by name, the following are all that I can produce, and none of them are
new.
First there is the notice regarding his presentation of his book to
Thibault de Cepoy, of which we need say no more (_supra_, p. _68_).
Next there is the Preface to Friar Pipino’s Translation, which we give
at length in the Appendix (E) to these notices. The phraseology of this
appears to imply that Marco was still alive, and this agrees with the
date assigned to the work by Ramusio. Pipino was also the author of a
Chronicle, of which a part was printed by Muratori, and this contains
chapters on the Tartar wars, the destruction of the Old Man of the
Mountain, etc., derived from Polo. A passage not printed by Muratori
has been extracted by Prof. Bianconi from a MS. of this Chronicle in
the Modena Library, and runs as follows:—
“The matters which follow, concerning the magnificence of the
Tartar Emperors, whom in their language they call _Cham_ as we
have said, are related by Marcus Paulus the Venetian in a certain
Book of his which has been translated by me into Latin out of the
Lombardic Vernacular. Having gained the notice of the Emperor
himself and become attached to his service, he passed nearly 27
years in the Tartar countries.”[5]
Again we have that mention of Marco by Friar Jacopo d’Acqui, which
we have quoted in connection with his capture by the Genoese, at
p. _54_.[6] And the Florentine historian GIOVANNI VILLANI,[7] when
alluding to the Tartars, says:—
“Let him who would make full acquaintance with their history
examine the book of Friar Hayton, Lord of Colcos in Armenia, which
he made at the instance of Pope Clement V., and also the Book
called _Milione_ which was made by Messer Marco Polo of Venice,
who tells much about their power and dominion, having spent a long
time among them. And so let us quit the Tartars and return to our
subject, the History of Florence.”[8]
[Sidenote: Further contemporary references.]