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Life at Sea: Testament of Giovanni da Drivasto (p. 236a)


Life at Sea: Testament of Giovanni da Drivasto (p. 236a)


Michael's book went to sea at least once after he died. Here, in a document dated August 29, 1473, a paron zurado named Giovanni da Drivasto wrote out his last testament in Charchi, a small island not far from Michael's homeland of Rhodes. Life on a galley was dangerous, and death was commonplace. Giovanni, it seems, did not expect to live long. He wrote this document on a blank page of Michael's manuscript. Giovanni's list indicates the kind of belongings mariners carried with them for personal use as well as for trade. His careless handwriting contrasts with Michael's neat penmanship.

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Ihesus Mari. 1473, adì 29 avosto, al Chiarcho. Notto fazo mi Zuane da Drivasto, paron zura- do del manificho misier Marin Dandolo, de mie robe me ttrovo aver in galia. Prima mentte un zipon de centtanin negro in do peli, e uno zipon de lesendrin nuovo raizo, un zipon paonazo de Fiandra fodrà de biancho. Dodeze chamize, una che sia dada a Piero durazin, e una a Marttin Dela Portta, e una chapa de zanbelotto negra e una chapa de mo- sto valier. Una vestizuola de mosto valier. Un per de chalze solade e un per de bianche de rasa. Do pera de chalze da scharpe vechie, sia datte un per a Marttin Dela Portta e l'a- lttro per sia dado a Piero durazin. Quattro berette e tre negre nuove e una de scharla- tto frusta e una unola negra. Ttre ttapei, do nuoi e uno che sono uno puocho pezo. Una charpetta, una schiavina e uno gaban negro frodà di biancho, un alttro ga- ban unolo che son in man de Primo fradelo de Lucha gobo E queste ditte che so. Sì ò lasà a Modon un per de chalze Modon de ra- sa, che sia ttentte 1a grana, e ttrentta un aspro in man del chavalier de Modon Zan Negro. E sì ò ancora qua in galia una go- na berittina asetta e una gona meschia, una zenttura d'arzentto stringe ttela e fusa- re, et una spada e ttarzetta, e churazina e me- za ttesta e una lanza. Se nientte in tera vien de mi, //

Jesus Mary. 1473, 29 August, in Charchi I, Zuane da Drivasto, paron zura- do of magnificent sir Marin Dandolo, make note of the clothing I have in the galley. First a waistjacket of black satin in two naps, and a waistjacket of new Alexandrine satin, and a Flemish peacock waistjacket lined with white. Twelve shirts, one which was given to Piero Durazin and one to Marttin Dela Portta, and a cape of black wool cloth and a cape of valerian must. A small garment of valerian must. One pair of stockings with souls and one pair of white resin. Two pairs of stockings of old shoes, one pair should be given to Marttin Dela Portta and the other pair should be given to Piero Durazin. Four berets, three new black ones and one of shabby scar- let, and a black unola. Three carpets, two new and one that is a little worse. A carpet, a rough bedspread and a black overcoat lined with white, another unolo overcoat which is the hands of Primo, the brother of Lucha Gobo. And these things that Also I have left in Modone a pair of satin Modone stockings, which are dyed scarlet, and thirty-one aspers in the hand of the knight of Modone, Zan Negro. And I also have here in the galley a gray skirt of silk and a mixed skirt, a silver belt, fabric clasps and fusa- re, a sword and shield, and a small cuirass and a mace head, and a lance. If nothing on the Earth comes of me,