version of Bernard, are printed in Muratori’s Collection.  As Pipino
    states himself to have executed the translation of Polo by order of
    his Superiors, it is probable that the task was set him at a general
    chapter of the order which was held at Bologna in 1315. (See
    Muratori, IX. 583; and Quetif, Script.  Ord.  Praed. I. 539).  We do
    not know why Ramusio assigned the translation specifically to 1320,
    but he may have had grounds.

[11] See Bianconi, 1st Mem. 29 seqq.

[12] C. Dickens somewhere narrates the history of the equivalents for a
    sovereign as changed and rechanged at every frontier on a continental
    tour.  The final equivalent received at Dover on his return was some 12
    or 13 shillings; a fair parallel to the comparative value of the first
    and last copies in the circle of translation.

[13] The Ramusios were a family of note in literature for several
    generations.  Paolo, the father of Gian Battista, came originally from
    Rimini to Venice in 1458, and had a great repute as a jurist, besides
    being a litterateur of some eminence, as was also his younger brother
    Girolamo.  G. B. Ramusio was born at Treviso in 1485, and early entered
    the public service.  In 1533 he became one of the Secretaries of the
    Council of X. He was especially devoted to geographical studies, and
    had a school for such studies in his house.  He retired eventually from
    public duties, and lived at Villa Ramusia, near Padua.  He died in the
    latter city, 10th July, 1557, but was buried at Venice in the Church
    of S. Maria dell’ Orto.  There was a portrait of him by Paul Veronese
    in the Hall of the Great Council, but it perished in the fire of 1577;
    and that which is now seen in the Sala dello Scudo is, like the
    companion portrait of Marco Polo, imaginary.  Paolo Ramusio, his son,
    was the author of the well-known History of the Capture of
    Constantinople. (Cicogna, II. 310 seqq.)

[14] The old French texts were unknown in Marsden’s time.  Hence this
    question did not present itself to him.

[15] Wangcheu in the Chinese Annals; Vanchu in Ramusio.  I assume that
    Polo’s Vanchu was pronounced as in English; for in Venetian the ch
    very often has that sound.  But I confess that I can adduce no other
    instance in Ramusio where I suppose it to have this sound, except in
    the initial sound of Chinchitalas and twice in Choiach (see II.
    364).