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Life at Sea: Fleet Orders (p. 112a)


Life at Sea: Fleet Orders (p. 112a)


In 1428 and 1429, Michael sailed as armiraio under Captain of the Fleet Andrea Mocenigo. As armiraio, Michael was responsible for directing the movements of the fleet and for the welfare and discipline of the crews. Mocenigo issued orders that covered these responsibilities, and Michael copied them into his manuscript. Here, one notable order sets out the punishment for blasphemy. Historically, sailors have been notorious for their foul language. This voyage ended with a failed attack on Turkish-held Gallipoli.

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+ Ihesus + Chon zò sia che l'ordene e riegola sia prinzipio et in li tuti i beny del mondo, e per chontrario non siando ordene né riegola se gae molti dany e senestri, e però miser lo chapetagno prega e sì chomanda deli or- deny infrascritti debiano eser inviolabilemente observate, sutto pena e pene in queli chontignudi, e plui al so bon piaxer. Per biastimar E chomanda miser lo chapetagno chi biastimerà Idio o la so madre mado- na santa Maria, o sancto o sancta, se ‘l serà homo da remo debia eser frustado da puope a proda. Se ‘l serà homo de pe' paga soldi 100. E sia tegnudo zaschaduno sovrachomitto da mandar a sequezion la ditta pena, fazando asaver a miser el chapetagno de quelo e quelli chi contrafarà. Andando a remi E chomanda miser lo chapetagno che andando a remy che zaschaduna ga- lia vada alle so poste dade in sì fatto muodo, che non essa né non olssa insir per pruoda a nessuna gallia, né far algun atto inzurioxo, sotto pena de lire 10 al chomitto de quela ga- llia chi chontrafarà e lire 5 al nochiero serà al timon, salvo se queli non mostrase evidientemente quelo atto eser ochorsso sen- za alguna cholpa de quelli e fusse per non lo voler far. Andando a vello E chomanda che andando a vello zaschuduna gallia per lo simille vada ale so poste, non incholzando l'una al'oltra, né strezando, né far vella sovra vento a miser lo chapetagno ma llasase romanir da //

+ Jesus + As order and rule are at the origin and within all of the good things of the world, and on the contrary in the absence of order and rule much damage and evil come about, therefore the capitano entreats and commands that the or- ders given below should be inviolably observed, under the penalty and penalties contained there and more so at his will. Blasphemy And the capitano commands that whoever blasphemes God or his mother the Madonna St. Mary, or a male or female saint, if he is a homo da remo he should be lashed from the poop to the prow; if he is a foot soldier he shall pay 100 soldi. And each sopracomito is required to exact this punishment, in turn letting the capitano know about him and those who will transgress. Going by oars And the capitano commands that when going by oars each gal- ley go to its prescribed positions in the following fashion: that it not, nor dare, cross the bow of any other galley, nor do any injurious act under the penalty of 10 lire against the comito of the gal- ley that transgresses and 5 lire to the nochiero at the rudder, unless these can demonstrate that the act occurred with- out any misdeed on their part and against their will. Going under sail And he commands that when going under sail each galley likewise go to its positions, not chasing one another, nor closing in, nor making sail upwind of the capitano, but let itself remain