IIIF Color HighRes
National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
| |||||||||
|
| IIIF Color HighRes |
| The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Citation Information
G¢ tNTROD'C.TCTION
Republics. It was a very different matter from that between
Genoa and Venice, and contained much that was humiliating
and detrimental to Pisa. But it embraced the release of
prisoners ; and those of Meloria, reduced it is said to less
than one tithe of their original number, had their liberty
at last. Among the prisoners then released no doubt Rustician
was one. But we hear of him no more.
VIII. NOTICES OF MARCO POLO'S HISTORY, AFTER THE TERMINATION OF HIS IMPRISONMENT AT GENOA.
•
43. A few very disconnected notices are all that can be col-
lected of matter properly biographical in relation to the quarter
Death of century during which Marco Polo survived the Genoese
Marco's
Father captivity.
before Will of hies' We have seen that he would probably reach Venice
brother
Maffeo in the course of August, 1299. Whether he found his
aged father alive is not known ; but we know at least that a year
later (31st August, 1300) Messer Nicolo was no longer in life.
This we learn from the Will of the younger Maffeo, Marco's
brother, which bears the date just named, and of which we give
an abstract below.* It seems to imply strong regard for the
* I. The Will is made in prospect of his voyage to Crete.
He had drafted his will with his own hand, sealed the draft, and made it over to Pietro Pagano, priest of S. Felice and Notary, to draw out a formal testament in faithful accordance therewith in case of the Testator's death ; and that which follows is the substance of the said draft rendered from the vernacular into Latin. (" Ego Matheus Paulo . . . volens ire in Cretam, ne repentinus casus hujus vite fragilis me subreperet intestatum, mea propria manu meum scripsi et condidi testamentum, rogans Petrum Paganum ecclesie Scti. Felicis presbiterum et Notarium, sana mente et integro consilio, ut, secundum ipsius scripturam quam sibi tune dedi meo sigillo munitam, meum scriberet testamentum, si me de hoc seculo contigeret pertransire ; cujus scripture tenor translato vulgari in latinum per omnia talis est.")
Appoints as Trustees Messer Maffeo Polo his uncle, Marco Polo his brother, Messer Nicolo Secreto (or Sagredo) his father-in-law, and Felix Polo his cousin (consana uineur).
Leaves 20 soldi to each of the Monasteries from Grado to Capo d'Argine ; and I so lire to all the congregations of Rialto, on condition that the priests of these maintain an annual service in behalf of the souls of his father, mother, and self.
To his daughter Fiordelisa 2000 lire to marry her withal. To be invested in safe mortgages in Venice, and the interest to go to her.
Also leaves her the interest from i000 lire of his funds in Public Debt (? de mers imprestitis) to provide for her till she marries. After her marriage this moo lire and its interest shall go to his male heir if he has one, and failing that to his brother
Marco.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright (C) 2003-2019 National Institute of Informatics and The Toyo Bunko. All Rights Reserved.