1893 text
“Two long boats that were made in Venice, called gondolas, were by the Duke of Venice (Dominico Contareni) presented to His Majesty; , and the attending watermen, being four, were in very rich clothes, crimson satin; very big were their breeches and doublets; they wore also very large shirts of the same satin, very richly laced.” — Rugge’s Diurnal. — B.
This text comes from a footnote on a diary entry in the 1893 edition edited by Henry B. Wheatley.
3 Annotations
Second Reading
Bill • Link
GONDOLA, a Venetian Wherry Boat.
---An Universal Etymological English Dictionary. N. Bailey, 1675.
Third Reading
San Diego Sarah • Link
FROM:
'Venice: September 1661', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 33, 1661-1664, ed. Allen B Hinds (London, 1932), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk….
46. Francesco Giavarina, Venetian Resident in England, to the Doge and Senate.
After a lot of Mediterranian angst, and news of sickness and unrest in London, Amb. Francesco Giavarina comes to the saga of the subject of the gondolas:
...
The ship from Leghorn with the gondolas arrived in the Downs this week and the news reached London the day before yesterday. When the wind serves it will enter the Thames and anchor not far from this metropolis.
I will then have them put in the water and set right, and subsequently present them to his Majesty. I have informed him of their arrival, at which he expressed his delight, declaring that immediately they reach the river he will go to see them, while manifesting great curiosity and his indebtedness to the Senate.
I am sure that the sight will please him greatly, as from the account of ministers I know he was not a little gratified that the mission of the ambassadors extraordinary was expressly for offices with his Majesty, without any charge for other princes, as was reported here and suspected.
When I spoke with any one about it I did not fail to assure them that this was so, and that it was a mark of esteem for his Majesty and the whole nation.
London, the 9th September, 1661.
[Italian.]
So far, so good.
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49. Francesco Giavarina, Venetian Resident in England, to the Doge and Senate.
Owing to contrary winds the ship with the two gondolas could not enter the Thames before yesterday, when it cast anchor 35 miles from this city. I went at once to see them and found them much damaged and in poor condition with great leaks caused by the excessive heat on the long voyage and some of the packages are not in good condition.
They were put into lighters yesterday evening and reached London to-day.
Moved by curiosity the king took a pleasure barge on the river to meet and inspect them, so eager is he. I at once had the packing opened and the bodies sunk, so that after they are seasoned a little they may be taken to a boat yard and the damage repaired. I am also giving orders for all that is unstuck and broken to be repaired, and with permission, I will enter the cost in my accounts.
As the king is extraordinarily eager to see them I will hasten their repairs as much as possible and then present them, but this cannot happen till the middle of next week, as it needs time to do all that is necessary.
Meanwhile the gondoliers are working; they are all four in good health and eager to be presented to his Majesty.
Owing to my attention to this matter I cannot devote much time to this despatch and beg the Senate to pardon me, especially as there is nothing of importance. ...
London, 16 September, 1661.
San Diego Sarah • Link
CONCLUSION:
52. Francesco Giavarina, Venetian Resident in England, to the Doge and Senate.
After news and rumors about Mediterrandean adventures and the Barbary pirates, the Ambassador continues:
Having repaired the gondolas, which were all in pieces, having them regilded and much of the inlay reset, I had them out on the Thames yesterday and presented them to his Majesty with suitable remarks.
It is impossible to express his Majesty's pleasure or how they were praised by the king, Court and everyone.
His Majesty at once got in with the duke and duchess of York and another lady of the Court, and also made me enter. Other gentlemen of the palace followed in the second. He took a short course on the river, before a great crowd assembled to see them, their richness, grace and lightness being generally admired with praises for the gondoliers also. He said many times that he had never seen anything finer or more gallant.
He charged me expressly to thank your Serenity for the present, which he valued greatly and he would see that the gondoliers were well treated.
It would really seem that the present of your Serenity stands apart from the many others that have been made by many other princes.
This week he was presented by the States of Holland with a little vessel to sail on the Thames, of great beauty (fn. 5) but he is more pleased with the gondolas, and he enjoys nothing so much as going on the water.
In speaking of the speed of gondolas and barques the gondoliers told him that there is another kind of craft called ‘fisolere’ (fn. 6) which go much quicker and with these they could show him quick rowing, describing the nature of the boat, to his Majesty's extreme delight.
The king at once sent for me and said that after receiving such an honour he ought not immediately to ask for another, but what he heard of the ‘fisolere’ and his passion for anything that floats would excuse him. He asked me to beg the Senate for one of these and I consented, having already told him of the state's desire to gratify him in every possible way.
The gondoliers tell me the form which the ‘fisolere’ ought to have for this river and I will send full particulars to the Magistracy alle Rason Vecchie.
The duke of York told me yesterday that he also would like gondolas; but he would not trouble the Senate and asked me to get some at his own cost.
Many other lords of the Court have already spoken to me, all being most eager for such craft, so greatly have those sent by your Serenity caught the general taste.
London, 23 September, 1661.
Footnotes:
• 5. A yacht presented by the Dutch East India Company. Evelyn: Diary, page 278. See also Pepys: Diary, Vol. ii., page 101.
• 6. “Barque petite, legere et rapide,” used for hunting moorhens (fisolo) or curlews, a winter sport of Venetian gentlemen. Made to carry the master with 7 or 8 servants. Jal: Glossaire Nautique, page 697.