nth century.
Joinville describes it like something strange and new.

In after days the artillery occupied the same position, at the bow of
the galley.

Great beams, hung like battering rams, are mentioned by Sanudo, as
well as iron crow's-feet with fire attached, to shoot among the
rigging, and jars of quick-lime and soft soap to fling in the eyes of
the enemy. The lime is said to have been used by Doria against the
Venetians at Curzola (infra, p. 48), and seems to have been a usual
provision. Francesco Barberini specifies among the stores for his
galley: "_Calcina_, con lancioni, Pece, pietre, e ronconi" (p. 259.)
And Christine de Pisan, in her _Faiz du Sage Roy Charles_ (V. of
France), explains also the use of the soap: "_Item_, on doit avoir
pluseurs vaisseaulx legiers a rompre, comme _poz plains de chauls_ ou
pouldre, et gecter dedens; et, par ce, seront comme avuglez, au
brisier des poz. _Item_, on doit avoir autres _poz de mol savon_ et
gecter es nefzs des adversaires, et quant les vaisseaulx brisent, le
savon est glissant, si ne se peuent en piez soustenir et chieent en
l'eaue" (pt. ii. ch. 38).

[17] _Balislariae_, whence no doubt _Balistrada_ and our _Balustrade_.
Wedgwood's etymology is far-fetched. And in his new edition (1872),
though he has shifted his ground, he has not got nearer the truth.

[18] _Sanutius_, p. 53; _Joinville_, p. 40; _Muntaner_, 316, 403.

[19] See pp. 270, 288, 324, and especially 346.

[20] See the _Protestant_, cited above, p. 441, et seqq.

[21] _Venezia e le sue Lagune_, ii. 52.

[22] _Mar. Sanut._ p. 75.

[23] _Mar. Sanut._, p. 30.

[24] The Catalan Admiral Roger de Loria, advancing at daybreak to attack
the Provencal Fleet of Charles of Naples (1283) in the harbour of
Malta, "did a thing which should be reckoned to him rather as an act
of madness," says Muntaner, "than of reason. He said, 'God forbid that
I should attack them, all asleep as they are! Let the trumpets and
nacaires sound to awaken them, and I will tarry till they be ready for
action. No man shall have it to say, if I beat them, that it was by
catching them asleep.'" (_Munt._ p. 287.) It is what Nelson might have
done!

The Turkish admiral Sidi 'Ali, about to engage a Portuguese squadron
in the Straits of Hormuz, in 1553, describes the Franks as "dressing
their vessels with flags an