Pictures from the Early History of Venice, A.D. 403-1205

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ...four per cent. The contributors afterwards formed themselves into a company for the management of the funds, and this institution was called the Bank of Venice. It lasted as long as the Republic itself, and is supposed to be the earliest example of a permanent national debt. In twenty days, owing to the united efforts of the citizens, an armament of a hundred galleys and twenty ships was prepared, and commanded by the doge in person, Vitale Michieli, put to sea. But fresh treachery and terrible disasters awaited the Venetians. On touching at the island of Negropont, the doge was apprised that the emperor wished to treat for peace. Ambassadors were sent to Constantinople, and the Venetians went into winter quarters at Scio to await their return. Here the plague broke out among them, more than one chronicler affirms in consequence of the wells having been poisoned by the Greeks; an act which seems only in accordance with their former treacherous conduct. By the time the ambassadors, wearied by repeated procrastinations and unable to come to any conclusion, returned for fresh orders from the doge, the magnificent fleet and army had been so thinned by the ravages of the plague that many ships had been burnt because there were no sailors to man them. Few of the soldiers were able to bear arms, and nothing remained but for the doge to conduct what was left of his host back to Venice. New disasters on the homeward voyage still further increased the terrible wreck of that fine fleet, so that at length only seventeen vessels crept slowly into Venice to tell the dismal tale. They brought with them, moreover, the seeds of the horrible disease which had wrought their destruction at Scio, and it soon spread with fearful rapidity among the crowded population of Venice....