(Romanin, ii. 332; this author misdates Ayas, however.) When a levy
    was required in Venice for any expedition the heads of each contrada
    divided the male inhabitants, between the ages of twenty and sixty,
    into groups of twelve each, called duodene.  The dice were thrown to
    decide who should go first on service.  He who went received five
    lire a month from the State, and one lira from each of his
    colleagues in the duodena.  Hence his pay was sixteen lire a month,
    about 2_s._ a day in silver value, if these were lire ai grossi, or
    1_s._ 4_d._ if lire dei piccoli. (See Romanin, ii. 393-394.)

Money on such occasions was frequently raised by what was called an Estimo or Facion, which was a force loan levied on the citizens in proportion to their estimated wealth; and for which they were entitled to interest from the State.

[17] Several of the Italian chroniclers, as Ferreto of Vicenza and
    Navagiero, whom Muratori has followed in his “Annals,” say the battle
    was fought on the 8th September, the so-called Birthday of the
    Madonna.  But the inscription on the Church of St. Matthew at Genoa,
    cited further on, says the 7th, and with this agree both Stella and
    the Genoese poet.  For the latter, though not specifying the day of the
    month, says it was on a Sunday:—­

      “Lo di de Domenga era
        Passa prima en l’ora bona
        Stormezam fin provo nona
      Con bataio forte e fera.”

    Now the 7th September, 1298, fell on a Sunday.

[18] Ma li pensavam grande error
        Che in fuga se fussem tuti metui
        Che de si lonzi eram vegnui
      Per cerchali a casa lor.

[19] “Note here that the Genoese generally, commonly, and by nature, are
    the most covetous of Men, and the Love of Gain spurs them to every
    Crime.  Yet are they deemed also the most valiant Men in the World. 
    Such an one was Lampa, of that very Doria family, a man of an high
    Courage truly.  For when he was engaged in a Sea-Fight against the
    Venetians, and was standing on the Poop of his Galley, his Son,
    fighting valiantly at the Forecastle, was shot by an Arrow in the
    Breast, and fell wounded to the Death; a Mishap whereat his Comrades
    were sorely shaken, and Fear came upon the whole Ship’s Company.  But
    Lampa, hot with the Spirit of Battle, and more mindful of his
    Country’s Service and his own Glory than of his Son, ran forward to
    the spot, loftily rebuked the agitated Crowd, and ordered his Son’s
    Body to be cast into the Deep, telling them for their Comfort that the
    Land could never have afforded his Boy a nobler Tomb.  And then,
    renewing the Fight more fiercely than ever, he achieved the Victory.”
    (Benvenuto of Imola, in Comment. on Dante. in Muratori, Antiq. i.
    1146.)