[33] Yet, if the family were so wealthy as tradition represents, it is
    strange that Marco’s brother Maffeo, after receiving a share of his
    father’s property, should have possessed barely 10,000 lire,
    probably equivalent to 5000 ducats at most. (See p. 65, supra.)

[34] An Agnes Loredano, Abbess of S. Maria delle Vergini, died in 1397.
    (Cicogna, V. 91 and 629.) The interval of 61 years makes it somewhat
    improbable that it should be the same.

[35] In the Museo Civico (No. 2271 of the Cicogna collection) there is a
    commission addressed by the Doge Michiel Steno in 1408, “Nobili Viro
    Marcho Paulo,” nominating him Podesta of Arostica (a Castello of the
    Vicentino).  This is probably the same Marco.

[36] The descent runs:  (1) Azzo = Maria Polo; (2) Febo, Captain at Padua;
    (3) Zaccaria, Senator; (4) Domenico, Procurator of St. Mark’s; (5)
    Marc’ Antonio, Doge (Cappellari, Campidoglio Veneto, MS. St.
    Mark’s Lib.).

    Marc’ Antonio nolebat ducari and after election desired to renounce. 
    His friends persuaded him to retain office, but he lived scarcely a
    year after. (Cicogna, IV. 566.) [See p. 8.]

[37] In Appendix B will be found tabulated all the facts that seem to be
    positively ascertained as to the Polo genealogies.

In the Venetian archives occurs a procuration executed by the Doge in favour of the Nobilis Vir SER MARCO PAULO that he may present himself before the king of Sicily; under date, Venice 9th November, 1342.  And some years later we have in the Sicilian Archives an order by King Lewis of Sicily, directed to the Maestri Procuratori of Messina, which grants to MARCO POLO of Venice, on account of services rendered to the king’s court, the privilege of free import and export at the port of Messina, without payment of customs of goods to the amount annually of 20 ounces.  Dated in Catania 13th January, 1346 (1347?).

For the former notice I am indebted to the courtesy of Signor B. Cecchetti of the Venetian Archives, who cites it as “transcribed in the Commemor. IV. p. 5”; for the latter to that of the Abate Carini of the Reale Archivio at Palermo; it is in Archivio della Regia Cancellaria 1343-1357, f. 58.

The mission of this MARCO POLO is mentioned also in a rescript of the Sicilian king Peter II., dated Messina, 14th November, 1340, in reference to certain claims of Venice, about which the said Marco appeared as the Doge’s ambassador.  This is printed in F. TESTA, De Vita et Rebus Gestis Federici II., Siciliae Regis, Panormi, 1775, pp. 267 seqq.  The Sicilian Antiquary Rosario Gregorio identifies the Envoy with our Marco, dead long before. (See Opere scelte del Canon Ros.  Gregorio, Palermo, 1845, 3za ediz., p. 352.)