sails and oars, _that being the number of oars in each galley_,
one man to each oar and three to each bench. Casoni assumes that
this vessel must have been much larger than the galleys of the 14th
century; but, however that may have been, Sanudo to his galley
assigns the larger crew of 250, of whom almost exactly the same
proportion (180) were rowers. And in the _galeazza_ described by
Pietro Martire the oars were used only as an occasional auxiliary.
(See his _Legationis Babylonicæ Libri Tres_, appended to his 3
Decads concerning the New World; _Basil_. 1533, f. 77 _ver._) (3)
The galleys of the 18th century, with their great oars 50 feet
long pulled by six or seven men each, had 25 benches to the side,
and only 4′ 6″ (French) gunnel-space to each oar. (See _Mém. d’un
Protest._, p. 434.) I imagine that a smaller space would suffice
for the 3 light oars of the mediæval system, so that this need
scarcely be a difficulty in the face of the preceding evidence.
Note also the _three hundred rowers_ in Joinville’s description
quoted at p. _40_. The great galleys of the Malay Sultan of Achin
in 1621 had, according to Beaulieu, from 700 to 800 rowers, but I
do not know on what system.
[13] _Marinus Sanutius_, p. 78. These titles occur also in the
_Documenti d’ Amore_ of Fr. Barberino referred to at p. 117 of this
volume:—
“Convienti qui manieri _Portolatti e prodieri_ E presti galeotti
Aver, e forti e dotti.”
[14] Spinello’s works, according to Vasari, extended from 1334 till
late in the century. A religious picture of his at Siena is
assigned to 1385, so the frescoes may probably be of about the same
period. Of the battle represented I can find no record.
[15] Engraved in Jal, i. 330; with other mediæval illustrations of the
same points.
[16] To these Casoni adds _Sifoni_ for discharging Greek fire; but this
he seems to take from the Greek treatise of the Emperor Leo. Though
I have introduced Greek fire in the cut at p. _49_, I doubt if
there is evidence of its use by the Italians in the thirteenth
century. Joinville describes it like something strange and new.
In after days the artillery occupied the same position, at the bow
of the galley.
Great beams, hung like battering rams, are mentioned by Sanudo, as
well as iron crow’s-feet with fire attached, to shoot among the
rigging, and jars of quick-lime and soft soap to fling in the eyes
of the enemy. The lime is said to have been used by Doria against
the Venetians at Curzola (_infra_, p. _48_), and seems to have been
a usual provision. Francesco Barberini specifies among the stores
for his galley: “_Calcina_, con lancioni, Pece, pietre, e ronconi”
(p. 259). And Christine de Pisan, in her _Faiz du Sage Roy Charles_
(V. of France), explains also the use of the soap: “_Item_, on
doit avoir pluseurs vaisseaulx legiers à rompre, comme _poz plains
de chauls_ ou pouldre, et gecter dedens; et, par ce, seront comme
avuglez, au brisier des poz. _Item_, on doit avoir autres _poz
de mol savon_ et gecter es nefzs des adversaires, et quant les
vaisseaulx brisent, le savon est glissant, si ne se peuent en piez
soustenir et chiéent en l’eaue” (pt. ii. ch. 38).
[17] _Balistariæ_, whence no doubt _Balistrada_ and our _Balustrade_.
Wedgwood’s etymology is far-fetched. And in his new edition (1872),
though he has shifted his ground, he has not got nearer the truth.
[18] _Sanutius_, p. 53; _Joinville_, p. 40; _Muntaner_, 316, 403.
[19] See pp. 270, 288, 324, and especially 346.
[20] See the _Protestant_, cited above, p. 441, _et seqq._
[21] _Venezia e le sue Lagune_, ii. 52.
[22] _Mar. Sanut._ p. 75.
[23] _Mar. Sanut._, p. 30.
[24] The Catalan Admiral Roger de Loria, advancing at daybreak to
attack the Provençal Fleet of Charles of Naples (1283) in the
harbour of Malta, “did a thing which should be reckoned to him
rather as an act of madness,” says Muntaner, “than of reason. He
said, ‘God forbid that I should attack them, all asleep as they
are! Let the trumpets and nacaires sound to awaken them, and I will
tarry till they be ready for action. No man shall have it to say,
if I beat them, that it was by catching them asleep.’” (_Munt._ p.
287.) It is what Nelson might have done!
The Turkish admiral Sidi ’Ali, about to engage a Portuguese
squadron in the Straits of Hormuz, in 1553, describes the Franks as
“dressing their vessels with flags and coming on.” (_J. As._ ix.
70.)
[25] A cross _patée_, is one with the extremities broadened out into
_feet_ as it were.
[26] Page 50.
[27] The galley at p. _49_ is somewhat too high; and I believe it
should have had no _shrouds_.
[28] See _Muntaner_, passim, _e.g._ 271, 286, 315, 349.
[29] _Ibid._ 346.
VI. THE JEALOUSIES AND NAVAL WARS OF VENICE AND GENOA. LAMBA DORIA’S
EXPEDITION TO THE ADRIATIC; BATTLE OF CURZOLA; AND IMPRISONMENT
OF MARCO POLO BY THE GENOESE.
[Sidenote: Growing jealousies and outbreaks between the Republics.]