from the terms of the Venetian law, how near and dear
those who had thus heroically died, must have been to
the five survivors, whose lives could only be rendered
secure by this dreadful sacrificet8. The wretched men
placed their bleeding offerings before the Signor Cavalli,
and the other representatives of Venice, and with the
bitterest tears stated whose heads they were29. The facts
27 "In tal modo furono seguiti diversi accommodamenti, et non in altro
modo."
28 Of the five heads, the first belonged to a son of the priest, the second
to one of his brothers, the third to his son-in-law, and the fourth and fifth
to sons of one of his brothers.
29 "Le gitto alia presenza del S1, Cavalli, et delli altri Rappresentanti,
et con amarissime lacrime rappresentava a quali fussero esse teste."
mission." Some of them ventured to do so, but the
leading families, and the mountaineers, could not trust
themselves to the word or mercy of persons, by whom
all ordinary principles of justice and humanity were
so wholly disregarded. Their property was therefore
declared confiscated, their lives forfeited, and a price
was set on their heads. The life of any inhabitant of
the several proscribed districts could only be redeemed
on a condition, which is perhaps more revolting to the
common feelings of mankind, than any other savage act
of these unchristian rulers. Pardon was promised to
any one of the proscribed, on condition that he pro-
duced, in Khania, " the head of his father, or brother,
or cousin, or nephew." This generous humanity was
extended even further: each additional head which one
man might bring into the city, would entitle him to
demand from the governor the forfeited life of another
relation. It is painful to learn, that the lives of many
of the unfortunate objects of this barbarous and in-
human persecution, were thus redeemed by the deaths
of their dearest relatives27.
At length a priest, of the family of the Pateri-Zapa,
entered the city, accompanied by his two sons, and by
two of his brothers, each individual of the mournful
party carrying in his hand a human head. We know,
from the terms of the Venetian law, how near and dear
those who had thus heroically died, must have been to
the five survivors, whose lives could only be rendered
secure by this dreadful sacrificet8. The wretched men
placed their bleeding offerings before the Signor Cavalli,
and the other representatives of Venice, and with the
bitterest tears stated whose heads they were29. The facts
27 "In tal modo furono seguiti diversi accommodamenti, et non in altro
modo."
28 Of the five heads, the first belonged to a son of the priest, the second
to one of his brothers, the third to his son-in-law, and the fourth and fifth
to sons of one of his brothers.
29 "Le gitto alia presenza del S1, Cavalli, et delli altri Rappresentanti,
et con amarissime lacrime rappresentava a quali fussero esse teste."