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A 1545 law stipulated that the principal objective of the reform was 'to have
always ready a convenient fleet, with rules and regulations according to what
is needed, so that with readiness and without difficulty, all or part of it can
be sent out'1. Thus 100 light galleys were assembled 'of those that are found
in our arsenals that are more finished ... so all that has to be done is launch
them in water ... and if it so happens to send galleys and arms in a fleet,
when these are removed and other new ones are added, there are always found 100
galleys in perfect order with all their equipment'2. It was later decided to
add to this core fleet of 100 galleys ,
four large galleys ,
8 small galleys ('fuste'), 8 brigs ('brigantini'), and 8 long boats ('barche lunghe'). Between 1577 and 1581 a squadron of 12
galleasses ('galeazze') were added to this fleet.
Footnotes:
1 'haver sempre preparata una conveniente armata, con ordine e regola tale che
secondo le occorentie, con prestezza e senza difficultà, tutta o parte
di essa si possi mandar fuori'
2 'di quelle che si attrovano nelli nostri arsenali che sono più
finite... sì che non accadi alli bisogni nostri altro che avararle in
acqua... et accadendo mandar galee et armizi in armata, sia tolto di queste et
reintegrato il numero di nuove, si che si attrovi sempre cento galee in punto
et ordine di tutte le cose sue'
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