_Sichè da Otranto se partim Quella bra compagnia, Per assar in Ihavonia, D’Avosto a vinte nove dì._ [14] The island of Curzola now counts about 4000 inhabitants; the town half the number. It was probably reckoned a dependency of Venice at this time. The King of Hungary had renounced his claims on the Dalmatian coasts by treaty in 1244. (_Romanin_, ii. 235.) The gallant defence of the place against the Algerines in 1571 won for Curzola from the Venetian Senate the honourable title in all documents of _fedelissima_. (_Paton’s Adriatic_, I. 47.) [15] _Ma sé si gran colmo avea Perchè andava mendigando_ _Per terra de Lombardia Peccunia, gente a sodi? Pone mente tu che l’odi Se noi tegnamo questa via?_ _No, ma’ più! ajamo omi nostrar Destri, valenti, e avisti, Che mai par de lor n’o visti In tuti officj de mar._ [16] In July 1294, a Council of Thirty decreed that galleys should be equipped by the richest families in proportion to their wealth. Among the families held to equip one galley each, or one galley among two or more, in this list, is the CA’ POLO. But this was before the return of the travellers from the East, and just after the battle of Ayas. (_Romanin_, ii. 332; this author misdates Ayas, however.) When a levy was required in Venice for any expedition the heads of each _contrada_ divided the male inhabitants, between the ages of twenty and sixty, into groups of twelve each, called _duodene_. The dice were thrown to decide who should go first on service. He who went received five _lire_ a month from the State, and one _lira_ from each of his colleagues in the _duodena_. Hence his pay was sixteen _lire_ a month, about 2_s._ a day in silver value, if these were _lire ai grossi_, or 1_s._ 4_d._ if _lire dei piccoli_. (See _Romanin_, ii. 393–394.) Money on such occasions was frequently raised by what was called an _Estimo_ or _Facion_, which was a force loan levied on the citizens in proportion to their estimated wealth; and for which they were entitled to interest from the State. [17] Several of the Italian chroniclers, as Ferreto of Vicenza and Navagiero, whom Muratori has followed in his “Annals,” say the battle was fought on the 8th September, the so-called Birthday of the Madonna. But the inscription on the Church of St. Matthew at Genoa, cited further on, says the 7th, and with this agree both Stella and the Genoese poet. For the latter, though not specifying the day of the month, says it was on a Sunday:— “Lo di de Domenga era Passa prima en l’ora bona Stormezam fin provo nona Con bataio forte e fera.” Now the 7th September, 1298, fell on a Sunday. [18]