There had not, from the time he sailed, been any cordiality between Francis and the other officers.

These had been selected for the position solely from family influence, and none of them were acquainted with the working of a ship.
In those days, not only in Venice but in other countries, naval battles were fought by soldiers rather than sailors.

Nobles and knights, with their retainers, embarked on board a ship for the purpose of fighting, and of fighting only, the management of the vessel being carried on entirely by sailors under their own officers.

Thus, neither the commander of the force on board the galley, nor any of his officers, with the exception of Francis, knew anything whatever about the management of the ship, nor were capable of giving orders to the crew.
Among the latter were some who had sailed with Francis in his first two voyages, and these gave so excellent a report of him to the rest, that they were from the first ready to obey his orders as promptly as those of their own sub-officer.
Francis concerned himself but little with the ill will that was shown him by the officers.

He knew that it arose from jealousy, not only of the promotion he, a foreigner and a junior in years, had received over them, but of the fact that he had already received the thanks of the republic for the services he had rendered, and stood high in the favour of the admiral, who never lost an opportunity of showing the interest he had in him.