From a list of parchments existing in the archives of the Casa di
Ricovero, or Great Poor House, at Venice, Comm. Berchet obtained the
following indication: -
"No. 94. Marco Galetti invests Marco Polo S. of Nicolo with the
ownership of his possessions (beni) in S. Giovanni Grisostomo; 10
September, 1319; drawn up by the Notary Nicolo, priest of S.
Canciano."
This document would perhaps have thrown light on the matter, but
unfortunately recent search by several parties has failed to trace it.
[The document has been discovered since: see vol. ii., Calendar,
No. 6. - H. C.]
[2] - "Sua casa che era posta nel confin di S. Giovanni Chrisostomo,
che hor fa l'anno s'abbrugio totalmente, con gran danno di molti."
(Doglioni, Hist. Venetiana, Ven. 1598, pp. 161-162.)
"1596. 7 Nov. Senato (Arsenal ... ix c. 159 t).
"Essendo conveniente usar qualche ricognizione a quelli della
maestranza del-l'Arsenal nostro, che prontamente sono concorsi all'
incendio occorso ultimamente a S. Zuane Grizostomo nelli stabeli detti
di CA' MILION dove per la relazion fatta nell collegio nostro dalli
patroni di esso Arsenal hanno nell' estinguere il foco prestato ogni
buon servitio...." - (Comm. by Cav. Cecchetti through Comm. Berchet.)
[3] See a paper by G. C. (the Engineer Giovanni Casoni) in Teatro
Emeronitio Almanacco par l'Anno 1835.
[4] This Cross is engraved by Mr. Ruskin in vol. ii. of the Stones of
Venice: see p. 139, and Pl. xi. Fig. 4.
[5] Casoni's only doubt was whether the Corte del Millioni was what is
now the Sabbionera, or the interior area of the theatre. The latter
seems most probable.
One Illustration of this volume, p. 1, shows the archway in the Corte
Sabbionera, and also the decorations of the soffit.
[6] See Ruskin, iii. 320.
[7] Comm. Barozzi writes: "Among us, contracts between husband and wife
are and were very common, and recognized by law. The wife sells to the
husband property not included in dowry, or that she may have
inherited, just as any third person might."
[8] See Appendix C, No. 16.
V. DIGRESSION CONCERNING THE WAR-GALLEYS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN STATES IN
THE MIDDLE AGES.
[Sidenote: Arrangement of the Rowers in Mediaeval Galleys: a separate oar
to every man.]
25. And before entering on this new phase of the Traveller's biography it
may not be without interest that we say something regarding the equipment
of those galleys which are so prominent in the mediaeval history of the
Mediterranean.[1]
Eschewing that "Serbonian Bog, where armies whole have sunk" of Books and
Commentators, the theory of the classification of the Biremes and Triremes
of the Ancients, we can at least assert on secure grounds that in
mediaeval armament, up to the middle of the 16th century or thereabouts,
the characteristic distinction of galleys of different calibres, so far as
such differences existed, was based on the number of rowers that sat on
one bench pulling each his separate oar, but through one portella or
rowlock-port.[2] And to the classes of galleys so distinguished the
Italians, of the later Middle Age at least, did certainly apply, rightly
or wrongly, the classical terms of Bireme, Trireme, and Quinquereme,
in the sense of galleys having two men and two oars to a bench, three men
and three oars to a bench, and five men and five oars to a bench.[3]
