Add MS 38667

CAPITULARE, Salinariorum Maris Venetiae; oath and statutes of the salt officers of Venice. The salt trade was one of the principal sources of wealth in Venice, imported salt being known as "sal maris," Venetian salt as "sal Clugiae." The original form of the Capitulare (ff. l-21 b) includes statutes dated 1279-1348, and additions, written in various cursive hands, bring it down to 1373. Some of the later entries (ff. 24 b, 25 b) are records of appointments under the salt office. By a decree dated 6 May, 1371, the office was amalgamated with that of the three "officiales de super Rivo Alto," whose number was increased to four (f. 25). At the end, f. 25 b, is a note, dated 19 Feb. 1376, by Johannes Vido, notary, cancelling the book after the contents had been remodelled and transferred to a new volume. Capitularies of the salt office are preserved in the Royal Archives at Venice (see R. Predelli, Il. R. Archivo Generale di Venezia, p. 440) and in the Library of St. Mark's (see G. Valentinelli, Bibliotheca Manitscripta ad S. Marci Venetiarum, iii, p. 119). For accounts of the salt trade and salt office see V. Sandi, Principi di Storia Civile di Venezia al 1700, pt. i, vol.. ii, p. 776, C. A. Main, Storia del Commercio de' Veneziani, v, p. 42, and G. Cappeiletti, Storia di Venezia, iii, p. 69. Vellum; ff. vii + 25. 9⁷/₈ in. x 7¹/₂ in. A.D. 1348-1376. Gatherings, including the fly-leaves, i, ii², iii, iv⁸ v, vi, vii⁴. Original binding (rebacked), of wooden boards covered with leather ; five metal bosses on either cover; two straps with metal ends pierced to fasten on to two pins.