The formation of the joyous Companies was a natural reaction after the huge efforts, the strenuous labours, the awful dangers that had filled the fourteenth century, and had placed Venice high among the European powers. From the foundation of the first of the Company, that of the ‘Peacocks,’ to the dispersion of the ‘Accesi,’ the ‘Ardent,’ which was the last, a hundred and eighty-six years went by, which may be called six generations, during which forty-three Companies succeeded each other, and the ‘Hose Club’ became famous throughout Europe for its extravagance, and for the fertility of its festive inventions.
It made it its especial business to adorn with its presence in a body the public baptisms of noble children, and important weddings, the visits of illustrious personages, and even elections where there was much at stake. When a foreign sovereign stopped in Venice, he asked to be made an honorary member of the Company, he sometimes adopted its dress, and he took home with him its emblem and its motto.
The most famous of all the Companies was that of the ‘Reali,’ the ‘Royals,’ which was in existence about the year 1530. The members wore a red
Cicogna, Iscr. iii. 366.
stocking on the right leg, and a blue one on the left, which was embroidered on one side with large flowers of violet colour, and on the other the emblem of the Company, which was a cypress, over which ran the motto, ‘May our glorious name go up
PONTE S. ANTONIO
to heaven.’ The members wore a vest of velvet embroidered with gold and fine pearls, and the sleeves were fastened on by knots of ribband of different colours, a fashion permitting the wearer to display his shirt of gossamer linen, exquisitely embroidered.
A leathern or a gilded girdle was worn too, ornamented with precious stones, and over the shoulder was carelessly thrown a short mantle of cloth of gold, or damask, or brocade, with a hood thrown back, in the lining of which was seen again the emblematic cypress.
Last of all the ‘toga,’ the great cloak, was red, and was fastened at the neck by a small golden chain, from the end of which a handsome jewel hung down below the ear, over one shoulder. The boots were of embroidered or cut leather, and were made with very thin soles.