[2151] In the beginning of the 15th century the great emporium of the trade in pepper appears to have been the vicinity of the Church S. Giacomo de Rialto at Venice. In the “capitolare dei Visdomini del fontego dei Todeschi (German court) in Venezia,” edit. of Thomas, Berlin, 1874, the chapter 228, page 116, is devoted to “La mercadantia del pevere.”
[2152] For some examples of this, see Histoire de la vie privée des Français, par le Grand d’Aussy, nouvelle éd., ii. (1815) 182.
[2153] Zosimus, Historia (Lips. 1784) lib. v. c. 41.
[2154] Belgrano, Vita privata dei Genovesi 1875. 152.
[2155] Rogers, Agriculture and Prices in England, i. (1866) 626. The term peppercorn rent, which has survived to our times, now only signifies a nominal payment.
[2156] Ancient Laws and Institutes of England, published by the Record Commission, i. (1840) 301.
[2157] A striking contrast to the announcement in a commercial paper, 27 Feb. 1874, that the stock of pepper in the public warehouses of London the previous week was 6035 tons!
[2158] Herbert, Hist. of the twelve great Livery Companies of London, Lond. 1834. 303, 310.
[2159] Reinaud, Nouveau Journal asiatique, 1829, Juillet, 22-51.
[2160] Rogers, op. cit. i. 641.