[678] A similar custom is mentioned at Florence, sub an. 1422. See Napier’s “Flor. Hist.” iii. p. 56.
[679] MS. quoted by Filiasi, Memorie Storiche de Venet.
[680] The whole history of these consuls, with their duties, &c., has been published by Pardessus, ii. pp. 49-420, under the title of “Droit maritime connu sur le nom de Consulat de la Mer.” Capmany has published the same as “Codigo de las costumbras maritimas.”
[681] Commentators have not settled where the “paradise” cabins were situated, but they, no doubt, occupied the best part of what is known as the poop in modern vessels.
[682] It is not possible now to determine how much these sums amount to in present English money, the more so that the denier is sometimes used for gold coin. The denier tournois was one-fourth less than the denier Parisis.—Le Blanc, “Monnoies de France,” d. 1690. See also Fabre, “Hist. de Marseille,” vol. i.
[683] Chronicles of the Crusades, p. 391, Bohn’s edition.
[684] The actual laws of the states were founded on a remembrance of the codex of Justinian, previously to its re-discovery at Amalfi. This codex embodied much of the previous Roman law, and with this whatever the Roman jurists had borrowed from the Rhodians. The whole of this question has been fully and carefully examined by Pardessus.
CHAPTER XV.
Prohibition to trade with infidels—Its futility—Commercial policy of the Italian republics—Genoa—Genoese fleets and treaties with the Venetians—The Genoese restore the Greek dynasty, and secure a more permanent footing at Constantinople—Galata—Kaffa—Genoese vessels—Details of contract with the ship-builders—Its inaccuracies—Napier’s description of a large Genoese ship of the fifteenth century—Evident mistakes in the account—First great improvement in the Genoese ships—Genoese carrack—Their corsairs and pirates—The most daring of the pirates; their terrible fate—Corsairs—Bologna and Ancona—Importance of Pisa—Her trade with the Saracens, about A.D. 1100; and ships—Her first great misfortune—Mode of conducting her trade—Florence—The Florentines ship goods from a port of Pisa—Sale and transfer of Leghorn, A.D. 1421—First expeditions to Egypt, Constantinople, and Majorca—Freedom of commercial intercourse amongst the Florentines—Their frugality, contrasted with their magnificent public displays—Duties and powers of the board of the “six consuls of the sea”—Their public vessels, and trade in which they were employed—Consular agents—Extent of the Florentine commerce, and cause of its decline—The smaller states—Decorations and traditionary emblems of ships—Signals—Manners and customs of seamen—Their legends—Punishments for gambling and swearing—Superstitions—Manners and morals, A.D. 1420—General severity of punishments—Impaling, flogging, &c.—Branding.
Prohibition to trade with infidels.