by Dave Duncan
marangona the great bell in the campanile San Marco, which marked the main divisions of the day
messer my lord or sir
Missier Grande the chief of police, who carries out the orders of the Ten
Molo the waterfront of the Piazzetta, on the Grand Canal
moresca a popular Venetian sword dance
Piazza the city square in front of the Basilica of San Marco
Piazzetta an extension of the Piazza, flanking the palace
Porte or Sublime Porte, the Sultan’s government in Constantinople
Quarantia the Council of Forty, very roughly equal to a supreme court but with administrative duties also. The three chiefs of the Quarantia are also members of the Signoria
salone a reception hall
salotto a living room
sbirro (pl: sbirri) a police constable
scuola (pl: scuole) a confraternity (restricted to commoners)
sequin a gold coin equal to 440 soldi (22 lire)
Serenissima, La the Republic of Venice
Signori di Notte young aristocrats elected to run the local sbirri
Signoria the doge and his six counselors, plus the three chiefs of the Quarantia
soldo (pl: soldi) see DUCAT
Ten see COUNCIL OF TEN
Three the state inquisitors, a subcommittee of the Council of Ten
traghetto a permanent mooring station for public-hire gondolas; also the association of gondoliers that owns it
Tuscan the language of Florence, which became modern Italian
Veneziano the language of Venice
vizioMissier Grande’s deputy
Wells the prison cells on the ground floor of the Doges’ Palace
zonta a group of extra members added to a committee
*…serious shortage of cordage and fresh spars from Dalmatia overcome by summer, but finding rowers…
*Aug. 11 The Council of Ten…
*Sept. 15 The garrison…