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| IIIF Color HighRes |
| The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1 |
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Citation Information
ON MEDIzEVAL WAR-GALLEYS
39
which it was found impracticable to work by free enlistment, or
otherwise than by slaves under the most cruel driving.* 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
assoldaui.t
29. We have already mentioned that Sanudo requires for his
three-banked galley a ship's company of 250 men.
They are distributed as follows :
Crew of a Galley and Staff of a Fleet.
•
.
.
•
I Orderlies .
8 Cook . 2 Arblasteers 2 Rowers .
. . 2
. . I
. . . 50
. . . 180
Comito or Master .
Quartermasters .
Carpenters .
Caulkers . .
In charge of stores and arms
4
•
250+
This does not include the Sopracomito, or Gentleman-Commander,
who was expected to be valens lzomo et probus, a soldier and a
gentleman, fit to be consulted on occasion by the captain-
general. In the Venetian fleet he was generally a
noble.
The aggregate pay of such a crew, not including the sopra-
comito, amounted monthly to 6o lire de' grossi, or 600 florins,
equivalent to 2801. at modern gold value ; and the cost for a
year to nearly 31601., exclusive of the victualling of the vessel
and the pay of the gentleman-commander. The build or
purchase of a galley complete is estimated by the same author
at 15,000 florins, or 70121.
We see that war cost a good deal in money even then.
Besides the ship's own complement Sanudo gives an estimate
for the general staff of a fleet of 6o galleys. This consists of a
captain-general, two (vice) admirals, and the following :
* See the Protestant, cited above, p. 441, et seqq. t Venezia e le sue Lagune, ii. 52, § Mar. Sankt., p. 30.
+ Mar. Same. p. 75.
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