The Venetians maintained their customary prerogatives; and in April 1606 Paul laid them under interdict and excommunication.

The Republic denied the legitimacy of this proceeding.

The Doge, Leonardo Donato, issued a proclamation to the clergy of all degrees within the domain, appealing to their loyalty and enjoining on them the discharge of their sacerdotal duties in spite of the Papal interdict.

Only Jesuits at first disobeyed the ducal mandate.

When they refused to say Mass in the excommunicated city, they were formally expelled as contumacious subjects; and the fathers took ship amid the maledictions of the populace: '_Andate in malora_.' Their example was subsequently followed by the reformed Capuchins and the Theatines.