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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Villani's Chronicle, by Giovanni Villani,
+Edited by Philip H. Wicksteed, Translated by Rose E. Selfe
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: Villani's Chronicle
+ Being Selections from the First Nine Books of the Croniche Fiorentine of Giovanni Villani
+
+
+Author: Giovanni Villani
+
+Editor: Philip H. Wicksteed
+
+Release Date: July 8, 2010 [eBook #33022]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VILLANI'S CHRONICLE***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Ted Garvin, Linda Cantoni, and the Project Gutenberg
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net)
+
+
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
+ file which includes the original illustration.
+ See 33022-h.htm or 33022-h.zip:
+ (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/33022/33022-h/33022-h.htm)
+ or
+ (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/33022/33022-h.zip)
+
+
+Transcriber's note:
+
+ This e-book contains numerous sidenotes. All sidenotes have
+ been moved to the beginning of the paragraph in which they
+ appear. Duplicate date sidenotes within a section have been
+ removed.
+
+ Phonetic symbols are represented by [)a] (short a) and [=a]
+ (long a). The "because" symbol (an inverted triangle of 3
+ dots) is represented by [V].
+
+ The last four lines on page 22 in the edition used to prepare
+ this e-book were erroneously duplicated from another page.
+ For details, see the note at the end of this e-book.
+
+ Inconsistent spellings of proper nouns have been retained as
+ they appear in the original, except where clearly incorrect.
+
+
+
+
+
+VILLANI'S CHRONICLE
+
+Being Selections from the First Nine Books of the
+Croniche Fiorentine of Giovanni Villani
+
+Translated by Rose E. Selfe
+
+and
+
+Edited by Philip H. Wicksteed M.A.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+London
+Archibald Constable & Co. Ltd.
+1906
+
+SECOND EDITION
+
+Carefully Revised
+
+
+ Ditemi dell' ovil di San Giovanni
+ Quanto era allora, e chi eran le genti
+ Tra esso degne di piu alti scanni
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+PREFATORY NOTE
+
+
+The Editor is responsible for the selection of the passages
+translated, and for the Introduction. He has also compared the
+translation with the original text, has satisfied himself of its
+general accuracy, and has made numerous suggestions.
+
+The Translator is responsible for the fidelity of the translation in
+detail, and for its general tone and style. She has also drawn up the
+Indexes, and seen the work through the press.
+
+For the selection of marginal references to the works of Dante the
+Editor and Translator are jointly responsible.
+
+Both Translator and Editor desire to express their obligations to Mr.
+A.J. Butler, who has given them his ungrudging assistance in every
+difficulty, and whose learning and judgment have been invaluable.
+
+
+
+
+TABLE OF CONTENTS
+
+
+ PAGE
+
+INTRODUCTION xxv
+
+
+BOOK I.
+
+_This book is called the New Chronicle, in which many
+past things are treated of, and especially the root and origins
+of the city of Florence; then all the changes through which
+it has passed and shall pass in the course of time: begun to
+be compiled in the year of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ,
+1300. Here begins the preface and the First Book._
+
+Sec. 1. 1
+
+Sec. 2.--_How through the confusion of the Tower of Babel
+the world began to be inhabited_ 2
+
+Sec. 5.--_Of the third part of the world called Europe, and
+its boundaries_ 4
+
+Sec. 7.--_How King Atlas first built the city of Fiesole_ 4
+
+Sec. 8.--_How Atlas had three sons, Italus and Dardanus
+and Sicanus_ 6
+
+Sec. 9.--_How Italus and Dardanus came to agree which
+should succeed to the city of Fiesole and the kingdom
+of Italy_ 7
+
+Sec. 10.--_How Dardanus came to Phrygia and built the city
+of Dardania, which was afterwards the great Troy_ 8
+
+Sec. 11.--_How Dardanus had a son which was named
+Tritamus, which was the father of Trojus, after
+whose name the city of Troy was so called_ 8
+
+Sec. 17.--_How Antenor and the young Priam, having departed
+from Troy, built the city of Venice, and that
+of Padua_ 9
+
+Sec. 21.--_How Aeneas departed from Troy and came to
+Carthage in Africa_ 10
+
+Sec. 22.--_How Aeneas came into Italy_ 13
+
+Sec. 23.--_How the King Latinus ruled over Italy, and how
+Aeneas had his daughter to wife, and all his kingdom_ 14
+
+Sec. 29.--_How Rome was ruled for a long time by the
+government of the consuls and senators, until Julius
+Caesar became Emperor_ 16
+
+Sec. 30.--_How a conspiracy was formed in Rome by Catiline
+and his followers_ 18
+
+Sec. 31.--_How Catiline caused the city of Fiesole to rebel
+against the city of Rome_ 19
+
+Sec. 32.--_How Catiline and his followers were discomfited
+by the Romans in the plain of Piceno_ 20
+
+Sec. 33.--_How Metellus with his troops made war upon the
+Fiesolans_ 22
+
+Sec. 34.--_How Metellus and Fiorinus discomfited the Fiesolans_ 22
+
+Sec. 35.--_How the Romans besieged Fiesole the first time,
+and how Fiorinus was slain_ 23
+
+Sec. 36.--_How, because of the death of Fiorinus, the Romans
+returned to the siege of Fiesole_ 24
+
+Sec. 37.--_How the city of Fiesole surrendered itself to the
+Romans, and was destroyed and laid waste_ 26
+
+Sec. 38.--_How the city of Florence was first built_ 27
+
+Sec. 39.--_How Caesar departed from Florence, and went to
+Rome, and was made consul to go against the
+French_ 30
+
+Sec. 40.--_Of the ensign of the Romans and of the Emperors,
+and how from them it came to the city of Florence
+and other cities_ 31
+
+Sec. 42.--_How the Temple of Mars, which is now called
+the Duomo of S. Giovanni, was built in Florence_ 32
+
+Sec. 50.--_Of the city of Luni_ 34
+
+Sec. 57.--_The story returns to the doings of the city of
+Florence, and how S. Miniato there suffered martyrdom
+under Decius, the Emperor_ 35
+
+Sec. 59.--_Of Constantine the Emperor, and his descendants,
+and the changes which came thereof in Italy_ 38
+
+Sec. 60.--_How the Christian faith first came to Florence_ 39
+
+
+BOOK II.
+
+Sec. 1.--_Here begins the Second Book: how the city of
+Florence was destroyed by Totila, the scourge of
+God, king of the Goths and Vandals_ 43
+
+Sec. 2.--_How Totila caused the city of Fiesole to be rebuilt_ 47
+
+Sec. 4.--_How the Goths remained lords of Italy after the
+death of Totila_ 47
+
+Sec. 10.--_How Charles Martel came from France to Italy
+at the summons of the Church against the Lombards;
+and of the origin of the city of Siena_ 48
+
+Sec. 12.--_How Telofre [Astolf], king of the Lombards,
+persecuted Holy Church, and how King Pepin, at
+the summons of Pope Stephen, came from France
+and defeated him, and took him prisoner_ 49
+
+Sec. 13.--_How Desiderius, son of Telofre, began war again
+with Holy Church, for the which thing Charles the
+Great passed into Italy, and defeated him, and took
+away and destroyed the lordship of the Lombards_ 51
+
+Sec. 15.--_How Charles the Great, king of France, was
+made Emperor of Rome_ 54
+
+Sec. 21.--_How the city of Florence lay waste and in ruins
+for 350 years_ 56
+
+
+BOOK III.
+
+_Goes back somewhat to tell how the city of Florence was
+rebuilt by the power of Charles the Great and the Romans._
+
+Sec. 1. 59
+
+Sec. 2.--_Of the form and size in which the city of Florence
+was rebuilt_ 62
+
+Sec. 3.--_How Charles the Great came to Florence, and
+granted privileges to the city, and caused Santo
+Apostolo to be built_ 65
+
+
+BOOK IV.
+
+Sec. 2.--_Of the Emperor Otho III., and the Marquis
+Hugh, which built the Badia at Florence_ 69
+
+Sec. 4.--_Of the progeny of the Kings of France, which descended
+from Hugh Capet_ 71
+
+Sec. 6.--_How in the time of the said Henry, the Florentines
+took the city of Fiesole, and destroyed it_ 71
+
+Sec. 7.--_How that many Fiesolans came to dwell in
+Florence, and made one people with the Florentines_ 74
+
+Sec. 8.--_How the city of Florence increased its circuit, first
+by moats and palisades, and then by walls_ 75
+
+Sec. 9.--_How Conrad I. was made Emperor_ 78
+
+Sec. 10.--_Of the nobles which were in the city of Florence
+in the time of the said Emperor Conrad, and first of
+those about the Duomo_ 79
+
+Sec. 11.--_Concerning the houses of the nobles in the quarter
+of Porta San Piero_ 80
+
+Sec. 12.--_Of them of the quarter of Porta San Brancazio_ 81
+
+Sec. 13.--_Concerning them of the great quarter of Porta
+Santa Maria and of San Piero Scheraggio_ 81
+
+Sec. 18.--_Narration of many things that were in those times_ 83
+
+Sec. 19.--_Of Robert Guiscard and his descendants, which
+were kings of Sicily and of Apulia_ 84
+
+Sec. 20.--_Concerning the successors of Robert Guiscard,
+which were kings of Sicily and of Apulia_ 89
+
+Sec. 21.--_Of the Countess Matilda_ 92
+
+Sec. 29.--_How the Florentines defeated the Vicar of the
+Emperor Henry IV._ 95
+
+Sec. 30.--_How the city of Florence took fire twice, whence a
+great part of the city was burnt_ 95
+
+Sec. 31.--_How the Pisans took Majorca, and the Florentines
+protected the city of Pisa_ 96
+
+Sec. 32.--_How the Florentines took and destroyed the fortress
+of Fiesole_ 98
+
+Sec. 36.--_How the Florentines destroyed the fortress of
+Montebuono_ 98
+
+
+BOOK V.
+
+_Here begins the Fifth Book: How Frederick I. of Staufen of
+Suabia was Emperor of Rome, and of his descendants, and
+concerning the doings of Florence, which were in their times,
+and of all Italy._
+
+Sec. 1. 101
+
+Sec. 2.--_How Pope Alexander returned from France to
+Venice, and the Emperor returned to obedience_ 105
+
+Sec. 3.--_How the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa was reconciled
+with the Church, and went over seas, and
+there died_ 106
+
+Sec. 8.--_Of the great fires which were in the city of
+Florence_ 108
+
+Sec. 9.--_How civil war began in Florence between the
+Uberti and the government of the Consuls_ 109
+
+Sec. 12.--_How the Emperor Frederick I. took their territory
+from the city of Florence, and many other
+cities of Tuscany_ 110
+
+Sec. 13.--_How the Florentines took the cross, and went
+over seas to conquer Damietta, and therefore recovered
+their territory_ 111
+
+Sec. 16.--_How Henry of Suabia was made Emperor by
+the Church, and how Constance, queen of Sicily,
+was given him to wife_ 112
+
+Sec. 24.--_How the Order of the Minor Friars began_ 114
+
+Sec. 25.--_How the Order of the Preaching Friars began_ 114
+
+Sec. 26.--_How the Florentines destroyed the castle of
+Frondigliano_ 115
+
+Sec. 30.--_How the Florentines destroyed the strongholds
+of Simifonti and of Combiata_ 116
+
+Sec. 31.--_Destruction of Montelupo, and how the Florentines
+gained Montemurlo_ 116
+
+Sec. 32.--_How the Florentines elected their first Podesta_ 117
+
+Sec. 36.--_How during Otho's lifetime Frederick II. of
+Suabia was elected Emperor by the desire of the
+Church at Rome_ 118
+
+Sec. 37.--_Concerning the death of the old Count Guido,
+and of his progeny_ 119
+
+Sec. 38.--_How the parties of the Guelfs and Ghibellines
+arose in Florence_ 121
+
+Sec. 39.--_Of the families and the nobles which became
+Guelfs and Ghibellines in Florence_ 123
+
+Sec. 41.--_How the Florentines caused the dwellers in the
+country around to swear fealty to the city, and how
+the new Carraia Bridge was begun_ 125
+
+
+BOOK VI.
+
+_How Frederick II. was consecrated and made Emperor, and
+the great things which came to pass._
+
+Sec. 1. 127
+
+Sec. 5.--_How the Florentines led an army against Pistoia,
+and laid waste the country round about_ 129
+
+Sec. 14.--_How the Emperor Frederick came to enmity
+with the Church_ 130
+
+Sec. 22.--_How the Emperor laid hold of King Henry, his
+son_ 133
+
+Sec. 23.--_How the war began between Pope Innocent IV.
+and the Emperor Frederick_ 134
+
+Sec. 24.--_Of the sentence which Pope Innocent pronounced
+at the council of Lyons-on-Rhine, upon the Emperor
+Frederick_ 135
+
+Sec. 25.--_How the Pope and the Church caused a new
+Emperor to be elected in place of Frederick, the
+deposed Emperor_ 138
+
+Sec. 26.--_We will tell an incident in the affairs of Florence_ 140
+
+Sec. 33.--_How the Guelf party was first driven from
+Florence by the Ghibellines and the forces of the
+Emperor Frederick_ 140
+
+Sec. 34.--_How the host of the Emperor Frederick was defeated
+by the Parmesans, and by the Pope's legate_ 146
+
+Sec. 35.--_How the Guelf refugees from Florence were
+taken in the fortress of Capraia_ 147
+
+Sec. 39.--_How the Primo Popolo was formed in Florence
+to be a defence against the violence and attacks of
+the Ghibellines_ 149
+
+Sec. 41.--_How the Emperor Frederick died at Firenzuola
+in Apulia_ 151
+
+Sec. 42.--_How the Popolo of Florence peaceably restored
+the Guelfs to Florence_ 152
+
+Sec. 43.--_How at the time of the said Popolo the Florentines
+discomfited the men of Pistoia, and afterwards
+banished certain families of the Ghibellines from
+Florence_ 153
+
+Sec. 44.--_How King Conrad, son of Frederick the Emperor,
+came from Germany into Apulia, and had
+the lordship over the realm of Sicily, and how he
+died_ 154
+
+Sec. 45.--_How Manfred, natural son of Frederick, took
+the lordship of the kingdom of Sicily and of
+Apulia, and caused himself to be crowned_ 156
+
+Sec. 46.--_Of the war between Pope Alexander and King
+Manfred_ 158
+
+Sec. 50.--_How the bridge Santa Trinita was built_ 160
+
+Sec. 53.--_How the golden florins were first made in Florence_ 161
+
+Sec. 55.--_How the Florentines marched against Siena, and
+the Sienese came to terms with them, and there was
+peace between them_ 162
+
+Sec. 65.--_How the Popolo of Florence drave out the Ghibellines
+for the first time from Florence, and the
+reason why_ 164
+
+Sec. 69.--_Incidents of the doings that were in Florence at
+the time of the Popolo_ 166
+
+Sec. 72.--_How the great tyrant, Ezzelino da Romano, was
+defeated by the Cremonese and died in prison_ 167
+
+Sec. 73.--_How both the king of Castille and Richard, earl
+of Cornwall, were elected king of the Romans_ 169
+
+Sec. 74.--_How the Ghibelline refugees from Florence sent
+into Apulia to King Manfred for succour_ 169
+
+Sec. 75.--_How the commonwealth and people of Florence
+led a great host up to the gates of Siena with the
+carroccio_ 170
+
+Sec. 76.--_How King Manfred sent Count Giordano with
+800 Germans to succour the Sienese and the Ghibelline
+refugees from Florence_ 173
+
+Sec. 77.--_How the Ghibelline refugees from Florence prepared
+to deceive the commonwealth and people of
+Florence, and cause them to be betrayed_ 174
+
+Sec. 78.--_How the Florentines raised an army to fortify
+Montalcino, and were discomfited by Count Giordano
+and by the Sienese at Montaperti_ 177
+
+Sec. 79.--_How the Guelfs of Florence, after the said
+discomfiture, departed from Florence and went to Lucca_ 181
+
+Sec. 80.--_How the news of the defeat of the Florentines
+came to the court of the Pope, and the prophecy
+which was made thereupon by Cardinal Bianco_ 183
+
+Sec. 81.--_How the Ghibellines of Tuscany purposed to destroy
+the city of Florence, and how M. Farinata
+degli Uberti defended it_ 184
+
+Sec. 83.--_How the Guelf refugees from Florence sent their
+ambassadors into Germany to stir up Conradino
+against Manfred_ 187
+
+Sec. 86.--_How the Guelf refugees from Florence, and the
+other exiles of Tuscany, drave out the Ghibellines
+from Modena and afterwards from Reggio_ 188
+
+Sec. 87.--_How Manfred persecuted Pope Urban and the
+Church with his Saracens of Nocera, and how a
+crusade was proclaimed against them_ 190
+
+Sec. 88.--_How the Church of Rome elected Charles of
+France to be king of Sicily and of Apulia_ 192
+
+Sec. 89.--_How Charles, count of Anjou and of Provence,
+accepted the election offered him by the Church of
+Rome to Sicily and Apulia_ 193
+
+Sec. 90.--_Incident relating to the good Count Raymond of
+Provence_ 195
+
+
+BOOK VII.
+
+_Here begins the Seventh Book, which treats of the coming of
+King Charles, and of many changes and events which followed
+thereupon._
+
+Sec. 1. 199
+
+Sec. 2.--_How the Guelf refugees from Florence took the
+arms of Pope Clement, and how they joined the
+French army of Count Charles_ 201
+
+Sec. 3.--_How Count Charles departed from France, and
+passed by sea from Provence to Rome_ 202
+
+Sec. 4.--_How Count Guy of Montfort, with the horse of
+Count Charles, passed through Lombardy_ 204
+
+Sec. 5.--_How King Charles was crowned in Rome king of
+Sicily, and how he straightway departed with his
+host to go against King Manfred_ 205
+
+Sec. 6.--_How, after King Charles had taken the pass of
+Cepperano, he stormed the city of San Germano_ 207
+
+Sec. 7.--_How King Manfred went to Benivento, and how
+he arrayed his troops to fight against King Charles_ 209
+
+Sec. 8.--_How King Charles arrayed his troops to fight
+against King Manfred_ 211
+
+Sec. 9.--_Concerning the battle between King Charles and
+King Manfred, and how King Manfred was discomfited
+and slain_ 213
+
+Sec. 13.--_How the Thirty-six were established in Florence,
+and how the Guilds of Arts were formed and
+standards given thereto_ 217
+
+Sec. 14.--_How the second Popolo rose in Florence, for the
+which cause Count Guido Novello, with the Ghibelline
+leaders, left Florence_ 220
+
+Sec. 15.--_How the Popolo restored the Guelfs to Florence,
+and how they afterwards drave out the Ghibellines_ 223
+
+Sec. 16.--_How, after the Ghibellines had been driven from
+Florence, the ordinances and councils of the city
+were reorganized_ 225
+
+Sec. 17.--_How the Guelfs of Florence instituted the Ordinances
+of the Party_ 226
+
+Sec. 23.--_How the young Conradino, son of King Conrad,
+came from Germany into Italy against King
+Charles_ 228
+
+Sec. 24.--_How the marshal of King Charles was defeated
+at Ponte a Valle by Conradino's army_ 231
+
+Sec. 25.--_How Conradino entered into Rome, and afterwards
+with his host passed into the kingdom of
+Apulia_ 232
+
+Sec. 26.--_How the host of Conradino and that of King
+Charles met in battle at Tagliacozzo_ 233
+
+Sec. 27.--_How Conradino and his people were defeated by
+King Charles_ 235
+
+Sec. 29.--_--How Conradino and certain of his barons were
+taken by King Charles, and how he caused their
+heads to be cut off_ 240
+
+Sec. 31.--_How the Florentines defeated the Sienese at the
+foot of Colle di Valdelsa_ 242
+
+Sec. 34.--_How there was a great flood of waters which
+carried away the Santa Trinita Bridge and the
+Carraia Bridge_ 245
+
+Sec. 37.--_How King Louis of France made an expedition
+to Tunis, wherein he died_ 246
+
+Sec. 38.--_How King Charles concluded a treaty with the
+king of Tunis, and how the host departed_ 249
+
+Sec. 39.--_How Gregory X. was made Pope at Viterbo, and
+how Henry, son of the king of England, there died_ 251
+
+Sec. 42.--_How Pope Gregory came with his court to Florence,
+and caused peace to be made between the Guelfs
+and Ghibellines_ 255
+
+Sec. 50.--_Of the death of Pope Gregory, and of three other
+Popes after him_ 258
+
+Sec. 54.--_How Nicholas III., of the Orsini, was made
+Pope, and concerning that which he did in his time_ 261
+
+Sec. 56.--_How the Cardinal Latino, by the Pope's command,
+made peace between the Guelfs and Ghibellines
+of Florence, and composed all the other feuds
+in the city_ 263
+
+Sec. 61.--_How and after what manner the island of Sicily
+rebelled against King Charles_ 267
+
+Sec. 79.--_How the Office of Priors was first created in
+Florence_ 269
+
+Sec. 81.--_How M. Jean d'Appia, count of Romagna, was
+defeated at Forli by the count of Montefeltro_ 272
+
+Sec. 95.--_How the good King Charles passed from this life
+at the city of Foggia in Apulia_ 274
+
+Sec. 105.--_How the king of France departed from Aragon,
+and died at Perpignan_ 277
+
+Sec. 114.--_Of a notable thing which came to pass in Florence
+at this time_ 279
+
+Sec. 121.--_How the judge of Gallura and the Guelf party
+were driven from Pisa, and the Count Ugolino
+taken prisoner_ 280
+
+Sec. 128.--_How the Pisans chose for captain the count of
+Montefeltro, and how they starved to death Count
+Ugolino and his sons and grandsons_ 283
+
+Sec. 130.--_Of the coronation of King Charles II., and how
+he passed through Florence, and left Messer Amerigo
+di Nerbona as captain of war for the Florentines_ 284
+
+Sec. 131.--_How the Florentines defeated the Aretines at
+Certomondo in Casentino_ 286
+
+Sec. 132.--_How the Florentines besieged the city of Arezzo,
+and laid waste the region round about_ 291
+
+Sec. 145.--_How the soldan of Babylon conquered by force
+the city of Acre, to the great hurt of the Christians_ 294
+
+Sec. 146.--_Of the death of King Rudolf of Germany_ 298
+
+Sec. 149.--_How the city of Forli in Romagna was taken
+by Maghinardo da Susinana_ 298
+
+
+BOOK VIII.
+
+_Here begins the Eighth Book. It tells how the second Popolo
+arose in the city of Florence, and of many great changes
+which by reason thereof came afterwards to pass in Florence,
+following on with the other events of those times._
+
+Sec. 1. 301
+
+Sec. 5.--_How Celestine V. was elected and made Pope, and
+how he renounced the papacy_ 304
+
+Sec. 6.--_How Boniface VIII. was elected and made Pope_ 306
+
+Sec. 8.--_How the great man of the people, Giano della
+Bella, was driven out of Florence_ 309
+
+Sec. 10.--_How M. Gianni di Celona came into Tuscany
+as Imperial Vicar_ 312
+
+Sec. 12.--_How the magnates of Florence raised a tumult
+in the city to break up the Popolo_ 313
+
+Sec. 13.--_How King Charles made peace with King
+James of Aragon_ 315
+
+Sec. 23.--_How the Colonnesi came to ask pardon of the
+Pope, and afterwards rebelled a second time_ 317
+
+Sec. 26.--_When the palace of the people of Florence was
+begun, where dwell the Priors_ 318
+
+Sec. 36.--_How Pope Boniface VIII. gave pardon to all
+Christians which should go to Rome, in the year of
+the jubilee_, 1300 320
+
+Sec. 38.--_How the parties of the Blacks and Whites first
+began in the city of Pistoia_ 321
+
+Sec. 39.--_How the city of Florence was divided and
+brought to shame by the said White and Black
+parties_ 323
+
+Sec. 40.--_How the Cardinal Acquasparta came as legate
+from the Pope to make peace in Florence, and could
+not do it_ 327
+
+Sec. 41.--_Concerning the evils and dangers which followed
+afterwards to our city_ 329
+
+Sec. 42.--_Of the same_ 330
+
+Sec. 43.--_How Pope Boniface sent into France for M.
+Charles of Valois_ 331
+
+Sec. 45.--_How the Black party were driven out of Pistoia_ 332
+
+Sec. 49.--_How M. Charles of Valois of France came to
+Pope Boniface, and afterwards came to Florence
+and drove out the White party_ 333
+
+Sec. 59.--_How Folcieri da Calvoli, Podesta of Florence,
+caused certain citizens of the White party to be
+beheaded_ 339
+
+Sec. 60.--_How the White party and the Ghibelline refugees
+from Florence came to Puliciano and
+departed thence in discomfiture_ 340
+
+Sec. 61.--_Incident, relating how M. Maffeo Visconti was
+driven from Milan_ 342
+
+Sec. 62.--_How there arose strife and enmity between Pope
+Boniface and King Philip of France_ 344
+
+Sec. 63.--_How the king of France caused Pope Boniface
+to be seized in Anagna by Sciarra della Colonna,
+whence the said Pope died a few days afterwards_ 346
+
+Sec. 64.--_We will further tell of the ways of Pope Boniface_ 350
+
+Sec. 67.--_How King Edward of England recovered Gascony
+and defeated the Scots_ 352
+
+Sec. 68.--_How there were in Florence great changes and
+civic battles through desire that the accounts of the
+commonwealth should be examined_ 353
+
+Sec. 69.--_How the Pope sent into Florence as legate the
+Cardinal da Prato to make peace, and how he departed
+thence in shame and confusion_ 356
+
+Sec. 70.--_How the bridge of Carraia fell, and how many
+people died there_ 360
+
+Sec. 71.--_How Florence was set on fire, and a great part
+of the city burnt_ 361
+
+Sec. 72.--_How the Whites and Ghibellines came to the
+gates of Florence, and departed thence in discomfiture_ 364
+
+Sec. 80.--_How Pope Benedict died, and of the new election
+of Pope Clement V._ 369
+
+Sec. 84.--_How there arose in Lombardy one Fra Dolcino
+with a great company of heretics, and how they
+were burnt_ 375
+
+Sec. 88.--_Of the great war which was begun against the
+marquis of Ferrara, and how he died_ 376
+
+Sec. 92.--_How and after what fashion was destroyed the
+Order and mansion of the Temple of Jerusalem by
+the machinations of the king of France_ 377
+
+Sec. 96.--_How Corso Donati, the great and noble citizen
+of Florence, died_ 382
+
+Sec. 101.--_After what manner Henry, count of Luxemburg,
+was elected Emperor of Rome_ 386
+
+Sec. 102.--_How Henry the Emperor was confirmed by
+the Pope_ 389
+
+Sec. 112.--_How Robert was crowned king over the kingdom
+of Sicily and Apulia_ 390
+
+Sec. 120.--_How the ambassadors of Henry, king of the
+Romans, came to Florence_ 391
+
+
+BOOK IX.
+
+_Here begins the Ninth Book. How Henry, count of Luxemburg,
+was made Emperor._
+
+Sec. 1. 393
+
+Sec. 7.--_How the Emperor Henry departed from Germany
+to go into Italy_ 394
+
+Sec. 8.--_How King Robert came to Florence as he returned
+from his coronation_ 395
+
+Sec. 9.--_How the Emperor Henry passed into Italy, and
+gained the city of Milan_ 396
+
+Sec. 10.--_How the Florentines enclosed the new circle of
+the city with moats_ 397
+
+Sec. 11.--_How the della Torre were driven out of Milan_ 398
+
+Sec. 12.--_How there was great scarcity in Florence, and
+concerning other events_ 400
+
+Sec. 14.--_How the Emperor besieged Cremona, and his
+people took Vicenza_ 400
+
+Sec. 15.--_How the Emperor took the city of Cremona_ 401
+
+Sec. 16.--_How the Florentines, by reason of the Emperor's
+coming, recalled from banishment all the Guelfs_ 402
+
+Sec. 17.--_How the Florentines, with all the Guelf cities of
+Tuscany, made a league together against the Emperor_ 402
+
+Sec. 20.--_How the Emperor Henry took the city of Brescia
+by siege_ 403
+
+Sec. 22.--_How Pope Clement sent legates to crown the
+Emperor Henry_ 405
+
+Sec. 26.--_How the ambassadors from the Emperor came to
+Florence, and were driven thence_ 406
+
+Sec. 28.--_How the Empress died in Genoa_ 407
+
+Sec. 29.--_How the Emperor put the Florentines under the
+ban of the Empire_ 407
+
+Sec. 32.--_How the city of Brescia rebelled against the
+Emperor_ 407
+
+Sec. 34.--_How the city of Cremona rebelled against the
+Emperor_ 408
+
+Sec. 35.--_How the marshal of the Emperor came to Pisa,
+and began war with the Florentines_ 408
+
+Sec. 36.--_How the Paduans rebelled against the lordship
+of the Emperor_ 409
+
+Sec. 39.--_Of the gathering together made by King Robert
+and the league of Tuscany at Rome to oppose the
+coronation of the Emperor Henry_ 409
+
+Sec. 40.--_How the Emperor Henry departed from Pisa
+and came to Rome_ 410
+
+Sec. 43.--_How Henry of Luxemburg was crowned Emperor
+at Rome_ 411
+
+Sec. 44.--_How the Emperor departed from Rome to go into
+Tuscany_ 413
+
+Sec. 45.--_How the Emperor came to the city of Arezzo,
+and afterwards how he came towards the city of
+Florence_ 414
+
+Sec. 46.--_How the Florentines were well-nigh discomfited
+at the fortress of Ancisa by the army of the Emperor_ 415
+
+Sec. 47.--_How the Emperor Henry encamped with his
+host before the city of Florence_ 416
+
+Sec. 48.--_How the Emperor abandoned the siege, and departed
+from San Salvi, and came to San Casciano,
+and then to Poggibonizzi_ 419
+
+Sec. 49.--_How the Emperor departed from Poggibonizzi,
+and returned to Pisa, and issued many bans against
+the Florentines_ 421
+
+Sec. 50.--_How the Emperor condemned King Robert_ 422
+
+Sec. 51.--_How the Emperor made ready to enter into the
+Kingdom against King Robert, and departed from Pisa_ 423
+
+Sec. 52.--_How the Emperor Henry died at Bonconvento,
+in the country of Siena_ 424
+
+Sec. 53.--_Relates how, when the Emperor was dead, his
+host was divided, and the barons carried his body
+to the city of Pisa_ 425
+
+Sec. 56.--_How the Florentines gave the lordship of Florence
+to King Robert for five years_ 426
+
+Sec. 59.--_Of the death of Pope Clement_ 427
+
+Sec. 63.--_How the Paduans were discomfited at Vicenza by
+M. Cane della Scala_ 428
+
+Sec. 66.--_Of the death of Philip, king of France, and of
+his sons_ 428
+
+Sec. 70.--_How Uguccione, lord of Lucca and of Pisa, laid
+siege to the castle of Montecatini_ 430
+
+Sec. 71.--_How, when the prince of Taranto was come to
+Florence, the Florentines sallied forth with their
+army to succour Montecatini, and were defeated by
+Uguccione della Faggiuola_ 431
+
+Sec. 72.--_More about the said battle and defeat of the
+Florentines and of the prince_ 432
+
+Sec. 81.--_Of the election of Pope John XXII._ 434
+
+Sec. 86.--_How Uguccione da Faggiuola sought to re-enter
+Pisa, and what came of it in Pisa, and of the
+Marquis Spinetta_ 436
+
+Sec. 87.--_How the Ghibelline party left Genoa_ 437
+
+Sec. 89.--_How M. Cane della Scala led an army against
+the Paduans, and took many castles from them_ 438
+
+Sec. 90.--_How the exiles from Genoa with the force of the
+Ghibellines of Lombardy besieged Genoa_ 438
+
+Sec. 92.--_How the exiles from Genoa took the suburbs of Prea_ 439
+
+Sec. 93.--_How King Robert came by sea to succour Genoa_ 440
+
+Sec. 94.--_How the Genoese gave the lordship of Genoa to
+King Robert_ 441
+
+Sec. 95.--_Of the active war which the exiles of Genoa with
+the Lombards made against King Robert_ 442
+
+Sec. 97.--_How King Robert's followers discomfited the
+exiles from Genoa at the village of Sesto, and how
+they departed from the siege of the city_ 443
+
+Sec. 99.--_How the exiles from Genoa with the Lombards
+returned to the siege of Genoa_ 444
+
+Sec. 100.--_How M. Cane della Scala took the suburbs of Padua_ 445
+
+Sec. 121.--_How M. Cane della Scala, being at the siege of
+Padua, was defeated by the Paduans and by the
+count of Goertz_ 446
+
+Sec. 136.--_Concerning the poet Dante Alighieri of Florence_ 448
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION
+
+
+Sec. 1. _The Text._
+
+This book of selections is not intended as a contribution to the study
+of Villani, but as an aid to the study of Dante. The text of Villani
+is well known to be in a very unsatisfactory condition, and no attempt
+at a critical treatment of it has been made. The Florence edition of
+1823, in eight volumes, has been almost invariably followed. Here and
+there the Editor has silently adopted an emendation that obviously
+gives the sense intended, and on p. 277 has inserted in brackets an
+acute suggestion made by Mr. A.J. Butler. In a few cases, by far the
+most important of which occurs on p. 450, passages which appear in
+some but not in all of the MSS. and editions of Villani are inserted
+in square brackets.
+
+
+Sec. 2. _The References._
+
+It is probable that many more references to Dante's works might
+advantageously have been inserted in the margin had they occurred to
+our minds; and we shall be glad to have our attention called to any
+important omissions.
+
+As a rule we have aimed at giving a reference to any passage in
+Dante's works on which the text has a direct bearing, or towards the
+discussion of which it furnishes materials, without intending thereby
+necessarily to commit ourselves to any special interpretation of the
+passage in Dante referred to.
+
+But in some instances such a reference would, in our opinion,
+distinctly tend to the perpetuation of error. In such cases we have
+purposely abstained from appearing to bring a passage of Villani into
+relation with a passage of Dante with which we believe it to have no
+connection. For instance, to have given a reference to the _Vita
+Nuova_ Sec. 41, 1-11, on p. 320 would have appeared to us so distinct and
+dangerous a _suggestio falsi_ that we have felt compelled to abstain
+from it even at the risk of being charged with a _suppressio veri_ by
+those who do not agree with us.
+
+
+Sec. 3. _The Principle of Selection._
+
+Our aim has been to translate all the passages from the first nine
+books of Villani's Chronicles which are likely to be of direct
+interest and value to the student of Dante.[1] A few chapters have
+been inserted not for their own sakes but because they are necessary
+for the understanding of other chapters that bear directly on Dante.
+When a chapter contains anything to our purpose, we have usually
+translated the whole of it. Where this is not the case the omissions
+are invariably indicated by stars * * * * * *. We have given the
+headings of all the chapters we have not translated, so that the
+reader may have in his hand the continuous thread of Villani's
+narrative, and may have some idea of the character of the omitted
+portions. By these means we hope we have minimised, though we do not
+flatter ourselves that we have removed, the objections which are
+legitimately urged against volumes of selections.
+
+[Footnote 1: The complex and miserable history of Ugolino and Nino we
+have given only in its most essential portions. Even its connection
+with one of the most terrible and widely known passages in the
+_Inferno_ cannot make it other than dreary, sordid, and
+unilluminating.]
+
+ * * * * *
+
+The nature of the interest which the Dante student will find in these
+selections will vary as he goes through the volume.
+
+The early portions, up to the end of Book III., are interesting not so
+much for the direct elucidation of special passages in Dante as for
+the assistance they give us in realizing the atmosphere through which
+he and his contemporaries regarded their own past; and their habitual
+confusion of legend and history.
+
+From Book IV. on into Book VIII. our interest centres more and more on
+the specific contents of Villani's Chronicle. Here he becomes the best
+of all commentators upon one phase of Dante's many-sided genius; for
+he gives us the material upon which Dante's judgments are passed, and
+enables us to know the men and see the events he judges as he himself
+knew and saw them. Chapter after chapter reads like a continuous
+commentary on _Purg._ vi. 127-151; and there is hardly a sentence that
+does not lighten and is not lightened by some passage in the _Comedy_.
+Readers who have been accustomed to weary themselves in attempts to
+digest and remember historical notes (into which extracts from
+Villani, torn from their native haunts, have been driven up for
+instant slaughter, as in battue shooting) will find it a relief to
+have the story of the battles and revolutions of Florence, as Dante
+saw and felt it, continuously set before them--even though it be, for
+the present, in the partial and therefore mutilated form of
+"selections."
+
+When we come to the later portions of Book VIII. and the first part
+of Book IX. the interest again changes. To the events after 1300
+Dante's chief work contains comparatively few and scattered allusions;
+but as the direct connection with his writings becomes less marked the
+connection with his biography becomes more intimate. As we study the
+tangled period of Florentine politics that coincides with Dante's
+active political life (about 1300 A.D.), the ill-concerted and feeble
+attempts of the exiles to regain a footing in their city, and later on
+the splendid but futile enterprise of Henry, we seem to find the very
+fibres of Dante's life woven into the texture of the history. The
+dream of the _De Monarchia_ was dreamed by Henry as well as by Dante;
+but as we read the detail of his failure it is borne in upon us that
+he not only did fail but must fail, for his ideal was incapable of
+realization. Italy was not ready for him, and had she been ready she
+would not have needed him.
+
+Finally, the last pages of our volume, which cover selections from the
+portion of Book IX., extending from the death of Henry to the death of
+Dante himself, are for the most part inserted for a very special
+reason, as to which some little detail is necessary. Strangely enough
+they derive their importance not from any interest Dante may have
+taken in the events they record, but from the fact that he did not
+take enough interest in them to satisfy one of his most ardent
+admirers. The editions of Dante's collected works include a
+correspondence in Latin hexameters between Johannes de Virgilio and
+Dante. Now in the poem that opens this correspondence Johannes refers
+to Statius and to Lethe in a manner that proves beyond all doubt that
+the whole of the _Purgatorio_ as well as the _Inferno_ was in his
+hands. But he alludes to the _Paradiso_--the poem of the
+"super-solar" realms which is to complete the record of the "lower"
+ones--as not yet having appeared. It therefore becomes a matter of
+extreme interest to the Dante student to learn the date of this poem.
+Now one of the considerations that led Johannes to address Dante was
+the hope of inducing him to choose a contemporary subject for a Latin
+poem and so write something worthy of himself and of studious readers!
+With this object he suggests a number of subjects:--
+
+ "Dic age quo petiit Jovis armiger astra volatu:
+ Dic age quos flores, quae lilia fregit arator:
+ Dic Phrygias damas laceratos dente molosso:
+ Dic Ligurum montes, et classes Parthenopaeas."
+
+ "Come! tell thou of the flight by which Jove's armour-bearer
+ (the Imperial Eagle = Henry VII.) sought the stars. Come!
+ tell thou of the flowers and lilies (of Florence) crushed by
+ the ploughman (Uguccione da Faggiuola). Tell of the Phrygian
+ does (the Paduans) torn by the mastiff's (Can Grande's)
+ tooth. Tell of the Ligurian mountains (the Genoese) and the
+ Parthenopaean fleets (of Robert of Naples)."
+
+The correctness and security of the interpretation of this passage
+will not be doubted by any one accustomed to the pedantic allusiveness
+of the age; and it is moreover guaranteed by the annotator of the
+Laurentian MS., thought by many to be Boccaccio himself. It will be
+seen, therefore, from the study of the concluding pages of this
+volume, that when Johannes addressed Dante (after the appearance of
+the _Inferno_ and the _Purgatorio_, but before that of the _Paradiso_)
+Henry VII. had died (A.D. 1313), Can Grande had defeated the Paduans
+(A.D. 1314 and 1317), Uguccione had defeated the Florentines (A.D.
+1315), and Robert had collected his fleet to relieve Genoa (February,
+1319). It also seems highly probable that Can Grande had not yet
+suffered his reverses at the siege of Padua (August, 1320). This is
+perhaps the one unassailable datum for the chronology of Dante's
+works, and we have therefore included in our selections so much as was
+needed to establish it. Our readers will perhaps forgive us for having
+then left the fate of Genoa hanging in the balance, for as Villani
+says: "Who could write the unbroken history of the dire siege of
+Genoa, and the marvellous exploits achieved by the exiles and their
+allies? Verily, it is the opinion of the wise that the siege of Troy
+itself, in comparison therewith, shewed no greater and more continuous
+battling, both by sea and land."
+
+
+Sec. 4. _The Historical Value of Villani's Chronicle._
+
+An adequate edition of Villani would have to examine his statements in
+detail, and, where necessary, to correct them. Such a task, however,
+would be alike beyond our powers, and foreign to our immediate
+purpose. These selections are intended to illustrate the text of
+Dante; and for that purpose it is of more consequence to know what
+were the "horrible crimes" of which Dante supposed Manfred to be
+guilty, than to enquire whether or no he was really guilty of them. To
+know whether Constance was fifty-two, or only thirty, when she married
+Henry VI., and whether he took her from a convent or a palace is of
+less immediate consequence to the student of Dante than to be
+acquainted with the Guelf tradition as to these circumstances.
+
+At the same time, the reader may reasonably ask for some guidance as
+to the point at which the authentic history of Florence disengages
+itself from the legend, and, further, as to the general degree of
+reliance he is justified in placing on the details supplied by
+Villani.
+
+On the first point very few words will suffice. There was probably a
+Fiesolan mart on the site now occupied by Florence from very remote
+times; but the form of the "ancient circle" carries us back to a Roman
+camp and a military colony as the origin of the regular city. Beyond
+this meagre basis the whole story of "Troy, and of Fiesole and Rome,"
+in connection with Florence must be pronounced a myth. The notices of
+Florence before the opening of the twelfth century are few and meagre,
+but they suffice to prove that the story of its destruction by Totila,
+and rebuilding by Charlemagne, is without foundation; and of all the
+reported conquests of Fiesole that of 1125 is the first that we can
+regard as historical.
+
+The history of Florence is almost a blank until about 1115 A.D., the
+date of the death of the Countess Matilda.
+
+With respect to the second point, it is impossible to give so brief or
+conclusive an answer. Villani is as valuable to the historian as he is
+delightful to the general reader. He is a keen observer, and has a
+quick eye for the salient and essential features of what he observes.
+When dealing with his own times, and with events immediately connected
+with Florence, he is a trustworthy witness, but minute accuracy is
+never his strong point; and in dealing with distant times and places
+he is hopelessly unreliable.
+
+The English reader will readily detect his confusions in Book VII., Sec.
+39, where at one time Richard of Cornwall, and at another Henry III.,
+is called king of England; and Henry of Cornwall and Edward I. are
+regarded indifferently as sons of Richard or sons of Henry III., but
+are always said to be brothers instead of cousins.
+
+Here there is little danger of the reader being misled, but it is
+otherwise in such a case as that of Robert Guiscard and the house of
+Tancred in Book IV., Sec. 19. By way of putting the reader on his guard,
+we will go into this exceptionally bad, but by no means solitary,
+instance of Villani's inaccuracies.
+
+Tancred, of the castle of Hauteville (near Coutances, in Normandy),
+had twelve sons, ten of whom sought their fortunes in southern Italy
+and Sicily. Four of these were successively Counts of Apulia, the last
+of the four being Robert Guiscard. He was followed by his son Roger,
+and his grandson William, who died childless. Another of the sons of
+Tancred was Roger, who became Count of Sicily. He was succeeded by his
+son Roger II., who possessed himself of the Apulian domains of his
+relative William, on the decease of the latter. Roger now had himself
+proclaimed King of Sicily by the anti-pope Anaclete, and united Sicily
+and Naples under his sway. He was followed by his son William (the
+Bad), and his grandson William (the Good), on whose death, without
+issue, Henry VI., who married Roger's daughter Constance, claimed the
+succession in the right of his wife. (_L'Art de Verifier les Dates._)
+
+The most important of these relations may be set forth thus:
+
+ TANCRED OF HAUTEVILLE
+ |
+ +-------------------+
+ | |
+Robert Guiscard Roger I.
+Count of Apulia Count of Sicily
+ | |
+ Roger Roger II.
+ | King of Sicily
+ William |
+ +-----------------+
+ | |
+ William Constance = Henry VI.
+ the Bad
+ |
+ William
+ the Good
+
+Let the reader construct the family tree from the data in Villani, and
+compare it with the one given above. He will find that Villani, to
+begin with, makes Robert Guiscard a younger son of the Duke of
+Normandy, then makes his younger brother, Roger I., into his son
+(occasionally confounding him with Roger II.); and, finally, ignores
+William the Bad, and makes William the Good the brother of Constance.
+His details as to the pretender Tancred are equally inaccurate. These
+must suffice as specimens; but they are specimens not only of a
+special class of mistake, but of a style of work against which the
+reader must be constantly on his guard if he intends to make use of
+any detailed dates or relations, or even if he wishes to make sure
+that the Pope or other actor named in any connection is really the
+right one.
+
+So, too, even well within historical times, Villani is prone to the
+epic simplification of events. His account of the negociations of
+Farinata with Manfred, and of the battle of Montaperti for instance,
+represents the Florentine legend or tradition rather than the history
+of the events. These events are conceived with the vividness,
+simplicity and picturesque preponderance of personality which make
+them easy to see, but impossible to reconstruct in a rationally
+convincing form.
+
+To enter into further detail under this head would be to transgress
+the limits we have set ourselves.
+
+
+Sec. 5. _The Rationale of the Revolutions of Florence._[2]
+
+[Footnote 2: The substance of this Sec. is entirely drawn from Prof.
+Villari's recent work on Early Florentine History. "I Primi due Secoli
+della Storia di Firenze, Ricerche di Pasquale Villari." 2 vols.,
+Florence, 1893, 1894. Price 8 fr. English translation by Madame
+Villari. "The Two First Centuries of Florentine History." Fisher
+Unwin. Price 2_s._ 6_d._ This work should be carefully studied in its
+entirety by all who desire to understand the constitutional history of
+Florence. N.B.--Some of our readers may be glad of the information
+that the modern scholar is Pasquale Vill[)a]ri (with short [)a]), and
+the mediaeval chronicler Giovanni Vill[=a]ni (with a long [=a]).]
+
+The settled conviction of both Villani and Dante that a difference of
+race underlay the civil wars of Florence, rests upon a truth obscurely
+though powerfully felt by them.
+
+We have seen that the legend of Fiesole and Florence, upon which they
+rest their case, is without historical foundation; but the conflict of
+races was there none the less. And as it is here that modern
+historians find the key to the history of Florence, our readers will
+probably be glad to have set before them a brief account of the
+general conceptions in the light of which modern scholars would have
+us read the naive and ingenuous records of Villani.
+
+The numerous Teutonic invasions and incursions which had swept over
+northern and central Italy, from Odoacer to Charlemagne, had
+established a powerful territorial nobility. They constituted a
+dominating class, military in their habits, accustomed to the exercise
+and the abuse of the simpler functions of government, accepting
+certain feudal traditions, but owning no practical allegiance to any
+power that was not in a position instantly to enforce it. Their
+effective organization was based on the clan system, and the informal
+family council was omnipotent within the limits of the clan. They were
+without capacity or desire for any large and enduring social
+organization. Their combinations were temporary, and for military
+purposes; and internecine family feuds were a permanent factor in
+their lives. Their laws were based on the "Barbarian" codes, but the
+influence of Roman law was increasingly felt by them.
+
+In the cities it is probable that the old municipal organization had
+never wholly died out, though it had no formal recognition. The
+citizens were sometimes allowed to live "under their own law," and
+sometimes not; but the tradition of the Roman law was never lost.
+Nominally the cities were under the jurisdiction of some territorial
+magnate, or a nominee of the Emperor, but practically they enjoyed
+various degrees of independence. Their effective organization would
+depend upon their special circumstances, but in such a case as that of
+Florence would be based on the trade guilds.
+
+In Florence a number of the Teutonic nobles had settled in the city;
+but it owed its importance to its trade. The city-dwelling nobles kept
+up their clan life, and fortified their houses; but in other respects
+they had become partially assimilated in feeling, and even in habits
+and occupations, to the mercantile community in which they lived. They
+filled the posts of military and civil administration, and were
+conscious of a strong unity of interest with the people.
+
+Under the vigorous and beneficent rule in Tuscany of the great
+Countess Matilda (1076-1115) Florence was able quietly to consolidate
+and extend her power without raising any thorny questions of formal
+jurisdiction. But on the death of Matilda, when the Church and the
+Empire equally claimed the succession and were equally unable
+efficiently to assert their claims, it was inevitable that an attempt
+should be made to establish the _de facto_ supremacy of Florence over
+Fiesole and the whole outlying district upon a firmer and more formal
+basis. It was equally inevitable that the attempt should be resisted.
+
+Within Florence, as we have seen, there was a heterogeneous, but as
+yet fairly united citizenship. The germs of organization consisted on
+the side of the nobles in the clans and the Tower-clubs, and on the
+side of the people in the Trade-guilds. The Tower-clubs were
+associations each of which possessed a fortified tower in the city,
+which was maintained at the common expense of the associates, and with
+which their houses communicated. Of the Trade-guilds we shall speak
+briefly hereafter.
+
+In the surrounding country the territorial nobility watched the
+growing power and prosperity of Florence with jealousy, stoutly
+resisted her claims to jurisdiction over them and their demesnes, and
+made use of their command of the great commercial highways to exact
+regular or irregular tolls, even when they did not frankly plunder the
+merchants.
+
+Obviously two struggles must result from this situation. The city as a
+whole was vitally concerned in clearing the commercial routes and
+rendering the territorial nobility harmless; but within the city two
+parties, who may almost be regarded as two nations, contended for the
+mastery.
+
+With respect to the collective struggle of Florence against her foes,
+which entered on its active phase early in the twelfth century, on the
+death of Matilda in 1115, it may be said in brief that it was carried
+on with a vigour and success, subject only to brief and few reverses,
+during the whole period with which we are concerned. But this very
+success in external enterprises emphasized and embittered the internal
+factions. These had been serious from the first. The Uberti and other
+ruling families resisted the growing influence of the people; and the
+vicissitudes of the struggle may be traced at the end of the twelfth
+and beginning of the thirteenth centuries in the alternation of the
+various forms of the supreme magistracy. But it was part of the policy
+of the victorious Florentines to compel the nobles they had reduced to
+submission to live at least for a part of the year in the city; and
+thus while the merchant people of Florence was increasing in wealth
+and power, the nobles in the city were in their turn constantly
+recruited by rich and turbulent members of their own caste, who were
+ready to support them in their attempt to retain the government in
+their hands. Thus the more successful Florence was in her external
+undertakings the greater was the tension within.
+
+The forces arrayed against each other gradually assumed a provisional
+organization in ever-increasing independence of each other. The old
+senate or council and the popular assembly of all the citizens were
+transformed or sank into the background, and the Podesta, or foreign
+magistrate appointed for a year, with his lesser and greater council
+of citizens, was the supreme authority from 1207 onwards. This marked
+a momentary triumph of the nobles. But the people asserted themselves
+once again, and elected a Captain of the People, also a foreigner,
+with a lesser and greater council of citizens, who did not dispute the
+formal and representative supremacy of the Podesta, but was in reality
+coordinate with him. On this the Podesta naturally became the head of
+the nobles as the Captain was head of the people; and there rose that
+spectacle, so strange to us but so familiar to mediaeval Italy, of two
+bodies of citizens, each with its own constitution and magistracy,
+encamped within the same walls. The Podesta was the head of the
+"Commonwealth," and the Captain the head of the "People." There was,
+it is true, for the most part a show of some central and coordinating
+power, nominally supreme over these independent and often hostile
+magistrates, such as the body of Ancients. But this central government
+had little effective power.
+
+To understand the course of Florentine history, however, we must turn
+back for a moment to the informal internal organization of the two
+bodies thus opposed to each other. The struggle is between the
+military and territorial aristocracy on the one hand, and the
+mercantile democracy of the city on the other; and we have seen that
+the clan system and the Tower-clubs were the germ cells of the one
+order, and the Craft-guilds those of the other. Now the Craft-guilds
+were obviously capable of supporting a higher form of political
+development than could ever come out of the rival system. The officers
+of the Florentine Crafts were compelled to exercise all the higher
+functions of government. They preserved a strict discipline within
+their own jurisdiction--(and the aggregation of the trades in certain
+streets and districts made that jurisdiction roughly correspond to
+local divisions)--they had to coordinate their industries one with
+another, and regulate their complicated relations one with another,
+and they sent their representatives to all the great trading cities of
+the world, where they had to conduct such delicate and important
+negociations that they became the most skilful diplomatists in Italy.
+Indeed, the training of ambassadors may almost be considered as a
+Florentine industry! Add to this the vast financial concerns which
+they had to conduct, and it will readily be seen that as statesmen
+the merchants of Florence must eventually prove more than a match for
+their military rivals and opponents. The merchant people was the
+progressive and constructive element in Florentine society.
+
+Accordingly the constitutional history of Florence resolves itself
+into a progressive, though chequered, advance of the people against
+the nobles (or, as they were afterwards called, the magnates) along
+two lines. In the first place, they had to make the _de facto_ trade
+organization of the city into its _de jure_ constitution--a movement
+which culminated in 1282 in the formal recognition of the Priors of
+the Crafts as the supreme magistrates of Florence. And, in the second
+place, they must attempt to bring the magnates effectively within the
+control of the laws and constitution of the mercantile community,
+which they systematically and recklessly defied as long as they were
+in a position to do so. The magnates behaved like brigands, and the
+people replied by practically making them outlaws. They gradually
+excluded them from all share of the government, they endeavoured to
+make the Podesta personally responsible for keeping them in order,
+they organized a militia of trade bands that could fly to arms and
+barricade the streets, or lay siege to the fortified houses of the
+magnates at a moment's notice; and finally, in 1293, they passed the
+celebrated "Ordinances of Justice" connected with the name of Giano
+della Bella, by which when a magnate murdered a popolano his whole
+clan was held directly responsible (the presumption being that the
+murder had been ordered in a family council), and "public report"
+vouched for by two witnesses was sufficient evidence for a
+conviction.
+
+It is this struggle for the supremacy of the mercantile democracy and
+the Roman Law over the military aristocracy with its "barbarian"
+traditions, that lies at the back of the Guelf and Ghibelline troubles
+of the thirteenth century. The papal and imperial principles that are
+usually associated with the names enter only in a very secondary way
+into the conflict. In truth neither the popes nor the emperors had any
+sympathy with the real objects of either party, though they were ready
+enough to seek their advantage in alliances with them. And in their
+turn the magnates and merchants of Florence were equally determined to
+be practically independent of Pope and Emperor alike. Nevertheless the
+magnates could look nowhere else than to the Emperor when they wanted
+material support or moral sanction for their claims to power; and it
+was only in the magnates that the Emperor in his turn could hope to
+find instruments or allies in his attempt to assert his power over the
+cities. In like manner the Pope, naturally jealous of a strong
+territorial power, encouraged and fostered the cities in their
+resistance to imperial pretensions, while he and the merchant bankers
+of Florence were indispensable to each other in the way of business.
+
+We have now some insight into the essential motives of Florentine
+history in the thirteenth century. But another step is needed before
+we can understand the form which the factions took. It would be a
+fatal error to suppose that the Ghibellines were soldiers and the
+Guelfs merchants, and that as each faction triumphed in turn Florence
+expelled her merchants and became a military encampment, or expelled
+her soldiers and became a commercial emporium. Such a course of events
+would be absolutely impossible. The truth is, that the main part of
+the faction fighting and banishing was done on both sides by the
+magnates themselves. The industrial community went on its way,
+sometimes under grievous exactions, sometimes under a friendly
+Government, always subject to the insolence and violence of the
+magnates, though in varying degree, but always there, and always
+pursuing its business occupations. It came about thus. We have seen
+that in the twelfth century the nobles within Florence were on the
+whole fairly conscious of having common cause with the merchants, but
+that the very success of her external undertakings brought into the
+city a more turbulent and hostile order of nobility. On the other
+side, rich and powerful merchants pushed their way up into recognition
+as magnates, while retaining their pecuniary interest in commerce.
+Thus in the thirteenth century the body of magnates itself became
+divided, not only into clans, but into factions. It always seemed
+worth while for some of them to strengthen their alliances with the
+territorial magnates, the open foes of the city, in order to
+strengthen their hold on the city itself; and it always seemed worth
+while for others to identify themselves more or less sincerely with
+the demands of the people in order to have their support in wrenching
+from their fellow magnates a larger share of the common spoil. It was
+here that the absence of any uniting principle or constructive purpose
+amongst the magnates told with fatal effect. Indeed their house was so
+divided against itself that the people would probably have had little
+difficulty in getting rid of them altogether, had they not been
+conscious of requiring a body of fighting men for service in their
+constant wars. The knights were at a certain disadvantage in a street
+fight in Florence, but the merchant statesmen knew well enough that
+they could not do without them on a battle-field.
+
+We can now understand the Guelf and Ghibelline struggles of the
+thirteenth century. The Buondelmonte incident of 1215, which both
+Dante and Villani regard as the cause of these conflicts, was of
+course only their occasion. The conclusive victory of one party could
+only mean the reappearance within its ranks of the old factions under
+new names. For if the faction opposed to the people won a temporary
+victory, they would be unable to hold their own permanently against
+the superior discipline, wealth, and constructive genius of their
+subjects; whereas if it was the champions of the people who had
+expelled their rivals and seized the plunder, they would be in no
+hurry to give up to the merchants the power they had won in their
+name. They would regard themselves as entitled to a gratitude not
+distinguishable from submission, and would have their own definition
+of the degree of influence and power which was now their due. Thus
+what had been the people's party among the magnates would aspire, when
+victorious, to be the masters of the people, and gradually another
+people's party would form itself within their ranks. The wonder is not
+that no reconciliations were permanent, but that Cardinal Latino's
+reconciliation of 1279 lasted, at least ostensibly, so long as till
+1300.
+
+Obviously, if no new forces came upon the field, the only issue from
+this general situation must be in the conclusive triumph, not of the
+people's faction amongst the magnates, but of the attempt to break
+down the opposition of all the magnates to the citizen law, and the
+successful absorption of them into the commercial community. In the
+"Ordinances of Justice" and the further measures contemplated by
+Giano della Bella the requirements of this solution were formulated.
+Had they been successfully carried out, the magnates as an independent
+order would have been extinguished. Accordingly from 1293 onwards the
+fight raged round the Ordinances of Justice. No party, even among the
+magnates, dared openly to seek their repeal; but while some supported
+them in their integrity with more or less loyalty, others desired to
+modify them, or attempted to disembowel them by manipulating the
+elections and securing magistrates who would not carry them out. This
+was the origin of the Black and White factions. The Blacks were for
+circumventing the Ordinances, while the Whites were for carrying them
+out and extending their principles.
+
+It will be seen at once how false an impression is given when it is
+said that the Whites were moderate Guelfs, inclining to Ghibellinism,
+and the Blacks extreme Guelfs. The truth is that the terms of
+Ghibelline and Guelf had by this time lost all real political meaning,
+but in so far as Guelfism in Florence had ever represented a principle
+it was the Whites and not the Blacks that were its heirs. But the
+magnates of Florence at the beginning of the fourteenth century
+administered large funds that had accrued from the confiscation of
+Ghibelline estates; they had fought against the Ghibellines at the
+Battle of Campaldino in 1289, and they made a boast of being Guelf of
+the Guelfs. Whatever party of them was in the supremacy, therefore,
+was prone to accuse those in opposition of Ghibellinism simply because
+they were in opposition. This was what the victorious Blacks did.
+Their alliance with Pope Boniface VIII., who wished to make use of
+them for his ambitious purposes, lent some colour to their claim.
+Moreover, the remnants of the old Ghibelline party in the city or its
+territory naturally sought the alliance of the Whites as soon as they
+were in pronounced hostility to the ruling Guelfs. Thus arose the
+confusion that has perpetuated itself in the current conception of the
+Whites as "moderates," or Ghibellinizing Guelfs, a conception which
+stands in plain contradiction with the most significant facts of the
+case.
+
+During the closing period of Dante's life the politics of Florence
+became more tangled than ever. Every vestige of principle seems to
+disappear, and personal ambitions and hatreds to become more unbridled
+than ever. The active interference of the Pope and the Royal house of
+France, followed by the withdrawal of the Papal Court to Avignon, the
+invasion of Italy by Henry VII., and the rise of such leaders as Can
+Grande, Uguccione da Faggiuola, and Castruccio, introduced new forces.
+We dimly perceive, too, that the mercantile democracy of Florence is
+becoming a mercantile aristocracy with elements of disturbance beneath
+it in the excluded or oppressed minor arts. In a word, just before the
+movement that has been steadily proceeding from 1115 to 1300 reaches
+its natural goal, the conditions of the problem change, the history
+enters upon a new phase, the far-off preparation for the Medici
+begins, and the problem ceases to have any direct and intimate
+connection with the study of Dante.
+
+
+Sec. 6. _Dante's Politics._
+
+Enough has been said to show the reader how very imperfect an idea is
+given of Dante's politics when it is said that he was at first a
+Guelf but became a Ghibelline.
+
+We have seen that the political party, for his connection with which
+he was exiled, was heir to the best Guelf traditions. His own writings
+show that the maintenance of peace was his idea of the supreme
+function of Government. The extreme severity of his judgments upon
+thieving and upon false coining is characteristic of the citizen of
+the greatest commercial city of the world. In all this, if we must use
+the misleading words, he is more Guelf than Ghibelline. It is true
+that he constantly opposed the influence of Boniface VIII. in the
+affairs of Florence, but Boniface was a disturbing and reactionary
+force that opposed the legitimate development of the Guelf policy of
+the Florentine democracy. It is true that he is a passionate advocate
+of an ideal Empire, and that he looks to the Emperor to heal the
+wounds of Italy, but the more carefully his writings are studied the
+more clear does it become that what he seeks in the Emperor is not a
+champion of Teutonic feudalism and supporter of the territorial
+nobility, but a power that will make Roman Law run all through Italy,
+and will hold the turbulent nobles in check. The Empire and the
+Emperor mean to Dante justice and peace secured by the enforcement of
+Roman Law. Whatever this is, it is not the Ghibellinism of Farinata or
+the Ubaldini. It is true, however--and here if anywhere Dante is open
+to the charge of temporary desertion of his principles--that after his
+exile he, together with other Whites, entered into a league with the
+Ubaldini, the most obstinate of the traditional foes of the commercial
+community of Florence. This was a desperate act, which, however
+reprehensible or deplorable, cannot be taken as indicating the
+deliberate adoption of a policy in contradiction to the whole tenor
+of his life and thought. We may well suppose that the sense of the
+hollow and indeed dishonourable nature of such an alliance was one of
+the considerations that induced him to sever himself from the exiles
+and "make a party for himself."
+
+Lastly, he was an enthusiastic admirer of Henry VII., and he even
+goaded him on to the attack of Florence. But Henry himself, who came
+to Italy with the sanction of the Pope, came with the earnest desire
+to heal and soothe. The Ghibellines proper felt that they had more to
+fear than to hope from him.
+
+We cannot say, then, that Dante's politics changed. Nor can we define
+his position by calling him a Guelf or a Ghibelline, or both. His
+political ideals were his own. They were the outcome of his life and
+thought, intensely personal, as was all else about him. They cannot be
+labelled, but must be studied in his life and in his works.
+
+If we are to use the current terms at all, we shall perhaps come
+nearest to the truth by saying that Dante was a Guelf in his aims, but
+that he approximated to the traditions if not to the practices of the
+Ghibellines in the means by which he hoped to see them realized.
+
+
+
+
+SELECTIONS FROM THE CHRONICLES OF VILLANI
+
+
+
+
+NOTES AND WARNINGS
+
+
+The marginal references are to the divisions and lines of Moore's
+"Oxford Dante."
+
+* * * * indicates a passage omitted in the translation; . . .
+indicates a hiatus in the Italian text.
+
+Villani makes the year begin on March 25th. Thus 1300 is still running
+till March 25th, 1301. For instance, Bk. VII., Sec. 9, gives the last
+day of February, 1265, as the date of the Battle of Benevento. By our
+reckoning this is the February of 1266. So too the Reconciliation of
+the Florentines by the Cardinal Latino, Bk. VII., Sec. 56, took place
+by our reckoning in February, 1279, and the death of Charles of Anjou,
+Bk. VII., Sec. 95, on January 7th, 1285, etc.
+
+The Kingdom = The Kingdom of Apulia.
+The Duchy = The Duchy of Spoleto.
+The March = The March of Ancona.
+The Principality = [?] The Principality of Tarento.
+San Miniato = San Miniato al Tedesco, in the Arno
+ Valley, West of Empoli.
+Nocera = Nocera of the Saracens near Naples,
+ not the Nocera of _Paradiso_ xi. 48.
+The Duomo or Cathedral = What is now known as the Baptistery.
+
+Master, M., Messer, all represent the Italian Messer.
+
+"Popolo" is translated "people" except where it means "the Democracy"
+as a form of government. It is there given untranslated. [[V] If this
+rule is ever departed from, it is through inadvertency.]
+
+The "popolari" or "popolani" are members of the "popolo" or people,
+sometimes opposed to the "Nobili," or old Nobility of birth, and
+sometimes to the "Grandi," or Magnates, the new nobility of wealth and
+status.
+
+To be "placed under bounds" appears to mean banishment or confinement,
+under the form of a prohibition to cross certain stated "bounds."
+
+The "Black" Cerchi are merely a branch of the Cerchi family: they were
+"Whites" politically.
+
+Villani was well acquainted with Dante's works, and evidently regarded
+him as an authority. Therefore it must not be taken for granted,
+without further thought, that in every case of agreement Villani's
+testimony is an _independent_ confirmation of Dante.
+
+
+
+
+CHRONICLE OF JOHN VILLANI
+
+
+
+
+BOOK I.
+
+ _This book is called the New Chronicle, in which many past
+ things are treated of, and especially the root and origins
+ of the city of Florence; then all the changes through which
+ it has passed and shall pass in the course of time: begun to
+ be compiled in the year of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ,
+ 1300. Here begins the preface and the First Book._
+
+
+Sec. 1.--Forasmuch as among our Florentine ancestors, few and
+ill-arranged memorials are to be found of the past doings of our city
+of Florence, either by the fault of their negligence or by reason that
+at the time that Totila, the scourge of God, destroyed it, their
+writings were lost, I, John, citizen of Florence, considering the
+nobility and greatness of our city at our present times, hold it meet
+to recount and make memorial of the root and origins of so famous a
+city, and of its adverse and happy changes and of past happenings; not
+because I feel myself sufficient for such a work, but to give occasion
+to our successors not to be negligent in preserving records of the
+notable things which shall happen in the times after us, and to give
+example to those who shall come after, of changes, and things come to
+pass, and their reasons and causes; to the end that they may exercise
+themselves in practising virtues, and shunning vices, and enduring
+adversities with a strong soul, to the good and stability of our
+republic. And, therefore, I will furnish a faithful narrative in this
+book in plain vernacular, in order that the ignorant and unlettered
+may draw thence profit and delight; and if in any part there should be
+defect, I leave it to the correction of the wiser. And first we will
+say whence were the origins of our said city, following on for as long
+a time as God shall grant us grace; and not without much toil shall I
+labour to extract and recover from the most ancient and diverse books,
+and chronicles, and authors, the acts and doings of the Florentines,
+compiling them herein; and first the origin of the ancient city of
+Fiesole, the destruction whereof was the cause and beginning of our
+city of Florence. And because our origin starts from very long ago, it
+seems to us necessary to our treatise to recount briefly other ancient
+stories; and it will be delightful and useful to our citizens now and
+to come, and will encourage them in virtue and in great actions to
+consider how they are descended from noble ancestors and from folk of
+worth, such as were the ancient and worthy Trojans, and valiant and
+noble Romans. And to the end our work may be more praiseworthy and
+good, I beseech the aid of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whose name every
+work has a good beginning, continuance and end.
+
+
+Sec. 2.--_How through the confusion of the Tower of Babel the world
+began to be inhabited._
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxxi. 12-18, 46-81. Par. xxvi. 124-126. De Vulg. El.
+i. 6: 49-61 and i. 7. Purg. xii. 34-36.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. v. 52-60. De Mon. ii. 9: 22 sqq.]
+
+We find in the Bible histories, and in those of the Assyrians, that
+Nimrod the giant was the first king, or ruler, and assembler of the
+gatherings of the peoples, that he by his power and success ruled over
+all the families of the sons of Noah, which were seventy-two in
+number, to wit, twenty-seven of the issue of Shem the first-born son
+of Noah, and thirty of Ham the second son of Noah, and fifteen of
+Japhet the third son of Noah. This Nimrod was the son of Cush, which
+was the son of Ham, the second son of Noah, and of his pride and
+strength he thought to rival God, saying that God was Lord of Heaven,
+and he of Earth; and to the end that God might no longer be able to
+hurt him by a flood of water, as He had done in the first age, he
+ordained the building of the marvellous work of the Tower of Babel;
+wherefore God, to confound the said pride, suddenly sent confusion
+upon all mankind, which were at work upon the said tower; and where
+all were speaking one language (to wit, Hebrew), it was changed into
+seventy-two divers languages, so that they could not understand one
+another's speech. And by reason of this, the work of the said tower
+had of necessity to be abandoned, which was so large that it measured
+eighty miles round, and it was already 4,000 paces high, and 1,000
+paces thick, and each pace is three of our feet. And afterwards this
+tower remained for the walls of the great city of Babylon, which is in
+Chaldaea, and the name Babylon is as much as to say "confusion"; and
+therein by the said Nimrod and his descendants, were first adored the
+idols of the false gods. The said tower, or wall of Babylon, was begun
+700 years after the Flood, and there were 2,354 years from the
+beginning of the world to the confusion of the Tower of Babel. And we
+find that they were 107 years working at it; and men lived long in
+those times. And note, that during this long life, having many wives,
+they had many sons and descendants, and multiplied into a great
+people, albeit disordered and without law. Of the said city of Babylon
+the first king which began to make wars was Ninus, son of Belus,
+descended from Asshur, son of Shem, which Ninus built the great city
+of Nineveh; and then after him reigned Semiramis, his wife, in
+Babylon, which was the most cruel and dissolute woman in the world,
+and she was in the time of Abraham.
+
+
+Sec. 3.--_How the world was divided into three parts, and of the first
+called Asia._ Sec. 4.--_Of the second part of the world called Africa,
+and its boundaries._
+
+
+Sec. 5.--_Of the third part of the world called Europe, and its
+boundaries._
+
+* * * * This Europe was first inhabited by the descendants of Japhet,
+the third son of Noah, as we shall make mention hereafter in our
+treatise; and also according to Escodio, master in history, Noah in
+person, with Janus his son, which he begat after the Flood, came into
+this part of Europe into the region of Italy, and there ended his
+life; and Janus abode there, and from him were descended great lords
+and peoples, and he did many things in Italy.
+
+
+Sec. 6.--_How King Atlas, born in the fifth degree from Japhet, son of
+Noah, first came into Europe._
+
+
+Sec. 7.--_How King Atlas first built the city of Fiesole._
+
+[Sidenote: De Vulg. El. i. 8: 11-13.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xv. 61-63. Par. xv. 126.]
+
+* * * * This Atlas, with Electra his wife, and many followers, by
+omens and the counsel of Apollinus his astrologer and master, arrived
+in Italy in the country of Tuscany, which was entirely uninhabited by
+human beings, and searching by the aid of astronomy through all the
+confines of Europe for the most healthy and best situated place which
+could be chosen by him, he took up his abode on the mount of Fiesole,
+which seemed to him strong in position and well situated. And upon
+that rock he began and built the city of Fiesole, by the counsel of
+the said Apollinus, who found out by astronomical arts that Fiesole
+was in the best and most healthy place that there was in the said
+third part of the world called Europe. Since it is well-nigh midway
+between the two seas which encircle Italy, to wit, the sea of Rome and
+Pisa, which Scripture calls the Mediterranean, and the Adriatic Sea or
+Gulf, which to-day is called the Gulf of Venice, and, by reason of the
+said seas, and by the mountains which surround it, better and more
+healthy winds prevail there than in other places, and also by reason
+of the stars which rule over that place. And the said city was founded
+during the ascendant of such a sign and planet, that it gives more
+sprightliness and strength to all its inhabitants than any other part
+of Europe; and the nearer one ascends to the summit of the mountain,
+the more healthy and better it is. And in the said city there was a
+bath, which was called the Royal Bath, and which cured many
+sicknesses; and into the said city there came by a marvellous conduit
+from the mountains above Fiesole, the finest and most wholesome spring
+waters, of which the city had great abundance. And Atlas had the said
+city walled with strongest walls, wondrous in their masonry and their
+thickness, and with great and strong towers; and there was a fortress
+upon the summit of the mountain, of the greatest beauty and strength,
+where dwelt the said king, as is still shown and may be seen by the
+foundations of the said walls, and by the strong and healthy site. The
+said city of Fiesole multiplied and increased in inhabitants in a
+short time, so that it ruled over the surrounding country to a great
+distance. And note that it was the first city built in the said third
+division of the world called Europe, and therefore it was named "_Fia
+Sola_" [it shall be alone], to wit, _first_, with no other inhabited
+city in that said division.
+
+
+Sec. 8.--_How Atlas had three sons, Italus and Dardanus and Sicanus._
+
+[Sidenote: De Mon. ii. 3: 67, 68.]
+
+[Sidenote: De Vulg. El. i. 10: 39-85.]
+
+Atlas, king of Fiesole, after that he had built the said city, begat
+by Electra his wife three sons: the first was called Italus, and from
+his name the kingdom of Italy was named, and he was lord and king
+thereof; the second son was named Dardanus, which was the first rider
+to ride a horse with saddle and bridle. Some have written that
+Dardanus was son to Jove, king of Crete, and son to Saturn, as has
+been afore mentioned; but this was not true, forasmuch as Jove abode
+in Greece, and his descendants were kings and lords thereof, and were
+always the enemies of the Trojans; but Dardanus came from Italy, and
+was son to Atlas, as the history will make mention. And Virgil the
+poet confirms it in his book of the _Aeneid_, when the gods said to
+Aeneas that he should seek the country of Italy, whence had come his
+forefathers which had built Troy; and this was true. The third son of
+Atlas was named Sicanus, that is in our parlance Sezzaio [last], which
+had a most beautiful daughter called Candanzia. This Sicanus went into
+the island of Sicily, and was the first inhabitant thereof, and from
+his name the island was at the first called Sicania, and by diversity
+of vernacular of the inhabitants it is now called by them Sicilia,
+and by us Italians Cicilia. This Sicanus built in Sicily the city of
+Saragosa, and made it chief of the realm whereof he was king, and his
+descendants after him for a very long time, as is told in the history
+of the Sicilians, and by Virgil in the _Aeneid_.
+
+
+Sec. 9.--_How Italus and Dardanus came to agree which should succeed
+to the city of Fiesole and the kingdom of Italy._
+
+When King Atlas had died in the city of Fiesole, Italus and Dardanus
+his sons were left rulers after him; and each of them being a lord of
+great courage, and both being worthy in themselves to reign over the
+kingdom of Italy, they came to this agreement together, to go with
+their sacrifices to sacrifice to their great god Mars, whom they
+worshipped; and when they had offered sacrifice they asked whether of
+them twain ought to abide lord in Fiesole, and whether ought to go and
+conquer other countries and realms. From the which idol they received
+answer, either by divine revelation or by device of the devil, that
+Dardanus should go and conquer other lands and countries, and Italus
+should remain in Fiesole and in the country of Italy. To which
+commandment and answer they gave such effect that Italus abode as
+ruler, and he begat great rulers which after him governed not only the
+city of Fiesole and the country round about, but well-nigh all Italy,
+and they built many cities there; and the said city of Fiesole rose
+into great power and lordship, until the great city of Rome reached
+her state and lordship. And thereafter, for all the great power of
+Rome, yet was the city of Fiesole continually at war with and
+rebelling against it, until at last it was destroyed by the Romans,
+as this faithful history shall hereafter record. At present we will
+cease speaking of the Fiesolans and will return to their history in
+due time and place, and we will now go on to tell how Dardanus
+departed from Fiesole, and was the first builder of the great city of
+Troy, and the ancestor of the kings of the Trojans and also of the
+Romans.
+
+
+Sec. 10.--_How Dardanus came to Phrygia and built the city of Dardania,
+which was afterwards the great Troy._
+
+Dardanus, as he was commanded by the answer of their god, departed
+from Fiesole with Apollinus, master and astrologer of his father, and
+with Candanzia his niece, and with a great following of his people,
+and came into the parts of Asia to the province which was called
+Phrygia [Frigia], from the name of Friga, of the descendants of
+Japhet, which was the first inhabitant thereof; which province of
+Phrygia is beyond Greece, after the islands of Archipelago are passed,
+on the mainland, which to-day is ruled by the Turks and is called
+Turkey. In that country the said Dardanus by the counsel and arts of
+the said Apollinus began to build, and made a city upon the shores of
+the said Grecian sea, which he called after his own name Dardania, and
+this was 3,200 years from the creation of the world. And it was called
+Dardania so long as Dardanus lived, or his sons.
+
+
+Sec. 11.--_How Dardanus had a son which was named Tritamus, which was
+the father of Trojus, after whose name the city of Troy was so called._
+
+Now this Dardanus had a son which was called Tritamus, and Tritamus
+begat Trojus and Torajus; but Trojus was the wiser and the more
+valorous, and because of his excellence he became lord and king of the
+said city and of the country round about; and he had great war with
+Tantalus, king of Greece, son of Saturn, king of Crete, of whom we
+made mention. And then, after the death of the said Trojus, by reason
+of the goodness and wisdom and worth which had reigned in him, it
+pleased his son and the men of his city that the said city should
+always be called Troy after his name; and the chief and principal gate
+of the city, in memory of Dardanus, retained the name which the city
+had at the first, to wit Dardania.
+
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Convivio iv. 14: 131-154. Purg. xii. 61-63. Inf. xxx.
+13-15, 98, 113, 114.]
+
+Sec. 12.--_Of the kings which were in Troy; and how Troy was destroyed
+the first time in the time of the King Laomedon._ Sec. 13.--_How the good
+King Priam rebuilt the city of Troy._ Sec. 14.--_How Troy was destroyed
+by the Greeks._ Sec. 15.--_How the Greeks which departed from the siege
+of Troy well-nigh all came to ill._ Sec. 16.--_How Helenus, son of King
+Priam, with the sons of Hector, departed from Troy._
+
+
+Sec. 17.--_How Antenor and the young Priam, having departed from Troy,
+built the city of Venice, and that of Padua._
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxxii. 88. Purg. v. 75.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxxii. 88.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. v. 75.]
+
+Another band departed from the said destruction, to wit Antenor, who
+was one of the greatest lords of Troy, and was brother of Priam, and
+son of the King Laomedon, who was much accused of betraying Troy, and
+Aeneas was privy to it, according to Dares; but Virgil makes him quite
+innocent of this. This Antenor, with Priam the younger, son of King
+Priam, a little child, escaped from the destruction of Troy with a
+great following of people to the number of 12,000, and faring over
+the sea with a great fleet arrived in the country where to-day is
+Venice, the great city, and they settled themselves in those little
+surrounding islands, to the end they might be free and beyond reach of
+any other jurisdiction and government, and became the first
+inhabitants of those rocks; whence increasing later, the great city of
+Venice was founded, which at first was called Antenora, from the said
+Antenor. And afterwards the said Antenor departed thence and came to
+dwell on the mainland, where to-day is Padua, the great city, and he
+was its first inhabitant and builder, and he gave it the name of
+Padua, because it was among paduli [marshes], and by reason of the
+river Po, which flowed hard by and was called Pado. The said Antenor
+remained and died in Padua, and within our own times his body has been
+discovered there, and his tomb engraved with letters which bear
+witness that it is the body of Antenor, and this his tomb has been
+renewed by the Paduans and may be seen to-day in Padua.
+
+
+Sec. 18.--_How Priam III. was king in Germany, and his descendants kings
+of France._ Sec. 19.--_How Pharamond was the first king of France, and
+his descendants after him._ Sec. 20.--_How the second Pepin, father of
+Charles the Great, was king of France._
+
+
+Sec. 21.--_How Aeneas departed from Troy and came to Carthage in Africa._
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. iv. 122. Inf. i. 73-75. De Mon. ii. 3; Convivio iv. 5:
+48.]
+
+[Sidenote: De Mon. ii. 3: 62.]
+
+[Sidenote: De Mon. ii. 3: 77-84.]
+
+[Sidenote: Epist. vii. (3) 62, 63.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xix. 131, 132.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. viii. 9.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. v. 61, 62. Par. ix. 97, 98. Cf. De Monarchia ii. 3:
+102-108. Convivio iv. 26: 59-70. Canzon. xii. 35, 36.]
+
+Aeneas again departed from the said destruction of Troy with Anchises,
+his father, and with Ascanius, his son, born of Creusa, daughter of
+the great King Priam, with a following of 3,300 men of the best people
+of Troy, and they embarked upon twenty-two ships. This Aeneas was of
+the royal race of the Trojans, in this wise: for Ansaracus, son of
+Trojus and brother of Ilius, of whom mention was made in the
+beginning, begat Danaus, and Danaus begat Anchises, and Anchises begat
+Aeneas. This Aeneas was a lord of great worth, wise and of great
+prowess, and very beautiful in person. When he departed from Troy with
+his following, with great lamentation, having lost Creusa, his wife,
+in the assault of the Greeks, he went first to the island of Ortygia,
+and made sacrifice to Apollo, the god of the sun, or rather idol,
+asking him for counsel and answer whither he should go; from the which
+he had answer and commandment to go into the land and country of Italy
+(whence at the first had come Dardanus and his forefathers to Troy),
+and to enter into Italy by the harbour or mouth of the river of
+Albola; and he said to him by the said oracle, that after many
+travails by sea, and battles in the said land of Italy, he should gain
+a wife and great lordship, and from his race should arise mighty kings
+and emperors, which should do very great and notable things. When
+Aeneas heard this he was much encouraged by the fair response and
+promise, and straightway he put to sea with his following and ships,
+and voyaging long time he met with many adventures, and came to many
+countries, and first to the country of Macedonia, where already were
+Helenus and the wife and son of Hector; and after their sorrowful
+meeting, remembering the ruin of Troy, they departed. And sailing over
+divers seas, now forwards, now backwards, now crossways, as being
+ignorant of the country of Italy, not having with them any great
+masters or pilots of the sea which could guide them, so that they
+sailed almost whithersoever fortune or the sea winds might lead them,
+at last they came to the island of Sicily which the poets called
+Trinacria, and landed where to-day is the city of Trapali, in which
+Anchises, his father, by reason of his great toils and his old age,
+passed from this life, and in the said place was buried after their
+manner with great solemnities. And after the great mourning made by
+Aeneas over his dear father, they departed thence to go into Italy; and
+by stress of storm the said ships were divided, and part held one way,
+and part another. And one of the said ships, with all on board, was
+lost in the sea, and the others came to the shores of Africa (neither
+knowing ought of the other), where the noble city of Carthage was
+a-building by the powerful and beautiful Queen Dido which had come
+thither from Sidonia, which is now called Suri [Tyre]; and the said
+Aeneas and Ascanius, his son, and all his following in the twenty-one
+ships which came to that port, were received by the said queen with
+great honour; above all, because the said queen was taken with great
+love for Aeneas so soon as she beheld him, in such wise that Aeneas for
+her sake abode there long time in such delight that he did not
+remember the commandment of the gods that he should go into Italy; and
+by a dream or vision, it was told him by the said gods that he should
+no longer abide in Africa. For the which thing suddenly with his
+following and ships he departed from Carthage; and therefore the said
+Queen Dido by reason of her passionate love slew herself with the
+sword of the said Aeneas. And those who desire to know this story more
+fully may read it in the First and Second Books of the _Aeneid_,
+written by the great poet Virgil.
+
+
+Sec. 22.--_How Aeneas came into Italy._
+
+[Sidenote: Conv. iv. 26: 96.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. ii. 13-15.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xv. 25-30.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. ii. 13-27.]
+
+When Aeneas had departed from Africa, he again landed in Sicily, where
+he had buried his father Anchises, and in that place celebrated the
+anniversary of his father with great games and sacrifices; and they
+received great honour from Acestes, then king of Sicily, by reason of
+the ancient kinship with the Trojans, who were descendants of Sicanus
+of Fiesole. Then he departed from Sicily, and came into Italy, to the
+Gulf of Baiae, which to-day is called Mare Morto, to the headland of
+Miseno, very near where to-day is Naples; in which country there were
+many and great woods and forests, and Aeneas, going through them, was
+led by the appointed guide, the Erythraean Sibyl, to behold Hell and
+the pains that are therein, and afterwards Limbo; and, according to
+what is related by Virgil in the Sixth Book of the _Aeneid_, he there
+found and recognised the shades, or soul-images of his father,
+Anchises, and of Dido, and of many other departed souls. And by his
+said father were shown to him, or signified in a vision, all his
+descendants and their lordship, and they which were to build the great
+city of Rome. And it is said by many, that the place where he was led
+by the wise Sibyl was through the weird caverns of Monte Barbaro,
+which is above Pozzuolo, and which still to-day are strange and
+fearful to behold; and others believe and hold that, either by divine
+power or by magic arts, this was shown to Aeneas in a vision of the
+spirit, to signify to him the great things which were to issue and
+come forth from his descendants. But however that may be, when he
+issued forth from Hell, he departed, and entered into a ship, and,
+following the shores until he came to the mouth of the river Tiber or
+Albola, he entered it, and came to shore, and by signs and auguries
+perceived that he had arrived in the country of Italy, which had been
+promised him by the gods; and with great festival and rejoicing they
+brought their labours by sea to an end, and began to build for
+themselves habitations, and to fortify themselves with ditches and
+palisades of the wood of their ships. And this place afterwards became
+the city of Ostia; and these fortifications they built for fear of the
+country people, who, fearing them as strange folk and unused to their
+customs, held them as foes, and fought many battles against the
+Trojans to drive them from the country, in all of which the Trojans
+were victorious.
+
+
+Sec. 23.--_How the King Latinus ruled over Italy, and how Aeneas had
+his daughter to wife, and all his kingdom._
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xiv. 94-96. Par. xxii. 145, 146.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Par. xxi. 25-27.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. iv. 125, 126. Purg. xvii. 34-39.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. vi. 35, 36.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. i. 107, iv. 124.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. xvii. 34-39. Inf. i. 108. Par. vi. 3. De Monarchia
+ii. 3: 108-117.]
+
+In this country (whereof the capital was Laurentia, the remains of
+which may still be traced near to where Terracina now stands), the
+King Latinus reigned, which was of the seed of King Saturn, who came
+from Crete when he was driven thence by Jove his son, as we made
+mention afore. And this Saturn came into the country of Rome, which
+was then ruled by Janus of the seed of Noah; but the inhabitants were
+then very ignorant, and lived like beasts on fruits and acorns, and
+dwelt in caves of the earth. This Saturn, wise in learning and in
+manners, by his wisdom and counsel led the people to live like men,
+and caused them to cultivate lands, and plant vineyards, and build
+houses, and enclose towns and cities; and the said Saturn was the
+first to build the city of Sutri, called Saturna, and it was so called
+after his name; and in that country, by his care, grain was first
+sown, wherefore the dwellers therein held him for a god; and Janus
+himself, which was lord thereof, made him his partner, and gave him a
+share in the kingdom. This Saturn reigned thirty-four years in Italy,
+and after him reigned Picus his son thirty-one years; and after Picus
+reigned Faunus his son twenty-nine years, and was slain by his people.
+The two sons of Faunus were Lavinus and Latinus. This Lavinus built
+the city of Lavina. And Lavinus reigned but a short time; and when he
+was dead the kingdom was left to Latinus, which changed the name of
+the city of Lavina to Laurentia, because on the chief tower thereof
+there grew a great laurel tree. The said Latinus reigned thirty-two
+years, and was very wise; and he much bettered the Latin tongue. This
+King Latinus had only one most beautiful daughter called Lavinia, who
+by her mother had been promised in marriage to a king of Tuscany,
+named Turnus, of the city of Ardea, now Cortona. Tuscany was the name
+of the country and province, because there were the first sacrifices
+offered to the gods, with the fumes of incense called _tuscio_. Aeneas
+having arrived in the country, sought peace with the King Latinus, and
+that he might dwell there; by the said Latinus he was received
+graciously, and not only had leave of him to inhabit the country, but
+also had the promise of his daughter Lavinia to wife, since the
+command of the gods was that they should marry her to a stranger, and
+not to a man of the country. For which cause, and to secure the
+heritage of King Latinus, great battles arose, for a long time,
+between Aeneas and Turnus and them of Laurentia, and the said Turnus
+slew in battle the great and strong giant, Pallas, son of Evander,
+king of the seven hills, where to-day is Rome, who had come in aid of
+Aeneas; and on the same account died, by the hand of Aeneas, the virgin
+Camilla, who was marvellous in arms. In the end, Aeneas, being victor
+in the last battle, and Turnus being slain by his hand, took Lavinia
+to wife, who loved Aeneas much, and Aeneas her; and he had the half of
+the kingdom of King Latinus. And, after the death of King Latinus, who
+lived but a short time longer, Aeneas was lord over all.
+
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. ii. 13.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. vi. 40-42. Convivio iv. 5: 80-97.]
+
+Sec. 24.--_How Julius Ascanius, son of Aeneas, was king after him, and
+of the kings and lords who descended from him._ Sec. 25.--_How Silvius,
+second son of Aeneas, was king after Ascanius, and how from him
+descended the kings of the Latins, of Alba, and of Rome._ Sec.
+26.--_How Romulus and Remus founded the city of Rome._ Sec. 27.--_How
+Numa Pompilius was king of the Romans after the death of Romulus._ Sec.
+28.--_How there were in Rome seven kings one after the other down to
+Tarquin, and how in his time they lost the lordship._
+
+
+Sec. 29.--_How Rome was ruled for a long time by the government of the
+consuls and senators, until Julius Caesar became Emperor._
+
+[Sidenote: Par. vi. 79-81. Convivio iv. 5: 16-29. De Monarchia ii. 9:
+99-105; and ii. 12. Epist. vii. (3) 64-73.]
+
+After that the kings had been driven out, and the government of Rome
+was left to the consuls and senators, the said King Tarquin and his
+son, with the aid of King Porsenna of Tuscany, who reigned in the city
+of Chiusi [Clusium], made great war upon the Romans, but in the end
+the victory remained with the Romans. And afterwards the Republic of
+Rome was ruled and governed for 450 years by consuls and senators, and
+at times by dictators, whose authority endured for five years; and
+they were, so to speak, emperors, for that which they commanded must
+of necessity be done; and other divers offices, such as tribunes of
+the people, and praetors, and censors, and chiliarchs. And in this time
+there were in Rome many changes, and wars, and battles, not only with
+their neighbours, but with all the nations of the world; the which
+Romans by force of arms, and virtue and the wisdom of good citizens,
+ruled over well-nigh all the provinces and realms and dominions in the
+world, and gained sovereignty over them, and made them tributary, with
+the greatest battles, and with slaughter of many nations of the world,
+and of the Romans themselves, in divers times, well-nigh innumerable
+to relate. And also among the citizens themselves, by reason of envy
+against the rulers, and strifes between magnates and them of the
+people; and on the cessation of foreign wars, there arose much
+fighting and slaughter ofttimes among the citizens; and, in addition
+to this, from time to time intolerable pestilences arose among the
+Romans. And this government endured until the great battles of Julius
+Caesar against Pompey, and then against his sons, in which Caesar was
+victorious; then the said Caesar did away with the office of consuls
+and of dictators, and he first was called Emperor. And after him
+Octavianus Augustus, who ruled in peace, after many battles, over the
+whole world, at the time of the birth of Jesus Christ, 700 years after
+the foundation of Rome; and thus it is seen that Rome was governed by
+kings for 254 years, and by consuls 450 years, as we have aforesaid,
+and it is told more at length by Titus Livius and many other authors.
+But note that the great power of the Romans was not alone in
+themselves, save in so far that they were at the head and leaders; but
+first all the Tuscans and then all the Italians followed them in their
+wars and in their battles, and were all called Romans. But we will
+now leave the order of the history of the Romans and of the Emperors,
+save in so far as it shall pertain to our matter, returning to our
+subject of the building of Florence, which we promised to narrate. And
+we have made this long exordium, forasmuch as it was necessary to show
+how the origin of the Roman builders of Florence (as hereafter will be
+narrated) was derived from the noble Trojans; and the origin and
+beginning of the Trojans was from Dardanus, son of Atlas, of the city
+of Fiesole, as we have briefly recounted; and afterwards from the
+descendants of the noble Romans, and of the Fiesolans, by the force of
+the Romans a people was founded called Florentines.
+
+
+Sec. 30.--_How a conspiracy was formed in Rome by Catiline and his
+followers._
+
+[Sidenote: 680 A.U.C.]
+
+[Sidenote: Convivio iv. 5: 172-176.]
+
+At the time when Rome was still ruled by the government of consuls, in
+the year 680 from the foundation of the said city, Mark Tully Cicero
+and Caius Antony being consuls, and Rome in great and happy state and
+lordship, Catiline, a very noble citizen, descended by birth from the
+royal house of Tarquin, being a man of dissolute life but brave and
+daring in arms and a fine orator, but not wise, being envious of the
+good and rich and wise men who ruled the city, their lordship not
+being pleasing to him, formed a conspiracy with many other nobles and
+other followers disposed to evil-doing, and purposed to slay the
+consuls and part of the senators, and to destroy their office, and to
+overrun the city, robbing and setting fire to many parts thereof, and
+to make himself ruler thereof; and this he would have done had it not
+been warded off by the wit and foresight of the wise consul, Mark
+Tully. So he defended the city from such ruin, and found out the said
+conspiracy and treason; but because of the greatness and power of the
+said Catiline, and because Tully was a new citizen in Rome, his father
+having come from Capua or from some other town of the Campagna, he did
+not dare to have Catiline seized or to bring him to justice, as his
+misdeeds required; but by his great wit and fine speech he caused him
+to depart from the city; but many of his fellow-conspirators and
+companions, from among the greatest citizens, and even of the order of
+senators, who abode still in Rome after Catiline's departure, he
+caused to be seized, and to be strangled in prison, so that they died,
+as the great scholar, Sallust, relates in due order.
+
+
+Sec. 31.--_How Catiline caused the city of Fiesole to rebel against the
+city of Rome._
+
+Catiline having departed from Rome, with part of his followers came
+into Tuscany, where Manlius, one of his principal fellow-conspirators,
+who was captain, had gathered his people in the ancient city of
+Fiesole, and Catiline being come thither, he caused the said city to
+rebel against the lordship of the Romans, assembling all the rebels
+and exiles from Rome and from many other provinces, with lewd folk
+disposed for war and for ill-doing, and he began fierce war with the
+Romans. The Romans, hearing this, decreed that Caius Antony, the
+consul, and Publius Petreius, with an army of horse and many foot,
+should march into Tuscany against the city of Fiesole and against
+Catiline; and they sent by them letters and messengers to Quintus
+Metellus, who was returning from France with a great host of the
+Romans, that he should likewise come with his force from the other
+side to the siege of Fiesole, and to pursue Catiline and his
+followers.
+
+
+Sec. 32.--_How Catiline and his followers were discomfited by the
+Romans in the plain of Piceno._
+
+Now when Catiline heard that the Romans were coming to besiege him in
+the city of Fiesole, and that Antony and Petreius were already with
+their host in the plain of Fiesole, upon the bank of the river Arno,
+and how that Metellus was already in Lombardy with his host of three
+legions which were coming from France, and the succour which he was
+expecting from his allies which had remained in Rome had failed him,
+he took counsel not to shut himself up in the city of Fiesole, but to
+go into France; and therefore he departed from that city with his
+people and with a lord of Fiesole who was called Fiesolanus, and he
+had his horses' shoes reversed, to the end that when they departed the
+hoofprints of the horses might show as if folk had entered into
+Fiesole, and not sallied forth thence, to cause the Romans to tarry
+near the city, that he might depart thence the more safely. And having
+departed by night, to avoid Metellus, he did not hold the direct road
+through the mountains which we call the Alps of Bologna, but took the
+plain by the side of the mountains, and came where to-day is the city
+of Pistoia, in the place called Campo Piceno, that was below where
+to-day is the fortress of Piteccio, purposing to cross the Apennine
+mountains by that way, and descend thence into Lombardy; but Antony
+and Petreius, hearing of his departure, straightway followed after him
+with their host along the plain, so that they overtook him in the said
+place, and Metellus, on the other side, set guards at the passes of
+the mountains, to the end he might not pass thereby. Catiline, seeing
+himself to be thus straitened, and that he could not avoid the battle,
+gave himself and his followers to the chances of combat with great
+courage and boldness, in the which battle there was great slaughter of
+Romans from the city and of rebel Romans and of Fiesolans; at the end
+of which fierce battle Catiline was defeated and slain in that place
+of Piceno with all his followers; and the field remained to the
+Romans, but with such dolorous victory that the said two consuls, with
+twenty horse, who alone escaped, did not care to return to Rome. The
+which thing could not gain credence with the Romans till the senators
+sent thither to learn the truth; and, this known, there was the
+greatest sorrow thereat in Rome. And he who desires to see this
+history more fully, let him read the book of Sallust called
+_Catilinarius_. The injured and wounded of Catiline's people who had
+escaped death in the battle, albeit they were but few, withdrew where
+is to-day the city of Pistoia, and there in vile habitations became
+the first inhabitants thereof, whilst their wounds were healing. And
+afterwards, by reason of the good situation and fruitful soil, the
+inhabitants thereof increased, which afterwards built the city of
+Pistoia, and by reason of the great mortality and pestilence which was
+near that place, both of their people and of the Romans, they gave it
+the name of Pistoia; and therefore it is not to be marvelled at if the
+Pistoians have been and are a fierce and cruel people in war among
+themselves and against others, being descended from the race of
+Catiline and from the remnants of such people as his, discomfited and
+wounded in battle.
+
+
+Sec. 33.--_How Metellus with his troops made war upon the Fiesolans._
+
+After that Metellus, who was in Lombardy near the mountains of the
+Apennine Alps in the country of Modena, heard of the defeat and death
+of Catiline, straightway he came with his host to the place where the
+battle had been, and having seen the slain, through amazement at the
+strange and great mortality he was afeared, marvelling within himself
+as at a thing impossible. But afterwards he and his followers equally
+despoiled the camp of the Romans from the city and that of the enemy,
+seizing that which they found there; and this done he came towards
+Fiesole to besiege the city. The Fiesolans vigorously took to arms,
+and sallied forth from the city to the plain, fighting with Metellus
+and with his host, and by force thrust him back, and drove him to the
+other side of the Arno with great hurt to his people, who with his
+followers encamped upon the hills, or upon the banks of the river; the
+Fiesolans with their host drew off from the other bank of the river
+Arno towards Fiesole.
+
+
+Sec. 34.--_How Metellus and Fiorinus discomfited the Fiesolans._
+
+The night following, Metellus ordered and commanded that part of his
+host should pass the river Arno, at a distance from the host of the
+Fiesolans, and should place themselves in ambush between the city of
+Fiesole and the host of the Fiesolans, and of that company he made
+captain Fiorinus, a noble citizen of Rome of the race of the Fracchi
+or Floracchi, who was his praetor, which is as much as to say marshal
+of his host; and Fiorinus, as he was commanded by the consul, so he
+did. In the morning, at the break of day, Metellus armed with all his
+people passing over the river Arno, began the battle against the
+Fiesolans, and the Fiesolans, vigorously defending the ford of the
+river, sustained the battle in the river Arno. Fiorinus, who was with
+his people in ambush, when he saw the battle begun, sallied forth
+boldly in the rear of the Fiesolans, who were fighting in the river
+against Metellus. The Fiesolans, surprised by the ambush, seeing
+themselves suddenly assailed by Fiorinus in the rear and by Metellus
+in front, put to confusion, threw down their arms and fled discomfited
+towards the city of Fiesole, wherefore many of them were slain and
+taken.
+
+
+Sec. 35.--_How the Romans besieged Fiesole the first time, and how
+Fiorinus was slain._
+
+The Fiesolans being discomfited and driven back from the shores of
+Arno, Fiorinus the praetor, with the host of the Romans, encamped
+beyond the river Arno towards Fiesole, where were two little villages,
+one of which was called Villa Arnina, and the other Camarte [Casa
+Martis], that is campo or _Domus Martis_, where the Fiesolans on a
+certain day in the week held a market in all commodities for their
+towns and the region round about. The consul made a decree with
+Fiorinus that no one should sell or buy bread or wine or other things
+which might be of use to the troops save in the field where Fiorinus
+was stationed. After this the consul Quintus Metellus sent incontinent
+to Rome that they should send him men-at-arms to besiege the city of
+Fiesole, for the which cause the senators made a decree that Julius
+Caesar, and Cicero, and Macrinus, with several legions of soldiers,
+should come to the siege and destruction of Fiesole; which, being
+come, besieged the said city. Caesar encamped on the hill which rose
+above the city; Macrinus on the next hill or mountain, and Cicero on
+the other side; and thus they remained for six years besieging the
+said city, having through long siege and through hunger almost
+destroyed it. And likewise those in the host, by reason of the long
+sojourn and their many privations being diminished and enfeebled,
+departed from the siege, and returned to Rome, save Fiorinus, who
+remained at the siege with his followers in the plain where he had at
+first encamped, and surrounded himself with moats and palisades, after
+the manner of ramparts, or fortifications, and kept the Fiesolans in
+great straits; and thus he warred upon them long time, till his folk
+felt secure, and held their foes for nought. Then the Fiesolans having
+recovered breath somewhat, and mindful of the ill which Fiorinus had
+done and was doing to them, suddenly, and as if in despair, advanced
+by night with ladders and with engines to attack the camp or
+fortification of Fiorinus, and he and his people with but few guards
+and while they slept, not being on their guard against the Fiesolans,
+were surprised; and Fiorinus and his wife and his children were slain,
+and all his host in that place well-nigh destroyed, for few thereof
+escaped; and the said fortress and ramparts were destroyed, and burnt
+and done away with by the Fiesolans.
+
+
+Sec. 36.--_How, because of the death of Fiorinus, the Romans returned to
+the siege of Fiesole._
+
+When the news was known at Rome, the consuls and senators and all the
+commonwealth being grieved at the misadventure which had befallen the
+good leader Fiorinus, straightway took counsel that this should be
+avenged, and that a very great host should return once more to destroy
+the city of Fiesole, for the which were chosen these leaders: Count
+Rainaldus, Cicero, Teberinus Macrinus, Albinus, Gneus Pompey, Caesar,
+and Camertino Sezio, Conte Tudedino, that is Count of Todi, which was
+with Julius Caesar, and of his chivalry. This man pitched his camp near
+to Camarti, nearly where to-day is Florence; Caesar pitched his camp
+upon the hill which rose above the city, which is to-day called Mount
+Cecero, but formerly was called Mount Caesar, after his name, or after
+the name of Cicero; but rather it is held to be after Caesar, inasmuch
+as he was the greatest leader in the host. Rainaldus pitched his camp
+upon the hill over against the city on the other side of the Mugnone,
+and after his name it is so called until this day; Macrinus encamped
+on the hill still called after him; Camertinus in the region which is
+still called Camerata after his name. And all the other aforesaid
+lords, each one for himself pitched his camp around the city, some on
+the hills and some in the plain; but no other than these aforesaid
+have left their names to be a memorial of them. These lords, with
+their followers in great numbers, both horse and foot, besieging the
+city, arrayed and prepared themselves to make yet greater war upon the
+city than at the first; but by reason of the strength of the city the
+Romans wrought in vain, and many of them being dead by reason of the
+long siege and excessive toil, those great lords and consuls and
+senators well-nigh all returned to Rome; only Caesar with his followers
+abode still at the siege. And during that sojourn he commanded his
+soldiers to go to the village of Camarti, nigh to the river Arno, and
+there to build a council house wherein he might hold his council, and
+might leave it for a memorial of himself. This building in our
+vernacular we have named Parlagio [Parliament house]. And it was round
+and was right marvellously vaulted, and had an open space in the
+midst; and then began seats in steps all around; and from step to
+step, built upon, vaulting, they rose, widening up to the very top,
+and the height thereof was more than sixty cubits, and it had two
+doors; and therein assembled the people to hold council, and from
+grade to grade the folk were seated, the most noble above, and then
+descending according to the dignity of the people; and it was so
+fashioned that all in the Parliament might see one another by face,
+and that all might hear distinctly that which one was saying; and it
+held commodiously an infinite multitude of people, and its name,
+rightly speaking, was Parlatorio [speaking place]. This was afterwards
+destroyed in the time of Totila, but in our days the foundations may
+yet be seen, and part of the vaulting near to the church of S. Simone
+in Florence, and reaching to the beginning of the square of Santa
+Croce; and part of the palaces of the Peruzzi are built thereupon, and
+the street which is called Anguillaia, which goes to Santa Croce, goes
+almost through the midst of the said Parliament house.
+
+
+Sec. 37.--_How the city of Fiesole surrendered itself to the Romans and
+was destroyed and laid waste._
+
+[Sidenote: Circ. 72 B.C.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. vi. 53, 54. xv. 124-126.]
+
+Fiesole having been besieged as aforesaid the second time, and the
+city being much wasted and afflicted both by reason of hunger and also
+because their aqueducts had been cut off and destroyed, the city
+surrendered to Caesar and to the Romans at the end of two years and
+four months and six days (for so long had the siege lasted), on
+condition that any which desired to leave the city might go in safety.
+The city was taken by the Romans, and despoiled of all its wealth, and
+was destroyed by Caesar, and laid waste to the foundations; and this
+was about seventy-two years before the birth of Christ.
+
+
+Sec. 38.--_How the city of Florence was first built._
+
+After the city of Fiesole was destroyed, Caesar with his armies
+descended to the plain on the banks of the river Arno, where Fiorinus
+and his followers had been slain by the Fiesolans, and in this place
+began to build a city, in order that Fiesole should never be rebuilt;
+and he dismissed the Latin horseman whom he had with him, enriched
+with the spoils of Fiesole; and these Latins were called Tudertines.
+Caesar, then, having fixed the boundaries of the city, and included two
+places called Camarti and Villa Arnina [of the Arno], purposed to call
+it Caesaraea from his own name. But when the Roman senate heard this,
+they would not suffer Caesar to call it after his name, but they made a
+decree and order that the other chief noble Romans who had taken part
+in the siege of Fiesole should go and build the new city together with
+Caesar, and afterwards populate it; and that whichever of the builders
+had first completed his share of the work should call it after his own
+name, or howso else it pleased him.
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxiii. 107, 108.]
+
+[Sidenote: 70 B.C.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xv. 73-78. Par. xv. 124-126.]
+
+Then Macrinus, Albinus, Gneus Pompey, and Marcius, furnished with
+materials and workmen, came from Rome to the city which Caesar was
+building, and agreed with Caesar to divide the work after this manner:
+that Albinus undertook to pave all the city, which was a noble work
+and gave beauty and charm to the city, and to this day fragments of
+the work are found, in digging, especially in the sesto of Santo Piero
+Scheraggio, and in Porta San Piero, and in Porta del Duomo, where it
+shows that the ancient city was. Macrinus caused the water to be
+brought in conduits and aqueducts, bringing it from a distance of
+seven miles from the city, to the end the city might have abundance of
+good water to drink and to cleanse the city; and this conduit was
+carried from the river called Marina at the foot of Montemorello,
+gathering to itself all the springs above Sesto and Quinto and
+Colonnata. And in Florence the said springs came to a head at a great
+palace which was called "caput aquae," but afterwards in our speech it
+was called Capaccia, and the remains can be seen in the Terma until
+this day. And note that the ancients, for health's sake, used to drink
+spring waters brought in by conduits, forasmuch as they were purer and
+more wholesome than water from wells; seeing that few, indeed very
+few, drank wine, but the most part water from conduits, but not from
+wells; and as yet there were very few vines. Gneus Pompey caused the
+walls of the city to be built of burnt bricks, and upon the walls of
+the city he built many round towers, and the space between one tower
+and the other was twenty cubits, and it was so that the towers were of
+great beauty and strength. Concerning the size and circuit of the city
+we can find no chronicle which makes mention thereof; save that when
+Totila, the scourge of God, destroyed it, history records that it was
+very great. Marcius, the other Roman lord, caused the Capitol to be
+built after the fashion of Rome, that is to say the palace, or master
+fortress of the city, and this was of marvellous beauty; into which
+the water of the river Arno came by a hollowed and vaulted passage,
+and returned into the Arno underground; and the city, at every
+festival, was cleansed by the outpouring of this duct. This Capitol
+stood where to-day is the piazza which is called the Mercato Vecchio,
+over against the church which is called S. Maria, in Campidoglio. This
+seems to be the best supported opinion; but some say that it was where
+the place is now called the Guardingo [citadel]; beside the Piazza di
+Popolo (so called from the Priors' Palace), which was another
+fortress. Guardingo was the name afterwards given to the remains of
+the walls and arches after the destruction by Totila, where the bad
+quarter was. And the said lords each strove to be in advance of the
+work of the others. And at one same time the whole was completed, so
+that to none of them was the favour granted of naming the city
+according to his desire, but by many it was at first called "Little
+Rome." Others called it Floria, because Fiorinus, who was the first
+builder in that spot, had there died, he being the _fiore_ [flower] of
+warlike deeds and of chivalry, and because in the country and fields
+around where the city was built there always grew flowers and lilies.
+Afterwards the greater part of the inhabitants consented to call it
+Floria, as being built among flowers, that is, amongst many delights.
+And of a surety it was, inasmuch as it was peopled by the best of
+Rome, and the most capable, sent by the senate in due proportion from
+each division of Rome, chosen by lot from the inhabitants; and they
+admitted among their number those Fiesolans which desired there to
+dwell and abide. But afterwards it was, through long use of the vulgar
+tongue, called Fiorenza, that is "flowery sword." And we find that it
+was built in the year 682, after the building of Rome and seventy
+years before the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. And note that it is
+not to be wondered at that the Florentines are always at war and
+strife among themselves, being born and descended from two peoples so
+contrary and hostile and different in habits as were the noble Romans
+in their virtue and the rude Fiesolans fierce in war.
+
+
+Sec. 39.--_How Caesar departed from Florence, and went to Rome, and was
+made consul to go against the French._
+
+[Sidenote: Par. vi. 65. Epist. v. (3) 47-49.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. vi. 73-81. Convivio iv. 5: 16-79. De Mon. ii. 9:
+99-105; and ii. 12. Epist. vii. (3) 64-73.]
+
+After that the city of Florence was built and peopled, Julius Caesar
+being angered because he, having been the first builder thereof, and
+having had the victory over the city of Fiesole, had nevertheless not
+been permitted to call the city after his name, departed therefrom and
+returned to Rome, and for his zeal and valour was elected consul and
+sent against the French, where he abode ten years whilst he was
+conquering France and England and Germany; and when he returned
+victorious to Rome his triumph was refused him, because he had
+transgressed the decree (made by Pompey the consul, and by the senate,
+through envy, under colour of virtue), that no one was to continue in
+any command for more than five years. The which Caesar returning with
+his army of French and Germans from beyond the Alps, Italians, Pisans,
+Pirates, Pistoians, and also Florentines, his fellow-citizens, brought
+footmen and horsemen and slingers with him to begin a civil war,
+because his triumph had been refused him, but moreover that he might
+be lord of Rome as he had desired long time. So he fought against
+Pompey and the senate of Rome. And after the great battle between
+Caesar and Pompey, well-nigh all the combatants were slain in Emathia,
+to wit Thessaly in Greece, as may fully be read in Lucan the poet, by
+whoso desires to know the history. And after that Caesar had gained the
+victory over Pompey, and over many kings and peoples who were helping
+those Romans who were his enemies, he returned to Rome, and so became
+the first Emperor of Rome, which is as much as to say commander over
+all. And after him came Octavianus Augustus, his nephew and adopted
+son, who was reigning when Christ was born, and after many victories
+ruled over all the world in peace; and thenceforward Rome was under
+imperial government, and held under its jurisdiction and that of the
+Empire all the whole world.
+
+
+Sec. 40.--_Of the ensign of the Romans and of the Emperors, and how from
+them it came to the city of Florence and other cities._
+
+[Sidenote: De Mon. ii. 4: 30-41.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xix. 101, 102.]
+
+[Sidenote: De Mon. ii. 11: 23. Purg. x. 80. Par. vi. 32, 100.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xx. 8, 31, 32. Inf. iv. 95, 96. Purg. ix. 30.]
+
+[Sidenote: Ep. vi. (3) 79-85.]
+
+In the time of Numa Pompilius by a divine miracle there fell from
+heaven into Rome a vermilion-coloured shield, for the which cause and
+augury the Romans took that ensign for their arms, and afterwards
+added S.P.Q.R. in letters of gold, signifying Senate of the People of
+Rome; the same ensign they gave to all the cities which they built, to
+wit, vermilion. Thus did they to Perugia, and to Florence, and to
+Pisa; but the Florentines, because of the name of Fiorinus and of the
+city, charged it with the white lily; and the Perugians sometimes with
+the white griffin; and Viterbo kept the red field, and the Orvietans
+charged it with the white eagle. It is true that the Roman lords,
+consuls and dictators, after that the eagle appeared as an augury over
+the Tarpeian rock, to wit, over the treasure chamber of the Capitol,
+as Titus Livius makes mention, added the eagle to their arms on the
+ensign; and we find that the consul Marius in the battle of the Cimbri
+had on his ensigns the silver eagle, and a similar ensign was borne by
+Catiline when he was defeated by Antonius in the parts about Pistoia,
+as Sallust relates. And the great Pompey bore the azure field and
+silver eagle, and Julius Caesar bore the vermilion field and golden
+eagle, as Lucan makes mention in verse, saying,
+
+ Signa pares aquilas, et pila minantia pilis.
+
+But afterwards Octavianus Augustus, his nephew and successor, changed
+it, and bore the golden field and the eagle natural, to wit, in black
+colour, signifying the supremacy of the Empire, for like as the eagle
+surpasses every other bird, and sees more clearly than any other
+creature, and flies as high as the heaven of the hemisphere of fire,
+so the Empire ought to be above every other temporal sovereignty. And
+after Octavianus all the Roman emperors have borne it in like manner;
+but Constantine, and after him all the other Greek emperors, retained
+the ensign of Julius Caesar, to wit, the vermilion field and golden
+eagle, but with two heads. We will leave speaking of the ensigns of
+the Roman commonwealth and of the Emperors, and we will return to our
+subject concerning the doings of the city of Florence.
+
+
+Sec. 41.--_How the city of Florence became the Treasure-House of the
+Romans and the Empire._
+
+
+Sec. 42.--_How the Temple of Mars, which is now called the Duomo of S.
+Giovanni, was built in Florence._
+
+After that Caesar and Pompey, and Macrinus and Albinus and Marcius,
+Roman nobles and builders of the new city of Florence, had returned
+to Rome, their labours being completed, the city began to increase and
+multiply both in Romans and Fiesolans who had settled as its
+inhabitants, and in a short time it became a fine city for those
+times; for the emperors and senate of Rome advanced it to the best of
+their power, much like another little Rome. Its citizens, being in
+prosperous state, determined to build in the said city a marvellous
+temple in honour of the god Mars, by reason of the victory which the
+Romans had had over the city of Fiesole; and they sent to the senate
+of Rome to send them the best and most skilful masters that were in
+Rome, and this was done. And they caused to be brought white and black
+marbles and columns from many distant places by sea, and then by the
+Arno; they brought stone and columns from Fiesole, and founded and
+built the said temple in the place anciently called Camarti, and where
+the Fiesolans held their market. Very noble and beautiful they built
+it with eight sides, and when it had been built with great diligence,
+they dedicated it to the god Mars, who was the god of the Romans, and
+they had his effigy carved in marble in the likeness of an armed
+cavalier on horseback; they placed him on a marble pillar in the midst
+of that temple, and held him in great reverence, and adored him as
+their god so long as paganism continued in Florence. And we find that
+the said temple was begun during the reign of Octavianus Augustus, and
+that it was built under the ascendant of such a constellation that it
+will continue almost to eternity; and this we find written in a
+certain place engraved within the space of the said temple.
+
+
+Sec. 43.--_Tells how the province of Tuscany lies._ Sec.
+44.--_Concerning the might and lordship possessed by the province of
+Tuscany before Rome came into power._ Sec. 45.--_These are the
+bishoprics of the cities of Tuscany._ Sec. 46.--_Of the city of
+Perugia._ Sec. 47.--_Of the city of Arezzo._ Sec. 48.--_Of the city
+of Pisa._ Sec. 49.--_Of the city of Lucca._
+
+
+Sec. 50.--_Of the city of Luni._
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi. 73.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. xiii. 152.]
+
+[Sidenote: Vita Nuova Sec. 2. Convivio ii. 15.]
+
+The city of Luni, which is now destroyed, was very ancient, and we
+find from the stones of Troy, that from the city of Luni there went a
+fleet and soldiers in aid of the Greeks against the Trojans;
+afterwards it was destroyed by soldiers from beyond the mountains, by
+reason of a lady, the wife of a lord, who, when on the way to Rome,
+was adulterously seduced in this city of Luni, wherefore, as the said
+lord returned, he destroyed the city by force, and to-day the country
+is desert and unhealthy. And note that of old the coasts were much
+inhabited, and albeit inland there were few cities, and few
+inhabitants, yet in Maremma and Maretima, towards Rome on the coast of
+the Campagna, there were many cities and many inhabitants, which
+to-day are consumed and brought to nought by reason of the corruption
+of the air: for there was the great city of Populonia, and Soana, and
+Talamone, and Grosseto, and Civitaveglia, and Mascona, and Lansedonia,
+which were with their troops at the siege of Troy; and in Campagna,
+Baia, Pompeia, Cumina, and Laurenza, and Albania. And the cause why
+to-day these cities of the coast are almost without inhabitants and
+unhealthy, and also why Rome is less healthy, is said by the great
+masters of astronomy to be because of the movement of the eighth
+sphere of heaven, which in every hundred years moves one degree
+towards the North Pole, and thus it will move 15 deg. in 1,500 years,
+and afterwards will turn back in like manner, if it be the pleasure of
+God that the world shall endure so long; and by the said change of the
+heaven is changed the quality of the earth and of the air, and where
+it was inhabited and healthy, it now is without inhabitants and
+unhealthy, and also the converse. And furthermore, we see that in the
+course of nature all things in the world change, and rise and
+diminish, as Christ said with His mouth that nothing here abides.
+
+
+Secs. 51-56.--_Of Viterbo, Orvieto, Cortona, Chiusi, Volterra, and
+Siena._
+
+
+Sec. 57.--_The story returns to the doings of the city of Florence, and
+how S. Miniato there suffered martyrdom under Decius, the Emperor._
+
+[Sidenote: 270 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1013 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. xii. 100-105.]
+
+Now that we have briefly made some mention of our neighbouring cities
+in Tuscany, we will return to our subject and tell of our city of
+Florence. As we recounted before, the said city was ruled long time
+under the government and lordship of the emperors of Rome, and
+ofttimes the emperors came to sojourn in Florence when they were
+journeying into Lombardy, and into Germany, and into France to conquer
+provinces. And we find that Decius, the Emperor, in the first year of
+his reign, which was in the year of Christ 270, was in Florence, the
+treasure-house and chancelry of the Empire, sojourning there for his
+pleasure; and the said Decius cruelly persecuted the Christians
+wheresoever he could hear of them or find them, and he heard tell how
+the blessed Saint Miniato was living as a hermit near to Florence,
+with his disciples and companions, in a wood which was called
+Arisbotto of Florence, behind the place where now stands his church,
+above the city of Florence. This blessed Miniato was first-born son to
+the king of Armenia, and having left his kingdom for the faith of
+Christ, to do penance and to be far away from his kingdom, he went
+over seas to gain pardon at Rome, and then betook himself to the said
+wood, which was in those days wild and solitary, forasmuch as the city
+of Florence did not extend and was not settled beyond Arno, but was
+all on this side; save only there was one bridge across the Arno, not
+however where the bridges now are. And it is said by many that it was
+the ancient bridge of the Fiesolans which led from Girone to
+Candegghi, and this was the ancient and direct road and way from Rome
+to Fiesole, and to go into Lombardy and across the mountains. The said
+Emperor Decius caused the said blessed Miniato to be taken, as his
+story narrates. Great gifts and rewards were offered him as to a
+king's son, to the end he should deny Christ; and he, constant and
+firm in the faith, would have none of his gifts, but endured divers
+martyrdoms: in the end the said Decius caused him to be beheaded where
+now stands the church of Santa Candida alla Croce al Gorgo; and many
+faithful followers of Christ received martyrdom at that place. And
+when the head of the blessed Miniato had been cut off, by a miracle of
+Christ, with his hands he set it again upon his trunk, and on his feet
+passed over Arno, and went up to the hill where now stands his church,
+where at that time was a little oratory in the name of the blessed
+Peter the Apostle, where many bodies of holy martyrs were buried; and
+when S. Miniato was come to that place, he gave up soul to Christ,
+and his body was there secretly buried by the Christians; the which
+place, by reason of the merits of the blessed S. Miniato, was devoutly
+venerated by the Florentines after that they were become Christians,
+and a little church was built there in his honour. But the great and
+noble church of marble which is there now in our times, we find to
+have been built later by the zeal of the venerable Father Alibrando,
+bishop and citizen of Florence, in the year of Christ 1013, begun on
+the 26th day of the month of April by the commandment and authority of
+the catholic and holy Emperor Henry II. of Bavaria, and of his wife
+the holy Empress Gunegonda, which was reigning in those times; and
+they presented and endowed the said church with many rich possessions
+in Florence and in the country, for the good of their souls, and
+caused the said church to be repaired and rebuilt of marbles, as it is
+now; and they caused the body of the blessed Miniato to be translated
+to the altar which is beneath the vaulting of the said church, with
+much reverence and solemnity by the said bishop and the clergy of
+Florence, with all the people, both men and women, of the city of
+Florence; but afterwards the said church was completed by the
+commonwealth of Florence, and the stone steps were made which lead
+down by the hill; and the consuls of the art of the Calimala were put
+in charge of the said work of S. Miniato, and were to protect it.
+
+
+Sec. 58.--_How S. Crescius and his companions suffered martyrdom in the
+district of Florence._
+
+
+Sec. 59.--_Of Constantine the Emperor, and his descendants, and the
+changes which came thereof in Italy._
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xix. 115-117.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxvii. 94, 95.]
+
+[Sidenote: 320 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: De Mon. iii. 10. Par. vi. 1-3; xx. 55-57.]
+
+We find that our city of Florence remained under the government of the
+Roman Empire for about 350 years after its first foundation, observing
+pagan ways, and worshipping idols, albeit there were many Christians,
+after the fashion whereof I have spoken, but they remained concealed
+in divers hermitages and caverns without the city, and they which were
+within did not declare themselves as Christians for fear of the
+persecutions which the emperors of Rome and their vicars and ministers
+brought upon the Christians, until the time of the great Constantine,
+son of Constantine the Emperor, and of Helena his wife, daughter of
+the king of Britain, which was the first Christian emperor, and
+endowed the Church with all the possessions of Rome, and gave liberty
+to the Christians in the time of the blessed Pope Sylvester, who
+baptized him and made him a Christian, cleansing him from leprosy by
+the power of Christ, and this was in the year of Christ about 320. The
+said Constantine caused many churches to be built in Rome to the
+honour of Christ, and having destroyed all the temples of paganism and
+of the idols, and established Holy Church in her liberty and lordship,
+and having brought the temporal affairs of the Church under due system
+and order, he departed to Constantinople, which he caused to be thus
+named, after his own name (for before this it was called Byzantium),
+and he raised it to great state and lordship, and there he made his
+seat, leaving here in command of Rome his patricians or censors, that
+is, vicars, which defended Rome, and fought for her, and for the
+Empire. After the said Constantine, which reigned more than thirty
+years, first in command of Rome, and then in command of
+Constantinople, there were left three sons, Constantine, and
+Constantius, and Constans, which had war and contentions among
+themselves, and one of them, to wit, Constantine, was a Christian, and
+the next, Constantius, was a heretic, and persecuted the Christians by
+reason of his heresy, which was begun in Constantinople by one named
+Arius, and this heresy was called Arian, after his name, which spread
+much error throughout all the world, and throughout the Church of God.
+These sons of Constantine by their dissensions greatly laid waste the
+Empire of Rome, and in a sense abandoned it, and henceforward it
+always seemed as if it were declining, and its sovereignty becoming
+less; and there began to be two and three emperors at one time, and
+one would be reigning in Constantinople, and another in the Empire of
+Rome, and one would be Christian, and another an Arian heretic,
+persecuting the Christians and the Church, and this endured long time,
+so that all Italy was infected thereby. Of the other emperors before
+and after, we shall make no ordered record, save of those which
+pertain to our subject; but he who desires to find them in order
+should read the Martinian Chronicle, and therein he will find the
+emperors and the popes which were in those times set forth in order.
+
+
+Sec. 60.--_How the Christian faith first came to Florence._
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi. 47, 145, 146.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xiii. 143-150.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi. 25, 47.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi. 42.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xix. 17-20. Par. xv. 134, 135.]
+
+At the time that the said great Constantine became a Christian, and
+gave freedom and sovereignty to the Church, and S. Sylvester, the
+Pope, was openly established in the papacy in Rome, there spread
+through Tuscany, and throughout Italy, and afterwards through all the
+world, the true faith and belief of Jesus Christ. And in our city of
+Florence, the true faith began to be adopted, and paganism to be
+abolished, in the time of * * * * who was made bishop of Florence by
+Pope Sylvester; and from the noble and beautiful temple of the
+Florentines, of which mention has been made above, the Florentines
+removed their idol, which they called the god Mars, and placed it upon
+a high tower, by the river Arno, and would not break or destroy it,
+because in their ancient records they found that the said idol of Mars
+had been consecrated under the ascendant of such a planet, that if it
+were broken or set aside in a place of contempt, the city would suffer
+peril and injury, and undergo great changes. And although the
+Florentines had lately become Christians, they still observed many
+pagan customs, and long continued to observe them, and they still
+stood in awe of their ancient idol of Mars, so little were they
+perfected as yet in the holy faith; and this done, they consecrated
+their said temple in honour of God and of the blessed S. John the
+Baptist, and called it the Duomo of S. Giovanni; and they decreed that
+the feast on the day of his nativity should be celebrated with solemn
+sacrifices, and that a race should be run for a samite cloak, and this
+custom has been always observed by the Florentines on that day. And
+they had baptismal fonts erected in the middle of the temple, where
+people and children were and still are baptized; and on Holy Saturday,
+when in the said fonts the baptismal water and fire were blessed, they
+ordered that the said holy fire should be carried through the city
+after the custom of Jerusalem, so that some one should enter into
+every house with a lighted torch, for them to kindle their fires
+from. And from this solemnity came the privilege of the "great torch,"
+which pertained to the house of the Pazzi, from some hundred and
+seventy years before 1300; because one of their ancestors, named
+Pazzo, strong and tall in person, bore a larger torch than any other,
+and was the first to take the sacred fire, and then the others
+received it from him. The said duomo, after that it had been
+consecrated to Christ, was enlarged by the space where to-day is the
+choir, and the altar of the blessed John; but at the time that the
+said duomo was the temple of Mars, this addition had not been made
+thereto, nor the turret and ball at the summit; and indeed it was open
+above after the fashion of Santa Maria Ritonda of Rome, to the intent
+their idol, the god Mars, which was in the midst of the temple, might
+be open to the sky. But after the second rebuilding of Florence, in
+the year of Christ 1150, the cupola was built upon columns, and the
+ball, and the golden cross which is at the top, by the consuls of the
+Art of Calimala, to which the commonwealth of Florence had committed
+the charge of the building of the said work in honour of S. John. And
+by many people which have journeyed through the world it is said to be
+the most beautiful temple or duomo of any that may be found; and in
+our times has been completed the work of the histories depicted within
+in mosaic. And we find, from ancient records, that the figure of the
+sun carved in mosaic, which says: "_En giro torte sol ciclos, et rotor
+igne_," was done by astronomy, and when the sun enters into the sign
+of Cancer, it shines at mid-day on that place through the opening
+above, where is the turret.
+
+
+Sec. 61.--_Of the coming of the Goths and Vandals into Italy, and how
+they destroyed the country and besieged the city of Florence in the
+time of S. Zenobius, bishop of Florence._
+
+
+END OF SELECTIONS FROM BOOK I.
+
+
+
+
+BOOK II.
+
+ _Here begins the Second Book: how the city of Florence was
+ destroyed by Totila, the scourge of God, king of the Goths
+ and Vandals._
+
+
+[Sidenote: 440 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xv. 67.]
+
+[Sidenote: 450 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 1.--In the year of Christ 440, in the time of S. Leo the Pope, and
+of Theodosius and Valentinian emperors, in the northern parts there
+was a king of the Vandals and of the Goths, which was called Bela, and
+surnamed Totila. This man was a barbarian and had no religion, and was
+cruel in customs and in all things, born of the province of Gothland
+and Sweden, and in his cruelty he slew his brother and subdued many
+divers nations of peoples by his might and lordship; and afterwards he
+was minded to destroy and take away the Empire of the Romans, and lay
+Rome waste; and thus by his sovereignty he gathered together
+innumerable people from his own country, and from Sweden and from
+Gothland, and afterwards from Pannonia, which is Hungary, and from
+Denmark, to enter into Italy. And when he desired to pass into Italy,
+he was opposed by the Romans and Burgundians and French, and a great
+battle was fought against him in the district of Lunina, that is to
+say of Friuli and Aquilea, with the greatest number of slain that had
+ever been in any battle, both on one side and on the other; and the
+king of Burgundy was slain. And Totila, being discomfited, returned to
+his own country with the followers which were left to him. But
+afterwards, desiring to carry out his purpose of destroying the Empire
+of Rome, he gathered a larger army than before, and came into Italy.
+And first he laid siege to the city of Aquilea; so it continued three
+years, and then he took it, and burnt and destroyed it with all the
+inhabitants; and when he had entered into Italy, after the same manner
+he destroyed Vicenza, and Brescia, and Bergamo, and Milan, and Ticino,
+and well-nigh all the cities of Lombardy, save Modena, for the merits
+of S. Gemignano, which was bishop thereof; for when he was passing
+through this city with his people, by a divine miracle he did not see
+it save when he was without the city, and by reason of the miracle he
+passed it by, and did not destroy it: and he destroyed Bologna and put
+to martyrdom S. Proculus, bishop of Bologna, and thus he destroyed
+well-nigh all the cities of Romagna. And afterwards passing through
+Tuscany he found the city of Florence strong and powerful. Hearing the
+fame thereof, and how it had been built by the noblest Romans, and was
+the treasure-house of the Empire and of Rome, and how in this country
+had been slain Radagasius, king of the Goths, his predecessor, with so
+great a multitude of Goths, as before has been narrated, he commanded
+that it should be besieged, and long time he sat before it in vain.
+And seeing that he could not obtain it by siege, inasmuch as it was
+very strong in towers and in walls and in many good soldiers, he set
+about to gain it by deceit and by flattery and by treachery. Now the
+Florentines had continual war with the city of Pistoia; and Totila
+ceased laying waste the country around the city, and sent to the
+Florentines that he desired to be their friend, and in their service
+would destroy the city of Pistoia, promising and making show of great
+love, and to give them privileges with very generous covenants. The
+imprudent Florentines (and for this cause they were ever afterwards
+called _blind_ in the proverb) believed his false flatteries and vain
+promises; they opened the gates to him, and admitted him and his
+followers into the city, and lodged him in the Capitol. And when the
+cruel tyrant was within the city with all his forces, under false
+seeming he showed love to the citizens, and one day he invited to his
+council the greatest and most powerful chiefs of the city in great
+numbers; and when they came to the Capitol, as they passed one by one
+through an entry, he caused them to be slain and massacred, none
+perceiving ought of the fate of the other; and afterwards he had them
+thrown into the ducts of the Capitol, to wit, the conduit of the Arno
+which flows underground by the Capitol, to the end that no man might
+know thereof. And thus he put them to death in great numbers, and
+nought was perceived thereof in the city of Florence save that at the
+exit from the city where the said aqueduct or conduit issued forth and
+flowed back into the Arno, the water was seen to be all red and
+bloody. Then the people perceived the deceit and treachery; but it was
+in vain and too late, seeing that Totila had armed all his followers;
+and when he perceived that his cruelty was discovered, he commanded
+them to overrun the city and slay both great and small, men and women,
+and from this there was no escape, forasmuch as the city was unarmed
+and unprepared, and we find that at that time there were in the city
+of Florence 22,000 men-at-arms, beside the aged and children. When the
+people of the city perceived that they were come to such sorrow and
+destruction, they escaped who could, fleeing into the country and
+hiding themselves in strongholds, and in woods and in caves; but the
+most part of the citizens were slain, or wounded, or taken, and the
+city was all despoiled of substance and riches by the said Goths,
+Vandals, and Hungarians. And after that Totila had thus wasted it of
+inhabitants and of goods, he commanded that it should be destroyed and
+burnt, and laid waste, and that there should not remain one stone upon
+another, and this was done; save that in the west there remained one
+of the towers which Gneus Pompey had built, and on the north and on
+the south one of the gates, and within the city near to the gate the
+"casa" or "domo," which we take to be the duomo of S. Giovanni, called
+of yore the "casa" [house] of Mars. And verily it never was entirely
+destroyed, nor shall be destroyed to eternity, save at the day of
+judgment, even as is written on the cement of the said duomo. And
+there were also left standing certain lofty towers or temples,
+indicated in the ancient chronicles by letters of the alphabet, the
+which we cannot interpret, to wit S, and casa P, and casa F. The city
+had four gates and six posterns, and there were towers marvellous
+strong over the gates. And the idol of the god Mars which the
+Florentines took from the temple and set upon a pillar, then fell into
+the Arno, and abode there as long as the city remained in ruins. And
+thus was destroyed the noble city of Florence by the infamous Totila
+on the 28th day of June, in the year of Christ 450, to wit 520 years
+after its foundation; and in the said city the blessed Maurice, bishop
+of Florence, was put to death with great torments by the followers of
+Totila, and his body lies in Santa Reparata.
+
+
+Sec. 2.--_How Totila caused the city of Fiesole to be rebuilt._
+
+After that the city of Florence was destroyed, Totila went into the
+hill where had been the ancient city of Fiesole, and encamped there
+with his banners and tents and booths, and commanded that the said
+city should be rebuilt, and issued a proclamation that whosoever
+desired to return and dwell there, swearing to him to oppose the
+Romans, should abide in safety and freedom, and this in order that the
+city of Florence should never be rebuilt. For the which thing many
+which were descended from of old from Fiesole, returned to dwell
+thither, and of the Florentines themselves which had escaped, which
+did not know where to dwell or whither to go; and thus in a short time
+the city of Fiesole was restored and rebuilt, and made strong by walls
+and by inhabitants, and afterwards, as before so now, it continually
+rebelled against Rome.
+
+
+Sec. 3.--_How Totila departed from Fiesole to go towards Rome, and
+destroyed many cities, and died an evil death._
+
+
+Sec. 4.--_How the Goths remained lords of Italy after the death of
+Totila._
+
+[Sidenote: Circ. 470 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. xxxii. 62. De Vulg. El. i. 10: 18, 19.]
+
+* * * * And the King Theodoric held the Empire of Rome for the said
+Zeno, the Emperor, doing him homage therefor and paying him tribute.
+In these times, about the year of Christ 470, while Leo, Emperor of
+Rome, was reigning in Constantinople, was born in Great Britain, which
+is now called England, Merlin the prophet (of a virgin, they say, by
+conception or machination of a devil), which wrought in that country
+many marvels by necromancy, and ordained the Round Table of Knights
+Errant in the time when Uther Pendragon reigned in Britain, which was
+descended from Brutus, grandson of Aeneas, the first inhabitant of that
+land, as afore we made mention; and afterwards the Round Table was
+restored by the good King Arthur, his son, which was a lord of great
+power and valour, and more gracious and knightly than all other lords,
+and he reigned long time in happy state, as the Romances of the
+Britons make mention, and whereof the Martinian Chronicle is not
+silent when treating of those times.
+
+
+Sec. 5.--_How the Goths were driven the first time out of Italy, and
+how they recovered their sovereignty by means of the young Theodoric,
+their king._ Sec. 6.--_How the Goths were entirely driven out of Italy
+by Belisarius, patrician of the Romans._ Sec. 7.--_Of the coming of the
+Lombards into Italy._ Sec. 8.--_Of the beginning of the religion and
+sect of the Saracens, instituted by Mahomet._ Sec. 9.--_Of the
+successors of Rotharis, king of the Lombards._
+
+
+Sec. 10.--_How Charles Martel came from France to Italy at the summons
+of the Church against the Lombards; and of the origin of the city of
+Siena._
+
+[Sidenote: 735 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 740 A.D.]
+
+In the time of the said Eliprando [Liutprand], albeit he was a
+Christian, yet by reason of avarice, and of desire to usurp the rights
+of Holy Church, and by the counsel of the emperor of Constantinople,
+he began war against the Romans and against Pope Gregory III., and
+came with all his forces to besiege the said Pope in Rome, he by way
+of Lombardy, and Grimoald, king of the Samnites and of the Apulians,
+with his troops from Apulia, in the year of Christ 735. For the which
+thing, after a council had been held in Rome, the Church with the
+Romans sent to France for aid from Charles Martel, which Charles was
+son to Pepin, a great baron of France, and was of the Twelve Peers,
+and governed all the realm and the king himself; and the said Charles
+Martel did likewise, forasmuch as the king which then was, called
+Chilperic, had the name only, but Charles had the strength and
+lordship; and he was the son of the sister of Dodon, king of
+Aquitania, and afterwards was father of the good King Pepin, which was
+father of Charles the Great, and he had the surname of Martel, because
+he bore a hammer as his arms. And in truth he was a hammer, forasmuch
+as by his prowess he struck at all Germany, Saxony, Suabia, Bavaria,
+and Denmark as far as Norway, at England, Aquitania, and Navarre and
+Spain, and Burgundy and Provence, and became ruler over them all, and
+they became his tributaries. Then, at the summons of the said Pope, he
+passed into Italy as far as Apulia, and freed Rome and the Church from
+the encroachments of the Lombards. And it is said that at that time,
+about the year of Christ 740, was the place first inhabited where is
+now the city of Siena, by the aged and sick [non sana] people which
+came in with Charles Martel, and remained in that place as has been
+told afore concerning the building of Siena.
+
+
+Sec. 11.--_How Eraco [Rachis], the Lombard king of Apulia, returned to
+obedience to Holy Church._
+
+
+Sec. 12.--_How Telofre [Astolf], king of the Lombards, persecuted Holy
+Church, and how King Pepin at the summons of Pope Stephen came from
+France and defeated him, and took him prisoner._
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Purg. xx. 53 and the Commentators.]
+
+[Sidenote: 755 A.D.]
+
+After King Rachis there succeeded to the realm of Lombardy, and to
+that of Apulia, Astolf, called in Latin Telofre, brother of the said
+Rachis. He was a lord of great power, and cruel, and an enemy of Holy
+Church and of the Romans; and by the counsel of evil and rebellious
+Romans, he took Tuscany and the valley of Spoleto, and devastated
+them, and claimed tribute on every man's head; and made a conspiracy
+with Leo, and Constantine, his son, emperors of Constantinople, and at
+his request they came to Rome, and together with Telofre they took it,
+and sacked it, and burnt the churches and holy places, and carried to
+Constantinople the riches of Rome, and all the images from the
+churches in Rome, and in contempt of the Pope and of the Church and to
+the shame of the Christians he burnt them all with fire, and many
+faithful Christians they destroyed and consumed in Rome and in all
+Italy. For which thing Pope Stephen II. excommunicated them, and as a
+punishment for the misdeed took away from the emperor the kingdom of
+Apulia and of Sicily, and established by a decree that it should
+pertain to Holy Church for ever. And afterwards, not being able to
+resist the force of the said tyrants and so much affliction, he went
+in person into France to Pepin, prince and governor of the French, to
+require and pray him to come into Italy to defend Holy Church against
+Telofre, king of the Lombards, and he gave to the said Pepin many
+privileges and graces, and made and confirmed him king of France, and
+deposed Childeric, the king which was of the first race, forasmuch as
+he was a man of no account, and he became a monk. Which Pepin, a
+faithful and loving son of Holy Church, received him with great
+honour, and afterwards with all his forces with the said Pope Stephen
+came into Italy, in the year of Christ 755, and fought great battles
+with the said Telofre, king of the Lombards. In the end, by force of
+arms and of his folk, the said Telofre was overcome and defeated by
+the good King Pepin, and he obeyed the command of the Pope and of Holy
+Church, and made all amends, just as he and his cardinals chose to
+devise; and he left to the Church by compact and privilege the realm
+of Apulia and of Sicily, and the patrimony of S. Peter. And when the
+said Pepin was come to Rome with the said Pope, they were received
+with great honour by the Romans; and the said Pepin was made
+patrician, that is, vicar of Rome, and father of the Roman Republic.
+And when Rome and Holy Church were restored to their liberty and good
+estate, he returned into France, and ended his life with great honour,
+and Charles the Great, his son, succeeded him as king of France.
+
+
+Sec. 13.--_How Desiderius, son of Telofre, began war again with Holy
+Church, for the which thing Charles the Great passed into Italy, and
+defeated him, and took away and destroyed the lordship of the
+Lombards._
+
+[Sidenote: De Mon. iii. (11) 1-6.]
+
+[Sidenote: 775 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. vi. 94-96.]
+
+[Sidenote: Ep. v. (4).]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Par. xv. 110, 111.]
+
+[Sidenote: De Mon. iii. 11: 6. Par. xviii. 43.]
+
+When King Pepin was departed from Italy and was returned to France,
+the Church of Rome and the country was in repose and tranquillity for
+a time, by reason of the covenant which Pepin had made with Telofre,
+king of Lombardy, and the victory which he had gained over him; but
+when Telofre was dead, Desiderius, his son, succeeded to him, which
+was a worse enemy and persecutor of Holy Church than his father, and
+broke the peace, and leagued himself with Constantine, which was the
+son of Leo, the emperor of Constantinople, and with his forces began
+to make war in Apulia, and Desiderius on his side in Tuscany more
+than ever his father had done at the first. For the which thing Pope
+Adrian, which was then governing Holy Church, sent into France for
+Charles the Great, son of Pepin, to come into Italy to defend the
+Church from the said Desiderius and from his following, the which
+Charles, king of France, passed into Lombardy in the year of Christ
+775, and after many battles and victories gained against Desiderius,
+he besieged him in the city of Pavia, and when he had won the city by
+siege, he took the said Desiderius captive, and his wife and his sons;
+save that the eldest son, which was called Algise [Adelchis], fled
+into Constantinople to the Emperor Constantine, and continued the war.
+After he had taken Desiderius and his wife and his sons, Charles the
+Great caused him to swear fealty to Holy Church, and did the like to
+all the barons and cities of Italy; and when this was done, he sent
+the said Desiderius and his wife and his sons prisoners into France,
+and there they all died in prison. And thus was destroyed, by the
+power of the Franks and of the good Charles the Great, the sovereignty
+of the kings of the Lombards, formerly called Longobards, which had
+endured two hundred and five years in Italy; for never afterwards was
+there a king in Lombardy. Of a truth there remained the families of
+the lords and barons and great citizens descended from the Lombards,
+both in Lombardy and in Apulia; and still to-day there are certain
+gentlemen of ancient lineage whom in common speech we call Lombard
+Cattani, descended from the said Lombards which had been lords of
+Italy. Charles the Great, after the said victory, came to Rome, and by
+the said Adrian and by the Romans was received with great triumph and
+honour; and as Charles the Great drew nigh to Rome, and beheld the
+holy city from Montemalo, he alighted from his horse, and reverently
+entered Rome on foot; and when he came thither, he kissed the gates of
+the city and of all the churches, and gave rich offerings to every
+Church. And when he came to Rome he was made patrician of Rome, and he
+restored the affairs of Holy Church, and of the Romans, and of all
+Italy, and he restored them to privileges and liberty, having subdued
+in all parts the forces of the emperor of Constantinople, and of the
+king of the Lombards, and of their followers, and confirmed the Church
+in the donation which Pepin, his father, had given to her, and beyond
+that he endowed the Church with the duchy of Spoleto and of Benevento.
+And in the kingdom of Apulia he fought many battles against the
+Lombards and the rebels against Holy Church, and besieged and
+destroyed the city of Lacedonia, which is in Abruzzi between Aquila
+and Sermona, and besieged and conquered Tuliverno, the strong fortress
+at the entrance of Terra di Lavoro. And many other cities of the
+Kingdom [Apulia] which were held by the rebels against Holy Church, he
+entirely subdued to his governance. And when he had done this, leaving
+Rome and all Italy in peaceful condition under his lordship, in happy
+hour he was minded to attack the Saracens which had taken possession
+of Provence, and of Navarre, and of Spain, and with the troops of his
+twelve barons and peers of France, called Paladins, he entirely
+conquered and destroyed them; and he passed beyond seas at the request
+of the Emperor Michael of Constantinople and of the Patriarch of
+Jerusalem, and conquered the Holy Land and Jerusalem, which were
+occupied by the Saracens, and gained for the emperor of
+Constantinople all the empire of the East which had been occupied by
+the Saracens and the Turks. And when he returned to Constantinople,
+albeit the Emperor Michael desired to give him many very great
+treasures, yet would he take nothing, save the wood of the holy cross
+and the nail of Christ, which he brought back into France, and which
+is in Paris to this day. And when he had returned to France, he ruled
+by his prowess and virtue not only over the realm of France, but all
+Germany, Provence, Navarre, and Spain, and all Italy.
+
+
+Sec. 14.--_Of the progeny of Charles the Great, and of his successors._
+
+
+Sec. 15.--_How Charles the Great, king of France, was made Emperor of
+Rome._
+
+[Sidenote: Par. vi. 94. De Monarchia iii. 11.]
+
+[Sidenote: 801 A.D.]
+
+When Charles the Great had returned from over seas into France, as we
+have said, and had subdued Germany, Italy, and Spain, and Provence,
+the wicked Romans, with the powerful Lombards and Tuscans, rebelled
+against the Church, and seized Pope Leo III., which was then reigning,
+at Rome, as he was going to the procession of the Litanies (S. Mark's
+Day, April 25th), and put out his eyes and slit his tongue, and drave
+him out of Rome. And as it pleased God, by divine miracle, and because
+he was innocent and holy, he recovered the sight of his eyes and the
+power of speech, and went into France to Charles the Great, praying
+him to come to Rome to restore the Church to her liberty; which
+Charles, at the request of the said Pope Leo, came together with him
+to Rome and restored the Pope and the Church to their state and
+liberty, and took great vengeance against all the rebels and enemies
+of Holy Church throughout all Italy. For the which thing the said
+Pope Leo, with his cardinals and general council, with the consent of
+the Romans, by reason of the virtuous and holy deeds done by the said
+Charles the Great on behalf of Holy Church and of all Christendom,
+took away the Roman Empire from the Greeks by a decree, and elected
+the said Charles the Great Emperor of the Romans, as being most worthy
+of the Empire; and by the said Pope Leo he was consecrated and crowned
+in Rome, in the year of Christ 801, with great solemnity and honour,
+on Easter Day.
+
+The said Charles reigned with great good fortune fourteen years one
+month and four days, ruling over all the empire of the West, and the
+provinces afore named, and also the emperor of Constantinople was
+under his obedience; and he caused as many abbeys to be built as there
+are letters in the alphabet, and the name of each one began with a
+different letter. And he caused his son Louis to be crowned lord over
+the Empire and the kingdom of France, giving all his treasure to the
+poor in God's name after this manner; for he left the third part of
+his treasure (which was infinite) to all the poor Christians seeking
+alms, and the other two parts he left to all his archbishops of his
+empire and realm, that they might distribute them amongst their
+bishops and all the churches and monasteries and hospitals.
+
+* * * * *
+
+[Sidenote: 814 A.D.]
+
+And this done, he commended his spirit in holiness to Christ, in the
+city of Aquisgrana, in Germany, and was there buried with great
+honour, to wit, at Aix-la-Chapelle. This was in the year of Christ
+814, and he lived seventy-two years, and many signs appeared before
+his death, as we read in the chronicles of the doings of France. This
+Charles much extended Holy Church, and Christendom both far and near,
+and was a man of great virtue.
+
+
+Sec. 16.--_How, after Charles the Great, Louis, his son, became Emperor._
+Sec. 17.--_How the Saracens of Barbary crossed to Italy, and were
+defeated, and all slain._ Sec. 18.--_Further, how the Saracens crossed
+to Calabria and to Normandy in France._ Sec. 19.--_How and in whose
+person the empire and realm of France fell from the progeny of Pepin._
+Sec. 20.--_Of the same matter, and of how the lineage of Hugh Capet
+reigned thereafter._
+
+
+Sec. 21.--_How the city of Florence lay waste and in ruins for 350
+years._
+
+After the destruction of the city of Florence, wrought by Totila, the
+scourge of God, as has afore been mentioned, it lay thus ruined and
+deserted about 350 years by reason of the evil state of Rome and of
+the Empire, which, at first by Goths and Vandals, and afterwards by
+Lombards and Greeks and Saracens and Hungarians, was persecuted and
+brought low, as has afore been related. Truly there were, where
+Florence had been, certain dwellings and inhabitants round about the
+duomo of S. Giovanni, forasmuch as the Fiesolans held market there one
+day in the week, and it was called the Campo Marti, as of old, for it
+had always been the market-place of the Fiesolans, and had borne this
+name before Florence was built. It came to pass ofttimes, during the
+years when the city lay waste and in ruins, that the said inhabitants
+of the borough and of the market-place, with the aid of certain nobles
+of the country which of old were descended from the first citizens of
+Florence and of the inhabitants of the villages round about, sought
+ofttimes to enclose within moats and palisades some part of the city
+around the Duomo; but they of the city of Fiesole, and their allies,
+the counts of Mangone, and of Montecarelli, and of Capraia, and of
+Certaldo, which were all of one lineage with the counts of Santafiore,
+which were descended from the Lombards, hindered and opposed them, and
+would not allow them to rebuild; but whatsoever was being built they
+came in force, and under arms, and caused it to be violently beaten
+down and destroyed, so that, for this cause and by reason of the
+adversities which the Romans were enduring, as has afore been related,
+and because the Fiesolans always held with the Goths, and afterwards
+with the Lombards, and with all the rebels and enemies of the Empire
+of Rome and Holy Church, and were so great and powerful in strength
+that none of their neighbours durst oppose them, they would not suffer
+the city of Florence to be rebuilt; and in this wise it abode long
+time, until God put an end to the adversity of the city of Florence,
+and brought her to the blessing of her restoration, as by us shall be
+narrated in the following chapter and Third Book.
+
+
+END OF SELECTIONS FROM BOOK II.
+
+
+
+
+BOOK III.
+
+ _Goes back somewhat to tell how the city of Florence was
+ rebuilt by the power of Charles the Great and the Romans._
+
+
+[Sidenote: 801 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xiii. 146-150. Par. xvi. 145, 146.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. xvi. 65-78.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. xv. 73-78.]
+
+Sec. 1.--It came to pass, as it pleased God, that in the time of the
+good Charles the Great, Emperor of Rome and king of France, of whom
+above we have made a long record, after that he had beaten down the
+tyrannical pride of the Lombards and Saracens, and of the infidels
+against Holy Church, and had established Rome and the Empire in good
+state and in its liberty, as afore we have made mention, certain
+gentlemen and nobles of the region round about Florence (whereof it is
+reported that the Giovanni, the Guineldi and the Ridolfi, descended
+from the ancient noble citizens of the former Florence, were the
+heads) assembled themselves together with all the inhabitants of the
+place where Florence had been, and with all other their followers
+dwelling in the country around Florence, and they ordained to send to
+Rome ambassadors from the best among them to Charles the Emperor, and
+to Pope Leo, and to the Romans; and this was done, praying them to
+remember their daughter, the city of Florence (the which was ruined
+and destroyed by Goths and Vandals in despite of the Romans), to the
+end it might be rebuilt, and that it might please them to give a force
+of men-at-arms to ward off the men of Fiesole and their followers, the
+enemies of the Romans, who would not let the city of Florence be
+rebuilt. The which ambassadors were received with honour by the
+Emperor Charles, and by the Pope, and by the Romans, and their
+petition accepted graciously and willingly; and straightway the
+Emperor Charles the Great sent thither his forces of men-at-arms on
+foot and on horse in great numbers; and the Romans made a decree and
+command that, as their forefathers had built and peopled of old the
+city of Florence, so those of the best families in Rome, both of
+nobles and of people, should go thither to rebuild and to inhabit it;
+and this was done. With that host of the Emperor Charles the Great and
+of the Romans there came whatsoever master-craftsmen there were in
+Rome, the more speedily to build the walls of the city and to
+strengthen it, and after them there followed much people; and all they
+who dwelt in the country around Florence, and her exiled citizens in
+every place, hearing the tidings, gathered themselves to the host of
+the Romans and of the Emperor to rebuild the city; and when they were
+come where to-day is our city, they encamped among ancient remains and
+ruins in booths and in tents. The Fiesolans and their followers,
+seeing the host of the Emperor and of the Romans so great and
+powerful, did not venture to fight against them, but keeping within
+the fortress of their city of Fiesole and in their fortified places
+around, gave what hindrance they might to the said rebuilding. But
+their power was nothing against the strength of the Romans, and of the
+host of the Emperor, and of the assembled descendants of the
+Florentines; and thus they began to rebuild the city of Florence, not,
+however, of the size that it had been at the first, but of lesser
+extent, as hereafter shall be mentioned, to the end it might more
+speedily be walled and fortified, and there might be a defence like a
+rampart against the city of Fiesole; and this was the year of Christ
+801, in the beginning of the month of April. And it is said that the
+ancients were of opinion that it would not be possible to rebuild it,
+if first there were not found and drawn from the Arno the marble
+image, dedicated by the first pagan builders by necromancy to Mars,
+the which had been in the river Arno from the destruction of Florence
+unto that time; and being found, it was placed on a pillar by the side
+of the said river, where now is the head of the Ponte Vecchio. This we
+do not affirm nor believe, forasmuch as it seems to us the opinion of
+pagans and soothsayers, and not to be reasonable, but very foolish,
+that such a stone should have such effect; but it was commonly said by
+the ancients, that, if it was disturbed, the city must needs have
+great disturbances. And it was said also by the ancients, that the
+Romans, by the counsel of the wise astrologers, at the beginning of
+the rebuilding of Florence, took the third degree of Aries as the
+ascendant, the sun being at his meridian altitude, and the planet
+Mercury in conjunction with the sun, and the planet Mars in favourable
+aspect to the ascendant, to the end the city might multiply in power
+of arms and of chivalry, and in folk eager and enterprising in arts
+and in riches and in merchandise, and should bring forth many children
+and a great people. And in those times, so they say, the ancient
+Romans and all the Tuscans and Italians, albeit they were baptized
+Christians, still preserved certain remains of the fashions of pagans,
+and began their undertakings according to the constellations; albeit,
+this we do not affirm of ourselves, forasmuch as constellations are
+not of necessity, nor can they constrain the free will of man or the
+judgment of God, save according to the merits or sins of folk. And
+yet, in some effects, meseems the influence of the said constellation
+is revealed, for the city of Florence is ever in great disturbances
+and plottings and in war, and now victorious and now the contrary, and
+prone to merchandise and to arts. But our opinion is that the discords
+and changes of the Florentines are as we said at the beginning of this
+treatise--our city was populated by two peoples, divers in every habit
+of life, as were the noble Romans and the cruel and fierce Fiesolans;
+for the which thing it is no marvel if our city is always subject to
+wars and changes and dissensions and treacheries.
+
+
+Sec. 2.--_Of the form and size in which the city of Florence was
+rebuilt._
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xv. 112.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xvi. 37. Par. xvi. 97-99.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi. 123.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi. 124-126.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Par. xv. 97-99.]
+
+The rebuilding of the new city of Florence was begun by the Romans, as
+aforesaid, on a small site and circuit, after the same fashion as
+Rome, allowing for the smallness of the undertaking; and it began on
+the side of the sunrise at the gate of S. Piero, which was where were
+after the houses of M. Bellincione Berti, of the Rovignani, a noble
+and powerful citizen, albeit to-day they have disappeared; the which
+houses by inheritance of the Countess Gualdrada, his daughter, and
+wife to the first Count Guido, passed to the Counts Guidi, her
+descendants, when they became citizens of Florence, and afterwards
+they sold them to the Black Cerchi, a Florentine family; and from the
+said gate ran a borgo as far as S. Piero Maggiore, after the fashion
+of Rome, and from that gate the walls proceeded as far as the Duomo,
+on the site where now runs the great road leading to San Giovanni, as
+far as the Bishop's Palace. And here was another gate, which was
+called the gate of the Duomo, but there were who called it the
+Bishop's Gate; and without this gate was built the church of S.
+Lorenzo, just as in Rome there is S. Lorenzo without the walls; and
+within that gate is S. Giovanni, like as in Rome, S. Giovanni
+Laterano. And then proceeding, as at Rome, on that side they made
+Santa Maria Maggiore; and then from S. Michele Berteldi, as far as the
+third gate of S. Brancazio [S. Pancras], where are now the houses of
+the Tornaquinci, and S. Brancazio was without the city and near S.
+Paolo, just as in Rome, on the other side of the city over against S.
+Piero, as at Rome. And then from the said gate of S. Brancazio, they
+followed on where now is the church of Santa Trinita, which was
+without the walls; and hard by was a postern gate called the Porta
+Rossa, and down to our own times the road has retained the name. And
+afterward the walls turned where are now the houses of the Scali along
+the Via di Terma as far as the gate of Santa Maria, some way past the
+Mercato Nuovo, and that was the fourth principal gate, the which was
+over against the houses which now pertain to the Infangati, on one
+side; and above the said gate was the church of Santa Maria, called
+Sopra Porta; and afterwards when the said gate was pulled down, the
+city having increased, the said church was transported to where it now
+is. And the Borgo di Santo Apostolo was without the city, and also S.
+Stefano, after the fashion of Rome; and beyond S. Stefano, at the end
+of the master street of Porta Santa Maria, they made and built a
+bridge founded on piles of stone in the Arno, which afterwards was
+called the Ponte Vecchio, and it exists to this day; and was much more
+narrow than it now is, and was the first bridge which was made in
+Florence. And from S. Mary's Gate the walls went on as far as the
+turret of Altafonte, which was at the extremity of a projection of the
+city, running out to the river Arno, then running on behind the church
+of S. Piero Scheraggio, which was so called from a ditch or conduit
+called the Scheraggio, which received almost all the rain-water of the
+city that flowed into the Arno. And behind the church of S. Piero
+Scheraggio was a postern gate, which was called the Peruzza Gate, and
+from there the walls went on by the great street as far as the Via del
+Garbo, where was another postern, and then behind the Badia of
+Florence the walls returned to Porta S. Piero. And within so small a
+space the new Florence was rebuilt with good walls and frequent
+towers, with four master gates, to wit, the Porta San Piero, the Porta
+del Duomo, the Porta San Brancazio, and the Porta Santa Maria, the
+which were in the form of a cross; and in the midst of the city were
+S. Andrea, after the fashion of Rome, and Santa Maria in Campidoglio;
+and what now is the Mercato Vecchio was the Mercato di Campidoglio
+[Mart of the Capitol], after the fashion of Rome. And the city was
+divided into quarters, according to the said four gates; but
+afterwards, when the city increased, it was divided into six sestos,
+as being a perfect number, for the sesto of Oltrarno was added
+thereto, as soon as it was inhabited; and when the Porta di Santa
+Maria was pulled down, the name was dropped, and it was divided by the
+course of the main street, and on one side was made the sesto of San
+Piero Scheraggio, and on the other side that of the Borgo; and the
+three first gates continued to give their name to sestos, as they have
+done even to our own times. And they gave the sesto of Oltrarno the
+lead, to go forth with the host with the ensign of the bridge; and
+then San Piero Scheraggio with the ensign of the carroccio [chariot of
+war], the which marble carroccio was brought from Fiesole, and stands
+before the said church of S. Piero; and then Borgo with the ensign of
+the goat [becco], forasmuch as in that sesto abode all the butchers
+[beccari], and those of their calling, and they were in those times
+very prominent in the city; S. Brancazio next with the ensign of the
+lion's paw [branca], with reference to the name; and the Porta del
+Duomo next, with the ensign of the cathedral; Porta San Piero last,
+with the ensign of the keys, and seeing it was the first sesto
+inhabited in Florence, in the going forth of the host it was placed in
+the rear guard, forasmuch as in olden time there were always the best
+knights and men-at-arms of the city in that sesto.
+
+
+Sec. 3.--_How Charles the Great came to Florence, and granted privileges
+to the city, and caused Santo Apostolo to be built._
+
+[Sidenote: 805 A.D.]
+
+After that the new city of Florence had been rebuilt in the small
+circuit and form, and at the time aforesaid, the captains which were
+there in the name of the emperor and the commonwealth of Rome ordained
+that it should be peopled; and as of old at the first building the
+order went forth at Rome that of the best families of Rome, both of
+the nobles and the people, some should dwell as citizens in Florence,
+so was it at the second restoration; and to each one was given rich
+possessions. And we find in the Chronicles of France, that after the
+city of Florence was rebuilt after the manner aforesaid, the Emperor
+Charles the Great, king of France, when he was departed from Rome, and
+was returning North, abode at Florence, and caused great festival and
+solemnity to be held on Easter Day of the Resurrection, in the year of
+Christ 805, and made many knights in Florence, and founded the church
+of Santo Apostolo in the Borgo, and this he richly endowed to the
+honour of God and of the Holy Apostles; and on his departure from
+Florence he granted privileges to the city, and declared the
+commonwealth and citizens of Florence to be free and independent, and
+for three miles around, without paying any tax or impost, save
+twenty-six pence yearly per hearth [_i.e._ per family]. And in like
+manner he enfranchised all the citizens around which desired to return
+and dwell within the city, and also strangers; for which thing many
+returned to dwell therein; and in a short time, by reason of the good
+situation and convenient spot, by reason of the river and of the
+plain, the said little Florence was well peopled and strong in walls,
+and in moats full of water. And they ordained that the said city
+should be ruled and governed after the manner of Rome, to wit, by two
+Consuls and by a council of 100 senators, and thus it was ruled long
+time, as hereafter shall be narrated. Verily, the citizens of Florence
+had for a long time much trouble and war, first from the Fiesolans,
+which were foes so nigh at hand, and they were ever jealous one of
+another, and were continually at war together; and afterwards from the
+coming of the Saracens into Italy in the time of the French emperors,
+as before has been narrated, which much afflicted the country; and
+last of all, from the divers disturbances which befell Rome and all
+Italy alike, from the discords of the Popes and of the Italian
+emperors, which were continually at war with the Church. For the which
+thing, the fame of the city of Florence and its power abode by the
+space of 200 years, without being able to expand or increase beyond
+its narrow boundaries. But notwithstanding all the war and trouble, it
+was continually multiplying in inhabitants and in forces, nor did they
+much regard the war with Fiesole, or the other adversities in Tuscany;
+for albeit their power and authority extended but little way beyond
+the city, forasmuch as the country was all full of fortresses, and
+occupied by nobles and powerful lords which were not under obedience
+to the city, and some of them held with the city of Fiesole,
+nevertheless, within the city the citizens were united, and it was
+strong in position and in walls, and in moats full of water; and
+within the little city there were in a short time more than 150 towers
+pertaining to citizens, and each one 120 cubits high, without counting
+those pertaining to the city; and by reason of the height of the many
+towers which then were in Florence, it is said, that it showed forth
+from afar as the most beautiful and proudest city of its small size
+which could be found; and in this space of time it was very well
+peopled, and full of palaces and of houses, and great number of
+inhabitants, as times went. We will now leave for a time the doings of
+Florence, and will briefly relate concerning the Italian emperors,
+which were reigning in those times after the French ceased to be
+emperors; for this is of necessity, seeing that by reason of their
+lordship many disturbances came to pass in Italy; and afterwards we
+shall return to our subject.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 901 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 4.--_How and why the Empire of Rome passed to the Italians._
+Sec. 5.--_How Otho I. of Saxony came into Italy at the request of the
+Church, and did away with the government of the Italian emperors._
+
+
+END OF SELECTIONS FROM BOOK III.
+
+
+
+
+BOOK IV.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 955 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 1.--_How the election to the Empire of Rome fell to the Germans,
+and how Otho I. of Saxony was consecrated Emperor._
+
+
+Sec. 2.--_Of the Emperor Otho III., and the Marquis Hugh, which built
+the Badia at Florence._
+
+[Sidenote: 979 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi. 127-132.]
+
+After the death of Otho II., his son, Otho III., was elected Emperor,
+and crowned by Pope Gregory V., in the year of Christ 979, and this
+Otho reigned twenty-four years. After that he was crowned, he went
+into Apulia on pilgrimage to Mount S. Angelo, and afterwards returned
+by way of France into Germany, leaving Italy in good and peaceful
+estate. But when he was returned to Germany, Crescentius, the consul
+and lord of Rome, drave away the said Gregory from the papacy, and set
+a Greek therein, which was bishop of Piacenza, and very wise; but when
+the Emperor Otho heard this he was very wrath, and with his army
+returned to Italy, and besieged in Rome the said Crescentius and his
+Pope in the castle of S. Angelo, for therein had they taken refuge;
+and he took the said castle by siege, and caused Crescentius to be
+beheaded, and Pope John XVI. to have his eyes put out, and his hands
+cut off; and he restored his Pope Gregory to his chair, which was his
+kinsman by race; and leaving Rome and Italy in good estate, he
+returned to his country of Germany, and there died in prosperity.
+With the said Otho III. there came into Italy the Marquis Hugh; I take
+it this must have been the marquis of Brandenburg, forasmuch as there
+is no other marquisate in Germany. His sojourn in Tuscany liked him so
+well, and especially our city of Florence, that he caused his wife to
+come thither, and took up his abode in Florence, as vicar of Otho, the
+Emperor. It came to pass, as it pleased God, that when he was riding
+to the chase in the country of Bonsollazzo, he lost sight, in the
+wood, of all his followers, and came out, as he supposed, at a
+workshop where iron was wont to be wrought. Here he found men, black
+and deformed, who, in place of iron, seemed to be tormenting men with
+fire and with hammer, and he asked what this might be: and they
+answered and said that these were damned souls, and that to similar
+pains was condemned the soul of the Marquis Hugh by reason of his
+worldly life, unless he should repent: who, with great fear, commended
+himself to the Virgin Mary, and when the vision was ended, he remained
+so pricked in the spirit, that after his return to Florence, he sold
+all his patrimony in Germany, and commanded that seven monasteries
+should be founded: the first was the Badia of Florence, to the honour
+of S. Mary; the second, that of Bonsollazzo, where he beheld the
+vision; the third was founded at Arezzo; the fourth at Poggibonizzi;
+the fifth at the Verruca of Pisa; the sixth at the city of Castello;
+the last was the one at Settimo; and all these abbeys he richly
+endowed, and lived afterwards with his wife in holy life, and had no
+son, and died in the city of Florence, on S. Thomas' Day, in the year
+of Christ 1006, and was buried with great honour in the Badia of
+Florence. And whilst the said Hugh was living, he made in Florence
+many knights of the family of the Giandonati, of the Pulci, of the
+Nerli, of the counts of Gangalandi, and of the family della Bella,
+which all for love of him, retained and bore his arms, barry, white
+and red, with divers charges.
+
+
+Sec. 3.--_Of the Seven Princes of Germany which have to elect the
+Emperor._
+
+
+Sec. 4.--_Of the progeny of the Kings of France, which descended from
+Hugh Capet._
+
+[Sidenote: 987 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. xx. 49-60.]
+
+Hugh Capet, as we before made mention, the lineage of Charles the
+Great having failed, was made king of France in the year of Christ
+987. This Hugh was duke of Orleans (and by some it is held that his
+ancestors were all dukes and of high lineage), son of Hugh the Great,
+and his mother was sister to Otho I. of Germany; but by the more part
+it is said that his father was a great and rich burgher of Paris, a
+butcher, or trader in beasts by birth; but by reason of his great
+riches and possessions, when the duchy of Orleans was vacant, and only
+a daughter was left, he had her to wife, whence was born the said Hugh
+Capet, which was very wise and of great possessions, and the kingdom
+of France was wholly governed by him; and when the lineage of Charles
+the Great failed, as was aforesaid, he was made king, and reigned
+twenty years.
+
+* * * * *
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1003 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 5.--_How Henry I. was made Emperor._
+
+
+Sec. 6.--_How in the time of the said Henry, the Florentines took the
+city of Fiesole, and destroyed it._
+
+[Sidenote: 1010 A.D.]
+
+In the said times, when the Emperor Henry I. was reigning, the city
+of Florence was much increased in inhabitants and in power,
+considering its small circuit, especially by the aid and favour of the
+Emperor Otho I., and of the second and third Otho, his son and
+grandson, which always favoured the city of Florence; and as the city
+of Florence increased, the city of Fiesole continually decreased, they
+being always at war and enmity together; but by reason of the strong
+position, and the strength in walls and in towers which the city of
+Fiesole possessed, in vain did the Florentines labour to overcome it;
+and albeit they had more inhabitants, and a greater number of friends
+and allies, yet the Fiesolans were continually warring against them.
+But when the Florentines perceived that they could not gain it by
+force, they made a truce with the Fiesolans, and abandoned the war
+between them; and making one truce after another, they began to grow
+friendly, and the citizens of one city to sojourn in the other, and to
+marry together, and to keep but little watch and guard one against the
+other. The Florentines perceiving that their city of Florence had no
+power to rise much, whilst they had overhead so strong a fortress as
+the city of Fiesole, one night secretly and subtly set an ambush of
+armed men in divers parts of Fiesole. The Fiesolans feeling secure as
+to the Florentines, and not being on their guard against them, on the
+morning of their chief festival of S. Romolo, when the gates were
+open, and the Fiesolans unarmed, the Florentines entered into the city
+under cover of coming to the festival; and when a good number were
+within, the other armed Florentines which were in ambush secured the
+gates of the city; and on a signal made to Florence, as had been
+arranged, all the host and power of the Florentines came on horse and
+on foot to the hill, and entered into the city of Fiesole, and
+traversed it, slaying scarce any man, nor doing any harm, save to
+those which opposed them. And when the Fiesolans saw themselves to be
+suddenly and unexpectedly surprised by the Florentines, part of them
+which were able fled to the fortress, which was very strong, and long
+time maintained themselves there. The city at the foot of the fortress
+having been taken and overrun by the Florentines, and the strongholds
+and they which opposed themselves being likewise taken, the common
+people surrendered themselves on condition that they should not be
+slain nor robbed of their goods; the Florentines working their will to
+destroy the city, and keeping possession of the bishop's palace. Then
+the Florentines made a covenant, that whosoever desired to leave the
+city of Fiesole, and come and dwell in Florence, might come safe and
+sound with all his goods and possessions, or might go to any place
+which pleased him; for the which thing they came down in great numbers
+to dwell in Florence, whereof there were and are great families in
+Florence. Others went to dwell in the region round about where they
+had farms and possessions. And when this was done, and the city was
+devoid of inhabitants and goods, the Florentines caused it to be all
+pulled down and destroyed, all save the bishop's palace and certain
+other churches, and the fortress, which still held out, and did not
+surrender under the said conditions. And this was in the year of
+Christ 1010, and the Florentines and the Fiesolans which became
+citizens of Florence, took thence all the ornaments and pillars, and
+all the marble carvings which were there, and the marble war chariot
+which is in San Piero Scheraggio in Florence.
+
+
+Sec. 7.--_How that many Fiesolans came to dwell in Florence, and made one
+people with the Florentines._
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Par. xvi. 46-48.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Convivio ii. 14: 171-174.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xv. 61-78.]
+
+The city of Fiesole being destroyed save the fortress of the citadel,
+as has been aforesaid, many Fiesolans came thence to dwell in Florence
+and made one people with the Florentines, and by reason of their
+coming it behoved to increase the walls and the circuit of the city of
+Florence, as hereafter shall be narrated. And to the end the Fiesolans
+which were come to dwell in Florence might be more faithful and loving
+with the Florentines, they caused the arms of the said two
+commonwealths to be borne in common, and made the arms to be
+dimidiated red and white, as still to our times they are borne upon
+the Carroccio and in the host of the Florentines. The red was the
+ancient field which the Florentines had from the Romans, as we afore
+made mention, and they were wont to bear thereupon the white lily; and
+the white was the ancient field of the Fiesolans, bearing an azure
+moon: but from the said common arms they took away the white lily and
+the moon, and so had them dimidiated and uncharged; and they made
+common laws and statutes, living under one government of two citizen
+consuls, and with the council of the senate, to wit of 100 men, the
+best of the city, as was the custom given by the Romans to the
+Florentines. And they increased greatly the city of Florence both in
+inhabitants and in power through the destruction of the city of
+Fiesole, and through the Fiesolans which came to dwell in Florence.
+Nevertheless, they were not a great people in comparison with what
+they are in our times; forasmuch as the city of Florence was of small
+extent, as has been narrated, and as may still be seen by tracing the
+first circuit, and there were hardly the fourth of the inhabitants
+which there are to-day. The Fiesolans were much diminished, and at the
+destruction of Fiesole they were much scattered, and some went one
+way, and some another; but the most part thereof came to Florence. Yet
+it was a large city for those times; but, from what we find, all the
+Fiesolans together were not the half which there are now in our days.
+And note that the Florentines are always in schism, and in factions
+and in divisions among themselves, which is not to be marvelled at.
+One cause is by reason of the city being rebuilt, as was told in the
+chapter concerning its rebuilding, under the lordship and influence of
+the planet of Mars, which always inspires wars and divisions. The
+other cause is more certain and natural, that the Florentines are
+to-day descended from two peoples so diverse in manners, and who ever
+of old had been enemies, as the Roman people and the people of
+Fiesole; and this we can see by true experience, and by the divers
+changes and parties and factions which after the said two peoples had
+been united into one, came to pass in Florence from time to time, as
+in this book henceforward more fully shall be narrated.
+
+
+Sec. 8.--_How the city of Florence increased its circuit, first by moats
+and palisades, and then by walls._
+
+[Sidenote: 1078 A.D.]
+
+After that the Fiesolans were come in great part to dwell in Florence,
+as aforesaid, the city multiplied in inhabitants and population; and
+as it increased in suburbs and dwellings, outside the small old city,
+after a little while it behoved of necessity that the city should
+increase its circuit, first with moats and palisades; and then in the
+time of Henry the Emperor they made the walls, to the end the suburbs
+and outgrowths, by reason of the wars which arose in Tuscany about
+the matter of the said Henry, might not be taken nor destroyed, and
+the city more readily besieged by its enemies. Wherefore, at that
+time, in the year of Christ 1078, as hereafter, in narrating the story
+of Henry III., shall be mentioned, the Florentines began the new
+walls, beginning from the east side at the gate of S. Piero Maggiore,
+the which was somewhat behind the church so called, enclosing the
+suburb of S. Piero Maggiore and the said church within the new walls,
+and afterwards, drawing them nearer in on the north side, a little
+distance from the said suburb, they made an angle at a postern which
+was called the Albertinelli Gate from a family which dwelt in that
+place, which was so called; then they drew them on as far as the gate
+of the Borgo S. Lorenzo [suburb of S. Lawrence] enclosing the said
+church within the walls; and after this were two posterns, one at the
+forked way of the Campo Corbolini, and the other the one afterwards
+called the Porta del Baschiera. Then they ran on as far as the Porta
+S. Paolo, and then continued as far as the Carraia Gate, where the
+wall ended, by the Arno; and there afterwards they began and built a
+bridge which is called the Carraia Bridge from the name of that gate;
+and then the walls continuing, not however very high, along the bank
+of the Arno, included what had been without the old walls, to wit the
+suburb of San Brancazio [S. Pancras], and that of Parione, and that of
+Santo Apostolo, and of the Porte Sante Marie as far as the Ponte
+Vecchio; and then afterwards along the bank of Arno as far as the
+fortress of Altafonte. From this point the walls withdrew somewhat
+from the bank of Arno, so that there remained a road between, and two
+postern gates whereby to come at the river; then they went on the
+same, and took a turn where now are the supports of the Rubaconte
+Bridge, and there at the turn was a gate called the Oxen Gate, because
+there without was held the cattle market, and afterwards it was named
+the gate of Master Ruggieri da Quona, forasmuch as the family of da
+Quona, when they came to dwell in the city, established themselves
+near the said gate. Then the walls went on behind S. Jacopo tra le
+Fosse (so called because it stood on fosses), as far as where to-day
+is the end of the piazza before the church of the Minor Friars called
+Santa Croce; and there was a postern which led to the island of Arno;
+then the walls went on in a straight line without any gate or postern,
+returning to S. Piero Maggiore whence they began. And thus the new
+city of Florence on this side the Arno had five gates for the five
+sesti, one gate to each sesto, and divers posterns, as has been
+mentioned. In the Oltrarno [district beyond the Arno] were three
+roads, all three of which started from the Ponte Vecchio on the side
+beyond Arno. One was and still is called the Borgo Pidiglioso, seeing
+that it was inhabited by the baser sort. At the head of this was a
+gate called the Roman Gate, where now are the houses of the Bardi near
+S. Lucia de' Magnoli across the Ponte Vecchio, and this was the road
+to Rome, by Fegghine and Arezzo. There were no other walls to the
+suburb about the road save the backs of the houses against the hill.
+The second road was that of Santa Felicita, called the Borgo di
+Piazza, which had a gate where now is the piazza of San Felice, where
+runs the road to Siena; and the third road was called after S. Jacopo,
+and had a gate where now are the houses of the Frescobaldi, where ran
+the road to Pisa. None of the three suburbs lying around these roads
+of the sesto of Oltrarno had other walls save the said gates, and the
+backs of the outside houses, which enclosed the suburbs with orchards
+and gardens within. But after that the Emperor Henry III. marched upon
+Florence, the Florentines enclosed Oltrarno within walls, beginning at
+the said gate to Rome, ascending behind the Borgo alla Costa below San
+Giorgio, and then coming out behind Santa Felicita, enclosing the
+Borgo di Piazza and the Borgo di San Jacopo, and roughly following the
+said Borghi. But afterwards the walls of Oltrarno on the hill were
+made higher as they are now, in the time when the Ghibellines first
+ruled the city of Florence, as we will make mention in due place and
+time. We will now leave for a time the doings of Florence, and we will
+treat of the emperors which were after Henry I., for it is necessary
+that we should tell of them here in order to continue our history.
+
+
+Sec. 9.--_How Conrad I. was made Emperor._
+
+[Sidenote: 1015 A.D.]
+
+After the death of the Emperor Henry I., Conrad I. was elected and
+consecrated by Pope Benedict VIII., in the year of Christ 1015. He was
+of Suabia, and reigned twenty years as emperor, and when he came into
+Italy, not being able to obtain the lordship of Milan, he laid siege
+to it, right in the suburbs of the city itself; but as he was assuming
+the iron crown outside of Milan in a church, while Mass was being
+sung, there came great thunder and lightning into the church, and some
+died therefrom; and the Archbishop which was singing Mass at the
+altar, rose and said to the Emperor Conrad, that he had visibly seen
+S. Ambrose, which sternly menaced him except he abandoned the siege
+of Milan; and he, thus admonished, withdrew his host, and made peace
+with the Milanese. He was a just man, and made many laws, and kept the
+Empire in peace long time. Yea, and he went into Calabria against the
+Saracens which were come to lay waste the country, and fought against
+them, and, with great shedding of Christian blood, he drove them away
+and overcame them. This Conrad took much delight in sojourning at
+Florence when he was in Tuscany, and he advanced it greatly, and many
+citizens of Florence received knighthood from his hand, and were in
+his service. And to the intent it may be known who were the noble and
+powerful citizens in those times in the city of Florence, we will
+briefly make mention thereof.
+
+
+Sec. 10.--_Of the nobles which were in the city of Florence in the time
+of the said Emperor Conrad, and first of those about the Duomo._
+
+[Sidenote: 1015 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Par. xvi. 25, xxv. 5.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi. 104.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi. 108.]
+
+[Sidenote: 112-114.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Par. xv. 137, 138.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi. 100.]
+
+As before has been narrated, the first rebuilding of the smaller
+Florence was according to the division of four quarters, after the
+four gates; and to the end we may the better describe the noble
+families and houses which in the said times, after Fiesole had been
+destroyed, were great and powerful in Florence, we will recount them
+according to the quarters where they dwelt. And first, they of the
+Porta del Duomo, which was the first fold and abiding place of the
+rebuilt Florence, and where all the noble citizens of Florence on
+Sundays gathered and held civil converse around the Duomo, and where
+were celebrated all the marriages, and peacemakings, and every
+festival and solemnity of the commonwealth; and next, the Porta San
+Piero, and then Porta San Brancazio, and Porta Sante Marie. And the
+Porta del Duomo was inhabited by the family of the Giovanni, and of
+the Guineldi which were the first to rebuild the city of Florence,
+whence afterwards were descended many families of nobles in Mugello,
+and in Valdarno, and in many cities, which now are popolari and almost
+come to an end. There were the Barucci which dwelt near Santa Maria
+Maggiore, which are now extinct; the Scali and Palermini were of their
+lineage. There were also in the said quarter Arrigucci, and Sizi, and
+the family della Tosa: these della Tosa were of one lineage with the
+Bisdomini, and were patrons and defenders of the bishopric; but one of
+them departed from his kin of the Porta San Piero, and took to wife a
+lady called la Tosa, which was the heiress of her family, and hence
+was derived the name. Also there were the della Pressa, which abode
+among the Chiavaiuoli, gentlemen.
+
+
+Sec. 11.--_Concerning the houses of the nobles in the quarter of the
+Porta San Piero._
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi. 89.]
+
+[Sidenote: 94-99. 65. Inf. xvi. 37. Par. xv. 112-114. Par. xvi. 101.
+Purg. xii. 104, 105. Par. xvi. 105, 93, 104.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. 40-42.]
+
+[Sidenote: 121, 122.]
+
+[Sidenote: 106, 107.]
+
+[Sidenote: 131, 132.]
+
+[Sidenote: 115-120.]
+
+In the quarter of Porta San Piero were the Bisdomini, which, as
+aforesaid, were the patrons of the bishopric, and the Alberighi, and
+theirs was the church of Santa Maria Alberighi towards the house of
+the Donati, and now, nought remains of them; the Rovignani were very
+great, and dwelt on Porta San Piero (their houses afterwards belonged
+to the Counts Guidi, and afterwards to the Cerchi), and from them were
+born all the Counts Guidi, as has afore been told, of the daughter of
+the good Messer Bellincione Berti; in our days all that family have
+disappeared; the Galligari, and Chiarmontesi, and Ardinghi, which
+dwelt in Orto San Michele, were very ancient; and likewise the
+Giuochi, which now are popolani, which dwelt by Santa Margherita; the
+Elisei, which likewise are now popolani, who dwell near the Mercato
+Vecchio; and in that place dwelt the Caponsacchi, which were Fiesolan
+magnates; the Donati or Calfucci, which were all one family; but the
+Calfucci have come to nought; and the della Bella of San Martino have
+also become popolani; and the family of the Adimari, which were
+descended from the house of the Cosi, which now dwell in Porta Rossa,
+and they built Santa Maria Nipotecosa; and albeit they are now the
+chief family of that sesto, and of Florence, nevertheless, they were
+not of the most ancient in those days.
+
+
+Sec. 12.--_Of them of the quarter of Porta San Brancazio._
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi. 100, 111. Inf. vi. 80, xxviii. 103-111. Par. xvi.
+88.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi. 103. Par. xvi. 93; Inf. 121-123; Par. xv. 115,
+116, xvi. 92.]
+
+In the quarter of the Porta San Brancazio were very great and potent
+the house of the Lamberti, descended from German forefathers. The Ughi
+were most ancient, which built Santa Maria Ughi, and all the hill of
+Montughi was theirs, but now they are extinct. The Catellini were most
+ancient, and now there is no record of them. It is said that the
+family Tieri were of their lineage, descended from a bastard. The
+Pigli were gentlemen and magnates in those times, and the Soldanieri,
+and the Vecchietti; very ancient were the dell' Arca, and now they are
+extinct; and the Migliorelli, which now are nought; and the
+Trinciavelli of Mosciano were very ancient.
+
+
+Sec. 13.--_Concerning them of the great quarter of Porta Santa Maria and
+of San Piero Scheraggio._
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi. 109, 110; Convivio iv. 20; 38-41. Par. xvi. 104.
+105. 89.]
+
+[Sidenote: 89.]
+
+[Sidenote: 89.]
+
+[Sidenote: 124-126.]
+
+[Sidenote: 104.]
+
+[Sidenote: 92, 127, 93.]
+
+[Sidenote: 123.]
+
+[Sidenote: 133.]
+
+[Sidenote: 136-144.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xv. 115, xvi. 127-132, xv. 97, 98.]
+
+In the quarter of Porta Santa Maria, which is now included in the
+sesto of San Piero Scheraggio and in that of Borgo, there were many
+powerful and ancient families. The chief were the Uberti, whose
+ancestor was born in Germany and came thence, which dwelt where is now
+the Piazza of the Priors, and the Palace of the People; the Fifanti,
+called Bogolesi, dwelt at the side of Porta Santa Maria; and the
+Galli, Cappiardi, Guidi; and the Filippi, which now have come to
+nought, were then great and powerful, and dwelt in the Mercato Nuovo.
+And likewise the Greci, whereto pertained all the Borgo dei Greci, are
+now come to an end and extinct, save that there are in Bologna of
+their lineage; the Ormanni which dwelt where is now the said Palace of
+the People, and who are now called Foraboschi. And behind San Piero
+Scheraggio where are now the houses of the family of the Petri, dwelt
+they of Pera or Peruzza; and from their name the postern which was
+there was called the Peruzza Gate. Some say that the Peruzzi of to-day
+were descended from this lineage, but this I do not affirm. The
+Sacchetti which dwell in the Garbo were very ancient; around the New
+Market the Bostichi were of note, and the della Sannella, and the
+Giandonati, and the Infangati. In the Borgo Santo Apostolo the
+Gualterotti, and the Importuni, which are now popolani, were then
+magnates. The Bondelmonti were noble and ancient citizens in the
+country, and Montebuoni was their fortress, and many others in
+Valdigrieve; first they settled in Oltrarno, and then they betook
+themselves to the Borgo. The Pulci, and the Counts of Gangalandi,
+Ciuffagni, and Nerli of Oltrarno, were at one time great and powerful,
+together with the Giandonati, and the della Bella named above; and
+from the Marquis Hugh which built the Badia of Florence, they took
+their arms and knighthood, for they were of great account with him.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1040 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1056 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1073 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 14.--_How in those times Oltrarno was but little inhabited._ Sec.
+15.--_How Henry II. called III. was made Emperor, and the events which
+were in his time._ Sec. 16.--_How Henry III. was made Emperor, and the
+events which were in Italy in his time, and how the Court of Rome was
+in Florence._ Sec. 17.--_How S. John Gualberti, citizen of Florence, and
+father of the order of Vallombrosa, was canonized._
+
+
+Sec. 18.--_Narration of many things that were in those times._
+
+[Sidenote: 1070 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxviii. 13, 14. Par. xviii. 48.]
+
+[Sidenote: iii. 118-120.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Purg. xxxiii. 119.]
+
+In those times, the year of Christ 1070, there passed into Italy
+Robert Guiscard, duke of the Normans, the which by his prowess and wit
+did great things, and wrought in the service of Holy Church against
+the Emperor Henry III., who was persecuting it, and against the
+Emperor Alexis, and against the Venetians, as we shall make mention
+hereafter: for the which thing he was made lord over Sicily and
+Apulia, with the confirmation of Holy Church; and his descendants
+after him, down to the time of Henry of Suabia, father of Frederick
+II., were kings and lords thereof. And also in those same times was
+the worthy and wise Countess Matilda, the which reigned in Tuscany and
+in Lombardy, and was well-nigh sovereign lady over all, and did many
+great things in her time for Holy Church, so that it seems to me
+reasonable and fitting to speak of their beginning and of their state,
+in this our treatise, forasmuch as they were much mixed up with the
+doings of our city of Florence through the consequences which followed
+their doings in Tuscany. And first we will tell of Robert Guiscard,
+and then of the Countess Matilda, and their beginnings and their
+doings briefly, returning afterwards to our subject and the deeds of
+our city of Florence, the which by the increase and the doings of the
+Florentines began to multiply and to extend the fame of Florence
+throughout the whole world, more than it had been heretofore; and
+therefore almost by necessity it behoves us in our treatise to narrate
+more universally henceforward of the Popes and of the Emperors and of
+the kings, and of many provinces of the world, the events and things
+which happened in those times, forasmuch as they have much to do with
+our subject, and because the aforesaid Emperor Henry III. was the
+beginner of the scandal between the Church and the Empire, and
+afterwards the Guelfs and Ghibellines, whence arose the parties of the
+Empire and of the Church in Italy, the which so grew that all Italy
+was infected thereby and almost all Europe, and many ills and perils,
+and destructions and changes have followed thereupon to our city and
+to the whole world, such as following on with our treatise we shall
+mention in their times. And we will begin now, at the head of every
+page to mark the year of our Lord, following on in order of time, to
+the end that the events of past times may be the more easily looked
+out in our treatise.
+
+
+Sec. 19.--_Of Robert Guiscard and his descendants, which were kings of
+Sicily and of Apulia._
+
+[Sidenote: 880-1110 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1078 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Purg. vii. 133-136.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1110 A.D.]
+
+Well, then, as was afore made mention, in the time of the Emperor
+Charles, which is called Charles the Fat, which reigned in the years
+of our Lord 880 unto 892, the pagan Northmen being come from Norway,
+passed into Germany and into France, pressing and tormenting the Gauls
+and the Germans. Charles, with a powerful hand, came against the
+Northmen, and peace being made and confirmed by matrimony, the king
+of the Normans was baptised, and received at the sacred font by the
+said Charles, and in the end, Charles not being able to drive the
+Normans out of France, granted them a region on the further side of
+the Seine, called Lada Serena, the which unto this day is called
+Normandy, because of the said Normans, in the which land, from that
+time forward, the duke has reigned as king. The first duke, then, was
+Robert, to whom succeeded his son William, which begat Richard, and
+Richard begat the second Richard. This Richard begat Richard and
+Robert Guiscard, the which Robert Guiscard was not duke of Normandy,
+but brother of Duke Richard. He, according to their usage, forasmuch
+as he was a younger son, had not the lordship of the duchy, and
+therefore desiring to make trial of his powers, he came, poor and
+needy, into Apulia, where at that time one Robert, a native of the
+country, was duke, to whom Robert Guiscard, coming, was first made his
+squire and was then knighted by him. Robert Guiscard having come then
+to this Duke Robert, won many victories with prowess against his
+enemies, for he was at war with the prince of Salerno; and carrying
+with him magnificent rewards, he returned into Normandy, bringing back
+report of the delights and riches of Apulia, having adorned his horses
+with golden bridles and shod them with silver, in witness of the facts
+he alleged; by the which thing, having roused many knights, following
+this emprise through desire of riches and of glory, returning
+incontinent into Apulia, he took them with him, and gave faithful aid
+to the duke of Apulia against Godfrey, duke of the Normans; and, not
+long time after, Robert, duke of Apulia, being nigh unto death, by the
+will of his barons made him his successor in the duchy, and as he had
+promised him, he took his daughter to wife the year of Christ 1078.
+And a little time after, he conquered Alexis, emperor of
+Constantinople, who had taken possession of Sicily and of part of
+Calabria, and he conquered the Venetians, and took all the kingdom of
+Apulia and of Sicily; and albeit he did this in violation of the Roman
+Church, to which the kingdom of Apulia belonged, and albeit the
+Countess Matilda made war against Robert Guiscard in the service of
+Holy Church; nevertheless, in the end, Robert being, of his own will,
+reconciled with Holy Church, was made lord of the said kingdom; and
+not long after, Gregory VII., with his cardinals, being besieged by
+the Emperor Henry IV. in the castle of S. Angelo, Robert came to Rome
+and drave away by force the said Henry with his Anti-pope which he had
+made by force, and he freed the Pope and the cardinals from the siege,
+and replaced the Pope in the Lateran Palace, having severely punished
+the Romans, who had shown favour to the Emperor Henry and to the Pope
+whom he had made against Pope Gregory. This Robert Guiscard, duke of
+Apulia, was once on a hunting excursion, and he followed the quarry
+into the depth of a wood, his companions not knowing what had become
+of him, or where he was, or what he was doing; and then Robert, seeing
+the night approaching, leaving the beast which he was pursuing, sought
+to return home; and turning, he found in the wood a leper, who
+importunately asked alms of him; and when he had said I know not what
+in reply, the leper said again that the anguish he endured availed him
+nought, yet him were liefer carry any weight or any burden; and when
+he asked of the leper what he would have, he said, "I desire that you
+will put me behind you on your horse"; lest abandoned in the wood,
+peradventure the beasts might devour him. Then Robert cheerfully
+received him behind him on his horse; and as they rode forward, the
+leper said to Robert--great baron as he was:--"My hands are so icy
+cold, that unless I may cherish them against thy flesh, I cannot keep
+myself on horseback." Then Robert granted the leper to put his hands
+boldly under his clothing, and comfort his flesh and his members
+without any fear; and when yet a third time the leper bespoke his
+pity, he put him upon his saddle, and he, sitting behind him, embraced
+the leper, and led him to his own chamber and put him into his own
+bed, and set him in it with right good care to the end he might
+repose; no one of his household perceiving ought thereof. And when the
+banquet of supper was spread, having told his wife that he had lodged
+the leper in his bed, his wife incontinent went to the chamber to know
+if the poor sufferer would sup. The chamber, albeit there were no
+perfumes therein, she found as fragrant as if it had been full of
+sweet-smelling things, such that neither Robert nor his wife had ever
+known so sweet scents, and the leper, whom they had come thither to
+seek, they did not find, whereat the husband and the wife marvelled
+beyond measure at so great a wonder; but with reverence and with fear,
+both one and the other asked God to reveal to them what this might be.
+And the following day Christ appeared in a vision to Robert, saying,
+that it was Himself that He had revealed to him in the form of a
+leper, to make trial of his piety; and He announced to him that by his
+wife he should have sons, whereof one should be emperor, the next
+king, and the third duke. Encouraged by this promise Robert subdued
+the rebels of Apulia and of Sicily, and acquired lordship over all;
+and he had five sons: William, who took to wife the daughter of
+Alexis, the emperor of the Greeks, and was lord and possessor of his
+empire, but died without children (some say that this was the William
+which was called Longsword, but many say that this Longsword was not
+of the lineage of Robert Guiscard, but of the race of the marquises of
+Montferrat); and the second son of Robert Guiscard was Boagdinos
+[Boemond], who was at the first duke of Tarentum; the third was Roger,
+duke of Apulia, which, after the death of his father, was crowned king
+of Sicily by Pope Honorius II.; the fourth son of Robert Guiscard was
+Henry, duke of the Normans; the fifth son, Richard Count Cicerat, that
+is, I suppose, count of Acerra. This Robert Guiscard, after having
+done many and noble things in Apulia, purposed and desired, by way of
+devotion, to go to Jerusalem on pilgrimage; and it was told him in a
+vision that he would die in Jerusalem. Therefore, having commended his
+kingdom to Roger, his son, he embarked by sea for the voyage to
+Jerusalem, and arriving in Greece, at the port which was afterwards
+called after him Port Guiscard, he began to sicken of his malady; and
+trusting in the revelation which had been made to him, he in no wise
+feared to die. There was over against the said port an island, to the
+which, that he might repose and recover his strength, he caused
+himself to be carried, and after being carried there he grew no
+better, but rather grievously worse. Then he asked what this island
+was called, and the mariners answered that of old it was called
+Jerusalem. Which thing having heard, straightway certified of his
+death, devoutly he fulfilled all those things which appertain to the
+salvation of the soul, and died in the grace of God the year of Christ
+1110, having reigned in Apulia thirty-three years. These things
+concerning Robert Guiscard may in part be read in chronicles, and in
+part I heard them narrated by those who fully knew the history of the
+kingdom of Apulia.
+
+
+Sec. 20.--_Concerning the successors of Robert Guiscard which were kings
+of Sicily and of Apulia._
+
+[Sidenote: Par. iii. 109-120. Purg. iii. 112, 113. Par. xx. 62.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. iii. 112-120.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1197 A.D.]
+
+Afterwards, Roger, son of Duke Robert Guiscard, begat the second
+Roger; and this Roger, after the death of his father, was made king of
+Sicily, and he begat William, and Constance his sister. This William
+honourably and magnificently ruled the kingdom of Sicily, and he took
+to wife the daughter of the king of England, and by her he had neither
+son nor daughter; and when his father Roger was dead, and the
+sovereignty of the kingdom had passed to William, a prophecy was made
+known, that Constance, his sister, should rule over the realm of
+Sicily in destruction and ruin; wherefore King William, having called
+his friends and wise men, asked counsel of them what he should do with
+his sister Constance; and it was counselled him by the greater part of
+them that if he desired the royal sovereignty should be secure, he
+should cause her to be put to death. But among the others was one
+named Tancred, duke of Tarentum, which had been nephew to Robert
+Guiscard through the sister who is thought to have been wife to
+Bagnamonte [Boemond], prince of Antioch; this man, opposing the
+counsel of the others, appeased King William, that he should not cause
+the innocent lady to be put to death; and so it came to pass that the
+said Constance was preserved from death, and she, not of her own will,
+but through fear of death, lived in the guise of a nun in a certain
+convent of nuns. William being dead, the aforesaid Tancred succeeded
+him in the kingdom, having taken it to himself against the will of the
+Church of Rome to which pertained the right and property of that
+kingdom. This Tancred, instructed by natural wit, was very full of
+learning, and he had a wife more beautiful than the Sibyl, but as many
+think without breasts, by whom he begat two sons and three daughters:
+the first was called Roger, which in his father's lifetime was made
+king, and he died; the second was William the younger, which in his
+father's lifetime was made king, and after his father was dead he held
+the kingdom for a time. During these things, Tancred being alive and
+on the throne, Constance, sister to King William, already perhaps
+fifty years old, was a nun in her body but not in her mind in the city
+of Palermo. Discord then having arisen between King Tancred and the
+archbishop of Palermo, perhaps for this cause, that Tancred was
+usurping the rights of the Church, the archbishop then thought how he
+might transfer the kingdom of Sicily to other lordship, and made a
+secret treaty with the Pope, that Constance should be married to
+Henry, duke of Suabia, son of the great Frederick; and Henry having
+taken to wife her to whom the kingdom seemed to pertain by right, was
+crowned emperor by Pope Celestine. This Henry, when Tancred was dead,
+entered into the kingdom of Apulia, and punished many of them which
+had held with Tancred, and had shown him favour, and which had done
+injury to Queen Constance, and had done shame to the nobility of her
+honour. This Constance was the mother--we shall not say of Frederick
+II. who was long king of the Roman Empire,--but rather of Frederick
+who brought the said Empire to destruction, as will appear fully in
+his deeds. When Tancred was dead then, the kingdom passed to his son
+William, young in years and in wisdom; but Henry having entered the
+kingdom with his army the year of Christ 1197, made a false truce with
+the young King William, and having taken him by fraud and secretly
+into Suabia, few knowing thereof, he sent him into banishment with his
+sister, and having caused his eyes to be put out, he there kept him
+under ward till his death. With this William son of Tancred were taken
+his three sisters, to wit, Alberia, Constance, and Ernadama. When the
+Emperor Henry was dead, and the young William who had been castrated
+and whose eyes had been put out was dead also, Philip, duke of Suabia,
+through the prayers of his wife, which was daughter of the Emperor
+Manuel of Constantinople, delivered these three daughters of King
+Tancred from exile and from prison, and let them go free. And Alberia
+or Aceria had three husbands: the first was Count Walter of Brienne,
+brother of King John, from whom was born Walteran, count of Joppa, to
+whom the king of Cyprus gave his daughter in marriage. After Count
+Walter had been slain by Count Trebaldo [Diephold], the German,
+Alberia was wedded to Count James of Tricarico, by whom she had Count
+Simon and the Lady Adalitta; and he being dead, Pope Honorius gave
+Alberia to wife to Count Tigrimo, count palatine in Tuscany; and for
+dowry he gave her the region of Lizia and of Mount Scaglioso in the
+kingdom of Apulia. Constance was the wife of Marchesono [Ziani], doge
+of Venice. The third sister, who was named Ernadama, had no husband.
+These were the fortunes of the successors of Robert Guiscard in the
+kingdom of Sicily and of Apulia, down to Constance, mother of the
+Emperor Frederick the son of King Henry; and thus it may be seen that
+Robert Guiscard and his successors ruled over the kingdom of Sicily
+and of Apulia 120 years. We will now leave the kings of Sicily and of
+Apulia; and we will relate concerning the wise Countess Matilda.
+
+
+Sec. 21.--_Of the Countess Matilda._
+
+[Sidenote: 1115 A.D.]
+
+The mother of Countess Matilda is said to have been the daughter of
+one who reigned as emperor in Constantinople, in whose court was an
+Italian of distinguished manners and of great race and well nurtured,
+skilled in arms, expert and endowed with every gift, such as they are
+in whom noble blood is wont to declare itself illustriously. Now all
+these things made him to be loved of all men and gave grace to his
+ways. And he began to turn his eyes upon the emperor's daughter, and
+was secretly united to her in marriage, and they took such jewels and
+moneys as they might, and she fled with him into Italy. And they came
+first to the bishopric of Reggio, in Lombardy. From this lady, then,
+and from her husband, was born the doughty Countess Matilda. But the
+father of the lady aforesaid, that is to say the emperor of
+Constantinople, who had no other daughter, caused great searching to
+be made, if by any means he might find her; and found she was, by them
+that were seeking, in the said place; and when they begged of her that
+she would return to her father, who would marry her again to any
+prince she might choose, she gave answer that she had chosen to have
+him she now had above all other, and it were a thing impossible to
+abandon him and ever be united to another man. And when all this was
+told again to the emperor, straightway he sent letters and confirmed
+the marriage, and money without end, with orders to buy fortresses and
+villages at any price and erect new castles. And they bought in the
+said place three fortresses, very nigh together, and because of this
+close neighbourhood, they are commonly called the Tre Castella at
+Reggio. And not far from the said three fortresses the lady had such a
+castle built upon a mountain as might never be taken, the which castle
+was called Canossa, and there the countess afterward founded and
+endowed a noble convent of nuns. This was in the mountains; but on the
+plain she built Guastalla and Sulzariani, and she bought land along
+the Po and built divers monasteries, and divers noble bridges did she
+make across the rivers of Lombardy. And moreover Garfagnana and the
+greater part of the Erignano, and parts of the see of Modena, are said
+to have been her possessions, and in the Bolognese district the great
+and spacious towns of Arzellata and Medicina were of her patrimony;
+and she had many others in Lombardy. And in Tuscany she established
+fortresses and the turret at Polugiana, within her jurisdiction, and
+she liberally endowed many noblemen, under fee, and made them her
+vassals. In divers places she built many monasteries, and endowed many
+cathedral churches and others. And in the end, when the Countess
+Matilda's father and mother were dead, and she was their heir, she
+thought to marry, and having heard of the fame and the person and the
+other qualities of a native of Suabia, whose name was Guelf, she sent
+formal messages to him and authorised agents who should establish a
+contract of marriage between him and her, albeit they were not present
+in person together, and who should arrange the place where the
+wedding should take place. The ring was given at the noble castle of
+the Conti Ginensi, which is now, however, destroyed. And as Guelf
+approached the said castle, the Countess Matilda went to meet him with
+a great cavalcade, and there was held the festival of the wedding
+right joyously. But soon did sadness follow gladness in that the
+marriage bond was not consummated, by failure of conception, which is
+expressly declared to be the purpose of marriage.
+
+* * * * *
+
+The countess then, in silence, fearing deception and being averse to
+the other burdens of matrimony, passed her life in chastity even to
+her death, and giving herself to works of piety she built and endowed
+many churches and monasteries and hospitals. And once and again she
+came with a great army and mightily interposed in service of Holy
+Church and succoured her. Once was against the Normans, who had taken
+away the duchy of Apulia from the Church by violence, and were laying
+waste the confines of Campagna. Them did the Countess Matilda, devout
+daughter of S. Peter that she was, together with Godfrey, duke of
+Spoleto, drive off as far as to Aquino in the time of Alexander II.,
+Pope of Rome. The second time she fought against the Emperor Henry
+III. of Bavaria, and overcame him. And yet once again she fought for
+the Church in Lombardy against Henry IV., his son, and overcame him,
+in the time of Pope Calixtus II. And she made a will and offered up
+all her patrimony on the altar of S. Peter, and made the Church of
+Rome heir of it all. And not long after she died in God, and she is
+buried in the church of Pisa, which she had largely endowed. It was in
+the 1115th year of the Nativity that the countess died. We will leave
+to speak of the Countess Matilda, and will turn back to follow the
+history of the Emperor Henry III. of Bavaria.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1080 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1089 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1107 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 22.--_Again how Henry III. of Bavaria renewed war against the
+Church._ Sec. 23.--_How the said Emperor Henry besieged the city of
+Florence._ Sec. 24.--_How in these times was the great crusade over
+seas._ Sec. 25.--_How the Florentines began to increase their territory._
+Sec. 26.--_How the Florentines conquered and destroyed the fortress of
+Prato._ Sec. 27.--_How Henry IV. of Bavaria was elected Emperor, and how
+he persecuted the Church._ Sec. 28.--_How at last the said Emperor Henry
+IV. returned to obedience to Holy Church._
+
+
+Sec. 29.--_How the Florentines defeated the Vicar of the Emperor Henry
+IV._
+
+[Sidenote: 1113 A.D.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1113 the Florentines marched against
+Montecasciolo, which was making war upon the city, having been stirred
+to rebellion by M. Ruberto Tedesco, vicar of the Emperor Henry in
+Tuscany, who was stationed with his troops in Samminiato del Tedesco,
+so called because the vicars of the Emperors with their troops of
+Tedeschi [Germans] were stationed in the said fortress to harry the
+cities and castles of Tuscany that would not obey the Emperors. And
+this M. Ruberto was routed and slain by the Florentines, and the
+fortress taken and destroyed.
+
+
+Sec. 30.--_How the city of Florence took fire twice, whence a great part
+of the city was burnt._
+
+[Sidenote: 1115 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1117 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. x. 13-15.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xi. 35-123. Par. xii. 31-111.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1115, in the month of May, fire broke out in the
+Borgo Santo Apostolo, and was so great and impetuous that a good part
+of the city was burnt, to the great hurt of the Florentines. And in
+that selfsame year died the good Countess Matilda. And after, in the
+year 1117, fire again broke out in Florence, and of a truth that which
+was not burnt in the first fire was burnt in the second, whence great
+hurt befell the Florentines, and not without cause and judgment of
+God, forasmuch as the city was evilly corrupted by heresy, among
+others by the sect of the epicureans, through the vice of
+licentiousness and gluttony, and this over so large a part, that the
+citizens were fighting among themselves for the faith with arms in
+their hands in many parts of Florence, and this plague endured long
+time in Florence till the coming of the holy Religions of St. Francis
+and of St. Dominic, the which Religions through their holy brothers,
+the charge of this sin of heresy having been committed to them by the
+Pope, greatly exterminated it in Florence, and in Milan, and in many
+other cities of Tuscany and of Lombardy in the time of the blessed
+Peter Martyr, who was martyred by the Paterines in Milan; and
+afterwards the other inquisitors wrought the like. And in the flames
+of the said fires in Florence were burnt many books and chronicles
+which would more fully have preserved the record of past things in our
+city of Florence, wherefore few are left remaining; for the which
+thing it has behoved us to collect from other veracious chronicles of
+divers cities and countries, great part of those things whereof
+mention has been made in this treatise.
+
+
+Sec. 31.--_How the Pisans took Majorca, and the Florentines protected the
+city of Pisa._
+
+[Sidenote: 1117 A.D.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1117 the Pisans made a great expedition of
+galleys and ships against the island of Majorca, which the Saracens
+held, and when the said armada had departed from Pisa and was already
+assembled at Vada for the voyage, the commonwealth of Lucca marched
+upon Pisa to seize the city. Hearing this, the Pisans dared not go
+forward with their expedition for fear that the Lucchese should take
+possession of their city; and to draw back from their emprise did not
+seem for their honour in view of the great outlay and preparation
+which they had made. Wherefore they took counsel to send their
+ambassadors to the Florentines, for the two commonwealths in those
+times were close friends. And they begged them that they would be
+pleased to protect the city, trusting them as their inmost friends and
+dear brothers. And on this the Florentines undertook to serve them and
+to protect their city against the Lucchese and all other. Wherefore
+the commonwealth of Florence sent thither armed folk in abundance,
+horse and foot, and encamped two miles outside the city, and in
+respect for their women they would not enter Pisa, and made a
+proclamation that whosoever should enter the city should answer for it
+with his person; and one who did enter was accordingly condemned to be
+hung. And when the old men who had been left in Pisa prayed the
+Florentines for love of them to pardon him, they would not. But the
+Pisans still opposed, and begged that at least they would not put him
+to death in their territory; whereupon the Florentine army secretly
+purchased a field from a peasant in the name of the commonwealth of
+Florence, and thereon they raised the gallows and did the execution to
+maintain their decree. And when the host of the Pisans returned from
+the conquest of Majorca they gave great thanks to the Florentines,
+and asked them what memorial they would have of the conquest--the
+metal gates, or two columns of porphyry which they had taken and
+brought from Majorca. The Florentines chose the columns, and the
+Pisans sent them to Florence covered with scarlet cloth, and some said
+that before they sent them they put them in the fire for envy. And the
+said columns are those which stand in front of San Giovanni.
+
+
+Sec. 32.--_How the Florentines took and destroyed the fortress of
+Fiesole._
+
+[Sidenote: 1125 A.D.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1125, the Florentines came with an army to the
+fortress of Fiesole, which was still standing and very strong, and it
+was held by certain gentlemen Cattani, which had been of the city of
+Fiesole, and thither resorted highwaymen and refugees and evil men,
+which sometimes infested the roads and country of Florence; and the
+Florentines carried on the siege so long that for lack of victuals the
+fortress surrendered, albeit they would never have taken it by storm,
+and they caused it to be all cast down and destroyed to the
+foundations, and they made a decree that none should ever dare to
+build a fortress again at Fiesole.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1125 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1147 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 33.--_From where the miles are measured in the territory of
+Florence._ Sec. 34.--_How Roger, duke of Apulia, was at war with the
+Church, and afterwards was reconciled with the Pope, and how after
+that there were two Popes in Rome at one time._ Sec. 35.--_Tells of
+the second crusade over seas._
+
+
+Sec. 36.--_How the Florentines destroyed the fortress of Montebuono._
+
+[Sidenote: 1135 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi. 66.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1135 the fortress of Montebuono was standing,
+which was very strong and pertained to the house of the Bondelmonti,
+which were Cattani and ancient gentlemen of the country, and from the
+name of this their castle the house of Bondelmonti took their name;
+and by reason of its strength, and because the road ran at the foot
+thereof, therefore they took toll, for the which thing the Florentines
+did not desire, nor would they have, such a fortress hard by the city;
+and they went thither with an army in the month of June and took it,
+on condition that the fortress should be destroyed, and the rest of
+the possessions should still pertain to the said Cattani, and that
+they should come and dwell in Florence. And thus the commonwealth of
+Florence began to grow, and by force, rather than by right, their
+territory increased, and they subdued to their jurisdiction every
+noble of the district, and destroyed the fortresses.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1147 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1154 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 37.--_How the Florentines were discomfited at Montedicroce by the
+Counts Guidi._ Sec. 38.--_How they of Prato were discomfited by the
+Pistoians at Carmignano._
+
+
+END OF SELECTIONS FROM BOOK IV.
+
+
+
+
+BOOK V.
+
+[Sidenote: 1154 A.D.]
+
+ _Here begins the Fifth Book: How Frederick I. of Staufen of
+ Suabia was Emperor of Rome, and of his descendants, and
+ concerning the doings of Florence which were in their times,
+ and of all Italy._
+
+
+[Sidenote: Epist. vi. (5) 135, 136. Purg. xviii. 119, 120. Cf. Par.
+iii. 119.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1154 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Epist. vi. (5) 137.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1159 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Epist. vi. (5) 136.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1157 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. xviii. 119-120. Epist. vi. (5) 135, 136.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1167 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. xix. 70.]
+
+Sec. 1.--After the death of Conrad of Saxony, king of the Romans,
+Frederick Barbarossa was elected Emperor, called Frederick the Great,
+or the First, of the house of Suabia, and surnamed of Staufen. This
+Frederick, when he had received the votes of the electors, proclaimed
+himself, and then came into Italy, and was crowned at Rome by Pope
+Adrian IV., in the year of Christ 1154, and reigned 37 years between
+king of the Romans and Emperor. He was liberal and a man of worth,
+eloquent and noble, and glorious in all his deeds. At the first he was
+friendly to Holy Church in the time of the said Pope Adrian, and
+rebuilt Tivoli, which had been destroyed; but the same day that he was
+crowned there was a great scuffle and fight between the Romans and his
+followers in Nero's meadow, where they were waiting for the said
+Emperor, to the great loss of the Romans; and again within the portico
+of St. Peter's; and it was all burnt and destroyed, to wit, the part
+of Rome which is around St. Peter's. And when he returned to Lombardy
+in the first year of his reign, because the city of Spoleto would not
+obey him, forasmuch as it pertained to the Church, he brought an army
+against it, and overcame it, and destroyed it utterly; and through his
+desire to usurp the rights of the Church, he soon became her enemy:
+for after the death of Pope Adrian, in the year of Christ 1159,
+Alexander III., of Siena, was made Pope, who reigned 22 years; and he,
+to maintain the rights of Holy Church, had great war with the said
+Emperor Frederick for long time; which Emperor raised up against him
+four schismatical anti-popes at divers times, one after the other, and
+three thereof were cardinals. The first was Octavianus, which took the
+name of Victor; the second, Guy of Cremona, which took the name of
+Pascal; the third was John of Struma, which took the name of Calixtus;
+the fourth was called Landone, which took the name of Innocent; whence
+came great schism and affliction to the Church of God, forasmuch as
+these Popes by the power of the Emperor Frederick held all the
+patrimony of St. Peter and the Duchy, so that the said Pope Alexander
+had no authority. But the said Pope Alexander fought valiantly against
+them all, and excommunicated them: the which all, one after the other,
+during his reign, died an evil death. But whilst they were reigning by
+the power of Frederick, the said true Pope, Alexander, not being able
+to abide in Rome, went to the French court to King Louis the Pious,
+which received him graciously. And it is said in France that when the
+said Pope was coming to Paris secretly with a small company in the
+guise of a lesser prelate, immediately that he came to St. Maure, near
+to Paris, albeit they had not had news of the Pope, yet by Divine
+miracle there rose a voice: "Behold the Pope! behold the Pope!" and
+the bells began to ring, and the king, with the clergy and the people
+of Paris, went out to meet him, whence the Pope marvelled greatly,
+forasmuch as none knew of his coming; and he thanked God, and made
+himself known to the king and to the people, and began to give the
+benediction. And afterwards in France the said Pope called a general
+council in the city of Tours in Touraine, in the which he
+excommunicated the said Frederick, and deposed him from the Empire,
+and absolved all his barons from their oaths, and deposed them of the
+house of Colonna in Rome, that neither they nor their successors
+should ever be allowed to hold any office in Holy Church, seeing that
+they all held to the aid and favour of the said Frederick against the
+Church. And in that council all the kings and lords of the West
+promised and leagued themselves with Louis, king of France, in aid of
+the said Pope Alexander and of Holy Church, against the said
+Frederick, and likewise many cities of Lombardy rebelled against the
+said Frederick, to wit, Milan, and Cremona, and Piacenza, and held
+with the Pope and with the Church; for the which thing, when the said
+Frederick was passing through Lombardy to go into France against King
+Louis, who was supporting Pope Alexander, and found that the city of
+Milan had rebelled against him, he laid siege thereto, and, after long
+siege, he took it, in the year of Christ 1157, in the month of March,
+and destroyed the walls thereof and burnt all the city, and caused the
+ground to be ploughed and sown with salt; and the bodies of the Three
+Kings or Magi which came to adore Christ by the guiding of the star,
+which were in the city of Milan, in three tombs hewn out of porphyry,
+he caused to be taken from Milan and sent to Cologne, whence all the
+Lombards were very wrathful. And afterwards, crossing the mountains
+to destroy the realm of France, with the aid of the king of Bohemia
+and the king of Dacia--that is, Denmark--he entered into Burgundy; but
+King Louis of France, with the aid of Henry, king of England, his
+son-in-law, and with many lords and barons, was ready to oppose him,
+so that by the grace of God he had no power, nor gained any land
+there, but through lack of victuals those kings returned to their own
+countries and Frederick to Italy. And he made war against the Romans,
+forasmuch as they had come over to the side of the Church and of Pope
+Alexander; and when the said Romans with their host were in the region
+of Tusculum, they were defeated by the chancellor of the said
+Frederick and his German troops in the place called Monte del Porco,
+and many Romans were taken and slain in such great numbers that
+cartloads of dead bodies were taken to Rome to be buried, and this
+defeat is said to have been by reason of the treachery of the
+Colonnas, which were always with the Emperor and against the Church;
+wherefore they were by the Pope deprived of all temporal and spiritual
+benefit; and because of the said defeat the Romans drove the Colonnas
+away from Rome, and destroyed an ancient and very beautiful fortress
+pertaining to them, which was called La Gosta, which is said to have
+been built by Caesar Augustus, and this was in the year of Christ 1167.
+And after this the Emperor came to Rome to besiege it and to destroy
+it, and brought it into great straits. The Romans caused the clergy of
+Rome to take the heads of St. Peter and of St. Paul and to carry them
+in procession all through Rome, for the which thing the Romans all
+took the cross against the Emperor, and the first which took it was M.
+Matteo Rosso the Elder, of the Orsini family, grandfather to Pope
+Nicholas III., and by reason of old age he had abandoned arms, and
+taken the habit of a penitent; and for this cause he put off the said
+habit and took his arms again, for which he was much commended, and by
+reason of this he and his came into favour with the Church, and
+increased greatly. After the said M. Matteo, Gianni Buovo, a great
+citizen of Rome, took the cross, and afterwards all the others with
+great zeal and desire; for the which thing, when the Emperor heard
+thereof, either through fear, or rather through a miracle of the
+blessed Apostles, straightway he departed from the siege of Rome with
+his followers, and returned to Viterbo, and the city of Rome was set
+free.
+
+
+Sec. 2.--_How Pope Alexander returned from France to Venice, and the
+Emperor returned to obedience._
+
+[Sidenote: 1168 A.D.]
+
+Then, after the said Pope Alexander had been long time in France, by
+the aid of the kings of France and of England he returned with his
+court into Italy by sea, and, landing in Sicily, he was devoutly
+received and favoured by King William, which then was king thereof,
+and which declared himself faithful to Holy Church, and that he held
+the island from him; for the which thing the said Pope confirmed him
+king of Sicily, and gave him Apulia, wherefore the said King William
+with his fleet bore him company by sea as far as the city of Venice,
+whither the Pope desired to go for more security, that the Emperor
+Frederick might not hurt him; and to show favour to the faithful
+believers in Holy Church in Lombardy, he sojourned in the said city of
+Venice, and by the Venetians was reverently received and honoured; and
+by his favour the Milanese rebuilt the city of Milan in the year of
+Christ 1168. Then, a little while after, the Milanese, with the aid
+of Piacenza and Cremona, and of the other cities of Lombardy which
+obeyed Holy Church, built a city in Lombardy, to be a rampart and
+defence against the city of Pavia, which always was against Milan, and
+held with the Empire; and since this city was built, to the honour of
+the said Pope Alexander, and to the end it might be more famous, they
+called it Alessandria; and afterwards it was surnamed City della
+Paglia [of Straw], in contempt, by the Pavians; and at the prayer of
+the Lombards the Pope gave it a bishop, and deposed the bishop of
+Pavia, and took away from him the dignity of the Pallium and of the
+Cross, forasmuch as he had always held with the Emperor Frederick
+against the Church.
+
+
+Sec. 3.--_How the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa was reconciled with the
+Church, and went over seas, and there died._
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. iv. 129.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1188 A.D.]
+
+The Emperor Frederick, seeing himself much cast down from his state
+and sovereignty, and that many cities of Lombardy and of Tuscany were
+rebelling against him and holding with the Church and with Pope
+Alexander, which had greatly increased in estate by the favour of the
+kings of France and of England, and of William, king of Sicily, sought
+to reconcile himself with the Church and with the Pope, to the end he
+might not wholly lose the honour of the Empire, and he sent a solemn
+embassy to Venice to Pope Alexander to ask for peace, promising to
+make all amends to Holy Church, and the Pope graciously hearkened to
+him, wherefore the said Frederick went to Venice and threw himself at
+the feet of the said Pope, and asked for mercy. Then the said Pope set
+his foot upon his neck, and said the verse of the psalter: "_Super
+aspidem et basiliscum ambulabis, et conculcabis leonem et draconem_"
+[Ps. xci. 13]; and the Emperor answered, "_Non tibi sed Petro_" [Not
+to you, but to Peter, was it said], and the Pope answered, "_Ego sum
+vicarius Petri_" [I am in the place of Peter]; and then he forgave him
+every offence which he had committed against Holy Church, causing him
+to restore that which he held from Holy Church; and this he promised
+and did, under compact that whatsoever should be found held in
+possession by the Church on that day throughout the Kingdom, should
+pertain for ever to Holy Church; and it was found that Benivento was
+so held; and this was the cause why the Church holds as hers the city
+of Benivento. And this done, he reconciled him with the Romans, and
+with Manuel, emperor of Constantinople, and with William, king of
+Sicily, and with the Lombards; and as amends and penance he imposed
+upon him, and he promised, to go over seas to the succour of the Holy
+Land, forasmuch as Saladin, the soldan of Babylon, had retaken
+Jerusalem and many other fortresses held by the Christians; and this
+he did. Then the said Frederick, having taken the cross in the year of
+Christ 1188, departed from Germany with an immense host, and went by
+land through Hungary to Constantinople as far as Armenia [Pisidia];
+but when the said Frederick was come into Armenia, it being summer and
+very hot, as he was bathing for his solace in a little river called
+the river of Ferro [Iron], he was miserably drowned. And this, it is
+believed, was the judgment of God by reason of the many persecutions
+which he had brought upon Holy Church: and he left a son, which was
+named Henry, whom he had caused to be elected king of the Romans
+before he passed over seas in the year of Christ 1186; and when the
+said Frederick was dead, his wife, with her son and with their
+followers, albeit many of them died on this voyage, returned from
+Syria to the West without having gained anything. We will now return
+to our subject of the doings of Florence and of other things which
+were in the time when the said Frederick was reigning; but first we
+will tell of King Philip of France and of King Richard of England,
+which went over seas to the succour of the Holy Land in this same
+time.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1170 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1174 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 4.--_How the king of France and the king of England went over seas._
+Sec. 5.--_How the Florentines defeated the Aretines._ Sec. 6.--_How the
+first war of the Florentines against the Sienese began._ Sec. 7.--_How
+the noble and strong castle of Poggibonizzi was first built, and that
+of Colle of Valdelsa._
+
+
+Sec. 8.--_Of the great fires which were in the city of Florence._
+
+[Sidenote: 1177 A.D.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1177, fire broke out in the city of Florence on
+the 5th day of August, and spread from the foot of the Ponte Vecchio
+as far as the Mercato Vecchio. And afterwards, in the same year, fire
+broke out at San Martino del Vescovo, and spread as far as Santa Maria
+Ughi and to the Duomo of S. Giovanni, with great hurt to the city, and
+not without the judgment of God, forasmuch as the Florentines had
+become very proud by reason of the victories they had gotten over
+their neighbours; and some among them were very ungrateful towards
+God, and full of other wicked sins. And in this year, because of a
+great flood of the river Arno, the Ponte Vecchio fell, which also was
+a sign of future adversities to our city.
+
+
+Sec. 9.--_How civil war began in Florence between the Uberti and the
+government of the Consuls._
+
+[Sidenote: 1177 A.D.]
+
+Wherefore in the selfsame year there began in Florence dissension and
+great war among the citizens, the worst that had ever been in
+Florence; and this was by reason of too great prosperity and repose,
+together with pride and ingratitude; forasmuch as the house of the
+Uberti, which were the most powerful and the greatest citizens of
+Florence, with their allies, both magnates and popolari, began war
+against the Consuls (which were the lords and rulers of the
+commonwealth for a certain time and under certain ordinances), from
+envy of the Government, which was not to their mind; and the war was
+so fierce and unnatural that well-nigh every day, or every other day,
+the citizens fought against one another in divers parts of the city,
+from district to district, according as the factions were, and as they
+had fortified their towers, whereof there was great number in the
+city, in height 100 or 120 cubits. And in those times, by reason of
+the said war, many towers were newly fortified by the communities of
+the districts, from the common funds of the neighbourhood, which were
+called Towers of the Fellowships, and upon them were set engines to
+shoot forth one at another, and the city was barricaded in many
+places; and this plague endured more than two years, and many died by
+reason thereof, and much peril and hurt was brought upon the city; but
+this war among the citizens became so much of use and wont that one
+day they would be fighting, and the next day they would be eating and
+drinking together, and telling tales of one another's valour and
+prowess in these battles; and at last they ceased fighting, in that it
+irked them for very weariness, and they made peace, and the Consuls
+remained in their government; albeit, in the end they begot and then
+brought forth the accursed factions, which were afterwards in
+Florence, as hereafter in due time we will make mention.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1182 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1184 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 10.--_How the Florentines took the castle of Montegrossoli._ Sec.
+11.--_How the Florentines took the castle of Pogna._
+
+
+Sec. 12.--_How the Emperor Frederick I. took their territory from the
+city of Florence, and many other cities of Tuscany._
+
+[Sidenote: 1184 A.D.]
+
+In the said year of Christ 1184, the Emperor Frederick I., as he went
+from Lombardy into Apulia, passed through our city of Florence on the
+31st day of July in the said year, and abode there some days; and
+receiving a complaint from the nobles of the country that the
+commonwealth of Florence had taken by force and occupied many of their
+castles and strongholds against the honour of the Empire, he took from
+the commonwealth of Florence all the whole territory and the lordship
+thereof up to the walls, and in the territory he set vicars of his own
+throughout the villages to administer the law and execute justice; and
+he did the like to all the other cities of Tuscany which had held with
+the Church when he was at war with Pope Alexander, save that he did
+not take the territory from the cities of Pisa and of Pistoia, which
+held with him. And in this year the said Frederick besieged the city
+of Siena, but did not take it. And these things he did to the said
+cities of Tuscany, forasmuch as they had not been on his side; so
+that, albeit he was at peace with the Church and had cried the said
+Pope mercy, as afore has been narrated, nevertheless, he did not cease
+from manifesting ill-will against the cities which had obeyed the
+Church; and thus the city of Florence was left without any territory
+for four years, until the said Frederick set forth on his voyage over
+seas, when he was drowned, as afore we have narrated.
+
+
+Sec. 13.--_How the Florentines took the cross, and went over seas to
+conquer Damietta, and therefore recovered their territory._
+
+[Sidenote: 1188 A.D.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1188, all Christendom being moved to go to the
+succour of the Holy Land, there came to Florence the archbishop of
+Ravenna, the Pope's Legate, to preach the cross for the said
+expedition; and many good people of Florence took the cross from the
+said archbishop at S. Donato tra le Torri, or at S. Donato a Torri,
+beyond Rifredi, or the Monastery delle Donne, forasmuch as the said
+archbishop was of the Order of Citeaux [the Cistercian Order]; and
+this was on the 2nd day of the month of February in the said year, and
+the Florentines were in such great numbers that they made up an army
+in themselves over seas, and they were at the conquest of the city of
+Damietta, and among the first which took the city, and for an ensign
+they brought back thence a crimson standard which is still in the
+church of S. Giovanni; and because of the said devotion and aid given
+by the Florentines to Holy Church and to Christendom, the jurisdiction
+over the territory around was restored to the city of Florence by Pope
+Gregory and by the said Emperor Frederick, to the distance of ten
+miles around the city of Florence.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1188 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 14.--_How the Florentines got the arm of the blessed apostle S.
+Philip._ Sec. 15.--_How the Pope brought the Pisans and the Genoese to
+peace, thereby to strengthen the expedition over seas._
+
+
+Sec. 16.--_How Henry of Suabia was made Emperor by the Church, and how
+Constance, queen of Sicily, was given him to wife._
+
+[Sidenote: 1192 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. iii. 109-120.]
+
+Henry of Suabia, son of the great Frederick, as we said before, whilst
+his father was alive, had been elected king of the Romans; and when he
+returned from over seas, and had ordered his government in Germany, he
+passed into Italy and came to Rome at the request of Pope Clement, and
+was received with honour by the Romans, forasmuch as he restored to
+them the city of Tusculum and its territory, which had rebelled
+against the Romans; which city was all destroyed and laid waste by the
+Romans, and was never afterwards rebuilt. And when the said Henry was
+come to Rome he found that the said Pope Clement was dead, which had
+sent for him; and Pope Celestine, a native of Rome, had been elected
+by the cardinals, so that the said Henry was present at his
+consecration, which took place on Easter Day of the Resurrection, in
+April, in the year of Christ 1192; and he lived as Pope six years and
+eight months and eleven days. And when Celestine had become Pope, on
+the second day after his consecration, he crowned the said Henry
+emperor. And before the said Henry departed from Germany, the Church
+was at variance with Tancred, king of Sicily and of Apulia (son to the
+other Tancred, which was sister's son to Robert Guiscard, as we made
+mention in the chapter wherein we treated of the said Robert), by
+reason that he did not, as he should, faithfully pay tribute to the
+Church, and that he presented bishops and archbishops to benefices at
+his pleasure to the shame of the Pope and of the Church; wherefore the
+said Pope Clement treated with the archbishop of Palermo to take away
+the kingdom of Sicily and Apulia from the said Tancred, and gave order
+to the said archbishop that Constance, sister of King William and
+rightful heiress of the realm of Sicily, which was a nun in Palermo,
+as we afore made mention, and was already more than fifty years old,
+should leave the convent, and he gave her dispensation that she might
+return to the world and enter into matrimony; and the said archbishop
+caused her secretly to depart from Sicily and come to Rome, and the
+Church gave her to wife to the said Emperor Henry, whence a little
+while after was born the Emperor Frederick II., which brought such
+persecutions upon the Church, as we will tell hereafter in treating of
+him. And it was not without Divine occasioning and judgment that such
+a baneful heir must needs be the issue, being born of a holy nun, and
+she more than fifty-two years old, when it is almost impossible for a
+woman to bear a child; so that he was born of two contradictions--against
+spiritual laws, and, in a sense, against natural laws. And we find,
+when the Empress Constance was pregnant with Frederick, there was
+doubt in Sicily and throughout all the realm of Apulia whether, by
+reason of her advanced age, she could be pregnant; for the which
+thing, when the time came for her to be delivered, a pavilion was
+erected on the piazza at Palermo, and a proclamation was put forth
+that any lady who desired might go and see her, and many went thither
+and saw her, and therefore the doubt came to an end.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1196 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1200 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1203 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1192 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1197 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1198 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 17.--_How the Emperor Henry conquered the kingdom of Apulia._
+Sec. 18.--_How the Emperor Henry rebelled against the Church, and
+persecuted it, and how he died._ Sec. 19.--_How Otho IV. of Saxony was
+elected Emperor._ Sec. 20.--_How the whole orb of the sun was eclipsed._
+Sec. 21.--_How they of Samminiato destroyed their whole city by their
+discords._ Sec. 22.--_How the Florentines bought Montegrossoli._ Sec.
+23.--_How Innocent III. was made Pope._
+
+
+Sec. 24.--_How the Order of the Minor Friars began._
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xi. 43-117.]
+
+In the time of the said Pope Innocent began the holy Order of the
+Minor Friars, the founder whereof was the blessed Francis, born in the
+city of Assisi in the Duchy, and by this Pope the said Order was
+accepted and approved with privilege, forasmuch as it was altogether
+founded on humility, and love, and poverty, following in all things
+the holy gospel of Christ, and shunning all human delights. And the
+said Pope saw in a vision S. Francis supporting the Church of the
+Lateran upon his shoulders, as he afterwards, after the same manner,
+beheld S. Dominic, the which vision was a figure and prophecy how by
+them should be supported Holy Church and the faith of Christ.
+
+
+Sec. 25.--_How the Order of the Preaching Friars began._
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xi. 118-123; xii. 46-105.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1216 A.D.]
+
+And still in the time of the said Pope, after the same manner began
+the Order of the Preaching Friars, the founder whereof was the blessed
+Dominic, born in Spain. But in this Pope's time it was not confirmed,
+albeit in a vision it seemed to the said Pope that the Church of the
+Lateran was falling upon him, and the blessed Dominic sustained it on
+his shoulders. And by reason of this vision he purposed to confirm it,
+but death overtook him, and his successor, Pope Honorius, afterwards
+confirmed it the year of Christ 1216. The visions of the aforesaid
+Innocent, concerning S. Francis and S. Dominic, were true, for the
+Church of God was falling through many errors and many licentious
+sins, not fearing God; and the said blessed Dominic, through his holy
+learning and preaching, corrected it, and was the first exterminator
+of heretics therefrom; and the blessed Francis, through his humility
+and apostolic life and penitence, corrected the wanton life, and
+brought back Christians to penitence and to the life of salvation. And
+truly the Erythraean Sibyl, tracing out these times, prophesied of
+these two holy Orders, saying that two stars would arise to illuminate
+the world.
+
+
+Sec. 26.--_How the Florentines destroyed the castle of Frondigliano._
+
+[Sidenote: 1199 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Par. xvi. 62, 63.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1199, Count Henry della Tosa and his colleagues,
+being consuls of the city of Florence, the Florentines laid siege to
+the fortress of Frondigliano, which had rebelled and was making war
+upon the commonwealth of Florence, and they took it and destroyed it
+to the very foundations, and it was never built again. And in the same
+year the Florentines marched against Simifonte, which was a very
+strong place and did not obey the city.
+
+
+Sec. 27.--_How they of Samminiato destroyed Sanginiegio, and went back
+to live on the hill._ Sec. 28.--_How the French and Venetians took
+Constantinople._ Sec. 29.--_How the Tartars descended from the mountains
+of Gog and Magog._
+
+
+Sec. 30.--_How the Florentines destroyed the strongholds of Simifonti and
+of Combiata._
+
+[Sidenote: 1202 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Par. xvi. 62, 63.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1202, when Aldobrandino, of the Barucci of Santa
+Maria Maggiore (a very ancient family), and his colleagues were
+consuls in Florence, the Florentines took the stronghold of Simifonti,
+and destroyed it, and took the hill into possession of the
+commonwealth, forasmuch as it had been long time at war with the
+Florentines. And the Florentines gained it by the treachery of a
+certain man of Sandonato in Poci, which surrendered a tower, and
+claimed for this cause that he and his descendants should be free in
+Florence from all taxes; and this was granted, albeit the said traitor
+was first slain, in the said tower, by the inhabitants, as it was
+being attacked. And in the said year the Florentines went with their
+army against the fortress of Combiata, which was very strong, at the
+head of the river Marina, towards Mugello, which pertained to Cattani
+of the country which would not obey the commonwealth and made war
+against it. And when the said strongholds were destroyed, they made a
+decree that they should never be rebuilt.
+
+
+Sec. 31.--_Destruction of Montelupo, and how the Florentines gained
+Montemurlo._
+
+[Sidenote: 1203 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1207 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi. 64.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1209 A.D.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1203, when Brunellino Brunelli de' Razzanti was
+consul in Florence with his colleagues, the Florentines destroyed the
+fortress of Montelupo because it would not obey the commonwealth. And
+in this same year the Pistoians took the castle of Montemurlo from the
+Counts Guidi; but a little while after, in September, the Florentines
+went thither with an army on behalf of the Counts Guidi, and retook
+it, and gave it back to the Counts Guidi. And afterwards, in 1207,
+the Florentines made peace between the Pistoians and the Counts Guidi,
+but afterwards the counts not being well able to defend Montemurlo
+from the Pistoians, forasmuch as it was too near to them, and they had
+built over against it the fortress of Montale, the Counts Guidi sold
+it to the commonwealth of Florence for 5,000 lbs. of small florins,
+which would now be worth 5,000 golden florins; and this was in the
+year of Christ 1209, but the Counts of Porciano never would give their
+word for their share in the sale.
+
+
+Sec. 32.--_How the Florentines elected their first Podesta._
+
+[Sidenote: 1207 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxiii. 105-107.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1207, the Florentines chose for the first time a
+foreign magistrate, for until that time the city had been ruled by the
+government of citizen consuls, of the greatest and best of the city,
+with the council of the senate, to wit, of 100 good men; and these
+consuls, after the manner of Rome, entirely guided and governed the
+city, and administered law and executed justice; and they remained in
+office for one year. And there were four consuls so long as the city
+was divided into quarters, one to each gate; and afterwards there were
+six, when the city was divided into sesti. But our forefathers did not
+make mention of the names of all, but of one of them of greatest
+estate and fame, saying: 'In the time of such a consul and of his
+colleagues'; but afterwards when the city was increased in inhabitants
+and in vices, and there came to be more ill-deeds, it was agreed for
+the good of the commonwealth, to the end the citizens might not have
+so great a burden of government, and that justice might not miscarry
+by reason of prayers, or fear, or private malice, or any other cause,
+that they should invite a gentleman from some other city, who might be
+their Podesta for a year, and administer civil justice with his
+assessors and judges, and carry into execution sentences and penalties
+on the person. And the first Podesta in Florence was Gualfredotto of
+Milan, in the said year; and he dwelt in the Bishop's Palace,
+forasmuch as there was as yet no palace of the commonwealth in
+Florence. Yet the government of the consuls did not therefore cease,
+but they reserved to themselves the administration of all other things
+in the commonwealth. And by the said government the city was ruled
+until the time of the Primo Popolo in Florence, as hereafter we shall
+make mention, and then was created the office of the Ancients.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1208 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 33.--_How the Florentines defeated the Sienese at Montalto._ Sec.
+34.--_How the Sienese sued for peace to the Florentines and obtained
+it._ Sec. 35.--_How Otho IV. was crowned Emperor; and how he became the
+enemy and persecutor of Holy Church._
+
+
+Sec. 36.--_How during Otho's lifetime Frederick II. of Suabia was
+elected Emperor by the desire of the Church of Rome._
+
+The said Otho being the enemy of the Church, and being deposed by the
+general council of the Empire, the Church arranged with the electors
+of Germany that they should elect to be king of the Romans, Frederick,
+the young king of Sicily, who was in Germany, and he won a great
+victory against the said Otho; and afterwards the said Otho, returning
+to his duty, went on crusade to Damietta over seas, and there died,
+and the election was left to Frederick; and afterwards, in the time
+of Pope Honorius III., who succeeded to the aforesaid Innocent, the
+said Frederick of Germany came to Venice, and then by sea into his
+kingdom of Apulia, and then to Rome; and by the said Pope Honorius and
+by the Romans he was received with great honour, and crowned Emperor,
+as hereafter in treating of him we will make mention. We will leave
+speaking of the Emperor for a time, and will tell of the doings of the
+Florentines up to the time of his coronation.
+
+
+Sec. 37.--_Concerning the death of the old Count Guido, and of his
+progeny._
+
+[Sidenote: 1213 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi. 64, 98.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xv. 112, xvi. 99.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi. 94-99. Inf. xvi. 37.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Epistolae Dant. Allig. adscriptae, i.-iii.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xvi. 34-39. Inf. xxx. 73-78. Cf. Epist. ii. Cf. Purg.
+xiv. 43-45.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1213, there died the Count Guido Vecchio, which
+left behind him five sons; but one died, leaving those who had Poppi
+as the heirs of his portion, forasmuch as he left no children; and
+from the other four sons were descended all the Counts Guidi. As to
+this Count Guido, it is said that in ancient times his forbears were
+great barons in Germany, which came over with the Emperor Otho I., who
+gave them the territory of Modigliana in Romagna, and there they
+remained; and afterwards their descendants, by reason of their power,
+were lords over almost all Romagna, and made their headquarters in
+Ravenna, but because of the outrages they wrought on the citizens
+concerning their wives, and other tyrannies, in a popular tumult they
+were driven out of Ravenna, pursued, and slain in one day, so that
+none escaped either small or great, save one young child which was
+named Guido, the which was at Modigliana at nurse, which was surnamed
+Guido Besangue [drink-blood], through the disaster of his family, as
+in the story of the Emperor Otho we before made mention. This Guido
+was the father of the said Count Guido Vecchio, whence all the Counts
+Guidi are descended. This Count Guido Vecchio took to wife the
+daughter of M. Bellincione Berti of the Rovignani, which was the
+greatest and the most honoured knight in Florence, and his houses
+which were at Porta San Piero above the Old Gate descended by heritage
+to the Counts. This lady was named Gualdrada, and he took her for her
+beauty and her fair speech, beholding her in S. Reparata, with the
+other ladies and maidens of Florence. For when the Emperor Otho IV.
+came to Florence, and saw the fair ladies of the city assembled in
+Santa Reparata, in his honour, this maiden most pleased the Emperor;
+and her father saying to the Emperor that he had it in his power to
+bid her kiss him, the maiden made answer that there was no man living
+which should kiss her, save he were her husband, for the which speech,
+the Emperor much commended her; and the said Count Guido being taken
+with love of her by reason of her graciousness, and by the counsel of
+the said Otho, the Emperor, took her to wife, not regarding that she
+was of less noble lineage than he, nor regarding her dowry; whence all
+the Counts Guidi are born from the said Count and the said lady after
+this fashion; for, as aforesaid, there were left four sons which were
+the heirs: the first was named William, from whom was born Count Guido
+Novello and Count Simon, who were Ghibellines; but by reason of wrongs
+which Count Simon endured of Guido Novello, his brother, concerning
+his heritage, he became a Guelf and entered into league with the
+Guelfs of Florence; and from this Simon was born Count Guido of
+Battifolle; the second son was named Roger, from whom were born Count
+Guido Guerra and Count Salvatico, and these held the side of the
+Guelfs; the third was named Guido of Romena, whence are descended the
+family of Romena, which have been both Guelfs and Ghibellines; the
+fourth was Count Tegrimo, whence are the family of Porciano, which
+were always Ghibellines. The aforesaid Emperor Otho gave said Count
+Guido the lordship of Casentino. We have spoken at such length of the
+said Count Guido (albeit in another place we have treated of the
+beginning of his race), forasmuch as he was a man of worth, and from
+him are descended all the Counts Guidi, and because his descendants
+were afterwards much mixed up with the doings of the Florentines, as
+in due time we will make mention.
+
+
+Sec. 38.--_How the parties of the Guelfs and Ghibellines arose in
+Florence._
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi. 136-144.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1215 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxviii. 103-111. Par. xvi. 136-138.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi. 145-147.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Par. xvi. 128.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1215, M. Gherardo Orlandi being Podesta in
+Florence, one M. Bondelmonte dei Bondelmonti, a noble citizen of
+Florence, had promised to take to wife a maiden of the house of the
+Amidei, honourable and noble citizens; and afterwards as the said M.
+Bondelmonte, who was very charming and a good horseman, was riding
+through the city, a lady of the house of the Donati called to him,
+reproaching him as to the lady to whom he was betrothed, that she was
+not beautiful or worthy of him, and saying: "I have kept this my
+daughter for you;" whom she showed to him, and she was most beautiful;
+and immediately by the inspiration of the devil he was so taken by
+her, that he was betrothed and wedded to her, for which thing the
+kinsfolk of the first betrothed lady, being assembled together, and
+grieving over the shame which M. Bondelmonte had done to them, were
+filled with the accursed indignation, whereby the city of Florence was
+destroyed and divided. For many houses of the nobles swore together to
+bring shame upon the said M. Bondelmonte, in revenge for these wrongs.
+And being in council among themselves, after what fashion they should
+punish him, whether by beating or killing, Mosca de' Lamberti said the
+evil word: 'Thing done has an end'; to wit, that he should be slain;
+and so it was done; for on the morning of Easter of the Resurrection
+the Amidei of San Stefano assembled in their house, and the said M.
+Bondelmonte coming from Oltrarno, nobly arrayed in new white apparel,
+and upon a white palfrey, arriving at the foot of the Ponte Vecchio on
+this side, just at the foot of the pillar where was the statue of
+Mars, the said M. Bondelmonte was dragged from his horse by Schiatta
+degli Uberti, and by Mosca Lamberti and Lambertuccio degli Amidei
+assaulted and smitten, and by Oderigo Fifanti his veins were opened
+and he was brought to his end; and there was with them one of the
+counts of Gangalandi. For the which thing the city rose in arms and
+tumult; and this death of M. Bondelmonte was the cause and beginning
+of the accursed parties of Guelfs and Ghibellines in Florence, albeit
+long before there were factions among the noble citizens and the said
+parties existed by reason of the strifes and questions between the
+Church and the Empire; but by reason of the death of the said M.
+Bondelmonte all the families of the nobles and the other citizens of
+Florence were divided, and some held with the Bondelmonti, who took
+the side of the Guelfs, and were its leaders, and some with the
+Uberti, who were the leaders of the Ghibellines, whence followed much
+evil and disaster to our city, as hereafter shall be told; and it is
+believed that it will never have an end, if God do not cut it short.
+And surely it shows that the enemy of the human race, for the sins of
+the Florentines, had power in that idol of Mars, which the pagan
+Florentines of old were wont to worship, that at the foot of his
+statue such a murder was committed, whence so much evil followed to
+the city of Florence. The accursed names of the Guelf and Ghibelline
+parties are said to have arisen first in Germany by reason that two
+great barons of that country were at war together, and had each a
+strong castle the one over against the other, and the one had the name
+of Guelf, and the other of Ghibelline, and the war lasted so long,
+that all the Germans were divided, and one held to one side, and the
+other to the other; and the strife even came as far as to the court of
+Rome, and all the court took part in it, and the one side was called
+that of Guelf, and the other that of Ghibelline; and so the said names
+continued in Italy.
+
+
+Sec. 39.--_Of the families and the nobles which became Guelfs and
+Ghibellines in Florence._
+
+[Sidenote: 1215 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xv. 115.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi. 128. Inf. xvii. 62, 63. Par. xvi. 127. 104.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. xii. 105. Par. xvi. 105. Convivio iv. 20: 38-41. Par.
+xvi. 104. 123. 136-139. Cf. 109. 110.]
+
+[Sidenote: 66, 135.]
+
+[Sidenote: 127. Inf. xvii. 59, 60.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi. 133. 105. 93. xv. 115. xvi. 110. 111. 93. 103.]
+
+[Sidenote: 108.]
+
+[Sidenote: 104.]
+
+[Sidenote: 115-117. 112-114. 130, 131. 93.]
+
+[Sidenote: 65, 94-96.]
+
+[Sidenote: 121.]
+
+[Sidenote: 104. 101.]
+
+By reason of the said division these were the families of the nobles
+which were at that time and became Guelfs in Florence, counting from
+sesto to sesto, and likewise the Ghibellines. In the sesto of
+Oltrarno, of the Guelfs were the Nerli, gentlemen, who dwelt at first
+in the Mercato Vecchio; the family of the Giacoppi, called Rossi, not
+however of great antiquity of descent, but they were already beginning
+to be powerful; the Frescobaldi, the Bardi, the Mozzi, but of small
+beginnings; of the Ghibellines in the sesto of Oltrarno, among the
+nobles, the counts of Gangalandi, Obriachi, and Mannelli. In the sesto
+of San Piero Scheraggio, the nobles which were Guelfs were, the house
+of the Pulci, the Gherardini, the Foraboschi, the Bagnesi, the
+Guidalotti, the Sacchetti, the Manieri, and they of Quona, fellows to
+them of Volognano, the Lucardesi, the Chiaramontesi, the Compiobbesi,
+the Cavalcanti, but these were descended recently from merchants. In
+the said sesto of the Ghibellines were, the family of the Uberti,
+which was the head of the party, the Fifanti, the Infangati, and
+Amidei, and they of Volognano, and the Malespini, albeit afterwards by
+reason of the outrages of the Uberti their neighbours, they and many
+other families of San Piero Scheraggio became Guelfs. In the sesto of
+the Borgo of the Guelfs were the family of the Bondelmonti, and they
+were the leaders of the party; the family of the Giandonati, the
+Gianfigliazzi, the family of the Scali, of the Gualterotti and of the
+Importuni. Of the Ghibellines of the said sesto, the house of the
+Scolari which were by origin fellows to the Bondelmonti, the house of
+the Guidi, of the Galli and of the Cappiardi. In the sesto of San
+Brancazio of the Guelfs were the Bostichi, the Tornaquinci, the
+Vecchietti. Of the Ghibellines of the said sesto were the Lamberti,
+the Soldanieri, the Cipriani, the Toschi, and the Amieri, and
+Palermini, and Migliorelli, and Pigli, albeit afterwards some of them
+became Guelfs. In the sesto of the Porte del Duomo, of the Guelf party
+in those times were the Tosinghi, the Arrigucci, the Agli, the Sizii.
+Of the Ghibellines of the said sesto were the Barucci, the Cattani of
+Castiglione and of Cersino, the Agolanti and the Brunelleschi; and
+afterwards some of them became Guelfs. In the sesto of the Porte San
+Piero of the Guelf nobles were the Adimari, the Visdomini, the Donati,
+the Pazzi, the della Bella, the Ardinghi, and the Tedaldi which were
+called della Vitella, and already the Cerchi began to rise in
+condition, albeit they were merchants; of the Ghibellines of the said
+sesto were the Caponsacchi, the Lisei, the Abati, the Tedaldini, the
+Giuochi, the Galigari. And many other families of honourable citizens
+and popolani held some with one side, and some with the other, and
+they changed with the times in mind and in party, which would be too
+long a matter to relate. And for the said cause the accursed parties
+first began in Florence, albeit before that there had been a division
+secretly among the noble citizens, whereof some loved the rule of the
+Church and some that of the Empire; nevertheless they were all agreed
+as to the state and well-being of the commonwealth.
+
+
+Sec. 40.--_How the city of Damietta was taken by the Christians, and
+afterwards lost._
+
+
+Sec. 41.--_How the Florentines caused the dwellers in the country around
+to swear fealty to the city, and how the new Carraia Bridge was
+begun._
+
+[Sidenote: 1218 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxxii. 56, 57.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1218, when Otto da Mandella of Milan was Podesta
+of Florence, the Florentines caused all the dwellers in the country
+around to swear fealty to the commonwealth, seeing that before that
+time the greater part had obeyed the rule of the Counts Guidi, and of
+them of Mangone, and of them of Capraia, and of Certaldo, and of many
+Cattani which had taken possession of the lands by privileges and some
+by force of the emperors. And in this year the building of the
+bastions of the Carraia Bridge was begun.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1220 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 42.--_How the Florentines took Mortennana, and completed the new
+bridge called Carraia._
+
+
+END OF SELECTIONS FROM BOOK V.
+
+
+
+
+BOOK VI.
+
+[Sidenote: 1220 A.D.]
+
+ _How Frederick II. was consecrated and made Emperor, and the
+ great things which came to pass._
+
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. x. 119; xiii. 59, 68, 75; xxiii. 66. Purg. xvi. 117.
+Par. iii. 120. Convivio iv. Canzone, ver. 21; also cap. 3: 37-44; 10:
+6-12. De Vulg. El. i. 12: 20-35. Epist. vi. (5) 126-135. Par. iii.
+118-120.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. x. 119.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Purg. xvi. 115-117.]
+
+Sec. 1.--In the year of Christ 1220, on the day of St. Cecilia in
+November, there was crowned and consecrated Emperor at Rome Frederick
+II., king of Sicily, son of the Emperor Henry of Suabia, and of the
+Empress Constance, by Pope Honorius III., with great honour. In the
+beginning he was a friend of the Church, and well might he be, so many
+benefits and favours had he received from the Church, for through the
+Church his father Henry had for wife Constance, queen of Sicily, and
+for dowry the said realm, and the kingdom of Apulia; and when his
+father was dead, he being left a little child, was cared for and
+guarded by the Church as by a mother, and also his kingdom was
+defended, and he was elected king of the Romans against the Emperor
+Otho IV., and he was afterwards crowned Emperor, as aforesaid. But he,
+son of ingratitude that he was, not acknowledging Holy Church as a
+mother, but as a hostile stepmother, in all things was her enemy and
+persecutor, he and his sons, almost more than his precursors, as
+hereafter we shall make mention. This Frederick reigned thirty years
+as Emperor, and was a man of great capacity and of great valour, wise
+in books, and of natural intelligence, universal in all things; was
+acquainted with the Latin tongue, and with our vernacular, with
+German and French, Greek and Arabic, of abounding talents, liberal and
+courteous in giving, courageous and prudent in arms, and was much
+feared. And he was dissolute and licentious after divers fashions, and
+had many concubines and catamites, after the manner of the Saracens,
+and he sought indulgence in all bodily pleasures, and led an epicurean
+life, not taking account that there were ever another life; and this
+was one chief cause why he became the enemy of the clergy and of Holy
+Church. And the other was his greed in taking and sequestrating the
+revenues of Holy Church, to squander them evilly. And many monasteries
+and churches he destroyed in his kingdom of Sicily and Apulia, and
+throughout all Italy, and this, either through his own vices and
+defects, or by reason of the rulers of Holy Church who could not or
+would not deal with him, nor be content that he should have the
+Imperial rights, wherefore he subdued and smote Holy Church; or
+because that God permitted it as a Divine judgment, because the rulers
+of the Church had been the means through whom he became the child of
+the holy nun, Constance, they not remembering the persecutions which
+Henry, his father, and Frederick, his grandfather, had caused Holy
+Church to endure. This Frederick did many noteworthy things in his
+time, and raised in all the chief cities of Sicily and of Apulia,
+strong and rich fortresses which are still standing, and built the
+fortress of Capovana, in Naples, and the towers and gate upon the
+bridge over the river of Volturno at Capua, the which are very
+marvellous; and he made the park for sport on the marsh of Foggia in
+Apulia, and made the hunting park near Gravina and Amalfi in the
+mountains. In winter he abode at Foggia, and in summer in the
+mountains, for the delights of the chase. And many other noteworthy
+things he caused to be made, as the castle of Prato, and the fortress
+of Samminiato, and many other things, as we shall make mention
+hereafter. And he had two sons by his first wife, Henry and Conrad,
+whom he caused each one during his lifetime to be elected king of the
+Romans; and by the daughter of King John of Jerusalem he had King
+Giordano, and by others he had King Frederick (from whom are descended
+the lineage of those who are called of Antioch), King Enzo and King
+Manfred, who were great enemies to Holy Church; and during his life he
+and his sons lived and ruled with much earthly splendour; but in the
+end he and his sons because of their sins came to an ill end, and
+their line was extinguished, as we shall make mention hereafter.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1222 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1224 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 2.--_Of the cause why war broke out between the Florentines and the
+Pisans._ Sec. 3.--_How the Pisans were routed by the Florentines at
+Casteldelbosco._ Sec. 4.--_How the Florentines marched against Fegghine,
+and built l'Ancisa._
+
+
+Sec. 5.--_How the Florentines led an army against Pistoia, and laid waste
+the country round about._
+
+[Sidenote: 1228 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. xxv. 1-3.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1228, when M. Andrea of Perugia was Podesta of
+Florence, the Florentines led an army against Pistoia with the
+Carroccio, and this was because the Pistoians were making war against
+Montemurlo, and ill-treating it; and the said host laid waste the
+country round about the city up to the suburbs, and destroyed the
+towers of Montefiore which were very strong; and the fortress of
+Carmignano surrendered to the commonwealth of Florence. And note that
+upon the rock of Carmignano there was a tower seventy cubits high,
+and thereupon two arms in marble, whereof the hands were 'making the
+figs' at Florence; wherefore the artificers of Florence, to express
+contempt for money or ought else offered to them, were wont to say: "I
+can't see it, for the fortress of Carmignano is in the way." And the
+Pistoians hereupon agreed to whatever terms the Florentines might
+devise, and caused the said fortress of Carmignano to be destroyed.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1229 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1232 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1233 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1234 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1235 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 6.--_How the Sienese renewed the war with the Florentines on account
+of Montepulciano._ Sec. 7.--_Of a great miracle that came to pass in S.
+Ambrogio in Florence, concerning the body of Christ._ Sec. 8.--_Yet again
+of the war of the Florentines with the Sienese._ Sec. 9.--_Of the
+conflagration in Florence._ Sec. 10.--_Yet again of the war with Siena._
+Sec. 11.--_The same._ Sec. 12.--_Of the conflagration in Florence._ Sec.
+13.--_How peace was made between the Florentines and the Sienese._
+
+
+Sec. 14.--_How the Emperor Frederick came to enmity with the Church._
+
+[Sidenote: 1220 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1226 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. De Vulg. El. i. 10: 50, 63. i. 11: 20. i. 13: 31. Par.
+xi. 53.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1230 A.D.]
+
+After that Frederick II. was crowned by Pope Honorius, as we have
+aforesaid, in the beginning he was the friend of the Church, but a
+little time after, through his pride and avarice, he began to usurp
+the rights of the Church throughout all his Empire, and in the realm
+of Sicily and Apulia, appointing bishops and archbishops and other
+prelates, and driving away those sent by the Pope, and raising imposts
+and taxes from the clergy, doing shame to Holy Church; for the which
+thing by the said Pope Honorius, which had crowned him, he was cited,
+and admonished that he should leave to Holy Church her rights, and
+render the dues. But the Emperor perceived himself to be great in
+power and estate, alike through the force of the Germans and through
+that of the realm of Sicily, and that he was lord over sea and land,
+and was feared by all the rulers of Christendom, and also by the
+Saracens, and was buttressed around by the sons which he had of his
+first wife, daughter of the landgrave of Germany, to wit Henry and
+Conrad, the which Henry he had caused to be crowned in Germany king of
+the Romans, and Conrad was duke of Suabia, and Frederick of Antioch,
+his first natural son, he made king, and Enzo, his natural son, was
+king of Sardinia, and Manfred prince of Taranto; wherefore he would
+not yield obedience to the Church, but rather was he obstinate, living
+after the fashion of the world, in all bodily delights. For the which
+thing by the said Pope Honorius he was excommunicated the year of
+Christ 1220, and did not for that reason cease from persecuting the
+Church, but so much the more usurped its rights, and so remained the
+enemy of the Church and of the Pope Honorius as long as he lived. The
+which Pope passed from this life the year of Christ 1226, and after
+him was made Pope Gregory IX., born at Alagna in the Campagna, the
+which reigned as pope fourteen years; the which Pope Gregory had a
+great war with the Emperor Frederick, forasmuch as the Emperor would
+in no wise relinquish the rights and jurisdiction of Holy Church, but
+rather the more usurped them; and many churches of the kingdom he
+caused to be pulled down and deserted, laying heavy imposts upon the
+clergy and the churches; and whereas there were certain Saracens in
+the mountains of Trapali in Sicily, the Emperor, that he might be the
+more secure in the island, and might keep them at a distance from the
+Saracens of Barbary, and also to the end that by them he might keep in
+fear his subjects in Apulia, by wit and promises drew them from those
+mountains, and put them in Apulia in an ancient deserted city, which
+of old was in league with the Romans, and was destroyed by the
+Samnites, to wit by those of Benivento, the which city was then called
+Licera, and now is called Nocera, and they were more than 20,000
+men-at-arms; and that city they rebuilt very strong; the which
+ofttimes overran the places of Apulia to lay them waste. And when the
+said Emperor Frederick was at war with the Church, he caused them to
+come into the duchy of Spoleto, and besieged at that time the city of
+Assisi, and did great harm to Holy Church; for the which thing the
+said Pope Gregory confirmed against him the sentence given by Pope
+Honorius his predecessor, and again gave sentence of excommunication
+against him, the year of Christ 1230.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1233 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1234 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1236 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1237 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1239 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1240 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 15.--_How peace was made between Pope Gregory and the Emperor
+Frederick._ Sec. 16.--_How the Church ordered a crusade over seas,
+whereof the Emperor Frederick was captain, and how, after the
+expedition had set forth, he turned back._ Sec. 17.--_How the Emperor
+Frederick passed over seas, and made peace with the Soldan, and
+recovered Jerusalem, against the will of the Church._ Sec. 18.--_How the
+Emperor returned from over seas because the Kingdom had rebelled
+against him, and how he began war again with the Church._ Sec. 19.--_How
+the Emperor Frederick caused the Pisans to capture at sea the prelates
+of the Church which were coming to the council._ Sec. 20.--_How the
+Milanese were discomfited by the Emperor._ Sec. 21.--_How the Emperor
+Frederick besieged and took the city of Faenza._
+
+
+Sec. 22.--_How the Emperor laid hold of King Henry, his son._
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. iii. 121.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1236 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xiii. 31-108.]
+
+In these same times (albeit it had begun before) Henry Sciancato [the
+Lame], the first-born of the said Emperor Frederick, who had had him
+chosen king of the Romans by the electors of Germany as aforesaid,
+perceiving that the Emperor his father was doing all he might against
+Holy Church, and feeling the same heavy upon his conscience, time and
+again reproved his father, for that he was doing ill; whereat the
+Emperor set himself against him, and neither loving him nor dealing
+with him as with a son, raised up false accusers who testified that
+the said Henry had it in his mind to rebel against him as concerning
+his Empire, at the request of the Church. On the which plea (were it
+true or false) he seized his said son, King Henry, and two sons of
+his, little lads, and sent them into Apulia, into prison severally;
+and there he put him to death by starvation in great torment, and
+afterward Manfred put his sons to death. The Emperor sent to Germany,
+and again had Conrad, his second son, elected king of the Romans in
+succession to himself; and this was the year of Christ 1236. Then
+after a certain time the Emperor put out the eyes of that wise man
+Master Piero dalle Vigne, the famous poet, accusing him of treason,
+but this came about through envy of his great estate. And thereon the
+said M. Piero soon suffered himself to die of grief in prison, and
+there were who said that he himself took away his own life.
+
+
+Sec. 23.--_How the war began between Pope Innocent IV. and the Emperor
+Frederick._
+
+[Sidenote: 1241 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Purg. xix. 100-102.]
+
+It came to pass afterwards, as it pleased God, that there was elected
+Pope Messer Ottobuono dal Fiesco, of the counts of Lavagna of Genoa,
+the which was cardinal, and was made Pope as being the greatest friend
+and confidant whom the Emperor Frederick had in Holy Church, to the
+end there might be peace between the Church and him; and he was called
+Pope Innocent IV., and this was the year of Christ 1241, and he
+reigned as Pope eleven years, and added to the Church many cardinals
+from divers countries of Christendom. And when he was elected Pope,
+the tidings were brought to the Emperor Frederick with great
+rejoicing, knowing that he was his great friend and protector. But the
+Emperor, when he heard it, was greatly disturbed, whence his barons
+marvelled much, and he said: "Marvel not; for this election will be of
+much hurt to us; for he was our friend when cardinal, and now he will
+be our enemy as Pope;" and so it came to pass, for when the said Pope
+was consecrated, he demanded back from the Emperor the lands and
+jurisdictions which he held of the Church, as to which request the
+Emperor held him some time in treaty as to an agreement, but all was
+vanity and deception. In the end, the said Pope seeing himself to have
+been led about by deceitful words, to the hurt and shame of himself
+and of Holy Church, became more an enemy of the Emperor Frederick than
+his predecessors had been; and seeing that the power of the Emperor
+was so great that he ruled tyrannously over almost the whole of Italy,
+and that the roads were all taken and guarded by his guards, so that
+none could come to the court of Rome without his will and license,
+the said Pope seeing himself in the said manner thus besieged, sent
+secret orders to his kinsfolk at Genoa, and caused twenty galleys to
+be armed, and straightway caused them to come to Rome, and thereupon
+embarked with all his cardinals and with all his court, and
+immediately caused himself to be conveyed to his city of Genoa without
+any opposition; and having tarried some time in Genoa, he came to
+Lyons on the Rhone, by the way of Provence; and this was the year of
+Christ 1241.
+
+
+Sec. 24.--_Of the sentence which Pope Innocent pronounced at the council
+of Lyons-on-Rhone, upon the Emperor Frederick._
+
+[Sidenote: 1245 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xiii. 55-78.]
+
+When Pope Innocent was at Lyons, he called a general council in the
+said place, and invited from throughout the whole world bishops and
+archbishops and other prelates, who all came thither; and there came
+to see him as far as the monastery of Crugni [Clugny] in Burgundy the
+good King Louis of France, and afterwards he came as far as to the
+council at Lyons, where he offered himself and his realm to the
+service of the said Pope and of Holy Church against the Emperor
+Frederick, and against all the enemies of Holy Church; and then he
+took the cross to go over seas. And when King Louis was gone the Pope
+enacted sundry things in the said council to the good of Christendom,
+and canonized sundry saints, as the Martinian Chronicle makes mention
+where it treats of him. And this done, the Pope summoned the said
+Frederick to the said council, as to a neutral place, to excuse
+himself of thirteen articles proved against him of things done
+against the faith of Christ, and against Holy Church; the which
+Emperor would not there appear, but sent thither his ambassadors and
+representatives--the bishop of Freneborgo [Freiburg] in Germany, and
+Brother Hugh, master of the mansion of S. Mary of the Germans, and the
+wise clerk and master Piero dalle Vigne of the Kingdom, who, making
+excuses for the Emperor that he was not able to come by reason of
+sickness and suffering in his person, prayed the said Pope and his
+brethren to pardon him, and averred that he would cry the Pope mercy,
+and would restore that which he had seized of the Church; and they
+offered, if the Pope would pardon him, that he would bind himself so
+to frame it that within one year the soldan of the Saracens should
+render up to his command the Holy Land over seas. And the said Pope,
+hearing the endless excuses and vain offers of the Emperor, demanded
+of the said ambassadors if they had an authentic mandate for this,
+whereon they produced a full authorization, under the golden seal of
+the said Emperor, to promise and undertake it all. And when the Pope
+had it in his hand, in full council, the said ambassadors being
+present, he denounced Frederick on all the said thirteen criminal
+articles, and to confirm it said: "Judge, faithful Christians, whether
+Frederick betrays Holy Church and all Christendom or no: for according
+to his mandate he offers within one year to make the soldan restore
+the Holy Land, very clearly showing that the soldan holds it through
+him, to the shame of all Christians." And this said and declared, he
+caused the process against the said Emperor to be published; and
+condemned him and excommunicated him as a heretic and persecutor of
+Holy Church, laying to his charge many foul crimes proved against
+him; and he deprived him of the lordship of the Empire, and of the
+realm of Sicily, and of that of Jerusalem, absolving from all fealty
+and oaths all his barons and subjects, excommunicating whoever should
+obey him, or should give him aid or favour, or further should call him
+Emperor or king. And the said sentence was passed at the said council
+at Lyons on the Rhone, the year of Christ 1245, the 17th of July. The
+principal causes why Frederick was condemned were four: first,
+forasmuch as when the Church invested him with the realm of Sicily and
+of Apulia, and afterwards with the Empire, he swore to the Church
+before his barons, and before the Emperor Baldwin of Constantinople,
+and before all the court of Rome, to defend Holy Church in all her
+honours and rights against all men, and to pay the rightful tribute,
+and to restore all the possessions and jurisdictions of Holy Church,
+of the which things he had done the contrary, and was perjured, and
+treacherous, and had vilely and wrongfully defamed Pope Gregory IX.
+and his cardinals by his letters throughout the whole world. The
+second thing was, that he broke the peace made by him with the Church,
+not remembering the pardons granted to him by withdrawal of the
+excommunications, and with respect to all the misdeeds done by him
+against Holy Church; and in that peace he had sworn and promised never
+to injure those who had been with the Church against him; but he had
+done quite the contrary, seeing that he had scattered them all, either
+by death or by exile, them and their families, taking away their
+possessions, and had not restored either to the Templars or to the
+Hospitallers their mansions which he had occupied, the which by the
+articles of the peace he had promised to restore and give back; and
+by force he had kept vacant eleven archbishoprics, with many
+bishoprics and abbeys in the Empire and in the Kingdom, not suffering
+those who were duly elected by the Pope to hold or to till them; doing
+violence and extortions on sacred persons, constraining them to appear
+and plead before his bailiffs and secular lords. The third cause was
+the sacrilege he had done, when by the galleys of Pisa, and by his son
+King Enzo, he had taken the cardinals and many prelates at sea, as we
+afore told, and caused some to be drowned in the sea, and kept some
+dying in cruel and harsh prisons. The fourth cause was, because he was
+found and convicted in many articles of heresy in the faith; and
+certainly he was no Christian Catholic, living always more after his
+delight and pleasure than according to reason or just law; and in
+fellowship with the Saracens. Likewise he used the Church and her
+offices but little or not at all, and did no alms; so that not without
+great and evident causes he was deposed and condemned; and albeit he
+did much injury and persecution to Holy Church after that he was
+condemned, yet in a short time every honour and state and power and
+greatness God took from him, and showed him His wrath, as we shall
+make mention hereafter. And because many have made question, who was
+to blame in the quarrel, whether the Church or the Emperor, hearing
+his excuses in his letters, therefore to this I make answer and say,
+that manifestly not by one divine miracle but by many was it shown
+that the Emperor was to blame, as God showed by open and visible
+judgments in His wrath upon Frederick and his seed.
+
+
+Sec. 25.--_How the Pope and the Church caused a new Emperor to be
+elected in place of Frederick, the deposed Emperor._
+
+[Sidenote: 1245 A.D.]
+
+The said Frederick being deposed and condemned, as has been afore
+said, the Pope sent word to the electors of Germany who elect the king
+of the Romans, that they should without delay make a new choice for
+the Empire; and this was done, for they elected William, count of
+Holland and landgrave, a valiant lord, to whom the Church gave her
+support, causing a great part of Germany to rebel, and gave indulgence
+and pardon as if they were going over seas, to whoever should be
+against the said Frederick; whence in Germany there was great war
+between the said elected King William of Holland and King Conrad, son
+of the said Frederick; but the war endured but a short time, for the
+said King William died, the year of Christ . . . and the said Conrad
+reigned in Germany, whom his father Frederick the Emperor had caused
+to be elected king, as we shall make mention. From this sentence
+Frederick appealed to the successor of Pope Innocent, and sent his
+letters and messengers throughout all Christendom, complaining of the
+said sentence, and setting forth how iniquitous it was, as appears by
+his epistle written by the said Messer Piero dalle Vigne, which
+begins, after the salutation: "Although we believe, that words of the
+already current tidings, etc." But considering the real facts as to
+the process, and as to the deeds of Frederick against the Church, and
+as to his dissolute and uncatholic life, he was guilty and deserving
+of the deposition, for the reasons set forth in the said process; and
+afterwards for the deeds done by the said Frederick after his
+deposition; for if before he was and had been cruel and persecuting to
+Holy Church and to the believers in Tuscany and in Lombardy,
+afterwards he was much more so, as long as he lived, as hereafter we
+shall make mention. We will now leave for a time the story of the
+doings of Frederick, and turn back to where we left off telling of the
+doings of Florence and of the other noteworthy events which came to
+pass in those days throughout the whole world; returning afterwards to
+the doings and to the end of the said Frederick and of his sons.
+
+
+Sec. 26.--_We will tell an incident in the affairs of Florence._
+
+[Sidenote: 1237 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Purg. xii. 102.]
+
+The year of Christ 1237, Messer Rubaconte da Mandello of Milan being
+Podesta of Florence, the new bridge was made in Florence, and he laid
+the first stone with his own hand, and threw the first trowelful of
+mortar, and from the name of the said Podesta the bridge was named
+Rubaconte. And during his government all the roads in Florence were
+paved; for before there was but little paving, save in certain
+particular places, master streets being paved with bricks; and through
+this convenience and work the city of Florence became more clean, and
+more beautiful, and more healthy.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1238 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1240 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1248 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 27.--_How and when there was a total eclipse of the sun._ Sec.
+28.--_Of the coming of the Tartars into the parts of Europe, as far as
+Germany._ Sec. 29.--_Of a great miracle of an earthquake in Burgundy._
+Sec. 30.--_Of a great miracle that took place in Spain._ Sec. 31.--_How
+the town of Sanginiegio was rebuilt and then destroyed._ Sec. 32.--_How
+the Tartars routed the Turks._
+
+
+Sec. 33.--_How the Guelf party was first driven from Florence by the
+Ghibellines and the forces of the Emperor Frederick._
+
+[Sidenote: 1248 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi. 109, 110.]
+
+[Sidenote: 127.]
+
+[Sidenote: 121, 104, 101, 112-114, 115-117.]
+
+[Sidenote: 108.]
+
+[Sidenote: 110, 111.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Par. xvi. 151-154.]
+
+[Sidenote: 93, 66, 140-144, 127, 93.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xv. 115.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. x. 48.]
+
+In the said times when Frederick was in Lombardy, having been deposed
+from the title of Emperor by Pope Innocent, as we have said, in so far
+as he could he sought to destroy in Tuscany and in Lombardy the
+faithful followers of Holy Church, in all the cities where he had
+power. And first he began to demand hostages from all the cities of
+Tuscany, and took them from both Ghibellines and Guelfs, and sent them
+to Samminiato del Tedesco; but when this was done, he released the
+Ghibellines and retained the Guelfs, which were afterwards abandoned
+as poor prisoners, and abode long time in Samminiato as beggars. And
+forasmuch as our city of Florence in those times was not among the
+least notable and powerful of Italy, he desired especially to vent his
+spleen against it, and to increase the accursed parties of the Guelfs
+and Ghibellines, which had begun long time before through the death of
+M. Bondelmonte, and before, as we have already shown. But albeit ever
+since this the said parties had continued among the nobles of Florence
+(who were also ever and again at war among themselves by reason of
+their private enmities), and albeit they were divided into the said
+parties, each holding with his own, they which were called the Guelfs
+loving the side of the Pope and of Holy Church, and they which were
+called the Ghibellines loving and favouring the Emperor and his
+allies, nevertheless, the people and commonwealth had been maintained
+in unity to the well-being and honour, and good estate of the
+republic. But now the said Emperor sent ambassadors and letters to the
+family of the Uberti, which were heads of his party, and their allies
+which were called Ghibellines, inviting them to drive their enemies,
+which were called Guelfs, from the city, and offering them aid of his
+horsemen; and this caused the Uberti to begin dissension and civil
+strife in Florence, whence the city began to be disordered, and the
+nobles and all the people to be divided, some holding to one party,
+and some to the other; and in divers parts of the city there was
+fighting long time. Among the other places, the chief was at the
+houses of the Uberti, which were where the great palace of the people
+now is. They gathered there with their allies, and fought against the
+Guelfs of the sesto of San Piero Scheraggio, whereof were leaders the
+family dal Bagno, called Bagnesi, and the Pulci, and the Guidalotti,
+and all the allies of the Guelfs of that sesto; and also the Guelfs of
+Oltrarno passing over the mill-dams, came to succour them when they
+were attacked by the Uberti. The second place of combat was in the
+Porte San Piero, where the leaders of the Ghibellines were the
+Tedaldini, forasmuch as they had the strongest dwellings in palaces
+and towers, and with them held the Caponsacchi, the Lisei, the Giuochi
+and Abati, and Galigari, and the fighting was against the house of the
+Donati, and the Visdomini, and Pazzi, and Adimari. And the third place
+of combat was in Porte del Duomo, at the tower of Messer Lancia of the
+Cattani of Castiglione, and of Cersino, to whom belonged the heads of
+the Ghibellines, with the Agolanti and Brunelleschi, and many popolari
+of their party, against the Tosinghi, Agli and Arrigucci. And the
+fourth combat and battle was in San Brancazio, whereof the leaders for
+the Ghibellines were the Lamberti, and Toschi, Amieri, Cipriani, and
+Migliorelli, with many followers of the Popolo, against the
+Tornaquinci, and Vecchietti, and Pigli, albeit part of the Pigli were
+Ghibellines. And the Ghibellines drew up in San Brancazio at the tower
+of the Scarafaggio [Scarabaeus] of the Soldanieri, and from that tower
+an arrow struck M. Rustico Marignolli in the face (who was bearing the
+Guelf standard, to wit, a crimson lily on a white field), whence he
+died; and the very day that the Guelfs were expelled, and before they
+departed, they came in arms to bury him in San Lorenzo; and when the
+Guelfs were departed, the canons of San Lorenzo carried away the body,
+to the end that the Ghibellines might not unbury it and do it outrage,
+forasmuch as he was a great leader of the Guelf party. And the next
+force of the Ghibellines was in the Borgo, whereof the leaders were
+the Scolari, and Soldanieri, and Guidi, against the Bondelmonti,
+Giandonati, Bostichi and Cavalcanti, Scali and Gianfigliazzi. In
+Oltrarno it was the Ubbriachi and the Mannelli (and there were no
+other nobles of renown, but families of the popolari) against the
+Rossi and the Nerli. Thus it came to pass that the said frays endured
+long time, and there was fighting at barricades from street to street,
+and from one tower to another (for there were many in Florence in
+these times, 100 cubits and more in height), and with mangonels and
+other engines they fought together by day and by night. And in the
+midst of this strife and fighting the Emperor Frederick sent into
+Florence King Frederick, his bastard son, with 1,600 horsemen of his
+German followers. When the Ghibellines heard that they were nigh unto
+Florence, they took courage fighting with more force and boldness
+against the Guelfs, which had no allies, nor were expecting any
+succour, forasmuch as the Church was at Lyons on the Rhone beyond the
+mountains, and the power of Frederick was beyond measure great in all
+parts of Italy. And on this occasion the Ghibellines used a device of
+war; for at the house of the Uberti the greater part of the Ghibelline
+forces assembled, and when the fight began at the places of battle set
+forth above, they went in a mass to oppose the Guelfs, and in this
+wise they overcame them well nigh in every part of the city, save in
+their own neighbourhood against the barricades of the Guidalotti and
+the Bagnesi, which endured more stoutly; and to that place the Guelfs
+repaired, and all the forces of the Ghibellines against them. At last,
+the Guelfs saw themselves to be hard pressed, and heard that
+Frederick's knights were already in Florence (King Frederick having
+already entered with his followers on Sunday morning), yet they held
+out until the following Wednesday. Then, not being able longer to
+resist the forces of the Ghibellines, they abandoned the defence, and
+departed from the city on the night of S. Mary Candlemas in the year
+of Christ 1248. When the Guelf party were driven from Florence, the
+nobles of that party withdrew, some of them to the fortress of
+Montevarchi in Valdarno, and some to the fortress of Capraia; and
+Pelago, and Ristonchio, and Magnale, up to Cascia, were held by the
+Guelfs, and were called the League; and therein they made war against
+the city and the territory around Florence. Other popolani of that
+party repaired to their farms and to their friends in the country. The
+Ghibellines which remained masters in Florence, with the forces and
+the horsemen of the Emperor Frederick, changed the ruling of the city
+after their mind, and caused thirty-six fortresses of the Guelfs to be
+destroyed, palaces and great towers, among the which the most noble
+was that of the Tosinghi upon the Mercato Vecchio, called the Palace,
+90 cubits high, built with marble columns, and a tower thereto 130
+cubits. Also the Ghibellines attempted a yet more impious deed,
+forasmuch as the Guelfs resorted much to the church of S. Giovanni,
+and all the good people assembled there on Sunday morning, and there
+they solemnized marriages; and when the Ghibellines came to destroy
+the towers of the Guelfs, there was one among them very great and
+beautiful, which was upon the piazza of S. Giovanni, at the entrance
+of the street of the Adimari, and it was called the tower of the
+Guardamorto, forasmuch as of old all the good folk which died were
+buried at S. Giovanni; and the Ghibellines, purposing to rase to the
+ground the said tower, caused it to be propped up in such wise that
+when the fire was applied to the props it should fall upon the church
+of S. Giovanni; and this was done. But as it pleased God, by reverence
+and miracle of the blessed John, the tower, which was 120 cubits high,
+showed manifestly, when it came to fall, that it would avoid the holy
+church, and turned and fell directly upon the piazza, wherefore all
+the Florentines marvelled and the popolo rejoiced greatly. And note,
+that since the city of Florence had been rebuilt, not one house had
+been destroyed, and the said accursed destruction thereof was then
+begun by the Ghibellines. And they ordained that of the Emperor
+Frederick's followers there should remain 1,800 German horsemen in
+their pay, whereof Count Giordano was captain. It came to pass that in
+the same year when the Guelfs were driven from Florence, they which
+were at Montevarchi were attacked by the German troops which were in
+garrison in the fortress of Gangareta in the market place of the said
+Montevarchi, and there was a fierce battle of but few people, as far
+as the Arno, between the Guelf refugees from Florence, and the
+Germans. In the end the Germans were discomfited, and a great part
+thereof slain and taken prisoners, and this was in the year of Christ
+1248.
+
+
+Sec. 34.--_How the host of the Emperor Frederick was defeated by the
+Parmesans, and by the Pope's legate._
+
+[Sidenote: Epist. vi. (5) 127-135.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1248 A.D.]
+
+At this time the Emperor Frederick was laying siege to the city of
+Parma in Lombardy, because they had rebelled against his lordship and
+held with the Church; and within Parma was the Pope's legate with
+mounted men-at-arms sent by the Church to aid them. Frederick was
+without the city, with all his forces and with the Lombards, and abode
+there many months, and had sworn never to depart thence until he
+should have taken it; and for this reason he had made a camp over
+against the said city of Parma, after the manner of another town, with
+moats and palisades and towers, and houses roofed and walled, to which
+he gave the name of Vittoria; and by the said siege he had much
+straitened the city of Parma, and it was so poorly furnished with
+victuals, that they could hold out but a short while longer, and this
+the Emperor knew well by his spies; and for the said cause he held
+them for folk well-nigh vanquished, and troubled himself little about
+them. It came to pass, as it pleased God, that one day the Emperor was
+taking his pleasure in the chase, with birds and with dogs, going
+forth from Vittoria with certain of his barons and servants; and the
+citizens of Parma, having learnt this from their spies, as folk
+reckless, or rather desperate, all sallied forth from Parma in arms,
+foot and horse together, and vigorously attacked the said camp of
+Vittoria in divers parts. The Emperor's soldiers, unprepared and in
+disorder, with insufficient guards (as they who took little thought of
+their enemies), seeing themselves thus suddenly and fiercely attacked,
+and being unable to defend themselves in the absence of their lord,
+were all put to flight and discomfiture, albeit there were three times
+as many horse and foot as there were in Parma; in which defeat many of
+them were taken or slain, and the Emperor himself, when he heard the
+news, fled with great shame to Cremona; and the Parmesans took the
+said camp, wherein they found great store of muniments of war, and
+victual, and vessels of silver, and all the treasure which the Emperor
+had in Lombardy, and the crown of the said Emperor, which the
+Parmesans still have in the sacristy of their bishop's palace; whereby
+they were all enriched. And when they had spoiled the said place of
+its booty, they set fire thereto, and destroyed it utterly, to the end
+there might be no trace of it, whether as city or as camp, for ever.
+And this was the first Tuesday in February, in the year of Christ
+1248.
+
+
+Sec. 35.--_How the Guelf refugees from Florence were taken in the
+fortress of Capraia._
+
+[Sidenote: 1248 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1249 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1248 A.D.]
+
+A short time afterwards the Emperor departed from Lombardy, leaving
+there his natural son Enzo, king of Sardinia, with many horsemen, as
+his vicar-general over the Lombard League, and came into Tuscany, and
+found that the Ghibelline party which was ruling the city of Florence
+had laid siege in the month of March to the fortress of Capraia,
+wherein were the leaders of the chief families of Guelf nobles exiled
+from Florence. And when the Emperor came into Tuscany, he would not
+enter into the city of Florence, nor ever had entered therein, but was
+ware of it, for by soothsayers or by the saying of some demon or
+prophecy, he had discovered that he should die in Firenze, wherefore
+he feared greatly. Nevertheless, he came to the army, and went to
+sojourn in the castle of Fucecchio, and left the greater part of his
+followers at the siege of Capraia, which stronghold being straitly
+besieged, and having scanty provisions, was not able to hold out
+longer; and the besieged held counsel about coming to parley, and they
+would have been granted any liberal terms which they desired; but a
+certain shoemaker, an exile from Florence, which had been a leading
+Ancient, not being invited to the said council, came to the gate very
+wrathful, and cried to the host that the town could hold out no
+longer, for the which thing the host would not consent to treat,
+wherefore they within, as dead men, surrendered themselves to the
+mercy of the Emperor. And this was in the month of May, in the year of
+Christ 1249. And the captains of the said Guelfs were Count Ridolfo of
+Capraia, and M. Rinieri Zingane of the Bondelmonti. And when they came
+to Fucecchio to the Emperor, he took them all with him prisoners to
+Apulia; and afterwards, by reason of letters and ambassadors sent to
+him by the Ghibellines of Florence, he put out the eyes of all which
+belonged to the great noble families in Florence, and then drowned
+them in the sea, save M. Rinieri Zingane, because he found him so wise
+and great of soul that he would not put him to death, but he put out
+his eyes, who afterwards ended his life as a monk in the island of
+Montecristo. And the aforesaid shoemaker was spared by the besiegers;
+and when the Guelfs had returned to Florence, he also returned
+thither, and being recognised in the parliament, at the outcry of the
+people he was stoned, and vilely dragged along the ground by the
+children, and thrown into the moats.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1250 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 36.--_How King Louis of France was routed and taken prisoner by the
+Saracens at la Monsura in Egypt._ Sec. 37.--_How King Enzo, son of the
+Emperor Frederick, was routed and taken prisoner by the Bolognese._ Sec.
+38.--_How certain Ghibellines of Florence were discomfited in the
+village of Fegghine by the Guelf refugees._
+
+
+Sec. 39.--_How the Primo Popolo was formed in Florence to be a defence
+against the violence and attacks of the Ghibellines._
+
+[Sidenote: 1250 A.D.]
+
+When the said host came back to Florence there was great contention
+amongst the citizens, inasmuch as the Ghibellines, who ruled the land,
+crushed the people with insupportable burdens, taxes, and imposts; and
+with little to show for it, for the Guelfs were already established up
+and down in the territory of Florence, holding many fortresses and
+making war upon the city. And besides all this, they of the house of
+the Uberti and all the other Ghibelline nobles tyrannized over the
+people with ruthless extortion and violence and outrage. Wherefore the
+good citizens of Florence, tumultuously gathering together, assembled
+themselves at the church of San Firenze; but not daring to remain
+there, because of the power of the Uberti, they went and took their
+stand at the church of the Minor Friars at Santa Croce, and remaining
+there under arms they dared not to return to their homes, lest when
+they had laid down their arms they should be broken by the Uberti and
+the other nobles and condemned by the magistrates. So they went under
+arms to the houses of the Anchioni of San Lorenzo, which were very
+strong, and there, still under arms, they forcibly elected thirty-six
+corporals of the people, and took away the rule from the Podesta,
+which was then in Florence, and removed all the officials. And this
+done, with no further conflict they ordained and created a popular
+government with certain new ordinances and statutes. They elected
+captain of the people M. Uberto da Lucca, and he was the first captain
+of Florence, and they elected twelve Ancients of the people, two for
+each sesto, to guide the people and counsel the said captain, and they
+were to meet in the houses of the Badia over the gate which goes to
+Santa Margherita, and to return to their own homes to eat and sleep;
+and this was done on the twentieth day of October, the year of Christ
+1250. And on this day the said captain distributed twenty standards
+amongst the people, giving them to certain corporals divided according
+to companies of arms and districts, including sundry parishes, in
+order that when need were every man should arm himself and draw to the
+standard of his company, and then with the said standards draw to the
+said captain of the people. And they had a bell made which the said
+captain kept in the Lion's Tower. And the chief standard of the
+people, which was the captain's, was dimidiated white and red.
+
+* * * * *
+
+
+Sec. 40.--_Of the ensigns of war which were borne by the commonwealth of
+Florence._
+
+
+Sec. 41.--_How the Emperor Frederick died at Firenzuola in Apulia._
+
+[Sidenote: 1250 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Purg. iii. 121.]
+
+In the said year 1250, the Emperor Frederick being in Apulia, in the
+city of Firenzuola, at the entrance to the Abruzzi, fell grievously
+sick, and for all his augury he knew not how to take heed; for he had
+learned that he must die in Firenze, wherefore, as aforesaid, never
+would he set foot in Firenze, neither in Faenza; yet ill did he
+interpret the lying word of the demon, for he was bidden beware lest
+he should die in Firenze, and he took no heed of Firenzuola. It came
+to pass that, his malady increasing upon him, there being with him one
+of his bastard sons, named Manfred, which was desirous of having the
+treasure of Frederick, his father, and the lordship of the kingdom and
+of Sicily, and fearing that Frederick might recover him of that
+sickness, or leave a testament, the said Manfred made a league with
+his private chamberlain, and promising him many gifts and great
+lordship, covered the mouth of Frederick with a bolster and so stifled
+him, and after the said manner the said Frederick died, deposed from
+the Empire, and excommunicated by Holy Church, without repentance or
+sacrament of Holy Church. And by this may we note the word which
+Christ said in the Gospel: "Ye shall die in your sins," for so it came
+to pass with Frederick, which was such an enemy to Holy Church, who
+brought his wife and King Henry, his son, to death, and saw himself
+discomfited, and his son Enzo taken, and himself, by his son Manfred,
+vilely slain, and without repentance; and this was the day of S. Lucy
+in December, the said year 1250. And him dead, the said Manfred became
+guardian of the realm and of all the treasure, and caused the body of
+Frederick to be brought and buried with honour in the church of
+Monreale above the city of Palermo in Sicily, and at his burying he
+desired to write many words of his greatness and power and the mighty
+deeds done by him; but one Trottano, a clerk, made these brief verses,
+the which were very pleasing to Manfred and to the other barons, and
+he caused them to be engraven on the said sepulchre, the which said:--
+
+ Si probitas, sensus, virtutum gratia, census
+ Nobilitas orti, possent resistere morti,
+ Non foret extinctus Federicus, qui jacet intus.[3]
+
+[Footnote 3:
+
+ If sense or frankness bold, if virtues' grace or gold,
+ If birth from noble source, could stay death in his course,
+ Frederick who here doth lie, would ne'er have come to die.]
+
+And note, that at the time when the Emperor Frederick died, he had
+sent into Tuscany for all the hostages of the Guelfs to cause them to
+be put to death; and on the way to Apulia, when they were in Maremma,
+they heard news of the death of Frederick, and the guards, for fear,
+abandoned them, who escaped to Campiglia, and thence returned to
+Florence and to the other cities of Tuscany, very poor and in great
+need.
+
+
+Sec. 42.--_How the Popolo of Florence peaceably restored the Guelfs to
+Florence._
+
+[Sidenote: 1250 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. x. 49, 50.]
+
+The same night that the Emperor Frederick died, the Podesta who ruled
+for him in Florence, died also, who was named Messer Rinieri di
+Montemerlo; for, as he slept in his bed, there fell upon him of the
+vaulting from the roof of the chamber, which was in the house of the
+Abati. And this was a sure sign that in the city of Florence his
+lordship was to be ended, and this came to pass very soon; for the
+common people having risen in Florence against the violence and
+outrages of the Ghibelline nobles, as we have said, and tidings coming
+to Florence of the death of the said Frederick, a few days after, the
+people of Florence recalled and restored to Florence the party of the
+Guelfs who had been banished thence, causing them to make peace with
+the Ghibellines, and this was the seventh day of January, year of
+Christ 1250.
+
+
+Sec. 43.--_How at the time of the said Popolo the Florentines discomfited
+the men of Pistoia, and afterwards banished certain families of the
+Ghibellines from Florence._
+
+[Sidenote: 1251 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi. 151-154.]
+
+Greatly did the party for the Church and the Guelf party rejoice
+throughout all Italy at the death of the Emperor; and the party for
+the Empire, and the Ghibellines were brought low, inasmuch as Pope
+Innocent returned from beyond the mountains with his court to Rome,
+bringing aid to the faithful followers of the Church. It came to pass
+that in the month of July, in the year of Christ 1251, the people and
+commonwealth of Florence gathered a host against the city of Pistoia,
+which had rebelled against them, and fought with the said inhabitants
+of Pistoia, and discomfited them at Mount Robolini with great loss in
+slain and prisoners of the men of Pistoia. And at that time Messer
+Uberto da Mandella of Milan was Podesta of Florence. And because the
+government of the Popolo was not pleasing to the greater part of the
+Ghibelline families in Florence, forasmuch as it seemed to them that
+they favoured the Guelfs more than was pleasing to them, and as in
+past times they were used to do violence, and to be tyrannical,
+relying on the Emperor, therefore they were even now unwilling to
+follow the people and the commonwealth on the said expedition against
+Pistoia, rather did they both in word and in deed oppose it through
+factious hatred; forasmuch as Pistoia was ruled in those days by the
+Ghibelline party; whereby was caused so great mistrust, that when the
+host returned victorious from Pistoia, the said Ghibelline families in
+Florence were banished and sent forth from the city by the people of
+Florence, the said month of July, 1251. And the heads of the
+Ghibellines in Florence being banished, the people and the Guelfs who
+remained in the lordship of Florence, changed the arms of the
+commonwealth of Florence; and whereas of old they bore the field red
+and the lily white, they now made on the contrary the field white and
+the lily red; and the Ghibellines retained the former standard, but
+the ancient standard of the commonwealth dimidiated white and red, to
+wit, the standard that went with the host upon the carroccio, never
+was changed. We will leave for a while the doings of the Florentines,
+and we will tell somewhat of the coming of King Conrad, son of the
+Emperor Frederick.
+
+
+Sec. 44.--_How King Conrad, son of Frederick the Emperor, came from
+Germany into Apulia, and had the lordship over the realm of Sicily,
+and how he died._
+
+[Sidenote: 1251 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1252 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Purg. iii. 121.]
+
+When King Conrad of Germany heard of the death of the Emperor
+Frederick, his father, he prepared with a great company to pass into
+Apulia and Sicily, to take possession of the said Kingdom, of the
+which Manfred, his bastard brother, had become vicar-general, and was
+ruling it altogether, save only the cities of Naples and of Capua, the
+which had rebelled after the death of Frederick, and were returned to
+obedience to the Church; as also many cities of Lombardy and Tuscany,
+on occasion of the death of the said Frederick, had changed their
+government and returned to the obedience of the Church. The said
+Conrad would not adventure himself to come by land, but being arrived
+in the Trevisan March, he caused a great fleet to be equipped by the
+Venetians, and from thence by sea with all his people came to Apulia
+the year of Christ 1251. And albeit Manfred was wrath at his coming,
+forasmuch as he had purposed to be lord of the said kingdom, he made a
+great welcome to Conrad, his brother, rendering him much honour and
+reverence, and when he was in Apulia he led a host against the city of
+Naples, the which before had been five times attacked and besieged by
+Manfred, prince of Salerno, and he had not been able to conquer it;
+but Conrad, with his great host after a long siege, gained the city by
+surrender, on condition that he should neither slay the defenders nor
+dismantle the place. But Conrad did not abide by the pact, but so soon
+as he was in Naples he caused the walls and all the fortresses of
+Naples to be destroyed; and the like did he to the city of Capua,
+which had rebelled; and in a short space he had restored all the
+Kingdom to his lordship, casting down every rebel, or whosoever was a
+friend or follower of Holy Church; and not only the laity but the
+monks and holy persons he caused to die by torments, robbing the
+churches, and subduing whosoever was not in obedience to him, and
+appointing to benefices, as if he were Pope; so that if Frederick, his
+father, was a persecutor of Holy Church, this Conrad, if he had lived
+longer, would have been worse; but as it pleased God, a little time
+after, he was smitten with a grievous sickness, but not mortal, and
+as he was being tended by leeches and physicians, Manfred, his
+brother, to remain in power, caused the said leeches for money and
+great promises to poison him by a clyster. By such a judgment of God,
+by his brother's deed, of such a death did he die without repentance
+and excommunicated, the year of Christ 1252. And he left behind him in
+Germany a young son who was named Conradino, whose mother was daughter
+to the duke of Bavaria.
+
+
+Sec. 45.--_How Manfred, natural son of Frederick, took the lordship of
+the kingdom of Sicily and of Apulia, and caused himself to be
+crowned._
+
+[Sidenote: 1252 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1254 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. iii. 121.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1255 A.D.]
+
+Conrad, called king of Germany, being dead, Manfred remained lord and
+governor of Sicily and of the Kingdom, albeit through the death of
+Conrad, some cities of the Kingdom rebelled, and Pope Innocent IV.,
+with a great host of the Church, entered into the Kingdom to regain
+the lands which Manfred was holding against the will of the Church,
+and under sentence of excommunication; and when the said host of the
+Church had entered into the Kingdom, all the cities and villages as
+far as Naples surrendered themselves to the said Pope; but he had
+sojourned but a short time in Naples ere he fell sick, and passed from
+this life the year of Christ 1252, and was buried in the city of
+Naples. Wherefore by the death of the said Pope, and by the vacancy
+which the Church had after him, which for more than two years abode
+without pastors, Manfred regained all the Kingdom, and his strength
+increased greatly both far and near; and with great care he allied
+himself with all the cities of Italy which were Ghibelline and
+faithful to the Empire, and aided them by his German knights, making a
+league and alliance with them in Tuscany and in Lombardy. And when the
+said Manfred saw himself in glory and state, he thought to have
+himself made king of Sicily and of Apulia, and to the end this might
+come to pass, he sought for the friendship of the greatest barons of
+the Kingdom, with monies and gifts and promises and offices. And
+knowing that King Conrad, his brother, had left a son named Conradino,
+the which was by law the rightful heir to the realm of Sicily, and was
+in Germany under the guardianship of his mother, he devised guileful
+practices whereby to become king; wherefore he gathered together all
+the barons of the Kingdom, and took counsel with them what should be
+done with the lordship, forasmuch as he had received tidings that his
+nephew Conradino was grievously sick, and could never rule over a
+realm; wherefore it was counselled by his barons that he should send
+his ambassadors into Germany to learn of the state of Conradino, and
+if he were dead or ill; and meanwhile they counselled that Manfred
+should be made king. To this Manfred agreed, seeing it was he which
+had falsely arranged it all, and he sent the said ambassadors to
+Conradino and to his mother with rich presents and great offers. The
+which ambassadors being come to Suabia, found the boy whom his mother
+guarded most carefully, and with him she kept many other boys of
+gentle birth clothed in his garments; and when the said ambassadors
+asked for Conradino, his mother being in dread of Manfred, showed to
+them one of the said children, and they with rich presents, offered
+him gifts and reverence, among the which gifts were poisoned comfits
+from Apulia, and the boy having eaten of them, straightway died.
+They, believing Conradino to be dead by poison, departed from Germany,
+and when they had returned to Venice, they caused sails of black cloth
+to be made to their galley and all the rigging to be black, and they
+were attired in black, and when they were come into Apulia, they made
+a show of great grief, as they had been instructed by Manfred. And
+having reported to Manfred, and to the German barons, and to those of
+the Kingdom how Conradino was dead, and Manfred having made show of
+deep affliction, by the call of his friends and of all the people (as
+he had arranged), he was elected king of Sicily and of Apulia, and at
+Monreale, in Sicily, caused himself to be crowned, the year of Christ
+1255.
+
+
+Sec. 46.--_Of the war between Pope Alexander and King Manfred._
+
+[Sidenote: 1255 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1256 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. iii. 107.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. De V.E. i. 12, 21 sqq.]
+
+After the death of Pope Innocent, and the vacancy which followed,
+there was elected Pope Alexander IV., born in the city of Alagna, in
+Campagna, the year of Christ 1255, and he sat on the papal throne
+seven years, and certain months and days. The which Pope Alexander,
+hearing how Manfred had caused himself to be crowned king of Sicily
+against the will of Holy Church, by the said Pope Manfred was required
+to abandon the lordship of the Kingdom and of Sicily, the which he
+would neither hearken to, nor obey; for the which thing the said Pope
+first excommunicated and deprived him, and then sent against him Otho,
+the cardinal legate, with a great host of the Church, and he took many
+places on the coasts of Apulia; to wit, the city of Sipanto, and Mount
+Santagnolo, and Barletta and Bari, as far as Otranto in Calabria; but
+afterwards the said host, by reason of the death of the said legate,
+returned with labour lost, and Manfred took back and regained all, and
+this was the year of Christ 1256. The said King Manfred was son of a
+beautiful lady, of the family of the Marquises of Lancia in Lombardy,
+of whom the Emperor Frederick was enamoured, and he was beautiful in
+person, and, like his father, but even more, dissolute in every
+fashion; a musician he was, and singer, and loved to see around him
+buffoons and minstrels, and beautiful concubines, and was always clad
+in green raiment; very liberal was he, and courteous, and gracious, so
+that he was much loved and in great favour; but all his way of life
+was epicurean, caring neither for God nor the saints, but only for
+bodily delights. An enemy he was to Holy Church, and to priests and
+monks, occupying the churches as his father had done, and was a very
+rich lord, alike from the treasure bequeathed to him by the Emperor
+and by King Conrad, his brother, and from his kingdom, which was rich
+and fruitful; and, for all the wars that he had with the Church, he
+kept it in good state so long as he lived, so that he increased much
+in riches and in power by sea and by land. For wife he took the
+daughter of the despot of Romagna, by whom he had sons and daughters.
+The arms which he took and bore were those of the Empire, save where
+the Emperor, his father, bore the gold field and the black eagle, he
+bore the silver field and the black eagle. This Manfred caused the
+city of Sipanto in Apulia to be destroyed, forasmuch as through the
+marshes around it was not healthy, and it had no harbour; and by its
+citizens, at two miles distance upon the rock, and in a place where
+there might be a good harbour, he caused a city to be founded, which
+after his name was called Manfredonia, the which has now the best
+harbour that there is between Venice and Brindisi. And of that city
+was Manfred Bonetta, count chamberlain of the said King Manfred, a
+delightsome man, a musician and singer, who caused the great bell of
+Manfredonia to be made in his memory, the which is the largest that
+can be found for size, and because of its size cannot be rung. We will
+now leave speaking of Manfred until fit place and time, and will
+return where we left off in our subject, namely to the doings of
+Florence and of Tuscany and of Lombardy, albeit they were much mixed
+up with the doings of the said King Manfred in many things.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1251 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1252 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 47.--_How the Florentines discomfited the Ubaldini in Mugello._ Sec.
+48.--_How the Florentines took Montaia and routed the troops of the
+Sienese and the Pisans._ Sec. 49.--_How the Florentines took Tizzano and
+then routed the Pisans at Pontadera, the Pisans having routed the
+Lucchese._
+
+
+Sec. 50.--_How the bridge Santa Trinita was built._
+
+In this time, the city of Florence being in happy state under the rule
+of the Popolo, a bridge was built over the Arno from Santa Trinita to
+the house of the Frescobaldi in Oltrarno, and in this the zeal of
+Lamberto Frescobaldi helped much, which was a noted Ancient in the
+Popolo, and he and his had come to great state and riches.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1252 A.D. Cf. Par. xvi. 50.]
+
+Sec. 51.--_How the Florentines took the fortress of Fegghine._
+
+
+Sec. 52.--_How the Sienese were routed by the Florentines at Montalcino._
+
+
+Sec. 53.--_How the golden florins were first made in Florence._
+
+[Sidenote: 1252 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Par. xviii. 133-136.]
+
+The host of the Florentines having returned, and being at rest after
+the victories aforesaid, the city increased greatly in state and in
+riches and lordship and in great quietness; for the which thing the
+merchants of Florence, for the honour of the commonwealth, ordained
+with the people and commonwealth that golden coins should be struck at
+Florence; and they promised to furnish the gold, for before the custom
+was to strike silver coins of 12 pence the piece. And then began the
+good coins of gold, 24 carats fine, the which are called golden
+florins, and each was worth 20 soldi. And this was in the time of the
+said M. Filippo degli Ugoni of Brescia, in the month of November, the
+year of Christ 1252. The which florins weighed eight to the ounce, and
+on one side was the stamp of the lily and on the other of S. John. By
+reason of the said new money of the golden florin there fell out a
+pretty story, and worth narrating. The said new florins having begun
+to circulate through the world, they were carried to Tunis in Barbary;
+and being brought before the king of Tunis, which was a worthy and
+wise lord, they pleased him much, and he caused them to be tried; and
+finding them to be of fine gold, he much commended them, and having
+caused his interpreters to interpret the imprint and legend on the
+florin, he found that it said: S. John the Baptist, and on the side of
+the lily, Florence. Perceiving it to be Christian money, he sent to
+the Pisan merchants who were then free of the city and were much with
+the king (and even the Florentines traded in Tunis through the
+Pisans), and asked them what manner of city among Christians was this
+Florence which made the said florins. The Pisans answered spitefully
+through envy, saying: "They are our inland Arabs": which is to say,
+"our mountain rustics." Then answered the king wisely: "It does not
+seem to me the money of Arabs. O you Pisans, what manner of golden
+money is yours?" Then were they confused, and knew not how to answer.
+He asked if there were among them any one from Florence, and there was
+found there a merchant from Oltrarno, by name Pera Balducci, discreet
+and wise. The king asked him of the state and condition of Florence,
+whom the Pisans called their Arabs; the which answered wisely, showing
+the power and magnificence of Florence, and how Pisa in comparison was
+neither in power nor in inhabitants the half of Florence, and that
+they had no golden money, and that the florin was the fruit of many
+victories gained by the Florentines over them. For the which cause the
+Pisans were shamed, and the king, by reason of the florin and by the
+words of our wise fellow-citizen, made the Florentines free of the
+city, and allowed them a place of habitation and a church in Tunis,
+and he gave them the same privileges as the Pisans. And this we knew
+to be true from the said Pera, a man worthy of faith, for we were
+among his colleagues in the office of prior.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1253 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 54.--_How the Florentines marched upon Pistoia and took it, and then
+upon Siena and took many of their fortresses._
+
+
+Sec. 55.--_How the Florentines marched against Siena, and the Sienese
+came to terms with them, and there was peace between them._
+
+[Sidenote: 1254 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. xxxi. 40, 41.]
+
+The next year, 1254, Messer Guiscardo da Pietrasanta, of Milan, being
+Podesta of Florence, the Florentines marched against the city of Siena
+and encamped against the castle of Montereggioni and laid siege to it,
+and of a surety they would have taken it, for the German garrison was
+in treaty to surrender it for 50,000 lire of 20 soldi to the gold
+florin; and in one single night the Ancients found twenty citizens
+each of whom offered a thousand of them, without counting smaller
+sums, so well disposed for the good of the commonwealth were the
+citizens of those days. But the Sienese, for fear of losing
+Montereggioni, agreed to the terms of the Florentines, and peace was
+made between them and the Sienese, and they completely surrendered the
+castle of Montalcino to the Florentines.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1254 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1260 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1256 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 56.--_How the Florentines seized the fortress of Poggibonizzi and
+that of Mortennana._ Sec. 57.--_How the Florentines routed them of
+Volterra and took their city in the fight._ Sec. 58.--_How the
+Florentines marched against Pisa, and the Pisans submitted to their
+terms._ Sec. 59.--_How the great Khan of the Tartars became a Christian,
+and sent his army, under his own brother, against the Saracens of
+Syria._ Sec. 60.--_How the first war arose between the Genoese and the
+Venetians._ Sec. 61.--_How the Count Guido Guerra expelled the Ghibelline
+party from Arezzo, and how the Florentines reinstated it._ Sec. 62.--_How
+the Pisans broke the peace, and how the Florentines routed them at the
+bridge over the Serchio._ Sec. 63.--_How the Florentines destroyed the
+castle of Poggibonizzi the first time._ Sec. 64.--_Incident telling of a
+great miracle concerning the body of Christ which came to pass in the
+city of Paris._
+
+
+Sec. 65.--_How the Popolo of Florence drave out the Ghibellines for the
+first time from Florence, and the reason why._
+
+[Sidenote: 1258 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxxii. 118, 119.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1258, when Messer Jacopo Bernardi di Porco was
+Podesta of Florence, at the end of the month of July they of the house
+of the Uberti, with their Ghibelline allies, incited thereto by
+Manfred, purposed to break up the Popolo of Florence, forasmuch as it
+seemed to them to lean towards the Guelf party. When the said plot was
+discovered by the Popolo, and they who had made it were summoned and
+cited to appear before the magistrates, they would not appear nor come
+before them, but the staff of the Podesta were grievously wounded and
+smitten by them; for the which thing the people ran to arms, and ran
+in fury to the houses of the Uberti, where is now the piazza of the
+palace of the people and of the priors, and there they slew
+Schiattuzzo degli Uberti and many of the followers and retainers of
+the Uberti, and they took Uberto Caini degli Uberti and Mangia degli
+Infangati, which when they had confessed the conspiracy in parliament
+were beheaded in Orto San Michele; and the rest of the family of the
+Uberti, with many other Ghibelline families, left Florence. The names
+of the Ghibelline families of renown which left Florence were these:
+the Uberti, the Fifanti, the Guidi, the Amidei, the Lamberti, the
+Scolari, and part of the Abati, Caponsacchi, Migliorelli, Soldanieri,
+Infangati, Ubriachi, Tedaldini, Galigari, the della Pressa, Amieri,
+they of Cersino, the Razzanti, and many other houses and families of
+the popolari and of decayed magnates, which cannot all be named, and
+other families of nobles in the country; and they went to Siena,
+which was governed in the Ghibelline interest, and was hostile to the
+Florentines; and their palaces and strongholds were destroyed, whereof
+there were many, and with the stones thereof they built the walls of
+San Giorgio Oltrarno, which the Popolo of Florence caused to be begun
+in those times by reason of the war with the Sienese. And afterwards,
+in the following September of the said year, the Popolo of Florence
+seized the abbot of Vallombrosa, which was a gentleman of the lords of
+Beccheria of Pavia in Lombardy, for they had been told that at the
+petition of the Ghibelline refugees from Florence he was plotting
+treason; and this by torture they made him confess, and wickedly in
+the piazza of Santo Apollinare by the outcry of the people they
+beheaded him, not regarding his dignity nor his holy orders; for the
+which thing the commonwealth of Florence and the Florentines were
+excommunicated by the Pope; and from the commonwealth of Pavia, whence
+came the said abbot, and from his kinsfolk, the Florentines which
+passed through Lombardy received much hurt and molestation. And truly
+it was said that the holy man was not guilty, albeit by his lineage he
+was a distinguished Ghibelline. For the which sin, and for many other
+deeds done by the wicked people, it was said by many wise men that God
+by Divine judgment permitted vengeance to come upon the said people in
+the battle and defeat of Montaperti, as hereafter we shall make
+mention. The said Popolo of Florence which ruled the city in these
+times was very proud and of high and great enterprises, and in many
+things was very arrogant; but one thing their rulers had, they were
+very loyal and true to the commonwealth, and when one which was an
+Ancient took and sent to his villa a grating which had belonged to the
+lion's den, and was now lying about in the mud of the piazza of S.
+Giovanni, he was condemned therefor to a fine of 1,000 lire for
+embezzling the goods of the commonwealth.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1259 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. xxii. 40-60.]
+
+Sec. 66.--_How the Aretines took and destroyed Cortona._ Sec. 67.--_How
+the Florentines took and destroyed the castle of Gressa._ Sec. 68.--_How
+the people of Florence took the castles of Vernia and of Mangona._
+
+
+Sec. 69.--_Incidents of the doings that were in Florence at the time of
+the Popolo._
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xv. 97-99.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xv. 112, 113.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xv. 101.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xv. 102, 103.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xv. 103-105.]
+
+In the time of the said Popolo in Florence it came to pass that there
+was presented to the commonwealth a very fine and strong lion, the
+which was in a den in the piazza of San Giovanni. It came to pass that
+by lack of care on the part of the keeper, the said lion escaped from
+its den, running through the streets, whence all the city was moved
+with fear. It came to a stand at Orto San Michele, and there caught
+hold of a boy and held him between its paws. The mother, whose only
+child he was, and not born till after his father's death, on hearing
+what had chanced, ran up to the lion in desperation, shrieking aloud
+and with dishevelled hair, and snatched the child from between its
+paws, and the lion did no hurt either to the woman or to the child,
+but only gazed steadfastly and kept still. Now the question was what
+was the cause of this, whether the nobility of the nature of the lion,
+or that fortune preserved the life of the said child, to the end he
+might avenge his father, the which he did, and was afterwards called
+Orlanduccio of the lion, of Calfette. And note, that at the time of
+the said Popolo, and before and afterwards for a long time, the
+citizens of Florence lived soberly, and on coarse food, and with
+little spending, and in manners and graces were in many respects
+coarse and rude; and both they and their wives were clad in coarse
+garments, and many wore skins without lining, and caps on their heads,
+and all wore leather boots on their feet, and the Florentine ladies
+wore boots without ornaments, and the greatest were contented with one
+close-fitting gown of scarlet serge or camlet, girt with a leathern
+girdle after the ancient fashion, with a hooded cloak lined with
+miniver, which hood they wore on their head; and the common women were
+clad in coarse green cambric after the same fashion; and 100 lire was
+the common dowry for wives, and 200 or 300 lire was, in those times,
+held to be excessive; and the most of the maidens were twenty or more
+years old before they were wedded. After such habits and plain customs
+then lived the Florentines, but they were true and trustworthy to one
+another and to their commonwealth, and with their simple life and
+poverty they did greater and more virtuous things than are done in our
+times with more luxury and with more riches.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1259 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1260 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 70.--_How Paleologus, emperor of the Greeks, took Constantinople
+from the French and the Venetians._ Sec. 71.--_Of a very sore battle
+which was between the king of Hungary and the king of Bohemia._
+
+
+Sec. 72.--_How the great tyrant, Ezzelino da Romano, was defeated by the
+Cremonese and died in prison._
+
+[Sidenote: 1260 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xii. 109, 110. Par. ix. 25-30.]
+
+In the said year 1260, Ezzelino of Romano, which is a Trevisan
+castle, was defeated and wounded and taken prisoner by the Marquis
+Pallavicino, and by the Cremonese in the country around Milan, near to
+the bridge of Casciano over the river Adda, as he was on his way to
+seize Milan, having with him more than 1,500 horsemen; from the which
+wounds he died in prison, and was buried with honour in the village of
+Solcino. He knew by augury that he should die in a village of the
+country of Padua, which was called Basciano, and he would not enter
+therein; and when he felt himself wounded he asked what the place was
+called, and they answered, "Casciano"; then he said, "Casciano and
+Basciano are all the same," and he gave himself up for dead. This
+Ezzelino was the most cruel and redoubtable tyrant that ever was among
+Christians, and ruled by his force and tyranny (being by birth a
+gentleman of the house of Romano), long time the Trevisan March and
+the city of Padua, and a great part of Lombardy; and he brought to an
+end a very great part of the citizens of Padua, and blinded great
+numbers of the best and most noble, taking their possessions, and
+sending them begging through the world, and many others he put to
+death by divers sufferings and torments, and burnt at one time 11,000
+Paduans; and by reason of their innocent blood, by miracle, no grass
+grew there again for evermore. And under semblance of a rugged and
+cruel justice he did much evil, and was a great scourge in his time in
+the Trevisan March and in Lombardy, to punish them for the sin of
+ingratitude. At last, as it pleased God, by less powerful men than his
+own he was vilely defeated and slain, and all his followers were
+dispersed and his family and his rule came to nought.
+
+
+Sec. 73.--_How both the king of Castille and Richard, earl of Cornwall,
+were elected king of the Romans._
+
+[Sidenote: 1260 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xv. 23-120.]
+
+Now some time before the said year, by reason of discord among the
+electors of the Empire, two Emperors had been elected; one party (that
+is to say, three of the electors) choosing Alfonso, king of Spain, and
+the other party of the electors choosing Richard, earl of Cornwall,
+and brother to the king of England; and because the realm of Bohemia
+was in discord, and there were two which claimed to be king thereof,
+each one gave his voice to his own party. And for many years there had
+been this discord between the two pretenders, but the Church of Rome
+gave more favour to Alfonso of Spain, to the end that he might, with
+his forces, come and beat down the pride and lordship of Manfred; for
+the which cause the Guelfs of Florence sent him ambassadors, to
+encourage his coming, promising him great succour, to the end he might
+favour the Guelf party. And the ambassador was Ser Brunetto Latini, a
+man of great wisdom and authority; but before the embassage was ended
+the Florentines were defeated at Montaperti, and King Manfred gained
+great vigour and state throughout Italy, and the power of the Church
+was much abased, for the which thing Alfonso of Spain abandoned the
+enterprise of the Empire, and neither did Richard of England follow it
+up.
+
+
+Sec. 74.--_How the Ghibelline refugees from Florence, sent into Apulia to
+King Manfred for succour._
+
+[Sidenote: 1260 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. x. 32.]
+
+In these times the Ghibelline refugees from Florence (who being in the
+city of Siena were ill-supported against the Florentines by the
+Sienese, forasmuch as they had no forces to bring against their host)
+took counsel amongst themselves to send their ambassadors into
+Apulia, to King Manfred, for succour. And when they were come thither,
+albeit they were of the best and chiefest of the band, much time
+elapsed, and Manfred did not dispatch their affair, nor give audience
+to their request, by reason of the manifold businesses he had to do.
+And when at last they had a mind to depart, and took their leave of
+him very ill-content, Manfred promised them 100 German horsemen for
+their aid. Whereon the said ambassadors were troubled at this his
+first offer, and were minded to make their reply in the way of
+refusing so sorry an aid, for they were ashamed to return to Siena,
+inasmuch as they had hoped for more than 1,500 horsemen. But hereon
+Messer Farinata degli Uberti said, "Be not dismayed, neither refuse
+any aid of his, be it never so small. Let us have grace of him to send
+his standard with them, and when it be come to Siena we will set it in
+such a place that he must needs send us further succour." And so it
+came to pass; and following the wise counsel of the knight, they
+accepted Manfred's offer, praying him as a grace to give his own
+standard to their captain, and so he did. And when they returned to
+Siena with so poor an aid, great scorn was made thereof by the
+Sienese, and great dismay came upon the Florentine refugees, which had
+looked for aid and support from Manfred beyond measure greater.
+
+
+Sec. 75.--_How the commonwealth and people of Florence led a great host
+up to the gates of Siena with the carroccio._
+
+[Sidenote: 1260 A.D.]
+
+It happened in the year of Christ 1260, in the month of May, that the
+people and commonwealth of Florence gathered a general host against
+the city of Siena and led thither the carroccio. And note, that the
+carroccio, which was led by the commonwealth and people of Florence,
+was a chariot on four wheels, all painted red, and two tall red masts
+stood up together thereupon, whereon was fastened and waved the great
+standard of the arms of the commune, which was dimidiated white and
+red, and still may be seen to-day in S. Giovanni. And it was drawn by
+a great pair of oxen covered with red cloth, which were set apart
+solely for this, and belonged to the Hospitallers of Pinti, and he who
+drove them was a freeman of the commonwealth. This carroccio was used
+by our forefathers in triumphs and solemnities, and when they went out
+with the host, the neighbouring counts and knights brought it from the
+armoury of S. Giovanni and conducted it to the piazza of the Mercato
+Nuovo, and having halted by a landmark, which is still there, in the
+form of a stone carved like a chariot, they committed it to the
+keeping of the people, and it was led by popolani in the expeditions
+of war, and to guard it were chosen the best and strongest and most
+virtuous among the foot soldiers of the popolani, and round it
+gathered all the force of the people. And when the host was to be
+assembled, a month before the time when they were to set forth, a bell
+was hung upon the arch of Porte Sante Marie, which was at the head of
+the Mercato Nuovo, and there was rung by day and by night without
+ceasing. And this they did in their pride, to give opportunity to the
+enemy, against whom the host should go forth, to prepare themselves.
+And some called it Martinella, and some the Asses' Bell. And when the
+Florentine host went forth, they took down the bell from the arch and
+put it into a wooden tower upon a car, and the sound thereof guided
+the host. By these two pomps of the carroccio and of the bell was
+maintained the lordly pride of the people of old and of our
+forefathers in their expeditions. We will leave this and will turn to
+the Florentines, how they made war against the Sienese, and took the
+castle of Vicchio, and that of Mezzano, and Casciole, which pertained
+to the Sienese, and encamped themselves against Siena, hard by the
+entrance gate by the monastery of S. Petronella; and there they had
+brought to them, upon a knoll which could be seen from the city, a
+tower wherein they kept their bell; and in contempt of the Sienese,
+and as a record of their victory, they filled it with earth and
+planted an olive tree in it, the which, until our own days, was still
+there. It fell out at that siege that one day the Florentine refugees
+gave a feast to Manfred's German soldiers, and having plied them with
+wine till they were drunk, in the uproar they incited them to arm
+themselves and mount on horseback to assail the host of the
+Florentines, promising them large gifts and double pay; and this was
+done craftily by the wise, in pursuance of the counsel of Farinata
+degli Uberti which he had given in Apulia. The Germans, beside
+themselves and hot with wine, sallied forth from Siena and vigorously
+assailed the camp of the Florentines, and because they were unprepared
+and off their guard, holding as nought the force of the enemy, the
+Germans, albeit they were but few folk, did great hurt to the host in
+that assault, and many of the people and of the horsemen made a sorry
+show in that sudden assault, and fled in terror, supposing that the
+assailants were more in number. But in the end, perceiving their
+error, they took to arms, and defended themselves against the Germans,
+and of all those who sallied forth from Siena not one escaped alive,
+for they were all slain and beaten down, and the standard was taken
+and dragged through the camp and carried to Florence; and this done,
+shortly afterwards the Florentine host returned to Florence.
+
+
+Sec. 76.--_How King Manfred sent Count Giordano with 800 Germans to
+succour the Sienese and the Ghibelline refugees from Florence._
+
+[Sidenote: 1260 A.D.]
+
+The Sienese and the Florentine refugees, perceiving how ill the
+Florentines had fared in the assault of so small a number of German
+horsemen, considered that if they had a greater number thereof, they
+would be victorious in the war. Immediately they provided themselves
+with money, procuring from the company of the Salimbeni, which were
+merchants of those days, 20,000 florins of gold, and gave them in
+pledge the fortress of Tentennana and several more castles of the
+commonwealth, and sent their ambassadors again into Apulia with the
+said money to King Manfred, saying how his few German followers by
+their great vigour and valour had undertaken to assail the whole host
+of the Florentines, and had turned a great part thereof to flight; but
+if they had been more, they would have had the victory; but by reason
+of their small number, they had all been left upon the field, and his
+standard had been dragged about and insulted in the camp and in
+Florence and round about. And beside this they plied the best reasons
+they knew to move Manfred, who, having heard the tidings, was wrath,
+and with the money of the Sienese, who paid half the charges for three
+months, and at his own cost, sent into Tuscany Count Giordano, his
+marshal, with 800 German horsemen, to go with the said ambassadors;
+who reached Siena in the end of July, the year of Christ 1260, and by
+the Sienese were received with great rejoicing, and they and all the
+Ghibellines of Tuscany drew thence great vigour and courage. And when
+they were come to Siena, immediately the Sienese sent forth their host
+against the castle of Montalcino, which was under the commands of the
+commonwealth of Florence, and sent for aid to the Pisans and to all
+the Ghibellines of Tuscany, so that, what with the horsemen of Siena
+and the Florentine refugees, and the Germans and their allies, there
+were found 1,800 horsemen in Siena, whereof the greater part were
+Germans.
+
+
+Sec. 77.--_How the Ghibelline refugees from Florence prepared to deceive
+the commonwealth and people of Florence, and cause them to be
+betrayed._
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. xi. 109-142.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. vi. 79. xvi. 40-42.]
+
+The Florentine refugees, by whose embassy and deed King Manfred had
+sent Count Giordano with 800 German horsemen, thought within
+themselves that they had done nothing if they could not draw the
+Florentines out into the field, inasmuch as the aforesaid Germans were
+not paid save for three months, and already more than one month and a
+half of this had passed, since their coming, nor had they more money
+wherewith to pay them, nor did they look for any from Manfred; and
+should the time for which they had been paid pass by without having
+done aught, they would return into Apulia, to the great peril of the
+state. They reasoned that this could not be contrived without skill
+and subtlety of war, which business was committed to M. Farinata degli
+Uberti and M. Gherardo Ciccia de' Lamberti. These subtly chose out two
+wise minor friars as their messengers to the people of Florence, and
+first caused them to confer with nine of the most powerful men of
+Siena, who made endless show to the said friars that the government of
+Messer Provenzano Salvani was displeasing to them, who was the
+greatest of the citizens of Siena, and that they would willingly yield
+up the city to the Florentines in return for 10,000 florins of gold,
+and that they were to come with a great host, under guise of
+fortifying Montalcino, as far as the river Arbia; and then they with
+their own forces, and with those of their followers, would give up to
+the Florentines the gate of Santo Vito, which is on the road to
+Arezzo. The friars, under this deceit and treachery, came to Florence
+with letters and seals from the aforesaid, and were brought before the
+Ancients of the people, and proposed to them means whereby they might
+do great things for the honour of the people and commonwealth of
+Florence; but the thing was so secret that it must under oath be
+revealed to but few. Then the Ancients chose from among themselves
+Spedito di Porte San Piero, a man of great vigour and boldness, and
+one of the principal leaders of the people, and with him Messer Gianni
+Calcagni, of Vacchereccia; and when they had sworn upon the altar, the
+friars unfolded the said plot, and showed the said letters. The said
+two Ancients, who showed more eagerness than judgment, gave faith to
+the plot; and immediately the said 10,000 golden florins were
+procured, and were deposited, and a council was assembled of magnates
+and people, and they represented that of necessity it behoved to send
+a host to Siena to strengthen Montalcino, greater than the one sent in
+May last to Santa Petronella. The nobles of the great Guelf houses of
+Florence, and Count Guido Guerra, which was with them, not knowing of
+the pretended plot, and knowing more of war than the popolani did,
+being aware of the new body of German troops which was come to Siena,
+and of the sorry show which the people made at Santa Petronella when
+the hundred Germans attacked them, considered the enterprise not to be
+without great peril. And also esteeming the citizens to be divided in
+mind, and ill disposed to raise another host, they gave wise counsel,
+that it were best that the host should not go forth at present, for
+the reasons aforesaid; and also they showed how for little cost
+Montalcino could be fortified, and how the men of Orvieto were
+prepared to fortify it, and alleged that the said Germans had pay only
+for three months, and had already served for half the time, and by
+giving them play enough, without raising a host, shortly they would be
+scattered, and would return into Apulia; and the Sienese and the
+Florentine refugees would be left in worse plight than they were
+before. And the spokesman for them all was M. Tegghiaio Aldobrandi
+degli Adimari, a wise knight and valiant in arms, and of great
+authority, and he counselled the better course in full. His counsel
+ended, the aforesaid Spedito, the Ancient, a very presumptuous man,
+rudely replied, bidding him to look to his breeches if he was afraid;
+and M. Tegghiaio replied that at the pinch he would not dare to follow
+him into the battle where he would lead; and these words ended, next
+uprose M. Cece de Gherardini to say the same that Messer Tegghiaio had
+said. The Ancients commanded him not to speak, and the penalty was 100
+pounds if any one held forth contrary to the command of the Ancients.
+The knight was willing to pay it, so that he might oppose the going;
+but the Ancients would not have it, rather they made the penalty
+double; again he desired to pay, and so it reached 300 pounds; and
+when he yet wanted to speak and to pay, the command was that his head
+should be forfeit; and there it stopped. But, through the proud and
+heedless people, the worse counsel won the day, that the said host
+should proceed immediately and without delay.
+
+
+Sec. 78.--_How the Florentines raised an army to fortify Montalcino, and
+were discomfited by Count Giordano and by the Sienese at Montaperti._
+
+[Sidenote: 1260 A.D.]
+
+The people of Florence having taken the ill resolve to raise an army,
+craved assistance from their friends, which came with foot soldiers
+and with horse, from Lucca, and Bologna, and Pistoia, and Prato, and
+Volterra, and Samminiato, and Sangimignano, and from Colle di
+Valdelsa, which were in league with the commonwealth and people of
+Florence; and in Florence there were 800 horsemen of the citizens and
+more than 500 mercenaries. And the said people being assembled in
+Florence, the host set forth in the end of August, and for pomp and
+display they led out the carroccio, and a bell, which they called
+Martinella, on a car with a wooden tower on wheels, and there went out
+nearly all the people with the banners of the guilds, and there did
+not remain a house or a family in Florence which went not forth on
+foot or on horseback, at least one for each house, and for some two or
+more, according to their power. And when they found themselves in the
+territory of Siena, at the place agreed upon, on the river Arbia, at
+the place called Montaperti, with the men of Perugia and of Orvieto,
+which there joined with the Florentines, there were gathered together
+more than 3,000 horse and more than 30,000 foot. And whilst the host
+of the Florentines was thus preparing, the aforesaid framers of the
+plot, which were in Siena, in order that it might be the more fully
+accomplished, sent to Florence certain other friars to hatch treason
+with certain Ghibelline magnates and popolani which had not been
+exiled from Florence, and would therefore have to join the general
+muster of the army. With these, then, they plotted that when they were
+drawn up for battle, they should from divers quarters flee from their
+companies, and repair to their own party, to confound the Florentine
+army. And this plot they made because they seemed to themselves to be
+but few in comparison with the Florentines; and so it was done.
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxxii. 78-111.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. x. 85-87.]
+
+Now it happened that when the said host was on the hills of
+Montaperti, those sage Ancients who were leading the host, and had
+managed the negotiations, were awaiting the opening of the promised
+gate by the traitors from within. A magnate from among the people, a
+Florentine from the gate of S. Piero, which was a Ghibelline, and was
+named Razzante, having heard something of the expectation of the
+Florentine host, was commissioned by consent of the Ghibellines in the
+camp which were meditating the treason, to enter Siena; whereupon he
+fled on horseback from the camp to make known to the Florentine
+refugees how the city of Siena was to be betrayed, and how the
+Florentines were well equipped, and with great strength of horse and
+foot, and to urge those within not to advise battle. And when he was
+come unto Siena, and these things had been disclosed to the said M.
+Farinata and M. Gherardo, the plotters, they said thus to him: "Thou
+wilt slay us, if thou spreadest this news throughout Siena, inasmuch
+as fear will fall upon every man, but we desire that thou shouldest
+say the contrary; for if we do not fight while we have these Germans
+we are dead men, and shall never return to Florence, and for us death
+and defeat would be better than to crawl about the world any longer:"
+and their counsel was to try the fortune of battle. Razzante,
+instructed by these two aforesaid, determined and promised to speak
+thus; and with a garland on his head, on horseback with the said two,
+showing great gladness, he came to the parliament to the palace where
+were all the people of Siena and the Germans and other allies; and
+then, with a joyful countenance, he told great news from the
+Ghibelline party and the traitors in camp, how the host was
+ill-ordered and ill-led, and disunited, and that if they attacked them
+boldly, they would certainly be discomfited. And Razzante having made
+his false report, at the cry of the people they all moved to arms,
+calling out: "Battle, battle." The Germans demanded a promise of
+double pay, and this was given them; and their troop led the attack
+from the gate of San Vito, which was to have been given over to the
+Florentines; and the other horse and foot sallied out after them. When
+those among the host which were expecting that the gate should be
+given to them saw the Germans and the other horse and foot sally forth
+towards them from Siena in battle array, they marvelled greatly, and
+were sore dismayed, seeing their sudden approach and unlooked-for
+attack; and they were the more dismayed that many Ghibellines who were
+in the host, both on horse and foot, beholding the enemy's troops
+approaching, fled from divers quarters, as the treason had been
+ordered; and among them were the della Pressa and they of the Abati,
+and many others. But the Florentines and their allies did not on this
+account neglect to array their troops, and await the battle; and when
+the German troop violently charged the troop of Florentine horse
+(where was the standard of the cavalry of the commonwealth, which was
+borne by M. Jacopo del Nacca, a man of great valour, of the house of
+the Pazzi in Florence), that traitor of a M. Bocca degli Abati, which
+was in his troop and near to him, struck the said M. Jacopo with his
+sword, and cut off the hand with which he held the standard, and
+immediately he died. And this done, the horsemen and people, beholding
+the standard fallen, and that there were traitors among them, and that
+they were so strongly assailed by the Germans, in a short time were
+put to flight. But because the horsemen of Florence first perceived
+the treason, there were but thirty-six men of name of the cavalry
+slain and taken. But the great mortality and capture was of the foot
+soldiers of Florence, and of Lucca, and of Orvieto, because they shut
+themselves up in the castle of Montaperti, and were all taken; but
+more than 2,500 of them were left dead upon the field, and more than
+1,500 were taken captive of the best of the people of Florence, from
+every house, and of Lucca, and of the other allies which were in the
+said battle. And thus was abased the arrogance of the ungrateful and
+proud people of Florence. And this was on a Tuesday, the 4th day of
+September, in the year of Christ 1260; and there was left the
+carroccio and the bell called Martinella, with an untold amount of
+booty, of the baggage pertaining to the Florentines and their allies.
+And thus was routed and destroyed the ancient Popolo of Florence,
+which had continued in so many victories and in great lordship and
+state for ten years.
+
+
+Sec. 79.--_How the Guelfs of Florence, after the said discomfiture,
+departed from Florence and went to Lucca._
+
+[Sidenote: 1260 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. x. 48.]
+
+The news of the grievous discomfiture being come to Florence, and the
+miserable fugitives returning therefrom, there arose so great a
+lamentation both of men and of women in Florence that it reached unto
+the heavens, forasmuch as there was not a house in Florence, small or
+great, whereof there was not one slain or taken; and from Lucca, and
+from the territory there were a great number, and from Orvieto. For
+the which thing the heads of the Guelfs, both nobles and popolari,
+which had returned from the defeat, and those which were in Florence,
+were dismayed and fearful, and feared lest the exiles should come from
+Siena with the German troops, perceiving that the rebel Ghibellines
+and those under bounds which were absent from the city were beginning
+to return thereto. Wherefore the Guelfs, without being banished or
+driven out, went forth with their families, weeping, from Florence,
+and betook themselves to Lucca on Thursday, the 13th day of September,
+in the year of Christ 1260. These were the chief families of the Guelf
+refugees from Florence: of the sesto of Oltrarno, the Rossi, and the
+Nerli, and part of the Mannelli, the Bardi, and the Mozzi, and the
+Frescobaldi; the notable popolani of the said sesto were the
+Canigiani, Magli, and Macchiavelli, the Belfredelli and the Orciolini,
+Aglioni, Rinucci, Barbadori, and the Battincenni, and Soderini, and
+Malduri and Ammirati. Of San Piero Scheraggio, the nobles: Gherardini,
+Lucardesi, Cavalcanti, Bagnesi, Pulci, Guidalotti, Malispini,
+Foraboschi, Manieri, they of Quona, Sacchetti, Compiobbesi; the
+popolani, Magalotti, Mancini, Bucelli, and they of the Antella. Of the
+sesto of Borgo, the nobles: the Bondelmonti, Scali, Spini,
+Gianfigliazzi, Giandonati, Bostichi, Altoviti, the Ciampoli,
+Baldovinetti and others. Of the sesto of San Brancazio, the nobles:
+Tornaquinci, Vecchietti, and part of the Pigli, Minerbetti,
+Becchenugi, and Bordoni and others. Of the Porte del Duomo: the
+Tosinghi, Arrigucci, Agli, Sizii, Marignolli, and Ser Brunetto Latini
+and his family, and many others. Of the Porte San Piero: Adimari,
+Pazzi, Visdomini, and part of the Donati. Of the branch of the Scolari
+there were left della Bella, the Carci, the Ghiberti, the Guidalotti
+di Balla, the Mazzochi, the Uccellini, Boccatonde; and beside these
+magnates and popolani of each sesto were put under bounds. And for
+this departure the Guelfs were much to be blamed, inasmuch as the city
+of Florence was very strong, and with walls, and with moats full of
+water, and could well have been defended and held; but the judgment of
+God in punishing sins must needs hold on its course without hindrance;
+and to whomsoever God intends ill, from him He takes away wisdom and
+knowledge. And the Guelfs having departed on Thursday, the Sunday
+after being the 16th of September, the exiles from Florence which had
+been at the battle of Montaperti, with Count Giordano and with his
+German troops, and with the other soldiers of the Ghibellines of
+Tuscany, enriched by the spoil of the Florentines and of the other
+Guelfs of Tuscany, entered into the city of Florence without
+hindrance, and immediately they made Guido Novello of the Counts
+Guidi, Podesta of Florence for King Manfred, from the first day of the
+coming January for two years, and his judgment hall was the old palace
+of the people at Santo Apollinari, the stair of which was on the outer
+wall. And a little while after he caused the Ghibelline gate to be
+made, and the road out to be opened; to the intent that by that way,
+which corresponds with the palace, there might be entrance and exit at
+need, and he might bring his retainers from Casentino into Florence to
+guard him and the city. And because it was done in the time of the
+Ghibellines, the gate and the road took the name of Ghibelline. This
+Count Guido caused all the citizens which remained in Florence to
+swear fealty to King Manfred, and by reason of promises made to the
+Sienese he caused five castles of the territory of Florence which were
+on their frontier to be destroyed; and there remained in Florence as
+captain of the host, and vicar-general for King Manfred, the said
+Count Giordano, with the German troops in the pay of the Florentines,
+who greatly persecuted the Guelfs in many parts of Tuscany, as we
+shall make mention hereafter; and took all their goods, and destroyed
+many palaces and towers pertaining to the Guelfs, and took their goods
+for the benefit of the commonwealth. The said Count Giordano was a
+gentleman of Piedmont in Lombardy, and kinsman of the mother of
+Manfred, and by his prowess, and because he was very faithful to
+Manfred, and in life and customs as worldly-minded as he, he made him
+a count, and gave him lands in Apulia, and from small estate raised
+him to great lordship.
+
+
+Sec. 80.--_How the news of the defeat of the Florentines came to the
+court of the Pope, and the prophecy which was made thereupon by
+Cardinal Bianco._
+
+[Sidenote: 1260 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. x. 120.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. xx. and xxvii. 100-107.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. x. 51.]
+
+When the news of the aforesaid defeat came to the court of Rome, the
+Pope and the cardinals who loved the state of Holy Church felt much
+grief and compassion thereat, alike for the Florentines, and also
+because thereby the state and power of Manfred, the enemy of the
+Church, would increase; but Cardinal Ottaviano degli Ubaldini, which
+was a Ghibelline, rejoiced greatly thereat; wherefore Cardinal Bianco,
+which was a great astrologer and master of necromancy, seeing this,
+said: if Cardinal Ottaviano knew the future of this war of the
+Florentines, he would not be rejoicing thus. The college of cardinals
+prayed him that he would declare himself more openly. Cardinal Bianco
+would not speak, because to speak of the future seemed to him to be
+unlawful to his office, but the cardinals so prayed the Pope that he
+commanded him on his obedience to speak. Having received the said
+command, he said in brief words: the conquered shall conquer
+victoriously, and shall not be conquered for ever. This was
+interpreted to mean that the Guelfs, conquered and driven out of
+Florence, should victoriously return to power, and should never again
+lose their state and lordship in Florence.
+
+
+Sec. 81.--_How the Ghibellines of Tuscany purposed to destroy the city
+of Florence, and how M. Farinata degli Uberti defended it._
+
+[Sidenote: 1260 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. xxx. 148.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. vi. 111.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. x. 91-93.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. x. 83, 84.]
+
+After the same fashion that the Guelfs of Florence departed, so did
+those of Prato and of Pistoia, and of Volterra, and of Samminiato, and
+of San Gimignano, and of many other cities and villages of Tuscany,
+which all returned to the party of the Ghibellines save the city of
+Lucca, the which held to the party of the Guelfs for a time, and was a
+refuge for the Guelfs of Florence, and for the other exiles of
+Tuscany, the which Guelfs of Florence took their stand in Lucca in the
+quarter around San Friano; and the loggia in front of San Friano was
+made by the Florentines. And when the Florentines found themselves in
+this place, Messer Tegghiaio Aldobrandi, seeing Spedito who had
+insulted him in the council and bade him look to his breeches, drew
+himself up and took from his pouch five hundred florins of gold that
+he had, and showed them to Spedito (who had fled from Florence in
+great poverty), and said to him reproachfully, "Just look at the state
+of my breeches! This is what you have brought yourself and me and the
+rest to, by your rash and overbearing lordship." And Spedito answered,
+"Then why did you trust us?" We have made mention of these paltry and
+base altercations as a warning, that no citizen, especially if he be a
+popolano and of small account, when he chances to be in office, should
+be too bold or presumptuous. At this time the Pisans, the Sienese, and
+they of Arezzo, with the said Count Giordano, and with the other
+Ghibelline leaders, caused a council to be held at Empoli, to
+establish the Ghibelline party in Tuscany, and to form a league; and
+so it was done. And forasmuch as Count Giordano must needs return into
+Apulia, to King Manfred, by command of the said Manfred there was
+proclaimed as his vicar-general and captain of the host in Tuscany,
+Count Guido Novello of the Counts Guidi of Casentino and of
+Modigliana, who factiously forsook Count Simone his brother, and Count
+Guido Guerra his fellow, and all those of his branch of the family
+which held to the Guelf party; and he was desirous to drive out of
+Tuscany every Guelf. And at the said council all the neighbouring
+cities, and the Counts Guidi, and the Counts Alberti, and they of
+Santafiore, and the Ubaldini, and all the barons around took counsel,
+and were all of one mind how for the good of the Ghibelline party the
+city of Florence should be utterly destroyed and reduced to open
+villages, to the intent there might remain neither renown, nor fame,
+nor power of its might. To withstand which proposal uprose the valiant
+and wise knight, Messer Farinata degli Uberti, and in his saying he
+introduced two ancient proverbs of the street which say: "As the ass
+has wit, so he munches his rape" [_i.e._, every one does his business
+according to his capacity, such as it is], and "Lame goats can go if
+they meet no wolf" [_i.e._, any one can get on if there are no
+difficulties]; and these two proverbs he wove together, saying: "As
+the ass has wit, lame goats can go; so he munches his rape if they
+meet no wolf," adroitly turning the vulgar proverbs to examples and
+comparisons to show the folly of thus speaking, and the great peril
+and hurt that might follow thereupon; and saying that if there were
+none other than he, whilst he had life in his body he would defend the
+city with sword in hand. Count Giordano perceiving this, and what
+manner of man and of what authority was Messer Farinata, and his great
+following, and how the Ghibelline party might be broken up and come to
+discord, abandoned the idea, and took other counsel, so that by one
+good man and citizen our city of Florence was saved from so great
+fury, destruction, and ruin. But afterwards the said people of
+Florence were ungrateful and forgetful towards the said Messer
+Farinata, and his progeny and descendants, as hereafter we shall make
+mention. But in despite of the forgetfulness of the ungrateful people,
+nevertheless we ought to commend and keep in notable memory the good
+and virtuous citizen, who acted after the fashion of the good Roman
+Camillus of old, as we are told by Valerius and Titus Livius.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1261 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 82.--_How Count Guido, the vicar, with the league of the
+Ghibellines of Tuscany, went against Lucca, and took S. Maria a Monte
+and many fortresses._
+
+
+Sec. 83.--_How the Guelf refugees from Florence sent their ambassadors
+into Germany to stir up Conradino against Manfred._
+
+In those times the Guelf refugees from Florence and from the other
+cities of Tuscany, perceiving themselves to be thus persecuted by the
+forces of Manfred and of the Ghibellines of Tuscany, and seeing that
+no lord was rising against the forces of Manfred, and also that the
+Church had but little power against him, thought within themselves to
+send their ambassadors into Germany to stir up the little Conradino,
+offering him much aid and favour, against Manfred, his uncle, who was
+falsely holding the kingdom of Sicily and of Apulia; and this was
+done, for from among the chief of the Florentine exiles there went as
+ambassadors, with those of the commonwealth of Lucca. And the Guelf
+exiles from Florence were represented by M. Bonaccorso Bellincioni of
+the Adimari, and M. Simone Donati. And they found Conradino so young a
+boy that his mother would in no wise consent to let him go from her,
+albeit with will and with mind she was greatly against Manfred and
+held him as an enemy and rebel against Conradino. And the said
+ambassadors, when they returned from Germany, as a token and earnest
+of the coming of Conradino, caused him to give them his mantle lined
+with miniver, which being brought to Lucca caused great rejoicing
+among the Guelfs, and it was shown in S. Friano of Lucca, as if it had
+been a relic. But the Guelfs of Tuscany did not know the future
+destiny, how the said Conradino should become their enemy.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1262 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi. 56.]
+
+Sec. 84.--_How the Guelf refugees from Florence took Signa, but held it
+only a short space._ Sec. 85.--_How Count Guido, the vicar, with the
+Tuscan league and the forces of the Pisans, marched upon Lucca,
+whereon the Lucchese made their peace, and drave out the Guelf
+refugees from Lucca._
+
+
+Sec. 86.--_How the Guelf refugees from Florence, and the other exiles of
+Tuscany, drave out the Ghibellines from Modena and afterwards from
+Reggio._
+
+[Sidenote: 1263 A.D.]
+
+After the miserable Guelfs which had been driven from Florence and
+from all the cities of Tuscany (whereof none held with the Guelf
+party) were come into the city of Bologna, they abode there long time
+in great want and poverty, some receiving pay to serve on foot, and
+some on horse, and some without pay. It came to pass in those times
+that the inhabitants of the city of Modena, Guelfs and Ghibellines,
+came to dissension and civic strife among themselves, as it is the
+custom of the cities of Lombardy to assemble and fight on the piazza
+of the commonwealth; and many days they were opposed the one to the
+other without either side being able to win the victory. It came to
+pass that the Guelfs sent for succour to Bologna, and especially to
+the Guelf refugees from Florence, which straightway, as needy folk,
+and making war for their own behoof, went thither on horse and on
+foot, as each best could. And when they came to Modena a gate was
+opened to them by the Guelfs, and they were admitted; and straightway
+when they were come upon the piazza of Modena, as brave men and used
+to arms and to war, they attacked the Ghibellines, which could not
+long endure, but were defeated and slain and driven out of the city,
+and their houses and their goods spoiled; by reason of which booty the
+said Guelf refugees from Florence and from the rest of Tuscany were
+much enriched, and furnished themselves with horses and with arms,
+whereof they were in great need, and this was in the year of Christ
+1263. And whilst they were in Modena, a little while after, in the
+same manner as in Modena, fighting began in the city of Reggio in
+Lombardy, between the Guelfs and the Ghibellines; and when the Guelfs
+of Reggio sent for aid to the Guelf refugees from Florence, which were
+in Modena, straightway they went thither, and they chose as their
+captain Messer Forese degli Adimari. And when they were come to Reggio
+they joined in the battle on the piazza, which endured long time,
+forasmuch as the Ghibellines of Reggio were very powerful, and among
+them was one called Caca of Reggio, on whose name wit is spilled in
+gibes even yet. This man was well-nigh as tall as a giant, and of
+marvellous strength, and he had an iron club in his hand, and none
+dared to approach him whom he did not fell to the earth, either slain
+or maimed, and by him the battle was well-nigh wholly sustained. When
+the gentlemen in banishment from Florence perceived this, they chose
+among them twelve of the most valiant, and called them the twelve
+paladins, which, with daggers in hand, all set upon that valiant man,
+which, after very brave defence, and beating down many of his enemies,
+was struck down to the earth and slain upon the piazza; and so soon as
+the Ghibellines saw their champion on the ground, they took to flight
+and were discomfited and driven out of Reggio; and if the Guelf
+refugees from Florence and from the other cities of Tuscany were
+enriched by the spoil of the Ghibellines of Modena, much more were
+they enriched by that of the Ghibellines of Reggio; and they all
+provided themselves with horses, so that in a short time, while they
+abode in Reggio and in Modena, they numbered more than 400 horsemen,
+good men-at-arms well mounted, and they came at great need to the
+succour of Charles, count of Anjou and of Provence, when he came into
+Apulia against Manfred, as we shall hereafter relate. We will now
+leave the doings of Florence, and of the Guelf refugees, and turn to
+the things which came to pass in those times between the Church of
+Rome and Manfred.
+
+
+Sec. 87.--_How Manfred persecuted Pope Urban and the Church with his
+Saracens of Nocera, and how a crusade was proclaimed against them._
+
+[Sidenote: 1261 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Par. xxii. 16-18.]
+
+By reason of the discomfiture of the Florentines, and of the other
+Guelfs of Tuscany at Montaperti, as we have afore said, King Manfred
+rose to great lordship and state, and all the imperial party in
+Tuscany and in Lombardy greatly increased in power, and the Church and
+its devout and faithful followers were much abased in all places. It
+came to pass that a very little while after, in the said year 1260,
+Pope Alexander passed from this life in the city of Viterbo, and the
+Church was vacant without a pastor for five months through the
+disputings among the cardinals; afterwards they elected Pope Urban
+IV., of the city of Troyes, of Champagne in France, the which was of
+low origin, being son of a cobbler, but was a man of worth, and wise.
+But his election was in this fashion: he was a poor clerk which came
+to the court of Rome to plead a cause about his Church, which had been
+taken from him, which brought in twenty pounds tournois a year. The
+cardinals, by reason of their disputes, locked the doors when they
+were shut up, and made among themselves a secret decree that the first
+clerk which knocked at the door should be Pope. As it pleased God this
+Urban was the first, and where he came to plead for the poor church of
+twenty pounds tournois revenue, he received the Universal Church,
+after the ordinances of God, as fixed in the election of the blessed
+Nicholas. Because the election was miraculous, therefore have we made
+mention and record thereof. And he was consecrated the year of Christ
+1261. Finding the Church much beaten down by the power of Manfred,
+which was occupying the greater part of Italy, and had stationed the
+host of his Saracens of Nocera in the lands of the patrimony of S.
+Peter, the said Urban preached a crusade against them; wherefore many
+faithful people took the cross and marched in the army against them.
+For the which cause, the Saracens fled into Apulia, but Manfred did
+not therefore cease to molest the Pope and the Church in their
+followers and troops, and he abode now in Sicily and now in Apulia, in
+great luxury and in great delights, following a worldly and epicurean
+life, and for his pleasure keeping many concubines, living
+lasciviously, and it seemed that he cared neither for God nor for the
+saints. But God, the just Lord, which, through grace, delays His
+judgments upon sinners to the intent they may bethink them, but in the
+end does not pardon those who do not turn to Him, presently sent forth
+His curse and ruin upon Manfred, when he believed himself to be in the
+height of his state and lordship, as hereafter we shall make mention.
+
+
+Sec. 88.--_How the Church of Rome elected Charles of France to be king
+of Sicily and of Apulia._
+
+[Sidenote: 1263 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. vii. 113, 124-129; xx. 67-69.]
+
+The said Pope Urban and the Church being thus brought down by the
+power of Manfred, and the two Emperors-elect (to wit, the Spaniard and
+the Englishman) not being in concord nor having power to come into
+Italy, and Conradino, son of King Conrad, to whom pertained by
+inheritance the kingdom of Sicily and of Apulia, being so young a boy
+that he could not as yet come against Manfred, the said Pope, by
+reason of the importunity of many faithful followers of the Church,
+the which by Manfred's violence had been driven from their lands, and
+especially by reason of the Guelf exiles from Florence and from
+Tuscany who were continually pursuing the court, complaining of their
+woes at the feet of the Pope, the said Pope Urban called a great
+council of his cardinals and of many prelates, and made this proposal:
+seeing the Church was subjugated by Manfred, and since those of his
+house and lineage had always been enemies and persecutors of Holy
+Church, not being grateful for many benefits received, if it seemed
+well to them, he had thought to release Holy Church from bondage and
+restore her to her state and liberty, and this might be done by
+summoning Charles, count of Anjou and of Provence, son of the king of
+France, and brother of the good King Louis, the which was the most
+capable prince in prowess of arms and in every virtue that there was
+in his time, and of so powerful a house as that of France, and who
+might be the champion of Holy Church and king of Sicily and of Apulia,
+regaining it by force from King Manfred, which was holding it unjustly
+by force, and was excommunicated and condemned, and was against the
+will of Holy Church, and as it were a rebel against her; and he
+trusted so much in the prowess of the said Charles, and of the barons
+of France, which would follow him, that he did not doubt but that he
+would oppose Manfred and take from him the lands and all the Kingdom
+in short time, and would put the Church in great state. To the which
+counsel all the cardinals and prelates agreed, and they elected the
+said Charles to be king of Sicily and of Apulia, him and his
+descendants down to the fourth generation after him, and the election
+being confirmed, they sent forth the decree; and this was the year of
+Christ 1263.
+
+
+Sec. 89.--_How Charles, count of Anjou and of Provence, accepted the
+election offered him by the Church of Rome to Sicily and to Apulia._
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. vii. 128.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1263 A.D.]
+
+When the said invitation was carried to France by the Cardinal Simon
+of Tours to the said Charles, he took counsel thereupon with King
+Louis of France and with the count of Artois, and with the count of
+Alencon, his brother, and with the other great barons of France, and
+by all he was counselled that in the name of God he should undertake
+the said emprise in the service of Holy Church, and to bear the
+dignity of crown and Kingdom. And the King Louis of France, his elder
+brother, proffered him aid in men and in money, and likewise offers
+were made to him by all the barons of France. And his lady, which was
+youngest daughter to the good Count Raymond Berenger, of Provence,
+through whom he had the heritage of the county of Provence, when she
+heard of the election of the Count Charles, her husband, to the intent
+that she might become queen, pledged all her jewels and invited all
+the bachelors-at-arms of France and of Provence to rally round her
+standard and to make her queen. And this was largely by reason of the
+contempt and disdain which a little while before had been shown to her
+by her three elder sisters, which were all queens, making her sit a
+degree lower than they, for which cause, with great grief, she had
+made complaint thereof to Charles, her husband, which answered her:
+"Be at peace, for I will shortly make thee a greater queen than them;"
+for which cause she sought after and obtained the best barons of
+France for her service, and those who did most in the emprise. And
+thus Charles wrought in his preparations with all solicitude and
+power, and made answer to the Pope and to the cardinals, by the said
+cardinal legate, how he had accepted their election, and how, without
+loss of time, he would come into Italy with a strong arm and great
+force to defend Holy Church, and against Manfred, to drive him from
+the lands of Sicily and of Apulia; by the which news the Church and
+all her followers, and whosoever was on the side of the Guelfs, were
+much comforted and took great courage. When Manfred heard the news, he
+furnished himself for defence with men and money, and with the force
+of the Ghibelline party in Lombardy and in Tuscany, which were of his
+league and alliance, he enlisted and equipped many more folk than he
+had before, and caused them to come from Germany for his defence, to
+the intent the said Charles and his French following might not be able
+to enter into Italy or to proceed to Rome; and with money and with
+promises he gathered a great part of the lords and of the cities of
+Italy under his lordship, and in Lombardy he made vicar the Marquis
+Pallavicino of Piedmont, his kinsman, which much resembled him in
+person and in habits. And likewise he caused great defences to be
+prepared at sea, of armed galleys of his Sicilians and Apulians, and
+of the Pisans which were in league with him, and they feared but
+little the coming of the said Charles, whom they called, in contempt,
+Little Charles. And forasmuch as Manfred thought himself, and was,
+lord over sea and land, and his Ghibelline party was uppermost and
+ruled over Tuscany and Lombardy, he held his coming for nought.
+
+
+Sec. 90.--_Incident relating to the good Count Raymond of Provence._
+
+[Sidenote: Par. vi. 127-142. Vita Nuova, Sec. xli. 34-52.]
+
+Since in the chapter above we have told of the worthy lady, wife of
+King Charles and daughter of the good Count Raymond Berenger, of
+Provence, it is fitting that something should briefly be said of the
+said count, to whom King Charles was heir. Count Raymond was a lord of
+gentle lineage, and kin to them of the house of Aragon, and to the
+family of the count of Toulouse. By inheritance Provence, this side of
+the Rhone, was his; a wise and courteous lord was he, and of noble
+state and virtuous, and in his time did honourable deeds, and to his
+court came all gentle persons of Provence and of France and of
+Catalonia, by reason of his courtesy and noble estate, and he made
+many Provencal coblas and canzoni of great worth. There came to his
+court a certain Romeo [pilgrim], who was returning from S. James', and
+hearing the goodness of Count Raymond, abode in his court, and was so
+wise and valorous, and came so much into favour with the count, that
+he made him master and steward of all that he had; who always
+continued in virtuous and religious living, and in a short time, by
+his industry and prudence, increased his master's revenue threefold,
+maintaining always a great and honourable court. And being at war
+with the count of Toulouse on the borders of their lands (and the
+count of Toulouse was the greatest count in the world, and under him
+he had fourteen counts), by the courtesy of Count Raymond, and by the
+wisdom of the good Romeo, and by the treasure which he had gathered,
+he had so many barons and knights that he was victorious in the war,
+and that with honour. Four daughters had the count, and no male child.
+By prudence and care the good Romeo first married the eldest for him
+to the good King Louis of France by giving money with her, saying to
+the count, "Leave it to me, and do not grudge the cost, for if thou
+marryest the first well, thou wilt marry all the others the better for
+the sake of her kinship, and at less cost." And so it came to pass;
+for straightway the king of England, to be of kin to the king of
+France, took the second with little money; afterwards his carnal
+brother, being the king elect of the Romans, after the same manner
+took the third; the fourth being still to marry, the good Romeo said,
+"For this one I desire that thou should'st have a brave man for thy
+son, who may be thine heir,"--and so he did. Finding Charles, count of
+Anjou, brother of King Louis of France, he said, "Give her to him, for
+he is like to be the best man in the world," prophesying of him; and
+this was done. And it came to pass afterwards, through envy, which
+destroys all good, that the barons of Provence accused the good Romeo
+that he had managed the count's treasure ill, and they called upon him
+to give an account; the worthy Romeo said, "Count, I have served thee
+long while, and raised thy estate from small to great, and for this,
+through the false counsel of thy people, thou art little grateful: I
+came to thy court a poor pilgrim, and I have lived virtuously here;
+give me back my mule, my staff, and my scrip, as I came here, and I
+renounce thy service." The count would not that he should depart; but
+for nought that he could do would he remain; and as he came, so he
+departed, and no one knew whence he came or whither he went. But many
+held that he was a sainted soul.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1264 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 91.--_How in these times there appeared a great comet, and what it
+signified._
+
+
+END OF SELECTIONS FROM BOOK VI.
+
+
+
+
+BOOK VII.
+
+[Sidenote: 1264 A.D.]
+
+ _Here begins the Seventh Book, which treats of the coming of
+ King Charles, and of many changes and events which followed
+ thereupon._
+
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xix. 99. Purg. vii. 113, 124, 128, 129; xi. 137; xx.
+67-69.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. xx. 61-63.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. vii. 113, 124.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1265 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. vii. 126.]
+
+Sec. 1.--Charles was the second son of Louis le Debonnaire, king of
+France, and grandson of the good King Philip, the blear-eyed, his
+grandfather, whereof we before made mention, and brother of the good
+King Louis of France, and of Robert, count of Artois, and of Alfonso,
+count of Poitou; all these four brothers were the children of Queen
+Bianca, daughter of the King Alfonso of Spain. The said Charles, count
+of Anjou, by inheritance from his father, and count of Provence, this
+side the Rhone, by inheritance through his wife, the daughter of the
+good Count Raymond Berenger, so soon as he was elected king of Sicily
+and of Apulia by the Pope and by the Church, made preparation of
+knights and barons to furnish means for his enterprise and expedition
+into Italy, as we before narrated. But in order that those who come
+after may have fuller knowledge how this Charles was the first of the
+kings of Sicily and of Apulia descended from the house of France, we
+will tell somewhat of his virtues and conditions; and it is very
+fitting that we should preserve a record of so great a lord, and so
+great a friend and protector and defender of Holy Church, and of our
+city of Florence, as we shall make mention hereafter. This Charles
+was wise, prudent in counsel and valiant in arms, and harsh, and much
+feared and redoubted by all the kings of the earth, great-hearted and
+of high purposes, steadfast in carrying out every great undertaking,
+firm in every adversity, faithful to every promise, speaking little
+and acting much, scarcely smiling, chaste as a monk, catholic, harsh
+in judgment, and of a fierce countenance, tall and stalwart in person,
+olive-coloured, large-nosed, and in kingly majesty he exceeded any
+other lord, and slept little and woke long, and was wont to say that
+all the time of sleep was so much lost; liberal was he to knights in
+arms, but greedy in acquiring land and lordship and money, from
+whencesoever it came, to furnish means for his enterprises and wars;
+in jongleurs, minstrels or jesters he never took delight; his arms
+were those of France, that is an azure field charged with the golden
+lily, barred with vermilion above; so far they were diverse from the
+arms of France. This Charles, when he passed into Italy, was forty-six
+years of age, and he reigned nineteen years in Sicily and Apulia, as
+we shall make mention hereafter. He had by his wife two sons and
+several daughters; the first was named Charles II., and was somewhat
+crippled, and was prince of Capua; and after the first Charles, his
+father, he became king of Sicily and of Apulia, as we shall make
+mention hereafter. The second was Philip, who was prince of the Morea
+in his wife's right; but he died young and without issue, for he
+ruptured himself in straining a crossbow. We will now leave for a
+while to speak of the progeny of the good King Charles, and will
+continue our story of his passing into Italy, and of other things
+which followed thereupon.
+
+
+Sec. 2.--_How the Guelf refugees from Florence took the arms of Pope
+Clement, and how they joined the French army of Count Charles._
+
+[Sidenote: 1265 A.D.]
+
+In those times the Guelf refugees from Florence and from the other
+cities of Tuscany, who were much advantaged by the booty they had made
+of the cities of Modena and Reggio, whereof we before made mention,
+hearing that Count Charles was preparing to pass into Italy, gathered
+all their strength in arms and in horses, each one doing all in his
+power; and they numbered more than 400 good horsemen of gentle lineage
+and proved in arms, and they sent their ambassadors to Pope Clement,
+to the end he might recommend them to Count Charles, King elect of
+Sicily, and to proffer themselves for the service of Holy Church;
+which were graciously received by the said Pope, and provided with
+money and other benefactions; and the said Pope required that for love
+of him the Guelf party from Florence should always bear his proper
+arms on their standard and seal, which was, and is, a white field with
+a vermilion eagle above a green serpent, which they bore and kept
+henceforward, and down to our present times, though it is true that
+the Guelfs added afterwards a small vermilion lily above the head of
+the eagle; and with this banner they departed from Lombardy in company
+with the French horsemen of Count Charles when they journeyed to Rome,
+as we shall make mention hereafter; and they were among the best
+warriors and the most skilled in arms, of all those which King Charles
+had at the battle against Manfred. We will now leave for the present
+to speak of the Guelf refugees from Florence, and will tell of the
+coming of Count Charles and of his followers.
+
+
+Sec. 3.--_How Count Charles departed from France, and passed by sea from
+Provence to Rome._
+
+[Sidenote: 1265 A.D.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1265, Charles, count of Anjou and of Provence,
+having collected his barons and knights of France, and money to
+furnish means for his expedition, and having mustered his troops, left
+Count Guy of Montfort, captain and leader of 1,500 French horsemen,
+which were to journey to Rome by way of Lombardy; and having kept the
+feast of Easter, of the Resurrection of Christ, with King Louis of
+France and with his other brothers and friends, he straightway
+departed from Paris with a small company. Without delay he came to
+Marseilles in Provence, where he had had prepared thirty armed
+galleys, upon which he embarked with certain barons whom he had
+brought with him from France, and with certain of his Provencal barons
+and knights, and put out to sea on his way to Rome in great peril,
+inasmuch as King Manfred with his forces had armed in Genoa, and in
+Pisa, and in the Kingdom, more than eighty galleys, which were at sea
+on guard, to the intent that the said Charles might not be able to
+pass. But the said Charles, like a bold and courageous lord, prepared
+to pass without any regard to the lying-in-wait of his enemies,
+repeating a proverb, or perhaps the saying of a philosopher, that
+runs: Good care frustrates ill fortune. And this happened to the said
+Charles at his need; for being with his galleys on the Pisan seas, by
+tempest of the sea they were dispersed, and Charles with three of his
+galleys, utterly forespent, arrived at the Pisan port. Hearing this,
+Count Guido Novello, then vicar in Pisa for King Manfred, armed
+himself with his German troops to ride to the port and take Count
+Charles; the Pisans seized their moment, and closed the doors of the
+city, and ran to arms, and raised a dispute with the vicar, demanding
+back the fortress of Mutrone, which he was holding for the Lucchese,
+which was very dear and necessary to them; and this had to be granted
+before he was able to depart. And on account of the said interval and
+delay, when Count Guido had departed from Pisa and reached the port,
+Count Charles, the storm being somewhat abated, had with great care
+refitted his galleys and put out to sea, having departed but a little
+time before from the port, so great peril and misfortune being past;
+and thus, as it pleased God, passing afterwards hard by the fleet of
+King Manfred, sailing over the high seas, he arrived with his armada
+safe and sound at the mouth of the Roman Tiber, in the month of May of
+the said year, the which coming was held to be very marvellous and
+sudden, and by King Manfred and his people could scarce be believed.
+Charles having arrived in Rome, was received by the Romans with great
+honour, inasmuch as they loved not the lordship of Manfred; and
+immediately he was made senator of Rome by the will of the Pope and
+the people of Rome. Albeit Pope Clement was in Viterbo, yet he gave
+him all aid and countenance against Manfred, both spiritual and
+temporal; but by reason of his mounted troops, which were coming from
+France by land, and which through the many hindrances prepared by the
+followers of Manfred in Lombardy, had much difficulty in reaching
+Rome, as we shall make mention, it behoved Count Charles to abide in
+Rome, and in Campagna, and in Viterbo throughout that summer, during
+which sojourn he took counsel and ordered how he might enter the
+Kingdom with his host.
+
+
+Sec. 4.--_How Count Guy of Montfort, with the horse of Count Charles,
+passed through Lombardy._
+
+[Sidenote: 1265 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Purg. vii. 133-136. Conv. iv. 11: 125-127.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxxii. 115, 116.]
+
+Count Guy of Montfort, with the horsemen which Count Charles had left
+him to lead, and with the countess, wife to the said Charles, and with
+her knights, departed from France in the month of June of the said
+year. * * * * * * And they took the way of Burgundy and of Savoy, and
+crossed the mountains of Monsanese [M. Cenis]; and when they came into
+the country about Turin and Asti, they were received with honour by
+the marquis of Monferrato, which was lord over that country, forasmuch
+as the marquis held with the Church, and was against Manfred; and by
+his conduct, and with the aid of the Milanese, they set out to pass
+through Lombardy, from Piedmont as far as Parma, all in arms, and
+riding in troops, with much difficulty, forasmuch as the Marquis
+Pallavicino, kinsman of Manfred, with the forces of the Cremonese, and
+of the other Ghibelline cities of Lombardy which were in league with
+Manfred, was guarding the passes with more than 3,000 horsemen, some
+Germans and some Lombards. At last, as it pleased God, albeit the two
+hosts came very nigh one another at the place called . . . the French
+passed through without any battle being fought and arrived at the city
+of Parma. Truly it is said that one Master Buoso, of the house of da
+Duera, of Cremona, for money which he received from the French, gave
+counsel in such wise that the host of Manfred was not there to contest
+the pass, as had been arranged, wherefor the people of Cremona
+afterwards destroyed the said family of da Duera in fury. When the
+French came to the city of Parma they were graciously received, and
+the Guelf refugees from Florence and from the other cities of
+Tuscany, with more than 400 horsemen (whereof they had made captain
+Count Guido Guerra of the Counts Guidi) went out to meet them as far
+as the city of Mantua. And when the French met with the Guelf refugees
+from Florence and from Tuscany, they seemed to them such fine men, and
+so rich in horses and in arms, that they marvelled greatly, that being
+in banishment from their cities they could be so nobly accoutred, and
+their company highly esteemed our exiles. And afterwards they took
+them round by Lombardy to Bologna, and by Romagna and by the March,
+and by the Duchy, for they could not pass through Tuscany, forasmuch
+as it all pertained to the Ghibelline party, and was under the
+lordship of Manfred; for the which thing they spent long time in their
+journeying, so that it was not till the beginning of the month of
+December, in the said year 1265, that they arrived in Rome; and when
+they were come to the city of Rome, Count Charles was very joyful, and
+received them with great gladness and honour.
+
+
+Sec. 5.--_How King Charles was crowned in Rome king of Sicily, and how he
+straightway departed with his host to go against King Manfred._
+
+[Sidenote: 1265 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. xxviii. 16.]
+
+When the mounted troops of Count Charles had reached Rome, he purposed
+to assume his crown; and on the day of the Epiphany in the said year
+1265, by two cardinal legates, despatched by the Pope to Rome, he was
+consecrated and crowned over the realm of Sicily and Apulia, he and
+his lady with great honour; and so soon as the festival of his
+coronation was ended, without any delay he set out with his host by
+way of the Campagna, towards the kingdom of Apulia, and Campagna; and
+very soon he had a large part thereof at his command without dispute.
+King Manfred hearing of their coming, to wit, first of the said
+Charles, and then of his people, and how through failure of his great
+host, which was in Lombardy, they had passed onward, was much angered.
+Immediately he gave all his care to defend the passes of the Kingdom,
+and at the pass at the bridge at Cepperano he placed the Count
+Giordano and the count of Caserta, the which were of the house of da
+Quona, with many followers, both foot and horse; and in San Germano he
+placed a great part of his German and Apulian barons, and all the
+Saracens of Nocera with bows and crossbows, and great store of arrows,
+trusting more in this defence than in any other, by reason of the
+strong place and the position, which has on the one side high
+mountains, and on the other marshes and stagnant waters, and was
+furnished with victuals and with all things necessary for more than
+two years. King Manfred having fortified the passes, as we have said,
+sent his ambassadors to King Charles to treat with him concerning a
+truce or peace; and their embassage being delivered, it was King
+Charles's will to make answer with his own mouth; and he said in his
+language, in French: "Allez, et ditez pour moi au sultan de Nocere,
+aujourdhui je mettrai lui en enfer, ou il mettra moi en paradis;"
+which was as much as to say: I will have nothing but battle, and in
+that battle, either he shall slay me, or I him; and this done without
+delay he set out on his road. It chanced that King Charles having
+arrived with his host at Fresolone in Campagna, as he was descending
+towards Cepperano, the said Count Giordano, which was defending that
+pass, seeing the king's followers coming to pass through, desired to
+defend the pass; the count of Caserta said that it was better to let
+some of them pass first so that they might seize them on the other
+side of the pass without stroke of sword. Count Giordano, when he saw
+the people increase, again desired to assail them in battle; then the
+count of Caserta, who was in the plot, said that the battle would be a
+great risk, seeing that too many of them had passed. Then Count
+Giordano, seeing the king's followers to be so powerful, abandoned the
+place and bridge, some say from fear, but more say on account of the
+pact made by the king with the count of Caserta, inasmuch as he loved
+not Manfred, who, of his inordinate lust, had forcibly ravished the
+count of Caserta's wife. Wherefore he held himself to be greatly
+shamed by him, and sought to avenge himself by this treachery. And to
+this we give faith, because he and his were among the first who gave
+themselves up to King Charles; and having left Cepperano, they did not
+return to the host of King Manfred at San Germano, but abode in their
+castles.
+
+
+Sec. 6.--_How, after King Charles had taken the pass of Cepperano, he
+stormed the city of San Germano._
+
+[Sidenote: 1265 A.D.]
+
+When King Charles and his host had taken the pass of Cepperano, they
+took Aquino without opposition, and they stormed the stronghold of
+Arci, which is among the strongest in that country; and this done,
+they encamped the host before San Germano. The inhabitants of the
+city, by reason of the strength of the place, and because it was well
+furnished with men and with all things, held the followers of King
+Charles for nought, and in contempt they insulted the servants which
+were leading the horses to water, saying vile and shameful things,
+calling out: "Where is your little Charles?" For which reason the
+servants of the French began to skirmish, and to fight with those of
+the city, whereat all the host of the French rose in uproar, and
+fearing that the camp would be attacked, the French were all suddenly
+in arms, running towards the city; they within, not being on their
+guard, were not so quickly all in arms. The French with great fury
+assailed the city, fighting against it in many places; and those who
+could find no better protection, dismounting from their horses, took
+off their saddles, and with them on their heads went along under the
+walls and towers of the town. The count of Vendome, with M. John, his
+brother, and with their standard, which were among the first to arm
+themselves, followed the grooms of the besieged which had sallied
+forth to skirmish, and pursuing them, entered the town together with
+them by a postern which was open to receive them; and this was not
+without great peril, forasmuch as the gate was well guarded by many
+armed folk, and of those which followed the count of Vendome and his
+brother, some were there slain and wounded, but they by their great
+courage and strength nevertheless were victorious in the combat around
+the gate by force of arms, and entered in, and straightway set their
+standard upon the walls. And among the first which followed them were
+the Guelf refugees from Florence, whereof Count Guido Guerra was
+captain, and the ensign was borne by Messer Stoldo Giacoppi de' Rossi;
+the which Guelfs at the taking of San Germano bore themselves
+marvellously and like good men, for the which thing the besiegers took
+heart and courage, and each one entered the city as he best could.
+The besieged, when they saw the standards of their enemies upon the
+walls, and the gate taken, fled in great numbers, and few of them
+remained to defend the town; wherefore King Charles's followers took
+the town of San Germano by assault, on the 10th day of February, 1265,
+and it was held to be a very great marvel, by reason of the strength
+of the town, and rather the work of God than of human strength,
+forasmuch as there were more than 1,000 horsemen within, and more than
+5,000 footmen, among which there were many Saracen archers from
+Nocera; but by reason of a scuffle which arose the night before, as it
+pleased God, between the Christians and the Saracens, in the which the
+Saracens were vanquished, the next day they were not faithful in the
+defence of the city, and this among others was truly one of the causes
+why they lost the town of San Germano. Of Manfred's troops many were
+slain and taken, and the city was all overrun and robbed by the
+French; and there the king and his host abode some time to take repose
+and to learn the movements of Manfred.
+
+
+Sec. 7.--_How King Manfred went to Benivento, and how he arrayed his
+troops to fight against King Charles._
+
+[Sidenote: 1265 A.D.]
+
+King Manfred, having heard the news of the loss of San Germano, and
+his discomfited troops having returned thence, he was much dismayed,
+and took counsel what he should do, and he was counselled by the Count
+Calvagno, and by the Count Giordano, and by the Count Bartolommeo, and
+by the Count Chamberlain, and by his other barons, to withdraw with
+all his forces to the city of Benivento, as a stronghold, in order
+that he might give battle on his own ground, and to the end he might
+withdraw towards Apulia if need were, and also to oppose the passage
+of King Charles, forasmuch as by no other way could he enter into the
+Principality and into Naples, or pass into Apulia save by the way of
+Benivento; and thus it was done. King Charles, hearing of the going of
+Manfred to Benivento, immediately departed from San Germano, to pursue
+him with his host; and he did not take the direct way of Capua, and by
+Terra di Lavoro, inasmuch as they could not have passed the bridge of
+Capua by reason of the strength of the towers of the bridge over the
+river, and the width of the river. But he determined to cross the
+river Volturno near Tuliverno, where it may be forded, whence he held
+on by the country of Alifi, and by the rough mountain paths of
+Beniventana, and without halting, and in great straits for money and
+victual, he arrived at the hour of noon at the foot of Benivento in
+the valley over against the city, distant by the space of two miles
+from the bank of the river Calore which flows at the foot of
+Benivento. King Manfred seeing the host of King Charles appear, having
+taken counsel, determined to fight and to sally forth to the field
+with his mounted troops, to attack the army of King Charles before
+they should be rested; but in this he did ill, for had he tarried one
+or two days, King Charles and his host would have perished or been
+captive without stroke of sword, through lack of provisions for them
+and for their horses; for the day before they arrived at the foot of
+Benivento, through want of victual, many of the troops had to feed on
+cabbages, and their horses on the stalks, without any other bread, or
+grain for the horses; and they had no more money to spend. Also the
+people and forces of King Manfred were much dispersed, for M. Conrad
+of Antioch was in Abruzzi with a following, Count Frederick was in
+Calabria, the count of Ventimiglia was in Sicily; so that, if he had
+tarried a while, his forces would have increased; but to whom God
+intends ill, him He deprives of wisdom. Manfred having sallied forth
+from Benivento with his followers, passed over the bridge which
+crosses the said river of Calore into the plain which is called S.
+Maria della Grandella, to a place called the Pietra a Roseto; here he
+formed three lines of battle or troops, the first was of Germans, in
+whom he had much confidence, who numbered fully 1,200 horse, of whom
+Count Calvagno was the captain; the second was of Tuscans and
+Lombards, and also of Germans, to the number of 1,000 horse, which was
+led by Count Giordano; the third, which Manfred led, was of Apulians
+with the Saracens of Nocera, which was of 1,400 horse, without the
+foot soldiers and the Saracen bowmen which were in great numbers.
+
+
+Sec. 8.--_How King Charles arrayed his troops to fight against King
+Manfred._
+
+[Sidenote: 1265 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xvi. 34-39.]
+
+King Charles, seeing Manfred and his troops in the open field, and
+ranged for combat, took counsel whether he should offer battle on that
+day or should delay it. The most of his barons counselled him to abide
+till the coming morning, to repose the horses from the fatigue of the
+hard travel, and M. Giles le Brun, constable of France, said the
+contrary, and that by reason of delay the enemy would pluck up heart
+and courage, and that the means of living might fail them utterly, and
+that if others of the host did not desire to give battle, he alone,
+with his lord Robert of Flanders and with his followers, would
+adventure the chances of the combat, having confidence in God that
+they should win the victory against the enemies of Holy Church. Seeing
+this, King Charles gave heed to and accepted his counsel, and through
+the great desire which he had for the combat, he said with a loud
+voice to his knights, "Venu est le jour que nous avons tant desire,"
+and he caused the trumpets to be sounded, and commanded that every man
+should arm and prepare himself to go forth to battle; and thus in a
+little time it was done. And he ordered, after the fashion of his
+enemies, over against them, three principal bands: the first band was
+of Frenchmen to the number of 1,000 horse, whereof were captains
+Philip of Montfort and the marshal of Mirapoix; of the second King
+Charles with Count Guy of Montfort, and with many of his barons and of
+the queen's knights, and with barons and knights of Provence, and
+Romans, and of the Campagna, which were about 900 horse; and the royal
+banners were borne by William, the standard-bearer, a man of great
+valour; the third was led by Robert, count of Flanders, with his
+Prefect of the camp, Marshal Giles of France, with Flemings, and men
+of Brabant, and of Aisne, and Picards, to the number of 700 horse. And
+besides these troops were the Guelf refugees from Florence, with all
+the Italians, and they were more than 400 horse, whereof many of the
+greater houses in Florence received knighthood from the hand of King
+Charles upon the commencement of the battle; and of these Guelfs of
+Florence and of Tuscany Guido Guerra was captain, and their banner was
+borne in that battle by Conrad of Montemagno of Pistoia. And King
+Manfred seeing the bands formed, asked what folk were in the fourth
+band, which made a goodly show in arms and in horses and in ornaments
+and accoutrements: answer was made him that they were the Guelf
+refugees from Florence and from the other cities of Tuscany. Then did
+Manfred grieve, saying: "Where is the help that I receive from the
+Ghibelline party whom I have served so well, and on whom I have
+expended so much treasure?" And he said: "Those people (that is, the
+band of Guelfs) cannot lose to-day"; and that was as much as to say
+that if he gained the victory he would be the friend of the Florentine
+Guelfs, seeing them to be so faithful to their leader and to their
+party, and the foe of the Ghibellines.
+
+
+Sec. 9.--_Concerning the battle between King Charles and King Manfred,
+and how King Manfred was discomfited and slain._
+
+[Sidenote: 1265 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. xxviii. 16.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. iii. 118, 119.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. iii. 124-132.]
+
+The troops of the two kings being set in order on the plain of
+Grandella, after the aforesaid fashion, and each one of the said
+leaders having admonished his people to do well, and King Charles
+having given to his followers the cry, "Ho Knights, Monjoie!" and King
+Manfred to his, "Ho, Knights, for Suabia!" the bishop of Alzurro as
+papal legate absolved and blessed all the host of King Charles,
+remitting sin and penalty, forasmuch as they were fighting in the
+service of Holy Church. And this done, there began the fierce battle
+between the two first troops of the Germans and of the French, and the
+assault of the Germans was so strong that they evilly entreated the
+French troop, and forced them to give much ground and they themselves
+took ground. The good King Charles seeing his followers so
+ill-bestead, did not keep to the order of the battle to defend himself
+with the second troop, considering that if the first troop of the
+French, in which he had full confidence, were routed, little hope of
+safety was there from the others; but immediately with his troop he
+went to succour the French troop, against that of the Germans, and
+when the Florentine refugees and their troop beheld King Charles
+strike into the battle, they followed boldly, and performed marvellous
+feats of arms that day, always following the person of King Charles;
+and the same did the good Giles le Brun, constable of France, with
+Robert of Flanders and his troop; and on the other side Count Giordano
+fought with his troop, wherefore the battle was fierce and hard, and
+endured for a long space, no one knowing who was getting the
+advantage, because the Germans by their valour and strength, smiting
+with their swords, did much hurt to the French. But suddenly there
+arose a great cry among the French troops, whosoever it was who began
+it, saying: "To your daggers! To your daggers! Strike at the horses!"
+And this was done, by the which thing in a short time the Germans were
+evilly entreated and much beaten down, and well-nigh turned to flight.
+King Manfred, who with his troop of Apulians remained ready to succour
+the host, beholding his followers not able to abide the conflict,
+exhorted the people of his troop that they should follow him into the
+battle, but they gave little heed to his word, for the greater part of
+the barons of Apulia and of the Kingdom, among others the Count
+Chamberlain, and him of Acerra and him of Caserta, and others, either
+through cowardice of heart, or seeing that they were coming by the
+worse, and there are those who say through treachery, as faithless
+folk, and desirous of a new lord, failed Manfred, abandoning him and
+fleeing, some towards Abruzzi and some towards the city of Benivento.
+Manfred, being left with few followers, did as a valiant lord, who
+would rather die in battle as king than flee with shame; and whilst he
+was putting on his helmet, a silver eagle which he wore as crest fell
+down before him on his saddle bow; and he seeing this, was much
+dismayed, and said to the barons, which were beside him, in Latin:
+"_Hoc est signum Dei_, for I fastened this crest with my own hand
+after such a fashion that it should not have been possible for it to
+fall"; yet for all this he did not give up, but as a valiant lord he
+took heart, and immediately entered into the battle, without the royal
+insignia, so as not to be recognised as king, but like any other
+noble, striking bravely into the thickest of the fight; nevertheless,
+his followers endured but a little while, for they were already
+turning; and straightway they were routed and King Manfred slain in
+the midst of his enemies, it was said by a French esquire, but it was
+not known for certain. In that battle there was great mortality both
+on the one side and on the other, but much more among the followers of
+Manfred; and whilst they were fleeing from the field towards
+Benivento, they were pursued by the army of King Charles, which
+followed them as far as the city (for night was already falling), and
+took the city of Benivento and those who were fleeing. Many chief
+barons of King Manfred were taken; among the others were taken Count
+Giordano, and Messer Piero Asino degli Uberti; which two King Charles
+sent captive to Provence, and there he caused them to die a cruel
+death in prison. The other Apulian and German barons he kept in prison
+in divers places in the Kingdom; and a few days after, the wife of the
+said Manfred, and his children and his sister, who were in Nocera of
+the Saracens in Apulia, were delivered as prisoners to King Charles,
+and they afterwards died in his prison. And without doubt there came
+upon Manfred and his heirs the malediction of God, and right clearly
+was shown the judgment of God upon him because he was excommunicated,
+and the enemy and persecutor of Holy Church. At his end, search was
+made for Manfred for more than three days, and he could not be found,
+and it was not known if he was slain, or taken, or escaped, because he
+had not borne royal insignia in the battle; at last he was recognised
+by one of his own camp-followers by sundry marks on his person, in the
+midst of the battle-field; and his body being found by the said
+camp-follower, he threw it across an ass he had and went his way
+crying, "Who buys Manfred? Who buys Manfred?" And one of the king's
+barons chastised this fellow and brought the body of Manfred before
+the king, who caused all the barons which had been taken prisoners to
+come together, and having asked each one if it was Manfred, they all
+timidly said Yes. When Count Giordano came, he smote his hands against
+his face, weeping and crying: "Alas, alas, my lord," wherefor he was
+commended by the French; and some of the barons prayed the king that
+he would give Manfred the honour of sepulture; but the king made
+answer: "_Je le fairois volontiers, s'il ne fut excommunie_"; but
+forasmuch as he was excommunicated, King Charles would not have him
+laid in a holy place; but at the foot of the bridge of Benivento he
+was buried, and upon his grave each one of the host threw a stone;
+whence there arose a great heap of stones. But by some it was said
+that afterwards, by command of the Pope, the bishop of Cosenza had him
+taken from that sepulchre, and sent him forth from the Kingdom which
+was Church land, and he was buried beside the river of Verde
+[Garigliano], on the borders of the Kingdom and Campagna; this,
+however, we do not affirm. This battle and defeat was on a Friday, the
+last day of February, in the year of Christ 1265.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1266 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 10.--_How King Charles had the lordship of the Kingdom and of
+Sicily, and how Don Henry of Spain came to him._ Sec. 11.--_How the
+Saracens of Berber passed into Spain, and how they were there routed._
+Sec. 12.--_How the Florentine Ghibellines laid siege to Castelnuovo in
+Valdarno, and how they departed thence worsted._
+
+
+Sec. 13.--_How the Thirty-six were established in Florence, and how the
+Guilds of Arts were formed and standards given thereto._
+
+[Sidenote: 1266 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxiii. 103-108.]
+
+When the news came to Florence and to Tuscany of the discomfiture of
+Manfred, the Ghibellines and the Germans began to be discouraged and
+to fear in all places; and the Guelf refugees from Florence, which
+were in rebellion, and those who were under bounds in the territory,
+and in many places, began to be strengthened and to take heart and
+courage, and coming nearer to the city, plotted changes and mutations
+within the city, by compacts with their friends within, which had
+understanding with them, and they came as far as to the Servi of S.
+Maria to take counsel, having hope from their people which had been at
+the victory with King Charles, from whom with his French folk they
+were expecting aid; wherefore the people of Florence, which were at
+heart more Guelf than Ghibelline, through the losses they had
+received, one of his father, another of his son, a third of his
+brothers, at the defeat of Montaperti, likewise began to take
+courage, and to murmur and to talk through the city, complaining of
+the spendings and the outrageous burdens which they endured from Count
+Guido Novello, and from the others which were ruling the city; whence
+those which were ruling the city of Florence for the Ghibelline party,
+hearing in the city the said tumult and murmuring, and fearing lest
+the people should rebel against them, by a sort of half measure, and
+to content the people, chose two knights of the Jovial Friars of
+Bologna as Podestas of Florence, of which one was named M. Catalano of
+the Malavolti, and the other M. Roderigo of Landolo, one held to be of
+the party of the Guelfs, to wit, M. Catalano, and the other of the
+party of the Ghibellines. And note that Jovial Friars was the name of
+the Knights of S. Mary, and they became knights when they took that
+habit, for they wore a white gown and a grey mantle; and for arms, a
+white field with a red cross and two stars; and they were bound to
+defend widows, and children under ward, and to be peace makers; and
+other ordinances they had, as religious persons. And the said M.
+Roderigo was the beginner of this Order; but it endured but a short
+while, for the fact followed the name, to wit, they gave themselves
+more to joviality than to aught else. These two friars were brought
+thither by the people of Florence, and they put them in the People's
+Palace over against the Badia, believing that by virtue of their habit
+they would be impartial, and would guard the commonwealth from
+extravagant spendings; the which, albeit in heart they were of diverse
+parties, under cover of false hypocrisy were at one, more for their
+own gain than for the public weal; and they ordained thirty-six good
+men, merchants and artificers of the greatest and best which there
+were in the city, the which were to give counsel to the said two
+Podestas, and were to provide for the spendings of the commonwealth;
+and of this number were both Guelfs and Ghibellines, popolani and
+magnates which were to be trusted, which had remained in Florence at
+the banishment of the Guelfs. And the said thirty-six met together
+every day to take counsel as to the common well-being of the city, in
+the shop and court of the consuls of Calimala, which was at the foot
+of the house of the Cavalcanti in the Mercato Nuovo; the which made
+many good ordinances for the common weal of the city, among which they
+decreed that each one of the seven principal Arts in Florence should
+have a college of consuls, and each should have its ensign and
+standard, to the intent that, if any one in the city rose with force
+of arms, they might under their ensigns stand for the defence of the
+people and of the commonwealth. And the ensigns of the seven greater
+Arts were these: the judges and notaries, an azure field charged with
+a large golden star; the merchants of Calimala, to wit, of French
+cloths, a red field with a golden eagle on a white globe; money
+changers, a red field sewn with golden florins; wool merchants, a red
+field charged with a white sheep; physicians and apothecaries, a red
+field, thereupon S. Mary with her son Christ in her arms; silk
+merchants and mercers, a white field charged with a red gate, from the
+title of Porta Sante Marie; furriers, arms vair, and in one corner an
+Agnus Dei upon an azure field. The next five, following upon the
+greater arts, were regulated afterwards when the office of Priors of
+the Arts was created, as in time hereafter we shall make mention; and
+they had assigned to them after a similar fashion to the seven Arts,
+standards and arms: to wit, the Baldrigari (that is, retail merchants
+of Florentine cloths, of stockings, of linen cloths, and hucksters),
+white and red standard; butchers, a yellow field with a black goat;
+shoemakers, the transverse stripes, white and black, known as the
+pezza gagliarda [gallant piece]; workers in stone and in timber, a red
+field charged with the saw, and the axe, and the hatchet, and the
+pick-axe; smiths and iron workers, a white field charged with large
+black pincers.
+
+
+Sec. 14.--_How the second Popolo rose in Florence, for the which cause
+Count Guido Novello, with the Ghibelline leaders, left Florence._
+
+[Sidenote: 1266 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxxii. 121.]
+
+By reason of the said doings in Florence by the said two Podestas and
+the Thirty-six, the Ghibelline magnates in Florence, such as the
+Uberti, the Fifanti, and Lamberti, and Scolari, and the others of the
+great Ghibelline houses, began to have their factious fears raised,
+for it seemed to them that the said Thirty-six supported and favoured
+the Guelf popolani which had remained in Florence, and that every
+change was against their party. Through this jealousy, and because of
+the news of the victory of King Charles, Count Guido Novello sent for
+help to all the neighbouring allies, such as were the Pisans, Sienese,
+Aretines, Pistoians, and them of Prato, of Volterra, Colle, and
+Sangimignano, so that with 600 Germans which he had, his horsemen in
+Florence numbered 1,500. It came to pass that in order to pay the
+German troops, which were with Count Guido Novello, captain of the
+league, he required that an impost of 10 per cent. should be levied;
+and the said Thirty-six sought some other method of finding the money,
+less burdensome to the people. For this cause, when they delayed some
+days longer than appeared fitting to the Count and to the other great
+Ghibellines of Florence, by reason of the suspicion which they felt
+concerning the ordinances made by the Popolo, the said nobles
+determined to put the town in an uproar, and destroy the office of the
+said Thirty-six, with the help of the great body of horse which the
+vicar had in Florence; and when they were armed, the first that began
+were the Lamberti, which with their armed troops sallied forth from
+their houses in Calimala, saying, "Where are these thieving
+Thirty-six, that we may cut them all in pieces?" which Thirty-six were
+then taking counsel together in the shop where the consuls of Calimala
+administered justice, under the house of the Cavalcanti in the Mercato
+Nuovo. When the Thirty-six heard this they broke up the council, and
+straightway the town rose in uproar, and the shops were closed, and
+every man flew to arms. The people all gathered in the wide street of
+Santa Trinita, and Messer Gianni de' Soldanieri made himself head of
+the people to the end he might rise in estate, not considering the
+end, that it must bring about loss to the Ghibelline party, and damage
+to himself, which seems always to have happened in Florence to
+whomsoever becomes head of the people; and thus armed, at the foot of
+the house of the Soldanieri, the popolani gathered in very great
+numbers and put up barricades at the foot of the tower of the
+Girolami. Count Guido Novello, with all the horsemen and with the
+Ghibelline magnates of Florence, was in arms and mounted in the piazza
+of S. Giovanni; and they advanced against the people, and drew up
+before the barricade on the ruins of the houses of the Tornaquinci,
+and made some show and attempt at fighting, and some mounted Germans
+passed within the barricade; the people defended it boldly with
+crossbows and by hurling missiles from the towers and houses. When the
+Count saw that they could not dislodge the people, he reversed the
+banners and returned with all the horsemen to the piazza of S.
+Giovanni, and then came to the palace on the piazza of S. Apollinari,
+where were the two Podestas, M. Catalano and M. Roderigo, the Jovial
+Friars; the horsemen meanwhile having command of the city from Porte
+San Piero as far as San Firenze. The Count demanded the keys of the
+gates of the city to depart from the town; and for fear missiles
+should be hurled at him from the houses, he had for his safety on one
+side of him Uberto de' Pucci, and on the other Cerchio dei Cerchi, and
+behind him Guidingo Savorigi, which were of the said Thirty-six, and
+among the greatest in the town. The said two friars were crying from
+the palace, demanding with loud voices that the said Uberto and
+Cerchio should come to them, to the end they might pray the Count to
+return to his house and not depart; and they themselves would quiet
+the people, and see that the soldiers were paid. The Count being in
+greater suspicion and fear of the people than was called for, would
+not wait, but would only have the keys of the gate; and this showed
+that it was more the work of God than any other cause; for that great
+and puissant body of horse had not been opposed nor driven out, nor
+dismissed, nor was there any force of enemies against them; for albeit
+the people were armed and gathered together, this was more from fear
+than to oppose the Count and his horsemen, and they would soon have
+been quieted, and have returned to their houses, and laid down their
+arms. But when the judgment of God is ripe, the occasion is ever at
+hand. When the Count had gotten the keys, during a great silence, he
+caused a cry to be made whether all the Germans were there; he was
+told that they were. Then the same was asked concerning the Pisans,
+and likewise concerning all the cities of the league; and when he knew
+that all were there, he gave orders to his standard-bearer to advance
+with banners, and this was done; and they took the wide road of San
+Firenze, and behind San Pietro Scheraggio and San Romeo to the old Ox
+Gate, and when this was opened, the Count, with all his horsemen,
+sallied forth, and held on by the moats behind San Jacopo, and by the
+piazza of Santa Croce, where as yet there were no houses, and along
+the Borgo di Pinti; and there stones were cast upon them; and they
+turned by Cafaggio, and in the evening went to Prato; and this was on
+S. Martin's Day, the 11th day of November, in the year of Christ 1266.
+
+
+Sec. 15.--_How the Popolo restored the Guelfs to Florence, and how they
+afterwards drave out the Ghibellines._
+
+[Sidenote: 1266 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. x. 58-69, 110, 111. Purg. xi. 97-99.]
+
+[Sidenote: Vita Nuova iii. 96-104; xxiv. 18, 19; xxv. 111-113; xxxi.
+21-24; xxxiii. 2-4. Sonnet xxxiii. 1. De Vulg. El. i. 13: 36; ii. 6:
+68, 69; ii. 12: 16, 17, 62, 63.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. x. 51.]
+
+When Count Guido Novello, with all his horsemen and with many
+Ghibelline leaders of Florence, reached Prato, they perceived that
+they had done very foolishly in departing from the city of Florence,
+without stroke of sword and not driven thence, and they perceived that
+they had done ill, and took counsel to return to Florence the
+following morning; and this they did; and they came all armed and in
+battle array at the hour of tierce to the gate of the Carraia Bridge,
+where is now the borough of Ognissanti, but there were no houses then;
+and they demanded that the gate should be opened to them. The people
+of Florence were in arms, and for fear lest the Count, returning with
+his horsemen into Florence, might take vengeance upon them and
+devastate the city, agreed together not to open the gate, but to
+defend the city, which was very strong, with walls and with moats full
+of water around the second circle; and when they would have made a
+dash for the gate, they were shot at and wounded; and there they abode
+until after noon, and neither by persuasions nor by threats were they
+allowed to enter in. They returned to Prato gloomy and shamed, and as
+they were returning, being angry, they attacked the fortress of
+Capalle, but did not take it. And when they came to Prato they
+bitterly reproached each other; but after a thing ill-judged, and
+worse carried out, repentance is in vain. The Florentines which were
+left reorganized the town, and dismissed the said two Podestas, the
+Jovial Friars of Bologna, and sent to Orvieto for aid in soldiers, and
+for a Podesta and Captain, which Orvietans sent 100 horsemen to guard
+the city, and M. Ormanno Monaldeschi was Podesta, and another
+gentleman of Orvieto was the Captain of the People. And by a treaty of
+peace, the following January the Popolo restored to Florence both
+Guelfs and Ghibellines, and caused many marriages and alliances to be
+made between them, among the which these were the chief: that M.
+Bonaccorso Bellincioni degli Adimari gave for wife to M. Forese, his
+son, the daughter of Count Guido Novello, and M. Bindo, his brother,
+took one of the Ubaldini; and M. Cavalcante, of the Cavalcanti, gave
+for wife to his son Guido the daughter of M. Farinata degli Uberti;
+and M. Simone Donati gave his daughter to M. Azzolino, son of M.
+Farinata degli Uberti; for the which alliances the other Guelfs of
+Florence distrusted their loyalty to the party; and for the said
+reason the said peace endured but a little while; for when the said
+Guelfs had returned to Florence, feeling themselves stronger and
+emboldened by the victory which they had gained over Manfred, with
+King Charles, they sent secretly into Apulia to the said King Charles
+for soldiers, and for a captain, and he sent Count Guy of Montfort,
+with 800 French horsemen, and he came to Florence on Easter Day of the
+Resurrection in the year of Christ 1267. And when the Ghibellines
+heard of his coming, the night before they departed from Florence
+without stroke of sword, and some went to Siena, and some to Pisa, and
+to other places. The Florentine Guelfs gave the lordship over the city
+to King Charles for ten years, and when they sent him their free and
+full election by solemn embassy, with authority over life and death
+and in lesser judgments, the king answered that he desired from the
+Florentines their love and good-will and no other jurisdiction;
+nevertheless, at the prayer of the commonwealth he accepted it simply,
+and sent thither year by year his vicars; and he appointed twelve good
+citizens to rule the city with the vicar. And it may be noted
+concerning this banishment of the Ghibellines, that it was on the same
+day, Easter Day of the Resurrection, whereon they had committed the
+murder of M. Bondelmonte de' Bondelmonti, whence the factions in
+Florence broke out, and the city was laid waste; and it seemed like a
+judgment from God, for never afterwards did they return to their
+estate.
+
+
+Sec. 16.--_How, after the Ghibellines had been driven from Florence, the
+ordinances and councils of the city were reorganized._
+
+[Sidenote: 1267 A.D.]
+
+When the Guelf party had returned to Florence, and the vicar or
+Podesta was come from King Charles (the first of them being M. . . .),
+and after twelve good men had been appointed, as of old the Ancients,
+to rule the republic, the council was re-made of 100 good men of the
+people, without whose deliberation no great thing or cost could be
+carried out; and after any measure had been passed in this council, it
+was put to the vote in the council of the colleges of consuls of the
+greater Arts, and the council of the credenza [privy council of the
+Captain of the People] of eighty. These councillors, which, when
+united with the general council, numbered 300, were all popolani and
+Guelfs. After measures had been passed in the said councils, the
+following day the same proposals were brought before the councils of
+the Podesta, first before the council of ninety, including both
+magnates and popolani (and with them associated yet again the colleges
+of consuls of the Arts), and then before the general council, which
+was of 300 men of every condition; and these were called the
+occasional councils; and they had in their gift governorships of
+fortresses, and dignities, and small and great offices. And this
+ordered, they appointed revisors, and corrected all statutes and
+ordinances, and ordered that they should be issued each year. In this
+manner was ordered the state and course of the commonwealth and of the
+people of Florence at the return of the Guelfs; and the chancellors of
+finance were the monks of Settimo and of Ognissanti on alternate
+half-years.
+
+
+Sec. 17.--_How the Guelfs of Florence instituted the Ordinances of the
+Party._
+
+[Sidenote: 1267 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. x. 120.]
+
+In these times, when the Ghibellines had been driven out from
+Florence, the Guelfs which had returned thither being at strife
+concerning the goods of the Ghibelline rebels, sent their ambassadors
+to the court, to Pope Urban and to King Charles, to order their
+affairs, which Pope Urban and King Charles for their estate and peace
+ordered them in this manner, that the goods should be divided into
+three parts--one part to be given to the commonwealth, the second to
+be awarded in compensation to the Guelfs which had been ruined and
+exiled, the third to be awarded for a certain time to the "Guelf
+Party"; but afterwards all the said goods fell to the Party, whence
+they formed a fund, and increased it every day, as a reserve against
+the day of need of the Party; concerning which fund, when the Cardinal
+Ottaviano degli Ubaldini heard thereof, he said, "Since the Guelfs of
+Florence are funding a reserve, the Ghibellines will never return
+thither." And by the command of the Pope and the king, the said Guelfs
+made three knights heads of the Party, and called them at first
+consuls of the knights, and afterwards they called them Captains of
+the Party, and they held office for two months, the sesti electing
+them alternately, three and three; and they gathered to their councils
+in the new church of Santa Maria Sopra Porta, being the most central
+place in the city, and where there are most Guelf houses around; and
+their privy council consisted of fourteen, and their larger council of
+sixty magnates and popolani, by whose vote were elected the Captains
+of the Party and other officers. And they called three magnates and
+three popolani Priors of the Party, to whom were committed the order
+and care of the money of the Party; and also one to hold the seal, and
+a syndic to prosecute the Ghibellines. And all their secret documents
+they deposited in the church of the Servi Sancte Marie. After like
+manner the Ghibelline refugees made ordinances and captains. We have
+said enough of the Ordinances of the Party, and we will return to the
+general events, and to other things.
+
+
+Sec. 18.--_How the soldan of the Saracens took Antioch._ Sec. 19.--_How
+the Guelfs of Florence took the castle of Santellero, with many Ghibelline
+rebels._ Sec. 20.--_How many cities and towns of Tuscany went over to the
+Guelf party._ Sec. 21.--_How King Charles's marshal advanced upon Siena
+with the Florentines, and how the king came to Florence and took
+Poggibonizzi._ Sec. 22.--_How King Charles with the Florentines marched
+upon the city of Pisa._
+
+
+Sec. 23.--_How the young Conradino, son of King Conrad, came from Germany
+into Italy against King Charles._
+
+[Sidenote: 1267 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1268 A.D.]
+
+King Charles being in Tuscany, the Ghibelline refugees from Florence
+formed themselves into a league and company with the Pisans and
+Sienese, and came to an agreement with Don Henry of Spain, which was
+Roman senator, and already at enmity with King Charles, his cousin.
+Therefore, with certain barons of Apulia and Sicily, he made oath and
+conspiracy to make certain towns in Sicily and in Apulia to rebel, and
+to send into Germany, and to stir up Conradino, which was the son of
+Conrad, the son of the Emperor Frederick, to cross into Italy to take
+away Sicily and the Kingdom from King Charles. And so it was done; for
+immediately in Apulia there rose in rebellion Nocera of the Saracens,
+and Aversa in Terra di Lavoro, and many places in Calabria, and almost
+all in Abruzzi, if we except Aquila, and in Sicily almost all, or a
+great part of the island of Sicily, if we except Messina and Palermo;
+and Don Henry caused Rome to rebel, and all Campagna and the country
+around; and the Pisans and the Sienese and the other Ghibelline cities
+sent of their money 100,000 golden florins to stir up the said
+Conradino, who being very young, sixteen years old, set forth from
+Germany, against his mother's will, who was daughter of the duke of
+Austria, and who was not willing for him to depart because of his
+youth. And he came to Verona in the month of February, in the year of
+Christ 1267, with many barons and good men-at-arms from Germany in his
+train; and it is said that there followed him as far as Verona nigh
+upon 10,000 men on horses or ponies, but through lack of means a great
+part returned to Germany, yet there remained of the best 3,500 German
+cavalry. And from Verona he passed through Lombardy, and by the way of
+Pavia he came to the coast of Genoa, and arrived beyond Saona at the
+shores of Varagine, and there put out to sea, and by means of the
+forces of the Genoese, with their fleet of twenty-five galleys, came
+by sea to Pisa, and arrived there in May in 1268, and by the Pisans
+and by all the Ghibellines of Italy was received with great honour,
+almost as if he had been Emperor. His cavalry came by land, crossing
+the mountains of Pontremoli, and arrived at Serrazzano, which was held
+by the Pisans, and then took the way of the seacoast with an escort as
+far as Pisa. King Charles, hearing how Conradino was come into Italy,
+and hearing of the rebellion of his cities in Sicily and Apulia,
+caused by the treacherous barons of the Kingdom (the most of whom he
+had released from prison), and by Don Henry of Spain, immediately
+departed from Tuscany, and by hasty marches came into Apulia, and left
+in Tuscany M. William di Belselve, his marshal, and with him M.
+William, the standard-bearer, with 800 French and Provencal horsemen
+to keep the cities of Tuscany for his party, and to oppose Conradino
+so that he should not be able to pass. And Pope Clement, hearing of
+the coming of Conradino, sent to him his messengers and legates,
+commanding him, under pain of excommunication, not to go forward, nor
+to oppose King Charles, the champion and vicar of Holy Church. But
+Conradino did not by reason of this abandon his enterprise, nor would
+he obey the commands of the Pope, forasmuch as he believed that his
+cause was just, and that the Kingdom and Sicily were his, and of his
+patrimony, and therefore he fell under sentence of excommunication
+from the Church, which he despised and cared little for; but being in
+Pisa, he collected money and people, and all the Ghibellines and
+whosoever belonged to the imperial party, gathered themselves to him,
+whence his force grew greatly. And being in Pisa, his host marched
+against the city of Lucca, which was held for the party of Holy
+Church, and within it were the marshal of King Charles with his
+people, and the legate of the Pope and of the Church, with the forces
+of the Florentines and of the other Guelfs of Tuscany, and with many
+who had taken the cross, and through proclamations and indulgences and
+pardons given by the Pope and by his legates, had come against
+Conradino; and he remained over against Lucca ten days with his host;
+and the two hosts met together to fight at Ponterotto, two miles
+distant from Lucca, but they did not fight, but each one shunned the
+battle, and they remained one on each side of the Guiscianella; so
+they returned, the one part to Pisa, and the other to Lucca.
+
+
+Sec. 24.--_How the marshal of King Charles was defeated at Ponte a Valle
+by Conradino's army._
+
+[Sidenote: 1268 A.D.]
+
+Then Conradino departed with his followers from Pisa, and came to
+Poggibonizzi, and when the inhabitants thereof heard how Conradino was
+come to Pisa, they rebelled against King Charles and against the
+commonwealth of Florence, and sent the keys to Pisa to Conradino. And
+then from Poggibonizzi he went to Siena, and by the Sienese was
+received with great honour; and whilst he sojourned in Siena, the
+marshal of King Charles, which was called, as we have said, M. William
+di Belselve, with his people, departed from Florence on S. John's Day
+in June to go to Arezzo to hinder the movements of Conradino; and by
+the Florentines they were escorted and accompanied as far as
+Montevarchi; and they desired to accompany him till he should be nigh
+unto Arezzo, hearing that the journey was like to be disputed, and
+fearing an ambush in the region round about Arezzo. The said marshal,
+being beyond measure confident in his people, would have the
+Florentines accompany him no further, and in front of the cavalcade he
+set M. William, the standard-bearer, with 300 horsemen well armed and
+in readiness, and he passed on safe and sound. The marshal, with 500
+of his horsemen, not on their guard nor keeping their ranks, and for
+the most part unarmed, prepared to advance, and when they came to the
+bridge at Valle which crosses the Arno nigh to Laterino, there sallied
+forth upon their rear an ambush of the followers of Conradino, which,
+hearing of the march of the said marshal, had departed from Siena
+under conduct of the Ubertini and other Ghibelline refugees from
+Florence; and being come to the said bridge, the French, not being
+prepared, and without much defence, were defeated and slain, and the
+greater part were taken, and those which fled towards Valdarno to the
+region round about Florence were taken and spoiled as if they had been
+enemies; and the said M. William, the marshal, and M. Amelio di
+Corbano, and many other barons and knights were taken and brought to
+Siena to Conradino, and this was the day after the Feast of S. John,
+the 25th day of the month of June, in the year of Christ 1268. At
+which defeat and capture the followers of King Charles and all those
+of the Guelf party were much dismayed, and Conradino and his people
+increased thereupon in great pride and courage, and held the French
+almost for naught. And this being heard in the Kingdom, many cities
+rebelled against King Charles. And at this time King Charles was at
+the siege of the city of Nocera of the Saracens in Apulia, which had
+rebelled, to the end that the others on the coast of Apulia, which
+were all subject to him, might not rebel against him.
+
+
+Sec. 25.--_How Conradino entered into Rome, and afterwards with his host
+passed into the kingdom of Apulia._
+
+[Sidenote: 1268 A.D.]
+
+Conradino, having sojourned somewhat in Siena, departed to Rome, and
+by the Romans and by Don Henry, the senator, was received with great
+honour, as if he had been Emperor, and in Rome he gathered together
+people and money, and despoiled the treasures of S. Peter and the
+other churches of Rome to raise monies; and he had in Rome more than
+5,000 horsemen, what with Germans and Italians, together with those
+of the senator, Don Henry, brother of the king of Spain, which had
+with him full 800 good Spanish horsemen. And Conradino, hearing that
+King Charles was with his host in Apulia at the city of Nocera, and
+that many of the cities and barons of the Kingdom had rebelled, and
+that others were suspected, it seemed to him a convenient time to
+enter into the Kingdom, and he departed from Rome the 10th day of
+August, in the year of Christ 1268, with the said Don Henry, and with
+his company and his barons, and with many Romans; and he did not take
+the way of Campagna, forasmuch as he knew that the pass of Cepperano
+was furnished and guarded; wherefore he did not desire to contest it,
+but took the way of the mountains between the Abruzzi and the Campagna
+by Valle di Celle, where there was no guard nor garrison; and without
+any hindrance he passed on and came into the plain of San Valentino in
+the country of Tagliacozzo.
+
+
+Sec. 26.--_How the host of Conradino and that of King Charles met in
+battle at Tagliacozzo._
+
+[Sidenote: 1268 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxviii. 17, 18.]
+
+King Charles, hearing how Conradino was departed from Rome with his
+followers to enter into the Kingdom, broke up his camp at Nocera, and
+with all his people came against Conradino by hasty marches, and at
+the city of Aquila in Abruzzi awaited his followers. And being at
+Aquila, he took counsel with the men of the city, exhorting them to be
+leal and true, and to make provision for the host; whereupon a wise
+and ancient inhabitant rose and said: "King Charles, take no further
+counsel, and do not avoid a little toil, to the end thou mayest have
+continual repose. Delay no longer, but go against the enemy, and let
+him not gain ground, and we will be leal and true to thee." The king,
+hearing such sage counsel, without any delay or further parley,
+departed by the road crossing the mountains, and came close to the
+host of Conradino in the place and plain of San Valentino, and there
+was nought between them save the river of . . . King Charles had of
+his people, between Frenchmen and Provencals and Italians, less than
+3,000 cavaliers, and seeing that Conradino had many more people than
+he, he took the counsel of the good M. Alardo di Valleri, a French
+knight of great wisdom and prowess, which at that time had arrived in
+Apulia from over seas from the Holy Land, who said to King Charles, if
+he desired to be victorious it behoved him to use stratagems of war
+rather than force. King Charles, trusting much in the wisdom of the
+said M. Alardo, committed to him the entire direction of the host and
+of the battle, who drew up the king's followers in three troops, and
+of one he made captain M. Henry of Cosance, tall in person, and a good
+knight at arms; he was armed with royal insignia in place of the
+king's person, and led Provencals and Tuscans and Lombards, and men of
+the Campagna. The second troop was of Frenchmen, whereof were captains
+M. Jean de Clery, and M. William, the standard-bearer; and he put the
+Provencals to guard the bridge over the said river, to the end the
+host of Conradino might not pass without the disadvantage of combat.
+King Charles, with the flower of his chivalry and barons, to the
+number of 800 cavaliers, he placed in ambush behind a little hill in a
+valley, and with King Charles there remained the said M. Alardo di
+Valleri, with M. William de Ville, and Arduino, prince of the Morea, a
+right valiant knight. Conradino, on the other side, formed his
+followers in three troops, one of Germans, whereof he was captain
+with the duke of Austria, and with many counts and barons; the second
+of Italians, whereof he made captain Count Calvagno, with certain
+Germans; the third was of Spaniards, whereof was captain Don Henry of
+Spain, their lord. In this array, one host over against the other, the
+rebel barons of the Kingdom guilefully, in order to cause dismay to
+King Charles and his followers, caused false ambassadors to come into
+the camp of Conradino, in full pomp, with keys in their hands, and
+with large presents, saying that they were sent from the commonwealth
+of Aquila to give him the keys and the lordship of the city, as his
+men and faithful subjects, to the end he might deliver them from the
+tyranny of King Charles. For which cause the host of Conradino and he
+himself, deeming it to be true, rejoiced greatly; and this being heard
+in the host of King Charles caused great dismay, forasmuch as they
+feared to lose the victual which came to them from that side, and also
+the aid of the men of Aquila. The king himself, hearing this, was
+seized with so great pangs that in the night season he set forth with
+a few of the host in his company, and came to Aquila that same night,
+and causing the guards at the gates to be asked for whom they held the
+city, they answered, For King Charles: who, having entered in without
+dismounting from his horse, having exhorted them to good watch,
+immediately returned to the host, and was there early in the morning:
+and because of the weariness of going and returning by night from
+Aquila, King Charles laid him down and slept.
+
+
+Sec. 27.--_How Conradino and his people were defeated by King Charles._
+
+[Sidenote: 1268 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxviii. 17, 18.]
+
+Now Conradino and his host were puffed up with the vain hope that
+Aquila had rebelled against King Charles, and therefore, all drawn up
+in battle array, they raised their battle cry, and made a vigorous
+rush to force the passages of the river and engage with King Charles.
+King Charles, albeit he was reposing, as we have said, hearing the din
+of the enemy, and how they were in arms and ready for battle,
+immediately caused his followers to arm and array themselves after the
+order and fashion whereof we before made mention. And the troop of the
+Provencals, which was led by M. Henry of Cosance, being at guard on
+the bridge to hinder the passing of Don Henry of Spain and his people,
+the Spaniards set themselves to ford the river, which was not very
+great, and began to enclose the troop of Provencals which were
+defending the bridge. Conradino and the rest of his host, seeing the
+Spaniards had crossed, began to pass the river, and with great fury
+assailed the followers of King Charles, and in a short time had routed
+and defeated the Provencal troop; and the said M. Henry of Cosance;
+and the standard of King Charles was beaten down, and M. Henry himself
+was slain. Don Henry and the Germans, believing they had got King
+Charles in person, inasmuch as he wore the royal insignia, all fell
+upon him at once. And the said Provencal troop being routed, they
+dealt in like fashion with the French and the Italian troop, which was
+led by M. Jean de Clery and M. William, the standard-bearer, because
+the followers of Conradino were two to one against those of King
+Charles, and very fierce and violent in battle; and the followers of
+King Charles, seeing themselves thus sore bestead, took to flight, and
+abandoned the field. The Germans believed themselves victorious, not
+knowing of King Charles's ambush, and began to scatter themselves over
+the field, giving their minds to plunder and booty. King Charles was
+upon the little hill above the valley, where was his troop, with M.
+Alardo di Valleri, and with Count Guy of Montfort, beholding the
+battle; and when he saw his people thus routed, first one troop and
+then the other thus put to flight, he was deadly grieved, and longed
+even to put in motion his own troop to go to the succour of the
+others. M. Alardo, which was commander of the host, and wise in war,
+with great temperance and with wise words much restrained the king,
+saying that for God's sake he should suffer it a while, if he desired
+the honour of the victory, because he knew the cupidity of the
+Germans, and how greedy they were for booty; and he must let them
+break up more from their troops; and when he saw them well scattered,
+he said to the king: "Let the banners set forth, for now it is time;"
+and so it was done. And when the said troop sallied forth from the
+valley, neither Conradino nor his followers believed that they were
+enemies, but that they were of their own party; and they were not upon
+their guard; and the king, coming with his followers in close ranks,
+came straight to where was the troop of Conradino, with the chief
+among his barons, and there began fierce and violent combat, albeit it
+endured not long, seeing that the followers of Conradino were faint
+and weary with fighting, and had not near so many horsemen in battle
+array as those of the king, forasmuch as the greater part were
+wandering out of the ranks, some pursuing the enemy and some scattered
+over the field in search of booty and prisoners; and the troop of
+Conradino, by reason of the unexpected assault of the enemy, was
+continually diminishing, and that of King Charles continually
+increasing, because his first troops, which had been put to flight
+through the first defeat, recognising the royal standard, joined on to
+his company, insomuch that in a little while Conradino and his
+followers were discomfited. And when Conradino perceived that the
+fortunes of war were against him, by the counsel of his greater barons
+he took to flight, together with the duke of Austria, and Count
+Calvagno, and Count Gualferano, and Count Gherardo da Pisa, and many
+more. M. Alardo di Valleri, seeing the enemy put to flight, cried
+aloud, praying and entreating the king and the captains of the troop
+not to set forth either in pursuit of the enemy or other prey, fearing
+lest the followers of Conradino should gather together, or should
+sally forth from some ambush, but to abide firm and in order on the
+field; and so was it done. And this was very fortunate, for Don Henry,
+with his Spaniards, and other Germans, which had pursued into a valley
+the Provencals and Italians whom they had first discomfited, and which
+had not seen King Charles offer battle nor the discomfiture of
+Conradino, had now gathered his men together, and was returning to the
+field; and seeing King Charles' troop, he believed them to be
+Conradino and his following, so that he came down from the hill where
+he had assembled his men, to come to his allies; and when he drew nigh
+unto them, he recognised the standards of the enemy, and how much
+deceived he had been; and he was sore dismayed; but, like the valiant
+lord he was, he rallied and closed up his troop after such a fashion
+that King Charles and his followers, which were spent by the toils of
+the combat, did not venture to strike into Don Henry's troop, and to
+the end they might not risk the game already won, they abode in array
+over against one another a good space. The good M. Alardo, seeing
+this, said to the king that they must needs make the enemy break their
+ranks in order to rout them; whereon the king bade him act after his
+mind. Then he took of the best barons of the king's troop from twenty
+to thirty, and they set forth from the troop, as though they fled for
+fear, as he had instructed them. The Spaniards, seeing how the
+standard-bearers of sundry of these lords were wheeling round as
+though in act to flee, with vain hope began to cry: "They are put to
+flight," and began to leave their own ranks, desiring to pursue them.
+King Charles, seeing gaps and openings in the troop of Spaniards, and
+others on the German side, began boldly to strike among them, and M.
+Alardo with his men wisely gathered themselves together and returned
+to the troop. Then was the battle fierce and hard; but the Spaniards
+were well armed, and by stroke of sword might not be struck to the
+ground, and continually after their fashion they drew close together.
+Then began the French to cry out wrathfully, and to take hold of them
+by the arms and drag them from their horses after the manner of
+tournaments; and this was done to such good purpose that in a short
+time they were routed, and defeated, and put to flight, and many of
+them lay dead on the field. Don Henry, with many of his followers,
+fled to Monte Cascino, and said that King Charles was defeated. The
+abbot, which was lord of those lands, knew Don Henry, and judging by
+divers signs that they were fugitives, caused him and great part of
+his people to be seized. King Charles, with all his followers,
+remained upon the field, armed and on horseback, until the night, to
+the end he might gather together his men, and to be sure of full
+victory over the enemy; and this defeat was on the vigil of S.
+Bartholomew, on the 23rd day of August, in the year of Christ 1268.
+And in that place King Charles afterwards caused a rich abbey to be
+built for the souls of his men which had been slain; which is called
+S. Mary of the Victory, in the plain of Tagliacozzo.
+
+
+Sec. 28.--_Of the vision that came to Pope Clement concerning the
+discomfiture of Conradino._
+
+
+Sec. 29.--_How Conradino and certain of his barons were taken by King
+Charles, and how he caused their heads to be cut off._
+
+[Sidenote: 1268 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. xx. 68.]
+
+Conradino, with the duke of Austria and with many others, which were
+fled from the field with him, arrived at the beach towards Rome upon
+the seashore hard by a place which is called Asturi, which pertained
+to the Infragnipani, noblemen of Rome; and when they were come
+thither, they had a pinnace furnished to pass into Sicily, hoping to
+escape from King Charles; and in Sicily, which had almost all rebelled
+against the king, to recover state and lordship. They having already
+embarked unrecognised on the said vessel, one of the said Infragnipani
+which was in Asturi, seeing that they were in great part Germans, and
+fine men and of noble aspect, and knowing of the defeat, was minded to
+gain riches for himself, and therefore he took the said lords
+prisoners; and having learnt of their conditions, and how Conradino
+was among them, he led them captive to King Charles, for which cause
+the king gave him land and lordship at Pilosa, between Naples and
+Benivento. And when the king had Conradino and those lords in his
+hands, he took counsel what he should do. At last he was minded to put
+them to death, and he caused by way of process an inquisition to be
+made against them, as against traitors to the Crown and enemies of
+Holy Church, and this was carried out; for on the . . . day were
+beheaded Conradino, and the duke of Austria, and Count Calvagno, and
+Count Gualferano, and Count Bartolommeo and two of his sons, and Count
+Gherardo of the counts of Doneratico of Pisa, on the market place at
+Naples, beside the stream of water which runs over against the church
+of the Carmelite friars; and the king would not suffer them to be
+buried in a sacred place, but under the sand of the market place,
+forasmuch as they were excommunicate. And thus with Conradino ended
+the line of the house of Suabia, which was so powerful both in
+emperors and in kings, as before we have made mention. But certainly
+we may see, both by reason and by experience, that whosoever rises
+against Holy Church, and is excommunicate, his end must needs be evil
+for soul and for body; and therefore the sentence of excommunication
+of Holy Church, just or unjust, is always to be feared, for very open
+miracles have come to pass confirming this, as whoso will may read in
+ancient chronicles; as also by this present chronicle it may be seen
+with regard to the emperors and lords of past times, which were rebels
+and persecutors of Holy Church. Yet because of the said judgment King
+Charles was much blamed by the Pope and by his cardinals, and by all
+wise men, forasmuch as he had taken Conradino and his followers by
+chance of battle, and not by treachery, and it would have been better
+to keep him prisoner than to put him to death. And some said that the
+Pope assented thereto; but we do not give faith to this, forasmuch as
+he was held to be a holy man. And it seems that by reason of
+Conradino's innocence, which was of such tender age to be adjudged to
+death, God showed forth a miracle against King Charles, for not many
+years after God sent him great adversities when he thought himself to
+be in highest state, as hereafter in his history we shall make
+mention. To the judge which condemned Conradino, Robert, son of the
+count of Flanders, the king's son-in-law, when he had read the
+condemnation, gave a sword-thrust, saying that it was not lawful for
+him to sentence to death so great and noble a man, from which blow the
+judge died; and it was in the king's presence, and there was never a
+word said thereof, forasmuch as Robert was very high in the favour of
+the king, and it seemed to the king and to all the barons that he had
+acted like a worthy lord. Now Don Henry of Spain was likewise in the
+king's prison, but forasmuch as he was his cousin by blood, and
+because the abbot of Monte Cascino, which had brought him prisoner to
+the king, to the end he might not break his rule, had made a compact
+with him that he should not be put to death, the king would not
+condemn him to death, but to perpetual imprisonment, and sent him
+prisoner to the fortress in the hill Sanctae Mariae in Apulia; and many
+other barons of Apulia and of Abruzzi, which had opposed King Charles
+and been rebellious against him, he put to death with divers torments.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1268 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 30.--_How King Charles recovered all the lands in Sicily and in
+Apulia which had rebelled against him._
+
+
+Sec. 31.--_How the Florentines defeated the Sienese at the foot of Colle
+di Valdelsa._
+
+[Sidenote: 1269 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. xiii. 115-119.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. xi. 109-114, 120-123.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1269, in the month of June, the Sienese, whereof
+M. Provenzano Salvani, of Siena, was governor, with Count Guido
+Novello, with the German and Spanish troops, and with the Ghibelline
+refugees from Florence and from the other cities of Tuscany, and with
+the forces of the Pisans, to the number of 1,400 horse and 8,000 foot,
+marched upon the stronghold of Colle di Valdelsa, which was under the
+lordship of the Florentines; and this they did because the Florentines
+had come in May with an army to destroy Poggibonizzi. And when they
+had encamped at the abbey of Spugnole, and the news was come to
+Florence on Friday evening, on Saturday morning M. Giambertaldo, vicar
+of King Charles for the league of Tuscany, departed from Florence with
+his troops which he then had with him in Florence to wit 400 French
+horse; and sounding the bell, and being followed by the Guelfs of
+Florence on horse and on foot, he came with his cavalry to Colle on
+Sunday evening, and there were about 800 horsemen or less with but few
+of the people, forasmuch as they could not reach Colle so speedily as
+the horsemen. It came to pass that on the following Monday morning,
+the day of S. Barnabas, in June, the Sienese, hearing that the
+horsemen had come from Florence, broke up their camp near the said
+abbey and withdrew to a safer place. M. Giambertaldo, seeing the camp
+in motion, without awaiting more men passed the bridge with his horse
+and marshalled his troops with the cavalry of Florence and such of the
+people as had arrived together with them of Colle (who by reason of
+the sudden coming of the Florentines were not duly arrayed either with
+captains of the host or with the standard of the commonwealth); and M.
+Giambertaldo took the standard of the commonwealth of Florence and
+requested of the horsemen of Florence, amongst whom were
+representatives of all the Guelf houses, that one of them should take
+it; but none advanced to take it, whether through cowardice or through
+jealousy, one of the other; and after they had been a long time in
+suspense, M. Aldobrandini, of the house of Pazzi, boldly stepped
+forward and said: "I take it to the honour of God and of the victory
+of our commonwealth;" wherefore he was much commended for his
+boldness; and straightway he advanced, and all the horsemen followed
+him, and struck boldly into the ranks of the Sienese; and albeit it
+was not held to be very wise and prudent leadership, yet as it pleased
+God these bold and courageous folk with good success broke up and
+defeated the Sienese and their allies, which numbered well-nigh twice
+as many horse and a great number of foot, whereof many were slain and
+taken; and if on the Florentine side the foot had arrived and had been
+at the battle, scarce one of the Sienese would have escaped. Count
+Guido Novello fled, and M. Provenzano Salvani, lord and commander of
+the host of the Sienese, was taken prisoner; and they cut off his head
+and carried it through all the camp fixed on a lance. And truly thus
+was fulfilled the prophecy and revelation made to him by the devil by
+means of incantation, though he did not understand it; for having
+invoked him to learn how he would fare in that expedition, he made a
+lying answer and said, "Thou wilt go and fight; thou goest to conquer
+not to die in the battle, and thy head shall be the highest in the
+field;" and he, thinking to have the victory from these words, and
+thinking he would remain lord over all, did not put the stop in the
+right place and detect the fraud, where he said, "Thou goest to
+conquer not, to die," etc. And therefore it is great folly to believe
+in such counsel as is that of the devil. This M. Provenzano was a
+great man in Siena in his day after the victory which he gained at
+Montaperti, and he ruled all the city; and all the Ghibelline party in
+Tuscany made him their head, and he was very presumptuous in will. In
+this battle the said M. Giambertaldo bore himself like a valiant lord
+in fighting against his enemies, and likewise did his followers and
+all the Guelfs of Florence, making great slaughter of their enemies to
+avenge their kinsfolk and friends which were slain at the defeat of
+Montaperti; and none, or scarce any, did they lead to prison, but put
+them all to death and to the sword; wherefore the city of Siena, in
+comparison with the number of its inhabitants, suffered greater loss
+of its citizens in this defeat than Florence did on the day of
+Montaperti; and they left on the field all their belongings. For the
+which thing a little while after, the Florentines restored the Guelf
+refugees to Siena and drave out the Ghibellines and made peace between
+one commonwealth and the other, remaining ever after friends and
+allies. And in this manner ended the war between the Florentines and
+the Sienese which had endured so long.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1269 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 32.--_How the Florentines took the castle of Ostina in Valdarno._
+Sec. 33.--_How the Florentines, serving for the Lucchese, marched upon
+Pisa._
+
+
+Sec. 34.--_How there was a great flood of waters which carried away the
+Santa Trinita Bridge and the Carraia Bridge._
+
+[Sidenote: 1269 A.D.]
+
+In the said year 1269, on the night of the first of October, there was
+so great a flood of rain and waters from heaven, raining down
+continually for two nights and one day, that all the rivers of Italy
+increased more than had ever been known before; and the river of Arno
+overflowed its borders so beyond measure that a great part of the city
+of Florence became a lake, and this was by reason of much wood which
+the rivers brought down, which was caught and lay across at the foot
+of the Santa Trinita Bridge in such wise, that the water of the river
+was so stopped up that it spread through the city, whence many persons
+were drowned and many houses ruined. At last so great was the force of
+the river that it tore down the said bridge of Santa Trinita, and
+again by the disgorging thereof the rush of the water and of the
+timber struck and destroyed the Carraia Bridge; and when they were
+destroyed and cast down the height of the river, which had been kept
+up by the said retention and damming of the river, went down, and the
+fulness of the water ceased which had spread through the city.
+
+
+Sec. 35.--_How certain rebel nobles in Florence were beheaded._ Sec.
+36.--_How the Florentines took the stronghold of Piandimezzo in
+Valdarno, and how they destroyed Poggibonizzi._
+
+
+Sec. 37.--_-How King Louis of France made an expedition to Tunis, wherein
+he died._
+
+[Sidenote: 1270 A.D.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1270 the good King Louis of France, which was a
+most Christian man, and of good life and works, not only as becomes a
+man of the world, being king over so great a realm and dominion, but
+also as becomes a man of religion, ever working for the good of Holy
+Church and of Christianity, not fearing the great toil and cost which
+he endured in the expedition over seas when he and his brothers were
+taken prisoners at Monsura by the Saracens, as we made mention before;
+set his heart, as it pleased God, on going once more against the
+Saracens and the enemies of the Christians; and this he carried out
+with great zeal and preparation, taking the cross and gathering
+treasure, and calling upon all his barons and knights and good men of
+his realm. And this done, he set forth from Paris and came into
+Provence, and from there with a great fleet he set sail from his port
+of Aigues Mortes in Provence with his three sons, Philip and John and
+Louis, and with the king of Navarre, his son-in-law, and with all his
+chief men, counts and dukes and barons of the realm of France, and his
+friends from without the realm. And on his expedition there afterwards
+followed him Edward, son of the king of England, with many Englishmen
+and Scots and Frisians and Germans, more than 5,000 horse; the which
+army and crusade was an almost innumerable company on horse and on
+foot, and were reckoned 200,000 fighting men. And believing it to be
+the better course they determined to go against the kingdom of Tunis,
+thinking that if it could be taken by the Christians they would be in
+a very central place whence they could more easily afterwards take the
+kingdom of Egypt, and could cut off and wholly impede the force of the
+Saracens in the realm of Ceuta, and also that of Granada. And the said
+host with their fleet passed over safe and sound and came to the port
+of the ancient city of Carthage, which is distant from Tunis fifteen
+miles; the which Carthage, whereof some part had been rebuilt and
+fortified by the Saracens in defence of the port, was very soon
+stormed by the Christians. And when the Christians would have entered
+into the city of Tunis, as it pleased God, by reason of the sins of
+the Christians, the air of those shores began to be greatly corrupted,
+and above all in the camp of the Christians, by reason that they were
+not accustomed to the air, and by reason of their hardships and the
+excessive crowding of men and of animals, for the which thing there
+died first John, son of the said King Louis, and then the cardinal of
+Albano, which was there for the Pope, and afterwards there fell sick
+and died the said good King Louis with a very great number of counts
+and of barons; and an innumerable company of the common folk died
+there. Wherefore Christendom suffered very great loss, and the said
+host was well-nigh all dispersed, and came well-nigh to naught without
+stroke of the enemy. And albeit the said King Louis had not had good
+success in his enterprises against the Saracens, yet in his death he
+had good success for his soul; and the king of Navarre, which was
+there present, wrote in his letters to the cardinal of Tusculum that
+in his infirmity he did not cease to praise God, continually saying
+this prayer: "Cause us, Lord, to hate the prosperity of the world, and
+to fear no adversity." Then he prayed for the people which he had
+brought with him, saying, "Lord, be Thou the Sanctifier and Guardian
+of Thy people," and the other words which follow in the said prayer.
+And at last, when he came to die, he lift up his eyes to heaven and
+said: "Introibo in domum tuam, adorabo ad templum sanctum tuum, et
+confitebor nomini tuo" [see Ps. v. 7]. And this said he died in
+Christ. And when his host heard of his death they were greatly
+troubled, and the Saracens greatly rejoiced; but in this sorrow
+Philip, his son, was made king of France, and King Charles, brother of
+the said King Louis, which had sent for him before he died, came from
+Sicily and arrived in Carthage with a great fleet and with many
+followers and reinforcements, whence the Christian host regained great
+vigour, and the Saracens were afraid. And albeit the Saracen host was
+increased by an innumerable company, for from every place the Arabs
+were come to succour them, and there were many more of them than of
+the Christians, yet they never dared to come to a pitched battle with
+the Christians; but they came with ambushes and with artifices, and
+did them much hurt; and this was one among others, that the said
+country is very sandy, and when it is dry there is very much dust;
+wherefore the Saracens, when the wind was blowing against the
+Christian host, stationed themselves in great numbers upon the hills
+where was the said sand, and stirring it up with their horses and with
+their feet, set it all in motion, and caused much annoyance and
+vexation to the host; but when water rained down from heaven the said
+plague ceased, and King Charles with the Christians, having prepared
+engines of divers fashions both for sea and land, set himself to
+attack the city of Tunis; and of a truth it is said, if they had gone
+on, in a short time they would have taken the city by force, or the
+king of Tunis with his Turks and Arabs would have abandoned it.
+
+
+Sec. 38.--_How King Charles concluded a treaty with the king of Tunis,
+and how the host departed._
+
+[Sidenote: 1270 A.D.]
+
+The king of Tunis with his Saracens seeing themselves in evil case,
+and fearing to lose the city and the country round about, sought to
+make peace with King Charles and with the other lords by free and
+liberal covenants, to which peace King Charles consented and concluded
+it in the following manner: first, that all the Christians which were
+prisoners in Tunis, or in all that realm, should be freed, and that
+monasteries and churches might be built by the Christians, and therein
+the sacred office might be celebrated; and that the gospel of Christ
+might be freely preached by the minor friars and the preaching friars
+and by other ecclesiastical persons; and whatsoever Saracen should
+desire to be baptized, and turn to the faith of Christ, might freely
+be allowed so to do; and all the expenses which the said kings had
+incurred were to be fully restored to them; and beyond that the king
+of Tunis was to pay tribute every year to Charles, king of Sicily, of
+20,000 golden pistoles; and there were many other articles which it
+were long to tell. Concerning this peace some said that King Charles
+and the other lords did for the best, considering their evil state
+from the pestilential air and the mortality among the Christians; for
+the king of Navarre, when King Louis was dead, fell sick and departed
+from the host and died in Sicily, and the cardinal legate of the Pope
+died; and the Church of Rome in those times had no pastor which could
+provide for all things, and Philip, the new king of France, desired to
+depart from the host and return to France with his father's body.
+Others blamed King Charles, saying that he did it through avarice, to
+the end he might henceforward, by reason of the said peace, always
+receive tribute from the king of Tunis for his own special benefit;
+for if the kingdom of Tunis had been conquered by all the host of the
+Christians, it would have afterwards pertained in part to the king of
+France, and to the king of England, and to the king of Navarre, and
+to the king of Sicily, and to the Church of Rome, and to divers other
+lords which were at the conquest. And it may have been, both one cause
+and the other; but however that may have been, when the said treaty
+was concluded the said host departed from Tunis, and when they came
+with their fleet to the port of Trapali in Sicily, as it pleased God,
+so great a storm overtook them while the fleet was in the said port
+that without any redemption the greater part perished, and one vessel
+broke the other, and all the belongings of that host were lost, which
+were of untold worth, and many folk perished there. And it was said by
+many that this came to pass by reason of the sins of the Christians,
+and because they had made a covenant with the Saracens through greed
+of money when they could have overcome and conquered Tunis and the
+country.
+
+
+Sec. 39.--_How Gregory X. was made pope at Viterbo, and how Henry, son of
+the king of England, there died._
+
+[Sidenote: 1272 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xii. 118-120.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. vii. 130-132.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xii. 120.]
+
+When the said Christian host was come to Sicily, they abode there
+sometime to recover the sick, and to be refreshed, and to repair their
+fleet; and those kings and lords were held in much honour by Charles,
+king of Sicily; and afterwards they departed from Sicily, and King
+Charles with them, and came into the kingdom of Apulia, and by
+Calabria to Viterbo, where was the papal court without a Pope, and at
+Viterbo there tarried the said kings Philip of France, and Charles of
+Sicily, and Edward, and Henry his brother, sons of the king of
+England, to see that the cardinals, which were in disunion, should
+elect a good pastor to reform the papal chair. And since they were not
+able to agree upon any one of those there present, they elected Pope
+Gregory X., of Piacenza, which was cardinal legate of Syria in the
+Holy Land; and when he was elected, and had returned from beyond seas,
+he was consecrated Pope in the year of Christ 1272. Whilst the
+aforesaid lords were in Viterbo, there came to pass a scandalous and
+abominable thing, under the government of King Charles; for Henry,
+brother of Edward, son of King Richard of England, being in a church
+at Mass, at the hour when the sacrifice of the body of Christ was
+being celebrated, Guy, count of Montfort, which was vicar for King
+Charles in Tuscany, having no regard for reverence towards God, nor
+towards King Charles his lord, stabbed and slew with his own hand the
+said Henry in revenge for Count Simon of Montfort, his father, slain,
+through his own fault, by the king of England. And of this it is well
+to preserve a notable record. When Henry, father of the good Edward,
+was reigning in England, he was a man of simple life, so that the
+barons held him for nought, wherefore he sent for the said Count
+Simon, his kinsman, to guide the realm for him, seeing that Edward was
+but young. This Simon was much feared and dreaded; and when he saw the
+government of the realm in his hands, as a felon and traitor, he
+falsely averred that the king had passed certain iniquitous laws
+against the people, and he put him and Edward in prison in the castle
+of Dover, and held the realm himself. The queen, . . . Edward's
+maternal aunt, was desirous of saving him, and knew that Count Simon
+came every Easter to Dover, and took Edward out of the castle, and
+made him ride with him; and when he departed he caused him to be again
+imprisoned with strong and strict guard, that he might not so much as
+have letters. So the wise queen sent to Dover a wise and beautiful
+damsel, which knew how to work in jewels, purses, and pouches. And
+when Edward saw her he loved her, and so wrought with his guards that
+they brought him the said damsel, and when he would have touched her,
+she said to him: "I am here for other matters," and she drew forth
+letters sent him by the queen, advising him as to his deliverance and
+welfare; and therein she advised him that she was sending him one of
+our Florentine horse-dealers, which was named Persona Fulberti, with
+fine steeds, and a small ship equipped with many oars, and advising
+him what he was to do. Now, after his wont, at Easter, Count Simon
+came to Dover, and took Edward out of the castle, and while they were
+trying the steeds of the said dealer, Edward, with the count's
+permission, mounted the best of them, and galloping round in a wide
+sweep, at last took to the field and made off, and came to the port
+and found the bark prepared. Then he left the horse, and embarked, and
+came to France, and then with aid from the king of France, and
+Flanders, and Brabant, and Germany, with a great host he passed into
+England, and fought against Count Simon, and discomfited him, and
+seized him by the scalp, and had him dragged along the ground, and
+then hung. Then he set his father free; and when he was dead, then was
+Edward crowned king of England with great honour. And now we return to
+our chief subject--how was slain Count Henry, earl of Cornwall,
+brother of King Edward, in revenge for this, as we said before. The
+court was greatly disturbed, giving much blame therefor to King
+Charles, who ought not to have suffered this if he knew thereof, and
+if he did not know it he ought not to have let it go unavenged. But
+the said Count Guy, being provided with a company of men-at-arms on
+horse and on foot, was not content only with having done the said
+murder; forasmuch as a cavalier asked him what he had done, and he
+replied, "J'ai fait ma vangeance," and that cavalier said, "Comment?
+Votre pere fut traine;" and immediately he returned to the church, and
+took Henry by the hair, and dead as he was, he dragged him vilely
+without the church; and when he had done the said sacrilege and
+homicide, he departed from Viterbo, and came safe and sound into
+Maremma to the lands of Count Rosso, his father-in-law. By reason of
+the death of the said Henry, Edward, his brother, very wrathful and
+indignant against King Charles, departed from Viterbo, and came with
+his followers through Tuscany, and abode in Florence, and knighted
+many citizens, giving them horses and all knightly accoutrements very
+nobly, and then he came into England, and set the heart of his said
+brother in a golden cup upon a pillar at the head of London Bridge
+over the river Thames, to keep the English in mind of the outrage
+sustained. For the which thing, Edward, after he became king, was
+never friendly towards King Charles, nor to his folk. After like
+manner, Philip, king of France, departed with his folk, and came and
+dwelt many days in Florence; and when he was come into France, he
+buried the body of the good King Louis, his father, with great honour,
+and had himself crowned with great solemnity at Rheims.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1270 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1271 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 40.--_How the Tartars came down into Turkey, and drave thence the
+Saracens._ Sec. 41.--_How King Enzo, son of the Emperor Frederick, died
+in prison at Bologna._
+
+
+Sec. 42.--_How Pope Gregory came with his court to Florence, and caused
+peace to be made between the Guelfs and Ghibellines._
+
+[Sidenote: 1272 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. vi. 103-105; vii. 91-96; Convivio iv. 3: 37-42.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. vi. 97-117.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1273 A.D.]
+
+In the year 1272, Gregory X., of Piacenza, having returned from his
+mission over seas, was consecrated and crowned Pope, and because of
+the great affection and desire which he had to succour the Holy Land,
+and that a general crusade should set forth over seas, therefore so
+soon as he was made Pope, he called a general council at
+Lyons-on-Rhone in Burgundy, and by his mandate caused the electors of
+the empire of Germany to elect as king of the Romans, Rudolf, count of
+Friburg, which was a valiant man-at-arms, albeit he was of small
+possessions; but by his prowess he conquered Suabia and Austria; and
+the duchy of Austria being vacant, since the duke had been slain with
+Conradino by King Charles, he made Albert, his son, to be duke. The
+aforesaid Pope, the year after his coronation, set forth with his
+court from Rome to go to Lyons-on-Rhone to the council which he had
+summoned, and he entered into Florence with his cardinals, and with
+King Charles, and with the Emperor Baldwin of Constantinople, which
+was of the lineage of the chief house of Flanders. This Baldwin was
+son of Henry, the brother of the first Baldwin, which conquered
+Constantinople with the Venetians, as we before made mention. And with
+the Pope, and with King Charles, there came to Florence many other
+lords and barons, on the 18th day of June, in the year of Christ 1273,
+and were received with honour by the Florentines. And the situation of
+Florence being pleasing to the Pope, by reason of the convenience of
+the water, and the pure air, and that the court found much comfort
+there, he purposed to abide there, and pass the summer in Florence.
+And finding that this good city of Florence was being destroyed by
+reason of the parties (the Ghibellines being now in exile), he
+determined that they should return to Florence, and should make peace
+with the Guelfs; and so it came about, and on the 2nd day of July in
+the said year, the said Pope, with his cardinals, and with King
+Charles, and with the said Emperor Baldwin, and with all the barons
+and gentlemen of the court (the people of Florence being assembled on
+the sands of the Arno hard by the head of the Rubaconte Bridge, great
+scaffolds of wood having been erected in that place whereon stood the
+said lords), gave sentence, under pain of excommunication if it were
+disobeyed, upon the differences between the Guelf and Ghibelline
+parties, causing the representatives of either party to kiss one
+another on the mouth, and to make peace, and to give sureties and
+hostages; and all the castles which the Ghibellines held they gave
+back into the hands of King Charles, and the Ghibelline hostages went
+into Maremma under charge of Count Rosso. The which peace endured but
+a short time, as hereafter we shall make mention. And on that day the
+said Pope founded the church of San Gregorio, and called it after his
+own name, which church was built by them of the house of Mozzi, which
+were merchants for the Pope and for the Church, and in a little time
+were come to great riches and state; and the said Pope dwelt in their
+palaces at the head of the Rubaconte Bridge on the further side of
+Arno, whilst he abode in Florence; and King Charles abode in the
+garden of the Frescobaldi, and the Emperor Baldwin at the Bishop's
+Palace. But on the fourth day thereafter, the Pope departed from
+Florence, and went to sojourn in Mugello with Cardinal Ottaviano,
+which was of the house of the Ubaldini, who were his hosts, and who
+did him great honour. At the end of the summer, the Pope departed, and
+his cardinals and King Charles, and went over the mountains to
+Lyons-on-Rhone in Burgundy. And the reason why the Pope departed
+suddenly from Florence was that when he had caused the representatives
+of the Ghibelline party to come to Florence, and to kiss the
+representatives of the Guelfs on the mouth in token of peace, and to
+remain in Florence to complete the treaty of peace, and they returned
+to the place of their sojourn in the house of the Tebalducci in Orto
+San Michele, it was told them, whether it were true or false, that
+King Charles' marshal, on the petition of the great Guelfs would cause
+them to be hewn in pieces if they did not depart from Florence. And
+that this was the cause we believe by reason of the virulence of the
+factions. And straightway they left Florence and departed, and the
+said peace was broken; wherefore the Pope was sorely disturbed, and
+departed from Florence, leaving the city under an interdict, and went,
+as we have said, to Mugello; and for this cause he continued in great
+wrath against King Charles.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1274 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1275 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 43.--_How Pope Gregory held a council at Lyons on the Rhone._
+Sec. 44.--_How the Ghibelline party were expelled from Bologna._ Sec.
+45.--_How the judge of Gallura with certain Guelfs was driven out of
+Pisa._ Sec. 46.--_Of a great miracle which came to pass in Baldacca and
+Mansul [Bagdad and Mosul] over seas._ Sec. 47.--_How Count Ugolino with
+all the remaining Guelfs was driven out of Pisa._ Sec. 48.--_How the
+Bolognese were discomfited at the bridge of San Brocolo by the Count
+of Montefeltro and by the Romagnuoli._ Sec. 49.--_How the Pisans were
+discomfited by the Lucchese at the stronghold of Asciano._
+
+
+Sec. 50.--_Of the death of Pope Gregory, and of three other Popes after
+him._
+
+[Sidenote: 1275 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1276 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. xix. 98-145.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xii. 134, 135.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1277 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xix. 69-87.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1280 A.D.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1275, on the eighteenth day of the month of
+December, when Pope Gregory X. was returning from the council at
+Lyons-on-Rhone, he arrived in the country of Florence; and forasmuch
+as the city of Florence was under interdict, and her inhabitants
+excommunicate, because they had not observed the treaty of peace which
+he had made between the Guelfs and Ghibellines, as was aforesaid, he
+was not minded to enter into Florence, but by cunning he was led past
+the old walls, and some said that he could have done no other, because
+the river Arno was so swollen by rain that he could not cross the
+ford, but needs must cross over the Rubaconte Bridge, so that
+unwittingly, and not being able to do otherwise, he entered into
+Florence; and whilst he was passing over the bridge, and through the
+Borgo San Nicolo, he took off the interdict, and passed on, blessing
+the folk; but so soon as he was without he renewed the interdict, and
+excommunicated the city afresh, with a wrathful mind repeating that
+verse of the Psalter which says: "In camo et fraeno maxillas eorum
+constringe" [Ps. xxxiii. 9]; wherefore the Guelfs which were governing
+Florence were in great doubt and fear. And the said Pope departing
+from Florence, went to the abbey at Ripole, and from there straightway
+he departed to Arezzo; and being come to Arezzo, he fell sick, and as
+it pleased God, he passed from this life on the tenth day of the
+following month of January, and was buried in Arezzo with great
+honour; at whose death the Guelfs of Florence rejoiced greatly, by
+reason of the evil will which the said Pope had towards them. And when
+the Pope was dead, straightway the cardinals were shut up, and on the
+twentieth day of the said month of January they proclaimed as Pope,
+Innocent V. a Burgundian, which had been a preaching friar and then a
+cardinal; and he lived as Pope until the following June, so that he
+did little, and died in the city of Viterbo, and was there buried
+honourably. And after him, on the twelfth day of July, Cardinal
+Ottobuono dal Fiesco, of the city of Genoa, was elected, which lived
+as Pope but twenty-nine days, and was called Pope Adrian V., and was
+buried in Rome. And after him, in the month of September following,
+Cardinal Piero Spagnuolo was elected Pope, which was called Pope John
+XXI., and lived as Pope but eight months and some days; for as he was
+sleeping in his room at Viterbo the ceiling fell down upon him and he
+died; and he was buried at Viterbo on the twentieth day of May, 1277;
+and the chair was vacant six months. And in that same year there was
+great scarcity of all victuals, and the bushel of wheat was sold for
+fifteen shillings, of thirty shillings to the florin. And a great and
+true vision should be noted concerning the death of the said Pope,
+which was seen by one of our Florentine merchants of the Company of
+Apothecaries, which was called Berto Forzetti, and it is well that
+this should be told. The said merchant had a natural infirmity of a
+wandering fancy, so that often when sleeping he would rise and sit
+upon his bed, and speak of strange wonders; and there is yet more, for
+being questioned by those around him as to what he was saying, he
+would answer rationally, and all the time he was sleeping. It came to
+pass, on the night when the said Pope died, the said man being in a
+ship on the high seas, journeying to Acre, rose and cried out, "Alas,
+alas!" His companions awoke, and asked him what ailed him; he replied:
+"I see a gigantic man in black with a great club in his hand, and he
+is about to break down a pillar, above which is a ceiling." And after
+a little he cried out again, and said: "He has broken it down, and he
+is dead." He was asked: "Who?" He replied: "The Pope." The said
+companions wrote down the words, and the night; and when they were
+come to Acre, a short time after there came to them the news of the
+death of the said Pope, which came to pass in that same night. And I,
+the writer, had testimony of this from those merchants which were
+present with the said man upon the said ship, and heard the said
+Berto, which were men of great authority, and worthy of belief; and
+the fame of this spread throughout all our city. Afterwards was
+elected Pope Nicholas III., of the house of the Orsini of Rome, which
+was called by his proper name, Cardinal Gianni Guatani, which lived as
+Pope two years and nine months and a half. We have spoken of the
+aforesaid Popes because four Popes died in sixteen months. We will say
+no more, at this present time, of the aforesaid Popes, and we will
+speak of those things which came to pass in their days in Florence and
+throughout the world.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1275 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1276 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1277 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 51.--_How the Florentines and Lucchese defeated the Pisans at the
+moat called Arnonico._ Sec. 52.--_How the Della Torre of Milan were
+defeated._ Sec. 53.--_How King Philip of France caused all the Italian
+money-lenders to be seized._
+
+
+Sec. 54.--_How Nicholas III., of the Orsini, was made Pope, and
+concerning that which he did in his time._
+
+[Sidenote: 1277 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xix. 52-84.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xix. 98, 99.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. xix. 81.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxvii. 67.]
+
+In the said year, whereof we related somewhat before, M. Gianni
+Guatani was made Pope, a cardinal, of the house of the Orsini of Rome,
+which, whilst he was young, as priest and then cardinal, was virtuous
+and of good life, and it is said that he was virgin in his body; but
+after he was called Pope Nicholas III. he had great schemes, and
+through warmth towards his kinsfolk, he undertook many things to make
+them great, and was among the first, if not the first, of the Popes in
+whose court simony was openly practised on behalf of his kindred, by
+the which thing he increased them much in possessions, and in castles,
+and in treasure beyond all the Romans, during the short time that he
+lived. This Pope made seven Roman cardinals, whereof the most part
+were his kinsfolk; among others, at the prayer of M. Gianni, head of
+the house of Colonna, his cousin, he made M. Jacopo della Colonna a
+cardinal, to the end the Colonnesi might not lend aid to the
+Annibaldeschi, enemies of the Orsini, but might rather aid these
+latter; and this was held a great thing; because the Church had
+deprived all the Colonnesi, and those of their kindred, of any
+ecclesiastical benefice, since the time of Pope Alexander III.,
+forasmuch as they had held with the Emperor Frederick I. against the
+Church. Afterwards the said Pope caused the noble and great papal
+palaces to be built at S. Peter's; then he entered into strife with
+King Charles by reason that the said Pope had requested King Charles
+to form an alliance with him by marriage, desiring to give one of his
+nieces as wife to a nephew of the King's, to which alliance King
+Charles would not consent, saying, "Albeit he wears red hose, yet is
+not his lineage worthy to mate with ours; and his lordship will not be
+hereditary." For the which thing the Pope's wrath was kindled against
+him, and he was no longer his friend, but opposed him secretly in all
+things, and openly made him renounce the office of Roman senator, and
+of vicar of the Empire, which he held from the Church during the
+imperial vacancy; and he was much against him in all his undertakings,
+and for money which it was said he received from Paleologus, he
+consented, and gave aid and favour to the plot and rebellion in the
+island of Sicily, as hereafter we shall narrate; and he took from the
+Church the castle Santangiolo, and gave it to M. Orso, his nephew.
+Again the said Pope made Rudolf, king of the Romans, invest him, on
+behalf of the Church, with the county of Romagna, and the city of
+Bologna, by reason that he was debtor to the Church for the fulfilment
+of the promise which he had made to Pope Gregory at the council of
+Lyons-on-Rhone, when he confirmed his election, to wit that he would
+pass into Italy, and equip the expedition over seas, as we before made
+mention; which thing he had not done by reason of his other
+undertakings and wars in Germany. Now this gift to the Church of the
+privileges of the country of Romagna and the city of Bologna, neither
+could nor ought to have been made by right; among other reasons,
+because the said Rudolf had not yet attained to the imperial
+benediction; but that which the clergy take, they are slow in giving
+back. So soon as the said Pope held privilege over Romagna, he made
+Bertoldo degli Orsini, his nephew, count thereof, in the Church's
+name, and sent him into Romagna with a company of horsemen and
+men-at-arms, and with him as legate Brother Latino, of Rome, cardinal
+of Ostia, his nephew, his sister's son, of the family of the
+Brancaleoni, of which was the chancellor of Rome by inheritance; and
+this he did to take the lordship out of the hand of Guido di
+Montefeltro, which held it and ruled there tyrannically; and this was
+done in such wise, that in a short time almost all Romagna came under
+the Church's rule, but not without war and great cost to the Church,
+as hereafter we will tell in due place and time.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1277 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 55.--_How King Rudolf of Germany defeated and slew the king of
+Bohemia._
+
+
+Sec. 56.--_How the Cardinal Latino, by the Pope's command, made peace
+between the Guelfs and Ghibellines of Florence, and composed all the
+other feuds in the city._
+
+[Sidenote: 1278 A.D.]
+
+In these times the Guelf magnates of Florence--having rest from their
+wars without, with victory and honour, and fattening upon the goods of
+the exiled Ghibellines, and through other gains--by reason of pride
+and envy began to strive among themselves; whence arose in Florence
+many quarrels and enmities between the citizens, with death and
+wounds. Among the greater of these was the contest between the house
+of the Adimari on the one side, which were very great and powerful,
+and on the other side the Tosinghi, and the house of the Donati, and
+the Pazzi, all leagued together against the Adimari in such sort that
+almost all the city was divided, and one held with one side, and one
+with the other; wherefore the city and the Guelf party were in great
+peril. For the which thing the commonwealth and the Captains of the
+Guelf party sent their solemn ambassadors to the court to Pope
+Nicholas, that he should take counsel, and give aid in making peace
+among the Guelfs of Florence; if not, the Guelf party would be broken
+up, and one side would drive out the other. And in like guise the
+Ghibelline refugees from Florence sent their ambassadors to the said
+Pope, to pray and entreat him to put into execution the treaty of
+peace which Pope Gregory IX. had commanded between them and the Guelfs
+of Florence. For the foregoing reasons the said Pope put forth and
+confirmed the said treaty, and ordained a mediator and legate, and
+committed the said questions to the Cardinal Frate Latino which
+represented the Church in Romagna; a man of great authority and
+learning, and highly considered by the Pope, who, by command of the
+Pope, departed from Romagna, and came to Florence with 300 horsemen,
+in service of the Church, on the eighth day of the month of October,
+in the year of Christ 1278, and by the Florentines and the clergy was
+received with great honour and with a procession, the carroccio coming
+out to meet him, with many jousters; and afterwards the said legate on
+the day of S. Luke the Evangelist in that same year and month, founded
+and blest the first stone of the new church of Santa Maria Novella,
+which pertained to the Order of Preaching Friars, whereof he was a
+friar; and in that place of the friars he dealt with and ordained
+generally the treaties of peace between all the Guelf citizens, and
+between the Guelfs and Ghibellines. And the first was between the
+Uberti and the Bondelmonti (and it was the third peace between them),
+save only that the sons of M. Rinieri Zingane de' Bondelmonte would
+not consent thereto, and were excommunicated by the legate and
+banished by the commonwealth. But the peace was not set aside on their
+account; for afterwards the legate very happily concluded it in the
+month of February following, when the people of Florence were
+assembled in parliament on the old piazza of the said church, which
+was all covered with cloths and with great wooden scaffolds, whereon
+were the said cardinal, and many bishops, and prelates, and clergy,
+and monks, and the Podesta, and the Captain, and all the counsellors,
+and the orders of Florence. And at that time a very noble speech was
+made by the said legate with citation of great and very fine
+authorities, as behoved the matter, seeing that he was a very
+dexterous and beautiful preacher; and this done, he caused the
+representatives ordained by the Guelfs and Ghibellines to kiss one
+another on the mouth, making peace with great joy among all the
+citizens, and there were 150 on either side. And in that place, and at
+that same time, he gave judgment as to the terms and agreements and
+conditions which were to be observed, both on one side and on the
+other, confirming the said peace with solemn and authentic documents,
+and with all due sureties. And from that time forward the Ghibellines
+and their families were to be allowed to return to Florence; and they
+did return, and they were free from all sentence of banishment and
+condemnation; and all the books of condemnation and banishment which
+were in the chamber were burnt; and the said Ghibellines recovered
+their goods and possessions, save that to some of the chief leaders,
+it was commanded for more security of the city that for a certain time
+they should be under bounds. And when the cardinal legate had done
+this, he made contracts of peace between single citizens; and the
+first was that one where had been greatest discord, to wit, between
+the Adimari, and the Tosinghi, and Donati, and Pazzi, bringing about
+several marriages between them, and in like manner were all the
+agreements made in Florence and in the country round about, some
+willingly, and some by command of the commonwealth, the cardinal
+having pronounced sentence, with good securities and sureties; by
+which contracts of peace the said legate won much honour, and
+well-nigh all of them were observed, and the city of Florence abode
+thereafter long time in peaceful and good and tranquil state. And the
+said legate gave and ordained, for the general government of the city,
+fourteen good men, magnates and popolani, whereof eight were Guelfs
+and six Ghibellines, and their term of office endured for two months,
+and there was a certain order in their election; and they assembled in
+the house of the Badia of Florence, over the gate which goes to Santa
+Margherita, and returned to their homes to eat and to sleep. And this
+done, the said Cardinal Latino returned to Romagna to his legation
+with great honour. We will now leave the affairs of Florence for a
+while, and we will tell of other things which came to pass in those
+times, and especially of the revolt of the island of Sicily against
+King Charles, which was notable and great, and whence afterwards grew
+much ill; and it was a thing well-nigh marvellous and impossible, and
+therefore we will treat of it more at large.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1279 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1281 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 57.--_How there was a treacherous plot to cause the island of Sicily
+to rebel against King Charles._ Sec. 58.--_How Pope Nicholas III., of the
+Orsini, died, and how Martin of Tours, in France, was made Pope._ Sec.
+59.--_How Peter, king of Aragon, promised and vowed to Paleologus and
+to the Sicilians, to come into Sicily and take the lordship thereof._
+Sec. 60.--_How the said king of Aragon set about preparing his armada,
+and how the Pope sent to him and forbade him._
+
+
+Sec. 61.--_How and after what manner the island of Sicily rebelled
+against King Charles._
+
+[Sidenote: 1282 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. viii. 75.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1282, on Easter Monday of the Resurrection,
+which was the 30th day of March, as had been purposed by M. John of
+Procita, all the barons and chiefs which had a hand in the plot were
+in the city of Palermo for Easter, and the inhabitants of Palermo, men
+and women, going in a body, on horse and on foot, to the festival at
+Monreale, three miles outside the city (and as those of Palermo went,
+so also went the Frenchmen, and the captain of King Charles, for their
+disport), it came to pass, as was purposed by the enemy of God, that a
+Frenchman in his insolence laid hold of a woman of Palermo to do her
+villainy; she beginning to cry out, and the people being already sore
+and all moved with indignation against the French, the retainers of
+the barons of the island began to defend the woman, whence arose a
+great battle between the French and the Sicilians, and many were
+wounded and slain on either side; but those of Palermo came off worst.
+Straightway, all the people returned in flight to the city, and the
+men flew to arms, crying, "Death to the French." They gathered
+together in the market place, as had been ordained by the leaders of
+the plot; and the justiciary, which was for the king, fighting at the
+castle, was taken and slain, and as many Frenchmen as were in the city
+were slain in the houses and in the churches, without any mercy. And
+this done, the said barons departed from Palermo, and each one in his
+own city and country did the like, slaying all the Frenchmen which
+were in the island, save that in Messina they delayed some days before
+rebelling; but through tidings from those in Palermo giving account of
+their miseries in a fair epistle, and exhorting them to love liberty
+and freedom and fraternity with them, the men of Messina were so moved
+to rebellion that they afterwards did the like of what they of Palermo
+had done against the French, and yet more. And there were slain in
+Sicily more than 4,000 of them, and no one could save another though
+he were never so much his friend, no not if he would lay down his life
+for him; and if he had concealed him, he must needs yield him up or
+slay him. This plague spread through all the island, whence King
+Charles and his people received great hurt both in person and in
+goods. These adverse and evil tidings the Archbishop of Monreale
+straightway made known to the Pope and to King Charles by his
+messengers.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1282 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. vii. 112, 114-116, 125, 129.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1281 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 62.--_How King Charles complained to the Church, and to the king
+of France, and to all his friends, and the aid which he received from
+them._ Sec. 63.--_How they of Palermo, and the other Sicilians, sent
+their ambassadors to Pope Martin._ Sec. 64.--_Of the aid which the
+commonwealth of Florence sent to King Charles._ Sec. 65.--_How King
+Charles led an expedition against Messina by sea and by land._ Sec.
+66.--_How the king's forces took Melazzo, and how the Messinese sent
+for the legate to treat for peace with King Charles._ Sec. 67.--_How the
+treaty of peace was broken which the legate had arranged between King
+Charles and the Messinese._ Sec. 68.--_How Messina was attacked by King
+Charles' forces, and how it was defended._ Sec. 69.--_How Peter, king of
+Aragon, departed from Catalonia and came to Sicily, and how he was
+made and crowned king by the Sicilians._ Sec. 70.--_Of the parliament
+which the king of Aragon held in Palermo, to succour the city of
+Messina._ Sec. 71.--_The letter that the king of Aragon sent to King
+Charles._ Sec. 72.--_How King Charles called his council and answered
+the king of Aragon by his letter._ Sec. 73.--_What was King Charles'
+answer in his letter to the king of Aragon._ Sec. 74.--_How the king of
+Aragon sent his admiral to capture the fleet of King Charles._ Sec.
+75.--_How King Charles must needs depart from the siege of Messina, and
+how he returned into the Kingdom._ Sec. 76.--_Who was the first Christian
+king of Aragon._ Sec. 77.--_How the Lucchese burnt and destroyed the city
+of Pescia._ Sec. 78.--_How Rudolf, Emperor elect, sent his vicar into
+Tuscany._
+
+
+Sec. 79.--_How the Office of Priors was first created in Florence._
+
+[Sidenote: 1282 A.D.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1282, the city of Florence being under
+government of the order of the fourteen good men as the Cardinal
+Latino had left it, to wit eight Guelfs and six Ghibellines, as we
+afore made mention, it seemed to the citizens that this government of
+fourteen was too numerous and confused; and to the end so many divided
+hearts might be at one, and, above all, because it was not pleasing to
+the Guelfs to have the Ghibellines as partners in the government by
+reason of the events which were come to pass (such as the loss which
+King Charles had already sustained of the island of Sicily, and the
+coming into Tuscany of the imperial vicar, and likewise the wars begun
+in Romagna by the count of Montefeltro on the Ghibelline side), for
+the safety and welfare of the city of Florence they annulled the said
+office of the fourteen and created and made a new office and lordship
+for the government of the said city of Florence, to wit, the Priors of
+the Arts; the which name, Priors of the Arts, means to say "the
+first," chosen over the others; and it was taken from the Holy Gospel,
+where Christ says to His disciples, "Vos estis priores." And this
+invention and movement began among the consuls and council of the art
+of Calimala, to which pertained the wisest and most powerful citizens
+of Florence, and the most numerous following, both magnates and
+popolani, of those which pursued the calling of merchants, seeing the
+most part of them greatly loved the Guelf party and Holy Church. And
+the first priors of the Arts were three, whereof the names were these:
+Bartolo di M. Jacopo de' Bardi, for the sesto of Oltrarno and for the
+art of Calimala; Rosso Bacherelli, for the sesto of San Piero
+Scheraggio, for the art of the exchangers; Salvi del Chiaro Girolami,
+for the sesto of San Brancazio and for the woollen art. And their
+office began in the middle of June of the said year, and lasted for
+two months, unto the middle of August, and thus three priors were to
+succeed every two months, for the three greater Arts. And they were
+shut up to give audience (sleeping and eating at the charges of the
+commonwealth), in the house of the Badia where formerly, as we have
+aforesaid, the Ancients were wont to assemble in the time of the old
+Popolo, and afterwards the fourteen. And there were assigned to the
+said priors six constables and six messengers to summon the citizens;
+and these priors, with the Captain of the Popolo, had to determine
+the great and weighty matters of the commonwealth, and to summon and
+conduct councils and make regulations. And when the office had endured
+the two months, it was pleasing to the citizens; and for the following
+two months they proclaimed six, one for each sesto, and added to the
+said three greater Arts the art of the doctors and apothecaries, and
+the art of the Porta Santae Mariae, and that of the furriers and
+skin-dressers; and afterwards from time to time all the others were
+added thereto, to the number of the twelve greater Arts; and there
+were among them magnates, as well as popolani, great men of good
+repute and works, and which were artificers or merchants. And thus it
+went on until the second Popolo was formed in Florence, as hereafter,
+in due time, we shall relate. From thenceforward there were no
+magnates among them, but there was added thereto the gonfalonier of
+justice. And sometimes there were twelve priors, according to the
+changes in the condition of the city and special occasions that arose;
+and they were chosen from the number of all the twenty-one Arts, and
+of those which were not themselves artificers, albeit their
+forefathers had been artificers. The election to the said office was
+made by the old priors with the colleges of consuls of the twelve
+greater Arts, and with certain others which elected the priors for
+each sesto, by secret votes; and whosoever had most votes the same was
+made prior; and this election took place in the church of San Piero
+Scheraggio; and the Captain of the Popolo was stationed over against
+the said church in the houses which pertained to the Tizzoni. We have
+said so much of the beginning of this office of the priors, forasmuch
+as many and great changes followed therefrom to the city of Florence,
+as hereafter, in due place and time, we shall relate. At present we
+will leave telling, for a time, of the doings of Florence, and we will
+tell of other events which came to pass in those times.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1282 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 80.--_How Pope Martin sent M. Jean d'Appia into Romagna, and how he
+took the city of Faenza and besieged Forli._
+
+
+Sec. 81.--_How M. Jean d'Appia, count of Romagna, was defeated at Forli
+by the count of Montefeltro._
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxvii. 76-78.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1282 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xx. 118.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxvii. 44.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxxii. 122.]
+
+In the said time, when the said M. Jean d'Appia, count of Romagna, was
+in Faenza, and was making war against the city of Forli, he dabbled in
+practices whereby he might gain the said city by treachery; the which
+practices Count Guido of Montefeltro himself, which was lord of the
+city, had set in motion and floated, as one that was master both of
+plots and of war, and who knew the folly of the French. At last, on
+the first day of May, in the year of Christ 1282, the said M. Jean
+came with his forces in the morning very early before day to the city
+of Forli, thinking to have it; and as it was ordered by the count of
+Montefeltro, the entrance to one gate was granted him, which he
+entered with part of his followers, and part he left without with the
+orders, if need arose, to succour those within, and if things went
+against them, to assemble all his forces in a field under a great oak.
+The French which entered into Forli rode through the city without
+meeting any opposition; and the count of Montefeltro, which knew all
+the plot, had gone forth from the city with his followers; and it was
+said that this same count of Montefeltro was guided by the augury and
+counsel of one Guido Bonatti, a roof-maker, who had turned astrologer
+or the like, and that it was he who prompted his actions; and for this
+emprise he gave him the standard and said, "Thou hast it at such a
+pitch, that so long as a rag of it hold, wheresoever thou bearest it
+thou shalt be victorious." But I more believe that his victories were
+won by his own wit and mastery of war. And according as he had
+planned, he charged those without under the tree, and put them to
+rout. They which had entered in, thinking the city was theirs, had
+given themselves to plunder and gone into the houses; and as was
+ordered by the count of Montefeltro, the citizens had taken off the
+bridles and saddles from the most of their horses; and suddenly the
+said count, with part of his followers, entered again into Forli by
+one of the gates, and overran the city; and part of his horse and foot
+he left in troops drawn up under the oak, as the French had been. M.
+Jean d'Appia and his men, seeing themselves thus handled, when they
+thought they had conquered the city, held themselves for dead and
+betrayed, and whosoever could recover his horse fled from the city,
+and came to the tree without, thinking to find friends there; and when
+they came thither they were taken or slain by their enemies, and
+likewise they which had remained within the city; wherefore the French
+and the followers of the Church suffered great discomfiture and loss,
+and there died there many good French knights, and of the Latin
+leaders, among others, Count Taddeo da Montefeltro, cousin to Count
+Guido, which by reason of disputes concerning his inheritance held
+with the Church against the said Count Guido; and there died there
+Tribaldello de' Manfredi, which had betrayed Faenza, and many others;
+albeit the count of Romagna, M. Jean d'Appia, escaped with certain
+others from the said discomfiture, and returned to Faenza.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1282 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1283 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1282 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1283 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1284 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 82.--_How Forli surrendered to the Church, and how there was peace
+in Romagna._ Sec. 83.--_How the king of Armenia with a great company of
+Tartars was defeated at Cammella [Emesa] in Syria by the soldan of
+Egypt._ Sec. 84.--_How the war between the Genoese and Pisans began._ Sec.
+85.--_How the prince, son of King Charles, with many barons of France
+and of Provence, came to Florence to march against the Sicilians._ Sec.
+86.--_How King Charles and King Peter of Aragon engaged to fight in
+single combat at Bordeaux, in Gascony, for the possession of Sicily._
+Sec. 87.--_How on the appointed day, King Peter, of Aragon, failed to
+appear at Bordeaux, wherefore he was excommunicated and deposed by the
+Pope._ Sec. 88.--_How there was in Florence a flood of waters and great
+scarcity of victuals._ Sec. 89.--_How a noble court and festival was
+held in the city of Florence, whereat all were arrayed in white._ Sec.
+90.--_How the Genoese did great hurt to the Pisans returning from
+Sardinia._ Sec. 91.--_Still of the doings of the Pisans and the Genoese._
+Sec. 92.--_How the Genoese discomfited the Pisans at Meloria._ Sec.
+93.--_How Charles, prince of Salerno, was defeated and taken prisoner
+at sea, by Ruggeri di Loria, with the fleet of the Sicilians._ Sec.
+94.--_How King Charles arrived at Naples with his fleet, and then made
+ready to pass to Sicily._
+
+
+Sec. 95.--_How the good King Charles passed from this life at the city
+of Foggia in Apulia._
+
+[Sidenote: 1284 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. vii. 113, 124, 128.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. viii. 31, 49-72; ix. 1.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Par. viii. 82, 83; Purg. xx. 79-84.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. viii. 76-84.]
+
+When King Charles had returned with his host to Brindisi, he disbanded
+them and returned to Naples to make his arrangements, and to furnish
+himself with money and with men to go again to Sicily the coming
+spring. And like one whose anxious mind could not rest, when
+mid-December was past, he returned into Apulia, to be at Brindisi to
+hasten on his fleet. When he was at Foggia, in Apulia, as it pleased
+God, he fell sick of a grievous sickness, and passed from this life on
+the day following the Epiphany, on the 7th day of January, in the year
+of Christ 1284. But before he died, with great contrition taking the
+Body of Christ, he said with great reverence these words: "Sire Dieu,
+comme je crois vraiment que vous etes mon Sauveur, ainsi je vous prie,
+que vous ayez merci de mon ame; ainsi comme je fis la prise du royaume
+de Cicile plus pour servir sainte Eglise que pour mon profit ou autre
+convoitise, ainsi vous me pardonniez mes peches;" and a short time
+after he passed from this life, and his body was brought to Naples;
+and after great lamentation had been made over his death, he was
+buried at the archbishop's at Naples with great honour. Concerning
+this death of King Charles there was a great marvel, for the same day
+whereon he died, the tidings of his death were published by one
+Brother Arlotto, a minister of the Minor Friars, and by M. Giardino da
+Carmignanola, a teacher in the University; and when this came to the
+notice of the king of France he sent for them to learn whence they
+knew it. They said that they knew his nativity, which was under the
+lordship of Saturn, and by its influence had resulted his exaltations
+and his adversities; and some said that they knew it by revelation of
+some spirit, for each of them was a great astrologer and necromancer.
+This Charles was the most feared and redoubted lord, and the most
+valiant in arms, and of the most lofty designs, of all the kings of
+the house of France from Charles the Great to his own day, and the
+one which most exalted the Church of Rome; and he would have done more
+if, at the end of his life, fortune had not turned against him.
+Afterwards there came as guardian and defender of the kingdom, Robert,
+count of Artois, cousin of the said king, with many French knights,
+and with the princess, and with the prince's son, grandson to King
+Charles, which was called after him Charles Martel, and which was some
+twelve or thirteen years old. Of King Charles there remained no other
+heir than Charles II., prince of Salerno, of whom we have made
+mention. And this Charles was comely in person, and gracious and
+liberal, and whilst his father was living and afterwards he had many
+children by the princess, his wife, daughter and heiress of the king
+of Hungary. The first was the said Charles Martel, which was
+afterwards king of Hungary; the second was Louis, which became a Minor
+Friar, and afterwards was bishop of Toulouse; the third was Robert,
+duke of Calabria; the fourth was Philip, prince of Taranto; the fifth
+was Raymond Berenger (count that was to be of Provence); the sixth was
+John, prince of Morea; the seventh was Peter, count of Eboli.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1284 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1285 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 96.--_How the prince, son to King Charles, was condemned to death
+by the Sicilians, and afterwards was sent prisoner into Catalonia by
+Queen Constance._ Sec. 97.--_How there was a great flood of waters in
+Florence, which overwhelmed part of the Poggio de' Magnoli._ Sec.
+98.--_How the Florentines, with the Genoese and with the Tuscans, made
+a league against the Pisans, whereby the Ghibellines were driven out
+of Pisa._ Sec. 99.--_How the Florentines began the foundation of the
+gates, to build the new walls of the city._ Sec. 100.--_Of the great
+events that came to pass among the Tartars of Turigio._ Sec. 101.--_How
+the Saracens took and destroyed Margatto in Syria._ Sec. 102.--_How King
+Philip of France went with a great army against the king of Aragon._
+Sec. 103.--_How the king of Aragon was discomfited and wounded by the
+French, of the which wound he afterwards died._ Sec. 104.--_How the king
+of France took the city of Gerona, and how his fleet was discomfited
+at sea._
+
+
+Sec. 105.--_How the king of France departed from Aragon, and died at
+Perpignan._
+
+[Sidenote: 1285 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. vii. 105.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Purg. vii. 109.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xix. 143-148.]
+
+King Philip of France, seeing his fortune so changed and adverse, and
+his fleet, which was bringing victuals to his host, taken and burnt,
+was overcome with grief and melancholy in such wise that he fell
+grievously sick with fever and a flux, wherefore his barons took
+counsel to depart and return to Toulouse, and of necessity they were
+forced thereto by lack of victuals, and by reason of the adverse
+season of autumn, and because of the sickness of their king. And thus
+they departed about the first day of October, carrying their sick king
+in a litter, and they dispersed with but little order, each one
+getting away as best he could and most quickly; wherefore, when they
+were crossing the difficult pass of the Schiuse through the great
+mountains of Pirris [? the defiles of the great mountains of Pertus],
+the Aragonese and Catalans which were at the pass, sought to hinder
+the passing of the litter wherein the king of France lay sick. And
+when the French saw this, they gave battle in despair to them which
+were at the pass, to the end they might not take the body of the king,
+and by force of arms they broke them up and discomfited them, and
+drave them from the pass; but many of the French common people on foot
+were taken and slain, and many mules and horses and much baggage
+destroyed and taken by the Catalans and Aragonese. And a little while
+after the departure of the king of France and of his host, the king of
+Aragon received Gerona back on conditions. And when the host of the
+king of France in guise as if defeated came to Perpignan, as it
+pleased God, King Philip of France passed from this life on the 6th
+day of October, in the year of Christ 1285; and in Perpignan the queen
+of Morea, his wife, with her company made great lamentation and
+sorrow. And afterwards Philip and Charles, his sons, caused the body
+to be brought to Paris, and he was buried at S. Denys with his
+predecessors, with great honour. This enterprise against Aragon was
+attended with greater loss of men and more cost in horses and money,
+than the realm of France had almost ever suffered in times past; for
+afterwards the king which succeeded the said Philip, and the greater
+part of the barons, were always in debt and ill provided with money.
+And after the death of King Philip of France, King Philip the Fair,
+his eldest son, was made king of France, and crowned king in the city
+of Rheims, with the Queen Joanna of Navarre, his wife, on the day of
+the Epiphany next following. And note, that in one year or little
+more, as it pleased God, there died four such great lords of
+Christendom, as were Pope Martin, and the good Charles, king of Sicily
+and of Apulia, and the valiant King Peter of Aragon, and the powerful
+King Philip of France, of whom we have made mention. This King Philip
+was a lord of a great heart, and in his life did high emprises; first,
+when he went against the king of Spain, and then against the count of
+Foix, and then against the king of Aragon, with greater forces than
+ever his predecessor had gathered. We will leave now speaking of the
+doings beyond the mountains, whereof we have said enough for this
+time, and we will go back to speak of the doings of our Italy which
+came to pass in the said time.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1285 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. xxiv. 20-24.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1286 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1287 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 106.--_Of the death of Pope Martin IV., and how Honorius de' Savelli
+of Rome was made Pope._ Sec. 107.--_How a certain Genoese flotilla was
+taken by the Pisans._ Sec. 108.--_How Count Guido of Montefeltro, lord of
+Romagna, surrendered to the Church of Rome._ Sec. 109.--_How Pope
+Honorius changed the habit of the Carmelite Friars._ Sec. 110.--_How the
+bishop of Arezzo caused Poggio a Santa Cecilia, in the territory of
+Siena, to rebel, and how it was recovered._ Sec. 111.--_How there was
+great scarcity of victual in Italy._ Sec. 112.--_How M. Prezzivalle dal
+Fiesco came into Tuscany as Imperial Vicar._ Sec. 113.--_How Pope
+Honorius de' Savelli died._
+
+
+Sec. 114.--_Of a notable thing which came to pass in Florence at this
+time._
+
+[Sidenote: 1287 A.D.]
+
+In the said year, M. Matteo da Fogliano di Reggio, being Podesta of
+Florence, had taken and condemned to be beheaded for murder one Totto
+de' Mazzinghi da Campi, which was a great warrior and leader; and as
+he was on his way to execution, M. Corso dei Donati with his following
+would have rescued him from the officers by force; for the which thing
+the said Podesta caused the great bell to be sounded: wherefore all
+the good people of Florence armed themselves and assembled at the
+palace, some on horse and some on foot, crying: "Justice, justice."
+For the which thing the said Podesta carried out his sentence, but
+whereas the said Totto should have been beheaded, he caused him to be
+dragged along the ground, and then hung by the neck, and he condemned
+to a fine those who had begun the uproar and impeded justice.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1288 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xiii. 120, 121.]
+
+Sec. 115.--_How the Guelfs were driven out of Arezzo, whence war arose
+between the Florentines and the Aretines._ Sec. 116.--_Of a great fire
+which broke out in Florence._ Sec. 117.--_How the armada of Charles
+Martel took the city of Agosta in Sicily, and how their armada was
+defeated at sea by Ruggeri di Loria._ Sec. 118.--_How a great fire broke
+out in Florence at the houses of the Cerchi._ Sec. 119.--_Of the calling
+of Pope Nicholas IV., of Ascoli._ Sec. 120.--_Of a great expedition which
+the commonwealth of Florence made against the city of Arezzo, and how
+as they departed the Sienese were defeated at the Pieve [parish
+church] al Toppo._
+
+
+Sec. 121.--_How the judge of Gallura and the Guelf party were driven from
+Pisa, and the Count Ugolino taken prisoner._
+
+[Sidenote: 1288 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. viii. 53.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxxiii. 31-33.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. xvi. 46.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1288, in the month of July, great divisions and
+factions having arisen in Pisa concerning the government, for of one
+party Judge Nino di Gallura de' Visconti was head with certain Guelfs,
+and of another Count Ugolino dei Gherardeschi with another party of
+the Guelfs, and of a third the Archbishop Ruggeri degli Ubaldini with
+the Lanfranchi, and Gualandi, and Sismondi, with the other Ghibelline
+houses. And the said Ugolino, in order to gain power, sided with the
+archbishop and his party, and betrayed Judge Nino, not considering
+that he was his grandson, his daughter's son; and they ordained that
+he should be driven out of Pisa with his followers, or taken prisoner.
+Judge Nino hearing this, and seeing that he was not well able to
+defend himself, left the city and went to his castle of Calci, and
+allied himself with the Florentines and Lucchese to make war against
+Pisa. Count Ugolino, before the departure of Judge Nino, to the end he
+might hide his treachery when he had planned the banishment of the
+judge, departed from Pisa, and went to one of his manors in the
+country, which was called Settimo. When he heard of the departure of
+Judge Nino, he returned to Pisa with great rejoicing; and the Pisans
+made him their lord with great rejoicings and festivities; but he
+abode only a short time in the government, for Fortune turned against
+him, as it pleased God, because of his treacheries and crimes; for of
+a truth it was said that he caused Count Anselm of Capraia, his
+nephew, his sister's son, to be poisoned, from envy, and because he
+was beloved in Pisa, and he feared lest he might rob him of his state.
+And that happened to Count Ugolino, which a little while before had
+been foretold him by a wise and valiant man of affairs, named Marco
+Lombardo; for when the count was called by all lord of Pisa, and when
+he was in greatest state and happiness, he prepared a rich feast on
+his birthday, and invited thereto his sons and grandsons, and all his
+lineage and kinsfolk, both men and women, with great pomp in dress and
+ornaments, and preparations for a great festival. The count taking the
+said Marco, showed him all his grandeur and possessions, and the
+preparations for his feast; and this done, he asked him: "Marco, what
+thinkest thou of all this?" The sage answered and said unto him at
+once: "You are better prepared for evil fortune than any nobleman of
+Italy." And the count fearing these words of Marco's, said: "Why?" and
+Marco answered: "Because the wrath of God is the only thing lacking to
+you." And of a truth the wrath of God soon came upon him, as it
+pleased God, because of his treacheries and crimes; for when the
+archbishop of Pisa and his followers had succeeded in driving out Nino
+and his party, by the counsel and treachery of Count Ugolino, the
+forces of the Guelfs were diminished; and then the archbishop took
+counsel how to betray Count Ugolino, and in a sudden uproar of the
+people, he was attacked and assaulted at the palace, the archbishop
+giving the people to understand that he had betrayed Pisa, and given
+up their fortresses to the Florentines and the Lucchese; and being
+without any defence, the people having turned against him, he
+surrendered himself prisoner, and at the said assault one of his
+bastard sons and one of his grandsons were slain, and Count Ugolino
+was taken, and two of his sons, and three grandsons, his son's
+children, and they were put in prison; and his household and
+followers, and the Visconti and Ubizinghi, Guatani, and all the other
+Guelf houses were driven out of Pisa. And thus was the traitor
+betrayed by the traitor; wherefore the Guelf party in Tuscany was
+greatly cast down, and the Ghibellines greatly exalted because of the
+said revolution in Pisa, and because of the force of the Ghibellines
+of Arezzo, and because of the power and victories of Don James of
+Aragon, and of the Sicilians against the heirs of King Charles.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1288 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 122.--_How the Lucchese took the castle of Asciano from the Pisans._
+Sec. 123.--_How the Pisan mercenaries, coming from Campagna, were routed
+by the Florentine mercenaries in Maremma._ Sec. 124.--_Of the dash on
+Latterina made by the Florentines as an attack on Arezzo._ Sec.
+125.--_How Prince Charles was released from the prison of the king of
+Aragon._ Sec. 126.--_Of a great flood of water that was in Florence._
+Sec. 127.--_How the Aretines came and laid waste the territory of
+Florence as far as San Donato in Collina._
+
+
+Sec. 128.--_How the Pisans chose for captain the count of Montefeltro,
+and how they starved to death Count Ugolino and his sons and
+grandsons._
+
+[Sidenote: 1288 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxxiii. 1-90.]
+
+In the said year 1288, in the said month of March, the wars in Tuscany
+between the Guelfs and Ghibellines becoming hot again (by reason of
+the war begun by the Florentines and Sienese against the Aretines, and
+by the Florentines and Lucchese against the Pisans), the Pisans chose
+for their captain of war Count Guido of Montefeltro, giving him wide
+jurisdiction and lordship; and he passed the boundaries of Piedmont,
+within which he was confined by his terms of surrender to the Church,
+and came to Pisa; for the which thing he and his sons and family, and
+all the commonwealth of Pisa, were excommunicated by the Church of
+Rome, as rebels and enemies against Holy Church. And when the said
+count was come to Pisa in the said month of March, the Pisans which
+had put in prison Count Ugolino and his two sons, and two sons of
+Count Guelfo, his son, as we before made mention, in a tower on the
+Piazza degli Anziani, caused the door of the said tower to be locked,
+and the keys thrown into the Arno, and refused to the said prisoners
+any food, which in a few days died there of hunger. And albeit first
+the said count demanded with cries to be shriven; yet did they not
+grant him a friar or priest to confess him. And when all the five
+dead bodies were taken out of the tower, they were buried without
+honour; and thenceforward the said prison was called the Tower of
+Hunger, and will be always. For this cruelty were the Pisans greatly
+blamed throughout the whole world wherever it was known, not so much
+by reason of the count, which because of his crimes and treacheries
+was peradventure worthy of such a death, but by reason of his sons and
+grandsons which were young and innocent boys; and this sin committed
+by the Pisans did not go unpunished, as in due time hereafter may be
+found. We will leave speaking, for a while, of the affairs of Florence
+and of Tuscany, and will tell of other events which took place in the
+said times and came to pass through the whole world.
+
+
+Sec. 129.--_How the Saracens took Tripoli in Syria._
+
+
+Sec. 130.--_Of the coronation of King Charles II., and how he passed
+through Florence, and left Messer Amerigo di Nerbona as captain of war
+for the Florentines._
+
+[Sidenote: 1289 A.D.]
+
+In the said year, on the 2nd day of May, there came to Florence Prince
+Charles, son of the great King Charles, which was returning from
+France after he had been loosed from prison, and was going to the
+court at Rieti where was the Pope; and he was received by the
+Florentines with great rejoicing, and the Florentines did him much
+honour and made him many presents; and having sojourned three days in
+Florence, he departed on his journey towards Siena. And when he was
+departed, tidings came to Florence that the troops of Arezzo were
+making ready to go into the country of Siena to hinder or bring shame
+upon the said Prince Charles, which had but a small company of
+men-at-arms. Straightway the Florentines caused the horsemen of the
+cavalry to ride forth, wherein were all the flower of the best
+families of Florence, together with mercenaries which were in
+Florence, and they were in number 800 horse, and 3,000 foot, to
+accompany the prince; wherefore the prince took in very good part such
+honourable service, and speedy and unasked succour of so many good
+men, though it came not to the pinch of need withal; for the Aretines
+having heard of the riding forth of the Florentines, did not venture
+to go out against them; but nevertheless the Florentines accompanied
+the said prince beyond Bricola to the borders of the territory of
+Siena and of Orvieto. And when the commonwealth of Florence asked of
+the prince to appoint them a captain of war, and also that he would
+grant them to carry forth the royal standard with the host, the prince
+allowed it, and knighted Amerigo di Nerbona, a man very noble, and
+brave and wise in war, and gave him to them for captain; which M.
+Amerigo with his company, about 100 mounted men, came to Florence with
+the said horse; and the prince came to the court, and was honourably
+received by Pope Nicolas IV. and by his cardinals; and the day of
+Pentecost following, on the 29th day of May, 1289, in the city of Rome
+the said Charles was crowned by the said Pope, king of Sicily and of
+Apulia, with great honour, solemnity and rejoicing, and many favours
+and grand presents of jewels and of money were made to him by the
+Church, with subsidies of tithes to aid him in his war in Sicily. And
+this done, King Charles departed from the court, and went into the
+Kingdom.
+
+
+Sec. 131.--_How the Florentines defeated the Aretines at Certomondo in
+Casentino._
+
+[Sidenote: 1289 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxvii. 49-51. Purg. xiv. 118, 119.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Par. xvi. 65, 94-96.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. xxiv. 82. Cf. Par. iii. 106, 107.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. v. 88-129. Inf. xxvii. 68-129.]
+
+In the said year, and month of May, the horsemen of Florence being
+returned from escorting Prince Charles, with their captain, M. Amerigo
+di Nerbona, a host was straightway gathered against the city of
+Arezzo, by reason of outrages received from the Aretines, and the
+banners of war were given out on the 13th day of May, and the royal
+standard was borne by M. Gherardo Ventraia de' Tornaquinci; and so
+soon as they were given to them, they bore them to the abbey at
+Ripoli, as was their wont, and there they left them under guard,
+making as though they would march by that road upon the city of
+Arezzo. And the allies being come and the host being ordered, by
+secret counsel they purposed to depart by the way of Casentino, and
+suddenly, the 2nd day of June, the bells sounding a toll, the
+ever-prosperous host of the Florentines set forth, and they bore the
+banners which were at Ripoli across the Arno, and held the way of
+Pontassieve, and encamped to await the gathering of forces on Monte al
+Pruno; and there were assembled 1,600 horse and 10,000 foot, whereof
+600 were citizens with their horses, the best armed and mounted which
+ever sallied forth from Florence; and 400 mercenaries, together with
+the following of the Captain, M. Amerigo, in the pay of the
+Florentines; and of Lucca there were 150 horsemen; and of Prato, 40
+horsemen and foot soldiers; of Pistoia, 60 horse and foot; and of
+Siena, 120 horse; and of Volterra, 40 horse; and of Bologna, their
+ambassadors with their company; and of Samminiato, and of
+Sangimignano, and of Colle, men mounted and on foot from each place;
+and Maghinardo of Susinana, a good and wise captain in war, with his
+Romagnoli. And the said host being assembled, they descended into the
+plain of Casentino, devastating the places of Count Guido Novello, who
+was Podesta of Arezzo. Hearing this, the bishop of Arezzo, with the
+other captains of the Ghibelline party (for there were many men of
+name amongst them), determined to come with all their host to
+Bibbiena, to the end it might not be destroyed; and they were 800
+horse and 8,000 foot, very fine men; and many wise captains of war
+were among them, for they were the flower of the Ghibellines of
+Tuscany, of the March, and of the Duchy, and of Romagna; and all were
+men experienced in arms and in war; and they desired to give battle to
+the Florentines, having no fear, albeit the Florentines were two
+horsemen to one against them; but they despised them, saying that they
+adorned themselves like women, and combed their tresses; and they
+derided them and held them for nought. Truly there was further cause
+why the Aretines should declare battle against the Florentines, albeit
+their horsemen were two to one against them; for they were in fear of
+a plot which the bishop of Arezzo had set on foot with the
+Florentines, and conducted by M. Marsilio de' Vecchietti, to give over
+to the Florentines Bibbiena, Civitella, and all the castles of his
+see, and he to have 5,000 golden florins each year of his life, on the
+security of the company of the Cerchi. The progress of this plot was
+interrupted by M. Guiglielmino Pazzo, his nephew, to the end the
+bishop might not be slain by the Ghibelline leaders; and therefore
+they hastened the battle, and took thither the said bishop, where he
+was left dead, together with the rest; and thus was the bishop
+punished for his treason, who at the same time sought to betray both
+the Florentines and his own Aretines. And the Florentines, having
+joyfully received the gage of battle, arrayed themselves; and the two
+hosts stood over against one another, after more ordered fashion, both
+on one side and on the other, than ever in any battle before in Italy,
+in the plain at the foot of Poppi, in the region called Certomondo,
+for such is the name of the place, and of a church of the Franciscans,
+which is near there, and in a plain which is called Campaldino; and
+this was a Saturday morning, the 11th day of June, the day of S.
+Barnabas the Apostle. M. Amerigo and the other Florentine captains
+drew up in well-ordered troops, and enrolled 150 forefighters of the
+best of the host, among the which were twenty new-made knights, who
+then received their spurs; and M. Vieri de' Cerchi being among the
+captains, and being lame in his leg, would not therefore desist from
+being among the forefighters; and since it fell to him to make the
+selection for his sesto, he would not lay this service upon any who
+did not desire to be chosen, but chose himself, and his son and
+nephews; the which thing was counted to him as of great merit; and for
+his good example and for shame many other noble citizens offered
+themselves as forefighters. And this done, they flanked them on either
+side by troops of light-armed infantry, and crossbowmen, and unmounted
+lancers. Then, behind the forefighters, came the main body, flanked in
+its turn by footmen, and, behind all, the baggage, so collected as to
+close up the rear of the main body, outside of which were stationed
+two hundred horse and foot of the Lucchese and Pistoians and other
+foreigners, whereof was captain M. Corso Donati, which then was
+Podesta of Pistoia; and their orders were to take the enemy in flank,
+should occasion rise. The Aretines on their part ordered their troops
+wisely, inasmuch as there were, as we have said, good captains of war
+amongst them; and they appointed many forefighters, to the number of
+300, among the which were chosen twelve of the chief leaders, who were
+called the Twelve Paladins. And each side having given a war-cry to
+their host, the Florentines, "Ho, knights, Nerbona," and the Aretines,
+"Ho, knights, San Donato," the forefighters of the Aretines advanced
+with great courage, and struck spur to smite into the Florentine host;
+and the rest of their troop followed after, save that Count Guido
+Novello, which was with a troop of 150 horse to charge in flank, did
+not adventure himself into the battle, but drew back, and then fled to
+his castle. And the movement and assault made upon the Florentines by
+the Aretines, who esteemed themselves to be valiant men-at-arms, was
+to the end that by their bold attack they might break up the
+Florentines at the first onset, and put them to flight; and the shock
+was so great that most of the Florentine forefighters were unhorsed,
+and the main body was driven back a good space, but they were not
+therefore confounded nor broken up, but received the enemy with
+constancy and fortitude; and the wings of infantry on either side,
+keeping their ranks well, enclosed the enemy, and there was hard
+fighting for a good space. And M. Corso Donati, who was apart with the
+men of Lucca and Pistoia, and had been commanded to stand firm, and
+not to strike under pain of death, when he saw the battle begun, said,
+like a valiant man: "If we lose, I will die in the battle with my
+fellow-citizens; and if we conquer, let him that will, come to us at
+Pistoia to exact the penalty"; and he boldly set his troop in motion,
+and struck the enemy in flank, and was a great cause of their rout.
+And this done, as it pleased God, the Florentines had the victory, and
+the Aretines were routed and discomfited, and between horse and foot
+more than 1,700 were slain, and more than 2,000 taken, whereof many of
+the best were smuggled away, some for friendship, some in return for
+ransom; but there came of them bound to Florence more than 740. Among
+the dead left on the field were M. Guiglielmino of the Ubertini,
+bishop of Arezzo, the which was a great warrior, and M. Guiglielmino
+de' Pazzi of Valdarno and his nephews, the which was the best and the
+most experienced captain of war that there was in Italy in his time;
+and there died there Bonconte, son of Count Guido of Montefeltro, and
+three of the Uberti, and one of the Abati, and two of the Griffoni of
+Fegghine, and many other Florentine refugees, and Guiderello
+d'Alessandro of Orvieto, a renowned captain, who bore the imperial
+standard, and many others. On the side of the Florentines was slain no
+man of renown save M. Guiglielmo Berardi, bailiff of M. Amerigo da
+Nerbona, and M. Bindo del Baschiera de' Tosinghi, and Ticci de'
+Visdomini; but many other citizens and foreigners were wounded. The
+news of the said victory came to Florence the same day, at the same
+hour that it took place, for after their meal, the Priors being gone
+to sleep and repose, after the care and wakefulness of the past night,
+suddenly there was a knocking on the chamber door, with the cry:
+"Arise, for the Aretines are discomfited"; and having risen and opened
+the door, they found no one, and their servants without had heard
+nothing, wherefore it was held to be a great and notable marvel,
+inasmuch as no person came from the host with tidings before the hour
+of vespers. And this was the truth, for I heard it and saw it; and all
+the Florentines marvelled whence this could be, and awaited the issue
+in suspense. But when they arrived which came from the host, and
+reported the tidings in Florence, there was great gladness and
+rejoicing; and there was good cause, for at the said discomfiture were
+slain many captains and valiant men of the Ghibelline party, and
+enemies of the commonwealth of Florence, and there were brought low
+the arrogance and pride not only of the Aretines, but of the whole
+Ghibelline party and of the Empire.
+
+
+Sec. 132.--_How the Florentines besieged the city of Arezzo, and laid
+waste the region round about._
+
+[Sidenote: 1289 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxii. 4, 5.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Par. xvi. 42.]
+
+After the said victory of the commonwealth over the Aretines, the
+trumpet was sounded for the return from pursuing the fugitives, and
+the Florentine host was marshalled upon the field; and this done, they
+departed to Bibbiena, and took it without any resistance; and having
+plundered and despoiled it of all its wealth and much booty, they
+caused the walls and the fortified houses to be destroyed to the
+foundations, and many other villages round about, and they abode there
+eight days. Whereas, if on the day following, the Florentine host had
+ridden upon Arezzo, without doubt they would have taken the city; but
+during that sojourn they that had escaped from the battle returned
+thither, and the peasants round about took refuge there, and order was
+taken for the defence and guard of the city. The host of the
+Florentines came thither after some days, and laid siege to the city,
+continually laying waste the region round about, and taking their
+fortresses, so that they gained them nearly all, some by force, and
+some on conditions; and the Florentines caused many thereof to be
+destroyed, but they kept possession of Castiglione of Arezzo, and
+Montecchio, and Rondine, and Civitella, and Laterina, and
+Montesansavino. And with the host there went two of the Priors of
+Florence as inspectors; and the Sienese came in a body, with much
+force of horse and foot, after the defeat, to regain their lands taken
+by the Aretines, and they took Lucignano of Arezzo, and Chiusura of
+Valdichiane, on conditions. And the said Florentine host being at
+Arezzo, in the old palace of the bishops, for twenty days, they laid
+waste all round about them, and they ran their races there on the
+feast of S. Giovanni, and erected there many engines, and hurled into
+the city asses with mitres on their heads, in contempt and reproach of
+their bishop, and raised many wooden towers and other works to attack
+the city; and a fierce battle ensuing, a great part of the palisade
+(for there was not then any other wall in that part) was burnt and
+laid low; and if the captains of the host had made the besiegers fight
+lustily, they would have taken the city by storm; but where they
+should have fought, they caused the retreat to be sounded, wherefore
+they were held in abomination, forasmuch as this was done through
+greed of gain; for the which cause the people and the combatants,
+losing heart, were slack in skirmishing and on guard; wherefore the
+night following they of Arezzo issued forth and set fire to many
+wooden towers, and burnt them, with many other works. And this done,
+the Florentines lost hope of taking the city by battle, and the better
+part of the host departed, leaving the aforesaid strongholds guarded,
+to the end they might continually harry the city; and the host
+returned to Florence on the 23rd day of July with great rejoicing and
+triumph, and there came to meet them the clergy in procession, the men
+of birth jousting, and the populace with the standards and ensigns of
+each of the Arts, with its company; and they set a canopy of cloth of
+gold over the head of M. Amerigo di Nerbona, borne upon pikes by many
+knights, and likewise over M. Ugolino de' Rossi of Parma, which was
+then Podesta of Florence. And note that all the expenses of the said
+host were furnished by our commonwealth by a tax of six and a quarter
+per cent., which raised more than 36,000 golden florins, so well
+ordered were then the registers of the city and country; and the other
+affairs and revenues of the commonwealth were equally well ordered.
+True it is that after the return of the said host the popolani began
+to suspect that the magnates, through pride of the said victory, might
+lay burdens on them beyond accustomed usage; and for this cause the
+seven greater Arts drew to themselves the five lesser Arts, and made
+ready among themselves arms, and shields, and certain standards, and
+this was in a sense a beginning of the Popolo, which afterwards took
+the form of the Popolo of 1292, as hereafter we shall narrate. From
+the aforesaid victory the city of Florence was much exalted, and rose
+to good and happy state, the best which it had seen until these times,
+and it increased greatly in people and in wealth, for every one was
+gaining by some merchandise, art, or trade; and it continued in
+peaceful and tranquil state for many years after, rising every day.
+And by reason of gladness and well-being, every year, on the first day
+of May, they formed bands and companies of gentle youths, clad in new
+raiment, and raised pavilions covered with cloth and silk and with
+wooden walls, in divers parts of the city; and likewise there were
+bands of women and of maidens going through the city dancing in
+ordered fashion, and ladies, by two and two, with instruments, and
+with garlands of flowers on their heads, continuing in pastimes and
+joyance, and at feasts and banquets.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1289 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. viii. 64-66.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. vii. 136. Convivio iv. 11: 126.]
+
+Sec. 133.--_Of a fierce and violent battle between the duke of Brabant
+and the count of Luxemburg._ Sec. 134.--_How Don James came from Sicily
+into Calabria with his armada, and there received some loss, and
+afterwards laid siege to Gaeta._ Sec. 135.--_How Charles Martel was
+crowned king of Hungary._ Sec. 136.--_How they of Chiusi were routed,
+and the Guelf refugees restored._ Sec. 137.--_How the Lucchese, with the
+forces of Florence, marched upon the city of Pisa._ Sec. 138.--_Of an
+expedition that the Florentines made wherein they should have had
+Arezzo yielded up to them._ Sec. 139.--_Of a great fire that broke out in
+Florence in the house of the Pegolotti._ Sec. 140.--_How the Florentines
+and their allies made a third expedition against Arezzo._ Sec. 141.--_How
+Porto Pisano was taken and laid waste by the Florentines and Genoese
+and Lucchese._ Sec. 142.--_How the marquis of Montferrat was taken
+prisoner by them of Alexandria._ Sec. 143.--_Of a great miracle that came
+to pass in Paris concerning the body of Christ._ Sec. 144.--_How they of
+Ravenna seized the count of Romagna, who was there to represent the
+Church._
+
+
+Sec. 145.--_How the soldan of Babylon conquered by force the city of
+Acre, to the great hurt of the Christians._
+
+[Sidenote: 1291 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. xxvii. 89.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1291, in the month of April, the soldan of
+Babylon [Cairo] of Egypt having first garrisoned and provisioned
+Syria, traversed the desert and came into the said Syria with his
+host, and laid siege to the city of Acre, which of old was called in
+the Scriptures Ptolemais, and now is called Acon in Latin; and the
+soldan had with him so much people, both foot and horse, that his host
+stretched over more than twelve miles. But before we tell more of the
+loss of Acre, we will tell the reason why the soldan came to besiege
+it, and took it, as it was related to us by trustworthy
+fellow-citizens of our own, and merchants which were in Acre at that
+time. It is true that, because the Saracens had in foregoing times
+taken from the Christians the city of Antioch, and of Tripoli, and of
+Tyre, and many other towns which the Christians held on the seashore,
+the city of Acre had greatly increased, both in folk and in power,
+forasmuch as no other city was held by the Christians in Syria; so
+that the kings of Jerusalem, and of Cyprus, and the princes of
+Antioch, and of Tyre, and of Tripoli, and the Orders of the Templars
+and the Hospitallers, and other Orders, and the Pope's legates, and
+they which had gone over seas from the kings of France and of England,
+all gathered at Acre, and there were there seventeen hereditary
+lordships, which was a great confusion. And at that time there was
+truce between the Christians and the Saracens, and there were there
+more than 18,000 pilgrims who had taken the cross; and their pay not
+being forthcoming, and because they could not get it from the lords
+and states which had sent them forth, part of them, which were wild
+and lawless men, scrupled not to break the truce, and to rob and to
+slay all the Saracens which were in Acre, under the security of the
+truce, with their merchandise and victuals; and in like manner they
+went through many villages round about Acre, robbing and slaying the
+Saracens. For the which thing, the soldan holding himself much
+aggrieved, sent his ambassadors to Acre to those lords, demanding
+compensation for the wrongs that had been committed, and that for his
+honour and the satisfaction of his people, there should be sent to him
+as prisoners some of the chiefs and leaders of them which had broken
+the truce, to the end that he might execute justice upon them, the
+which requests were denied him. Wherefore he came with his army, as we
+have said, and because of the multitude of his people, by force they
+filled up part of the moats, which were very deep, and took the outer
+circle of the walls; and the next circle they caused in part to fall
+by the aid of mines and engines; and they took the great tower, which
+was called Accursed, because it had been foretold that by it Acre
+should be lost. But with all this they could not take the city, for
+albeit the Saracens broke down the walls by day, by night they were
+repaired and stopped up with planks, or with sacks of wool and of
+cotton, and vigorously defended on the day following, by the wise and
+valiant brother, Guillaume de Beaujeu, master of the Temple, which was
+captain-general of the war and of the defence of the city, and had,
+with much prowess and foresight and care, vigorously defended the
+city. But as it pleased God, and to punish the sins of the inhabitants
+of Acre, the said master of the Temple, lifting up his right arm in
+the combat, was shot by a Saracen with a poisoned arrow, which entered
+into the joints of his cuirass, by the which wound he shortly after
+died; and because of his death the whole city was moved and put in
+fear; and by reason of the confusion of so many lords and captains, as
+we before said, all fell into disorder, and there was discord in the
+guard and defence of the city; and each one who could gave heed to
+his own safety, taking refuge in ships and in other vessels which were
+in the port. For the which cause the Saracens, continuing the attacks
+by day and by night, entered the city by force and traversed it,
+robbing everywhere and slaying all who came in their way, and the
+young men and maidens they carried off as slaves; and there were of
+slain and prisoners, men, women and children, more than 60,000; and
+the loss of goods and booty was infinite. And having collected the
+booty and treasures, and carried away the prisoners out of the city,
+they broke down the walls and strongholds, and set fire to them, and
+destroyed all the city, whereby Christendom sustained very great hurt,
+for by the loss of Acre there remained in the Holy Land no city
+pertaining to the Christians; and never again was any one of the good
+trading cities, which are on our sea-shores and borders, worth
+one-half of its former profit in merchandise and arts; because of the
+loss of the city and port of Acre, by reason of its good situation
+right on the brow of our sea, and in the midst of Syria, and well-nigh
+in the midst of the inhabited world, seventy miles distant from
+Jerusalem, a magazine and port for all merchandise, both from the East
+and from the West; and all races of men in the world met there to
+barter merchandise; and there were interpreters there of all the
+languages of the world, so that it was like one of the elements of the
+world. And this disaster was not without the great and just judgment
+of God, for that city was more full of sinful men and of women of
+every kind of abandoned vice than any other Christian city. When the
+sorrowful tidings came to the West, the Pope proclaimed great
+indulgences and pardons to whosoever should give aid and succour to
+the Holy Land, sending word to all Christian lords that he purposed a
+general crusade; and he forbade, under pain of severe judgments and
+excommunications, that any Christian should go to Alexandria or the
+land of Egypt with merchandise, or victuals, or wood, or iron, or
+should give aid and favour there in any wise.
+
+
+Sec. 146.--_Of the death of King Rudolf of Germany._
+
+[Sidenote: 1291 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. vi. 103-105.]
+
+In the said year 1291, King Rudolf of Germany died, but he never
+attained to the honours of the Empire, because he was always intent
+upon increasing his state and lordship in Germany, leaving the
+enterprises of Italy that he might increase land and possessions for
+his sons; who, by his energy and valour, from a small count rose to be
+Emperor, and gained for himself the duchy of Austria, and a great part
+of the duchy of Suabia.
+
+
+Sec. 147.--_How King Philip of France caused all the Italians to be
+taken prisoner, and then ransomed._ Sec. 148.--_How the Pisans
+recaptured the fortress of Pontadera._
+
+
+Sec. 149.--_How the city of Forli in Romagna was taken by Maghinardo da
+Susinana._
+
+[Sidenote: 1291 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. xxvii. 49-51.]
+
+In the said year all the county of Romagna, being obedient to Holy
+Church, and under the care of the bishop of Arezzo, which was count
+thereof for the Pope, Maghinardo da Susinana, with certain nobles and
+great men of Romagna, took the city of Forli by theft, and in it they
+took the Count Aghinolfo of Romena with his sons, which was brother to
+the said count bishop of Arezzo; and they besieged the said count
+bishop in Cesena; whence arose great war in Romagna. The said
+Maghinardo was a great and wise tyrant, holding many castles between
+Casentino and Romagna, and having many followers; and he was wise in
+war and very fortunate in many battles, and in his time did great
+things. He was a Ghibelline by race and by his works, but with the
+Florentines he was a Guelf and the enemy of all their enemies, whether
+they were Guelfs or Ghibellines; and in every expedition and battle
+which the Florentines undertook, whilst he was alive, he was with his
+people in their service as a captain; and this was because, when his
+father died, which was called Piero Pagano, a great nobleman, leaving
+the said Maghinardo, a young child and with many enemies, to wit, the
+Counts Guidi and the Ubaldini and other lords of Romagna, this said
+father left him to the care and tutelage of the people and
+commonwealth of Florence, him and his lands; by the which commonwealth
+his patrimony was benignly increased and guarded and improved, and for
+this cause he was grateful and very faithful to the commonwealth of
+Florence in all its needs.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1292 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 150.--_How the Florentines took the castle of Ampinana._ Sec.
+151.--_How Pope Nicholas, of Ascoli, died._ Sec. 152.--_How the whole
+city of Noyon, in France, was burnt._ Sec. 153.--_How Adolf was elected
+king of the Romans._ Sec. 154.--_How the Florentines marched upon the
+city of Pisa._ Sec. 155.--_Of the miracles which were manifested in
+Florence by S. Maria d'Orto San Michele._
+
+
+END OF SELECTIONS FROM BOOK VII.
+
+
+
+
+BOOK VIII.
+
+ _Here begins the Eighth Book. It tells how the second Popolo
+ arose in the city of Florence, and of many great changes
+ which by reason thereof came afterwards to pass in Florence,
+ following on with the other events of those times._
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1292 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvi. 131, 132.]
+
+Sec. 1.--In the year of Christ 1292, on the 1st day of February, the city
+of Florence being in great and powerful state, and prosperous in all
+things, and the citizens thereof waxing fat and rich, and by reason of
+excessive tranquillity, which naturally engenders pride and novelties,
+being envious and arrogant among themselves, many murders, and wounds,
+and outrages were done by one citizen upon another; and above all the
+nobles known as magnates and potentates, alike in the country and in
+the city, wrought upon the people who might not resist them, force and
+violence both against person and goods, taking possession thereof. For
+the which thing certain good men, artificers and merchants of
+Florence, which desired good life, considered how to set a remedy and
+defence against the said plague, and one of the leaders therein, among
+others, was a man of worth, an ancient and noble citizen, being one of
+the popolani, rich and powerful, whose name was Giano della Bella, of
+the people of S. Martin, with the following and counsel of other wise
+and powerful popolani. And instituting in Florence an order of judges
+to correct the statutes and our laws, as by our ordinances the custom
+was of old to do, they ordained certain laws and statutes, very strong
+and weighty, against such magnates and men of power as should do wrong
+or violence against the people; increasing the common penalties in
+divers ways, and enacting that one member of a family of magnates
+should be held answerable for the others; and two bearing witness to
+public fame and report should be held to prove such crimes; and the
+public accounts should be revised. And these laws they called the
+Ordinances of Justice. And to the intent they might be maintained and
+put into execution, it was decreed that beyond the number of six
+Priors which governed the city, there should be a gonfalonier of
+justice appointed by the several sesti in succession, changing every
+two months, as do the Priors. And when the bells were set tolling, the
+people were to rally to the church of San Piero Scheraggio and give
+out the banner of justice, which before was not the custom. And they
+decreed that not one of the Priors should be of the noble houses
+called magnates; for before this good and true merchants had often
+been made Priors, albeit they chanced to be of some great and noble
+house. And the ensign and standard of the said Popolo was decreed to
+be a white field with a red cross; and there were chosen 1000
+citizens, divided according to the sesti, with certain standard-bearers
+for each region, with fifty footmen to each standard, which were to be
+armed, each one with hauberk and shield marked with the cross; and
+they were to assemble at every tumult or summons of the gonfalonier,
+at the house or at the palace of the Priors, to do execution against
+the magnates; and afterwards the number of the chosen footmen
+increased to 2,000, and then to 4,000. And a like order of men-at-arms
+for the people, with the said ensign, was enrolled in each country and
+district of Florence, and they were called the Leagues of the People.
+And the first of the said gonfaloniers was one Baldo de' Ruffoli of
+the Porte del Duomo; and in his time the standard sallied forth with
+armed men to destroy the goods of a family named Galli of Porta S.
+Marie, by reason of a murder which one of them had committed in the
+kingdom of France on the person of a popolano. This new decree of the
+people, and change in the State was of much importance to the city of
+Florence, and had afterwards many and divers consequences both ill and
+good to our commonwealth, as hereafter in due time we shall make
+mention. And in this new thing and beginning of the Popolo, the
+popolani would have been hindered by the power of the magnates but
+that in those times the said magnates of Florence were in greater
+broils and discords among themselves than ever before since the Guelfs
+returned to Florence; and there was great war between the Adimari and
+the Tosinghi, and between the Rossi and the Tornaquinci, and between
+the Bardi and the Mozzi, and between the Gherardini and the Manieri,
+and between the Cavalcanti and the Bondelmonti, and between certain of
+the Bondelmonti and the Giandonati, and between the Visdomini and the
+Falconieri, and between the Bostichi and the Foraboschi, and between
+the Foraboschi and the Malispini, and among the Frescobaldi
+themselves, and among the family of the Donati themselves, and many
+other noble houses. [And therefore let not the reader marvel because
+we have put this event at the head of our book, forasmuch as the most
+strange events arose from this beginning, and not only to our city of
+Florence, but to all the region of Italy.]
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1293 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 2.--_How the people of Florence made peace with the Pisans, and
+many other notable things._ Sec. 3.--_Of a great fire which broke out
+in Florence in the district of Torcicoda._ Sec. 4.--_How the war began
+between the king of France and the king of England._
+
+
+Sec. 5.--_How Celestine V. was elected and made Pope, and how he
+renounced the papacy._
+
+[Sidenote: 1294 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. iii. 58-60; xxvii. 104, 105.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xxvii. 41.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. iii. 59, 60.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1294, in the month of July, the Church of Rome
+had been vacant after the death of Pope Nicholas d'Ascoli for more
+than two years, by reason of the discord of the cardinals, which were
+divided, each party desiring to make one of themselves Pope. And the
+cardinals being in Perugia and straitly constrained by the Perugians
+to elect a Pope, as it pleased God they were agreed not to name one of
+their own college, and they elected a holy man which was called
+Brother Peter of Morrone in Abruzzi. This man was a hermit, and of
+austere life and penitence, and in order to abandon the vanity of the
+world, after he had ordained many holy monasteries of his Order, he
+departed as a penitent into the mountain of Morrone, which is above
+Sermona. He, being elected and brought and crowned Pope, made in the
+following September, for the reformation of the Church, twelve
+cardinals, for the most part from beyond the mountains, by the
+petition and after the counsel of King Charles, king of Sicily and of
+Apulia. And this done, he departed with the court to Naples, and by
+King Charles was graciously received and with great honour; but
+because he was simple and knew no letters, and did not occupy himself
+willingly with the pomps of the world, the cardinals held him in small
+esteem, and it seemed to them that they had made an ill choice for the
+well-being and estate of the Church. The said holy father perceiving
+this, and not feeling himself sufficient for the government of the
+Church, as one who more loved the service of God and the weal of his
+soul than worldly honour, sought every way how he might renounce the
+papacy. Now, among the other cardinals of the court was one M.
+Benedetto Guatani d'Alagna, very learned in books, and in the things
+of the world much practised and sagacious, which had a great desire to
+attain to the papal dignity; and he had laid plans seeking and
+striving to obtain it by the aid of King Charles and the cardinals,
+and already had the promise from them, which afterwards was fulfilled
+to him. He put it before the holy father, hearing that he was desirous
+to renounce the papacy, that he should make a new decretal, that for
+the good of his soul any Pope might renounce the papacy, showing him
+the example of S. Clement, whom, when S. Peter came to die, he desired
+should be Pope after him; but he, for the good of his soul, would not
+have it so, and in his room first S. Linus and then S. Cletus was
+Pope. And even as the said cardinal gave counsel, Pope Celestine made
+the said decretal; and this done, the day of S. Lucy in the following
+December, in a consistory of all the cardinals, in their presence he
+took off the crown and papal mantle, and renounced the papacy, and
+departed from the court, and returned to his hermit life, and to do
+his penance. And thus Pope Celestine reigned in the papacy five months
+and nine days. But afterwards it is said, and was true, that his
+successor, M. Benedetto Guatani aforesaid (who was afterwards Pope
+Boniface), caused him to be taken prisoner in the mountains of S.
+Angiolo in Apulia above Bastia, whither he had withdrawn to do
+penance; and some say that he would fain have gone into Slavonia, but
+the other secretly held him in the fortress of Fummone in Campagna in
+honourable confinement, to the intent that so long as he lived none
+should be set up as a rival to his own election, forasmuch as many
+Christians held Celestine to be the right and true Pope,
+notwithstanding his renunciation, maintaining that such a dignity as
+was the papacy by no decretal could be renounced; and albeit S.
+Clement refused the papacy at the first, the faithful nevertheless
+held him to be father, and it behoved him to be Pope after S. Cletus.
+But Celestine being held prisoner, as we have said, in Fummone, lived
+but a short time in the said place; and dying there, he was buried
+poorly in a little church without Fummone pertaining to the order of
+his brethren, and put underground more than ten cubits deep, to the
+end his body might not be found. But during his life, and after his
+death, God wrought many miracles by him, whence many people held him
+in great reverence; and a certain time afterwards by the Church of
+Rome, and by Pope John XXII., he was canonised, and called S. Peter of
+Morrone, as hereafter in due time we shall make mention.
+
+
+Sec. 6.--_How Boniface VIII. was elected and made Pope._
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. vi. 69. xix. 52-57, 76-81. xxvii. 70, 85-111.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. xx. 86-90. Par. ix. 136-142. xii. 90. xvii. 49-51.
+xviii. 118-136. xxvii. 22-27. xxx. 148.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1294 A.D.]
+
+In the said year 1294, Cardinal Benedetto Guatani, having by his wit
+and sagacity so wrought that Pope Celestine had renounced the papacy,
+as before in the last chapter we have made mention, followed up his
+enterprise, and wrought upon the cardinals and the support of King
+Charles, which had the friendship of many cardinals, specially of the
+twelve newly elected by Celestine. And while he was pursuing this
+quest, one evening by night he went secretly with but few companions
+to King Charles, and said to him: "King, thy Pope Celestine had the
+will and the means to serve thee in thy Sicilian war, but he had not
+the knowledge. Now, if thou wilt work with thy friends the cardinals
+that I may be elected Pope, I shall know, and I shall will, and I
+shall be able," promising him by his faith and oath to put thereto all
+the power of the Church. Then the king, trusting in him, promised him
+and agreed with his twelve cardinals that they should give him their
+votes; and there being at the election M. Matteo Rosso and M. Jacopo
+della Colonna, which were the heads of factions among the cardinals,
+they perceived what was toward, and straightway they too gave him
+their votes, but the first to do it was M. Matteo Rosso Orsini. And on
+this wise he was elected Pope in the city of Naples, the vigil of the
+Nativity of Christ in the said year; and immediately when he was
+elected, he willed to depart from Naples with his court, and came to
+Rome, and there caused himself to be crowned with great solemnity and
+honour in the middle of January. And this done, the first act which he
+did, hearing that great war was begun between King Philip of France
+and King Edward of England on the question of Gascony, was to send
+beyond the mountains two cardinal legates, to the end they might
+reconcile them together; but they availed little, for the said lords
+continued in greater war than before. This Pope Boniface was of the
+city of Alagna, a very noble man of his city, son of M. Lifredi
+Guatani, a Ghibelline by race, and whilst he was cardinal he was their
+protector, specially of the Todini; but after he was made Pope he
+became a strong Guelf, and did much for King Charles in the war in
+Sicily, albeit it is said by many wise men that he broke up the Guelf
+party, under cover of showing himself a strong Guelf, as hereafter in
+his actions may be manifestly seen by him who observes closely. A man
+of large schemes was he and lordly, and sought for much honour, and
+well knew how to maintain and advance the rights of the Church, and by
+reason of his knowledge and power he was much redoubted and feared; he
+was very rich through making the Church great and his kinsfolk; making
+no scruple of gain, for he said all was lawfully his which was the
+Church's. And when he was made Pope he annulled all the assignments of
+the revenues of vacant benefices made by Pope Celestine, except where
+one was in possession; and he had his nephew made count of Caserta by
+King Charles, and two sons of the said nephew, the one count of Fondi,
+and the other count of Palazzo. He bought the military fortress at
+Rome, which was the palace of Octavianus the emperor, and caused it to
+be enlarged and rebuilt at great cost, and other strong and fine
+castles in Campagna and in Maremma. And always he abode in winter in
+Rome, and in summer and spring in Rieti or Orvieto, but afterwards the
+most in Alagna, to make his city great. We will now leave speaking of
+the said Pope, following from time to time the things which came to
+pass in other parts of the world, and above all those in Florence,
+whereof the matter increases much.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1294 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 7.--_When the foundation of the new church of Santa Croce was begun
+in Florence._
+
+
+Sec. 8.--_How the great man of the people, Giano della Bella, was driven
+out of Florence._
+
+[Sidenote: 1294 A.D.]
+
+In the said year 1294, in the month of January, when M. Giovanni da
+Lucino da Como had lately entered upon the office of Podesta of
+Florence, a cause came for trial before him accusing M. Corso de'
+Donati, a noble and powerful citizen among the best in Florence, of
+having slain a popolano, a retainer of his associate M. Simone
+Galastrone, in a scuffle and fray which they had together, and wherein
+that retainer was slain; for which M. Corso Donati refused to pay the
+fine and bade justice take its course, trusting in the favour of the
+said Podesta, to be granted at the prayers of friends and of the
+lords; whereas the people of Florence looked that the said Podesta
+should condemn him; and already the standard of justice had been
+brought forth to carry the sentence into execution; but he absolved
+him; for the which thing, when the said declaration of innocence was
+read from the palace of the Podesta, and M. Simone Galastrone was
+condemned for having inflicted wounds, the common people cried out:
+"Death to the Podesta," and sallied forth in haste from the palace,
+crying, "To arms! to arms! long live the people!" and a great number
+of the people flew to arms, and especially of the common people, and
+rushed to the house of Giano della Bella, their chief; and he, it is
+said, sent them with his brother to the palace of the Priors to follow
+the gonfalonier of justice; but this they did not do, but came only to
+the palace of the Podesta, and furiously assaulted the said palace
+with arms and crossbows, and set fire to the gates and burnt them,
+and entered in, and seized and scornfully robbed the said Podesta and
+his staff. But M. Corso in fear of his life fled from the palace over
+the roofs, for then was it not so walled as it is now. And the tumult
+displeased the Priors which were very near to the palace of the
+Podesta, but by reason of the unbridled populace, they were not able
+to hinder it. But some days after, when the uproar had been quieted,
+the great men could not rest, in their desire to abase Giano della
+Bella, forasmuch as he had been among the chiefs and beginners of the
+Ordinances of Justice, and was moreover desirous further to abase the
+magnates by taking from the Captains of the Guelf Party the seal and
+the common fund of the Party (which fund was very great), and to give
+them to the commonwealth; not that he was not a Guelf and of Guelf
+stock, but he would fain diminish the power of the magnates. Wherefore
+the magnates, seeing themselves thus treated, created a faction
+together with the Council of the College of Judges and of Notaries,
+which held themselves to be oppressed by him, as we before made
+mention, and with other popolani grassi, friends and kinsmen of the
+magnates, which loved not that Giano della Bella should be greater in
+the commonwealth than they. And they determined to elect a body of
+stalwart Priors. And this was done, and they were proclaimed earlier
+than the wonted time. And this done, when they were in office they
+conferred with the Captain of the People, and set forth a proclamation
+and inquisition against the said Giano della Bella and his other
+confederates and followers and those which had been leaders in setting
+fire to the gates of the Palace, charging them with having set the
+city in an uproar, and disturbed the peace of the State, and
+assaulted the Podesta, against the Ordinances of Justice; for the
+which thing the common people was much disturbed, and went to the
+house of Giano della Bella, and offered to surround him with arms, to
+defend him or to attack the city. And his brother bore to Orto San
+Michele a standard with the arms of the people; but Giano was a wise
+man, albeit somewhat presumptuous, and when he saw himself betrayed
+and deceived by the very men which had been with him in making the
+Popolo, and saw that their force together with that of the magnates
+was very great, and that the Priors were already assembled under arms
+at their house, he would not hazard the chances of civil war; and to
+the end the city might not be ravaged, and for fear of his person, he
+would not face the court, but withdrew, and departed from Florence on
+the 5th day of March, hoping that the people might yet restore him to
+his state; wherefore by the said accusation or notification he was for
+contumacy condemned in person and banished, and he died in exile in
+France (for he had affairs to attend to there, and was a partner of
+the Pazzi); and all his goods were destroyed; and certain other
+popolani were accused with him; and he was a great loss to our city,
+and above all to the people, forasmuch as he was the most leal and
+upright popolano, and lover of the common good, of any man in
+Florence, and one who gave to the commonwealth and took nothing
+therefrom. He was presumptuous and desired to avenge his wrongs, and
+this he did somewhat against the Abati, his neighbours, with the arm
+of the commonwealth, and, perhaps for the said sins, he was by his own
+laws, wrongfully and without guilt, judged by the unjust. And note
+that this is a great example to those citizens which are to come, to
+beware of desiring to be lords over their fellow-citizens or too
+ambitious; but to be content with the common citizenship. For the very
+men which had aided him to rise, through envy betrayed him and plotted
+to abase him; and it has been seen and experienced truly in Florence
+in ancient and modern times, that whosoever has become leader of the
+people and of the masses has been cast down; forasmuch as the
+ungrateful people never give men their due reward. From this event
+arose great disturbance and change amongst the people and in the city
+of Florence, and from that time forward the artificers and common
+people possessed little power in the commonwealth, but the government
+remained in the hands of the powerful popolani grassi.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1294 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 9.--_When the building of the great church of Santa Reparata was
+begun._
+
+
+Sec. 10.--_How M. Gianni di Celona came into Tuscany as Imperial Vicar._
+
+* * * * *
+
+[Sidenote: 1294 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xv. 23-120.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xv. 119, 120.]
+
+In the said year 1294 there died in Florence a worthy citizen whose
+name was M. Brunetto Latini, who was a great philosopher, and was a
+perfect master in rhetoric, understanding both how to speak well and
+how to write well. And he it was which commented upon the rhetoric of
+Tully, and made the good and useful book called "The Treasure," and
+"The Little Treasure," and "The Key to the Treasure," and many other
+books in philosophy, and concerning vices and virtues. And he was
+secretary of our commonwealth. He was a worldly man, but we have made
+mention of him because it was he who was the beginner and master in
+refining the Florentines and in teaching them how to speak well, and
+how to guide and rule our republic according to policy.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1294 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 11.--_How S. Louis, king that was of France, was canonised._
+
+
+Sec. 12.--_How the magnates of Florence raised a tumult in the city to
+break up the Popolo._
+
+[Sidenote: 1295 A.D.]
+
+On the 6th day of the month of July of the year 1295, the magnates and
+great men of the city of Florence, seeing themselves mightily
+oppressed by the new Ordinances of Justice made by the people--and
+especially by that ordinance which declares that one kinsman is to be
+held to account for another, and that two witnesses establish public
+report--having their own friends in the priorate, gave themselves to
+breaking down the ordinances of the people. And first they made up
+their great quarrels amongst themselves, especially between the
+Adimari and Tosinghi, and between the Mozzi and the Bardi. And this
+done, on an appointed day, they made a great gathering of folk, and
+petitioned the Priors to have the said articles amended; whereupon all
+the people in the city of Florence rose in tumult and rushed to arms;
+the magnates, on armoured horses themselves, and with their retainers
+from the country and other troops on foot in great numbers; and one
+set of them drew up in the piazza of S. Giovanni, over whom M. Forese
+degli Adimari held the royal ensign; another set assembled at the
+Piazza a Ponte, whose ensign was held by M. Vanni Mozzi; and a third
+set in the Mercato Nuovo, whose standard M. Geri Spini held; with
+intent to overrun the city. The popolani were all in arms, in their
+ranks, with ensigns and banners, in great numbers; and they
+barricaded the streets of the city at sundry points to hinder the
+horsemen from overrunning the place, and they gathered at the palace
+of the Podesta, and at the house of the Priors, who at that time abode
+at the house of the Cerchi behind San Brocolo. And the people found
+themselves in great power and well ordered, with force of arms and
+folk, and they associated with the Priors, whom they did not trust, a
+number of the greatest and most powerful and discreet of the popolani
+of Florence, one for each sesto. Wherefore the magnates had no
+strength nor power against them, and the people might have overthrown
+them; but consulting for the best, and to avoid civil battle, by the
+mediation of certain friars between the better sort of either side,
+each party disarmed; and the city returned to peace and quiet without
+any change; the Popolo being left in its state and lordship; save that
+whereas before the proof of public report was established by two
+witnesses, it was now laid down that there must be three; and even
+this was conceded by the Priors against the will of the popolani, and
+shortly afterwards it was revoked and the old order re-established.
+But for all that this disturbance was the root and beginning of the
+dismal and ill estate of the city of Florence which thereafter
+followed, for thenceforth the magnates never ceased to search for
+means to beat down the people, to their utmost power; and the leaders
+of the people sought every way of strengthening the people and abasing
+the magnates by reinforcing the Ordinances of Justice, and they had
+the great crossbows taken from the magnates and bought up by the
+commonwealth; and many families which were not tyrannical nor of any
+great power they removed from the number of the magnates and added
+them to the people, to weaken the power of the magnates and increase
+that of the people; and when the said Priors went out of office they
+were struck with cudgels behind and had stones flung at them, because
+they had consented to favour the magnates; and by reason of these
+disturbances and changes there was a fresh ordering of the people in
+Florence, whereof the heads were Mancini and Magalotti, Altoviti,
+Peruzzi, Acciaiuoli, Cerretani and many others.
+
+
+Sec. 13.--_How King Charles made peace with King James of Aragon._
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. vii. 115-120, iii. 116.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1295 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Par. viii. 49-75.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. viii. 55.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. iii. 116, vii. 115-120. Par. xix. 130-135, xx. 61-63;
+Convivio iv. 6: 180-190. De Vulg. Eloquio i. 12: 15-38.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1295 the King Alfonso of Aragon died; by the
+which death Don James, his brother, which had been crowned king of
+Sicily and held the island, sought to make peace with the Church and
+with King Charles; and by the hand of Pope Boniface it was done after
+this manner: that the said Don James should take to wife the daughter
+of King Charles, and should resign the lordship of Sicily, and should
+set the hostages free which King Charles had left in Aragon, to wit
+Robert and Raymond and John, his sons, with other barons and knights
+of Provence. And the Pope, with King Charles, promised that they would
+cause Charles of Valois, brother of the king of France, to renounce
+the claim which Pope Martin IV. had granted him to the kingdom of
+Aragon; and to the end he might consent thereto, King Charles gave him
+the county of Anjou, and his daughter to wife. And to order this
+matter King Charles went into France in person, and when he returned
+with the compact made, and with his sons whom he had set free from
+prison, he came to the city of Florence, whither was already come to
+meet him Charles Martel, his son, king of Hungary, with his company
+of 200 knights with golden spurs, French and Provencal and from the
+Kingdom, all young men, invested by the king with habits of scarlet
+and dark green, and all with saddles of one device, with their
+palfreys adorned with silver and gold, with arms quarterly, bearing
+golden lilies and surrounded by a bordure of red and silver, which are
+the arms of Hungary. And they appeared the noblest and richest company
+a young king ever had with him. And in Florence he abode more than
+twenty days, awaiting his father, King Charles, and his brothers; and
+the Florentines did him great honour, and he showed great love to the
+Florentines, wherefore he was in high favour with them all. And when
+King Charles was come into Florence, and Robert and Raymond and John,
+his sons, with the marquis of Montferrat, which was to have for wife
+the daughter of the king, he made many knights in Florence and
+received much honour and many presents from the Florentines; and then
+the king with all his sons returned to the papal court and afterwards
+to Naples. And this done, and after all the articles of the treaty of
+peace had been fulfilled by the Pope and by King Charles, Don James
+departed from Sicily and came into Aragon, and was crowned king over
+the realm; but whosoever may have been in fault, whether the Pope or
+Don James, King Charles found himself deceived, for when King Charles
+thought to have the island of Sicily again in quiet, after Don James
+had departed, Frederick, his next brother, became lord thereof, and
+caused himself to be crowned king by the Sicilians against the will of
+the Church by the bishop of Cephalonia; wherefore the Pope was much
+angered with the king of Aragon, as well as with Frederick his
+brother, and caused him to be summoned to court, which King James
+came thither the following year, as hereafter we shall make mention.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1296 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxvii. 49-51.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1297 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1298 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. vi. 97.]
+
+Sec. 14.--_How the Guelf party were driven by force out of Genoa._ Sec.
+15.--_The doings of the Tartars of Persia._ Sec. 16.--_How Maghinardo
+da Susinana defeated the Bolognese and took the city of Imola._ Sec.
+17.--_How the people of Florence built the cities and strongholds of
+Sangiovanni and Castelfranco in Valdarno._ Sec. 18.--_How King James
+of Aragon came to Rome, and Pope Boniface granted him the island of
+Sardinia._ Sec. 19.--_How the counts of Flanders and of Bar rebelled
+against the king of France._ Sec. 20.--_How the count of Artois defeated
+the Flemings at Furnes, and how the king of England passed into
+Flanders._ Sec. 21.--_How Pope Boniface deposed from the cardinalate M.
+Jacopo and M. Piero della Colonna._ Sec. 22.--_How Albert of Austria
+defeated and slew Adolf, king of Germany, and how he was elected king
+of the Romans._
+
+
+Sec. 23.--_How the Colonnesi came to ask pardon of the Pope, and
+afterwards rebelled a second time._
+
+[Sidenote: 1298 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxvii. 67-111.]
+
+In the said year, in the month of September, negociations having taken
+place between Pope Boniface and the Colonnesi, the said Colonnesi,
+both laymen and clergy, came to Rieti, where the court was, and threw
+themselves at the feet of the said Pope, asking pardon, who forgave
+them and absolved them from excommunication, and desired them to
+surrender the city of Palestrina; and this they did, and he promised
+to restore them to their state and dignity, which promise he did not
+fulfil, but caused the said city of Palestrina to be destroyed from
+the hill and stronghold where it was, and a new city to be built on
+the plain, to which the name of the Civita Papale was given; and all
+this false and fraudulent treaty the Pope made by the counsel of the
+count of Montefeltro, then a minor friar, when he said the evil word
+"ample promise and scant fulfilment." The said Colonnesi, finding
+themselves deceived in that which had been promised to them, and the
+noble fortress of Palestrina destroyed by the said deceit, before the
+year was ended rebelled against the Pope and the Church; and the Pope
+excommunicated them again with heavy sentence; wherefore, fearing lest
+they should be taken or slain through the persecution of the said
+Pope, they departed from the city of Rome and were dispersed, some to
+Sicily, some to France and to other places, concealing themselves in
+one place after another so as not to be recognised, and to the end no
+certain abiding-place of theirs might be known, especially M. Jacopo
+and M. Piero, which had been cardinals; and thus they continued in
+exile so long as the said Pope lived.
+
+
+Sec. 24.--_How the Genoese defeated the Venetians at sea._ Sec.
+25.--_Of the great earthquakes that befell in certain cities in Italy._
+
+
+Sec. 26.--_When the palace of the people of Florence was begun, where
+dwell the Priors._
+
+[Sidenote: 1298 A.D.]
+
+In the said year 1298, the commonwealth and people of Florence began
+to build the Palace of the Priors, by reason of the differences
+between the people and the magnates, forasmuch as the city was always
+in jealousy and commotion, at the election of the Priors afresh every
+two months, by reason of the factions which had already begun; and the
+Priors which ruled the city and all the republic, did not feel
+themselves secure in their former habitation, which was the house of
+the White Cerchi behind the church of San Brocolo. And they built the
+said palace where had formerly been the houses of the Uberti, rebels
+against Florence, and Ghibellines; and on the site of those houses
+they made a piazza, so that they might never be rebuilt. And they
+bought other houses from citizens, such as the Foraboschi, and there
+built the said palace and the tower of the priors, which was raised
+upon a tower which was more than fifty cubits high, pertaining to the
+Foraboschi, and called the Torre della Vacca. And to the end the said
+palace might not stand upon the ground of the said Uberti, they which
+had the building of it set it up obliquely; but for all that it was a
+grave loss not to build it four-square, and further removed from the
+church of San Piero Scheraggio.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1299 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 27.--_How peace was made between the commonwealth of Genoa and that
+of Venice._ Sec. 28.--_How peace was made between the commonwealth of
+Bologna and the marquis of Este and Maghinardo da Sussinana by the
+Florentines._ Sec. 29.--_How King James of Aragon with Ruggeri di Loria
+and with the armada of King Charles defeated the Sicilians off Cape
+Orlando._ Sec. 30.--_How peace was made between the Genoese and Pisans._
+Sec. 31.--_When the new walls of the city of Florence were begun again._
+Sec. 32.--_How the king of France by his practices got hold of all
+Flanders, and had the count and his sons in prison._ Sec. 33.--_How the
+king of France allied himself with King Albert of Germany._ Sec.
+34.--_How the prince of Taranto was defeated in Sicily._ Sec. 35.--_How
+Ghazan, lord of the Tartars, defeated the soldan of the Saracens, and
+took the Holy Land in Syria._
+
+
+Sec. 36.--_How Pope Boniface VIII. gave pardons to all Christians which
+should go to Rome, in the year of the jubilee, 1300._
+
+[Sidenote: 1300 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Purg. ii. 98, 99.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xxxi. 104-108.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xviii. 28-33.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1300, according to the birth of Christ, inasmuch
+as it was held by many that after every hundred years from the
+nativity of Christ, the Pope which was reigning at the time granted
+great indulgences, Pope Boniface VIII., which then occupied the
+apostolic chair, in reverence for the nativity of Christ, granted
+supreme and great indulgence after this manner; that within the whole
+course of this said year, to whatsoever Roman should visit
+continuously for thirty days the churches of the Blessed Apostles S.
+Peter and S. Paul, and to all other people which were not Romans which
+should do likewise for fifteen days, there should be granted full and
+entire remission of all their sins, both the guilt and the punishment
+thereof, they having made or to make confession of the same. And for
+consolation of the Christian pilgrims, every Friday and every solemn
+feast day, was shown in S. Peter's the Veronica, the true image of
+Christ, on the napkin. For the which thing, a great part of the
+Christians which were living at that time, women as well as men, made
+the said pilgrimage from distant and divers countries, both from far
+and near. And it was the most marvellous thing that was ever seen, for
+throughout the year, without break, there were in Rome, besides the
+inhabitants of the city, 200,000 pilgrims, not counting those who were
+coming and going on their journeys; and all were suitably supplied and
+satisfied with provisions, horses as well as persons, and all was well
+ordered, and without tumult or strife; and I can bear witness to this,
+for I was present and saw it. And from the offerings made by the
+pilgrims much treasure was added to the Church, and all the Romans
+were enriched by the trade. And I, finding myself on that blessed
+pilgrimage in the holy city of Rome, beholding the great and ancient
+things therein, and reading the stories and the great doings of the
+Romans, written by Virgil, and by Sallust, and by Lucan, and Titus
+Livius, and Valerius, and Paulus Orosius, and other masters of
+history, which wrote alike of small things as of great, of the deeds
+and actions of the Romans, and also of foreign nations throughout the
+world, myself to preserve memorials and give examples to those which
+should come after took up their style and design, although as a
+disciple I was not worthy of such a work. But considering that our
+city of Florence, the daughter and creature of Rome, was rising, and
+had great things before her, whilst Rome was declining, it seemed to
+me fitting to collect in this volume and new chronicle all the deeds
+and beginnings of the city of Florence, in so far as it has been
+possible for me to find and gather them together, and to follow the
+doings of the Florentines in detail, and the other notable things of
+the universe in brief, as long as it shall be God's pleasure; in hope
+of which, rather than in my own poor learning, I undertook, by his
+grace, the said enterprise; and thus in the year 1300, having returned
+from Rome, I began to compile this book, in reverence to God and the
+blessed John, and in commendation of our city of Florence.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1300 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 37.--_How Count Guido of Flanders and two sons of his surrendered to
+the king of France, and how they were deceived and cast into prison._
+
+
+Sec. 38.--_How the parties of the Blacks and Whites first began in the
+city of Pistoia._
+
+[Sidenote: 1300 A.D.]
+
+In these times the city of Pistoia being in happy and great and good
+estate, among the other citizens there was one family very noble and
+puissant, not however of very ancient lineage, which was called the
+Cancellieri, born of one Ser Cancelliere, which was a merchant, and
+gained much wealth, and by his two wives had many sons, which by
+reason of their riches all became knights, and men of worth and
+substance, and from them were born many sons and grandsons, so that at
+this time they numbered more than 100 men in arms, rich and puissant
+and of many affairs, so that not only were they the leading citizens
+of Pistoia, but they were among the most puissant families of Tuscany.
+There arose among them through their exceeding prosperity, and through
+the suggestion of the devil, contempt and enmity, between them which
+were born of one wife against them which were born of the other; and
+the one part took the name of the Black Cancellieri, and the other of
+the Whites, and this grew until they fought together, but it was not
+any very great affair. And one of those on the side of the White
+Cancellieri having been wounded, they on the side of the Black
+Cancellieri, to the end they might be at peace and concord with them,
+sent him which had done the injury and handed him over to the mercy of
+them which had received it, that they should take amends and vengeance
+for it at their will; they on the side of the White Cancellieri,
+ungrateful and proud, having neither pity nor love, cut off the hand
+of him which had been commended to their mercy on a horse manger. By
+which sinful beginning, not only was the house of the Cancellieri
+divided, but many violent deaths arose therefrom, and all the city of
+Pistoia was divided, for some held with one part and some with the
+other, and they called themselves the Whites and the Blacks,
+forgetting among themselves the Guelf and Ghibelline parties; and many
+civil strifes and much peril and loss of life arose therefrom in
+Pistoia; and not only in Pistoia, but afterwards the city of Florence
+and all Italy was contaminated by the said parties, as hereafter we
+shall be able to understand and know. The Florentines, fearing lest
+the said factions should stir up rebellion in the city to the hurt of
+the Guelf party, interposed to bring about an atonement between them,
+and took the lordship of the city, and brought both parties of the
+Cancellieri from Pistoia, and set them under bounds at Florence. The
+Black party were kept in the house of the Frescobaldi in Oltrarno, and
+the White party in the house of the Cerchi in Garbo, through kinship
+which there was between them. But like as one sick sheep infects all
+the flock, thus this accursed seed which came from Pistoia, being in
+Florence corrupted all the Florentines, and first divided all the
+races and families of the nobles, one part thereof holding to and
+favouring one side, and the other the other, and afterwards all the
+popolari. For the which cause and beginning of strife not only were
+the Cancellieri not reconciled together by the Florentines, but the
+Florentines by them were divided and broken up, increasing from bad to
+worse, as our treatise will hereafter make manifest.
+
+
+Sec. 39.--_How the city of Florence was divided and brought to shame by
+the said White and Black parties._
+
+[Sidenote: 1300 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Purg. xxiv. 22.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xv., xvi.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1299 A.D.]
+
+In the said time, our city of Florence was in the greatest and
+happiest state which had ever been since it was rebuilt, or before,
+alike in greatness and power and in number of people, forasmuch as
+there were more than 30,000 citizens in the city, and more than
+70,000 men capable of arms in the country within her territory; and
+she was great in nobility of good knights, and in free populace, and
+in riches, ruling over the greater part of Tuscany; whereupon the sin
+of ingratitude, with the instigation of the enemy of the human race,
+brought forth from the said prosperity pride and corruption, which put
+an end to the feasts and joyaunce of the Florentines. For hitherto
+they had been living in many delights and dainties, and in
+tranquillity and with continual banquets; and every year throughout
+almost all the city on the first day of May, there were bands and
+companies of men and of women, with sports and dances. But now it came
+to pass that through envy there arose factions among the citizens; and
+one of the chief and greatest began in the sesto of offence, to wit of
+Porte San Piero, between the house of the Cerchi, and the Donati; on
+the one side through envy, and on the other through rude
+ungraciousness. The head of the family of the Cerchi was one M. Vieri
+dei Cerchi, and he and those of his house were of great affairs, and
+powerful, and with great kinsfolk, and were very rich merchants, so
+that their company was among the largest in the world; these were
+luxurious, inoffensive, uncultured and ungracious, like folk come in a
+short time to great estate and power. The head of the family of the
+Donati was M. Corso Donati, and he and those of his house were
+gentlemen and warriors, and of no superabundant riches, but were
+called by a gibe the Malefami. Neighbours they were in Florence and in
+the country, and while the one set was envious the other stood on
+their boorish dignity, so that there arose from the clash a fierce
+scorn between them, which was greatly inflamed by the ill seed of the
+White and Black parties from Pistoia, as we made mention in the last
+chapter. And the said Cerchi were the heads of the White party in
+Florence, and with them held almost all the house of the Adimari, save
+the branch of the Cavicciuli; all the house of the Abati, which was
+then very powerful, and part of them were Guelf and part were
+Ghibelline; a great part of the Tosinghi, specially the branch of
+Baschiera; part of the house of the Bardi, and part of the Rossi, and
+likewise some of the Frescobaldi, and part of the Nerli and of the
+Mannelli, and all the Mozzi, which then were very powerful in riches
+and in estate; all those of the house of the Scali, and the greater
+part of the Gherardini, all the Malispini, and a great part of the
+Bostichi and Giandonati, of the Pigli, and of the Vecchietti and
+Arrigucci, and almost all the Cavalcanti, which were a great and
+powerful house, and all the Falconieri which were a powerful house of
+the people. And with them took part many houses and families of
+popolani, and lesser craftsmen, and all the Ghibelline magnates and
+popolani; and by reason of the great following which the Cerchi had,
+the government of the city was almost all in their power. On the side
+of the Blacks were all they of the house of the Pazzi, who may be
+counted with the Donati as the chiefs, and all the Visdomini and all
+the Manieri and Bagnesi, and all the Tornaquinci, and the Spini and
+the Bondelmonti, and the Gianfigliazzi, Agli, and Brunelleschi, and
+Cavicciuli, and the other part of the Tosinghi; all the part that was
+left of all the Guelf houses named above, for those which were not
+with the Whites held on the contrary with the Blacks. And thus from
+the said two parties all the city of Florence and its territory was
+divided and contaminated. For the which cause, the Guelf party,
+fearing lest the said parties should be turned to account by the
+Ghibellines, sent to the court to Pope Boniface, that he might use
+some remedy. For the which thing the said Pope sent for M. Vieri de'
+Cerchi, and when he came before him, he prayed him to make peace with
+M. Corso Donati and with his party, referring their differences to
+him; and he promised him to put him and his followers into great and
+good estate, and to grant him such spiritual favours as he might ask
+of him. M. Vieri, albeit he was in other things a sage knight, in this
+was but little sage, and was too obstinate and capricious, insomuch
+that he would grant nought of the Pope's request; saying that he was
+at war with no man; wherefore he returned to Florence, and the Pope
+was moved with indignation against him and against his party. It came
+to pass a little while after that certain both of one party and of the
+other were riding through the city armed and on their guard, and with
+the party of the young Cerchi was Baldinaccio of the Adimari, and
+Baschiera of the Tosinghi, and Naldo of the Gherardini, and Giovanni
+Giacotti Malispini, with their followers, more than thirty on
+horseback; and with the young Donati were certain of the Pazzi and of
+the Spini, and others of their company. On the evening of the first of
+May, in the year 1300, while they were watching a dance of ladies
+which was going forward on the piazza of Santa Trinita, one party
+began to scoff at the other, and to urge their horses one against the
+other, whence arose a great conflict and confusion, and many were
+wounded, and, as ill-luck would have it, Ricoverino, son of M.
+Ricovero of the Cerchi, had his nose cut off his face; and through the
+said scuffle that evening all the city was moved with apprehension and
+flew to arms. This was the beginning of the dissensions and divisions
+in the city of Florence and in the Guelf party, whence many ills and
+perils followed on afterwards, as in due time we shall make mention.
+And for this cause we have narrated thus extensively the origin of
+this beginning of the accursed White and Black parties, for the great
+and evil consequences which followed to the Guelf party, and to the
+Ghibellines, and to all the city of Florence, and also to all Italy;
+and like as the death of M. Bondelmonte the elder was the beginning of
+the Guelf and Ghibelline parties, so this was the beginning of the
+great ruin of the Guelf party and of our city. And note, that the year
+before these things came to pass, the houses of the commonwealth were
+built, which began at the foot of the old bridge over the Arno, and
+extended towards the fortress of Altafronte, and to do this they
+raised the piles at the foot of the bridge, and they had of necessity
+to move the statue of Mars; and whereas at the first it looked towards
+the east, it was turned towards the north, wherefore, because of the
+augury of old, folk said: "May it please God that there come not great
+changes therefrom to our city."
+
+
+Sec. 40.--_How the Cardinal d'Acquasparta came as legate from the Pope to
+make peace in Florence, and could not do it._
+
+[Sidenote: 1300 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xii. 124.]
+
+By reason of the aforesaid events and the factions of the White and
+Black parties, the captains of the Guelf party and their council were
+fearful lest through the said divisions and strifes the Ghibelline
+party might rise to more power in Florence, which under the plea of
+good government already seemed likely; and many Ghibellines held to be
+good men were beginning to be set in office; and moreover those which
+held with the Black party, to recover their estate, sent ambassadors
+to the court to Pope Boniface to pray him, for the good of the city
+and for the party of the Church, to take some action. For the which
+thing straightway the Pope appointed as legate to follow up this
+matter Brother Matteo d'Acquasparta, his cardinal bishop of Porto, of
+the Order of the Minor Friars, and sent him to Florence, which came
+there in the month of June following, in the said year 1300, and was
+received with great honour by the Florentines. And when he had taken
+some repose in Florence, he craved jurisdiction from the commonwealth
+to reconcile the Florentines together; and to the end he might take
+away the said White and Black parties he desired to reform the city,
+and to throw the offices open again; and those which were of one part
+and of the other which were worthy to be priors, their names were to
+be put into a bag together, in each of the sesti, and were to be drawn
+thence every two months, as chance would have it; forasmuch as through
+the ill-will which had arisen from the factions and divisions, there
+was never an election of priors by the colleges of Consuls of the Arts
+but that almost all the city was moved to uproar, and at times with
+great preparation of arms. They of the White party which were at the
+head of the government of the city, through fear of losing their
+estate, and of being deceived by the Pope and the legate by means of
+the said reformation, took the worse counsel, and would not yield
+obedience; for the which thing the said legate was offended, and
+returned to court, and left the city of Florence excommunicate and
+under interdict.
+
+
+Sec. 41.--_Concerning the evils and dangers which followed afterwards to
+our city._
+
+[Sidenote: 1300 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Sonnet xxxii. 1. Vita Nuova 3: 97-100; 24: 19, 45; 25:
+111-113; 31: 21-24; 33: 4; De Vulg. El. i. 13: 37; ii. 6: 68; 12: 16,
+62.]
+
+When the legate was departed from Florence the city remained in great
+turmoil and in evil state. It came to pass in the month of December
+following that M. Corso Donati went with his followers, and they of
+the house of the Cerchi with their followers, to the burial of a lady
+of the house of Frescobaldi; and when the two parties came face to
+face, they were minded to assault one another, wherefore all the folk
+which were at the burial rose in uproar; and thus every one returned
+in flight to his own house, and all the city flew to arms, and each of
+the parties gathered a great assembly at their house. M. Gentile dei
+Cerchi, Guido Cavalcanti, Baldinaccio and Corso of the Adimari,
+Baschiera della Tosa, and Naldo of the Gherardini, with their
+companions and followers on horse and on foot, went in haste to Porte
+San Piero to the house of the Donati, and not finding them at Porte
+San Piero, hastened to San Piero Maggiore, where was M. Corso with his
+companions and assembly, and by them they were stoutly resisted and
+driven back and wounded, to the shame and dishonour of the Cerchi and
+of their followers; and for this they were condemned, both the one
+party and the other, by the commonwealth. A little while after,
+certain of the Cerchi were in the country at Nepozzano and Pugliano at
+their country homes and farms; and as they were returning to Florence,
+they of the house of the Donati, being assembled with their friends at
+Remole, opposed their path, and there were wounds and assaults both on
+one side and on the other; for the which cause both one side and the
+other were accused and condemned for the assemblage and assaults; and
+the greater part of those of the house of the Donati, not being able
+to pay their fine, chose imprisonment, and were put under confinement.
+The Cerchi desired to follow their example, for M. Torrigiano dei
+Cerchi had said: "They shall not overcome us in this wise, as they did
+the Tedaldini, eating them up by fines"; so he induced his companions
+to choose imprisonment, against the will of M. Vieri dei Cerchi and of
+the other wise men of his house, which knew the disposition and
+wantonness of their youths; and it came to pass that a certain
+accursed Ser Neri degli Abati, overseer of that prison, eating with
+them, set before them a present of a poisoned black-pudding, whereof
+they ate; whence in a little while, after two days, two of the White
+and two of the Black Cerchi died, and Pigello Portinari and Ferraino
+dei Bronci, and for this no vengeance was taken.
+
+
+Sec. 42.--_Of the same._
+
+[Sidenote: 1300 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. x. 58-69, 110, 111.]
+
+The city of Florence, being in such heat and dangers from strifes and
+enmities, whence very often the city was in uproar and at arms, M.
+Corso Donati, the Spini, the Pazzi, and some of the Tosinghi and
+Cavicciuli, and their followers, both magnates and popolani of their
+faction of the Black party, with the captains of the Guelf party,
+which were then of their mind and purpose, assembled in the church of
+Santa Trinita, and there took counsel and oath together to send
+ambassadors to the court to Pope Boniface, to the end he might invite
+some prince of the house of France, which should restore them to their
+estate, and abase the Popolo and the White party, and for this end to
+spend to their utmost power; and thus they did, wherefore the news
+spreading through the city through some report, the commonwealth and
+the people were much troubled, and inquisition was made by the
+magistrates; wherefore M. Corso Donati, which was leader in the
+matter, was condemned in goods and in person; and the other leaders
+thereof, in more than 20,000 pounds; and they paid them. And this
+done, there were banished and set under bounds Sinibaldi, brother of
+M. Corso, and some of his family, and M. Rosso, and M. Rossellino
+della Tosa, and others their companions; and M. Giacchinotto and M.
+Pazzino dei Pazzi, and some of the younger members of their families,
+and M. Geri Spini and some of his family, to the village of the Pieve.
+And to still all anxiety the people sent the chiefs of the other party
+out of the city and placed them under bounds at Serrezzano; to wit, M.
+Gentile, and M. Torrigiano and Carbone of the Cerchi, and some of
+their companions, Baschiera della Tosa and some of his family,
+Baldinaccio degli Adimari and some of his family, Naldo dei Gherardini
+and some of his family, Guido Cavalcanti and some of his family, and
+Giovanni Giacotti Malespini. But this party abode less time under
+bounds, forasmuch as they were recalled by reason of the unhealthiness
+of the place, and Guido Cavalcanti returned thence sick, whence he
+died; and he was a great loss, seeing that he was a philosopher and a
+man accomplished in many things, save only that he was too sensitive
+and passionate. In such fashion was our city guided in the storm.
+
+
+Sec. 43.--_How Pope Boniface sent into France for M. Charles of Valois._
+
+[Sidenote: 1300 A.D.]
+
+When the legate, Brother Matteo d'Acquasparta, had returned to the
+papal court, he informed Pope Boniface of the evil and uncertain
+condition of the city of Florence; and afterwards, by reason of the
+things which came to pass after the departure of the legate, as we
+have said, and by reason of the importunity and free expenditure of
+the captains of the Guelf party, and of the aforesaid exiles which
+were at the village of the Pieve hard by the court, and of M. Geri
+Spini (for he and his company were merchants for Pope Boniface and his
+general advisers), it came to pass that by their zeal and industry,
+and by that of M. Corso Donati, who followed the court wheresoever it
+went, the said Pope Boniface took counsel to send for M. Charles of
+Valois, brother of the king of France, with a double purpose;
+principally for the aid of King Charles in his Sicilian war, giving
+the king of France and the said M. Charles to understand that he would
+cause him to be elected Emperor of the Romans, and confirm the
+election, or at the least by the authority of the Pope and of Holy
+Church would make him imperial lieutenant for the Church in virtue of
+the rights of the Church when the Empire is vacant; and beyond this he
+gave him the title of Peacemaker in Tuscany, to the end he might use
+all his force to bring Florence to his purpose. And when he sent his
+legate into France for the said M. Charles, the said M. Charles by the
+will of the king, his brother, came, as we shall hereafter make
+mention, in the hope of being Emperor, because of the promises of the
+Pope, as we have said.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1301 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 44.--_How the Guelfs were driven from Agobbio, and how they
+afterwards recovered the city and drove the Ghibellines thence._
+
+
+Sec. 45.--_How the Black party were driven out of Pistoia._
+
+[Sidenote: 1301 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxiv. 143.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1301, in the month of May, the White party in
+Pistoia, with the aid and favour of the Whites which were governing
+the city of Florence, drove thence the Black party and destroyed their
+houses, palaces and possessions, and among others a strong and rich
+possession of palaces and towers which pertained to the Black
+Cancellieri, which was called Damiata.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1301 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 46.--_How the Interminelli and their followers were driven out of
+Lucca._ Sec. 47.--_How the Guelf refugees from Genoa were peaceably
+restored._ Sec. 48.--_How a comet appeared in the heavens._
+
+
+Sec. 49.--_How M. Charles of Valois of France came to Pope Boniface,
+and afterwards came to Florence and drove out the White party._
+
+[Sidenote: 1301 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. xx. 70-78.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1302 A.D.]
+
+In the said year 1301, in the month of September, there came to the
+city of Alagna, in Campagna, where was Pope Boniface with his court,
+Charles, count of Valois, brother of the king of France, with many
+counts and barons, and with 500 French horsemen in his company, having
+taken the way from Lucca to Alagna without entering into Florence for
+lack of trust therein; which M. Charles was received with honour by
+the Pope and his cardinals; and there came to Alagna King Charles and
+his sons to speak with him and to do him honour; and the Pope made him
+count of Romagna. And after they had taken counsel and he had arranged
+with the Pope and with King Charles the expedition into Sicily in the
+following spring, which was the chief reason why he was come from
+France, the Pope, not forgetting the anger he had felt against the
+White party in Florence, and desirous that Charles should not pass the
+winter in vain, gave him the title of Peacemaker in Florence for the
+annoyance of the Guelfs in Florence, and ordained that he should
+return to the city of Florence. And thus he did, with his followers
+and with many others, Florentines, Tuscans, and Romagnese, refugees,
+and under bounds from their cities, because they were of the party of
+the Black Guelfs. And when he was come to Siena, and then to Staggia,
+they which governed the city of Florence, being fearful of his coming,
+held long counsel whether to allow him to enter the city or no. And
+they sent ambassadors to him, and he made answer with fair and
+friendly words, saying that he was come for their good and well-being,
+and to make peace among them; for the which thing they which ruled the
+city (who, albeit they were of the White party, called themselves and
+desired to remain Guelf) determined to allow him to enter. And thus,
+on the day of All Saints, 1301, M. Charles entered into Florence with
+his followers unarmed, and the Florentines did him great honour,
+coming to meet him in procession with many jousters bearing standards,
+and horses draped in silk. And when he had reposed himself and
+sojourned some days in Florence, he craved from the commonwealth the
+lordship and charge of the city, and authority to make peace among the
+Guelfs. And this was assented to by the commonwealth, on the 5th day
+of November, in the church of Santa Maria Novella, where were
+assembled the Podesta, and captain, and priors, and all the
+councillors and the bishop, and all the good people of Florence; and
+when his demand had been made, counsel and deliberation were held
+thereupon, and the lordship and charge of the city was remitted to
+him. And M. Charles, after his secretary had set the matter forth,
+with his own mouth accepted it and swore to it, and, as the king's
+son, promised to preserve the city in peaceful and good state; and I,
+the writer, was present at these things. And straightway the contrary
+was done by him and by his followers, for, by the counsel of M.
+Musciatto Franzesi, which was come from France as his guide, and by
+agreement with the Black Guelfs, he caused his followers to take arms,
+even before he had returned to his house; for he abode in the house of
+the Frescobaldi, in Oltrarno. Wherefore, when the citizens saw this
+new sight of his horsemen in arms, the city was all thrown into
+suspicion and alarm, and both magnates and popolani took arms, each
+one in the house of his friends as best he might, barricading the city
+in divers parts. But in the house of the Priors but few assembled, and
+the people was as good as without a head, for the priors and they
+which ruled the commonwealth saw that they were betrayed and deceived.
+In the midst of this tumult, M. Corso de' Donati, which was banished
+as a rebel, came that same day from Peretola to Florence by agreement,
+with some following of certain of his friends and foot-soldiers; and
+when the priors and the Cerchi, his enemies, heard of his coming, M.
+Schiatta de' Cancellieri, which was captain of 300 mercenary horsemen
+for the commonwealth of Florence, came to them and offered to go
+against the said M. Corso to take him and to punish him; but M. Vieri,
+head of the Cerchi, would not consent thereto, saying, "Let him come,"
+confiding in the vain hope that the people would punish him. Wherefore
+the said M. Corso entered into the suburbs of the city, and finding
+the gates of the old circle shut, and not being able to enter, he came
+to the postern of the Pinti, which was by the side of San Piero
+Maggiore, between his houses and those of the Uccellini, and finding
+that shut, he began to beat it down, and in like manner did his
+friends within, so that without difficulty it was broken down. And
+when he had entered in he stood in array upon the piazza of San Piero
+Maggiore, and folk were added to him, with following of his friends,
+crying, "Long live M. Corso!" and "Long live the baron!" to wit, M.
+Corso himself, for so they named him; and he, seeing his forces and
+followers to have increased, the first thing that he did was to go to
+the prisons of the commonwealth, which were in the houses of the
+Bastari, in the street of the palace, and these he opened by force,
+and set the prisoners free; and this done, he did the like at the
+palace of the Podesta, and then went on to the Priors, causing them
+for fear to lay down the government and return to their homes. And
+during all this destruction of the city M. Charles of Valois and his
+people gave no counsel nor help, nor did he keep the oath and promise
+made by him. Wherefore the tyrants and malefactors and banished men
+which were in the city took courage, and the city being unguarded and
+without government, they began to rob the shops and places of
+merchandise and the houses which pertained to the White party, or to
+any one that had not the power to resist, slaying and wounding many
+persons, good men of the White party. And this plague endured in the
+city for five days continually, to the great ruin of the city. And
+afterwards it continued in the country, the troopers going on robbing
+and burning houses for more than eight days, whereby a great number of
+beautiful and rich possessions were destroyed and burned. And when the
+said destruction and burning was ended, M. Charles and his council
+reconstituted the city and elected a government of Priors of the
+popolani of the Black party. And in that same month of November there
+came to Florence the aforesaid legate of the Pope, Cardinal Matteo
+d'Acquasparta, to make peace among the citizens; and he reconciled the
+houses of the Cerchi and Adimari and their followers of the White
+party, and the Donati and Pazzi and their followers of the Black
+party, arranging marriages between them; and when he desired to divide
+the offices among them, they of the Black party with the forces of M.
+Charles would not allow it, wherefore the legate was troubled, and
+returned to court, leaving the city under an interdict. And the said
+peace endured but little, for it came to pass on the ensuing day of
+the feast of the Nativity, when M. Niccola, of the White Cerchi, was
+on his way to his farm and mills with his company on horseback, as
+they were passing through the piazza of Santa Croce, where preaching
+was going on, Simone, son of M. Corso Donati, which was sister's son
+to the said M. Niccola, urged and prompted to evil-doing, followed the
+said M. Niccola with his companions and troopers on horseback; and
+when he came up with him at the Ponte ad Affrico, he assailed him in
+combat; wherefore the said M. Niccola, without fault or cause, not
+being on his guard against his said nephew Simone, was slain and
+dragged from his horse. But, as it pleased God, the punishment was
+prepared for the sin, for the said Simone being struck in the side by
+the said M. Niccola, died that same night; wherefore, albeit it was a
+just judgment, yet it was held as a great loss, forasmuch as the said
+Simone was the most finished and accomplished youth of Florence, and
+would have come to greater honour and state, and was all the hope of
+his father, M. Corso; which, after his joyous return and victory, had,
+in brief space, a sorrowful beginning of his future downfall. And
+shortly after this time the city of Florence, not being able to rest
+by reason of its being big with the poison of the factions of White
+and Black, must needs bring forth a woeful catastrophe; wherefore it
+came to pass in the following April, by the scheming and plotting of
+the Blacks, one of M. Charles' barons, which was called Pierre Ferrand
+of Languedoc, fostered a plot with them of the house of Cerchi, and
+with Baldinaccio of the Adimari, and Baschiera of the Tosinghi, and
+Naldo Gherardini, and others of their followers of the White party, as
+though, under great promise of moneys, he should go about, with his
+retinue and friends, to restore them to their estate and betray M.
+Charles; concerning which letters were written or forged with their
+seals, which, by the said M. Pierre Ferrand, as had been arranged,
+were then carried to M. Charles. For which thing the said leaders of
+the White party, to wit, all of the house of the White Cerchi of Porte
+San Piero, Baldinaccio and Corso of the Adimari, with almost all the
+Bellincioni branch, Naldo of the Gherardini, with his branch of the
+house, Baschiera of the Tosinghi, with his branch of the said house,
+some of the house of the Cavalcanti, Giovanni Giacotto Malispini and
+his allies, were cited; but they did not appear, either for fear of
+the wrong deed they had committed, or for fear of losing their persons
+by reason of the said treachery; but they departed from the city, in
+company with their [Ghibelline] adversaries; some going to Pisa, and
+some to Arezzo and Pistoia, consorting with the Ghibellines and the
+enemies of the Florentines. For the which thing they were condemned by
+M. Charles as rebels, and their palaces and goods in the city and in
+the country destroyed; and the like with many of their followers, both
+magnates and popolani. And after this fashion was abased and driven
+away the ungrateful and proud party of the Whites, in company of many
+Ghibellines of Florence, by M. Charles of Valois of France, by
+commission of Pope Boniface, on the 4th day of April, 1302, whence
+there came to our city of Florence much ruin and many perils, as
+hereafter, in due time, we shall, as we read on, be able to
+understand.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1302 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 50.--_How M. Charles of Valois passed into Sicily to make war for
+King Charles, and made a shameful peace._ Sec. 51.--_How the band of
+Roumania was formed._ Sec. 52.--_How the Florentines and Lucchese marched
+upon the city of Pistoia, and how they took the castle of Serravalle
+by siege._ Sec. 53.--_How the Florentines took the castle of Piantrevigne
+and many other castles that the Whites had caused to rebel._ Sec.
+54.--_How the island of Ischia belched out a marvellous fire._ Sec.
+55.--_How the common people of Bruges rebelled against the king of
+France and slew the French._ Sec. 56.--_Of the great and disastrous rout
+of the French by the Flemings at Courtray._ Sec. 57.--_Of what lineage
+were the present counts and lords of Flanders._ Sec. 58.--_How the king
+of France reassembled his host, and with all his forces attacked the
+Flemings, and returned to France with little honour._
+
+
+Sec. 59.--_How Folcieri da Calvoli, Podesta of Florence, caused certain
+citizens of the White party to be beheaded._
+
+[Sidenote: 1302 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. xiv. 58-66.]
+
+In the said year 1302, Folcieri da Calvoli of Romagna, a fierce and
+cruel man, had been made Podesta of Florence, by the influence of the
+leaders of the Black party. Now the said leaders lived in great
+trepidation, forasmuch as the White and Ghibelline party was very
+powerful in Florence, and the exiles were plotting every day in
+treaty with their friends which had remained in Florence. Wherefore
+the said Folcieri suddenly caused certain citizens of the White party
+and Ghibellines to be taken; which were, M. Betto Gherardini, and
+Masino de' Cavalcanti, and Donato and Tegghia his brother, of the
+Finiguerra da Sammartino, and Nuccio Coderini de' Galigai, which was
+but half-witted, and Tignoso de' Macci; and at the petition of M.
+Musciatto Franzesi, which was among the lords of the city, there were
+to have been taken certain heads of the house of the Abati his
+enemies, but hearing this they fled and departed from Florence, and
+never afterwards were citizens thereof. And a certain sexton of the
+Calze was among the prisoners. They were charged with plotting
+treachery in the city with the exiled Whites; and whether guilty or
+not, were made to confess under torture that they were going to betray
+the city, and to give up certain gates to the Whites and Ghibellines;
+but the said Tignoso de' Macci, through weight of flesh, died under
+the cord. All the other aforesaid prisoners he judged, and caused them
+to be beheaded, and all of the house of the Abati he condemned as
+rebels, and destroyed their goods, whence the city was greatly
+disturbed, and there followed many evils and scandals. And in the said
+year there was much scarcity of victuals, and grain was sold in
+Florence at twenty-two shillings the bushel, reckoning fifty-one
+shillings to a golden florin.
+
+
+Sec. 60.--_How the White party and the Ghibelline refugees from Florence
+came to Puliciano and departed thence in discomfiture._
+
+[Sidenote: 1302 A.D.]
+
+In the said year, in the month of March, the Ghibelline and White
+refugees from Florence, with the forces of the Bolognese whose
+government was of the White party, and with the aid of the Ghibellines
+of Romagna and of the Ubaldini, came to Mugello with 800 horse and
+6,000 foot, whereof Scarpetta degli Ordilaffi of Forli was captain.
+And they took the village and stronghold of Puliciano without
+opposition, and besieged a fortress which was there held by the
+Florentines, thinking there to make a great head, and gather Mugello
+under their rule, and afterwards to extend their forces as far as the
+city of Florence. When the tidings come to Florence, immediately they
+rode to Mugello, gentle and simple, with all the forces of the city;
+and when they were come to the village, and the Lucchese and other
+friends were come also, they sallied forth in array and order against
+the enemy; and when the horsemen of Bologna heard of the sudden coming
+of the Florentines, and found themselves deceived by the White
+refugees from Florence, which had given them to understand that the
+Florentines for fear of their friends which remained within the city
+would not venture to sally forth from the city, they held themselves
+to be betrayed, and in great fear without any order they departed from
+Puliciano of Mugello, and came to Bologna; wherefore the White and
+Ghibelline refugees were routed and dispersed, and departed by night
+without stroke of sword as if defeated, leaving all their harness, and
+many of them threw away their arms, and some of the best of them were
+slain, or taken by certain scouts which were sent on in advance. Among
+the other notable and honourable citizens and ancient Guelfs which had
+become Whites, there was taken M. Donato Alberti, the judge, and Nanni
+de' Ruffoli of the Porte del Vescovo. After Nanni had been taken, he
+was slain by one of the Tosinghi; and Donato Alberti had his head cut
+off, by that same law which he had made and introduced into the
+Ordinances of Justice, when he was ruling and was prior. And with the
+said M. Donato Alberti were taken prisoner and beheaded two of the
+Caponsacchi, and one of the Scogliari, and Lapo di Cipriani, and Nerlo
+degli Adimari, and about ten others of little account; by reason of
+which rout the White and the Ghibelline refugees were much cast down.
+
+
+Sec. 61.--_Incident, relating how M. Maffeo Visconti was driven from
+Milan._
+
+[Sidenote: 1302 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. viii. 73-75.]
+
+In the said year 1302, on the 16th day of June, M. Maffeo Visconti,
+captain of Milan, was driven from his lordship; and this was the
+cause: he and his sons desired to govern Milan entirely, and to give
+no share of honour to M. Piero Visconti, and to others his kinsmen,
+and to other cattani and feudatories. For the which cause scandal
+arose in Milan, and the lords della Torre, with the forces of the
+patriarch of Aquilea, came with a great host against Milan, and with
+them M. Alberto Scotti da Piacenza, and Count Filippone da Pavia, and
+M. Antonio da Foseraco of Lodi. M. Maffeo sallied forth against them,
+but because of the strife which he had with his kinsmen, he was
+ill-supported, and had not sufficient power against his enemies;
+wherefore M. Alberto Scotti undertook the office of mediator to make
+peace, and deceived and betrayed M. Maffeo, who trusted himself to
+him; for he deposed him from the office of captain, wherefore M.
+Maffeo for shame would not return to Milan; but the lords della Torre
+were restored to Milan without a battle, and M. Mosca and M. Guidetto
+di M. Nappo della Torre remained lords of Milan. And M. Mosca dying a
+little while after, the said M. Guidetto caused himself to be
+proclaimed captain of Milan, and ruled harshly, and was much dreaded
+and feared, and so persecuted the said M. Maffeo and his sons that he
+brought them well nigh to nought, and they were fain to go begging
+through many places and countries; and in the end for their security
+they took refuge in a little castle in the territory of Ferrara, which
+pertained to the marquises of Este, their kinsfolk, inasmuch as
+Galeasso, son to Maffeo, had for wife the sister of the marquis. And
+when M. Guidetto della Torre, which was captain of Milan, and his
+enemy heard this, he desired news of him and of his state, and said to
+a wise and clever jongleur: "If thou desirest to gain a palfrey and a
+mantle of vair, go to the place where M. Maffeo Visconti abides, and
+spy out his state." And in mockery of him he said: "When thou takest
+leave of him, ask him two questions: first, ask him how he fares and
+what manner of life is his; secondly, when he thinks to return to
+Milan." The minstrel departed and came to M. Maffeo, and found him
+very meanly furnished, compared with his former state; and on
+departing from him, he asked his aid in getting a palfrey and a mantle
+of vair; and he answered, he would aid him gladly, but he might not
+have them from him, for he had none such. Then he said: "It is not
+from you that I would have them, but answer me two questions which I
+shall put to you"; and he told the two questions wherewith he had been
+charged. The wise man understood from whom they came, and straightway
+made answer very wisely. To the first he said: "Methinks I fare well,
+forasmuch as I know how to live after the times"; to the second he
+answered and said: "Thou shalt say to thy lord, M. Guidetto, that when
+the measure of his sins is greater than mine, I will return to
+Milan." And when the jongleur was come back to M. Guidetto, and had
+brought the answer, he said: "Aye, thou hast earned the palfrey and
+the mantle, for those are the words of none other than the wise M.
+Maffeo."
+
+
+Sec. 62.--_How there arose strife and enmity between Pope Boniface and
+King Philip of France._
+
+[Sidenote: 1302 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Purg. xxxii. 148-160.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Purg. vi. 97-117.]
+
+In the said time, albeit some while before the defeat of Courtray, the
+king of France had become angered against Pope Boniface, by reason of
+the promise which the said Pope had made to the king, and to M.
+Charles of Valois, his brother, to make him Emperor, when he sent for
+him, as afore we made mention; which thing he did not fulfil, be the
+cause what it might. Nay, rather in the same year he had confirmed as
+king of the Romans Albert of Austria, son of King Rudolf, for the
+which thing the king of France held himself to be greatly deceived and
+betrayed by him, and in his wrath he entertained and did honour to
+Stefano della Colonna, his enemy, which was come to France on hearing
+of the discord which had arisen; and the king to the best of his power
+favoured him and his followers. And beyond this, the king caused the
+bishop of Pamiers, in the district of Carcassone, to be taken prisoner
+on charge of being a Paterine; and he spent the revenues of every
+vacant bishopric, and would confer the investitures himself. Wherefore
+Pope Boniface, which was proud and disdainful, and bold in doing all
+great things, of high purposes and powerful, as he was and as he held
+himself to be, beholding these outrages on the part of the king, added
+indignation to ill-will, and became wholly an enemy to the king of
+France. And at first, to establish his rights, he caused all the
+great prelates of France to be invited to his court; but the king of
+France opposed them, and would not let them go, wherefore the Pope was
+the more greatly incensed against the king, and would have it,
+according to his privilege and decrees, that the king of France, like
+other Christian princes, ought to acknowledge the temporal as well as
+the spiritual sovereignty of the Apostolic Chair; and for this he sent
+into France as his legate a Roman priest, archdeacon of Narbonne, that
+he might protest against and admonish the king under pain of
+excommunication to comply thereto, and acknowledge him; and if he
+would not do this, he was to excommunicate him and leave him under an
+interdict. And when the said legate came to the city of Paris, the
+king would not allow him to publish his letters and privileges, nay
+rather they were taken from him by the king's people, and he himself
+was dismissed from the realm. And when the said papal letters came
+before the king and his barons in the temple, the Count d'Artois,
+which was then living, threw them into the fire and burnt them in
+despite, whence great judgment came upon him; and the king ordered
+that all the entrances to his kingdom should be guarded, so that no
+message nor letter from the Pope should enter into France. When Pope
+Boniface heard this, he pronounced sentence of excommunication against
+the said Philip, king of France; and the king of France to justify
+himself, and to make his appeal, summoned in Paris a great council of
+clerics and prelates and of all his barons, excusing himself, and
+bringing many charges against Pope Boniface of heresy, and simony, and
+murders, and other base crimes, by reason whereof he ought to be
+deposed from the papacy. But the abbot of Citeaux would not consent
+to the appeal, rather he departed, and returned into Burgundy in
+despite of the king of France. In such wise began the strife between
+Pope Boniface and the king of France, which had afterwards so ill an
+end; whence afterwards arose great strife between them, and much evil
+followed thereupon, as hereafter we shall make mention.
+
+In these times there came to pass a very notable thing in Florence,
+for Pope Boniface having presented to the commonwealth of Florence a
+fine young lion, which was confined by a chain in the court of the
+palace of the Priors, there came in thither an ass laden with wood,
+which when it saw the said lion, either through the fear he had of him
+or through a miracle, straightway attacked the lion fiercely, and so
+struck him with his hoofs that he died, notwithstanding the help of
+many men which were there present. This was held for a sign of great
+changes to come, and such like, which certainly came to pass to our
+city in these times. But certain of the learned said that the prophecy
+of the Sibyl was fulfilled where she said: "When the tame beast shall
+slay the king of beasts, then will begin the destruction of the
+Church"; and this was shortly made manifest in Pope Boniface himself,
+as will be found in the chapter following.
+
+
+Sec. 63.--_How the king of France caused Pope Boniface to be seized in
+Anagna by Sciarra della Colonna, whence the said Pope died a few days
+afterwards._
+
+[Sidenote: 1303 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. xx. 85-90.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xix. 52-57.]
+
+After the said strife had arisen between Pope Boniface and King Philip
+of France, each one sought to abase the other by every method and
+guise that was possible: the Pope sought to oppress the king of
+France with excommunications and by other means to deprive him of the
+kingdom; and with this he favoured the Flemings, his rebellious
+subjects, and entered into negotiations with King Albert of Germany,
+encouraging him to come to Rome for the Imperial benediction, and to
+cause the Kingdom to be taken from King Charles, his kinsman, and to
+stir up war against the king of France on the borders of his realm on
+the side of Germany. The king of France, on the other hand, was not
+asleep, but with great caution, and by the counsel of Stefano della
+Colonna and of other sage Italians, and men of his own realm, sent one
+M. William of Nogaret of Provence, a wise and crafty cleric, with M.
+Musciatto Franzesi, into Tuscany, furnished with much ready money, and
+with drafts on the company of the Peruzzi (which were then his
+merchants) for as much money as might be needed; the Peruzzi not
+knowing wherefore. And when they were come to the fortress of Staggia,
+which pertained to the said M. Musciatto, they abode there long time,
+sending ambassadors and messages and letters; and they caused people
+to come to them in secret, giving out openly that they were there to
+treat concerning peace between the Pope and the king of France, and
+that for this cause they had brought the said money; and under this
+colour they conducted secret negotiations to take Pope Boniface
+prisoner in Anagna, spending thereupon much money, corrupting the
+barons of the country and the citizens of Anagna; and as it had been
+purposed, so it came to pass; for Pope Boniface being with his
+cardinals, and with all the court, in the city of Anagna, in Campagna,
+where he had been born, and was at home, not thinking or knowing of
+this plot, nor being on his guard, or if he heard anything of it,
+through his great courage not heeding it, or perhaps, as it pleased
+God, by reason of his great sins,--in the month of September, 1303,
+Sciarra della Colonna, with his mounted followers, to the number of
+300, and many of his friends on foot, paid by money of the French
+king, with troops of the lords of Ceccano and of Supino, and of other
+barons of the Campagna, and of the sons of M. Maffio d'Anagna, and, it
+is said, with the consent of some of the cardinals which were in the
+plot, one morning early entered into Anagna, with the ensigns and
+standards of the king of France, crying: "Death to Pope Boniface! Long
+life to the king of France!" And they rode through the city without
+any hindrance, or rather, well-nigh all the ungrateful people of
+Anagna followed the standards and the rebellion; and when they came to
+the Papal Palace, they entered without opposition and took the palace,
+forasmuch as the present assault was not expected by the Pope and his
+retainers, and they were not upon their guard. Pope Boniface--hearing
+the uproar, and seeing himself forsaken by all his cardinals, which
+were fled and in hiding (whether through fear or through set malice),
+and by the most part of his servants, and seeing that his enemies had
+taken the city and the palace where he was--gave himself up for lost,
+but like the high-spirited and valorous man he was, he said: "Since,
+like Jesus Christ, I am willing to be taken and needs must die by
+treachery, at the least I desire to die as Pope"; and straightway he
+caused himself to be robed in the mantle of S. Peter, and with the
+crown of Constantine on his head, and with the keys and the cross in
+his hand, he seated himself upon the papal chair. And when Sciarra and
+the others, his enemies, came to him, they mocked at him with vile
+words, and arrested him and his household which had remained with him;
+among the others, M. William of Nogaret scorned him, which had
+conducted the negotiations for the king of France, whereby he had been
+taken, and threatened him, saying that he would take him bound to
+Lyons on the Rhone, and there in a general council would cause him to
+be deposed and condemned. The high-spirited Pope answered him, that he
+was well pleased to be condemned and deposed by Paterines such as he,
+whose father and mother had been burnt as Paterines; whereat M.
+William was confounded and put to shame. But afterwards, as it pleased
+God, to preserve the holy dignity of the Popes, no man dared to touch
+him, nor were they pleased to lay hands on him, but they left him
+robed under gentle ward, and were minded to rob the treasure of the
+Pope and of the Church. In this pain, shame and torment the great Pope
+Boniface abode prisoner among his enemies for three days; but, like as
+Christ rose on the third day, so it pleased Him that Pope Boniface
+should be set free; for without entreaty or other effort, save the
+Divine aid, the people of Anagna beholding their error, and issuing
+from their blind ingratitude, suddenly rose in arms, crying: "Long
+live the Pope and his household, and death to the traitors"; and
+running through the city they drove out Sciarra della Colonna and his
+followers, with loss to them of prisoners and slain, and freed the
+Pope and his household. Pope Boniface, seeing himself free, and his
+enemies driven away, did not therefore rejoice in any wise, forasmuch
+as the pain of his adversity had so entered into his heart and clotted
+there; wherefore he departed straightway from Anagna with all his
+court, and came to Rome to S. Peter's to hold a council, purposing to
+take the heaviest vengeance for his injury and that of Holy Church
+against the king of France, and whosoever had offended him; but, as it
+pleased God, the grief which had hardened in the heart of Pope
+Boniface, by reason of the injury which he had received, produced in
+him, after he was come to Rome, a strange malady so that he gnawed at
+himself as if he were mad, and in this state he passed from this life
+on the 12th day of October in the year of Christ 1303, and in the
+church of S. Peter, near the entrance of the doors, in a rich chapel
+which was built in his lifetime, he was honourably buried.
+
+
+Sec. 64.--_We will further tell of the ways of Pope Boniface._
+
+[Sidenote: 1303 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xxx. 148.]
+
+This Pope Boniface was very wise both in learning and in natural wit,
+and a man very cautious and experienced, and of great knowledge and
+memory; very haughty he was, and proud, and cruel towards his enemies
+and adversaries, and was of a great heart, and much feared by all
+people; and he exalted and increased greatly the estate and the rights
+of Holy Church, and he commissioned M. Guglielmo da Bergamo and M.
+Ricciardi of Siena, who were cardinals, and M. Dino Rosoni of Mugello,
+all of them supreme masters in laws and in decretals, together with
+himself, for he too was a great master in divinity and in decretals,
+to draw up the Sixth Book of the Decretals, which is as it were the
+light of all the laws and the decretals. A man of large schemes was
+he, and liberal to folk which pleased him, and which were worthy, very
+desirous of worldly pomp according to his estate, and very desirous
+of wealth, not scrupulous, nor having very great or strict conscience
+about every gain, to enrich the Church and his nephews. He made many
+of his friends and confidants cardinals in his time, among others two
+very young nephews, and his uncle, his mother's brother; and twenty of
+his relations and friends of the little city of Anagna, bishops and
+archbishops of rich benefices; and to another of his nephews and his
+sons, which were counts, as we afore made mention, to them he left
+almost unbounded riches; and after the death of Pope Boniface, their
+uncle, they were bold and valiant in war, doing vengeance upon all
+their neighbours and enemies, which had betrayed and injured Pope
+Boniface, spending largely, and keeping at their own cost 300 good
+Catalan horsemen, by force of which they subdued almost all the
+Campagna and the district of Rome. And if Pope Boniface, while he was
+alive, had believed that they could be thus bold in arms and valorous
+in war, certainly he would have made them kings or great lords. And
+note, that when Pope Boniface was taken prisoner, tidings thereof were
+sent to the king of France by many couriers in a few days, through
+great joy; and when the first couriers arrived at Sion, beyond the
+mountain of Brieg [Sion under Brieg], the bishop of Sion, which then
+was a man of pure and holy life, when he heard the news was, as it
+were, amazed, and abode some while in silent contemplation, by reason
+of the wonderment which took him at the capture of the Pope; and
+coming to himself he said aloud, in the presence of many good folk:
+"The king of France will rejoice greatly on hearing these tidings, but
+I have it by Divine inspiration, that for this sin he is judged by
+God, and that great and strange perils and adversities, with shame to
+him and his lineage, will overtake him very swiftly, and he and his
+sons will be cast out from the inheritance of the realm." And this we
+learned a little while after, when we passed by Sion, from persons
+worthy of belief, which were present to hear. Which sentence was a
+prophecy in all its parts, as afterwards the truth will show, in due
+time, when we narrate the doings of the said king of France and of his
+sons. And the judgment of God is not to be marvelled at; for, albeit
+Pope Boniface was more worldly than was fitting to his dignity, and
+had done many things displeasing to God, God caused him to be punished
+after the fashion that we have said, and afterwards He punished the
+offender against him, not so much for the injury against the person of
+Pope Boniface, as for the sin committed against the Divine Majesty,
+whose countenance he represented on earth. We will leave this matter,
+which is now ended, and will turn back somewhat to relate of the
+doings of Florence and of Tuscany, which were very great in those
+times.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1303 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 65.--_How the Florentines had the castle of Montale, and how they
+marched upon Pistoia together with the Lucchese._ Sec. 66.--_How Benedict
+XI. was elected Pope._
+
+
+Sec. 67.--_How King Edward of England recovered Gascony and defeated the
+Scots._
+
+[Sidenote: 1303 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xix. 121-123.]
+
+In this year Edward, king of England, made peace with King Philip of
+France, and recovered Gascony, doing homage to him therefor; and to
+this the king of France consented, by reason of the contest which he
+had with the Church after the capture which he had made of Pope
+Boniface, and by reason of the war in Flanders, to the intent the said
+king of England might not be against him. And in this same year, the
+said King Edward being ill, the Scots marched into England, for which
+cause the king had himself borne in a litter, and went out with the
+host against the Scots, and defeated them, and became lord over all
+the lands of Scotland, save only the marshes and rugged mountains,
+wherein the rebel Scots had taken refuge with their king, which was
+named Robert Bruce, which, from lowly birth, had risen to be king.
+
+
+Sec. 68.--_How there were in Florence great changes and civic battles
+through desire that the accounts of the commonwealth should be
+examined._
+
+[Sidenote: 1303 A.D.]
+
+In the said year 1303, in the month of February, the Florentines were
+in great discord among themselves, by reason that M. Corso Donati did
+not consider that he was so great in the commonwealth as he desired,
+and thought himself worthy to be; and the other magnates and powerful
+popolani of his Black party had gotten more authority in the
+commonwealth than seemed to him good; and being already at enmity with
+them, either through pride, or through envy, or through desire of
+lordship, he made a new faction, leaguing himself with the Cavalcanti,
+whereof the most part were Whites, saying that he desired that the
+public accounts of those which had held office, and had administered
+the monies of the commonwealth, should be examined; and they made
+their head M. Lottieri, bishop of Florence, which was of the family of
+the Tosa of the White branch, with certain magnates, against the
+priors and the people; and there was fighting in the city in many
+places and for many days, and they set engines in many towers and
+strongholds of the city after the ancient manner, which should hurl
+missiles and shoot at each other; and upon the towers of the Bishop's
+Palace they raised a mangonel directed against his enemies hard by.
+The priors strengthened themselves with people and men-at-arms of the
+city and of the country, and boldly defended the palace, for many
+assaults and attacks were made upon them; and the house of the
+Gherardini held with the people, with a great following of their
+friends from the country; and likewise the house of the Pazzi, and of
+the Spini and M. Tegghiaio Frescobaldi with his branch of the family,
+which were a great aid to the people; and M. Lotteringo de' Gherardini
+was slain by an arrow in a battle which was fought in Porte Sante
+Marie. Other houses of the magnates did not hold with the people, but
+some were with the bishop and with M. Corso, and some which liked him
+not stood apart from the strife. For the which dissension and civil
+fighting much evil was committed in the city and in the country, of
+murders, and burnings, and robberies, as in a city ungoverned and
+disordered, without any rule from the government, save that each
+should do all possible harm to the other; and the city was all full of
+refugees, and strangers, and folk from the country, each house with
+its own following; and the city would have utterly destroyed itself
+had not the Lucchese come to Florence at the request of the
+commonwealth, with great number of foot and horse; who took in hand
+the matter, and the guardianship of the city, and general authority
+was of necessity given to them, so that for sixteen days they freely
+ruled the city, issuing a proclamation on their own authority. And
+when the proclamation was made throughout the city in the name of the
+commonwealth of Lucca, it seemed evil to many Florentines, and a great
+outrage and wrong; wherefore one Ponciardo de' Ponci di Vacchereccia
+struck the herald from Lucca in the face with his sword while he was
+reading the proclamation, for which cause afterwards they sent forth
+no more proclamations in their own name; but so wrought that at last
+they quieted the uproar and caused each party to lay down arms, and
+restored the city to quiet, calling for new priors to promote peace,
+the people remaining in its estate and liberty; and they inflicted no
+punishment for misdeeds committed, but whoever had suffered wrong had
+to bear his loss. And in addition to the said plague there was great
+famine that year, and grain was worth more than twenty-six shillings
+the bushel, level measure, of fifty-two shillings to the golden
+florin; and if it had not been that the commonwealth and the rulers in
+the city had made provision beforehand, and had caused to be brought
+by the hand of the Genoese from Sicily and from Apulia full 26,000
+bushels of grain, the citizens and the country people could not have
+escaped from famine: and this traffic in grain was, with others, one
+of the causes why they desired to examine the accounts of the
+commonwealth, by reason of all the money which was passing; and
+certain, whether rightly or wrongly, were spoken evil of and blamed
+thereanent. And this adversity and peril of our city was not without
+the judgment of God, by reason of many sins committed through the
+pride and envy and avarice of our then living citizens, which were
+then ruling the city, and alike of the rebels therein, as of those
+which were governing, for they were great sinners, nor was this the
+end thereof, as hereafter in due time may be seen.
+
+
+Sec. 69.--_How the Pope sent into Florence as legate the Cardinal da
+Prato to make peace, and how he departed thence in shame and
+confusion._
+
+[Sidenote: 1303 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Epistola i.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. x. 79-81.]
+
+During the said discord among the Florentines, Pope Benedict, with
+good intent, sent to Florence the Cardinal da Prato as legate to set
+the Florentines at peace one with another, and likewise with their
+exiles and all the province of Tuscany; and he came to Florence, on
+the tenth day of the month of March, 1303, and was received by the
+Florentines with great honour and with great reverence, as by men who
+felt themselves to be divided and in evil state; and those which had
+the disposition and desire to live rightly, loved peace and concord,
+and it was the contrary with the others. This Cardinal Niccolo, of the
+city of Prato, was a preaching friar, very wise in learning, and of
+natural intelligence, subtle and sagacious, and cautious, and very
+experienced; and by descent he was of the Ghibellines, and it was
+afterwards seen that he favoured them greatly; albeit at the first he
+showed good and impartial intentions. When he was in Florence, in a
+public sermon and discourse in the piazza of San Giovanni, he showed
+forth his privileges as legate, and made manifest his intention, by
+command of the Pope, of setting the Florentines at peace one with
+another. The good popolani which ruled the city, seeing themselves in
+evil estate by reason of the disturbances and riots and strifes,
+brought about in those times by the magnates against the people to
+abase and undo them, took part with the cardinal in the desire for
+peace; and by way of reconstruction of the Occasional Councils, they
+gave him full and free right to set the citizens at peace one with
+another within the city, and with their exiles without, and to
+appoint the priors and gonfaloniers and rulers of the city at his
+pleasure. And this done, he gave his mind to making peace among the
+citizens, and renewed the order of the nineteen gonfaloniers of the
+companies after the fashion of the ancient Popolo of old, and he
+summoned the gonfaloniers and gave them the banners after the fashion
+and devices that still are, save that they bore not the label of the
+arms of the king in chief. And by reason of these reforms of the
+cardinal the people were much heartened and strengthened, and the
+magnates were brought low, so that they never ceased trying to bring
+about changes and to hinder the cardinal to the end they might disturb
+the peace, that the Whites and the Ghibellines might not have state
+nor power to return to Florence, and that they themselves might enjoy
+their goods which had been confiscated as of rebels, both in the city
+and in the country. For all this the cardinal did not cease from
+pursuing peace, with the aid and favour of the people, and he caused
+twelve plenipotentiaries of the exiles to come into Florence, two for
+each sesto, one from amongst the chief Whites and one Ghibelline; and
+he had them to sojourn in the Borgo di San Niccolo, and the legate
+sojourned in the palaces of the Mozzi of S. Gregorio, and often he had
+them to take counsel with the leaders of the Guelfs and of the Blacks
+in Florence to find out means and security of peace, and to order
+alliances between the exiles, and the nobles within. In these
+negotiations it seemed to the powerful Guelfs and Blacks that the
+cardinal was too much supporting the side of the Whites and of the
+Ghibellines, and they took counsel subtly to the end they might
+disturb the negotiations, to send a counterfeit letter, with the seal
+of the cardinal, to Bologna and into Romagna, to his friends the
+Ghibellines and the Whites, that they should, without any hindrance or
+delay, come to Florence with men in arms on horse and on foot to his
+aid; and some say withal that it was true that the cardinal sent it;
+wherefore some of those people came as far as Trespiano and some to
+Mugello. By which coming there arose in Florence great murmuring and
+ill-feeling, and the legate was much blamed and reproached therefor;
+and he, whether he were guilty or no, denied it to the people. Through
+which ill-feeling, and also through fear of suffering harm, the twelve
+White and Ghibelline plenipotentiaries departed from Florence and came
+to Arezzo, and the people which had come to the legate, by his command
+returned to Bologna and to Romagna, and the ill-will was somewhat
+quieted in Florence. Those which were ruling the city counselled the
+cardinal that, to avoid suspicion, he should go to Prato, and should
+reconcile the citizens thereof among themselves, and likewise the
+Pistoians, and in the meanwhile in Florence a way might be found of
+making general peace with the exiles. The cardinal, not being able to
+do otherwise, did this, and, whether in good faith or no, went to
+Prato and requested the inhabitants to trust in him, and he would
+reconcile them. Now the leaders of the Black party and of the Guelfs
+of Florence marked the ways of the cardinal, how that he greatly
+favoured the Ghibellines and Whites and would fain restore them to
+Florence, and saw likewise that the people followed him; wherefore
+they feared it might turn out perilous to the Guelf party, and
+ordained with the Guazzalotti of Prato, a powerful house of the Black
+party, and strong Guelfs, to bring to pass in Prato a schism and riot
+against the cardinal, and to raise a tumult in the city; wherefore the
+cardinal, seeing the inhabitants of Prato to be ill-disposed, and
+fearing for his person, departed from Prato, and excommunicated the
+inhabitants, and laid the city under interdict, and came to Florence,
+and proclaimed war against Prato, and offered remission of sins and of
+penalties to whosoever would march against Prato; and many citizens
+prepared to go thither on horse and on foot, folk that were, in faith,
+more Ghibelline than Guelf, and they went as far as Campi. In this
+assembling of the host much folk gathered in Florence of folk from the
+country and foreigners, and the fear and jealousy of the Guelfs began
+to increase; wherefore many which at the first had held with the
+cardinal, changed their purpose through the turbulence which they
+observed; and the magnates of the Black party, and likewise they which
+were temporising with the cardinal, furnished themselves with arms and
+with men, and the city was all in disorder, and they were ready to
+fight one another. The cardinal legate, seeing that he could not carry
+out his purpose of leading an army against Prato, and that the city of
+Florence was disposed to civil strife, and that of those which had
+held with him, some were now against him, became fearful and uneasy,
+and suddenly departed from Florence on the 4th day of June, 1304,
+saying to the Florentines: "Seeing that ye desire to be at war and
+under a curse, and do not desire to hear or to obey the messenger of
+the vicar of God, or to have rest or peace among yourselves, abide
+with the curse of God and of Holy Church"; thus he excommunicated the
+citizens, and left the city under an interdict, whence it was held,
+that by this curse, whether just or unjust, there fell judgment and
+great peril on our city through the adversities and perils which came
+to pass therein but a short time after, as hereafter we shall make
+mention.
+
+
+Sec. 70.--_How the bridge of Carraia fell, and how many people died
+there._
+
+[Sidenote: 1304 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. vi. 36.]
+
+In this same time that the Cardinal da Prato was in Florence, and was
+beloved by the people and by the citizens, who hoped that he might set
+them at peace one with another, on the first day of May, 1304, just as
+in the good old times of the tranquil and good estate of Florence, it
+had been the custom for companies and bands of pleasure-makers to go
+through the city rejoicing and making merry, so now again they
+assembled and met in divers parts of the city; and one district vied
+with the other which could invent and do the best. Among others, as of
+old was the custom, they of Borgo San Friano were wont to devise the
+newest and most varied pastimes; and they sent forth a proclamation
+that whosoever desired news of the other world should come on the 1st
+day of May upon the Carraia Bridge, and beside the Arno; and they
+erected upon the Arno a stage upon boats and vessels, and thereupon
+they made the similitude and figure of hell, with fires and other
+pains and sufferings, with men disguised as demons, horrible to
+behold, and others which had the appearance of naked souls, which
+seemed to be persons, and they were putting them to the said divers
+torments, with loud cries, and shrieks, and tumult, which seemed
+hateful and fearful to hear and to see; and by reason of this new
+pastime there came many citizens to look on, and the Carraia Bridge,
+which then was of wood from pile to pile, was so burdened with people
+that it gave way in many places, and fell with the people which were
+upon it, wherefore many were killed and drowned, and many were maimed;
+so that the pastime from sport became earnest, and, as the
+proclamation had said, many by death went to learn news of the other
+world, with great lamentation and sorrow to all the city, for each one
+believed he must have lost his son or his brother there; and this was
+a sign of future ill, which in a short time should come to our city
+through the exceeding wickedness of the citizens, as hereafter we
+shall make mention.
+
+
+Sec. 71.--_How Florence was set on fire, and a great part of the city
+burnt._
+
+[Sidenote: 1304 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Par. xvi. 121, 122.]
+
+When the Cardinal da Prato had departed from Florence after the manner
+aforesaid, the city was left in evil state and in great confusion; for
+there was the party which held with the cardinal, whereof were leaders
+the Cavalcanti and the Gherardini, the Pulci and the White Cerchi of
+the Garbo, which were merchants of Pope Benedict, with a following of
+many houses of the people, (which feared the magnates might break up
+the Popolo if they got the government), from among the leading houses
+and families of the popolani of Florence, such as the Magalotti, and
+Mancini, Peruzzi, Antellesi, and Baroncelli, and Acciaiuoli, and
+Alberti, Strozzi, Ricci, and Albizzi, and many others; and they were
+well provided with foot-soldiers and with men-at-arms. On the contrary
+part, to wit, the Blacks, the leaders were M. Rosso della Tosa, with
+his branch of Blacks, M. Pazzino de' Pazzi, with all his family, the
+part of the Adimari which were called the Cavicciuli, and M. Geri
+Spini, with his kin, and M. Betto Brunelleschi; M. Corso Donati stood
+neutral, forasmuch as he was ill with the gout, and because he was
+angered with these leaders of the Black party; and almost all the
+other magnates held aloof, and the popolani also, save the Medici and
+the Giugni, which held strongly with the Blacks. And the fighting
+began between the White Cerchi and the Giugni at their houses at the
+Garbo, and they fought there by day and by night. In the end, the
+Cerchi defended themselves with the aid of the Cavalcanti and
+Antellesi, and the force of the Cavalcanti and Gherardini so increased
+that with their followers they rode through the city as far as the
+Mercato Vecchio, and from Orto San Michele as far as the piazza of S.
+Giovanni, without any opposition or hindrance whatever, because their
+forces increased both in the city and in the country; forasmuch as the
+greater part of the people followed them, and the Ghibellines sided
+with them; and they of Volognano and their friends were coming to
+their aid with more than 1,000 foot-soldiers; and were already at
+Bisarno; and certainly on that day they would have conquered the city
+and driven out thence the aforesaid leaders of the Blacks and Guelfs,
+whom they held as their enemies (forasmuch as it was said that they
+had caused M. Betto Gherardini to be beheaded, and Masino Cavalcanti
+and the others, as we before made mention), save that when they were
+flourishing and victorious in several parts of the city where they
+were fighting against their enemies, it came to pass, as it pleased
+God, either to avoid worse ill, or that He permitted it to punish the
+sins of the Florentines, that one, Ser Neri Abati, a clerk and prior
+of San Piero Scheraggio, a worldly and dissolute man, and a rebel
+against and enemy of his associates, of purpose set fire first to the
+house of his associates in Orto San Michele, and then to the
+Florentine Calimala at the house of the Caponsacchi, near to the
+entrance of the Mercato Vecchio. And the accursed fire was so furious
+and impetuous, fanned by the north wind, which was blowing strongly,
+that on that day were burnt the houses of the Abati, and of the Macci,
+and all the loggia of Orto San Michele, and the houses of the Amieri,
+and Toschi, and Cipriani, and Lamberti, and Bachini, and Buiamonti,
+and all Calimala, and the houses of the Cavalcanti, and all around the
+Mercato Nuovo and S. Cecilia, and all the street of Porte Sante Marie
+as far as the Ponte Vecchio, and Vacchereccia, and behind San Piero
+Scheraggio, and the houses of the Gherardini, and of the Pulci and
+Amidei and Lucardesi, and all the neighbourhood of the said places,
+almost to the Arno; and, in short, all the marrow and yolk and the
+most precious places of the city of Florence were burnt, and the
+number of the palaces and towers and houses was more than 1,700. The
+loss of stores, and of treasure, and of merchandise was infinite,
+forasmuch as in those places were almost all the merchandise and
+precious things of Florence, and that which was not burnt was robbed
+by highwaymen as it was being carried away, the city being continually
+at war in divers places, wherefore many companies, and clans, and
+families were ruined and brought to poverty by the said fires and
+robberies. This plague came upon our city of Florence on the 10th day
+of June, in the year of Christ 1304; and for this cause the leaders of
+that faction the Cavalcanti, which were among the most powerful houses
+in Florence, both in retainers, and in possessions, and in goods, and
+the Gherardini, among the greatest in the country, their houses and
+those of their followers being burnt down, lost their vigour and
+estate, and were driven out of Florence as rebels, and their enemies
+recovered their estate, and became lords over the city. And then it
+was verily believed that the magnates would set aside the Ordinances
+of Justice of the Popolo, and this they would have done if it had not
+been that through their factions they were themselves at variance one
+with another, and each party sided with the people to the end they
+might not lose their estate. We must now go on to tell of the other
+events which were in many parts in these times, forasmuch as there
+arose thence further adverse fortune to our city of Florence.
+
+
+Sec. 72.--_How the Whites and Ghibellines came to the gates of Florence,
+and departed thence in discomfiture._
+
+[Sidenote: 1304 A.D.]
+
+When the Cardinal da Prato had returned to the Pope, which was at
+Perugia with his court, he made many complaints against them which
+were ruling the city of Florence, and accused them before the Pope and
+the college of cardinals of many crimes and faults, showing them to be
+sinful men and enemies of God and of Holy Church, and recounting the
+dishonour and treachery which they had done to Holy Church when he had
+desired to restore them to good and peaceful estate; for the which
+thing the Pope and his cardinals were greatly moved with anger against
+the Florentines, and by the counsel of the said Cardinal da Prato the
+Pope cited twelve of the chief leaders of the Guelf party and of the
+Blacks which were in Florence, which were directing all the state of
+the city, the names whereof were these: M. Corso Donati, M. Rosso
+della Tosa, M. Pazzino de' Pazzi, M. Geri Spini, M. Betto
+Brunelleschi. And they were to appear before him under pain of
+excommunication and deprivation of all their goods; which straightway
+came obediently thither with a great company of their friends and
+followers in great state, for they were more than 150 on horseback, to
+defend themselves before the Pope against the charges which the
+Cardinal da Prato had made against them. And in this summons and
+citation of so many leaders of Florence, the Cardinal da Prato
+cunningly planned a great treachery against the Florentines,
+straightway sending letters to Pisa, and to Bologna, and to Romagna,
+to Arezzo, to Pistoia, and to all the leaders of the Ghibelline and
+White party in Tuscany and in Romagna, that they should assemble with
+all their forces and those of their friends on foot and on horse, and
+on a day named should come in arms to the city of Florence, and take
+the city, and drive out thence the Blacks and those which had been
+against him, saying that this was by the knowledge and will of the
+Pope (the which thing was a great falsehood and lie, forasmuch as the
+Pope knew nothing thereof), and encouraging each one to come securely,
+forasmuch as the city was weak, and open in many places; and saying
+that he of his zeal had summoned and caused to appear at the court all
+the leaders of the Black party, and that within the city there was a
+large party which would welcome them and would surrender the city to
+them; and that they should gather together and come secretly and
+quickly. And when they had received these letters, they rejoiced
+greatly, and, being encouraged by the favour of the Pope, each one
+furnished himself according to his power, and moved towards Florence
+on the day appointed. And two days before, through their great
+eagerness, the Pisans, with their troops and with all the Florentines
+which were in Pisa, to the number of 400 horsemen, whereof Count Fazio
+was captain, came as far as the stronghold of Marti; and all the other
+assembly of Whites and Ghibellines came towards Florence after so
+secret a fashion that they were at Lastra above Montughi, to the
+number of 1,600 horse and 9,000 foot, ere the most could believe it in
+Florence, forasmuch as they had not allowed any messenger which should
+announce their coming to find his way to Florence; and if they had
+descended upon the city one day sooner, without doubt they would have
+had the city, forasmuch as there was no preparation, nor store of
+arms, nor defence. But they abode that night at Lastra and at
+Trespiano, extending as far as Fontebuona, awaiting M. Tolosata degli
+Uberti, captain of Pistoia, which was taking the way across the
+mountains with 300 horse, Pistoian and mercenary, and with many on
+foot; and in the morning, seeing that he did not come, the Florentine
+refugees determined to come to the city, thinking to have it without
+stroke of sword, and this they did, leaving the Bolognese at Lastra,
+which, by reason of their cowardice, or perhaps because of the Guelfs
+which were among them, were not in favour of the enterprise; so the
+rest came on, and entered into the suburb of San Gallo without any
+hindrance, for at that time the city had not the circles of the new
+walls, nor the moats, and the old walls were open and broken down in
+many places. And when they had entered into the suburbs, they broke
+down a wooden palisade with a gate leading into the suburb, which was
+abandoned by our citizens without defence; and the Aretines carried
+off the bolt of the said gate, and in contempt of the Florentines took
+it to Arezzo, and set it in their chief church of San Donato. And when
+the said enemies were come down through the suburbs towards the city,
+they assembled at Cafaggio, by the side of the Servi, and they were
+more than 1,200 horsemen, and common folks in numbers, with many folk
+from the country following them, and with Ghibellines and Whites from
+within, which had come out to their aid. Now this was ill advised on
+their part, as we shall tell hereafter, for they had stationed
+themselves in a place without water; for if they had taken up their
+stand on the piazza of Santa Croce, they would have had the river and
+water for themselves and for their horses, and the Citta Rossa round
+about, without the old walls, all which was so built with houses as to
+accommodate an army in safety were it never so large; but to whom God
+wills ill, from him He takes all wit and judgment. When, on the
+evening before, the tidings were brought to Florence, there was great
+fear and suspicion of treachery, and the city was on guard all night;
+but by reason of fear some went this way, some that, all at random,
+each one removing his goods. And of a truth it was said that the
+greatest and best houses in Florence, of magnates, and popolani, and
+Guelfs, knew of this purpose, and had promised to surrender the city;
+but hearing of the great force of the Ghibellines of Tuscany and the
+enemies of our commonwealth which were come with our exiles, they
+feared greatly for themselves, and that they should be driven away and
+robbed, and so they changed their purpose, and looked to defend the
+city together with the rest. Certain of our exiled leaders, with part
+of their followers, departed from Cafaggio from the army, and came to
+the gate of the Spadari, and this they attacked and conquered, and
+entered in together with their banners as far as the piazza of S.
+Giovanni; and if the larger force which was in Cafaggio had then come
+towards the city, and attacked some other gate, they would certainly
+not have been resisted. In the piazza of S. Giovanni were assembled
+all the valiant men and Guelfs which were giving themselves to the
+defence of the city, not, however, in great numbers (perhaps 200 horse
+and 500 foot), and with the aid of large crossbows they drove back the
+enemy without the gate, with the loss of some taken and slain. The
+news went to Lastra to the Bolognese by their spies, reporting that
+their side had been routed and discomfited, and straightway, without
+learning the certainty thereof, for it was not true, they departed in
+flight as best they could, and when they met M. Tolosato with his
+followers in Mugello, which was advancing with full knowledge of the
+truth, he would have retained them and caused them to turn back; but
+this he could not bring about, neither through entreaties nor threats.
+They of the main body in Cafaggio, when they heard the news from
+Lastra how the Bolognese had departed in confusion, as it pleased God,
+straightway took fear, and through the discomfort of continuing in
+array until after noon in the burning sun,--the heat being great, and
+not having sufficiency of water for themselves and for their
+horses,--began to disperse and to depart in flight, throwing away
+their arms without assault or pursuit of the citizens, forasmuch as
+they scarce followed after them at all, save certain troopers of their
+own free will. And thus many of the enemy died, either by the sword or
+from exhaustion, and were robbed of arms and of horses; and certain of
+the prisoners were hanged in the piazza of San Gallo and along the
+road, on the trees. But verily it was said that, notwithstanding the
+departure of the Bolognese, if they had stood firm until the coming of
+M. Tolosato, which they could assuredly have done by reason of the
+small number of horse which were defending Florence, they would yet
+have gained the city. But it seemed to be the work and will of God
+that they should be bewitched, to the end our city of Florence might
+not be wholly laid waste, sacked, and destroyed. This unforeseen
+victory and escape of the city of Florence was on S. Margaret's Day,
+the 20th of the month of July, the year of Christ 1304. We have made
+such an extensive record, forasmuch as we were there present, and by
+reason of the great risk and peril from which God saved the city of
+Florence, and to the end our descendants may take therefrom example
+and warning.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1304 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1303 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1304 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 73.--_How the Aretines recovered the castle of Laterino which the
+Florentines held._ Sec. 74.--_Of certain further things which came to
+pass in Florence in the said times._ Sec. 75.--_How the Florentines went
+out against and took the strongholds of the Stinche and Montecalvi
+which were held by the Whites._ Sec. 76.--_Returns back somewhat to tell
+of the story of the Flemings._ Sec. 77.--_How Guy of Flanders was routed
+and seized, with his armada, by the admiral of the king of France._ Sec.
+78.--_How the king of France defeated the Flemings at Mons-en-Puelle._
+Sec. 79.--_How, shortly after the defeat of Mons-en-Puelle, the Flemings
+returned to the conflict with the king of France and gained a
+favourable peace._
+
+
+Sec. 80.--_How Pope Benedict died; and of the new election of Pope
+Clement V._
+
+[Sidenote: 1304 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Epistola viii.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1305 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xix. 82-87. Par. xvii. 82. xxvii. 58, 9. xxx.
+142-148.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1304, on the 27th day of the month July, Pope
+Benedict died in the city of Perugia, it was said by poison; for when
+he was eating at his table, there came to him a young man veiled and
+attired in the garb of a woman, as a serving sister of the nuns of S.
+Petronella, in Perugia, with a silver basin wherein were many fine
+ripe figs, and he presented them to the Pope from his devout servant,
+the abbess of that nunnery. The Pope received them with great
+pleasure, and forasmuch as he was fond of them, and without any one
+tasting thereof beforehand, seeing that they were presented by a
+woman, he ate many thereof, whereat he straightway fell ill, and in a
+few days died, and was buried with great honour at the Preaching
+Friars (for he was of that Order), in San Ercolano, of Perugia. This
+was a good man, and virtuous and just, and of holy and religious life,
+and desirous to do right in all things; and through the envy of
+certain of his brother cardinals, it was said, they compassed his
+death after the said manner; wherefore God recompensed them, if they
+were guilty thereof, in a short time, by a very just and open
+vengeance, as will be shown hereafter. For after the death of the said
+Pope there arose a schism and a great discord among the college of
+cardinals in electing the Pope; and by reason of their differences
+they were divided into two almost equal parties; the head of the one
+was M. Matteo Rosso, of the Orsini, with M. Francesco Guatani, nephew
+that was of Pope Boniface; and the leaders of the other were M.
+Napoleone, of the Orsini dal Monte, and the Cardinal da Prato, which
+hoped to restore their kinsfolk and friends, the Colonnesi, to their
+estate, and were friends of the king of France, and leaned towards the
+Ghibelline side. And when they had been shut up for a period of more
+than nine months, and were pressed by the Perugians to nominate a
+Pope, and could not come to an agreement, at last the Cardinal da
+Prato, finding himself in a secret place with the Cardinal Francesco,
+of the Guatani, said to him, "We are doing great harm and injury to
+the Church by not choosing a Pope." And M. Francesco said, "It does
+not lie with me." And the other replied, "If I could find a good way
+of escape, wouldst thou be content?" He made answer that he would; and
+thus conversing together they came to this agreement, by the industry
+and sagacity of the Cardinal da Prato, who, treating with the said M.
+Francesco Guatani, gave him his choice; for it was determined that the
+one party, to avoid all suspicion, should choose three men from beyond
+the Alps suitable for the papacy, whomsoever it pleased them, and the
+other party, within forty days, should take one of the three,
+whichever they pleased, and that he should be Pope. The party of M.
+Francesco Guatani preferred to make the first choice, thinking thus to
+have the advantage, and he elected three archbishops from beyond the
+Alps, made and created by Pope Boniface, his uncle, which were his
+great friends and confidants, and enemies of the king of France, their
+adversary, trusting that whichever the other party might take they
+would have a Pope after their mind, and a friend. Among these three
+the archbishop of Bordeaux was the one in whom they most trusted. The
+wise and far-seeing Cardinal da Prato thought that their purpose would
+be better carried out by taking M. Raimond de Goth, archbishop of
+Bordeaux, than by taking either of the others; albeit he had been
+appointed by Pope Boniface, and was no friend of the king of France,
+by reason of injuries done to his kinsfolk in the war of Gascony by M.
+Charles of Valois; but knowing him to be a man desirous of honour and
+lordship, and that he was a Gascon, who are by nature covetous, and
+that he might easily make peace with the king of France, they
+secretly took counsel, and he and his party in the college took an
+oath, and having confirmed with the other part of the college the
+documents and papers concerning the said agreements and pacts, by his
+letters, and those of the other cardinals of his party, they wrote to
+the king of France, and enclosed under their seals the pacts and
+agreements and commissions between themselves and the other part of
+the college, and by faithful and good couriers ordered by means of
+their merchants (the other party knowing nothing of this), they sent
+from Perugia to Paris in eleven days, admonishing and praying the king
+of France by the tenor of their letters, that if he wished to recover
+his estate in Holy Church and relieve his friends, the Colonnesi, he
+should turn his foe into a friend, to wit M. Raimond de Goth,
+archbishop of Bordeaux, one of the three chosen and most trusted by
+the other party; seeking and stipulating with him for liberal terms
+for himself and for his friends, forasmuch as to his hands was
+committed the election of the one of those three, whichever he
+pleased. The king of France having received the said letters and
+commissions, rejoiced greatly, and was eager for the undertaking.
+First of all he sent friendly letters by messengers into Gascony to M.
+Raimond de Goth, archbishop of Bordeaux, that he should come to meet
+him, for he desired to speak with him; and within the next six days
+the king came in person with a small company, to a secret conference
+with the said archbishop of Bordeaux in a forest, at an abbey in the
+district of S. Jean d'Angelus, and when they had heard mass together
+and sworn faith upon the altar, the king parleyed with him with good
+words to reconcile him with M. Charles; and then he said thus to him,
+"Behold, archbishop, I have in my hand the power to make thee Pope if
+I will, and for this cause am come to thee; and, therefore, if thou
+wilt promise to grant me six favours which I shall ask of thee, I will
+do thee this honour, and to the end thou mayest be assured that I have
+this power,"--he drew forth and showed him the letters and commissions
+from both one part of the college and the other. The Gascon, coveting
+the papal dignity, and seeing thus suddenly how with the king lay the
+power of making him Pope, as it were stupefied with joy, threw himself
+at his feet, and said, "My lord, now I know that thou lovest me more
+than any other man, and wouldst return me good for evil; thou hast to
+command and I to obey, and always it shall be so ordered." The king
+lifted him up and kissed him on the mouth, and then said to him, "The
+six special graces that I ask of thee are these: the first, that thou
+wilt reconcile me perfectly with the Church, and procure my pardon for
+my misdeed which I committed in the capture of Pope Boniface. The
+second, that thou wilt recommunicate me and my followers. The third
+article, that thou wilt grant me all the tithes of the realm for five
+years, in aid of my expenses which I have incurred for the war in
+Flanders. The fourth, that thou wilt promise to destroy and annul the
+memory of Pope Boniface. The fifth, that thou wilt restore the honour
+of the cardinalate to M. Jacopo and M. Piero della Colonna, and
+restore them to their estate, and together with them wilt make certain
+of my friends cardinals. The sixth grace and promise I reserve till
+due time and place, for it is secret and great." The archbishop
+promised everything on oath upon the body of Christ, and,
+furthermore, gave him as hostages his brother and two of his nephews;
+and the king swore to him and promised that he should be elected Pope.
+And this done, with great love and joy they parted, and the king
+returned to Paris, taking with him the said hostages under cover of
+love and of reconciling them with M. Charles; and straightway he wrote
+in answer to the Cardinal da Prato and to the others of his party,
+telling what he had done, and that they might safely elect as Pope M.
+Raimond de Goth, archbishop of Bordeaux, as a trustworthy and sure
+friend. And as it pleased God, the matter was so urgently pressed that
+in thirty-five days the answer to the said mandate was come back to
+Perugia with great secrecy. And when the Cardinal da Prato had
+received the said answer, he showed it secretly to his party, and
+craftily summoned the other party, when it should please them to
+assemble together, forasmuch as they desired to observe the agreement,
+and so it was immediately done. And when the said parties were
+gathered together, and it was necessary to ratify and confirm the
+order of the said compacts with authenticated papers and oaths, it was
+solemnly done. And then the said Cardinal da Prato wisely cited an
+authority from Holy Scripture which was fitting to the occasion, and
+by the authority committed to him after the said manner, he elected as
+Pope the aforesaid M. Raimond de Goth, archbishop of Bordeaux; and
+this was accepted and confirmed with great joy by both parties, and
+they sang with a loud voice "Te Deum Laudamus," etc., the party of
+Pope Boniface not knowing of the deceit and fraud which had been
+carried out, rather believing that they had as Pope that man in whom
+they most trusted; and when the announcements of the election came
+abroad, there was great strife and disturbance between their families,
+forasmuch as each said that he was the friend of their party. And this
+done, and the cardinals being come forth from their confinement, it
+was straightway determined to send him the election and decree across
+the mountains where he was. This election took place on the 5th day of
+June in the year of Christ 1305, when the apostolic chair had been
+vacant ten months and twenty-eight days. We have made so long a record
+of this election of the Pope, by reason of the subtle and fine deceit
+which took place, and for its bearing on the future, forasmuch as
+great things followed thereupon, as hereafter we shall relate, during
+the time of his papacy and of his successor. And this election was the
+cause whereby the papacy reverted to foreigners, and the court went
+beyond the mountains, so that for the sin committed by the Italian
+cardinals in the death of Pope Benedict, if they were guilty thereof,
+and in the fraudulent election, they were well punished by the
+Gascons, as we shall tell hereafter.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1305 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 81.--_Of the coronation of Pope Clement V. and of the cardinals
+which he made._ Sec. 82.--_How the Florentines and the Lucchese besieged
+and took the city of Pistoia._ Sec. 83.--_How the cities of Modena and of
+Reggio rebelled against the marquis of Este, and how the Whites and
+the Ghibellines were driven out of Bologna._
+
+
+Sec. 84.--_How there arose in Lombardy one Fra Dolcino with a great
+company of heretics, and how they were burnt._
+
+[Sidenote: 1305 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xxviii. 55-60.]
+
+In the said year 1305, in the territory of Novara in Lombardy, there
+was one Frate Dolcino, which was not a brother of any regular Order,
+but as it were a monk outside the Orders, and he rose up and led
+astray a great company of heretics, men and women of the country and
+of the mountains, of small account; and the said Fra Dolcino taught
+and preached that he was a true apostle of Christ, and that everything
+ought to be held lovingly in common, and women also were to be in
+common, and there was no sin in so using them. And many other foul
+articles of heresy he preached, and maintained that the Pope and
+cardinals and the other rulers of Holy Church did not observe their
+duty nor the evangelic life; and that he ought to be made Pope. And
+he, with a following of more than 3,000 men and women, abode in the
+mountains, living in common after the manner of beasts; and when they
+wanted victuals they took and robbed wherever they could find any; and
+thus he reigned for two years. At last those which followed the said
+dissolute life, becoming weary of it, his sect diminished much, and
+through want of victuals and by reason of the snow he was taken by the
+Navarese and burnt, with Margaret his companion, and with many other
+men and women which with him had been led astray.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1306 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 85.--_How Pope Clement sent as legate into Italy Cardinal Napoleone
+of the Orsini, and how he was ill received._ Sec. 86.--_How the
+Florentines besieged and took the strong castle of Montaccianico and
+dismantled it, and caused Scarperia to be built._ Sec. 87.--_How the
+Florentines strengthened the Popolo, and chose the first executor of
+the Ordinances of Justice._
+
+
+Sec. 88.--_Of the great war which was begun against the marquis of
+Ferrara, and how he died._
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xii. 112; xviii. 55-57. Purg. v. 73-78. xx. 79-81. De
+Vulg. El. I. 12: 38; II. 6: 42-44.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1306 A.D.]
+
+In the said year 1306, the Veronese, Mantuans, and Brescians made a
+league together, and declared a great war against the Marquis Azzo of
+Este, which was lord of Ferrara, because they feared that he was
+desirous to be lord over Lombardy, forasmuch as he had taken to wife a
+daughter of King Charles; and they overran his places and took from
+him some of his strongholds. But the year after, when he had gathered
+his forces, with the aid of the Piedmontese and of King Charles, he
+made a great expedition against them, and overran their places and did
+them much hurt. But a little time after the said marquis fell sick,
+and died in great pain and misery; and he had been the gayest and most
+redoubted and powerful tyrant in Lombardy, and he left no son of
+lawful wedlock, and his lands and lordship became a cause of great
+strife between his brothers and nephews, and one of his bastard sons,
+which was named Francis, whom the Venetians greatly favoured because
+he was born in Venice; and much strife and war followed therefrom with
+hurt to the Venetians, as hereafter in due time we shall make mention.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1306 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1307 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. vii. 132.]
+
+Sec. 89.--_How M. Napoleone Orsini, the legate, came to Arezzo; and
+of the expedition which the Florentines made against Gargosa._ Sec.
+90.--_How the good King Edward of England died._ Sec. 91.--_How the
+king of France went to Poitiers to Pope Clement, to cause the memory of
+Pope Boniface to be condemned._
+
+
+Sec. 92.--_How and after what fashion was destroyed the Order and mansion
+of the Temple of Jerusalem by the machinations of the king of France._
+
+[Sidenote: 1307 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. xx. 91-93.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1310 A.D.]
+
+In the said year 1307, before the king of France departed from the
+court of Poitiers, he accused and denounced to the Pope, incited
+thereto by his officers and by desire of gain, the master and the
+Order of the Temple, charging them with certain crimes and errors,
+whereof as the king had been informed the Templars were guilty. The
+first movement came from a prior of the said Order, of Monfaucon in
+the region of Toulouse, a man of evil life and a heretic, and for his
+faults condemned to perpetual imprisonment in Paris by the grand
+master. And finding himself in prison with one Noffo Dei, of our city
+of Florence, a man full of all vices, these two men, despairing of any
+salvation, evilly and maliciously invented the said false accusation
+in hope of gain, and of being set free from prison by aid of the king.
+But each of them a little while after came to a bad end; forasmuch as
+Noffo was hanged and the prior stabbed. To the end they might move the
+king to seek his gain, they brought the accusation before his
+officers, and the officers brought it before the king; wherefore the
+king was moved by his avarice, and made secret arrangements with the
+Pope and caused him to promise to destroy the Order of the Templars,
+laying to their charge many articles of heresy; but it is said that it
+was more in hope of extracting great sums of money from them, and by
+reason of offence taken against the master of the Temple and the
+Order. The Pope, to be rid of the king of France, by reason of the
+request which he had made that he would condemn Pope Boniface, as we
+have before said, whether rightly or wrongly, to please the king
+promised that he would do this; and when the king had departed, on a
+day named in his letters, he caused all the Templars to be seized
+throughout the whole world, and all their churches and mansions and
+possessions, which were almost innumerable in power and in riches, to
+be sequestered; and all those in the realm of France the king caused
+to be occupied by his court, and at Paris the master of the Temple was
+taken, which was named Jacques of the lords of Molay in Burgundy, with
+sixty knights, friars and gentlemen; and they were charged with
+certain articles of heresy, and certain vile sins against nature which
+they were said to practise among themselves; and that at their
+profession they swore to support the Order right or wrong, and that
+their worship was idolatrous, and that they spat upon the cross, and
+that when their master was consecrated it was secretly and in private,
+and none knew the manner; and alleging that their predecessors had
+caused the Holy Land to be lost by treachery, and King Louis and his
+followers to be taken at Monsura. And when sundry proofs had been
+given by the king of the truth of these charges, he had them tortured
+with divers tortures that they might confess, and it was found that
+they would not confess nor acknowledge anything. And after keeping
+them a long time in prison in great misery, and not knowing how to put
+an end to their trial, at last outside Paris at S. Antoine (and the
+like was also done at Senlis in France) in a great park enclosed by
+wood, fifty-six of the said Templars were bound each one to a stake,
+and they began to set fire to their feet and legs little by little,
+admonishing them one after the other that whosoever of them would
+acknowledge the error and sins wherewith they were charged might
+escape; and during this martyrdom, exhorted by their kinsfolk and
+friends to confess, and not to allow themselves to be thus vilely
+slain and destroyed, yet would not one of them confess, but with
+weeping and cries they defended themselves as being innocent and
+faithful Christians, calling upon Christ and S. Mary and the other
+saints; and by the said martyrdom all burning to ashes they ended
+their lives. And the master was reserved, and the brother of the
+dauphin of Auvergne, and Brother Hugh of Peraud, and another of the
+leaders of the Order, which had been officers and treasurers of the
+king of France, and they were brought to Poitiers before the Pope, the
+king of France being present, and they were promised forgiveness if
+they would acknowledge their error and sin, and it is said that they
+confessed something thereof; and when they had returned to Paris there
+came thither two cardinal legates to give sentence and condemn the
+Order upon the said confession, and to impose some discipline upon the
+said master and his companions; and when they had mounted a great
+scaffold, opposite the church of Notre Dame, and had read the
+indictment, the said master of the Temple rose to his feet, demanding
+to be heard; and when silence was proclaimed, he denied that ever such
+heresies and sins as they had been charged with had been true, and
+maintained that the rule of their Order had been holy and just and
+catholic, but that he certainly was worthy of death, and would endure
+it in peace, forasmuch as through fear of torture and by the
+persuasions of the Pope and of the king, he had by deceit been
+persuaded to confess some part thereof. And the discourse having been
+broken off, and the sentence not having been fully delivered, the
+cardinals and the other prelates departed from that place. And having
+held counsel with the king, the said master and his companions, in the
+Isle de Paris and before the hall of the king, were put to martyrdom
+after the same manner as the rest of their brethren, the master
+burning slowly to death and continually repeating that the Order and
+their religion was catholic and righteous, and commending himself to
+God and S. Mary; and likewise did the brother of the dauphin. Brother
+Hugh of Peraud, and the other, through fear of martyrdom, confessed
+and confirmed that which they had said before the Pope and the king,
+and they escaped, but afterwards they died miserably. And by many it
+was said that they were slain and destroyed wrongly and wickedly, and
+to the end their property might be seized, which afterwards was
+granted in privilege by the Pope to the Order of the Hospitallers, but
+they were required to recover and redeem it from the king of France
+and the other princes and lords, and that with so great a sum that,
+with the interest to be paid thereupon, the Order of the Hospitallers
+was, and is, poorer than it was before in its property; or perhaps God
+brought this about by miracle to show how things were. And the king of
+France and his sons had afterwards much shame and adversity, both
+because of this sin and of the capture of Pope Boniface, as hereafter
+shall be related. And note, that the night after the said master and
+his companion had been martyred, their ashes and bones were collected
+as sacred relics by friars and other religious persons, and carried
+away to holy places. In this manner was destroyed and brought to
+nought the rich and powerful Order of the Temple at Jerusalem, in the
+year of Christ 1310. We will now leave the doings in France and return
+to our doings in Italy.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1307 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1308 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 93.--_Of events and defeats which came to pass in Romagna and in
+Lombardy._ Sec. 94.--_Of the death of King Albert of Germany._ Sec.
+95.--_How the Podesta of Florence fled with the Hercules seal of the
+commonwealth._
+
+
+Sec. 96.--_How Corso Donati, the great and noble citizen of Florence,
+died._
+
+[Sidenote: 1308 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. xxiv. 81-87.]
+
+In the said year 1308, there being in the city of Florence increasing
+strife between the nobles and the powerful popolani of the Black party
+which were ruling the city, by reason of rivalry for state and
+lordship, which began at the time of the tumult when they demanded to
+see the accounts, as we have before made mention; this jealous
+disposition must needs bring forth sorrowful consequences, because
+from the sins of pride and envy and avarice, and other vices which
+reigned among them, they were divided into factions; and the leader of
+one faction was M. Corso de' Donati, with a following of some nobles,
+and of certain popolani, among others them of the house of Bordoni;
+and of the other party were leaders M. Rosso della Tosa, M. Geri
+Spini, and M. Pazzino dei Pazzi, and M. Betto Brunelleschi, with their
+allies, and with the Cavicciuli, and with many houses of magnates and
+popolani, and the greater part of the good people of the city, which
+had the offices and the government of the city, and of the people. M.
+Corso and his followers believed themselves to have been ill-treated
+with regard to offices and honours, whereof they held themselves to be
+more worthy, forasmuch as they had been the principal restorers of the
+Blacks to their estate, and had driven out the Whites; but by the
+other party it was said that M. Corso desired to be lord over the city
+with no equal. But whatever may have been the truth or the cause, his
+aforesaid opponents and they which ruled the city had hated and
+greatly feared him, ever since he had allied himself by marriage to
+Uguccione della Faggiuola, a Ghibelline, and hostile to the
+Florentines; and also they feared him because of his ambition and
+power and following, being uncertain whether he would not take their
+state from them, and drive them from the city, and above all, because
+they found that the said M. Corso had made a league and covenant with
+the said Uguccione della Faggiuola, his father-in-law, and had sent
+for him and his aid. For the which thing, in great jealousy, the city
+suddenly rose in an uproar, and the priors caused the bells to be
+sounded, and the people and the nobles, on horse and on foot, flew to
+arms, and the Catalan troops with the king's marshal, which were at
+the service of them which ruled the city. And straightway, as had been
+ordained by the aforesaid leaders, an inquisition or accusation was
+given to the Podesta, to wit, to M. Piero della Branca d'Agobbio,
+against the said M. Corso, charging him with wishing to betray the
+people, and to overturn the city, by bringing thither Uguccione della
+Faggiuola with the Ghibellines and enemies of the commonwealth. And he
+was first cited to appear, and then proclamation was made against him,
+and then he was condemned; in less than an hour, without giving any
+longer time for his trial, M. Corso was condemned as a rebel and
+traitor to his commonwealth, and straightway the priors set forth with
+the standard of justice, and the Podesta, captain and executioner,
+with their retainers and with the standard-bearers of the companies,
+with the people in arms, and the troops on horse, amid the
+acclamations of the people, to go to the house where dwelt M. Corso at
+San Piero Maggiore, to carry out the sentence. When M. Corso, having
+heard of the attack against him (or, as some said, in order to
+strengthen himself to carry out his purpose, for he was expecting
+Uguccione della Faggiuola with a great following which was already
+come to Remole), had barricaded himself in the road of San Piero
+Maggiore, at the foot of the towers of Cicino, and in Torcicoda, and
+at the entrance of the way which goes towards the Stinche, and at the
+way of San Brocolo, with strong barricades, and with much folk, his
+kinsmen and friends, in arms and with crossbows, enclosed within the
+barricade, and at his service. The people began to attack the said
+barricades in divers places, and M. Corso and his friends to defend
+them boldly; and the battle endured the greater part of the day, and
+was so strong that, with all the power of the people, if the
+reinforcements of Uguccione's followers and the other friends from the
+country invited by M. Corso had joined him in time, the people of
+Florence would have had enough to do that day; because, albeit they
+were many, yet were they ill-ordered and not well agreed, forasmuch as
+to part of them the attack was not pleasing. But when Uguccione's
+followers heard how M. Corso was attacked by the people, they turned
+back, and the citizens which were within the barricade began to
+depart, so that he remained very scant of followers, and certain of
+the people broke down the wall of the orchard over against the
+Stinche, and entered in with a great company of men in arms. When M.
+Corso and his followers saw this, and that the aid of Uguccione and of
+his other friends was belated and had failed them, he abandoned the
+houses, and fled out of the city, the which houses were straightway
+plundered and destroyed by the people, and M. Corso and his followers
+were pursued by certain citizens on horse and by certain Catalans,
+sent expressly to take him. And Gherardo Bordoni was overtaken by
+Boccaccio Cavicciuli, at the Affrico, and slain, and his hand was cut
+off and taken to the street of the Adimari, and nailed to the door of
+M. Tedici degli Adimari, his associate, by reason of enmity between
+them. M. Corso, departing quite alone, was overtaken and captured near
+Rovezzano by certain Catalans on horse, and as they were taking him
+prisoner to Florence, when they were hard by San Salvi, he prayed them
+to let him go free, promising them much money if they would let him
+escape, but they held to their purpose of taking him to Florence, as
+had been commanded them by their lords; then M. Corso, in fear of
+coming into the hands of his enemies, and of being brought to justice
+by the people, being much afflicted with gout in his hands and feet,
+let himself fall from his horse. The said Catalans seeing him on the
+ground, one of them gave him a thrust with his lance in the throat,
+which was a mortal blow, and then left him there for dead; the monks
+of the said convent carried him into the abbey, and some said that
+before he died he gave himself into their hands as a penitent, and
+some said that they found him dead; and the next morning he was buried
+in San Salvi with little honour and but few present, for fear of the
+commonwealth. This M. Corso Donati was among the most sage, and was a
+valiant cavalier, and the finest speaker, and most skilled, and of the
+greatest renown and of the greatest courage and enterprise of any one
+of his time in Italy, and a handsome and gracious cavalier in his
+person; but he was very worldly, and in his time caused many
+conspiracies and scandals in Florence to gain state and lordship; and
+for this cause have we made so long a treatise concerning his end,
+forasmuch as it was of great moment to our city, and after his death
+many things followed thereupon, as may be understood by the
+intelligent, to the end he may be an example to those which come
+after.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1308 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 97.--_How the church of the Lateran at Rome was burned._ Sec.
+98.--_How the magnates of Samminiato destroyed their Popolo._ Sec.
+99.--_How the Tarlati were expelled from Arezzo, and the Guelfs
+restored._ Sec. 100.--_How the Ubaldini returned to submission to
+the commonwealth of Florence._
+
+
+Sec. 101.--_After what manner Henry, count of Luxemburg, was elected
+emperor of Rome._
+
+[Sidenote: 1308 A.D.]
+
+In the said year 1308, the King Albert of Germany being dead, as we
+afore said, by the which death the Empire was left vacant, the
+electors of Germany were at great discord among themselves concerning
+the election; and when the king of France heard of the said vacancy,
+he thought within himself that now his purpose would be carried out
+with little difficulty, by reason of the sixth promise which Pope
+Clement had secretly made to him when he promised to make him Pope, as
+we afore made mention; and he assembled his secret council with M.
+Charles of Valois, his brother, and there he revealed his intention,
+and the long desire which he had had that the Church of Rome should
+elect as king of the Romans M. Charles of Valois, even while Albert,
+king of Germany, was living, by means of his forces and power and
+money, and with the aid of the Pope and the Church; for at other times
+of old the election had passed from the Greeks to the French, and from
+the French to the Italians, and from the Italians to the Germans. And
+now much more ought it to come to pass, seeing the Empire was vacant,
+and especially by reason of the said promise and oath, which Pope
+Clement had made to him when he had made him Pope. And he revealed all
+the secret covenant with him, and this done, he asked their counsel
+and made them swear secrecy. To this enterprise the king was
+encouraged by all his counsellors, and that to this end he should use
+all the power of the crown and of his realm, so that it might be
+brought about, alike for the honour of M. Charles of Valois, who was
+worthy thereof, and that the honour and dignity of the Empire might
+return to the French, as it had of old pertained long time to their
+forefathers, Charles the Great and his successors. And when the king
+and M. Charles heard the encouragement and good-will of his council,
+they rejoiced greatly, and took counsel that without delay the king
+and M. Charles, with a great force of barons and knights in arms,
+should go to Avignon to the Pope, before the Germans should have made
+any other election, showing and giving out that his going was
+concerning the petition against the memory of Pope Boniface; and that
+when the king came to the court, he should require from the Pope the
+sixth and secret promise,--to wit, the election and confirmation as
+Emperor of Rome of M. Charles of Valois; and he being so strong in
+followers, no cardinal nor any one else, not even the Pope, would dare
+to refuse him. And this ordered, the barons and knights were commanded
+to provide themselves with arms and with horses to bear the king
+company on his journey to Avignon; and they of the signiory of
+Provence were to make ready, and should number more than 6,000
+knights in arms. But as it pleased God, who willed not that the Church
+of Rome should be wholly subject to the house of France, these
+preparations of the king and his purpose were secretly made known to
+the Pope by one of the privy council of the king of France. The Pope,
+fearing the coming of the king with so great a force, remembering the
+promise he had made, and perceiving that it was most contrary to the
+liberty of the Church, held secret counsel with M. d'Ostia, Cardinal
+da Prato alone, forasmuch as they were already indignant with the king
+of France, by reason of his inordinate demands, and because, if the
+Church had condemned the memory of Pope Boniface, that which he had
+done would have been made null and void, and the Cardinal da Prato had
+been made cardinal by Boniface with certain others, as we have said in
+another place. The said cardinal, hearing that which the Pope had
+learned of the purpose and of the coming of the king of France, spake
+thus: "Holy Father, here there is but one remedy, to wit, before the
+king makes his request of thee, thou must secretly and carefully
+arrange with the princes of Germany that they complete the election to
+the Empire." This counsel pleased the Pope, but he said: "Whom do we
+will to be Emperor?" Then the cardinal, with much foresight, not only
+to secure the liberty of the Church, but to advance his own interests
+and those of his Ghibelline party, which he would fain exalt in Italy,
+said: "I hear that the count of Luxemburg is to-day the best man in
+Germany, and the most loyal and bold, and the most catholic; and I do
+not doubt, if by thy means he comes to this dignity, that he will be
+faithful and obedient to thee and to Holy Church, and a man who will
+come to great things." The Pope was pleased with the good report
+which he heard of him, and said: "How can this election be brought
+about by us secretly, sending letters under our seal, unknown to the
+college of our brother cardinals?" The cardinal made answer: "Write
+thy letters to him and to the electors under a small and secret seal,
+and I will write to them in my letters more fully concerning thy
+purpose, and I will send them by my servant"; and so it was done. And
+as it pleased God, when the messengers were come into Germany, and had
+presented the letters, in eight days the princes of Germany were
+assembled at Middleburg, and there without dissent they elected as
+king of the Romans Henry, count of Luxemburg; and this was from the
+industry and activity of the said cardinal which wrote these words
+among others to the princes: "See that ye are united in this matter,
+and without delay; if not, I believe that the election and the
+lordship of the Empire will return to the French." This done, the
+election was straightway made public in France and at the papal court;
+and the king of France, not knowing the manner thereof, and making
+preparations to go to the court, held himself deceived, and was never
+afterwards a friend of the said Pope.
+
+
+Sec. 102.--_How Henry the Emperor was confirmed by the Pope._
+
+[Sidenote: 1308 A.D.]
+
+In the said year, after Henry of Luxemburg had been elected king of
+the Romans, he sent for his confirmation to Avignon to the court of
+Pope Clement the count of Savoy, his kinsman, and M. Guy of Namurs,
+brother of the count of Flanders, his cousin, which were honourably
+received by the Pope and by the cardinals; and in the month of April,
+1308, the said Henry was confirmed as Emperor by the Pope, and it was
+ordained that the Cardinal dal Fiesco and the Cardinal da Prato should
+be legates in Italy, and should bear him company when he should have
+crossed the mountains, commanding in the Church's name that he should
+be obeyed by all. Immediately when his ambassadors had returned with
+the Pope's confirmation, he went to Aix-la-Chapelle in Germany with
+all the barons and prelates of Germany, and there were there the duke
+of Brabant, and the count of Flanders, and the count of Hainault, and
+more barons of France; and at Aix, by the archbishop of Cologne, he
+was with honour and without any opposition crowned with the first
+crown, on the day of the Epiphany, 1308, as king of the Romans.
+
+
+Sec. 103.--_How the Venetians took the city of Ferrara and then lost it
+again._ Sec. 104.--_How the master of the Hospital took the island of
+Rhodes._ Sec. 105.--_How the king of Aragon prepared an expedition
+against Sardinia._ Sec. 106.--_How the Guelfs were expelled from Prato,
+and then were reinstated._ Sec. 107.--_How the Tarlati returned to Arezzo
+and expelled the Guelfs therefrom._ Sec. 108.--_How King Charles II.
+died._ Sec. 109.--_Of the signs that appeared in the air._ Sec.
+110.--_How the Florentines renewed war with Arezzo._ Sec. 111.--_How the
+Lucchese would have destroyed Pistoia, and the Florentines opposed them._
+
+
+Sec. 112.--_How Robert was crowned king over the kingdom of Sicily and
+Apulia._
+
+[Sidenote: 1309 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. viii. 76-84.]
+
+In the month of June of the year 1309, Duke Robert, now King Charles'
+eldest son, went by sea from Naples to Provence, to the court, with a
+great fleet of galleys, and a great company, and was crowned king of
+Sicily and of Apulia by Pope Clement, on S. Mary's Day in September of
+the said year, and was entirely acquitted of the loan which the Church
+had made to his father and grandfather for the war in Sicily, which is
+said to have been more than 300,000 ounces of gold. In the said year
+and month the Guelfs were driven out of Amelia by the forces of the
+Colonnesi.
+
+
+Sec. 113.--_How they of Ancona were discomfited by Count Frederick._ Sec.
+114.--_How M. Ubizzino Spinoli was driven out of Genoa and defeated._
+Sec. 115.--_How the Venetians were defeated at Ferrara._ Sec. 116.--_Of
+the war between them of Volterra and them of Sangimignano._ Sec.
+117.--_How the Orsini of Rome were defeated by the Colonnesi._ Sec.
+118.--_How the folk of Arezzo were defeated by the marshal of the
+Florentines._ Sec. 119.--_How the Florentines marched upon Arezzo._
+
+
+Sec. 120.--_How the ambassadors of Henry, king of the Romans, came to
+Florence._
+
+[Sidenote: 1310 A.D.]
+
+In the said year, on the 3rd day of July, there came to Florence M.
+Louis of Savoy, senator elect of Rome, with two clerics, prelates of
+Germany, and M. Simone Filippi of Pistoia, ambassadors from the
+Emperor, requiring the commonwealth of Florence to prepare to do
+honour to his coronation, and to send their ambassadors to him to
+Lausanne; and they required and commanded that the expedition which
+had been sent against Arezzo should be withdrawn. A great and fine
+council was held by the Florentines, wherein the ambassadors
+discreetly set forth their embassy. M. Betto Brunelleschi was called
+upon to respond for the commonwealth, which at the first made answer
+with proud and unfitting words, wherefor he was afterwards blamed by
+the wise; then answer was discreetly made, and courteously, by M.
+Ugolino Tornaquinci, whereon they departed, well content, on the 12th
+day of July, and went to the host of the Florentines to Arezzo, and
+made the like command that the host should depart, which did not
+therefore depart. The said ambassadors abode in Arezzo, very wrathful
+against the Florentines.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1310 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 121.--_Of wondrous folk that went their way through Italy beating
+themselves._
+
+
+END OF SELECTIONS FROM BOOK VIII.
+
+
+
+
+BOOK IX.
+
+ _Here begins the Ninth Book. How Henry, count of Luxemburg,
+ was made Emperor._
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1310 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvii. 82, xxx. 133-138. Epistolae v. vi. vii.]
+
+Sec. 1.--Henry, count of Luxemburg, reigned four years and seven months
+and eighteen days from his first coronation to his end. He was wise
+and just and gracious, valiant and firm in arms, virtuous and
+catholic; and albeit of low estate according to his lineage, he was
+great-hearted, feared and redoubted; and if he had lived longer he
+would have done the greatest things. This man was elected emperor
+after the manner aforesaid, and immediately when he had received
+confirmation from the Pope he caused himself to be crowned king in
+Germany; and afterwards he pacified all the disputes between the
+barons of Germany, and purposed earnestly to come to Rome for the
+imperial crown, and to pacify Italy from the divers discords and wars
+which were therein, and then to carry out the expedition over seas to
+recover the Holy Land, if God had granted it to him. Whilst he abode
+in Germany to pacify the barons, and to provide himself with money and
+with followers before crossing the mountains, Wenceslas, king of
+Bohemia, died, and left no male heir, but only two daughters, the one
+already wife of the duke of Carinthia, and the other, by the counsel
+of his barons, Henry gave to wife to John, his son, whom he crowned
+king of Bohemia, and left him in his place in Germany.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1310 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 2.--_How the Guelf party was expelled from Venice._ Sec. 3.--_Of
+the prophecies of M. Arnaldo da Villanuova._ Sec. 4.--_How there was a
+conspiracy in Ferrara to make the place rebel against the Church._ Sec.
+5.--_How they of Todi were routed by them of Perugia._ Sec. 6.--_How the
+Guelfs were expelled from Spoleto._
+
+
+Sec. 7.--_How the Emperor Henry departed from Germany to go into Italy._
+
+[Sidenote: 1310 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xxx. 133-141.]
+
+[Sidenote: Epistola v.]
+
+In the said year 1310, the Emperor came to Lausanne with few
+followers, awaiting his forces, and the embassies from the cities of
+Italy, and there abode many months. When the Florentines heard this
+they took counsel to send him a rich embassage, and likewise the
+Lucchese, and the Sienese, and the other cities of the Tuscan league;
+and the ambassadors were actually chosen, and the stuffs for their
+robes prepared, that they might be honourably arrayed. Yet this
+journey was abandoned by reason of certain Guelf magnates of Florence,
+which feared lest under pretence of peace the Emperor might restore
+the banished Ghibellines to Florence, and make them lords thereof;
+wherefore suspicion arose, and afterwards indignation, whence followed
+great peril to all Italy, forasmuch as when the ambassadors from Rome,
+and they of Pisa and of the other cities were come to Lausanne in
+Savoy, the Emperor asked why the Florentines were not there. Then
+answer was made to the lord by the ambassadors of the refugees from
+Florence, that it was because they were afraid of him. Then said the
+Emperor: "They have done ill, forasmuch as our desire was to have all
+the Florentines, and not only a faction, for our faithful subjects,
+and to make that city our treasure and archive house, and the loftiest
+of our empire." And it was known of a surety by folk which were near
+to him, that up to that time he had purposed with pure intent to
+maintain them which were ruling Florence in their estate, which intent
+the refugees greatly dreaded. But henceforth, by reason of this anger,
+or through evil report of his ambassadors which came to Florence, and
+of the Ghibellines and Pisans, he gave his mind the other way.
+Wherefore, in the following August, the Florentines, being alarmed,
+raised 1,000 citizen cavalry, and began to provide themselves with
+soldiers and with money, and to make a league with King Robert, and
+with many cities of Tuscany and of Lombardy, to oppose the coming and
+the coronation of the Emperor; and the Pisans, to the end that he
+might cross the Alps, sent him 70,000 golden florins, and promised him
+as many more when he should be come to Pisa; and with this aid he set
+forth from Lausanne, forasmuch as he was not himself a lord rich in
+money.
+
+
+Sec. 8.--_How King Robert came to Florence as he returned from his
+coronation._
+
+[Sidenote: 1310 A.D.]
+
+In the said year 1310, on the 30th day of September, King Robert came
+to Florence on his way back from his coronation at Avignon, where was
+the Pope's court; he abode in the house of the Peruzzi dal Parlagio
+[of the Forum], and the Florentines did him much honour, and held
+jousts, and gave him large presents of money, and he abode in Florence
+until the 24th day of October, to reconcile the Guelfs together, which
+were divided into factions among themselves, and to treat of warding
+off the Emperor. He could do but little in reconciling them; so much
+had error increased among them, as before has been narrated.
+
+
+Sec. 9.--_How the Emperor Henry passed into Italy and gained the city of
+Milan._
+
+[Sidenote: 1310 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Johannes de Virgilio. Carmen _v._ 26.]
+
+In the year 1310, at the end of September, the Emperor departed from
+Lausanne with his followers, and crossed the mountains of M. Cenis,
+and at the beginning of October he came to Turin in Piedmont:
+afterwards he came to the city of Asti, the 10th day of October. By
+the people of Asti he was peaceably received as lord, and they went
+out to meet him, with rejoicing and a great procession, and he
+pacified all the disputes among the people of Asti. In Asti he awaited
+his followers, and before he departed he had nigh upon 2,000 horse
+from beyond the mountains. In Asti he abode more than two months,
+forasmuch as at that time M. Guidetto della Torre was ruler in Milan,
+a man of great wit and power, which had, between soldiers and
+citizens, more than 2,000 cavalry, and by his force and tyranny he
+kept out of Milan the Visconti and their Ghibelline party, and also
+his associate, the archbishop, with many other Guelfs. This M.
+Guidetto was in league with the Florentines and with the other Guelfs
+of Tuscany and of Lombardy, and opposed the coming of the Emperor, and
+would have succeeded if it had not been that his own associates with
+their following led the Emperor to make for Milan, by the counsel of
+the cardinal of Fiesco, the Pope's legate. M. Guidetto, not being able
+to provide against everything, consented to his coming, against his
+will; and thus the Emperor entered into Milan on the vigil of the
+Feast of the Nativity, and on the Day of the Epiphany, the 6th of
+January, he was crowned in S. Ambrogio by the archbishop of Milan,
+with the second crown of iron, with great honour, both he and his
+wife. [And the said crown is in Milan, and is of fine tempered steel
+as for a sword, made in the form of a wreath of laurel, wherein rich
+and precious stones were inlaid, after the fashion of the Caesars which
+were crowned with laurel in their triumphs and victories; and it is
+made of steel by way of a figure and similitude, for like as steel and
+iron surpass all other metals, so the Caesars, triumphing by the force
+of the Romans and Italians, which then were all called Romans,
+surpassed and subdued to the Empire of Rome all the nations of the
+earth.] And at the said coronation were ambassadors from well-nigh all
+the cities of Italy save Florence and those of their league. And
+whilst he abode in Milan he caused all the Milanese to be at peace one
+with another, and restored M. Maffeo Visconti and his party, and the
+archbishop and his party, and in general every man who was in
+banishment. And well-nigh all the cities and lords of Lombardy came to
+do his bidding, and to give him great quantity of money; and he sent
+his vicar into all the cities save into Bologna and Padua, which were
+against him, and were with the league of the Florentines.
+
+
+Sec. 10.--_How the Florentines enclosed the new circle of the city with
+moats._
+
+[Sidenote: 1310 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Epist. vi.]
+
+In the said year, on S. Andrew's Day, the Florentines, through fear of
+the coming of the Emperor, took counsel to enclose the city with moats
+from the Porta San Gallo as far as the Porta Santo Ambrogio, which is
+called La Croce a Gorgo, and then as far as the river Arno; and then
+from the Porta San Gallo to the Porta dal Prato d'Ognissanti, where
+the walls were already founded, they were raised eight cubits higher.
+And this work was done quickly and in short time, which thing was
+assuredly afterwards the salvation of the city of Florence, as
+hereafter shall be narrated; inasmuch as theretofore the city had been
+all exposed and the old walls in great measure pulled down and sold to
+the neighbouring inhabitants, to enlarge the old city, and to enclose
+the suburbs and the new additions.
+
+
+Sec. 11.--_How the della Torre were driven out of Milan._
+
+[Sidenote: 1310 A.D.]
+
+In the said year, on the 11th day of the month of February, M.
+Guidetto della Torre, seeing himself cast out from the lordship of
+Milan, and Maffeo Visconti and his other enemies much in favour with
+the Emperor, thought to cause the city of Milan to rebel against the
+Emperor, seeing that he had with him but few horse, forasmuch as they
+were gone away and dispersed throughout the cities of Lombardy; and
+this would have come to pass, if it had not been that Matteo Visconti
+very wisely warned the Emperor thereof, and his marshal, and the count
+of Savoy. For the which thing the city rose in arms and uproar, and
+there was some fighting. Now there were who said that M. Maffeo
+Visconti by his wit and sagacity deceived him to the end he might
+bring him under the Emperor's suspicion, coming to him secretly, and
+complaining of the lordship of the Emperor and of the Germans, making
+as though he would better love the freedom of Milan than such
+lordship; and saying to him that he would rather have him for lord
+than the Emperor, and that he and his followers would give him all aid
+and assistance in driving out the Emperor. To which proposal M.
+Guidetto gave heed, trusting in his former enemy, through desire of
+recovering his state and lordship; or perhaps it was for his sins, of
+which he had many, and was the answer of Maffeo coming true, which he
+had made to him through the mouth of the jongleur, as we related
+before. M. Maffeo under the said promise betrayed him, and revealed
+all to the Emperor and to his council; and this we believe of a
+surety, because of what we heard thereof afterwards from wise Lombards
+which were then in Milan. And for this cause M. Guidetto della Torre
+was called upon to defend himself, who did not appear, but departed
+with his followers from Milan, asserting that he was not guilty of
+treachery, but that his enemies had charged him therewith to bring him
+to nought and drive him out of Milan. But the most believe that he was
+in fault, forasmuch as he was in league with the Florentines and the
+Bolognese, and with other Guelf cities, and it was said that he was to
+receive much money therefor from the Florentines and their league. But
+whatever might have been the cause, the said intrigues made the city
+of Cremona immediately rebel against the Emperor, on the 20th day of
+February, and this rebellion and others in Lombardy were of a surety
+brought about by the zeal and the spending of the Florentines, to give
+the Emperor so much to do in Lombardy that he would not be able to
+come into Tuscany. At this time the Ghibellines of Brescia drave out
+the Guelfs, and this likewise came to pass to those of Parma; for the
+which thing the Emperor sent his vicar and followers into Brescia, and
+caused peace to be made, and the Guelfs to return to the city, which a
+short time afterwards finding themselves strong in the city, and
+seeing that Cremona had rebelled, and being encouraged by the
+Florentines and the Bolognese with monies and large promises, drave
+out the Ghibellines from Brescia, and altogether rebelled against the
+Emperor, and prepared to make war against him.
+
+
+Sec. 12.--_How there was great scarcity in Florence, and concerning other
+events._
+
+[Sidenote: 1310 A.D.]
+
+In the said year 1310, from December to the following May, there was
+the greatest scarcity in Florence, for a bushel of grain cost half a
+golden florin, and was all mixed with buck-wheat. And the arts and
+trade had never been worse in Florence than during this time, and the
+expenses of the commonwealth were very great, and there was much
+ill-will and fear concerning the coming of the Emperor. At that time,
+at the end of February, the Donati slew M. Betto Brunelleschi, and a
+little while after the said Donati and their kinsfolk and friends
+assembled at San Salvi and disinterred M. Corso Donati, and made great
+lamentation, and held a service as if he were only just dead, showing
+that by the death of M. Betto vengeance had been done, and that he had
+been the counsellor of M. Corso's death, wherefore all the city was as
+it were moved to tumult.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1311 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 13.--_How the relics of St. Barnabas came to Florence._
+
+
+Sec. 14.--_How the Emperor besieged Cremona, and his people took
+Vicenza._
+
+[Sidenote: 1311 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvii. 76-93. Epistola x. Quest. de Acqua et Terra. Sec.
+24.--Cf. Inf. i. 100-111. Purg. xxxiii. 40-45.]
+
+In the said year, the 12th day of the month of April, the Emperor was
+besieging Cremona with an host, and he sent the bishop of Geneva, his
+cousin, with 300 horsemen from beyond the mountains, and with the
+force of M. Cane della Scala of Verona, and suddenly took the city of
+Vicenza from the Paduans, and they which were of Padua in the
+fortress, through fear, without defending themselves, abandoned the
+fortress, the which loss caused great dismay to the Paduans, and to
+all their allies; for the which thing, a little while after, the
+Paduans were reconciled to the Emperor, and gave him the lordship of
+Padua, and 100,000 golden florins in divers payments, and they
+received his vicar. The said bishop of Geneva went afterwards to
+Venice, and craved aid for the Emperor of the Venetians. The Venetians
+did him great honour, and gave him to buy precious stones for his
+crown 1,000 pounds of Venetian grossi; and in Venice from these monies
+and with others was made the crown, and the imperial throne, very rich
+and magnificent, the throne of silver gilt, and the crown with many
+precious stones.
+
+
+Sec. 15.--_How the Emperor took the city of Cremona._
+
+[Sidenote: 1311 A.D.]
+
+In 1311, on the 20th of April, the Emperor being with his army at
+Cremona, the city being much straitened, forasmuch as they were
+ill-provided by reason of their sudden rebellion, they surrendered the
+city to the Emperor's mercy, through the negotiations of the
+archbishop of Ravenna; and he received them and pardoned them, and
+caused the walls and all the fortresses of the city to be destroyed,
+and laid a heavy fine upon them. And when he had taken Cremona,
+immediately he went with his army against the city of Brescia on the
+14th day of May, and there he found himself with larger forces, and
+more numerous and better cavaliers than he had ever had, for of a
+truth there were there more than 6,000 good horsemen; 4,000 and more
+Germans, and Frenchmen, and Burgundians, and men of birth; and the
+rest Italians. For after he had taken Milan and then Cremona, many
+great lords of Germany and of France came into his service, some for
+pay, and many for love. And verily if he had abandoned the enterprise
+of the siege of Brescia, and had come into Tuscany, he would have
+quietly secured Bologna, Florence, and Lucca and Siena, and afterwards
+Rome, and the Kingdom of Apulia, and all the lands against him,
+forasmuch as they were not furnished nor provided, and the minds of
+the people were much at variance, forasmuch as the said Emperor was
+held to be the most just and benign sovereign. It pleased God that he
+should abide at Brescia, the which siege cost him much both in people
+and in power, by reason of the great destruction both by death and
+pestilence, as hereafter I shall make mention.
+
+
+Sec. 16.--_How the Florentines, by reason of the Emperor's coming,
+recalled from banishment all the Guelfs._
+
+[Sidenote: 1311 A.D.]
+
+In the said year, on the 26th day of April, the Florentines having
+heard how Vicenza and Cremona had surrendered to the Emperor, and how
+he was going to the siege of Brescia, in order to strengthen
+themselves put forth express decree and ordinance, and recalled from
+banishment all the Guelf citizens and country people under what
+sentence soever they had been banished, on their paying a certain
+small toll; and they made many leagues both in the city and in the
+country, and with the other Guelf cities of Tuscany.
+
+
+Sec. 17.--_How the Florentines, with all the Guelf cities of Tuscany,
+made a league together against the Emperor._
+
+[Sidenote: 1311 A.D.]
+
+In the said year 1311, on the 1st day of June, the Florentines, the
+Bolognese, the Lucchese, the Sienese, the Pistoians, and they of
+Volterra, and all the other Guelf cities of Tuscany held a parliament,
+and concluded a league together, and a union of knights, and swore
+together to defend one another and oppose the Emperor. And afterwards,
+on the 26th day of June, the Florentines sent the king's marshal with
+400 Catalan soldiers which were in their pay, for the defence of
+Bologna, and to oppose the Emperor if he should advance from that
+quarter; and in like manner the Sienese and Lucchese sent troops, and
+they abode there many months in Bologna and in Romagna in the service
+of King Robert.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1311 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 18.--_How King Robert caused the Ghibellines of Romagna to be taken
+by craft._ Sec. 19.--_How the Pope's marquis took Fano and Pesaro._
+
+
+Sec. 20.--_How the Emperor Henry took the city of Brescia by siege._
+
+[Sidenote: 1311 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Epistola vii.]
+
+In the said year 1311, the Emperor being with his army before Brescia,
+there were many assaults made, wherein much people died both within
+and without the city, among which was slain in an assault, by an arrow
+from a large crossbow, M. Waleran of Luxemburg, brother in blood and
+marshal of the Emperor, and many other barons, good knights; whence
+came great fear to all the host. And encouraged by this, the Brescians
+sallied forth ofttimes to attack the host, and in the month of June
+some of them were routed and discomfited, and forty of them were taken
+prisoners of the chief of the city, and fully 200 slain, among which
+prisoners was M. Tebaldo Brusciati, which was leader of the people
+within the city, a man of great valour, which had been a friend of the
+Emperor, who had restored him to Brescia when the Guelfs had been
+driven out: wherefore the Emperor caused him to be drawn asunder by
+four horses as a traitor, and many others he caused to be beheaded,
+whereby the power of the Brescians was much enfeebled; but for all
+that they within the city did not abandon the defence of the city. In
+that siege the air was corrupted by the stench of the horses and the
+long sojourn of the camp, wherefore there arose much sickness both
+within and without, and a great part of them from beyond the mountains
+fell sick, and many great barons died there, and some departed by
+reason of sickness, and afterwards died thereof on the road. Among the
+others died there the valiant M. Guy of Namurs, brother of the count
+of Flanders, which was leader of the Flemings at the rout of Courtray,
+a man of great worth and renown; for which cause most part of the host
+counselled the Emperor that he should depart. He holding the needs
+within the city to be yet greater, alike from sickness and death, and
+from lack of victuals, determined not to depart till he should have
+taken the city. They of Brescia, as food was failing them, by the hand
+of the cardinal of Fiesco surrendered themselves to the mercy of the
+Emperor, on the 16th day of September, in the said year. Who, when he
+had gotten the city, caused all the walls and strongholds to be
+destroyed, and exacted a fine of 70,000 golden florins. Thus with
+great difficulty, after much time, he gained the city by reason of
+their evil estate; and 100 of the best men of the city, both magnates
+and popolari, he sent into banishment, confining them within bounds in
+divers places. When he had departed from Brescia, with great loss and
+hurt, seeing that not a fourth part of his people were left to him,
+and of these a great part were sick, he held his parliament in
+Cremona. There, by the influence and encouragement of the Pisans and
+of the Ghibellines and Whites of Tuscany, he determined to come to
+Genoa, and there re-establish his state, and in Milan he left as vicar
+and captain M. Maffeo Visconti; and in Verona, M. Cane della Scala;
+and in Mantua, M. Passerino de' Bonaposi; and in Parma, M. Ghiberto da
+Correggia; and all the other cities of Lombardy in like manner he left
+under tyrants, not being able to do otherwise, through his evil
+estate, and from each one he received much money, and invested them
+with the privileges of the said lordships.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1311 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 21.--_How the Florentines and Lucchese strengthened the frontiers by
+reason of the Emperor's coming._
+
+
+Sec. 22.--_How Pope Clement sent legates to crown the Emperor Henry._
+
+[Sidenote: 1311 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvii. 82.]
+
+In the year of Christ 1311, Pope Clement, at the request of the
+Emperor, not being able to come in person to Rome to crown him, by
+reason of the council which had been summoned, sent the bishop of
+Ostia, Cardinal da Prato, as legate, with power to act as if he had
+been the Pope in person; and he was with him in Genoa in the month of
+October; and the said Pope sent as legate into Hungary Cardinal
+Gentile da Montefiore to crown Carlo Rimberto, son that was of Charles
+Martel and nephew of King Robert, as king over the realm of Hungary,
+and to give him the aid and favour of the Church. And this the said
+cardinal did, and abode long time in Hungary, until the said Carlo had
+conquered almost all the country, and he had crowned him in peace.
+And on the return of the said cardinal to Italy, he received
+commandment from the Pope to bring to him across the mountains all the
+Church treasure which was in Rome and in the other cities pertaining
+to the Holy See, and this he brought as far as the city of Lucca.
+Beyond that he could not bring it, neither by land nor by sea, because
+the coasts of Genoa, both land and sea, were all in commotion of war
+through the Guelf and Ghibelline parties, by reason of the Emperor's
+coming. He left it in Lucca in the sacristy of San Friano, which
+treasure was afterwards robbed by the Ghibellines; as hereafter we
+shall make mention.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1311 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 23.--_How Pope Clement summoned a council at Vienne in Burgundy, and
+canonised S. Louis, son of King Charles._ Sec. 24.--_How the Emperor
+Henry came into the city of Genoa._ Sec. 25.--_How an imperial vicar came
+to Arezzo._
+
+
+Sec. 26.--_How the ambassadors from the Emperor came to Florence, and
+were driven thence._
+
+[Sidenote: 1311 A.D.]
+
+In the said year, and month of October, there came to Florence M.
+Pandolfo Savelli, of Rome, and other clerks as ambassadors from the
+Emperor. When they were come to Lastra, above Montughi, the priors of
+Florence sent them word not to enter into Florence, but to depart. The
+said ambassadors, not being willing to depart, were robbed by
+Florentine highwaymen, with the secret consent of the priors; and
+fleeing in peril of their lives, they departed by the way of Mugello
+to Arezzo, and afterwards from Arezzo summoned all the nobles and
+lords and the commonwealths of Tuscany to prepare themselves to come
+to the Emperor's coronation at Rome.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1311 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 27.--_How the Florentines sent their troops to Lunigiana to oppose
+the passage of the Emperor._
+
+
+Sec. 28.--_How the empress died in Genoa._
+
+[Sidenote: 1311 A.D.]
+
+In the said year, in the month of November, there died in Genoa the
+empress, wife of the Emperor, which was held to be a holy and good
+woman, and was daughter of the duke of Brabant; and was buried in the
+Minor Friars with great honour.
+
+
+Sec. 29.--_How the Emperor put the Florentines under the ban of the
+Empire._
+
+[Sidenote: 1311 A.D.]
+
+In the said year and month the Emperor issued a proclamation from
+Genoa against the Florentines that, if within forty days they did not
+send him twelve good men with a plenipotentiary and full promise to
+obey him, he would condemn their goods and persons to be forfeit,
+wherever found. The commonwealth of Florence did not send any
+messengers, but all the Florentine merchants which were in Genoa
+received orders to depart thence, and this they did; and after that,
+all merchandise which was found in Genoa in the name of the
+Florentines was seized by the court of the Emperor.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1311 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 30.--_Of the scandal which was in Florence among the wool-workers._
+Sec. 31.--_How King Robert sent men to Florence to oppose the Emperor._
+
+
+Sec. 32.--_How the city of Brescia rebelled against the Emperor._
+
+[Sidenote: 1311 A.D.]
+
+In the said year, in the end of December, the Guelfs of Brescia
+re-entered the city to cause it to rebel against the Emperor. Thither
+rode M. Cane della Scala with his forces, and drave them out thence
+with great loss. And in the said month of December M. Ghiberto da
+Correggia, which was holding Parma, rebelled against the lordship of
+the Emperor, as likewise did they of Reggio; and the Florentines and
+the rest of the league of the Guelfs of Tuscany sent aid to them of
+man and horse.
+
+
+Sec. 33.--_How there was great tumult in Florence by reason of the death
+of M. Pazzino de' Pazzi._
+
+
+Sec. 34.--_How the city of Cremona rebelled against the Emperor._
+
+In the said year 1311, on the 10th day of the said month of January,
+the Cremonese rebelled against the lordship of the Emperor, and drave
+out his people and his vicar, and this was through the suggestion of
+the Florentines, which still had their ambassador there to treat of
+this, promising to the Cremonese much aid in money and in people; but
+the promise was ill fulfilled to them by the Florentines.
+
+
+Sec. 35.--_How the marshal of the Emperor came to Pisa, and began war
+with the Florentines._
+
+[Sidenote: 1311 A.D.]
+
+In the said year, on the 11th of January, Henry of Namurs, brother of
+Count Robert of Flanders, marshal of the Emperor, came by sea to Pisa
+with but small following, and two days after sallied forth from Pisa
+with his men, and took station this side Pontadera, and all the goods
+of the Florentines which were coming from Pisa he caused to be
+captured and taken back to Pisa; whence the Florentines had great
+loss. For this cause the Florentines sent foot and horse to Samminiato
+and the frontier there.
+
+
+Sec. 36.--_How the Paduans rebelled against the lordship of the Emperor._
+
+In the said year, on the 15th of February, the Paduans, with the help
+of the Florentines and of the Bolognese, rebelled against the lordship
+of the Emperor, and drave out his vicar and his followers; and
+tumultuously slew M. Guglielmo Novello, their fellow-citizen and chief
+leader of the Ghibelline party in Padua.
+
+
+Sec. 37.--_How the Emperor Henry came to the city of Pisa._ Sec.
+38.--_How they of Spoleto were defeated by the Perugians._
+
+
+Sec. 39.--_Of the gathering together made by King Robert and the league
+of Tuscany at Rome to oppose the coronation of the Emperor Henry._
+
+[Sidenote: 1312 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Par. xvi. 42.]
+
+In the year 1312, in the month of April, when King Robert heard of the
+preparation which the king of Germany was making in Pisa, to come to
+Rome to be crowned, he sent forward to Rome, at the request and with
+the support of the Orsini, M. John, his brother, with 600 Catalan and
+Apulian horsemen, and they came to Rome the 16th day of April; and he
+sent to the Florentines and Lucchese and Sienese, and to the other
+cities of Tuscany which were in league with him, to send their forces
+there; wherefore there went forth from Florence on the 9th day of May,
+1312, a troop of 200 horsemen of the best citizens, and the marshal of
+King Robert which was in their pay, with 300 Catalan horse and 1,000
+foot, very fine soldiers; and the royal standard was borne by M. Berto
+di M. Pazzino dei Pazzi, a valiant and wise young knight, which died
+at Rome in the service of the king and of the commonwealth of
+Florence. And from Lucca there went 300 horse and 1,000 foot, and of
+Sienese 200 horse and 600 foot, and many other cities of Tuscany and
+of the Roman state sent men thither. Which all were in Rome on the
+21st day of May, 1312, to oppose the coronation of the Emperor; and
+with the force of the said Orsini, of Rome, and of their followers
+they took the Capitol, and drave out thence by force M. Louis, of
+Savoy, the senator; and they took the towers and fortresses at the
+foot of the Capitol, above the market, and fortified Hadrian's Castle,
+called S. Angelo, and the church and palaces of S. Peter; and thus
+they had the lordship and rule over more than the half of Rome, and
+that, too, the most populous; and all the Transtiberine district. The
+Colonnesi and their following, which took the side of the Emperor,
+held the Lateran, Santa Maria Maggiore, the Coliseum, Santa Maria
+Ritonda, the Milizie, and Santa Savina; and thus each party was
+defended by bars and bolts in great strongholds. And as the people of
+Florence abode there, on S. John Baptist's Day, their principal feast,
+they ran the races in Rome for their cloth of crimson samite, as they
+were wont to do on the said day in Florence.
+
+
+Sec. 40.--_How the Emperor Henry departed from Pisa and came to Rome._
+
+[Sidenote: 1312 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Purg. vi. 107.]
+
+[Sidenote Cf. Par. xv. 109-111.]
+
+In the said year, on the 23rd day of April, the king of Germany
+departed from Pisa with his people to the number of 2,000 horse and
+more, and took the way of the Maremma, and then by the country of
+Siena, and by that of Orvieto, without sojourning, and without any
+hindrance he came to Viterbo, and had it without opposition, forasmuch
+as it pertained to the lordship of the Colonnas. And as he passed
+through the territory of Orvieto, the Filippeschi of Orvieto, with
+their following of Ghibellines, began a strife within the city against
+the Monaldeschi and the other Guelfs of Orvieto, to give the city to
+the Emperor. The Guelfs, being strong and well-armed, fought
+vigorously before the Ghibellines could gain the aid of the Emperor's
+troops, and overcame them, and drave them out of the city with many
+slain and captured. Then the king of Germany abode many days at
+Viterbo, not being able to gain admittance by the gate of S. Piero of
+Rome; and the Emilian Bridge over the Tiber being fortified and
+guarded by the forces of the Orsini, at last he departed from Viterbo,
+and stayed at Monte Malo; and afterwards by the forces of his
+followers from without, and those of the Colonnesi and their party
+within, he assailed the fortresses and strongholds of the Emilian
+Bridge, and by strength overcame them, and thus he entered into Rome
+on the 7th day of May, and came to Santa Savina to sojourn.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1312 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 41.--_How M. Galeasso Visconti of Milan took the city of Piacenza._
+Sec. 42.--_How the Florentines drave away the Pisans in discomfiture from
+Cerretello._
+
+
+Sec. 43.--_How Henry of Luxemburg was crowned Emperor at Rome._
+
+[Sidenote: 1312 A.D.]
+
+In the said year, whilst the king of the Romans abode long time in
+Rome, till he might come by force to the church of S. Peter to be
+crowned, his followers had many battles with the opposing forces of
+King Robert and the Tuscans, and overcame them by force and regained
+the Capitol, and the fortresses above the market, and the towers of S.
+Mark. And verily it seems as if he would have been victorious in large
+measure in the strife, save that on one day, the 26th day of May, when
+in a great battle, the bishop of Liege, with many barons of Germany,
+having forced the lines, was traversing the city well-nigh to the
+bridge of S. Angelo, King Robert's followers, with the Florentines,
+departed from the Campo di Fiore by crossways, and attacked the enemy
+in the flank, and pursued and broke them up; and more than 250
+horsemen were either slain or taken prisoner, among which the said
+bishop of Liege was taken; and whilst a knight was bringing him behind
+him disarmed on his horse to M. John, brother of King Robert, a
+Catalan, whose brother had been slain in this pursuit, thrust at him
+in the back with his sword; wherefore, when he came to the castle of
+S. Angelo, in a short time he died; and this was a heavy loss,
+forasmuch as he was a lord of great valour and of great authority. By
+reason of the said loss and discomfiture, King Robert's followers and
+their men increased greatly in vigour and audacity, and those of the
+king of Germany the contrary. When he perceived that these conflicts
+did not make for his good, and that he was losing his men and his
+honour, having first sent to the Pope to ask that his cardinals might
+crown him in whatever church of Rome might please them, he determined
+to have himself crowned in S. John Lateran; and there was he crowned
+by the bishop of Ostia, Cardinal da Prato, and by M. Luca dal Fiesco,
+and M. Arnaldo Guasconi, cardinals, the day of S. Peter in Vincola,
+the 1st of August, 1312, with great honour from those people which
+were with him, and from those Romans which were on his side. And the
+Emperor Henry having been crowned, a few days after he departed to
+Tivoli to sojourn there, and left Rome barricaded and in evil state,
+and each party kept its streets and strongholds fortified and guarded.
+And when the coronation was over, there departed of his barons, the
+duke of Bavaria and his people, and other lords of Germany, which had
+served him, so that he remained with but few foreigners.
+
+
+Sec. 44.--_How the Emperor departed from Rome to go into Tuscany._
+
+[Sidenote: 1312 A.D.]
+
+Then the Emperor departed from Tivoli, and came with his people to
+Todi, and was received honourably by the inhabitants, and as their
+lord, forasmuch as they took his part. The Florentines and the other
+Tuscans, hearing that the Emperor had departed from Rome and was
+taking his way towards Tuscany, straightway sent for their troops
+which were at Rome, to the end they might be stronger against his
+coming. And when the said troops had returned, the Florentines and the
+other cities of Tuscany garrisoned their fortresses with horsemen and
+with soldiers, to resist the coming of the Emperor, fearing greatly
+his forces, and confining more straitly the Ghibellines and others
+which were suspected; and the Florentines increased the number of
+their horsemen to 1,300, and of soldiers they had with the marshal and
+with others 700, so that they had about 2,000 horsemen; and every
+other town and city of Tuscany in the league of King Robert and of the
+Guelf party, had strengthened itself with soldiers for fear of the
+Emperor.
+
+
+Sec. 45.--_How the Emperor came to the city of Arezzo, and afterwards how
+he came towards the city of Florence._
+
+[Sidenote: 1312 A.D.]
+
+In the said month of August, in 1312, the Emperor departed from Todi
+and passed through the region of Perugia, destroying and burning, and
+his people took by force Castiglione of Chiusi on the lake, and from
+there he came to Cortona, and then to Arezzo, and was received by the
+Aretines with great honour. And in Arezzo he assembled his army to
+come against the city of Florence, and suddenly he departed from
+Arezzo and entered into the territory of Florence on the 12th day of
+September, and there was straightway surrendered to him the fortress
+of Caposelvole upon the Ambra which pertained to the Florentines. And
+then he pitched his camp before the fortress of Montevarchi, which was
+well furnished with soldiers, both horse and foot, and with victuals;
+against it he ordered many assaults, and caused the moats to be
+emptied of water, and filled up with earth. They within the city,
+seeing that they were so hotly assailed, and that the city had low
+walls, and that the horsemen of the Emperor fighting on foot, and
+mounting the walls on ladders, did not fear the arrows nor the stones
+which were thrown down, were greatly dismayed, and believing that the
+Florentines would not succour them, surrendered themselves on the
+third day to the Emperor. And when he had taken Montevarchi, without
+delay he came with his host to the fortress of Sangiovanni, which in
+like manner surrendered itself to him, and he took there seventy
+Catalan horsemen, in the service of the Florentines: and thus without
+hindrance he came to the village of Fegghine.
+
+
+Sec. 46.--_How the Florentines were well-nigh discomfited at the fortress
+of Ancisa by the army of the Emperor._
+
+[Sidenote: 1312 A.D.]
+
+When the Florentines heard that the Emperor had departed from Arezzo,
+immediately the people and horsemen of Florence, without awaiting
+other aid, rode to the fortress of Ancisa upon the Arno, and they were
+about 1,800 horse and many foot, and at Ancisa they encamped to hold
+the pass against the Emperor. And when he heard this, he came with his
+army to the plain of Ancisa upon the island of Arno which is called Il
+Mezzule, and challenged the Florentines to battle. The Florentines,
+knowing themselves to be in number of their horsemen not much superior
+to those of the Emperor, and being without a captain, did not desire
+to try the fortune of battle, believing that they could hinder the
+Emperor by reason of the difficult pass, so that he could not get
+through to Florence. The Emperor seeing that the Florentines were not
+willing to fight, by counsel of the wise men of war, refugees from
+Florence, took the way of the hill above Ancisa, and by narrow and
+difficult ways passed the fortress and came out on the side towards
+Florence. The host of the Florentines perceiving his movements, and
+fearing lest he should come to the city of Florence, some part of them
+with the king's marshal and his troops departed from Ancisa, to be
+before him in the way. The count of Savoy, and M. Henry of Flanders,
+which were come before to take the pass, vigorously attacked them
+which were at the frontier under Montelfi, and with the advantage
+which they had of the hill, they put them to flight and discomfiture,
+and some pursued them as far as the village of Ancisa. The rout of the
+Florentines was more through the dismay caused by the sudden assault,
+than by loss of men; for among them all there were not twenty-five
+horsemen slain, and less than one hundred footmen; and well-nigh all
+the foreigners which came in pursuit of them as far as the village
+were slain. Nevertheless, the followers of the Emperor remained
+victorious in the combat, and the Florentines were filled with fear;
+and the Emperor spent that night two miles this side of Ancisa on the
+way to Florence. The Florentines remained in the fortress of Ancisa,
+as it were besieged and with but little provision of victuals, so
+that, if the Emperor had been constant to the siege, the Florentines
+which were at Ancisa would have been well-nigh all slain or taken. But
+as it pleased God, the Emperor resolved that night to go direct to the
+city of Florence, believing that he should take it without opposition;
+and he left the host of the Florentines behind at Ancisa, seeing that
+they were in a state of siege, and in much fear, and in great
+disorder.
+
+
+Sec. 47.--_How the Emperor Henry encamped with his host before the city
+of Florence._
+
+[Sidenote: 1312 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. vi. 111.]
+
+And thus the day following, the 19th day of September, 1312, the
+Emperor came with his host to the city of Florence, his followers
+setting fire to everything they came across; and thus he crossed the
+river Arno, over against where the Mensola enters it, and abode at the
+monastery of Santo Salvi, with perhaps 1,000 horsemen. The rest of his
+followers remained in Valdarno, and part at Todi, which came to him
+afterwards; and as they came through the region of Perugia, they were
+assailed by the Perugians, and defended themselves against them, and
+passed on with loss and shame to the Perugians. And the Emperor came
+thither so suddenly that the most part of the Florentines could not
+believe that he was there in person; and they were so dismayed and
+fearful about their horsemen which were left at Ancisa well-nigh
+discomfited, that if the Emperor and his followers, upon their sudden
+coming had advanced to the gates, they would have found them open and
+ill-guarded; and it is thought by most that the city would have been
+taken. The Florentines, however, beholding the burning of the houses
+along the way, called the people to arms by sound of bell, and with
+the standards of their companies they came to the piazza of the
+Priors, and the bishop of Florence armed himself, with the horses
+belonging to the clergy, and hastened to defend the Porta Santo
+Ambrogio and the moats; and all the people on foot were with him; and
+they barred the gates, and ordered the standard-bearers and their
+people, at their posts along the moats, to guard the city by day and
+by night. And within the city on that side they pitched a camp with
+pavilions, tents, and booths, to the intent the guard might be
+stronger, and made palisades along the moats of all kinds of wood,
+with portcullises, in a very short time. And thus abode the
+Florentines in great fear for two days, for their horsemen and their
+army were returning from Ancisa by divers ways by the vale of
+Robbiano, and from Santa Maria in Pianeta a Montebuoni [Impruneta] in
+the night season. When they came to Florence, the city was reassured;
+and the Lucchese sent thither in aid and defence of the city 600 horse
+and 3,000 foot, and the Sienese 600 horse and 2,000 foot, and they of
+Pistoia 100 horse and 500 foot, and they of Prato 50 horse and 400
+foot, and they of Volterra 100 horse and 300 foot, and Colle and
+Sangimignagno and Samminiato each 50 horse and 200 foot, the Bolognese
+400 horse and 1,000 foot; from Romagna there came, what with Rimini
+and Ravenna and Faenza and Cesena and the other Guelf cities, 300
+horse and 1,500 foot, and from Agobbio 100 horse, and from the city of
+Castello 50 horse. From Perugia there came no aid, by reason of the
+war which they had with Todi and Spoleto. And thus within eight days
+of the siege being declared by the Emperor, the Florentines with their
+allies were more than 4,000 horse, and foot without number. The
+Emperor had 1,800 horsemen, whereof 800 were foreigners and 1,000
+Italians, from Rome, from the March, from the Duchy, from Arezzo, and
+from Romagna, and from the Counts Guidi, and them of Santafiore, and
+the Florentine refugees; and much people on foot, forasmuch as the
+country people of the region which he was occupying, all followed his
+camp. And that year was the most fertile and fruitful in all food
+which had been for thirty years past. The Emperor abode at the siege
+until the last day of the month of October, laying the whole country
+waste towards the eastern side, and did great hurt to the Florentines
+without any attack upon the city, being in hopes of gaining it by
+agreement; and even if he had attacked it, it was so well furnished
+with horsemen, that there would have been two or more defending the
+city for every one without, and of foot four to one; and the
+Florentines were in such good heart that the most part went about
+unarmed, and they kept all the other gates open, save the one on that
+side; and the merchandise came in and went out as if there had been no
+war. As to the Florentines sallying forth to battle, either by reason
+of cowardice or of prudence in war, or because they had no leader,
+they would in no wise trust to the fortune of the combat, albeit they
+had greatly the advantage, had they but had a good captain, and been
+more united among themselves. Certainly they rode out to Cerretello,
+whither the Pisans had marched with their army, and they forced them
+to withdraw from it again, as though defeated, in the month of
+October. The Emperor lay sick many days at San Salvi, and perceiving
+that he could not gain the city by agreement, and that the Florentines
+would not give battle, he departed, not yet recovered. [And whilst he
+was still at San Salvi, the count of Savoy was discoursing with the
+abbot and certain monks of that place, concerning the Emperor, how he
+had heard from his astrologers or by some other revelation, that he
+was to conquer as far as to the world's end; then said the abbot
+smiling: "The prophecy is fulfilled, for hard by where you are
+dwelling, there is a road which has no exit, which is called the
+World's End"; wherefore the count and the other barons which heard
+this were confounded in their vain hope: and for this reason, wise men
+ought not to put faith in any prophecy or sayings of astrologers, for
+they are lies and have a double meaning.]
+
+
+Sec. 48.--_How the Emperor abandoned the siege, and departed from San
+Salvi, and came to San Casciano, and then to Poggibonizzi._
+
+[Sidenote: 1312 A.D.]
+
+The Emperor with his host departed on the night before All Saints, and
+having burnt his camp, he passed the Arno by the way which he came,
+and encamped on the plain of Ema, three miles from the city. On his
+going the Florentines did not sally forth from the city by night, but
+they sounded the bells and all men stood to arms; and for this cause,
+as was afterwards known, the followers of the Emperor were in great
+trepidation about their departure, lest they should be attacked by
+night either in front or in rear by the Florentines. The morning
+following, a part of the Florentines went to the hill of Santa
+Margherita above the camp of the Emperor, and by way of skirmishes
+they made many assaults upon them, in the which they had the worse;
+and having tarried there three days in shame, he departed and came
+with his host to the village of San Casciano, eight miles from the
+city; wherefore the Florentines caused a trench to be dug round the
+increase of the sesto of Oltrarno outside the ancient walls, on the
+first of December, 1312. And the Emperor being at San Casciano, the
+Pisans came thither to his aid with full 500 horse and 3,000 foot, and
+1,000 archers of Genoa, and they arrived the 20th day of November. At
+San Casciano he abode until the 6th day of January, without making any
+attack upon the Florentines save incursions, and laying waste, and
+burning houses in the region; and he took many strongholds of the
+country; nor did the Florentines therefore sally forth to battle, save
+in incursions and skirmishes, wherein now one party and now the other
+suffered loss, not worthy of much mention, save that at one encounter,
+at Cerbaia in the Val di Pesa our troops were routed by the Germans,
+and one of the Spini was there slain, and one of the Bostichi, and one
+of the Guadagni, because of their boldness at that place; for they
+were of a company of volunteers, with a captain, their banner bearing
+a red stripe on a green field, and they called themselves the
+Cavaliers of the Stripe, of the most famous young men of Florence, and
+they did many feats of arms. But during this time, the Florentines
+parted from a great number of their allies and let them go; and the
+Emperor himself had not many followers; and by reason of his long
+sojourn and by the discomfort of the cold, there began in the camp at
+San Casciano to be great sickness and mortality among the people,
+which greatly infected the country, and reached as far as to Florence;
+for the which cause the Emperor departed with his host from San
+Casciano and came to Poggibonizzi, and took the strongholds of
+Barberino and of San Donato in Poggio, and many other fortresses; at
+Poggibonizzi he restored the fortress upon the hill, as of old it was
+wont to be, and gave it the name of the Imperial Fortress. There he
+abode until the 6th day of March, and during that sojourn he was in
+great need of provision, and suffered much want, he and all his host,
+forasmuch as the Sienese on the one side, and the Florentines on the
+other, between them had closed the roads, and 300 soldiers of King
+Robert were in Colle di Valdelsa, and harassed them continually; and
+200 of the Emperor's horsemen, as they were returning from Casole,
+were defeated by the king's horsemen which were in Colle, on the 14th
+day of February, 1312. And on the other side, the marshal with the
+soldiers of Florence, harassed him in Sangimignagno, so that the state
+of the Emperor was much diminished, and there scarce remained to him
+1,000 horse, forasmuch as M. Robert of Flanders had departed with his
+followers, and the Florentines took him in flank at Castelfiorentino,
+and a great part of his men were slain or taken, and he fled with a
+few, albeit he had held the field well, and had given them which
+attacked him much to do, which were four to his one, and were much
+shamed thereby.
+
+
+Sec. 49.--_How the Emperor departed from Poggibonizzi and returned to
+Pisa, and issued many bans against the Florentines._
+
+[Sidenote: 1313 A.D.]
+
+Thus the Emperor perceived himself to be brought low in men and in
+victuals, and also in money, so that nought was left to him to spend,
+save only that ambassadors from King Frederick of Sicily, which landed
+at Pisa, and came to him to Poggibonizzi to make a league with him
+against King Robert, gave him 20,000 golden pistoles. When he had paid
+his debts with these, he departed from Poggibonizzi, and without
+halting came to Pisa, on the 9th day of March, 1312, in very evil
+plight, both he and his followers; but the Emperor Henry had this
+supreme virtue in him, that never in adversity was he as one cast
+down, nor in prosperity was he vainglorious. When the Emperor had
+returned to Pisa he proclaimed a great and weighty sentence against
+the Florentines, taking from them all jurisdiction and honours,
+disqualifying all the judges and notaries, and condemning the
+commonwealth of Florence to pay 100,000 marks of silver; and many
+citizens, both magnates and popolani who were in the government of
+Florence, he condemned in their money, and persons, and goods; and the
+Florentines were not to coin money in gold or in silver; and he
+granted to M. Ubizzino Spinoli of Genoa and to the marquis of
+Montferrat, the privilege of coining florins counterfeited after the
+impression of those of the Florentines; the which thing, by wise men,
+was charged against him as a great fault and sin, for however
+indignant and wrathful he might be against the Florentines, he ought
+never to have granted a privilege to coin false florins.
+
+
+Sec. 50.--_How the Emperor condemned King Robert._
+
+[Sidenote: 1313 A.D.]
+
+Against King Robert he likewise proclaimed a heavy sentence, declaring
+his realm of Apulia and the county of Provence to be forfeit, and
+himself and his heirs to be condemned in their persons as traitors
+against the Empire; which sentence was afterwards declared null and
+void by Pope John XXII. And while the Emperor was in Pisa, M. Henry of
+Flanders, his marshal, rode to Versilia and Lunigiana with 800 horse
+and 6,000 foot, and took Pietrasanta by force on the 28th day of
+March, 1313. The Lucchese, which were at Camaiore with the forces of
+the Florentines, did not venture to oppose him, but returned to Lucca;
+and Serrezzano, which was held by the Lucchese, surrendered to the
+Marquises Malispini, who held with the Emperor.
+
+
+Sec. 51.--_How the Emperor made ready to enter into the Kingdom against
+King Robert, and departed from Pisa._
+
+[Sidenote: 1313 A.D.]
+
+This done, the Emperor took counsel not to encounter the Florentines
+and the other Tuscans (whereby he had little bettered his state, but
+rather made it worse), but to bring matters to a head, and to march
+against King Robert with all his force and take the Kingdom from him;
+and if he had done this, it was believed that he would have been
+master of all Italy; and certainly this would have come to pass, if
+God had not averted it, as we shall make mention. He made a league
+with King Frederick, who held the island of Sicily, and with the
+Genoese, and ordained that each one, on the day named, should put to
+sea with a large fleet of armed galleys; he sent into Germany and into
+Lombardy for fresh troops, and made the like demands on all his
+subjects, and on the Ghibellines of Italy. During this sojourn in
+Pisa, he collected much money, and without sleeping, caused his
+marshal continually to make war against Lucca and Samminiato, though
+he made but little progress. In the summer of 1313, which he passed in
+Pisa, after his forces were come to him, he numbered more than 2,500
+foreign horsemen, for the most part Germans, and of Italians fully
+1,500 horsemen. The Genoese armed at his request seventy galleys,
+whereof M. Lamba d'Oria was admiral, and he came with the said navy to
+the port of Pisa, and parleyed with the Emperor; afterwards he
+departed towards the kingdom to the island of Ponzo. King Frederick
+armed fifty galleys, and on the day named, the 5th of August, 1313,
+the Emperor departed from Pisa; and the same day it came to pass that
+King Frederick departed from Messina with his army, and with 1,000
+horse, encamped in Calabria, and took the city of Reggio, and many
+other cities.
+
+
+Sec. 52.--_How the Emperor Henry died at Bonconvento, in the country of
+Siena._
+
+[Sidenote: 1313 A.D.]
+
+When the Emperor had departed from Pisa he crossed the Elsa, and
+attacked Castelfiorentino, and could not take it; he went on through
+Poggibonizzi and Colle, as far as Siena alongside the gates. In Siena
+there were many folk of war, and certain Florentine horsemen sallied
+forth from the Cammollia Gate to skirmish, and were worsted and driven
+back into the city; and Siena was in great fear; and the Emperor
+passed by the city and encamped at Montaperti upon the Arbia; there he
+began to be sick, albeit his sickness had made itself felt even from
+his departure from Pisa; but because he would not fail to depart on
+the day named, he set forth on his journey. Then he went to the plain
+of Filetta, to bathe in the baths of Macereto, and from there he went
+to the village of Bonconvento, twelve miles beyond Siena. There he
+grew rapidly worse, and, as it pleased God, he passed from this life
+on the day of S. Bartholomew, the 24th day of August, 1313.
+
+
+Sec. 53.--_Relates how, when the Emperor was dead, his host was divided,
+and the barons carried his body to the city of Pisa._
+
+[Sidenote: 1313 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xxx. 133-138.]
+
+When the Emperor Henry was dead, his host, and the Pisans, and all his
+friends were in great grief thereat, and the Florentines, Sienese and
+Lucchese and they of their league rejoiced greatly. And when he was
+dead, straightway the Aretines and the other Ghibellines from the
+March and from Romagna departed from the host at Bonconvento, wherein
+were great numbers of people, both on horse and on foot. His barons
+and the Pisan cavalry, with their followers, without delay passed
+through the Maremma with his body, and brought it to Pisa; there, with
+great sorrow and also with great honour, they buried it in their
+cathedral. This was the end of the Emperor Henry. And let not the
+reader marvel, that his story has been continued by us without
+recounting other things and events in Italy and in other provinces and
+realms; for two reasons, one, because all Christians and also Greeks
+and Saracens were intent upon his doings and fortunes, and therefore
+but few notable things came to pass in any other place; the other,
+that by reason of the divers and manifold great fortunes which he met
+withal in the short time that he lived, it is verily believed by the
+wise, that if death had not come so early to a lord of such valour and
+of such great undertakings as he was, he would have conquered the
+Kingdom, and taken it from King Robert, who had made but little
+preparation for its defence. Rather was it said by many, that King
+Robert would not have awaited him, but would have gone by sea to
+Provence; and after he had conquered the Kingdom as he purposed, it
+would have been very easy for him to conquer all Italy and many of the
+other provinces.
+
+
+Sec. 54.--_How Frederick, the said king of Sicily, came by sea to the
+city of Pisa._ Sec. 55.--_How the Count Filipponi of Pavia was defeated
+at Piacenza._
+
+
+Sec. 56.--_How the Florentines gave the lordship of Florence to King
+Robert for five years._
+
+In the said year 1313, whilst the Emperor was yet alive, the
+Florentines finding themselves in evil case, alike from the forces of
+the Emperor and of their own exiles, and also having dissensions among
+themselves from the factions which had arisen as to the filling of the
+magistracies, they gave themselves to King Robert for five years, and
+then afterwards they renewed it for three, and thus for eight years
+King Robert had the lordship over them, sending them a vicar every six
+months, and the first was M. Giacomo di Cantelmo of Provence, who came
+to Florence in the month of June, 1313. And the Lucchese and the
+Pistoians and the men of Prato did the like, in giving the lordship to
+King Robert. And of a surety this was the salvation of the
+Florentines, for by reason of the great divisions among the Guelfs, if
+there had not been this device of the lordship of King Robert they
+would have been torn to pieces and destroyed by each other, and one
+side or the other cast out.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1313 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 57.--_How the Spinoli were expelled from Genoa._ Sec. 58.--_How
+Uguccione da Faggiuola, lord of Pisa, made great war against the
+Lucchese, so that they restored the Ghibelline refugees to Lucca under
+enforced terms of peace._
+
+
+Sec. 59.--_Of the death of Pope Clement._
+
+[Sidenote: 1314 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. xix. 82-87. Par. xvii. 82, xxvii. 58-60, xxx. 142-148.
+Epist. v. 10: 167, 168.]
+
+In the year 1314, on the 20th day of April, Pope Clement died; he was
+on his way to Bordeaux, in Gascony, and when he had passed the Rhone
+at Roquemaure, in Provence, he fell sick and died. This was a man very
+greedy of money, and a simoniac, which sold in his court every
+benefice for money, and was licentious; for it was openly said that he
+had as mistress the countess of Perigord, a most beautiful lady,
+daughter of the count of Foix. And he bequeathed to his nephews and
+family immense and boundless treasure; and it was said that while the
+said Pope was yet alive, one of his nephews, a cardinal, died, whom he
+greatly loved; and he constrained a great master of necromancy to tell
+him what had become of his nephew's soul. The said master having
+wrought his arts, caused a chaplain of the Pope, a very courageous
+man, to be conducted by the demons, which had him to hell, and showed
+him visibly a palace wherein was a bed of glowing fire, and thereon
+was the soul of the said nephew which was dead, and they said to him
+that for his simony he was thus judged. And he saw in his vision
+another palace being raised over against the first, which they told
+him was being prepared for Pope Clement. And the said chaplain brought
+back these tidings to the Pope, which was never afterwards glad, and
+he lived but a short time longer; and when he was dead, and his body
+had been left for the night in a church with many lights, his coffin
+caught fire and was burnt, and his body from the middle downwards.
+
+
+Sec. 60.--_How Uguccione da Faggiuola with the Pisans took the city of
+Lucca and stole the treasure of the Church._ Sec. 61.--_How M. Peter,
+brother of King Robert, came to Florence as lord._ Sec. 62.--_How King
+Robert went with a great armament against Sicily, and besieged the
+city of Trapali._
+
+
+Sec. 63.--_How the Paduans were discomfited at Vicenza by M. Cane della
+Scala._
+
+[Sidenote: Johannes de Virgilio. Carmen _v._ 28.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xvii. 76-93.]
+
+In the said year 1314, on the 18th day of September, the Paduans went
+in full force to Vicenza, and took the suburbs, and besieged the city;
+but M. Cane, lord of Verona, suddenly came to Vicenza, and with a few
+followers fought against the Paduans; and they being in disorder,
+trusting in themselves too much after having taken the suburbs, were
+discomfited, and many of them were slain and taken prisoner.
+
+
+Sec. 64.--_How the Florentines made peace with the Aretines._ Sec.
+65.--_How a comet appeared in the heavens._
+
+
+Sec. 66.--_Of the death of Philip, king of France, and of his sons._
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xix. 118-120.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1314 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Purg. vii. 109, 110.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Par. ix. 1.]
+
+In the said year 1314, in the month of November, the King Philip, king
+of France, which had reigned twenty-nine years, died by an
+ill-adventure; for, being at a chase, a wild boar ran between the legs
+of the horse whereupon he was riding, and caused him to fall, and
+shortly after he died. He was one of the most comely men in the world,
+and of the tallest in person, and well proportioned in every limb; he
+was a wise man in himself, and good, after layman's fashion, but by
+reason of pleasure-seeking, especially in the chase, he did not devote
+his powers to ruling his realm, but rather allowed them to be played
+upon by others, so that he was generally swayed by ill counsel, to
+which he lent a too ready credence; whence many perils came to his
+realm. He left three sons, Louis, king of Navarre; Philip, count of
+Poitou; and Charles, Count de la Marche. All these sons one after
+another in a short while became kings of France, one succeeding on the
+death of another. And a little while before King Philip, their father,
+died, there fell upon them great and shameful misfortune, for the
+wives of all three were found to be faithless; and each one of the
+husbands was among the most beauteous Christians in the world. The
+wife of King Louis was daughter of the duke of Burgundy. Louis, when
+he was king of France, caused her to be strangled with a towel, and
+then took to wife Queen Clemence, daughter, that was, of Charles
+Martel, the son of Charles II., king of Apulia. The wives of the
+second and third sons were sisters, daughters of the count of
+Burgundy, and heiresses of the countess of Artois. Philip, count of
+Poitou, on his wife's denial of the charge, and because he loved her
+much, took her again as being good and beautiful; Charles, Count de la
+Marche, never would take his wife back, but kept her in prison. This
+misfortune, it was said, befell them as a miracle by reason of the sin
+which prevailed in that house of taking their kinswomen to wife, not
+regarding degrees, or perchance because of the sin committed by their
+father in taking Pope Boniface, as the bishop of Sion prophesied, as
+we have before narrated.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1314 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: 1315 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 67.--_Of the election which was made in Germany of two Emperors, one
+the duke of Bavaria, and the other the duke of Austria._ Sec. 68.--_How
+Uguccione, lord of Pisa, made great war against the neighbouring
+places._ Sec. 69.--_How King Louis of France was crowned, and led an army
+against the Flemings, but gained nothing._
+
+
+Sec. 70.--_How Uguccione, lord of Lucca and of Pisa, laid siege to the
+castle of Montecatini._
+
+In the said year, Uguccione da Faggiuola, with his forces of German
+troops, being lord of all Pisa and of Lucca, having triumphed
+throughout all Tuscany, brought his host and laid siege to
+Montecatini, in Valdinievole, which was held by the Florentines after
+the loss of Lucca; and, albeit it was well furnished with good men,
+yet by means of the siege works it was greatly straitened, and in sore
+want of provisions. The Florentines sent into the Kingdom for M.
+Philip of Taranto, brother to King Robert, to oppose the fury of
+Uguccione, and of the Pisans, and of the Germans; and he came to
+Florence on the 11th of July with 500 horsemen in the pay of the
+Florentines, and with his son Charles, against the will of King
+Robert, who knew his brother to be more headstrong than wise, and also
+not very fortunate in battle, but rather the contrary; and if the
+Florentines had been willing to tarry longer, King Robert would have
+sent to Florence his son, the duke, with more order and more
+preparation, and a better following: but the haste of the Florentines,
+and the device of hostile fortune, made them desire only the prince,
+whence came to them thereafter much harm and loss of renown.
+
+
+Sec. 71.--_How, when the prince of Taranto was come to Florence, the
+Florentines sallied forth with their army to succour Montecatini, and
+were defeated by Uguccione della Faggiuola._
+
+[Sidenote: 1315 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Johannes de Virgilio. Carmen _v._ 27.]
+
+When the prince of Taranto and his son were come to Florence,
+Uguccione, with all his forces from Pisa and from Lucca, and those of
+the bishop of Arezzo, and of the counts of Santafiore, and of all the
+Ghibellines of Tuscany and the exiles of Florence, with aid of the
+Lombards, under M. Maffeo Visconti and his sons, to the number of
+2,500 and more horse, and a great number of foot, came to besiege the
+stronghold of Montecatini. The Florentines, in order to succour it,
+assembled a great host, and since they invited all their friends,
+there were there Bolognese, Sienese, men of Perugia and of the city of
+Castello, of Agobbio, and of Romagna, and of Pistoia, of Volterra, and
+of Prato, and of all the other Guelf and friendly cities of Tuscany,
+to the number, with the followers of the prince and of M. Piero, of
+3,200 horse and a very great number of foot; and they departed from
+Florence on the 6th day of August. And when the said host of the
+Florentines and of the prince was come to Valdinievole, over against
+that of Uguccione, many days they abode face to face with the torrent
+of the Nievole between them, and many assaults and skirmishes took
+place. The Florentines, with many captains and but little order, held
+their enemies for nought; Uguccione and his people held theirs in
+great fear, and for this cause they kept strict guard and wise
+generalship. Uguccione, receiving tidings that the Guelfs of the
+territory six miles around Lucca, at the instigation of the
+Florentines, were marching upon Lucca, and had already routed the
+escort and taken possession of the road whereby provisions were
+brought to his army, took counsel to withdraw from the siege; and by
+night he gathered his troops and burned his outworks, and came with
+his followers in battle array to the neutral ground on the plain
+commanded by both the two hosts, with the intention, if the prince and
+his host did not stretch out to intercept him, to march through and
+make for Pisa; and if they desired to fight, he would have the
+advantage of the field, and would risk the chances of battle. The
+prince and the Florentines and their host, perceiving this, when day
+broke left the camp, and moved their tents and baggage; and the prince
+being ill with ague, they showed but little foresight, nor kept good
+order in the troops, by reason of the sudden and unexpected breaking
+up of the camp, but they confronted the enemy, thinking to turn them
+to flight. Uguccione, perceiving that he could not avoid the battle,
+caused the outposts of the plain to be assailed (to wit, the Sienese
+and them of Colle and others,) by his forefighters, about 150 horse,
+whereof were captains with the imperial pennon, M. Giovanni Giacotti
+Malespini, a rebel against Florence, and Uguccione's son; and the
+Sienese and men of Colle were without resistance broken up and driven
+back as far as the troop of M. Piero, which was with the Florentine
+horse. There the said forefighters were checked and well-nigh all cut
+off and slain, and the said M. Giovanni was left there dead, and
+Uguccione's son, and their company; and the imperial pennon was cut
+down, with many good and brave folk.
+
+
+Sec. 72.--_More about the said battle and defeat of the Florentines and
+of the prince._
+
+[Sidenote: 1315 A.D.]
+
+When the attack was begun, and Uguccione perceived how sorry a figure
+was made by the Sienese and the men of Colle when they fled by reason
+of the assault of his forefighters, he straightway caused the German
+troop to strike in, which were 800 horse and more; and they furiously
+attacked the camp and the said ill-ordered host, whereof by reason of
+the sudden movement a great part of the horse was not fully armed, and
+the foot so ill ordered, that when the Germans attacked them in flank,
+the javelin men let their missiles fall upon our own horse, and then
+took to flight. And this, among others was one great cause of the rout
+of the Florentine host, forasmuch as the said German troop pricking
+forward turned them to flight with little resistance save from the
+troop of M. Piero and of the Florentines, which endured long, but in
+the end were discomfited. In this battle there died M. Piero, brother
+of King Robert, and his body was never found; and M. Carlo, son of the
+prince, died there, and Count Charles of Battifolle, and M. Caroccio,
+and M. Brasco of Aragon, constables of the Florentines, men of great
+valour; and of Florence were left on the field some from well-nigh all
+the great houses and many magnates of the people, to the number of 114
+cavaliers, between slain and prisoners; and, in like manner, of the
+best of Siena and Perugia and Bologna, and the other cities of Tuscany
+and of Romagna; in which battle there were slain 2,000 men in all, of
+horse and foot, and there were 1,500 prisoners. The prince fled with
+all the rest of his followers, some towards Pistoia and some towards
+Fucecchio and some by the Cerbaia; wherefore, since numbers were lost
+in the marshes of the Guisciana, many of the aforesaid slain were
+drowned without stroke of sword. This lamentable discomfiture was on
+the day of the beheading of S. John, the 29th day of August, 1315.
+After the said discomfiture, the stronghold of Montecatini surrendered
+to Uguccione, and the stronghold of Montesommano, which the
+Florentines held; and they which were within were allowed to go out
+safe and sound under conditions.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1316 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 73.--_How Vinci and Cerretoguidi rebelled against the Florentines._
+Sec. 74.--_How King Robert sent Count Novello into Florence as captain._
+Sec. 75.--_How Uguccione beheaded Banduccio Bonconti and his son,
+magnates of Pisa._ Sec. 76.--_How the Florentines were divided into
+factions among themselves, and elected a Bargello._ Sec. 77.--_How a part
+of the walls of Florence was built, and how bad coins were struck._ Sec.
+78.--_How Uguccione da Faggiuola was expelled from the lordship of
+Pisa and of Lucca, and how Castruccio at first had the lordship of
+Lucca._ Sec. 79.--_How the count of Battifolle was vicar in Florence,
+and expelled the Bargello and changed the state of Florence._ Sec.
+80.--_Tells of a great famine and mortality beyond the mountains._
+
+
+Sec. 81.--_Of the election of Pope John XXII._
+
+[Sidenote: 1317 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Par. xxvii. 58. Epistola viii.]
+
+John XXII., born in Cahors, of base lineage, occupied the papal chair
+for 18 years 2 months and 26 days. He was elected on the 7th day of
+August, 1316, in Avignon by the cardinals, after a vacancy of two
+years, and after great discord among themselves, forasmuch as the
+Gascon cardinals, which were a large part of the college, desired the
+election of one of themselves, and the Italian and French and
+Provencal cardinals would not consent thereto, so much had they
+endured from the Gascon Pope. After long dispute, both one party and
+the other entrusted their votes to this Cahorsine, as a mediator, the
+Gascons believing that he would elect the cardinal of Besiers, which
+was of their nation, or Cardinal Pelagru. Who, with the consent of the
+other Italians and Provencals, and by the device of Cardinal Napoleone
+Orsini, head of the faction against the Gascons, gave the chair to
+himself, electing himself Pope after the manner ordained according to
+the Decretals. This man was a poor clerk, and his father was a
+cobbler, and he was brought up by the bishop of Arles, chancellor to
+King Charles II.; and by reason of his goodness and industry he came
+into favour with King Charles, who caused him to be educated at his
+charges, and then the king made him bishop of Frejus; and on the death
+of his master, the archbishop of Arles, to wit M. Piero da Ferriera,
+the chancellor, King Robert made him chancellor in his stead; and
+afterwards, of his care and sagacity, he sent letters as from King
+Robert to Pope Clement recommending himself, whereof the king, it was
+said, knew nothing at all, by reason of which letters he, the said
+bishop of Frejus, was promoted to be bishop of Avignon, and afterwards
+cardinal by reason of his wit and industry; wherefore King Robert,
+before he was made cardinal, was wroth with him, and took away the
+seal from him, forasmuch as he had sealed the said letters in his own
+favour to the said Pope Clement without his knowledge. This Pope John
+was crowned in Avignon on S. Mary's Day, the 8th day of September,
+1316. Afterwards he was a great friend to King Robert, and he to him;
+and by his means he did great things, as hereafter shall be narrated.
+This Pope caused the Seventh Book of the Decretals to be completed
+which Pope Clement had begun, and set in order the solemnity and
+festival of the Sacrament of the Body of Christ, with great
+indulgences and pardons to whoso should be at celebration of the
+sacred offices, each hour, and he gave a general pardon of forty days
+to all Christians for every time that they made reverence when the
+priest repeated the name of Jesus Christ; this he did afterwards in
+the year 1318.
+
+
+Sec. 82.--_How King Robert and the Florentines made peace with the Pisans
+and Lucchese._ Sec. 83.--_How the Florentines recalled the bad money and
+issued the good money of the "new Guelf" mintage._ Sec. 84.--_How King
+Robert sent his fleet to Sicily and did great damage._ Sec. 85.--_How
+Ferrara rebelled against the Church._
+
+
+Sec. 86.--_How Uguccione da Faggiuola sought to re-enter Pisa, and what
+came of it in Pisa, and of the Marquis Spinetta._
+
+[Sidenote: 1317 A.D.]
+
+In the said year 1317, in the month of August, Uguccione da Faggiuola,
+with aid from M. Cane of Verona, came suddenly with much people, both
+horse and foot, into Lunigiana, supported by forces and letters of the
+Marquis Spinetta, who purposed to come to Pisa on the strength of
+certain negotiations which he had conducted in the city with men of
+his faction; which plot was discovered, and there was an outcry of the
+people, whereof Coscetto dal Colle of Pisa made himself the leader;
+and by the counsel of Count Gaddo they rushed in fury to the house of
+the Lanfranchi, which were in league with Uguccione, and slew four of
+the chief of the house; and others, together with their followers,
+they banished and set under bounds. When Uguccione perceived that he
+could not carry out his enterprise, he returned into Lombardy to
+Verona. Castruccio, lord of Lucca, and Uguccione's enemy, made a
+league with Count Gaddo and with the Pisans, and with aid of horsemen
+from them, he went with his host against the Marquis Spinetti, which
+had given Uguccione free passage, and took from him Fosdinuovo, a very
+strong castle, and Veruca and Buosi, and drave him from all his towns;
+and the said Spinetti fled with his family to M. Cane della Scala at
+Verona.
+
+
+Sec. 87.--_How the Ghibelline party left Genoa._
+
+[Sidenote: 1317 A.D.]
+
+In the said year 1317, on the 15th day of September, the city of Genoa
+being under popular government, but the Grimaldi and the Fiescadori
+and their Guelf party being stronger than the d'Oria and their
+Ghibellines (on the one hand because King Robert favoured the Guelfs,
+and on the other hand because the Spinoli, which were of the
+Ghibelline party, and in exile from Genoa, were enemies of the
+d'Oria), certain of the house of the Grimaldi, by reason of enmity
+against the d'Oria, reinstated the Spinoli in Genoa, under pretence
+that they would abide under their command and that of the
+commonwealth. When they of the house of d'Oria and their friends
+perceived this, they feared greatly to be betrayed by the Guelfs and
+by the Grimaldi; and the city was all in arms and uproar; and the
+d'Oria not finding themselves powerful, by reason of the opposition of
+the Guelfs, and also of the Ghibelline Spinoli their enemies,
+concealed themselves and their friends, and showed no force of arms;
+by the which thing the Guelfs were encouraged and took up arms, and
+chose as captains of Genoa, M. Carlo dal Fiesco and M. Guasparre
+Grimaldi, on the 10th day of November, 1317. And when the Spinoli
+which were returned to Genoa saw that the city was come altogether to
+the Guelf party, and knew that this was through the care and industry
+of King Robert, straightway they agreed with the d'Oria and with their
+Ghibelline friends, and they all departed from the city together, on
+no other compulsion; whence afterwards ensued great scandal and war,
+as hereafter will be told, forasmuch as the said two houses of the
+d'Oria and the Spinola were the most powerful families of Italy on the
+side of the Ghibellines and the empire.
+
+
+Sec. 88.--_How the Ghibellines of Lombardy besieged Cremona._
+
+
+Sec. 89.--_How M. Cane della Scala led an army against the Paduans, and
+took many castles from them._
+
+In the said year, in the month of December, the said M. Cane with his
+forces led his host against the Paduans, and took Monselici and Esti
+and a great part of their castles, and brought them so low that the
+following February, not being able to oppose him, they made peace
+according to M. Cane's pleasure, and promised to restore the
+Ghibellines to Padua; and this they did.
+
+
+Sec. 90.--_How the exiles from Genoa with the force of the Ghibellines of
+Lombardy besieged Genoa._
+
+[Sidenote: 1318 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Convivio iv. 20: 38-41.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Purg. iv. 25. Purg. iii. 49.]
+
+In the year 1318, when they of the houses of d'Oria and of Spinola
+with their following were in banishment from Genoa, and by reason of
+their power maintained themselves on the Riviera of Genoa on their
+estates, they sent ambassadors into Lombardy and made a treaty and
+league with M. Maffeo Visconti, captain of Milan, and with his sons
+and with all the Lombard league which were Imperial and Ghibelline.
+For the which thing M. Marco Visconti, son of the said Maffeo, came
+from Lombardy with a great army of soldiers, Germans and Lombards, on
+horse and on foot, and with the said exiles from Genoa laid siege to
+the said city on the side of Co' di Fare and of the suburbs; and this
+was on the 25th day of March, 1318; and a few days after they of the
+house of d'Oria, with the aid of the others, led another army against
+the city of Albingano, on the Riviera of Genoa, and this they took,
+under conditions, in a few days. Afterwards, while the said host was
+still at Genoa, M. Edoardo d'Oria made a compact with the Abao [chief
+magistrate] of the people of Saona, and entered into the said city of
+Saona by night secretly, and straightway, with the aid of the
+Ghibellines of the city (for the greater part thereof were of the
+Imperial party), caused the said city to rebel against the
+commonwealth of Genoa in the month of April; for the which thing the
+forces of the exiles from Genoa increased greatly, so that well-nigh
+all the Western Riviera was under their lordship, save the strongholds
+of Monaco and Ventimiglia and the city of Noli; and in the Eastern
+Riviera they held Lerici.
+
+
+Sec. 91.--_How the Ghibellines of Lombardy took Cremona._
+
+
+Sec. 92.--_How the exiles from Genoa took the suburbs of Prea._
+
+[Sidenote: 1318 A.D.]
+
+In the said year, at the end of May, the said exiles had besieged the
+city of Co' di Fare for two months, and it was bravely held by them
+within by means of a cunning device of ropes which kept the tower in
+communication with a vessel in the port of Genoa, and by this means
+they were supplied and provisioned in spite of all the host; wherefore
+the said exiles took counsel how they might dig and cut away the
+ground under the said tower. They within, fearing that it might fall,
+surrendered it on condition that their lives should be spared, and
+some said for money; and when they had returned into Genoa, they were
+condemned to death, and were cast down from a height. While the
+refugees were busied with the said siege, they continually attacked
+the suburbs of Prea, which are without the Oxen Gate; and fighting
+manfully, they took the place on the 25th day of June in the said
+year, whereby they advanced greatly, and the inhabitants of Genoa lost
+in like measure; for the host without increased, and gathered in the
+suburbs, and took the mountain of Peraldo and of S. Bernardo above
+Genoa, and surrounded the city; and above Bisagno they pitched another
+camp, so that the city was all besieged by land, and by sea it
+suffered great persecution from the galleys of Saona, and from the
+exiles, which had the lordship over the sea.
+
+
+Sec. 93.--_How King Robert came by sea to succour Genoa._
+
+[Sidenote: 1318 A.D.]
+
+In the said year 1318, the Guelf party being thus besieged in Genoa by
+sea and by land, they sent their ambassadors to Naples to King Robert,
+who had been the cause of the whole disturbance in Genoa, that he
+should succour them and aid them without delay; and if he did not do
+this, they could not hold out, so straitened were they by the siege
+and by want of victuals. For the which thing King Robert straightway
+raised a great fleet of forty-seven transport vessels and twenty-five
+light galleys, and many other boats and craft laden with provisions;
+and he in person, with the prince of Taranto, and with M. John, prince
+of the Morea, his brothers, and with other barons and with horsemen to
+the number of 1,200, departed from Naples on the 10th day of July, and
+came by sea, and entered into Genoa on the 21st day of July, 1318, and
+was honourably received by the citizens as their lord, and heartened
+the city, which could scarce hold out for lack of victuals.
+Immediately when the king was come to Genoa, the exiles broke up the
+camp which they had in Bisagno, and withdrew to the mountains of San
+Bernardo and of Peraldo, and to the suburbs of Prea towards the west.
+
+
+Sec. 94.--_How the Genoese gave the lordship of Genoa to King Robert._
+
+[Sidenote: 1318 A.D.]
+
+In the said year, on the 27th day of July, the captains of Genoa and
+the Abao of the people, and the Podesta, in full parliament, renounced
+their jurisdiction and lordship, and with the consent of the people
+gave the lordship and care of the city and of the Riviera to Pope John
+and to King Robert for ten years, according to the constitutions of
+Genoa; and King Robert took it for the Pope and for himself, as one
+who had long desired it, thinking when he should have got the lordship
+of Genoa quietly in his hands, to be able to recover the island of
+Sicily, and overcome all his enemies; and it was for this purpose
+that, long ere this, he had stirred up revolution in the city, so as
+to drive thence the Spinoli and the d'Oria, forasmuch as ofttimes
+whilst they were lords of Genoa, they had opposed King Robert and King
+Charles, his father, and had helped them of Aragon which held the
+island of Sicily, as before we have made mention.
+
+
+Sec. 95.--_Of the active war which the exiles of Genoa with the Lombards
+made against King Robert._
+
+[Sidenote: 1318 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Purg. xiii. 152.]
+
+The host without Genoa was not weakened by reason of King Robert's
+coming, but was largely increased by the aid of the lords of Lombardy,
+which held with the Imperial party; and they renewed their league with
+the emperor of Constantinople, and with King Frederick of Sicily, and
+with the marquis of Monferrat, and with Castruccio, lord of Lucca, and
+also secretly with the Pisans. And whilst they were at the siege, they
+were continually making strong and fierce assaults upon the city,
+hurling things against it from many engines, and attacking it in many
+places by day and by night--being men of great vigour--in such wise
+that King Robert with all his forces could gain nothing against them
+in any part. Rather by digging underground they undermined a great
+piece of the wall of Porta Santa Agnesa, and caused it to fall, and
+some of them entered by force into the city. Wherefore the king in
+person armed himself with all his followers, and they met one another
+with great vigour upon the ruined walls with swords in hand, but the
+great barons and knights of the king drove back their enemies with
+great loss both to one side and to the other, and they rebuilt the
+walls with great labour in a short time, working both day and night.
+The king and his followers being thus besieged and attacked in Genoa,
+sent for aid into Tuscany, and received it from many quarters: from
+the Florentines, 100 horse and 500 foot, all with lilies for their
+device, and the same number from Bologna, and likewise from Romagna,
+and from many other places, and they went to Genoa by sea by the way
+of Talamone; so that when his allies were come to him, the king was
+supported in Genoa on the first day of November of the said year by
+more than 2,500 horse, and by footmen without number. Without were
+more than 1,500 horse, and the captain of the host was M. Marco
+Visconti of Milan, and they held the hill fortresses round about in
+such wise that the king could not go afield; and thus abode the said
+hosts in close war and skirmishes, hurling and shooting at one another
+all the said summer, and also the winter, forasmuch as neither one
+side nor the other could get the advantage. And thus abiding, M. Marco
+Visconti was so presumptuous as to request King Robert to fight with
+him in single combat, and whichever was victorious should be lord,
+which put the king into great scorn.
+
+
+Sec. 96.--_How in the city of Siena there was a conspiracy, and uproar,
+and great changes followed thereupon._
+
+
+Sec. 97.--_How King Robert's followers discomfited the exiles from Genoa
+at the village of Sesto, and how they departed from the siege of the
+city._
+
+[Sidenote: 1318 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Johannes de Virgilio. Carmen _v._ 29.]
+
+In the said year 1318, after that King Robert had been besieged in
+Genoa for more than six months, as already narrated, he bethought him
+that he could not crush his enemies without unless he could land his
+army between the suburbs and Saona; and he raised a fleet of sixty
+galleys and transport vessels, and assembled 850 horse, and of foot
+full 15,000; and together with them were some Florentines and other
+Tuscans, and Bolognese and Romagnese; and they departed from Genoa on
+the 4th day of February, to bring the said people into the country
+around Sesto. And when the exiles and those without heard this,
+straightway they sent thither of their people on horse and on foot in
+great numbers to dispute the shore with King Robert's host, to the end
+the king's people might not come to land. Which people arrived on the
+5th day of February, and with great travail, pushing empty casks
+before them, fought hand to hand with the enemy, the chief of them
+being Florentines and other Tuscans, which first descended from the
+galleys under the protection of the bowmen of the galleys which were
+by the shore; and by force of arms they landed, and broke up and
+discomfited the forces of the exiles upon the shore of Sesto, and many
+thereof were slain and taken prisoners; and they which escaped fled
+into the suburbs and to Saona, and the night following all the host
+which were in the suburbs and in the mountains of Paraldo and of San
+Bernardo departed and went towards Lombardy, and left all their
+baggage without having been pursued, forasmuch as the king would not
+that his people should follow after them because of the dangers of
+those mountains. Afterwards they of the city of Genoa recovered the
+suburbs of Prea and Co' di Fare and all the forts outside the city.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1319 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 98.--_How King Robert departed from Genoa and went to the papal
+court in Provence._
+
+
+Sec. 99.--_How the exiles from Genoa with the Lombards returned to the
+siege of Genoa._
+
+[Sidenote: 1319 A.D.]
+
+In the said year 1319, when the exiles from Genoa heard of the
+departure of King Robert, they equipped in Saona twenty-eight galleys,
+whereof M. Conrad d'Oria was admiral, and they sent into Lombardy for
+aid, and assembled 1,000 and more horse, whereof the greater part
+were Germans, and a great number of common folk; and on the 27th day
+of July of the said year they returned with their army to Genoa, and
+set up their camp in Ponzevera, and on the 3rd day of August following
+they drew nigh to the city, attacking the suburbs in many places by
+land from the side of Bisagno; and the said galleys entered the port
+and strongly attacked the city, but gained nothing. And on the 7th day
+of August following there was a great battle in the plain of Bisagno
+between the exiles and those within the city, with great loss both to
+the one side and to the other, without either party having the honour
+of the victory, for those without retreated to the hill, and those
+within returned into the city; and afterwards they fought continually
+by day and by night against the city by sea and by land.
+
+
+Sec. 100.--_How M. Cane della Scala took the suburbs of Padua._
+
+In the said year 1319, in August, M. Cane della Scala, with the exiles
+from Padua, whom the Paduans would not restore to the city according
+to the compact made by M. Cane, came with an army against Padua, with
+2,000 horse and 10,000 foot, and took the suburbs, and set up there
+three camps in order the better to besiege it.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1320 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 101.--_How the Guelfs of Lombardy retook Cremona._ Sec. 102.--_How
+M. Ugo dal Balzo was routed at Alessandria._ Sec. 103.--_How the refugees
+from Genoa retook the suburbs of Genoa._ Sec. 104.--_How the Ghibellines
+took Spoleto._ Sec. 105.--_How the king of Tunis recovered his lordship._
+Sec. 106.--_How Castruccio, lord of Lucca, broke peace with the
+Florentines, and began war against them again._ Sec. 107.--_How folk of
+the refugees from Genoa were routed at Lerici._ Sec. 108.--_How the
+Genoese took Bingane._ Sec. 109.--_How the Pope and the Church invited M.
+Philip of Valois to come into Lombardy._ Sec. 110.--_How M. Philip of
+Valois returned into France with shame, having gained nothing._ Sec.
+111.--_How Castruccio marched upon the Genoese Riviera._ Sec. 112.--_How
+Frederick of Sicily sent his fleet of galleys to besiege Genoa._ Sec.
+113.--_How King Robert equipped his fleet of galleys to oppose that of
+the Sicilians, and what it accomplished._ Sec. 114.--_Of the same._ Sec.
+115.--_How the Florentines forced Castruccio to return from the siege
+of Genoa._ Sec. 116.--_Of the assaults which the exiles from Genoa and
+the Sicilians made upon the city, wherein they were worsted._ Sec.
+117.--_How the exiles from Genoa laid waste Chiaveri._ Sec. 118.--_How
+the exiles from Genoa took Noli, and did divers acts of war._ Sec.
+119.--_How the king of Spain's brother was routed by the Saracens of
+Granada._ Sec. 120.--_How the brothers of the Hospital defeated the Turks
+with their fleet at Rhodes._
+
+
+Sec. 121.--_How M. Cane della Scala being at the siege of Padua, was
+defeated by the Paduans and by the count of Goertz._
+
+[Sidenote: 1320 A.D.]
+
+In the said year 1320, M. Cane della Scala, lord of Verona, had
+besieged the city of Padua with all his forces continually for more
+than a year, and having taken from that city well-nigh all its
+territory and strongholds, and having defeated them many times, had so
+crushed the city that it could hold out no longer, forasmuch as he had
+surrounded it entirely with ramparts occupied by his men, so that no
+provisions could enter therein. The said Paduans, well-nigh despairing
+of any escape, turned to the duke of Austria, king elect of the
+Romans, which sent to their succour the count of Goertz and the lord of
+Vals, with 500 steel-capped horsemen, and they suddenly, and as it
+were in secret, entered into Padua with these their followers. The
+said M. Cane, by reason of his great confidence and pride in his
+victories, and the great number of horse and of foot which were in his
+army, cared little for the Paduans, and by reason of the long siege,
+being too secure, had his troops in ill order. It came to pass that on
+the 25th day of August, 1320, the said count of Goertz, with his
+Friolese and Germans, and with the Paduans, sallied forth suddenly
+from the city, and vigorously assailed the host. M. Cane, with some of
+his ill-ordered horse, thinking to beat them back, gave battle, and by
+the count of Goertz and the Paduans was discomfited and unhorsed and
+wounded, and scarce came off with his life by the help of his
+followers, and escaped on a horse to Monselice; and his host was all
+routed, and many of his followers were slain or taken prisoners, and
+all their belongings lost; and thus by want of foresight the good
+fortune of this victorious tyrant changed to bad. At this siege of
+Padua died Uguccione della Faggiuola at Cittadella [_al._ In the city
+of Verona] of sickness, being come to aid M. Cane. He was the other
+great tyrant, which so persecuted the Florentines and Lucchese, as
+before we made mention.
+
+
+[Sidenote: 1320 A.D.]
+
+Sec. 122.--_How the count Gaddo, lord of Pisa, died; and how the count
+Nieri was made lord thereof._ Sec. 123.--_How peace was made by the king
+of France with the Flemings._ Sec. 124.--_How there was great dissension
+amongst them of the house of Flanders._ Sec. 125.--_How the Ghibellines
+were expelled from Rieti._ Sec. 126.--_How there was a great enrolling
+of armies by two emperors elect of Germany._ Sec. 127.--_How the Marquis
+Spinetta allied himself with the Florentines against Castruccio, but
+it turned out to the shame of the Florentines._ Sec. 128.--_How the
+offices were changed in Florence._ Sec. 129.--_How the Marquis Cavalcabo,
+with the league of Tuscany, was routed in Lombardy._ Sec. 130.--_How M.
+Galeasso of Milan had the city of Cremona._ Sec. 131.--_How there was an
+eclipse of the sun, and the king of France died._ Sec. 132.--_How the
+Bolognese expelled from Bologna Romeo de' Peppoli, the rich man, and
+his followers._ Sec. 133.--_How the emperor of Constantinople had war
+with his sons._ Sec. 134.--_How Frederick of Sicily was excommunicated,
+and how he had his son crowned over the kingdom._ Sec. 135.--_How the
+Florentines sent to Frioli for horsemen._
+
+
+Sec. 136.--_Concerning the poet Dante Alighieri of Florence._
+
+[Sidenote: 1321 A.D.]
+
+[Sidenote: Inf. i. 87.]
+
+[Sidenote: Epistola vii.]
+
+[Sidenote: viii.]
+
+[Sidenote: Cf. Canzone, 58-63.]
+
+In the said year 1321, in the month of July, Dante Alighieri, of
+Florence, died in the city of Ravenna, in Romagna, having returned
+from an embassy to Venice in the service of the lords of Polenta, with
+whom he was living; and in Ravenna, before the door of the chief
+church, he was buried with great honour, in the garb of a poet and of
+a great philosopher. He died in exile from the commonwealth of
+Florence, at the age of about fifty-six years. This Dante was a
+citizen of an honourable and ancient family in Florence, of the Porta
+San Piero, and our neighbour; and his exile from Florence was by
+reason that when M. Charles of Valois, of the House of France, came to
+Florence in the year 1301 and banished the White party, as has been
+afore mentioned at its due time, the said Dante was among the chief
+governors of our city, and pertained to that party, albeit he was a
+Guelf; and, therefore, for no other fault he was driven out and
+banished from Florence with the White party; and went to the
+university at Bologna, and afterwards at Paris, and in many parts of
+the world. This man was a great scholar in almost every branch of
+learning, albeit he was a layman; he was a great poet and philosopher,
+and a perfect rhetorician alike in prose and verse, a very noble
+orator in public speaking, supreme in rhyme, with the most polished
+and beautiful style which in our language ever was up to his time and
+beyond it. In his youth he wrote the book of The New Life, of Love;
+and afterwards, when he was in exile, he wrote about twenty very
+excellent odes, treating of moral questions and of love; and he wrote
+three noble letters among others; one he sent to the government of
+Florence complaining of his undeserved exile; the second he sent to
+the Emperor Henry when he was besieging Brescia, reproving him for his
+delay, almost in a prophetic strain; the third to the Italian
+cardinals, at the time of the vacancy after the death of Pope Clement,
+praying them to unite in the election of an Italian Pope; all these in
+Latin in a lofty style, and with excellent purport and authorities,
+and much commended by men of wisdom and insight. And he wrote the
+Comedy, wherein, in polished verse, and with great and subtle
+questions, moral, natural, astrological, philosophical, and
+theological, with new and beautiful illustrations, comparisons, and
+poetry, he dealt and treated in 100 chapters or songs, of the
+existence and condition of Hell, Purgatory and Paradise as loftily as
+it were possible to treat of them, as in his said treatise may be seen
+and understood by whoso has subtle intellect. It is true that he in
+this Comedy delighted to denounce and to cry out after the manner of
+poets, perhaps in certain places more than was fitting; but may be his
+exile was the cause of this. He wrote also The Monarchy, in which he
+treated of the office of Pope and of Emperor. [And he began a
+commentary upon fourteen of his afore-named moral odes in the vulgar
+tongue which, in consequence of his death, is only completed as to
+three of them; the which commentary, judging by what can be seen of
+it, was turning out a lofty, beautiful, subtle, and very great work,
+adorned by lofty style and fine philosophical and astrological
+reasonings. Also he wrote a little book entitled, De Vulgari
+Eloquentia, of which he promises to write four books, but of these
+only two exist, perhaps on account of his untimely death; and here, in
+strong and ornate Latin and with beautiful reasonings, he reproves all
+the vernaculars of Italy.] This Dante, because of his knowledge, was
+somewhat haughty and reserved and disdainful, and after the fashion of
+a philosopher, careless of graces and not easy in his converse with
+laymen; but because of the lofty virtues and knowledge and worth of so
+great a citizen, it seems fitting to confer lasting memory upon him in
+this our chronicle, although, indeed, his noble works, left to us in
+writing, are the true testimony to him, and are an honourable report
+to our city.
+
+
+END OF THE SELECTIONS FROM BOOK IX.
+
+
+ _Grato e lontan digiuno
+ Tratto leggendo nel magno volume_
+
+ * * *
+
+ _Soluto hai._
+
+
+
+
+INDEX
+
+
+Abati (family), 125.
+
+---- Bocca degli, 180.
+
+Acre, 295-298.
+
+Acquasparta, Cardinal, 328, 331.
+
+Adimari (family), 81, 125.
+
+---- Tegghiaio Aldobrandi degli, 176, 185.
+
+Adrian I., Pope, 52.
+
+---- V., Pope, 259.
+
+Aeneas, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.
+
+Alberighi (family), 80.
+
+Albert, king of the Romans, 255, 317.
+
+Alexander III., Pope, 102-106.
+
+---- IV., Pope, 158.
+
+Alibrando, bishop of Florence, 37.
+
+Alighieri, Dante, 449-450.
+
+Amidei (family), 121-122, 124.
+
+Anagna (town), 347-350.
+
+Anchises, 10-13.
+
+Antenor of Troy, 9, 10.
+
+Antenora, 10.
+
+Antony, Caius, 18-20.
+
+Apulia, 48-53, 85, 86, 90, 127, 128, 130-132, 151, 152, 154-158, 187,
+192, 195, and _passim_.
+
+Arbia (river), 177.
+
+Ardinghi (family), 80, 125.
+
+Arezzo, 286-292.
+
+Arius, 39.
+
+Arno, _passim_.
+
+Arrigucci (family), 80, 124.
+
+Arthur, king of Britain, 48.
+
+Ascanius, 10, 12, 16.
+
+Atlas, 4, 5, 6, 7.
+
+Augustus, Octavianus, 17, 31-33.
+
+
+Babel, 2, 3.
+
+Babylon, 3, 4.
+
+Bardi, 123.
+
+Barucci (family), 124.
+
+Bella, della (family), 71, 82, 125.
+
+---- Giano, 301, 309-312.
+
+Benedict XI., Pope, 352, 356, 369-370.
+
+Benivento (battle), 209-217.
+
+Berenger, Count Raymond, 195-197.
+
+Berti, Bellincione, 62, 80, 120.
+
+Bianco, Cardinal, 184.
+
+Blacks, party of, 322-331, 357-359, 361-362, and _passim_.
+
+Bonatti, Guido (astrologer), 273.
+
+Bondelmonti (family), 99, 124.
+
+---- Bondelmonte dei, 121, 122.
+
+Boniface VIII., Pope, 305-308, 315-318, 320, 326, 344-352, _sqq._
+
+Bostichi (family), 82, 124.
+
+Brunelleschi (family), 124.
+
+
+Caesar, Julius, 17, 23-29, 32.
+
+Calvoli, Folcieri da, 339-340.
+
+Camilla, 16.
+
+Campaldino (battle), 286-291.
+
+Cancellieri of Pistoia, 322-323.
+
+Caponsacchi, 81, 125.
+
+Carraia (bridge), 76, 126, 246, 360-361.
+
+Carthage, 12.
+
+Catellini (family), 81.
+
+Catiline, 18-22.
+
+Cavalcanti, 124.
+
+---- Guido Cavalcante dei, 224, 331.
+
+Celestine V., Pope, 304-306.
+
+Cepperano, pass of, 206-207.
+
+Cerchi (family), 62, 80, 324.
+
+---- Vieri dei, 288, 324-326.
+
+Charles I. of Anjou, king of Sicily and Apulia, 192-195, 199, 200-217,
+225, 228-242, 249-251, 268, 274-276.
+
+---- II., 200, 276, 284-285, 315-316.
+
+---- Martel (son of Charles II.), 276, 316.
+
+---- of Valois, 332-339, 386-387.
+
+---- Martel, 48-49.
+
+---- the Great, 51-56, 59-60, 65-66.
+
+Chiaramontesi (family), 124.
+
+Clement V., Pope, 369-375, 386-390, 427.
+
+Colle di Valdelsa (battle), 243-245.
+
+Colonnesi, 103-104, 261, 317-318.
+
+Conrad, son of Frederick II., 129, 131, 133, 139, 154-156.
+
+---- I., Emperor, 78, 79.
+
+Conradino, 156-158, 187, 192, 228-242.
+
+Constance, Empress, 89-90, 92, 113.
+
+Constantine, Emperor, 38-39.
+
+Constantinople, 38-39.
+
+Creusa, wife of Aeneas, 10, 11.
+
+
+Dardanus (founder of Troy), 6, 7, 8, 9, 18.
+
+Desiderius, king of the Lombards, 51, 52.
+
+Dido, 12, 13.
+
+Dolcino, Frate, 375-376.
+
+Dominic, St., 96, 114, 115.
+
+Donati (family), 81, 121, 125, 324.
+
+---- Corso, 279, 288-289, 309, 324, 329-331, 335-337, 353-354,
+382-386, 400.
+
+
+Edward I. of England, 247, 251-254.
+
+Elisei (family), 81-125.
+
+Enzo, bastard son of Frederick II., 129, 131.
+
+Europe, 4-5.
+
+Ezzelino of Romano, 167-168.
+
+
+Faggiuola, Uguccione da, 383, 430-434, 436-437.
+
+Fiesole, 2, 4-8, 18-28, 47, 60-61, 71-73, 98.
+
+Fifanti (family), 82, 124.
+
+Filippi (family), 82.
+
+Fiorinus, 22-25, 27, 29.
+
+Firenzuola (city), 151.
+
+Florence (city), 27-30, 75-78, and _passim_.
+
+Foraboschi (family), 82, 124.
+
+Forli (battle), 272-274.
+
+Francis, St., 96, 114-115.
+
+Frederick I., Barbarossa, Emperor, 101-108, 110-111.
+
+---- II., Emperor, 83, 90-92, 113, 118-119, 126-141, 146-148, 151-152.
+
+---- bastard son of Frederick II., 129, 131, 143-144.
+
+---- of Aragon, king of Sicily, 315-317, 424.
+
+
+Galli (family), 82, 124.
+
+Gangalandi (family), 71, 82, 124.
+
+Gemignano, St., 44.
+
+Gherardeschi, Ugolino dei, 280-284.
+
+Ghibellines, 122, 123, 141-146, 153, 154, 282, and _passim_.
+
+---- of Florence, 123-125, 164, 165, 169, 170, 173, 220-224, 263, and
+_passim_.
+
+---- of Siena, 173, 174.
+
+Giandonati (family), 71, 82, 124.
+
+Gianfigliazzi (family), 124.
+
+Giordano, Count, 173, 174, 177, 182-183, 185, 206-207, 215.
+
+Giuochi (family), 80, 125.
+
+Gregory IX., Pope, 131, 132.
+
+---- X., Pope, 252, 255 _sqq._
+
+Gualandi of Pisa (family), 280.
+
+Gualdrada, wife of Count Guido, 62, 120.
+
+Gualterotti (family), 82, 124.
+
+Guelf, duke of Suabia, 93, 94.
+
+Guelfs, 122, 123, 141-146, 152-154, 402-403, and _passim_.
+
+---- of Florence, 123-125, 187, 188, 189, 201, 263, and _passim._
+
+Guidi, Counts, 62, 80, 82, 116-117, 119-121, 124.
+
+Guido Guerra, 120, 176, 205, 212.
+
+---- Guido Novello, 120, 182-183, 185, 202-203, 220-224, 243, 244.
+
+
+Henry, earl of Cornwall, 251 _sqq._
+
+---- of Spain, 233-240, 242.
+
+---- son of Frederick II., 129, 131, 133.
+
+---- III. of England, 252.
+
+---- VII. of Suabia, Emperor, 83, 90-91, 112-113.
+
+Hospitallers, Order of, 381.
+
+Hugh Capet, 71.
+
+---- Marquis, 70-71, 82.
+
+
+Importuni (family), 82.
+
+Infangati (family), 82, 124.
+
+Innocent IV., Pope, 134-136, 139.
+
+Italus, 6, 7.
+
+
+James of Aragon, 315-317.
+
+Japhet, 3, 4, 8.
+
+John XXI., Pope, 259.
+
+---- XXII., Pope, 434-435.
+
+
+Lamberti (family), 81, 124.
+
+---- Mosca dei, 122.
+
+Landolo, Roderigo di, 218, 222.
+
+Lanfranchi of Pisa (family), 280.
+
+Latini, Brunetto, 169, 312-313.
+
+Latinus, king of Italy, 14-16.
+
+Lavinia, daughter of Latinus, 15-16.
+
+Leo III., Pope, 54, 55, 59-60.
+
+Lombardo, Marco, 281-282.
+
+Lombards, 48-54.
+
+Louis IX. of France, 192-193, 246 _sqq._
+
+Lyons, Council at, 135-137.
+
+
+Malavolti, Catalano dei, 218, 222.
+
+Malespini (family), 124.
+
+Manfred, son of Frederick II., 129, 131, 151-152, 154-160, 169-170,
+173, 187, 190, 191-195, 202-217.
+
+Mars (god), 7, 33, 40, 41, 46, 61, 122, 123, 327.
+
+---- (planet), 75.
+
+Matilda, Countess, 83, 92-95, 96.
+
+Miniato, St., 35-37.
+
+Montaperti (battle), 177-180.
+
+Montefeltro, Guido di, 263, 272-273, 283, 318.
+
+---- Bonconte di, 290.
+
+Montemurlo (castle), 116-117.
+
+Montfort, Guy of, 253-254.
+
+---- Simon of, 252-254.
+
+Mozzi (family), 123.
+
+
+Nerbona, Amerigo di, 285 _sqq._
+
+Nerli (family), 71, 123.
+
+Nicholas III., Pope, 260-263.
+
+---- IV., Pope, 285.
+
+Nimrod, 3.
+
+Nineveh, 4.
+
+Ninus, 4.
+
+
+Otho III., Emperor, 69, 70.
+
+---- IV., Emperor, 120-121, 127.
+
+
+Pallas, son of Evander, 15.
+
+Pazzi (family), 41, 125.
+
+Peruzzi (family), 82.
+
+Philip III. of France, 249-254, 277-279.
+
+---- IV., the Fair, 278, 344-350, 377-381, 386-389.
+
+Pigli (family), 81, 124.
+
+Pisa, 280-284.
+
+Ponte Vecchio, 61, 63, 109, 122.
+
+Prato, Cardinal da, 356-359, 364, 370-374, 388-390.
+
+Pressa, della (family), 80.
+
+Pulci (family), 71, 82, 124.
+
+
+Robert, duke of Apulia, 85.
+
+---- Guiscard, 83, 85-89.
+
+---- king of Sicily and Apulia, 276, 390-391, 395-396, 409, 423, 426,
+441-444.
+
+Roger I., king of Sicily, 88, 89.
+
+---- II., king of Sicily, 89.
+
+Rome, 7, 16, 17, 29, 43, 54, 55, etc.
+
+Romeo (pilgrim), 195-197.
+
+Rubaconte (bridge), 140.
+
+Rudolf, king of the Romans, 255, 262, 298.
+
+
+Sacchetti (family), 82, 124.
+
+Saladin, 107.
+
+Salvani, Provenzano, of Siena, 175, 243-245.
+
+Saracens, 247-251, 295-298.
+
+Saturn, 14, 15.
+
+Scala, Cane della, 401, 405, 428, 438, 445, 446-447.
+
+Semiramis, 4.
+
+Sicanus, 6, 7.
+
+Sicily, 7, 12, 13, 86, 89, 90, 92, 127, 128, 130-132, 151, 152,
+154-158, 187, 192-195.
+
+Sicily, Rebellion of, 267-268, 285, and _passim_.
+
+Siena, 171, 172, 177-179, 243-245, and _passim_.
+
+Sismondi of Pisa (family), 280.
+
+Sizii (family), 80, 124.
+
+Soldanieri (family), 81, 124.
+
+Susinana, Maghinardo da, 298-299.
+
+Sylvester, Pope, 38-40.
+
+
+Tagliacozzo (battle), 233-240.
+
+Tancred I., king of Sicily, 89-91.
+
+---- II., 112-113.
+
+Telofre, king of the Lombards, 49-51.
+
+Templars, Order of, 377-381.
+
+Torre, Guidetto della, 342-343, 398-399.
+
+Totila, king of the Goths, 1, 43-46.
+
+Trinita, Santa (bridge), 160, 246.
+
+Trojans, 2, 11, 14, 18.
+
+Tunis, 247-251.
+
+Turnus, 15.
+
+
+Ubaldini, Cardinal Ottaviano degli, 184.
+
+---- Ruggeri degli (Archbishop of Pisa), 280-282.
+
+Uberti (family), 82, 109, 124, 141, 142, 149, 319.
+
+---- Farinata degli, 170, 174, 178, 186, 224.
+
+Ughi (family), 81.
+
+Urban IV., Pope, 190-192.
+
+
+Valleri, Alardo di, 234, 237-239.
+
+Verde (river), 217.
+
+Vigne, Piero dalle, 133, 136, 139.
+
+Virgil, 6-7, 9, 12-13.
+
+Visconti, Maffeo, 342-344, 397, 398-399.
+
+---- Marco, 443.
+
+---- Nino di Gallura dei, 280.
+
+Visdomini (family), 80, 125.
+
+
+Whites, party of, 322-331, 339-342, 357-359, 361-362, etc.
+
+William I., king of Sicily, 89-90, 105-107.
+
+
+
+
+INDEX TO DANTE REFERENCES
+
+_The figures within brackets ( ) refer to the pages of this work: all
+other figures refer to cantos, books, or lines in Dante's works._
+
+
+DIVINA COMMEDIA.
+
+INFERNO.
+
+i. 73-75, (10), 87, (449), 100-111, (401), 107, (15), 108, (16).
+
+ii. 13-15, (13), 13, (16), 13-27, (13).
+
+iii. 58-60, (304), 59, 60, (305).
+
+iv. 95, 96, (32), 122, (10), 124, (15), 125, 126, (15).
+
+v. 52-60, (4), 61, 62, (12).
+
+vi. 36, (360), 69, (306), 79, (176), 80, (81).
+
+x. 13-15, (96), 32, (170), 48, (181), 48, (144), 49, 50, (153), 51,
+(184, 225), 58-69, (224, 331), 79-81, (359), 83, 84, (186), 85-87,
+(180), 91-93, (186), 110-111, (224, 331), 119, (127, 128), 120, (184,
+227).
+
+xii. 109, 110, (168), 112, (377), 118-120, (252), 120, (254).
+
+xiii. 31-108, (133), 55-78, (136), 59, 68, 75, (127), 120, 121, (280),
+143-150, (40), 146-150, (61).
+
+xiv. 94-96, (14).
+
+xv. 23-120, (169, 312), 61-63, (5), 61-78, (75), 67, (45), 73-78, (30,
+62), 119-120, (312).
+
+xvi. 34-39, (121, 212), 37, (62, 80, 120), 40-42, (176).
+
+xvii. 59, 60, (124), 62, 63, (124), 100-107, (184).
+
+xviii. 28-33, (320), 55-57, (377).
+
+xix. 17-20, (40), 52-57, (306, 350), 52-84, (261), 69-87, (260), 70,
+(104), 76-81, (306), 81, (262), 82-87, (374, 375, 427), 98, 99, (261),
+99, (199), 115-117, (38).
+
+xx. (184), 118, (273).
+
+xxii. 4, 5, (292).
+
+xxiii. 66, (127), 103-108, (218), 105-107, (118), 107, 108, (29).
+
+xxiv. 143, (333).
+
+xxv. 1-3, (130).
+
+xxvii. 44, (273), 49-51, (287, 299, 317), 67, (263), 67-111, (318),
+67-129, (290), 70, 85-111, (306), 76-78, (272), 89, (294), 94, 95,
+(38), 100-107, (184), 104, 105, (304).
+
+xxviii. 13, 14, (83), 16, (206, 214), 17, 18, (234, 237), 55-60,
+(375), 103-111, (81, 122).
+
+xxx. 13-15, (9), 73-78, (121), 98, (9), 113, 114, (9), 148, (185).
+
+xxxi. 12-18, (3), 40, 41, (163), 46-81, (3).
+
+xxxii. 40-60, (166), 56, 57, (125), 62, (48), 78-111, (180), 88, (9,
+10), 115, 116, (204), 118, 119, (165), 121, (221), 121-123, (81), 122,
+(273).
+
+xxxiii. 1-90, (283), 31-33, (280).
+
+PURGATORIO.
+
+ii. 98, 99, (320).
+
+iii. 49, (439), 107, (159), 112-113, (89), 116, (315, 316), 118-119,
+(215), 121, (133, 151, 156, 158), 124-132, (216).
+
+iv. 25, (439).
+
+v. 73-78, (377), 75, (9, 10), 88-129, (290).
+
+vi. 97, (317), 97-117, 103-105, (255), 103-105, (298), 107, (411),
+111, (185, 418).
+
+vii. 91-96, (255), 105, 109, (278), 112, 114-116, 125, 129, (269),
+113, 124, 128-129, (199, 275), 113, 124, 126, (200), 128, (193),
+115-120, (315, 316), 130-132, (252), 132, (377), 133-136, (88, 204),
+136, (294).
+
+viii. 53, (280), 73-75, (343).
+
+ix. 30, (32).
+
+x. 80, (32).
+
+xi. 97-99, (224), 109-114, 120-123, (245), 109-142, (175), 137, (199).
+
+xii. 34-36, (3), 61-63, (9), 100-105, (37), 102, (140), 104-105, (80),
+105, (140).
+
+xiii. 115-119, (244), 152, (34, 443).
+
+xiv. 43-45, (121), 118-119, (287), 58-66, (339).
+
+xvi. 46, (281), 65-78, (62), 115-117, (128), 117, (127).
+
+xvii. 34-39, (15, 16).
+
+xviii. 119-120, (101, 103).
+
+xix. 98-145, (259), 100-102, (134).
+
+xx. 49-60, (71), 53, (50), 61-63, (199), 68, (241), 67-69, (192, 199),
+70-78, (334), 79-81, (377), 79-84, (276), 86-90, (307).
+
+xxiv. 20-24, (279), 82, (288, 324), 81-87, (385).
+
+xxxii. 148-160, (344).
+
+xxxiii. 119, (83), 40-45, (401).
+
+PARADISO.
+
+iii. 106-107, (288), 109-120, (89, 113), 112-120, (90), 118-120, (83,
+127), 119, (101).
+
+vi. 1-3, (38), 3, (16), 32, (32), 35-36, (15), 40-42, (16), 53-54,
+(27), 65, (30), 73-81, (31), 79-81, (17), 94, (55), 94-96, (52), 100,
+(32), 127-142, (195).
+
+viii. 9, (12), 31, 49-72, (276), 49-75, 55, (316), 64-66, (294), 75,
+(267), 76-84, (276, 391), 82, 83, (276).
+
+ix. 1, (276), 25-30 (168), 97-98, (12), 136-142, (307).
+
+xi. 35-123, (96), 43-117, 118-123, (114), 53, (132).
+
+xii. 31-111, (96), 46-105, (114), 90, (307), 124, (328), 134-135,
+(259).
+
+xv. (325), 25-30, (13), 97-98, (82), 97-99, 101-105, 112-113, (167),
+109-111, (411), 110-111, (53), 112-114, (80), 112, (62, 120), 115,
+(82, 123, 143), 115-116, (81), 124-126, (27, 30), 126, (5), 134-135,
+(40), 137-138, (80).
+
+xvi. (164, 325), 25, (40), 40-42, (81), 42, (40, 292, 410), 46-48,
+(74), 47, (40), 50, (160), 56, (189), 62-63, (115, 116), 64, (117,
+119), 65, (80, 125, 288), 66, (99, 124, 143), 73, (34), 88, (81), 89,
+(80, 82), 92, (83), 93, (80, 81, 82, 124, 125, 143), 94-96, (125,
+288), 94-99, (80, 120), 97-99, (64), 100, (80), 101, (80, 125, 142),
+103, (81, 124), 104, (80, 82, 124, 125, 142), 105, (80, 82, 124),
+106-107, (81), 108, (80, 124, 142), 109-110, (82), 109-111, (124),
+112-114, (80, 125, 142), 115-120, (81), 115-117, (125, 142), 121-122,
+(81, 363), 118-123, (154), 121, (125, 142), 123, (63, 82, 124),
+124-126, (64, 82), 127-132, (71, 82), 127, (82, 124, 142), 128, (122,
+124), 130-131, (125), 131-132, (81, 301), 133, (82, 124), 135, (124),
+136-144, (82, 121), 136-138, (122), 136-139, (124), 140-144, (143),
+145-146, (40, 61), 145-147, (122), 151-154, (143, 154).
+
+xvii. 49-51, (307), 76-93, (401), 82, (375, 393, 405, 427).
+
+xviii. 43, (53), 48, (83), 76-93, (438), 133-136, (161), 118-136,
+(307).
+
+xix. 101-102, (31), 121-123, (353), 130-135, (316), 131-132, (12),
+143-148, (278).
+
+xx. 8, 31-32, (32), 55-57, (38), 62, (89), 61-63, (316).
+
+xxi. 25-27, (14).
+
+xxii. 16-18, (191), 145-146, (14).
+
+xxvi. 124-126, (3).
+
+xxvii. 22-27, (307), 41, (305), 58-60, (427), 58, 59, (375).
+
+xxx. 133-138, (393, 426), 133-141, (394), 142-148, (375, 427), 148,
+(307).
+
+xxxi. 104-108, (320).
+
+
+CANZONI.
+
+x. 58-63, (450).
+
+xii. 35-36, (12).
+
+
+SONNET.
+
+xxxii. 1, (329).
+
+
+VITA NUOVA.
+
+ii. (35).
+
+iii. 97-100, (329), 96-104, (225).
+
+xxiv. 18-19, (225), 19, (329).
+
+xxv. 111-113, (225, 329).
+
+xxxi. 21-24, (225, 329).
+
+xxxiii. 2-4, (225), 4, (329).
+
+xli. 34-52, (195).
+
+Sonnet xxxiii. 1, (225).
+
+
+CONVIVIO.
+
+BOOK II.
+
+iv. 171-174, (75).
+
+xv. (35).
+
+BOOK IV.
+
+Canzone iii. 21, iii. 37-44, (127), 37-43, (255).
+
+v. 16-79, (31), 16-29, (17), 48, (10), 80-97, (16), 172-176, (19).
+
+vi. 180-190, (316).
+
+x. 6-12, (127).
+
+xi. 125-127, (204), 126, (294).
+
+xiv. 131-154, (9).
+
+xx. 38-41, (82, 124, 439).
+
+xxvi. 59-70, (12), 96, (13).
+
+
+DE MONARCHIA.
+
+BOOK II.
+
+iii. (10), 62, (11), 67, 68, (6), 77-84, (11), 102-108, (12), 108-117,
+(16).
+
+iv. 30-41, (31).
+
+ix. 22 _sqq._, (4), 99-105, (17, 31).
+
+xi. 1-6, (52), 6, (53), 23, (32).
+
+xii. (17, 31).
+
+BOOK III.
+
+x. (38).
+
+xi. (55).
+
+
+DE VULGARI ELOQUIO.
+
+BOOK I.
+
+i. 1, 12, 21 _sqq._, (159).
+
+vi. 7, 49-61, (3).
+
+vii. (3).
+
+x. 18, 19, (48), 50, 63, (132).
+
+xi. 20, (132).
+
+xii. 20-35, (127), 15-38, (316), 38, (377).
+
+xiii. 31, (132), 36, (225), 37, (329).
+
+BOOK II.
+
+vi. 42-44, (377), 68, 69, (225, 329).
+
+xii. 16-17, 62-63, (225, 329).
+
+
+EPISTOLAE.
+
+i. (357), i.-iii. (120).
+
+ii. (121).
+
+v. (393, 394), 3; 47-49, (30), 4, (52).
+
+vi. (393, 397), 3; 78-85, (31), 5; 126-135, (127), 127-135, (146),
+135-136, (101, 103), 137, (101).
+
+vii. (393, 403, 449), 3; 62, 63, (11), 64-73, (17, 31).
+
+viii. (370, 434, 449).
+
+x. (401).
+
+
+QUAESTIA DE AQUA ET TERRA.
+
+xxiv. (401).
+
+
+JOHANNES DE VIRGILIO.
+
+Carmen.
+
+v. 26 (396-425).
+
+v. 27 (431, 432).
+
+v. 28 (428).
+
+
+Butler & Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London.
+
+
+
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Note on Corrected Text
+
+On page 22 of the original edition used to prepare this e-book, the
+last four lines were erroneously duplicated from pages 1-2. The
+incorrect text, between "city of" and "he did," was as follows:
+
+ myself sufficient for such a work, but to give occasion to
+ our successors not to be negligent in preserving records of
+ the notable things which shall happen in the times after us,
+ and to give example to those who shall come
+
+The correct text is as follows:
+
+ Fiesole and the host of the Fiesolans, and of that company he
+ made captain Fiorinus, a noble citizen of Rome of the race of
+ the Fracchi or Floracchi, who was his praetor, which is as
+ much as to say marshal of his host; and Fiorinus, as he was
+ commanded by the consul, so
+
+The correct text was acquired from an online edition at
+http://www.elfinspell.com/VillaniBook1b.html#sect34.
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VILLANI'S CHRONICLE***
+
+
+******* This file should be named 33022.txt or 33022.zip *******
+
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