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Life at Sea: Fleet Orders (p. 118a)


Life at Sea: Fleet Orders (p. 118a)


In 1428 and 1429, Michael served as armiraio under Captain of the Fleet Andrea Mocenigo. He copied Mocenigo's orders to the fleet into his manuscript. Of particular interest here is the reference to the ordinary seamen's diet, which consisted mostly of bread and beans, with some cheese and the occasional wine. The last three orders regulate the amount of time the crew spent rowing.

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+ Ihesus + Per far furto in gallia E chomanda miser lo chapetagno che se fusse fatto algon forto in gallia de lire 3 in suxo, quei debiè retegnir sotto bona varda e quei prexentar a miser lo chapetagno al più tosto porè. E questo debiè oservar sotto quelle pene parerà a miser lo chape- tagno. E si serà da lire 3 in suxo quei debia far frustar da puope a proda. Per parlar una gallia E chomanda miser lo chapetagno che l'armiraio se faza dar una bandiera quadra per gallia dela so arma. E se miser lo chapetagno vorà parlar una gallia, leverà a puope, ala banda, una de quele bandiera quadre de qual gallia vorà, e quela presto achosti a miser lo chapetagno, sotto pena de soldi 200. Quisti sono li hordeny el viver dele gallie da Veniexia da può che fu fatte gallie. In primo per so viver vuol a dì pan bischo- tto libre 1, onze 6. E se ‘l fusse pan frescho vuol libre 2. E sì vuol per vin al mexe soldi 5. E sì die aver fromaio per mexe libre 5. E sì vuol fava per mexi soldi 4. E se le galie se levasse de notte del porto e vegiasse più cha ore 5 da maittina al'alba, abiando fatta la maitinada, l'armiraio debia far levar voga o far vella, che la zurma debia dormir ora una. E se ‘l fusse per vugar da può levado el Sol, debia vogar ora una e può levar vuoga e manzar ora una. E vogando a ore 5 o 6 del dì, segondo li dì fusse longi, debia disnar per ora una, e ogni sera, avanti Sol amonte, in portto a possar.

+ Jesus + Theft on the galley And the capitano commands that if there shall be any theft on the galley of 3 lire and up, those responsible shall be held under good guard and presented to the capitano as soon as possible. And this shall be observed under the penalty to be decided by the capi- tano. And if it is from 3 lire and under, they should be flogged from the poop to the prow. To speak to a galley The capitano commands that the armiraio shall have a square banner made per galley with its coat of arms. And if the capitano wishes to speak to a galley, he will raise at the poop, on the side, one of these square banners of whichever galley he wishes, and that one shall quickly come alongside the capitano, under the penalty of 200 soldi. These are the orders of the provisions of galleys of Venice ever since there were galleys. First, for provisions each of biscuit bread 1 pound, 6 ounces; if it is fresh bread 2 pounds are needed, and 5 soldi per month for wine are needed. And he should have cheese per month 5 pounds. And there should be beans per month 4 soldi. And if the galleys weigh anchor from the port by night and are awake more than 5 hours from the morning to dawn, having done the morning chores, the armiraio should raise oars or raise sail, to allow the crew to sleep one hour. And if there was rowing after sunrise, he should row one hour and then raise oars and eat an hour. And rowing until 5 or 6 hours of the day, according to whether the day is long, he shall dine for an hour, and every evening, before the sun goes into the mountain, to put into port.