Bedmar, Alphonso

marquis de, a Spanish cardinal, was born in 1572. He was at first ambassador of Philip III before the republic of Venice, and united, it is said, in 1618, with the duke of Ossone, viceroy of Naples, and with don Pedro of Toledo, governor of Milan, to destroy the state before which he represented his monarch. He collected the strangers in the city, and assured hiinself of their services by the power of his silver. The plan was to fire the arsenal of the republic and to seize the more important posts, but-the conspiracy was discovered. He died Aug. 2, 1655. There is attributed to him a treatise, in Italian, against the liberty of the republic of Venice, entitled Squittinio delta Liberta Veneta (Mirandele, 1612), and translated into French by Amelot of Houssaie (Ratisbon, 1677); but others, with more reason, attribute this to Velser. The Library of Lyons contains a MS. of Bedmar in Italian. This is a recital wade to Philip III, king of Spain, upon the ancient government, the revenues, the land and naval forces, the tribunals, the councils, the commercial and political reports of the republic of Venice. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.