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.