HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

291

rebellious islands on the coast of Dalmatia, and the capture of Aeon, in conjunc-tion with the force of other crusaders, on which occasion mention is made of aconsiderable naval force contributed to the common cause, ky the Pisans. Thesepeople, who from a very obscure origin had raised themselves into some kindof public notice, had the temerity to shew so great a desire to emulate theVenetian power, as could scarcely fail to excite the indignation of the republic.During the siege, a variety of trivial feuds and disputes arose, which ratherserved to advance a quarrel, originating on both sides, perhaps, in envy. Theconduct of the Pisan fleet when on its return from Syria, materially contri-buted to widen the breach. The town of Pola, then tributary to the Vene-tians, and consequently under their protection, was not only assaulted andplundered, but a Pisan garrison was left in it, as an indisputable proof that theassailants by no means wished to disown the violence of the act, but that theywere resolved to profit by the success of it, and retain for their own use, till bythe fortune of war they might have wrested from them the fruits of their con-quest. The insult was too great to be pardoned, or slightly passed over byVenice. The honour of the republic was concerned, and the necessary mea-sures were immediately taken to vindicate its wrongs. A squadron consistingof six ships, and as many gallies, was immediately equipped; and the expeditionwas terminated not only by the restoration of the ravished city to the dominionof its former masters, but by the capture of a considerable number of gallies orvessels belonging to Pisa which were then in the harbour. The vengeance ofVenice did not terminate even here, an exceedingly valuable fleet belonging tothe same people being either captured or destroyed, ere the Doge and senatethought proper to consent to terms of pacification. The people of Veronafell under the displeasure of the republic in the ensuing year. They had im-prudently plundered some Venetian vessels in the river Adige, and all com-merce or intercourse with them was immediately prohibited as a punishmentfor the delinquency. An immediate concession, however, accompanied brproper satisfaction for the injury offered, calmed the rage of the offended, andsufficed to restore tranquillity.

The Pisans, after a truce, (for the relaxation from warfare which took placecould scarcely be said to deserve the appellation of a peace) which continued fora few years, prevailed on the Brundusians to declare war against Venice : fear-ful, from the chastisement they had before experienced, that if unsupported byalliance they should meet with a similar discomfiture from the former. Venice

P p 2 on