of the ship, and some 20 feet in length; its platform being elevated
sufficiently to allow of free passage under it and over the benches.
At the bow was the battery, consisting of mangonels (see vol. ii. p.
161 _seqq._) and great cross-bows with winding gear,[16] whilst there
were shot-ports[17] for smaller cross-bows along the gunnels in the
intervals between the benches. Some of the larger galleys had openings
to admit horses at the stern, which were closed and caulked for the
voyage, being under water when the vessel was at sea.[18]
It seems to have been a very usual piece of tactics, in attacking as
well as in awaiting attack, to connect a large number of galleys by
hawsers, and sometimes also to link the oars together, so as to render
it difficult for the enemy to break the line or run aboard. We find
this practised by the Genoese on the defensive at the battle of Ayas
(_infra_, p. _43_), and it is constantly resorted to by the Catalans in
the battles described by Ramon de Muntaner.[19]
Sanudo says the toil of rowing in the galleys was excessive, almost
unendurable. Yet it seems to have been performed by freely-enlisted
men, and therefore it was probably less severe than that of the
great-oared galleys of more recent times, which it was found
impracticable to work by free enlistment, or otherwise than by slaves
under the most cruel driving.[20] I am not well enough read to say
that war-galleys were never rowed by slaves in the Middle Ages, but
the only doubtful allusion to such a class that I have met with is
in one passage of Muntaner, where he says, describing the Neapolitan
and Catalan fleets drawing together for action, that the gangs
of the galleys had to toil _like_ “forçats” (p. 313). Indeed, as
regards Venice at least, convict rowers are stated to have been first
introduced in 1549, previous to which the gangs were of _galeotti
assoldati_.[21]
[Sidenote: Crew of a Galley and Staff of a Fleet.]