[233] 298-The Admiral, the Captain, and the Outfitters

Firstly, the admiral, captain, and the outfitters ⁽¹⁾ shall pledge an oath that they shall render an honest accounting of the prizes captured by the ship to the owners of that ship, owners of galleys and assault boats ⁽²⁾ and that after paying for the provisions and equipment that had been bought on credit and after paying off the loan that had been taken out in the name of such a ship, they shall pay out to each of the naval units its proper share of the booty and that in this manner they shall pay for all the expenses of each of these units out of the proceeds of the prize.

If it should happen that aboard such a ship there should be a party who had extended credit to the ship or made a loan beneficial to the ship, and had done this on the orders of the admiral and the outfitters providing such money from his personal possessions, the admiral should repay him the amount he had advanced from the proceeds of the first capture made by the ship and its auxiliary naval units.

This article was written for this reason, that many such ships would have to be disarmed if their commanders did not procure a loan and give proper guarantee of repayment of such loans, thus making it impossible for such ships to undertake such voyages.

299-Procedure to Be Followed Aboard Armed Ships in Dividing Spoils and Expenses

It should also be made known how to treat people sailing aboard such ships; they shall be required to pay their share of the expenses of the ship, as if they remained permanently aboard the ship. Dependent [234] upon the position of such a person, he shall share in a large or small degree in the booty, depending on the time he remained aboard the ship. For example, if a person came aboard the vessel and remained aboard for ten days or a month or two months, or a similar period of time, and other persons had remained aboard for a year or longer, and on two or three occasions outfitted the ship from captured booty or made loans to the ship, it is only proper that those who remained aboard the ship longer receive a larger share of the prizes.

Nevertheless, the admiral, captain, chief navigator, steward, and the clerk shall remember that they shall be under oath to consider the status and the services rendered by those aboard when they divide the booty. There could be aboard someone who had distinguished himself by bravery and had become such a good soldier that he should actually receive a larger portion than a person who may have been aboard the ship a longer period of time.

300-Commanders of Galleys and Other Smaller Armed Vessels ⁽³⁾

Any commander of a galley or a smaller craft privateering alone and not in a convoy or an armada belonging to a state, and paying his own expenses, shall receive one-fifth of the booty captured, and all members of his crew shall obey him as if he were a subaltern of an admiral.

On the other hand, if such a vessel is sailing in the wake of a ship or in convoy with other ships, and if such a craft had received a subsidy of ten bezans from the official ship, ⁽⁴⁾ the subaltern in charge shall keep three bezans. If he had been given a subsidy of five bezans, he is entitled to keep two. If the subsidy consisted of five bezans, the subaltern shall keep two, the captain of that vessel one, and the navigator the remaining two bezans.

If the subsidy consisted of more than five bezans, the division shall be made by the admiral and the crew of the vessel receiving the subsidy, but in all cases where the subsidy was over five bezans, the [235] sub-commander shall receive three. Whether the subsidy amounts to more or less, the procedure of dividing it shall be the same.

If, in addition, the above sub-commander shall capture a vessel in a battle, and this had been an armed vessel, he shall be entitled to keep the personal arms of the sub-commander of the captured vessel, or may even change such weapons for some of better quality until the completion of the journey.

In addition, out of each prize taken in battle, regardless whether the captured unit was a galley or some other type of vessel, he shall be allowed to keep one anchor and the flag that the vessel flew. In addition, he shall receive one and a half portions of the cargo of such vessel.

All persons aboard the galley or other craft shall be subject to all the orders of the sub-commander.

301-Junior Commanders

A junior commander shall take an oath pledging to the admiral and the crew of the vessel that he will command that he shall not sail against their will upon his own volition, and that he shall not cut the tow line attached to his vessel, unless this would make it impossible for him to navigate the vessel. Should he be forced to cut the tow line, he wil1~ replace it immediately with another.

Should he cut the line or order it cut for some other reason, he shall be adjudged a deceitful and disloyal person. Should it happen that he cut such a tow line because of hate or betrayal, and anyone can prove his motivation, he shall be impaled on a stake.

302-Agreements

Let us begin with the ship and provisions aboard it. The admiral, outfitters, captain, and all the rest who had equipped the ship shall act in accordance with the terms of their agreement and understanding. Upon demand, the admiral and the captain shall announce the terms of these agreements; however they need not do this if no one demands it.

Further, the admiral shall authorize the clerk to announce these terms, and the clerk shall inform all those on shore or aboard the vessel who are enlisting for service aboard such a ship. Just as the outfitters of the ship may enter into any agreements that they wish, similarly, people who are enlisting for service aboard such a vessel should be aware of these agreements, in order that they may decide whether they wish to sail aboard such a ship or not.

[236] 303 -Division of Booty Aboard Armed Ship

It should also be known into how many parts the ship shall divide the captured prize.

If a ship is sailing in convoy with small galleys or some other small armed units, and if aboard all the units in this convoy there are one thousand in the crews, there shall be a provision made for dividing all captured booty into six thousand two hundred shares. If the ship and all the other armed units in the convoy have a combined crew of five hundred men, the booty shall be divided into three thousand and one hundred shares. If the combined crews number two hundred and fifty men, there shall be fifteen hundred and fifty shares provided. Finally, if the ship with all the auxiliary units had the combined crew of one hundred and fifty persons, there shall be seven hundred and seventy-five shares created; and in the proportion to the number of the crew shall be created the number of shares. ⁽⁵⁾

These shares shall be awarded to the personnel aboard depending on their bravery and on the efficiency with which they carried out their duties.

Further, the captain, the chief navigator, stewards, and ranking officers of each division aboard the ship shall swear ⁽⁶⁾ an oath that they shall conduct themselves according to a code prescribed by the three best navigators aboard the ship, as well as that of the three sailors of the prow, two stewards, two crossbowmen with their leader, that they shall do nothing while in the exercise of their office to favor any of their relatives, or in expectation of receiving some gifts from anyone, or for having received a gift, that in agreement with the wishes of the whole crew aboard the ship, they shall tell the truth to all parties and that they shall divide the spoils honestly in the presence of the admiral and reward those who deserve to be rewarded.

They shall be required to award such portion to the admiral, as they do to all others, if he is worthy of such an award, and if there is any booty, they shall also reward the stewards, the navigators, crossbowman, or anyone else.

[237] 304-Navigators, Other Members of the Crew, and Division of Booty

Aboard every privateer ship having a crew of one thousand men, there shall be one hundred sailors, sixteen navigators, and twenty four sailors of the prows if the crew numbers five hundred, there shall be twelve navigators; if it should number two hundred and fifty, there shall be eight navigators.

The clerk and the chief navigator shall receive the same pay as the other navigators, dependent upon the agreement made by the admiral and the chief navigator; thus if the admiral had promised him one thousand morabatins in addition to the ten shares of booty due him, he shall be given his due. It will be necessary, however, that the captain and the chief clerk be present at the time they made such an agreement, and that the navigator would be proficient in his calling, or he may be removed from his post and another navigator put in his position. In addition, the clerk, similar to the navigator, shall receive ten shares of booty, and the shares received by the chaplain and the doctor aboard the ship shall equal those of the navigator. ⁽⁷⁾

If it should happen that the navigator or a sailor or any other member of the crew is actually not versed in the work for which he had enlisted or does not know how to perform it properly, he shall be dealt with as had been ordered above in dealing with a navigator guilty of the same indiscretion.

And now let us return to the division of spoils. After the amount expended on provisions and the share due to the ship had been deducted from the captured booty, the commanders, that is to say, the admiral, captain, and the outfitters shall proceed to sell at auction, under the penalty of losing their own shares if this is not done in eight days, all the captured booty, and after the sale has been completed shall divide the proceeds within a period of four days.

This article has been written in order to prevent the admirals, captains, and other outfitters from telling their crew members to wait on the shore for their share so long that they could suffer many losses and incur many expenses.

[238] Further, the admiral shall authorize the clerk and the chief navigator to procure the necessary amount of supplies and to keep these supplies in reserve until the moment the vessel shall be auctioned off, for this reason, in order that the clerk would be able to pay them an advance on their share of the booty to provide them with means of livelihood. If the ship had captured prizes that will permit this after payment of the loans and obligations, the navigator and the clerk, depending on the evaluation they place on the booty, shall be able to sell more of it in order to disburse larger amounts of money among the crew members in order that they may not only pay for the sustenance but also clothe themselves; it is necessary, however, that the booty be large enough to pay for the above mentioned payments. For this work the clerk shall be paid two millares, of which half will belong to the navigator.

The clerk is required to keep an account of the sum each member of the crew received. If anyone had received more than he should have, the clerk shall be held accountable, because it was for this reason that the clerk and the navigator had received two millares. Both of them, therefore, should keep accurate records for all aboard the vessel as well as for the outfitters of the ship.

Such are the functions of the clerk and the navigator in all privateering expeditions as well as aboard all armed ships and other naval craft.

305-The Admiral

The admiral may reward any one he selects with two, three or five, or even ten shares of the booty, and the number of persons selected for this may be from five to eight.

The admiral may summon the section leaders and declare that they shall receive one more share than the rest of the crew, but only after a consultation and agreement of those who had apportioned the shares among the crew.

The admiral may reward each of the officers provided that each of them was a good officer and that the crew will agree to this. Everything that has been stated above was written and decreed in the same manner as the contents of other articles.

306 -Ordinances Governing Privateering Expeditions

In conformity with customs relating to privateering by vessels or by galleys that carry oars (it shall be understood that a vessel that is not equipped with oars, but has a crow's nest, is classified in the same category as a ship) it has been ordained as follows:

[239] Let us begin with an admiral who commands the armada. First of all he shall pledge an oath to the outfitters that he shall exercise all caution, that he will loyally perform his office, and that he shall take proper care of the ship and the interests of the shareholders who had outfitted him, that is, both the ship and the equipment, which he had faithfully promised t do to the outfitters.

The party who owns the ship, or who had given the admiral his position aboard such ship, shall order the navigator, under the penalty for perjury, that he should give him a list of all essential needs of the ship in order to undertake such an expedition. The above mentioned navigator together with the officers of the stern, called navigators aboard all privateers, numbering three to eight, shall inspect the ship and inform the admiral under oath, in order that they tell the truth, what is needed aboard the ship. Everything that the chief navigator in company with other navigators state under oath shall be relayed to the outfitters by the admiral, who shall also be under oath, in order that he too would not tell them more or less but only the truth. If the admiral should proceed in any other maimer, he shall forfeit the ten shares of spoils that were due him and that shall be added to the share the crew will receive, regardless of whether the ship belongs to him or to other parties. In addition, he shall be punished, and the penalty shall be the usual penalty given aboard a ship to anyone who commits perjury, for such penalty must be imposed on any guilty party, from the most important to the humblest.

In addition, if the navigator entered into a conspiracy with him to lie about the equipment and other effects, such a navigator shall lose all his shares of the booty that would be due him as well as all weapons captured that will rightfully accrue to the crew.

In addition, the admiral shall order that everything that has been stated about the equipment by the navigator shall be reduced to writing and shown to the outfitters; if the navigator failed to tell the truth, he shall be liable to the punishment mentioned above.

The admiral shall conduct himself in a similar manner toward the merchants, under the penalty mentioned above.

The merchants shall be responsible for carrying out all the obligations they had assumed toward the admiral under the threat of payment of a double fine.

The admiral is required upon the demand of the navigator and any other person aboard to tell how much money he had received for the expenses of the vessel and for the provisions of all aboard and also whether he had taken out any loan.

In addition, the admiral shall not engage any of his relatives as a navigator under the penalty mentioned above, unless he does this with [240] the approval of the outfitters, the captain, and the shareholders in the vessel.

Let it also be known that the admiral cannot commission a captain nor can a captain commission someone an admiral without the approval of the outfitters . ⁽⁸⁾

In addition, neither the admiral nor the captain can discharge any person from a responsible position because of spite, but only for improper behavior or brawling, or for his inability to perform his duties, which must be attested to by the whole crew; only under such a circumstance can such party be removed from his position and another take his place. However, the admiral may take on a less qualified person, after consultation with the crew.

The admiral shall state under oath that he shall carry out all the promises he shall make to anyone, whether that be a shareholder in the ship, an outfitter, a navigator, a section leader, an armed sailor, servant, merchant, whether such party be a Saracen, a Christian, or a Jew. Everything that he had promised to some officer of his ship, whether he had made such a promise aboard the ship or on land, he shall fulfill, as he had promised, provided that such an officer shall be capable of fulfilling the obligations of his office as he had promised the admiral he was capable of doing. Should he be incapable of fulfilling these responsibilities that he had taken upon himself, the admiral shall not be obligated to carry out the terms of the agreement he had made with such officer, and shall be able to replace him aboard his ship with another more reliable officer.

In addition, the admiral shall ask the advice of the whole crew when he is about to depart from a given locality.

He shall also do this when he attempts to negotiate a loan while on the high seas or wishes to accept anything from friends.

Similarly, when he is about to attack another vessel, when he changes vessels, or barters for other supplies.

Similarly, when it pertains to some equipment or other essential items.

An admiral sailing on the basis of share of booty may replenish his supplies, but only with the approval of the outfitters and shareholders.

Further, an admiral or any commander of any vessel cannot sell [241] or give away any equipment valued at more than five bezans without knowledge of the outfitters and shareholders. If the value of such items exceeded five bezans, he should ask the consent of the whole crew; if the majority and one more of them agree, he may proceed, even though the other smaller half of the crew objected.

However, the above shall be agreed to by all those who are navigators, officers of the prow, but especially of all, the shareholders and outfitters who will together with the crew constitute the majority of all interested parties.

Further, the admiral shall summon the stewards with the approval and knowledge of the navigators, sailors, crossbowmen and armed sailors, that is, one navigator, one of the shareholders who is also an outfitter, one sailor, and one crossbowman, or one sailor armed with pickaxe. In conformity with what the majority of these decide, the stewards and authenticators shall be summoned. ⁽⁹⁾

The admiral may summon the officers of the bow after seeking the opinion of the navigator, for the navigator is well versed with the opinion of the sailors.

The admiral may summon and appoint one of the crossbowmen their section leader with the approval of the captain.

The admiral may appoint a standard bearer with the approval of the captain.

The admiral may appoint personnel to guard the Saracens and the food supplies.

The admiral may appoint the lookouts, rudder tillers, and the senior guards.

307-The Navigator

The navigator should receive a reward, that is to say, should he capture any weapons, he may use them until the journey is completed; wherever he procures food, it shall belong to him. All the items that he has taken while capturing a vessel and that are worth less than five bezans shall belong to him. Should he capture any animals, he shall be entitled to one as his reward.

The navigator can demand that all necessary equipment aboard the vessel be furnished.

In the event new supplies are loaded aboard the vessel, the navigator is entitled to one and one-fourth shares as part of his reward.

The navigator shall receive ten shares of the booty, and when additional [242] booty is shared, he may get more, dependent on the approval of the crew.

The navigator may buy the vessel that is offered by bidding for one bezan less than any other bidder.

The navigator is entitled to receive one mainsail unfurled at the sailing yard; if there is no such sail aboard, he shall take any sail he chooses.

308-Sailors of the Prow

The sailors of the prow should be under the command of helmsman of the stern; they shall care for all the equipment and guard it.

They should receive one anchor chain and one anchor. The anchor chain they receive shall be the best of all the chains attached to the anchor. If there should be no chains attached to the anchor, they should be given the best anchor found aboard the vessel, and each of them shall receive five shares of the booty.

When the matter of division of spoils as a reward for services rendered is undertaken aboard the ship, the navigator, two sailors of the prow, and two stewards shall take an oath that they shall designate as recipients of such rewards only the best of the personnel and that they shall not be motivated in this matter either by any monetary considerations, friendship, or amity.

Should some sailor of the prow fail to take the arms he was to have been equipped with, the admiral and the captain may supply such weapons for him, at the price they decide arbitrarily and that shall be deductible from the amount of his future share in the spoils.

309 -Crossbowmen

The crossbowmen should receive everything that had been agreed to with the outfitters, the admiral, and the captain; they should be armed with two large two-legged crossbows, and one crossbow with a strap, three hundred arrows, a bodice, coat of mail, a helmet, sword, helmet liner, and two curved iron hooks. Anyone who had obligated himself to have this equipment and had failed to bring it aboard with him shall be left to the disposition of the admiral, who may procure these items for him, even at double the price, and put it on his account, if it is so determined by the admiral, the captain, and the outfitters.

A crossbowman shall receive five shares of the booty. As to any reward that shall be given to him, it shall be done on the evaluation of his services by three crossbowmen and their leader, who will testify to this effect under oath, similarly as the navigator does in the [243] instance of the sailors; the captain should also give his opinion in this matter under oath.

The crossbowmen shall receive all the ropes that are found on the deck of the captured vessel as well as all the winches found aboard.

310-Armed Personnel

All armed personnel shall come equipped in the manner they had promised to the admiral and his aids; if they should fail to do this, they shall be left to the disposition of the admiral, similarly to the crossbowmen. They should be able to keep everything that they will find on the persons of other armed personnel whom they have captured; they are not allowed to take anything after the vessel has been captured; they shall receive four shares of the booty.

Nevertheless, everything that the admiral had promised them for attacking and getting on the deck of the attacked vessel and hand-to-hand combat, he and the captain shall give them; they, on the other hand, shall conduct themselves in accordance with the promises and obligations they had made to the admiral, if the admiral carries out his promises, they are required to watch and defend him even at the loss of their own lives. Should he fail to carry out his promises, they are not compelled to carry out theirs.

311-The Lookout

The lookouts must bring all the equipment they had promised and obligated themselves to bring with them; there should be two of them at the prow of the ship and two in the middle of the ship; they are entitled to receive the weapons of the lookouts of the captured vessel.

312-Weights and Measures

If anyone uses false measuring or scaling devices, or dilutes wine by adding water to it, after he has announced that he is selling wine, he shall lose the barrel with all the wine in it, as well as all the money he had received for selling it; the consuls shall confiscate such wine and distribute it among the crew of the ship. If the consuls were in conspiracy with such a party, they shall be branded with a hot iron on their forehead.

313-Senior guards

There should be eight senior guards aboard the ship and each of them shall receive a wage of eight bezans as well as all bows, boots, [244] and bast-shoes of those captured in any raids made on the shore. ⁽¹⁰⁾

314 -Ruddermen

Ruddermen shall receive what had been promised them by the admiral, captain, and the navigator. The admiral is required to pay them their shares regardless of the number of shares of spoils they are entitled to.

315 -Barbers

Barbers are treated in the same manner as the ruddermen; the crew members in charge of loading winches shall be paid according to the agreement they had made.

316-Ensigns or Standard Bearers

Every standard bearer shall receive five bezans; if there was a flag flying at the prow of the captured vessel, they shall be entitled to keep it.

317 -Jolly-Boat Crew

Crew members of the jolly-boat shall be entitled to the knives and daggers of the oarsmen of the captured vessel, and as a reward, the heads of the animals that were being eaten aboard the vessel.

318-The Attack Force

Members of the attacking force shall receive whatever they were promised by the admiral, whether that be fifty or one hundred or ten bezans; and all aboard the ship shall recognize such a promise as binding.

319 -Grappling-Hooks Men

The men handling the grappling hooks should receive five bezans and all the chain hooks from the captured vessel.

320-Guarding the Admiral

All personnel aboard the ship are required to protect the admiral with their lives until their death and to perform all the duties agreed [245] to at the time the journey was undertaken until it is completed. The admiral is required to fulfill, if at all possible, all the promises he had made to them, provided they carry out their promises to him.

If the admiral failed to fulfill his obligations, they shall not be required to fulfill their responsibilities, because he had already broken the agreement; it is, however, essential to consider that the admiral was able to fulfill his obligations; if it had not been in his power to carry out these promises, they shall be required to fulfill their responsibilities even though he was unable to fulfill his promises.

321-Authenticators

Each authenticator shall be paid five bezans. Should they conduct themselves in a biased manner, they shall lose their shares of the spoils, provided that such prejudice can be proved against them. From the money found in the safe of the captured vessel they shall receive five millares for every hundred bezans found, as well as five lengths of cloth for every one hundred captured.

If it should happen that they overlooked some booty, claiming that they did not see it and that they were searching and looking for booty somewhere else and that is why it had been removed without their being able to make a record of it, they shall lose one eye.

322-Servants

Servants shall receive two shares of the captured booty. They shall nurse the ill Saracens and others who are ill aboard the vessel, as well as clean the ship. If the servant is employed by the armed personnel, the captain shall properly adjudge him a reward in conformity with the oath he had taken.

323-Ship's Carpenter

The ship's carpenter shall receive the tools used by the carpenter of the captured vessel.

324-Commander of the Crossbowmen

The commander of the crossbowmen shall receive all the equipment of the crossbowmen of the captured vessel. He is required to make the bow strings and repair the crossbows of the crossbowmen aboard the ship as well as to teach those of them who do not know how to make such repairs that are necessary to their profession, such as, attach feathers to the bows, pare the wood for arrows, stretch tongs for bow strings, and to fashion the arrowheads. That is why he [246] should receive the tools of the master bowman of the captured vessel as well as all the materials that belonged to him, and the various parts for the crossbows.

325-Ship's Caulker or Sealer

The caulker shall receive the tools and the rain cloth of the caulker of the captured vessel.

326-King of the Servants ⁽¹¹⁾

The king of the servants shall receive the best kitchen utensils that are found aboard the captured vessel plus one cooking kettle for himself and his helpers. He shall be given five shares of the spoils and is forbidden to sell anything without the approval of his helpers.

No one aboard the ship may use the dining table to play dice without his permission; should anyone attempt to do this, he may destroy such dice. ⁽¹²⁾

327-Consuls

Should the admiral wish to engage the services of Consuls aboard his vessel, he may only do so with the understanding of the whole crew. They shall be required to pledge an oath that they will abide by all the rules regarding the distribution of the booty; they shall be entitled to receive one-half of all the fines and assessments levied aboard the ship.

328-Agreements

The admiral must fulfill all the promises and obligations he agreed to fulfill with the officers of the ship or other members of the ship's personnel. If he fulfills all his agreements, those mentioned above must fulfill theirs, in a manner as if they were his charges in life and even unto death, and they shall aid him against all with whom he shall engage in combat. Should the admiral fail to live up to his obligations, the others need not carry out their promises, because it was he who had broken the agreement. Therefore, it has been decreed that the admiral must fulfill his obligations provided that a [247] given person aboard the vessel is capable of doing his work, that he is able to carry out his responsibilities as he had agreed with the admiral that he would, otherwise the admiral shall not be required to fulfill his responsibilities toward such a member of the ship's personnel.

The admiral and the captain shall deduct from the booty taken by the ship, first, all the expenses for the provisions and equipment aboard the ship and for the repayment of any loans that had been negotiated; they may make all these deductions without receiving the approval of the crew.

The admiral and the captain shall replace the merchandise taken from any member of the ship's crew or any other person aboard, provided that the party from whom such merchandise was taken can prove this; the justification for such requisition of goods lies in the fact and shall be resolved by the repayment of such merchandise from the first prize taken. If the owners of the goods requisitioned by the admiral and the captain shall not be aboard the ship when this took place, a sum equal to the value of the requisitioned goods shall be set aside to reimburse the owners upon demand. The admiral and the captain shall dispatch letters to them, asking them to present themselves to receive payment for such goods. Should the crew testify that such merchandise had been taken, and the admiral and the captain fail to follow the procedure outlined above, they may be punished by the legal authorities.

All the expenses incurred by the admiral for the food and maintenance of the people he had taken aboard his ship after he was installed as an admiral and undertook the expedition shall be shared by the whole crew until the completion of the voyage.

The admiral has the authority to administer justice and to mete out punishment by ordering that the offender's ears be cut off or that the guilty party be whipped, while the ship is on the high seas or if a vessel is moored next to a small island and there is no civil government on such an island.

The admiral cannot hire a clerk without the approval of the ship's outfitters.

The admiral shall summon the stewards and order that each of them have a lock on the door of his cabin and on all the sea chests.

The admiral may punish any person who should break open any bale, crate, or chest filled with merchandise.

The admiral may punish all who fail to carry out the orders of officers duly appointed aboard the ship.

The admiral shall receive from twenty to forty shares of the booty, depending on his agreement with the outfitters of the ship, therefore, [248] twenty, twenty-five, thirty, or forty shares, as many as had been agreed upon.

The admiral shall receive, upon his own volition, all the garments or clothing of the most distinguished person of the captured vessel.

The admiral shall be entitled to receive the linen off one bed of every captured vessel.

The admiral shall receive one silver goblet from the captured vessel.

The admiral shall retain all the shields taken off the captured vessel with the exception of the shields that belonged to the lookouts aboard such a vessel.

The admiral shall take one of the rings worn by the persons aboard the captured vessel that shall be valued at less than twenty bezans.

The admiral may take one jewel worth less than twenty bezans without violating any ordinances or regulations set for the expedition of the armada; should such a jewel be worth more than twenty bezans, it shall be included in the rest of the booty taken.

The admiral is required to pay the owner and the shareholders of the ship the agreed share of the prizes taken by his ship.

If the ship takes prizes, the admiral should receive a reward in addition to the share of the booty he is entitled to, with the knowledge and approval of the crew. He shall swear an oath that the ship shall set sail and leave the port where it was outfitted and that he will loyally and honestly carry out all the responsibilities that he had taken upon himself, with the exception of a situation when a given member of the crew shall not be able to fulfill the obligations for which he had enlisted aboard the vessel.

The admiral shall loan money to the members of the crew in the same manner that he negotiates loans from them; if he negotiates any loan, he shall inform the crew about it. The sailors and all the rest of the members of the crew should continue to sail with him until the expedition has been completed, if they are serving aboard the ship for share of the booty, and the admiral shall have the right to put into any port or any locality as often as he shall wish in order to reprovision or refit the ship. If the sailors remain in his service without any opposition till he had completed the expedition, the admiral cannot demand from them or any other members of the ship's personnel repayment of any loans he made to them, even if he made such loans to them when the ship was in some specified locality, not upon the demands and needs of the crew but actually to accommodate himself.

If a member of the ship's personnel wishes to leave the service before the completion of the expedition, he shall return to the admiral whatever he had received from him and also leave aboard all [249] his personal weapons; he cannot do this without the permission of the admiral until the ship had docked at two ports in order to be refitted. Only after the ship had been refitted twice, the sailor can terminate his services, as had been stated above, returning all the money that he had received and leaving his weapons.

This article has been written in order that those who borrow money shall not be required to pay interest on such loans, because the admiral does not pay any interest on the money he borrows from others, that is, he does not repay two pennies for one that he borrowed, and because the admiral returns to the outfitters the same amount that he had borrowed from them.

329-Duties of a Captain

The captain shall fulfill all his undertaken obligations and shall see to the enforcement of justice aboard the ship.

The captain shall inform the admiral and the outfitters of all matters known to him that may be harmful to the ship.

When he metes out justice, he shall be impartial toward all aboard the ship and should make certain that all the obligations that he and the admiral had undertaken shall be carried out.

The captain shall order the clerk to render an account of all vital matters relating to the ship as soon as the ship sails out of a port where the expedition was undertaken, or if it has reached a port for provisioning, if anyone aboard the ship shall ask that such an accounting be made; such an accounting shall be made in the presence of three navigators, four stewards, four sailors of the prow, two other armed members of the expedition, and three crossbowmen.

The captain shall explain and announce what the admiral's responsibilities are toward each individual aboard the ship; if the admiral should do something evil or improper, the captain together with the whole crew shall inform him about this and insist as long as is necessary that the matter be rectified.

The captain shall care for the welfare and show concern for the problems of the humble as well as influential people who are aboard the ship, in order that each of them would be helped by the laws that protect them; he shall also see to it that neither the consuls nor the officers take any action that might be harmful to the admiral or the ship.

The captain, when authorized, replaces in authority the admiral when the latter is not aboard the ship.

The captain shall order boats dispatched to any place or locality if the admiral advised or ordered that this be done.

The captain shall proceed as a representative of the admiral, in [250] his own right as well as a representative of the crew aboard the ship, to meet with and negotiate with any other vessels met on the high seas, and whatever action he had agreed to shall be valid.

The captain shall appoint his representative aboard all galleys and other units of the armada. This representative shall be of his own choosing, and then he shall present him to the admiral, and whatever orders such a representative shall give must be carried out.

The captain assigns the crews of the smaller units of the armada, appoints all to specific tasks or ranks, and discharges them at will.

The captain shall deal in the same manner with boats equipped with oars as he deals with sail boats, and shall do everything that shall be necessary.

The captain shall apportion food in the manner and for a period of time he feels shall be proper.

The captain shall assign all battle stations aboard the ship and properly apportion all armed personnel aboard.

The captain shall bear the responsibility for all section leaders and shall watch them carefully. Should they fail to conduct themselves properly, he shall notify the admiral of this matter, and whatever the admiral will decide shall be carried out.

The captain shall inspect, order repairs made, and divide the arms held in common aboard the ship.

The captain shall designate the parties who shall go ashore, and when he is away from the ship, he shall exercise the same degree of authority over such a party as the admiral does when they are aboard the ship, and the latter must invest him with such an authority.

The captain has the same authority as the admiral when the latter is absent and the former is acting in his stead; the captain, however, shall make a complete report of everything that happened when the admiral returns aboard.

The captain shall station the standard bearers at any location he believes they should be stationed.

In case of necessity the captain shall assemble all the personnel and shall force them to assemble as ordered.

The captain shall receive one fourth of all the fines and assessments levied aboard the vessel.

The captain shall be an arbitrator in any disputes between the consuls; if, therefore, one of them has a dispute with another, he shall arbitrate it.

The captain shall deliver all the effects of a deceased member of the crew to the wife or relatives of the deceased; should any such effects be lost, he shall pay them damages.

The captain may auction off the effects of the deceased if in his [251] judgment this should be done.

The captain shall supervise the distribution of food aboard the ship.

The captain, with the agreement of the admiral, may give his armed servant one half of one share of the spoils.

The captain shall apportion, with the approval of the admiral and the outfitters, suiting material to persons aboard the ship who are in need of clothing, as well as other things that shall be distributed.

The captain shall see to it that the weights and measures used by the consuls are accurate; should they act dishonestly and thus cause damage to anyone, they shall be branded on their foreheads. This paragraph was written so that consuls would conduct themselves loyally toward the crew of the ship.

The captain is required to prevent the sale of any collateral given for the delivery of wine and food aboard the ship, until the expedition is completed.

The captain shall see to it that no one aboard the ship is allowed to sell any wine, meat, or other food measured on scales or containers unless verified by him to be accurate; should the captain be able to prove that these instruments were inaccurate, he shall together with the consuls confiscate all the merchandise offered for sale and distribute it among the crew of the ship.

The captain shall see to it that if the down payment made for food aboard the ship was insufficient to pay for the amount used, that the debtor pay his debt to the creditor in order that the latter shall not be damaged, and that this is done while the booty is being auctioned off aboard the ship.

If, after an announcement had been made that wine is being sold aboard the ship, water had been added to the wine, the captain shall bring this to the attention of the consuls.

The captain shall receive twenty-five shares of the booty or more, depending on the amount promised him by the outfitters who in consultation with the admiral promised him such a share at the start of the expedition; under no circumstances can he be given fewer than twenty-five shares.

The captain is entitled and shall receive all the broadswords taken off the captured vessels; it shall be taken for granted that all broadswords that are bundled and are carried aboard such a vessel as part of cargo designated for sale shall not be taken by him; he shall only receive broadswords that are carried by the personnel aboard such a vessel as side arms, and only those.

The captain shall receive all the flags carried aboard such a vessel that are attached to the ropes by pins or with thread. [252] In addition, he shall be paid one-half bezan for each Saracen sold, whether he be an adult or a child. In addition, he shall be paid five bezans for every Saracen who is capable of ransoming himself for over one hundred bezans, and two bezans for each of them who has ransomed himself for one hundred bezans or less.

In addition, he shall receive all the rain garments that they wore, whether made of the gelling material, azure cloth, or any other worn by the Saracens.

He may also take any weapons that he may need in order to be properly and suitably armed. He shall, however, in such a case turn over his own weapons for the use of the personnel of the aramada, that is, he shall surrender his own knives, weapons, retaining one of each variety for personal use.

330-The Clerk

The clerk shall conduct himself loyally towards all and shall take an oath of his office in the presence of the admiral and the outfitters of the ship; if the vessel should be under sail on the high seas, he shall take his oath of office in the presence of the entire crew of the ship.

Immediately after the sails of the ships shall have been unfurled, he shall make an accounting of all matters to the sailors of the prow, the navigators, the crossbowmen, and the rest of the armed personnel; he shall do this in the presence of four navigators, four sailors of the prow, three crossbowmen, two armed crewmen, and four stewards, who after examining his report shall certify in the name of the whole crew that his ledger entries are accurate.

The clerk shall keep a ledger or a register, and no other person shall make any entries in it, cannot examine and read it, or keep it in his possession. If any other person besides the clerk handled such a ledger, it shall no longer be considered as authentic, and the clerk shall lose all his possessions as well as his share of the spoils, and shall be removed from his position. If it should be proved that he had acted in bad faith, the court shall order that his hand be cut off.

The clerk is taken aboard the vessel in order that loyalty will be maintained by all and that he may observe this, for the clerk's testimony is equal to that of three other witnesses, and the ship is held accountable for all his acts.

The clerk should be present when the admiral makes any promises to any member of the ship's personnel, and whatever the admiral would promise to anyone within his hearing, he should write down, but he should only state what he had heard and nothing else. Should he fail to write this down, and he is called to give testimony in some dispute, [253] he shall tell the truth about everything he had heard or seen. He should act in this manner in all commercial matters as well as matters pertaining to privateering, as all evidence aboard a ship emanates from the clerk.

The clerk should not make any entries aboard the ship when the ship is not moored, that means, when the ship is under sail on the seas, for such entries shall not be valid. ⁽¹³⁾

The clerk occupies a position of trust, and thus all his actions, whether he concludes an agreement regarding lading of cargo, whether he buys or sells something or whether he divides the food among the crew, shall be binding. After he has taken his oath of office, any deposition he makes regarding any matter shall be accepted at face value.

The clerk enjoys other privileges; any agreement concluded aboard the vessel shall not be legal if the clerk was not present when it was concluded. In addition, if the clerk had heard the statements made by both of the parties, he may be able to set this down in his ledger when the ship is moored; such an entry will be binding, even if neither of the two parties to such an agreement were present when he entered this matter in the ledger.

In addition, if the clerk did not give an order to the guards, they shall not be allowed to take anything aboard or to give anything away, without a written statement prepared by him and sealed with his seal of office. Unless this is done, the clerk shall not be responsible for anything that may be lost. Further, the patron of the vessel shall not give anything to anyone contrary to his will or without a written authorization from him.

None of the sailors is permitted to take anything under the penalty prescribed in former articles. ⁽¹⁴⁾

Further, if the clerk was not present when an agreement has been made with the patron regarding the amount of the lading charges and the clerk had not made a written record of this, the party refusing to pay such shipping charges cannot be forced to do it. If, however, the clerk had been present, such an agreement shall have binding force, because the clerk heard it and can set it in writing at any moment.

The clerk may in addition hire sailors with the exception of the sailors of the prow, and the patron of the ship must recognize such enlistments as if he had concluded them himself.

The clerk shall be present at all the negotiations related to the [254] ship, whether they pertain to the provisions of the vessel or any other matters. If it should happen that some foodstuffs were captured, the clerk shall immediately divide it, and may reward someone in doing that as he wills.

The clerk may take the best accommodations between the middeck and the prow of the ship and dispose of it as he shall wish. He may also take into his service an assistant clerk; however, the latter cannot make any entries in the ledger; if he does, the clerk shall suffer the penalty described above.

A clerk aboard an armed ship receives ten shares of the booty, the same amount as the officer of the stern deck, who is called a navigator. In addition, he shall receive all the books off the captured vessel whose value does not exceed five bezans per book, but no other books even if they are crated in small boxes. On the other hand, all the papers found in chests or elsewhere shall belong to the clerk, as well as all the inkwells and other clerical supplies that belonged to the clerk of the captured vessel.

In addition, at the sale of all prisoners the clerk shall receive two millares for each prisoner sold, and for each prisoner able to ransom himself he shall receive five millares; and wherever he and his assistant happen to find themselves, they shall be reimbursed for their maintenance and footwear from the time they had been hired.

The clerk may discharge the person from service of the ship who had served the amount of time he had enlisted for, and no one can detain this person by force, if the enlistment had been made under these stipulations when such a person enlisted to serve aboard the ship or the ship had sailed on its expedition; and this shall be binding and not subject to any speculation.

The clerk is required to deduct from the first prize captured by the ship any loans that were made and repay such loans that had been made when the ship had to reprovision at any locality. It shall not be proper to commence distribution of the spoils until such loans are paid off, and the clerk shall have a right to demand that this be done.

331-Stewards ⁽¹⁵⁾

In there had been stewards hired aboard the vessel, they together with the clerk are required to guard faithfully the common property aboard the ship and to make inventory of it, and each of them shall have a copy of such inventory, and each of them should have his own lock, so that one cannot open the chest of another and cannot be able [255] to put anything into it or take anything out; and the clerk shall be present each time any valuables are put in or taken out of these

If it should happen that any of the stewards takes out or issues anything on the orders of the admiral or some other party in command of the ship without the knowledge of the other stewards aboard the ship or of the clerk, he shall lose his hand, and he shall be removed from his office and shall be given over to the mercy of the crew and lose his shares of the booty. ⁽¹⁶⁾

Stewards are paid a silver mark for every privateering expedition.

Stewards are given one chest from each captured vessel, the best that shall be found aboard, without any merchandise that it may have contained, just the wooden part of it.

Stewards receive all the locks that shall be taken off a captured vessel or ship.

Stewards shall receive all the ropes taken off the crates from the captured vessel.

Stewards shall receive all the nails found aboard the captured vessel that are not in chests, packs, or baskets.

Stewards receive two millares for every Saracen captured; but they shall be required to furnish the rivets needed to fasten the fetters of the prisoners.

Stewards receive all the chisels found aboard the captured vessel with the exception of those that belong to the carpenter, but they shall make them available for use aboard their ship.

They shall be required to furnish the ropes necessary to tie up the crates until these are sold at auction, and the chisels for putting on the fetters on the prisoners and for taking them off. They shall also furnish ropes to tie up the prisoners and fasten the sails, if there are no such ropes aboard the vessel.

332-Chief Navigator

The chief navigator of a ship is required to be loyal to the admiral, the captain and the outfitters, and not to delay accomplishing anything that is necessary; if such matters can be done in one day, he shall not use additional days for this task, for a battleship must be ready at any day or hour to take pursuit of an enemy vessel, or in case of necessity to be able to flee; therefore, the navigator shall perform all the tasks that he is to perform as quickly and efficiently as possible, [256] and he shall pledge an oath that he will do this.

In addition, he shall also swear an oath that he shall not be swayed by any ties of relationship or because he has received some gifts refrain from issuing orders to those who can carry out these orders satisfactorily.

In addition, he shall swear an oath that he shall not assign any person a job that he knows another person could do better.

In addition, he shall inform the proper authority of the lack of masts, sailing yard, anchors, or other equipment aboard the ship. Should he fail to reveal such shortages, and it shall be proved that he withheld such matters, he shall be deprived of his shares of the booty and his weapons.

In addition, should he witness a theft, a fight, or any other violation, he shall make this public and punish the culprit; if the guilty party refused to reform, he shall inform the admiral and the captain about this matter.

In addition, he should not hire a stranger for a member of the crew, nor state that anyone is a good sailor if he actually does not know this; should he do that, he shall be responsible for all the damage that the ship will have suffered by his misstatement of facts.

Should the person he hired become seasick and unable to perform his obligations, and if it became necessary to hire another to replace him, the navigator shall have to pay his wages.

In addition, he shall perform all the services that are part of his obligations. Should it happen that he cannot perform such services and it will become necessary to hire another in his stead, he shall have to pay the wages to his replacement; by the above it should be understood that he will not know what is necessary to know aboard the ship regarding its sailing. He is not required to know other matters that are not related to sailing of a vessel, but he shall know that which had been mentioned previously, as it was for this knowledge that he had been made the chief navigator. In addition, should he not know the matters essential to his position, he shall be removed from his position and forfeit the rewards he had been promised; on the other hand, if he fulfills everything that he had promised, he shall be given what had been promised him.

In addition, he shall not sail out of or into a port without the approval of the admiral, the captain, and the crew of the vessel.

He shall swear an oath to fulfill all these things; and in addition, he shall not keep secret anything, because of his friendship for the admiral or the captain or anyone else, that should be done, that he shall not suggest that useless things be done, and that he shall do and order everything done that will be beneficial to the ship. Should he be unable to do this, he shall inform the admiral and the captain about [257] about this matter, and they shall help him in all matters that will benefit the ship. Should they refuse to help him or fail to keep their promise, he shall not be liable to them in any manner.

The navigator has the following authority aboard the ship, that after a consultation with the admiral, the captain, and the other officers aboard, he will have the right to order that the sails be raised and unfurled at any moment he considers proper in his judgment.

The navigator takes command of the vessel from the moment it begins to sail out of a port until it is on the open waters.

In addition, in all situations when it becomes necessary that the ship hover about, the navigator shall issue all orders regarding the proper setting out of sails, from the deck of the ship.

In addition, should he decide to hover about, he shall ask the advice of the admiral, the captain, and the officers of the foredeck, and if they agree, he shall hover about.

In addition, after entry into any port the navigator shall be in command of the ship. After both of the anchors have been cast he will surrender the command of the ship to the party whose turn it is to take over the command.

In addition, if he decides that the mainsail shall be furled or unfurled or trimmed, he shall issue such orders. If it should be necessary to wind [head] up or realign a sail, he may do this without asking anyone about it.

In addition, no anchor shall be put aboard the ship if the navigator did not order or demand it.

In addition, if it shall be necessary to shorten the cable or to cut it, the navigator may do it.

In addition, the ship shall not be allowed to hover about without the approval of the navigator, nor shall its anchor be hoisted or its mooring lines pulled in without his consent.

During the night none of the ship's jolly-boats shall leave its vicinity without his permission; if, however, this was done, the captain shall be notified. The navigator shall set the succession of command among his co-navigators, and they shall report to him everything that they had undertaken.

The navigator shall participate in the division of spoils, because he knows the sailors. He shall also pledge an oath that he as well as those under his command shall faithfully make their reports.

The chief navigator shall be relieved from the responsibility of vouching for the person he hired after the latter has served aboard for a month, for he hired him in the name of the ship.

The navigator may change his weapons for others, if after capture of a vessel better weapons are found, and he may keep such weapons until the completion of the journey, after which he shall return it to [258] the crew of the ship; he shall, however, always be armed while on the deck; and one of the weapons shall belong to him.

In addition, the navigator receives food rations one quarter share larger. For every vessel that pays ransom he shall receive ten bezans, and if the vessel is small, he shall receive five bezans.

In addition, from each sail divided among the other navigators he shall receive a share and a quarter; and from each captured vessel whether a large or small he may demand a payment of one bezan for a drinking toast.

The navigator is required to remain aboard the ship until all the rest of the crew has left the ship, and he shall not leave the vessel until the vessel is secured and the journey is completed. After this has been done, the navigator may leave the ship, if the majority of the crew has left it and he desires to do so.

333 -Consuls

The consuls should take an oath in the presence of the crew of the vessel, the navigators, the outfitters, the sailors of the prow, the crossbowmen, and other armed personnel that they shall not be influenced by any means in dealing with anyone aboard the ship, that they shall not be partial to any relatives or anyone else, and that they shall act faithfully in accordance with their best knowledge and good will, and that they shall always act with the advice of all those who shall give their advice, and that they shall not be deterred from this course either by bonds of blood, offers of money, or any other reason.

They shall watch very carefully that everything sold aboard the vessel, whether wine or anything else, shall be honestly measured. They shall also have a clerk; and each of the consuls shall be paid fifteen bezans; and they shall give the captain from the share they received of all the fines imposed aboard the ship one third of the amount and to the clerk also a third of the amount.

In addition, they shall receive half of the imposed fines. They should also receive one rug from each captured vessel.

In addition, they shall receive two bezans for each of them for every person captured aboard the vessel taken, because they arbitrate disputes between the people.

In addition, every consul is to conduct his affairs faithfully and impartially, and should he tolerate any evil acts, he shall be deprived of his office, shall forfeit his shares in the booty, and shall be branded on his forehead.

[259] The guards who are bailiffs or major-domos ⁽¹⁷⁾ should take an oath that they shall honestly distribute the food rations among all aboard, with the exception of the admiral who shall receive three portions, and the captain and the chief navigator who shall receive one and one-quarter portions. They shall not be allowed to give a larger portion to either a large or small member of the crew without the consent of the admiral, the captain, and the clerk.

The guards shall receive the hides of the animals eaten aboard the ship. They shall also receive bags and bread baskets, if their ship takes booty.

In addition, for every Saracen captured they shall be paid four millares; they shall, however, be required to watch them, chain and unchain them, and if these Saracens should be able to give ransom, they shall be paid one bezan each.

In addition, the guards shall receive as large a share of the spoils as will be available. Should the Saracens escape, however, they shall be held answerable.

334-Who Is Entitled to One-Fifth of the Booty

Whoever outfits a vessel, whether large or small, or a galley, or some other unit of the armada, at the cost of ten thousand soldinos, ⁽¹⁸⁾ more or less, and such unit should capture a prize, after deducting two fifths from the booty, one fifth shall accrue to the admiral, one fifth to the navigators, and one fifth to those who had outfitted the vessel.

In addition, if any person has outfitted a vessel and has failed to make any profit on such a venture and shall withdraw his investment, from this sum shall be taken two fifths and divided in the manner prescribed above.

In addition, if anyone has outfitted a ship but has not made any profit nor withdrawn his investment, from whatever is left of this sum, whether it be much or little, two fifths shall be taken and divided as had been stated.

In addition, if some navigator had secured the means with which to [260] procure his position from a third party upon the condition that they shall mutually share the losses and also equally divide the booty, should the ship upon which he is sailing capture a prize, the profit accruing from the money raised by the navigator shall be added to the share of the booty that shall be due him and the whole amount shall be divided between the two of them. If the ship failed to take any booty, the navigator above mentioned shall be required to pay the party who had advanced him the money half of the wages received by the navigator.

In addition, if the party mentioned above advanced such money accepting all the risk personally, the profit made from such money, if the ship had taken any prizes, shall belong exclusively to the party who had advanced this money, while the income that will accrue to the navigator due to his position aboard the ship shall belong to him in entirety. Thus the party that had provided the original sum of money shall not be liable in any manner to the navigator, nor shall the navigator be obligated in any way to this party, regardless of whether the ship takes any prizes and makes a profit or should incur a loss, and this is due to the fact that the money was advanced on the basis mentioned above.

In addition, a fifth of the spoils is collected in this manner, that if the whole amount to be divided equals ten thousand soldinos, four thousand soldinos shall be set aside for those who are to receive the fifth of the spoils. If the sum should be lower or higher, the same procedure should be followed in designating the fifth share.

At this point we come to the end of the book commonly called the Consulate, in which have been incorporated the various articles, laws, and accepted customs that our forefathers had ordained in matters marine and commercial and in privateer and naval expeditions.

These laws and these articles have been proclaimed, signed, and promulgated by the authorities listed below.
 

In the year 1075 after the Birth of Jesus Christ, Our Lord, in the month of March, they were proclaimed by Romans, in the city of Rome, in the monastery of St. John the Lateran, that they shall be observed for all times.

In the year 1102, in the month of September, they were proclaimed in the city of Accra, on his way to Jerusalem, by King Louis, and Count of Toulouse, that they be observed for all times. ⁽¹⁹⁾

[261] In the year 1102 they were proclaimed at Majorca by the Pisanians, that they be observed for all times.

In the year 1118 they were proclaimed in the city of Pisa, at the church of Saint Peter, Patron of the Sea, during the reign of Podesta Ambrose Mus, that they be observed for all times.

In the year 1162, in the month of August, they were proclaimed in the city of Marseilles, at the Hospitality building, during the reign of Podesta, His Mightiness Jaufre Antor, that they should be observed for all time. ⁽²⁰⁾

In the year 1175 they were proclaimed in Almeria by the good count of Barcelona and Genoa, that they shall be observed for all times.

In the year 1186 they were proclaimed in the city of Genoa, during the reign of Podesta Pinell Milrs, and the tenure of city Elders, Peter Ambroise, John de Sent-Donat, William de Carmesi, Baldoni and Peter Desarenes, and the oath to observe these ordinances was taken by those entering the port.

In the year 1187, in the month of February, they were proclaimed by King William in the city of Brindisi, that they be observed for all times.

In the year 1190 they were proclaimed and sworn to on the Island of Rhodes, that they be preserved for all times.

In the year 1200 they were proclaimed and sworn to by the Prince of Morea, that they be observed for all times. ⁽²¹⁾

In the year 1215 they were ratified by the Venetian Commune in Constantinople, and were signed by King John, after the defeat of the Greeks, in the church of Saint Sofia, that they shall be preserved for all times.

In the year 1224 the Count of Germany proclaimed them, that they be observed for all times.

In the year 1225 they were ratified and sworn to in the city of Messina, in the new church of the Most Holy Virgin, in the presence of the Bishop of Catania, and Frederick, the Emperor of Germany, that they be observed for all times.

In the year 1250 they were ratified by John de Balmont in the spirit of the King of France, who at that time enjoyed good health, in the presence of the Cavaliers of the Army, Knights of Templar, Hospitalers [262] and an Admiral of the Levant, that they be observed for all times. ⁽²²⁾

In the year 1262 they were proclaimed in the city of Constantinople, at the church of Holy Angel, by the Emperor of Pellonnesia, to be observed for all times within his domain.

In the year 1270 they were proclaimed by Frederick, King of Cyprus, in Syria, and in Constantinople, by Emperor Constantine, that they be observed for all times.

In the year 1270 they were proclaimed and ratified by His Most Royal Majesty, James, by the Grace of God, King of Aragon, Valencia, and Majorca, Count of Barcelona and the city of Urgel; and it was His Majesty, King James, in the city of Valencia, who appointed the consuls in the manner prescribed above.

The printing of this work was completed July 14, 1494 in Barcelona, at the shop of Peter Posa, priest and printer.

1. An outfitter leased a ship from its owner, fitted it out with guns, armaments, armor, and other necessities, and paid its owners an agreed portion of the captured booty.

2. This craft, corresponding in size to a modern life boat, was usually armed with one cannon and used as an assault or diversionary weapon.

3. The position of these subalterns or junior commanders had been established in 1266 by an ordinance promulgated by King Alphonse of Castille, which stated in part: "Subalterns are called persons who command under the authority of an admiral. Each of them may command the people aboard his own ship..."

4. Flagship.

5. There actually is an error in the original manuscript. It should read 125 persons, instead of 150.

6. Actually, a section leader, similar to a position of a Petty Officer in present day U. S. Navy.

7. Morabatin, morabatine, or almorabitino was a gold coin minted in Spain and Portugal very similar to a gold coin in size and appearance minted from the year 1087 in the Arab territories. It weighed 3.83 to 4.18 grams and was made of pure gold. Even though minted in Christian states, it often carried Arabic inscriptions and legends written in Latin but in Kufic alphabet.

8. A captain could not elevate someone to a higher rank than his own. The above probably refers to a situation when an admiral died or resigned, and the captain took over his functions temporarily and proposed someone to the outfitters of the ship as a candidate for that position.

9. Authenticators were official witnesses with power but no seal of a notary public.

10. Bast-shoes were made of cordage that was made out of the inner bark of trees. They were used for wading.

11. In the original manuscript, Rey de servicials. Most probably a person in charge of the kitchens aboard the ship, a chef.

12. This provided added income for the chef, who charged a flat fee or take percentage of winnings for the privilege of the use of table.

13. Reference is made to Articles 60 and 253.

14. Reference is made to Articles 167 and 173.

15. In modern terminology, Quartermaster.

16. Punishment was severe and administered on the spot.

17. In the original manuscript, senescaiclus. Special guards in charge of protection and distribution of food aboard the ship.

18. Soldo, soldino, a shilling. A silver coin minted during the reign of Henry VI at the close of twelfth century. Those minted in Milan contained 1.25-1.30 grams of pure silver; there were also large coins containing 2.06-2.20 grams of silver.

19. King Louis VI (The Fat) 1081-1137 of France.

20. Podesta, Chief magistrate of a region comparable to Lt.-Governor of a province.

21. Morea, modern Peloponnesia

22. Hospitalers (Knights of St. John of Jerusalem) a religious Order established for the care of sick and wounded Crusaders.