Page:History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce (Volume 1).djvu/17

1422—Marauding expedition of the Earl of Warwick—Distress
among shipowners not royal favourites, A.D. 1461—Fresh legislative
enactments—First "sliding scale" applied to the importation of
corn—Relaxation of the laws by means of treaties, A.D. 1467—Treaties
of reciprocity—Extension of distant maritime commerce,
A.D. 1485—First English consul in the Mediterranean, A.D. 1490—The
advantages derived from reciprocal intercourse Pages 423-461


CHAPTER XIV.

Early efforts of France to restore the civilization of Europe—Charlemagne,
A.D. 771-814—Protection against pirates—Efforts of Venice
to suppress piracy—Rise of Marseilles—Monopoly in shipping
trade—Customs on shipping—Spain; its early commercial importance—Superior
influence of the Venetians, which was invariably
used to their own advantage—Participation of Genoa
and Pisa in the profits derived from the Crusades—Venice claims
the dominion of the Adriatic, A.D. 1159—Annual ceremony of espousing
the Adriatic—Bucentaur state barge—Form of espousal—The
progress and commercial policy of Venice—Variable character
of her laws, A.D. 1272; which were protective generally, especially
as regards her ships—Official exposition of the trade of Venice—Her
ships and dockyards—Merchant galleys—Their greatest size—Contract
for the construction of vessels—Great variety of classes—The
Gondola—The Tarida—The Zelander—The Huissier—The Cat—The
Saitie—The Galliot, &c.—The Galeass—The Galleon—The Buzo—Government
merchant galleys—How engaged, equipped, and
manned—Nobles' sons taken on board—Capacity of these vessels—Crew,
and regulations on board—Value of their cargoes—Despatch
boats—Consuls; their establishment, duties and emoluments—Ancient
ships' consuls; their duties—The Cartel—Conditions of the
contract—Restraints upon seamen—Extraordinary display on the
departure of any important expedition—The reception of the commander,
and his plan of inspection—Signal to depart—Adaptation
of merchant vessels to the purposes of war—Regulations at sea—Stringent
rules to regulate the loading of vessels 462-503


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—Napier's description
of a large Genoese ship of the fifteenth century—Evident
mistakes in the account—First great improvement in the Genoese