"Fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened except it die; and that

which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be--but bare

grain, it may chance of wheat or of some other grain. But God giveth it

a body and to every seed his own body.

"The glory of the resurrection of man is, that his body sown in

corruption is raised in incorruption; sown in dishonor is raised in

glory; sown in weakness it is raised in strength; sown in the natural it

is raised the spiritual body.

"So when this corruptible shall put on incorruption and this mortal

shall put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that

is written. Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy

sting? O grave, where is thy victory! The sting of death is sin, the

strength of sin is the law. But thanks to God who giveth us the victory

through Our Lord Jesus Christ.

"Do you seek strength in the Lord and the power of his might? Put on the

whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the

devil.

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities,

against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,

against spiritual wickedness in high places.

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that ye may be able to

withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand. Stand,

therefore, having your loin girt about with truth and having on the

breast plate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation

of the gospel of peace; above all taking the shield of faith wherewith

ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take

the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word

of God, praying always with all power and supplication in the spirit.

"Let us not be dismayed or overwhelmed by persecution, nor weary in well

doing; for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. Learning

wheresoever God places us therewith to be content; seeking by prayer and

supplication to know his will.

"The Father hath said; 'My grace is sufficient for thee; my strength is

made perfect in weakness.' Therefore may we glory in our infirmities

that the power of Christ may rest upon us. Thanks be unto God for his

unspeakable gifts.

"As we grow in strength, we may expect persecution to grow. Now Rome

looks upon our faith as a Jewish sect. When it is understood that it is

a religion distinct from Judaism, then persecution will begin in

earnest. Then you will be blamed for pestilence, famine and other

national calamities and be offered as martyrs for your faith. Then must

we glory in tribulation, knowing that tribulation worketh patience and

patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed

because the love of God is shed about in your hearts.

"I speak to you but as an ambassador in bonds.

"Brethren, pray constantly for one another and for me, remembering that

the prayers of a righteous man availeth much. And the peace of God which

passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Jesus

Christ, Amen."

* * * * *

Doctor Brown, growing restless, and I conscience-stricken, I thought it

best to make a hasty departure for the house.

That night at supper I managed to turn the conversation to dreams,

hoping to hear from him.

He finally said; "It is remarkable the way we fit familiar scenes or

even places we have visited but once into our dream thoughts. Thus

dressed they become quite realistic until we almost persuade ourselves

that we have lived the experience.

"Some years ago I visited the city of Syracuse and was deeply interested

by the catacombs on the island of Ortzgia, just a short way from the

modern city, particularly as they had been used as a place of worship,

of refuge from persecution and of burial by the early Christians.

"Among other things of interest therein are the frescoes, in which

drawings of fish as religious symbols predominate, the Greek word for

which furnished the initial letters for the Saviour's name and office;

the tombs and an altar from which Paul is said to have preached, when

sent by Festus from Caesarea to Rome.

"I rarely sleep in the daytime; but today the cool subdued light and

quiet of the springhouse was responsible for a lapse.

"Having in mind to prepare a sermon on faith and the resurrection, and

thinking of certain of Paul's letters in connection therewith, my dream

thoughts were so assembled that while I slept I seemed to hear Paul

preaching from the altar in the catacombs on that identical subject."

RICHARD HAWKWOOD.

I am home from the University of Virginia, having completed the law

course. The restful peace of the old farmhouse is most enjoyable; but

there is another blemish upon the landscape; my father is building a

second tobacco barn, and the foreman in charge, a union carpenter, or

nine-hour man, as we then called him, is a disturbing element, spending

his time, when not at work, chewing tobacco and aggressively talking

about the rights of labor and the danger to the world of concentrated

wealth.

When thus engaged he is a typical nail-keg philosopher; just emerging

from ignorance and materialism into the realm of reflective experience.

He has at his tongue's end all the platitudes of the socialist and

possesses the knack of picking platitude and imperfect statistic to fit

his theories, whenever he finds a victim.

He does not look upon our government as a government of the people; but

a government of the few, who fool all the people all the time.

He is a firm believer in organized labor and the disorganization of

everything else, particularly capital. He believes in the equal

distribution of property every few years and that the masses should

throw off the yoke, but can neither identify nor define the yoke.

Until I heard him talk, in my inexperience, I thought that the world was

a reasonably comfortable place in which to live, in fact, I knew no

better. We were getting ten cents for tobacco, eighty cents for wheat,

fifty cents for corn, five cents for hogs and ten cents a pound for

turkeys. We heard no talk of hard times except just before a

presidential election.

We paid fifteen dollars per month for farm hands, three dollars a week

to the cook; we bought sugar for six cents and flour for five fifty a

barrel. We were paying the boss carpenter and chief representative of

organized labor three dollars a day, and fifteen dollars per thousand

for clear heart yellow pine lumber.

Hawkwood, the carpenter, spoke of the ideals of labor and how he would

fight for them through this and other lives until his words, to my

conservative and immature mind, seemed threats against organized

society.

My views, in the main, he called old-fashioned. I believed a laborer who

was thrifty, efficient and industrious did not need a union to help him,

arguing the union only helped the inefficient, lazy and profligate.

I tried several times to get him to rest on the springhouse slab or

dream couch, but his mind and temperament were too nervously active.

On Sunday he expected to go to Lexington for the day, but at train time

a heavy shower caused him to abandon the trip. I asked him to go to Pine

Grove church, but he very emphatically declined.

At dinner, with malice aforethought, I kept his plate heaped up and

repeatedly filled his goblet with ice-cooled buttermilk. After dinner as

it was a very warm day, I suggested we go to the springhouse and read,

and from the library got for him Fox's "Lives of The Martyrs."

I took the lead and appropriated the rustic chair under the elms,

forcing him to occupy the stone bench in the springhouse.

He made several efforts to start an argument on the labor question,

which I carefully avoided. After awhile a sonorous snore announced that

he had fallen victim to my plot.

His snoring was broken by a jumble of words in English and Italian,

though his English, being of a very old form, was harder than the

Italian to understand and transcribe. The first words I caught were;

"Very well, Sir John, avanti!"

I took down his statement and give to the reader a liberal transcription

of my notes.

* * * * *

"I was born in Essex, near Hedingham, on October 20, 1332. My father was

a younger brother of Sir John Hawkwood, who was knighted for bravery by

the Black Prince two days after the battle of Poitiers, where an English

army of eight thousand men defeated a French army of sixty thousand and

took King John prisoner.

"My uncle, commanding several companies and rendering most efficient

service, was rewarded by being knighted by the King. I was present at

the service and officiated as his squire.

"When the successful army returned to England, several hundred of us

from Essex and Suffolk remained in France and organized 'The White

Company,' which, with Sir John as commander, became famous as

condottieri, or soldiers of fortune, and from 1360 to 1390 sold our

services to various Italian powers.

"We served under the standard of Gregory XI, the Marquis of Montferrat,

certain legates, the republic of Pisa, and, finally, the signory and

council of Florence, from 1378 until the death of Sir John on March 17,

1394. At his death he was entombed with great ceremony in the Duomo. For

years prior he had held the office of Captain General with the

Florentines.

"From 1374 till 1378 I was captain of one of his companies. In 1378 I

was made his aid, in which capacity I served until 1389, when, having

been seriously wounded and the possessor of considerable wealth, I

retired from service.

"For more than a year Sir John had been in the service of the Marquis of

Montferrat at Casale, and as the season was dull and the pay light for

our business, it was with pleasure he received word from the Pope to

come to Avignon.

"Gregory occupied the papal chair from 1370 to 1378 and, like his

immediate predecessors, resided at Avignon until 1376, when he

terminated the Babylonian captivity by returning to Rome.

"During this period of exile the church government of Italy was

conducted by proud and avaricious legates, who lived as dukes or

provincial kings, and in the name of the church assumed to dictate the

policy of government to many small potentates, maintaining a standing

array of condottieri made up of English, Dutch and Breton recruits.

"Sir John, reasonably satisfied that he would be employed in Italy at

some point east of Casale, left his soldiers behind, except thirty

troopers, and set out for Avignon. Ten days later he came down the Rhone

valley, into the 'City of Bells,' just as the sixth hour, or vesper

bells, were ringing.

"We fed our horses, washed away the stains of travel, and, supper ready,

took our places at a long table, Sir John at the head, I at the foot and

fifteen troopers on either side. We refreshed ourselves, a very hungry

and thirsty company, with red Rhone wine, macaroni, cheese, fish,

mutton, brown bread and a salad.

"Sir John and I were assigned quite sumptuous quarters in the palace,

while our soldiers remained at the inn.

"That night Sir John saw the Pope and was recommissioned in his service.

His orders were that half of his company should report to the legate at

Pisa, while I in command of the other half, about three hundred

horsemen, should report to the legate at Bologna. An invasion of Tuscany

was contemplated under the direction of these two legates, having in

view the humiliation of the Florentines.

"The reason assigned for the campaign was that the Ricci faction had

entered into a league with Barnabo of Milan against the church and the

Albizzi party.

"The Pope thus expressed himself to Sir John; 'These plebeians are too

ambitious. Let the nobility, not the populace, form a federation, living

like brothers with the church at its head, an all-wise and benign

father. Thus, by a combination of miter and helmet the church, first in

Italy and then throughout the world, shall become not alone the

spiritual but the temporal head of government. Instituting this plan, we

intend to subdue the plebeian faction now in power at Florence.'

"Sir John, at the close of the audience, said to me; 'If it were not for

the interference of the church, the republic of Florence and certain

other Italian states might hope for the accomplishment of great things.

What the Pope wants is the peace of decay and temporal and spiritual

supremacy for the church throughout the land. Experience has taught me

that adversity is a great teacher. It tolerates no compromises and

rewards only patience and strength. Therefore a state is most fortunate

that occupies a position of bare supremacy in arms, where it is punished

for mistakes and grows strong from reverses.

"'On the other hand, if a government is too strong, the peace of

strength brings repose, repose decay, and decay dishonor.

"'Florence, more than any other Italian city, is embarrassed by the

natural enmities between the populace and the nobility. The nobility

wish to command. The populace, aware of their numerical supremacy, are

disinclined to obey, and insist upon ruling the city. Clashes between

the two keep the city in a constant uproar and will eventually

extinguish its greatness. The populace when in power drive the nobility

from the city. When they lose out the banished nobles return and the

populace are oppressed. Associated with the people, who are the usual

conquerors, are certain adaptable nobles, who, styling themselves

reformers, assume to live and think as the common people until they have

acquired a sufficient following to control the city, then they assume

the government and the nobles are recalled.'

* * * * *

"A member of the Connechi family was legate at Bologna. In the fall of

1374 I reported to him with my three hundred horsemen.

"The preceding summer had been extremely dry, causing a failure of crops

through all of central Italy. The people suffered and many died of

privation. The legate, aware of this, looked upon the time as auspicious

for his invasion and instituted his campaign by seizing provisions in

transit, purchased by the Florentines from the northern countries. The

following spring he invaded Tuscany.

"The hungry inhabitants, seeing no hope for even the future harvest,

offered but feeble opposition. Quite a few castles and small towns were

taken and pillaged.

"Our army moved slowly, and despite the legate's commands, never

followed up a victory. It mattered little to us that his enemies lived

to fight another day; our business was to line our pockets with plunder.

It was no serious affair to defeat our opponents whenever we met. They

were untrained in war and were usually officered by mercenaries, who

cared little whether they won or lost.

"One night a messenger from Sir John Hawkwood brought word that I should

confer with the captains of the Dutch and Breton troops, and if they

agreed, we were to mutiny and desert the legate's standard, when I

should proceed with my men to Florence, where he would await us.

"At the conference I learned from the other captains that their

commanders had made peace with the Florentines, having been paid one

hundred and thirty thousand florins; and that Sir John, having quarreled

with the legate at Pisa about our pay had referred the matter to the

Pope, who responded; 'The affair is wholly within the discretion of the

legate.' Whereupon he sent back word; 'Henceforth I am an opponent of

temporal church rule in Italy and quit your service.' He then made a

contract with the Florentines to assist them in repelling the legate's

armies.

"On the next day, when the condottieri were ordered to attack a small

town southwest of our camp, the inhabitants of which had treated us

decently, knowing that we bore them no ill-will, we disregarded the

order. By prearrangement, each captain at the head of his men assembled

in front of the legate's quarters, when as spokesman I asked an

audience.

"In a short while he came forth in his regalia, surrounded by a group of

carpet knights and peremptorily demanded:

"'What do you want and why have not you and your comrades begun the

assault as ordered?'

"'As spokesman for the English, Dutch and Breton condottieri, I am

directed to inform you that we have concluded to sever our connection

with your army and seek more satisfactory employment. Our sympathies are

with the Florentines rather than the church.'

"'Those of you who refuse to execute my commands shall be put to death.'

"'Who will execute your order? Surely not your three thousand carpet

knights, who can scarcely sit their horses and are coached by their

squires. They know nothing of warfare; they but wear their swords as

ornaments. Why, my three hundred horsemen alone are more than a match

for your knights. They and you do your fighting by proxy. It takes

something more than a jeweled sword, bright armor and a coat of arms to

make a soldier, and something more than a miter, a string of beads and a

colossal capacity for deception, torture and persecution, to make a

commander whom men trust and obey.'

"'So it is your intention to quit my service?'

"'Yes, and immediately, we shall leave your camp today.'

"Whereupon I returned to my men. After a brief conference we raided the

general stores and appropriated a week's supplies; then, loading our

pack horses, mounted and by easy stages rode to Florence.

"The legate, finding himself deserted by his mercenaries, his forces

reduced to less than three thousand undisciplined troops, with no one

competent to command, hastily retreated to Bologna and sought to make

peace with the Florentines.

"But they, justly resentful of his avaricious and unprovoked invasion,

refused to make peace, and until his death, nearly three years

thereafter, having entered into a league with Barnabo of Milan and

certain cities hostile to the church, conducted a successful war against

him.

"Three days thereafter we crossed through the pass and camped on the

south mountain slope within sight of Florence. The city from the

foothills as you look out upon it seems an island forest of tall towers,

surrounded by a verdant plain.

"A wall 9350 meters in length, protected by a deep moat, surrounds the

city. Every one hundred and sixty meters there is a tower forty meters

high and fourteen meters broad. The twelve gates, six on the left bank

of the river and six on the right, are strengthened by barbicans.

"No other city presents such striking contrasts or combinations of

antitheses, adding much to its picturesque life and appearance. Within

arms length of each other you see the noble in his brilliant attire and

the laborer in rags; the prelate gorgeously arrayed and the monk in

sober gown; almost next door to a cathedral or monastery and which has

taken a century to build, and beneath its very shadow, is the hovel of

some poor beggar. It is a city of violence, where dominion is maintained

by force; yet the pilgrim, with thoughts on God and atonement, may pass

in peace. Some are given over to lives of the vilest licentiousness,

while their neighbors lead lives of frugality and sanctity.

"We came in by the gate north of the church of San Lorenzo and I found

quarters at an inn on Via Por. S. Marcia, near the Ponte Vecchio. I

spent several months at this inn, reporting each day to Sir John for

orders.

"Sir John was the guest of Silvestro de Medici, the head of one of the

noblest of the popular families. In this way I became acquainted with

Marcella, the sister of Silvestro, and after a courtship of several

months we were married.

"My savings amounted to more than eight thousand florins. The florin is

a small gold coin with a lily on one side and the word 'Florentina' on

the other.

"For sixty-five hundred florins I purchased a small but substantial

house on Via Calimara, near the Arte della Lana, the guildhouse of the

wool weavers. The armorial design of the art, embossed above the portal,

is a lamb bearing a cross.

"Two of my friends, who lived on a side street in the neighborhood, were

Michael di Lando, a wool-comber who had considerable influence with his

guild, and Ser Nuto, a bailiff of the Signory.

"I had been in Florence six months and married more than a month when

Sir John disposed of our services to the eight commissioners of war;

when, with great unwillingness, I was forced to leave wife and home and

resume command of my three hundred horsemen.

"After having been thus engaged for more than four months, I procured a

furlough, expecting to have ten days of quiet at home. It was the month

of May and the city at its loveliest. On the third night after my

return, my wife and I were eating a late lunch, after a visit to her

brother's palace, when the servant announced that a man was at the door

with a message from Sir John, asking that I come at once to the inn of

the Golden Hat on the Via de Bardi.

"Buckling on armor and sword, and telling the good wife not to wait up

for me, I accompanied the messenger.

"When crossing the Ponte Vecchio in the darkness of its many butcher

stalls, the messenger, walking behind, leaped upon my back, seeking to

throw me to the floor. He was almost instantly aided by a half-dozen men

wearing black robes and cowls covering the head, having eyeholes only;

in other words, dressed as friars of the order of Misericordia. One of

these struck me on the head with a heavy short sword, and when I

regained consciousness I learned I was a prisoner in a dungeon under the

cloisters of the monastery of Agnoli. My friend, Ser Nuto, had

engineered the capture, which had been ordered by the Bologna legate for

my gross insults to him and consequently to the church. My captors, who

belonged to the Guelph faction, had cheerfully executed the commission

because of my relationship by marriage with the Medici family.

"My dungeon was simply a cistern of huge stones beneath the floor of the

cell of a friar of the order and the same size as his cell. The only

aperture was in the floor of the cell above and closed by a heavy

grating, the key to which, kept by the head of the order, was never

entrusted to the friar, who was as powerless to open the grating as I.

"The walls of immense stone were made the more impervious by iron bars,

which prevented contact with them, and made my prison an iron cage

encased in a stone dungeon. Food was let down by a cord through the

grating by a narrow copper bucket, and in the same manner each day the

refuse of the cell was removed. The friar who occupied the cell above

and who was my jailer was the only person I ever saw except when

tortured.

"At the end of a week Ser Nuto came into the cell and, calling down

through the grating, said; 'Climb up; you are to go before the holy

tribunal.' The grating was opened, a ladder let down and I climbed up

and was led across the open court through a long hall into a large room,

where twelve men, laymen and ecclesiastics, sat, the prelate acting as

presiding officer. It must have been near midnight. I remember when I

crossed the court how brilliantly the stars shone.

"When I came into the room, the prelate said; 'You are charged with the

heinous sin of sacrilegious utterances against the holy church, which

you will confess and for which you will be tortured even after

confession. Your torturing, because of your insults to the church and

its high officials, will be a compound of duty and pleasure to us. Until

you confess your sins, express sorrow for same and consent to serve the

church with loyal and unselfish devotion in whatever tasks shall be

assigned you, one of which will be to assist Ser Nuto in decoying Sir

John Hawkwood to this monastery you will be tortured the limit of your

bodily endurance once a week.'

"From the four corners of the room near the ceiling and extending to the

center, were suspended four ropes rigged with pulleys. My hands and feet

were tied to these, when they were drawn tight and I was suspended in

midair; then I was repeatedly hoisted back and forth from the floor to

near the lofty ceiling until my joints were dislocated from the strain

and I lost consciousness from pain, though I am glad to say, not once

did I utter a cry, give forth a groan or ask mercy of my tormentors.

"When consciousness returned I was on the pallet in my cell and lay

there for several days suffering as from severe sprains.

"My jailer was not unkind. His life I felt was not a happy one. He

seemed to enjoy conversing with me, though he was forced to lie on the

floor and call through the grating.

"This encouraged the hope that in sympathy or for reward I might

persuade him to carry word to my wife of my place of imprisonment, when

she, through the influence of Sir John or her brother, would be able to

procure my release.

"I knew how she must suffer and search for traces of me, fearing I had

been murdered and my body thrown into the river or buried in some secret

place.

"That night the friar lay down upon the floor and called;

"'Edward Hawkwood are you awake?'

"'Yes.'

"'Has the swelling and soreness left your joints?'

"'Yes, I feel about well.'

"'In a day or two they will torture you again and continue doing so each

week until you confess, express repentance and do what they ask. This I

advise you to do, else in the end they will torture you to death, or

leave you forgotten to die in your dungeon.'

"'I at least have this to be thankful for that you are not unkind.'

"'If it were suspected that I treated you other than a caged beast your

jailer would be changed and severely punished.'

"'Discovery is impossible, since you only talk with me at night.'

"'I am not so sure; there are always spies in our brotherhood and all,

from the scullion to the prelate, are under surveillance.'

"'I am sorry to learn that, as I hoped to prevail upon you to deliver a

message to my wife, telling her where I am confined.'

"'Were I caught in the effort, I should be tortured to death, or

confined indefinitely in a dungeon. Should your friends attempt your

rescue or ask your release you would be murdered and dropped into come

deep secret pit to destroy all evidence, when all would deny that you

had been held a prisoner.'

"'My wife will give you a hundred florins if you will but give her a

note telling my place of confinement. I have been but a few months

married; she loves me dearly and is no doubt crazed by my

disappearance.'

"'I wear this cowl and robe and beg as a mendicant on the street yet

have always wished to be a soldier fighting to free Tuscany from

tyranny; the tyranny not only of the oppressing noble families, chief of

whom at this time are the Albizzi, but of the church with whom they are

allied. I have suffered too much in mind from disappointment to care for

the physical discomforts of others; and had you not been a soldier of

renown, fighting against those influences which I condemn, I would have

looked upon your imprisonment as incidental and your suffering without

sympathy. I know how little I can do and that little at great personal

risk, which, if discovered, will be not only your death warrant but my

own. I will not carry a written message to your wife, but will stand

near your home, pretending to solicit alms, and if she should pass, will

tell her your message, but not disclose your place of imprisonment. She

will know you are alive and have a friend who at rare intervals will

give her news of you and bring back messages from her which you must

give me to destroy. That is all that can be done. As my reward, you

shall teach me to use the sword so when the opportunity is presented I

may do my part as a patriot to rid Tuscany of her oppressors.'

"'You will at least hand this ring to my wife when you deliver my

message and await her answer?'

"'Yes, I will risk that much.'

"That night I slept in peace and had rapturous dreams of freedom.

"On the next day in the afternoon, when my wife left our home to go to

her brother's seeking news of me, she was addressed by a mendicant

friar, who had even to touch her arm before she took notice, as she

walked as a woman asleep--mind lost in sorrow.

"'Do not start; pretend to give me alms and take this ring which your

husband sends. He is alive and well but a prisoner. I am his friend and

will take a written message to him. Should his friends seek to find his

place of confinement he will be murdered. On each Tuesday at this hour,

if you pass, I will bring you news of him. I must not be followed on his

account.'

"'Oh! Where is he.'

"'I have told you all I dare. Return home and write him a brief message

for which I shall wait; fold it closely and hand me as though it were a

small coin.'

"Turning away the friar solicited alms of a passing merchant.

"In a few minutes my wife returned and when he again asked alms she

dropped in his hand two florins and between them a note for me.

"That night at a late hour the friar called through the grating and when

I answered told me of the meeting and dropped the two florins into my

hand, stating he would read the note to me, which he did.

"'You cannot know how much I have suffered believing you dead. I hope

and live again since you sent the message and the ring.

"'What shall we do to find or rescue you? If you are not permitted to

write send me a piece of your clothing so I may know the messenger comes

from you.

"'Use every effort to come home to me as life is worthless with you

away. I dare not write more. Can I send you anything?'

"'Let me have the note so I may see my wife's handwriting.'

"'I will if you return it so it may be destroyed; your cell may be

searched.'

"He dropped it down, then let down a cord to which I tied the note after

having read it many times and held it to my lips.

"The succeeding night Ser Nuto came to the cell and I was again brought

before the holy tribunal, where an officer stood to take down my

confession and a surgeon to feel my pulse and estimate the amount of

torture I could bear.

"As I came in a poor man was being tortured and I stood and looked on, a

horrified witness, until he died upon the rack.

"Then I was called before the prelate and asked:

"'Will you confess your many sins, declare your repentance and help the

Holy Church to secretly take and imprison Sir John Hawkwood?'

"Remembering Sir John's many kindnesses to me, my duty as a soldier to

his commander, and thinking of my dear wife, I unhesitatingly answered;

'I will not.'

"'It is then my duty to subject you to torture. Reflect that what is

done to your body is for the good of your soul and in doing this we are

the servants of God. Have you anything to confess in mitigation of our

severest torture?'

"'I have not.'

"I was seized and bound to the ropes and suspended in midair; eight

husky friars repeatedly pulled with all their might upon ropes; they

swung and jerked me back and forth from floor to ceiling until it seemed

arms and legs must be torn from my trunk. I would have lost

consciousness long before I did, except I thought of my poor wife rather

than myself. Finally the relief of unconsciousness came and hers was the

last face I saw.

"It was hours before I regained consciousness and more than a week

before I was able to stand.

"A week after the second torture Ser Nuto came for me to be again

tortured, but was forced to return and report that I was unable to

stand, much less respond to torture.

"While I was on my pallet unable to move, the friar asked for my message

to my wife. I told him to cut off the corner of my coat and give her,

saying I was well and making every effort for release so I might soon be

with her.

"He brought back a note full of hope and tender messages, some money and

underclothing. We hid the money under the floor bars of my cell.

"About the time I was able to walk again the prelate of the order died

and on the night which had heretofore been selected for my weekly

torture the members of the holy tribunal were busy with the reception

and entertainment of his successor.

"In some way Ser Nuto's message of my condition was misunderstood and

entry was made in the register opposite my name that I had died from the

torture, the friar having told Ser Nuto that I was near death. Thus I

became and remained a forgotten prisoner in a dungeon without chance of

escape, but for the time free from the dread of torture.

"Until I had been registered as dead frugal meals had been furnished

from the kitchen. Now the supply from that source was cut off, except

that the friar, by giving the cook a florin each week and telling him

that he desired a lunch before retiring, had been able to procure

something.

"This was cold and rather a short ration for a man whose appetite was

always keen and who had boasted and demonstrated that he could eat a

quarter of lamb or a hen at a single meal.

"The friar supplemented this by purchases of fruit and cakes, which he

brought to the cell in deep pockets stitched on the lining of his robe,

so while I was always hungry, I did not suffer or lose strength.

"He explained the situation to my wife and she filled his pockets with

packages of bread, meat, cheese and sweets, so that on each Tuesday

night I counted on quite a feast. She also kept him supplied with money

to make such purchases as he could carry through the portal without

detection by the watchful gatemen.

"We tried all sorts of keys in our effort to unlock the grating, but

were unsuccessful. We even had a locksmith make a key from a defective

wax impression, but this failed of purpose. The bars might have been cut

out with hammer and chisel except the noise would have brought the

watchman.

"The friar made a sword of heavy wood and at night when the others slept

I would climb up the ladder to the grating and instruct him in its use.

"Could one of the order have seen him, in the brass lamp's flickering

light, making passes and warding off imaginary thrusts with his wooden

sword, prancing and jumping back and forth in his narrow cell, clothed

only in his under garments, and heard a hollow voice as from a tomb,

calling out orders and directing his movements, he would have been

convinced that the ancient cloisters were tenanted by ghosts or evil

spirits.

"I cannot understand how the swordsman, who for years had worn cowl and

habit, could have developed the muscular strength he possessed; which,

with his quickness of movement, eye and thought, at the very start of

his training made him a dangerous antagonist. He seemed to have the

combined strength of several men. It must have been the reward of a

clean and regular life, or else a legacy handed down with his fiery

spirit from some former churchman or crusader who had greater regard for

the helmet than the miter or from a gladiator or soldier ancestry.

"He was always absent during the day and I, having nothing to do to

occupy my time, and knowing the importance not only because of my

calling but for my health of retaining my muscular flexibility and

strength, spent several hours each day climbing around upon and swinging

from the bars of the iron cage until finally the rust was worn away and

they grew polished from contact with my hands and feet.

"After several months of this I grew so expert and tireless that in

giving lessons to my soldier pupil I no longer found it necessary to use

the ladder, but swung from the grating, easing first one arm and then

the other through the long lesson. One night after he had gone through

his sword manual without hesitancy, much less mistake, I said:

"'It is time to throw away that toy and practice with a real weapon, to

accustom your arm and hand to the weight and feel of a real sword. When

my wife passes you on Tuesday tell her to procure a heavy short sword

for you from her brother and to send mine with body armor and helmets

for both of us, piece by piece as you can bring it. After we are armed,

if I can only get through this grating, we need have no fear of the gate

guards.'

"If I am taken or caught you will starve in your dungeon.

"I have thought of that. We must procure the key from the prelate by

some subterfuge. Let us first possess our swords and armor, then we will

get the key and both escape.

"Within the week the friar made two visits to my house and each time

when he left, beneath his outer robe, he wore a corselet and carried a

heavy short sword and helmet. We discovered my wife had converted each

helmet into a store room which I robbed for a substantial meal.

"The fear that my kind jailer might be removed or not appear from some

casualty had caused me to store away a small supply of food and water in

a corner of my cell.

"My sword and helmet the friar passed through the grating and when I

placed the one upon my head and grasped the familiar handle of the

other, new hope kindled in my heart. The corselets were concealed under

the couch of my jailer, as mine could not be passed through the grating.

"When he returned that night I called to my companion of the upper story

saying; 'Why not go to the custodian of the dungeon and ask for the key

to my cell, stating it smells badly and you desire to clean it? He

supposes it empty and will readily loan you the key.'

"Your suggestion is a good one and the odor of your cell will certainly

confirm the declaration. I will do it; but will wear the corselet and

buckle on my sword. If he refuses he is liable to lose both the key and

his head.

"A few minutes later I heard him go out and in less than half an hour he

returned with the key, which he had no trouble in procuring.

"He fitted it into the lock, I heard the bolts turn and a minute later I

stood in the upper cell embracing this morbid, strong-armed friar, who

had proven himself my most loyal friend.

"An hour later he returned the key the locksmith had made for us. I had

the key to the grating in my pocket and felt in the humor to say;

'Friend, come to my home and dine tomorrow night,' though no one knew

better than I that thick, high and well-guarded walls opposed our

freedom. I felt satisfied, however, if not discovered, that within a few

days opportunity would present itself for escape.

"Each night the friar and I, closing fast the outer door, donned our

corselets and helmets, and descending into the noise-deadening dungeon,

practiced at cutting, thrusting and slashing at each other with our

heavy short swords.

"I was surprised at the natural aptitude of the man and his marvelous

quickness and strength of wrist. He was a worthy opponent for me though

for more than fifteen years I had been ranked the best swordsman of Sir

John's army.

"One night we lost ourselves in the interest of our close contest and

made such a noise that it reached the ear of a spy passing the outer

door. He tried to effect an entrance but could not; then knocking, and

so loudly that finally the sound reached us, and doubtless our

neighbors.

"My friend, climbing out, closed the grating, put on his robe and

opening the door admitted the spy. Looking around he discovered the key

in the grating lock and stooping opened the door and peeped down. He saw

nothing in the darkness but the top of a ladder; this he started down,

calling for a light.

"I caught him by the ankles, jerked him to the floor and called to my

friend to close and bolt the grating, which he did. Whereupon I turned

to the spying friar and said; 'Hand me your robe and cowl.' With these

and my sword and helmet I mounted the ladder to the upper cell.

"My friend said, 'What shall we do now?'

"'We will have to keep the spy a prisoner until we escape.'

"'But they will search for him in the morning and in doing so will visit

this cell in my absence.'

"'I will don his cowl and habit over my armor and we will escape

tonight.'

"'That is impossible, all portals are closed and guarded by watchmen

stationed in the barbicans over each gateway. Nor can we scale the walls

because the watchmen do not sleep, being put to the torture if found

asleep. No one is permitted to leave after night.'

"'Then in the morning as you leave I will go wearing the garment of our

prisoner.'

"'It is not possible; each face is scrutinized and no one leaves without

a permit. I will leave at the regular time, procure from Sir John

Hawkwood two horses, which his servant will hold for us outside the

gate. When the horses are ready I will return; then we will leave

together.'

"Our plans settled, I returned to my dungeon and, locked in with our

prisoner, in a few minutes was asleep. The prisoner sat in one corner

on the floor and, from his appearance the next morning, evidently passed

an uncomfortable night.

"Before my friend left he passed down my sword, helmet, and the key to

the grating. He also cautioned the prisoner not to call out if any one

entered the upper cell.

"I set out a supply of food on which the prisoner and I breakfasted.

Then, expecting that the upper cell would be visited by a searching

party, I made the prisoner lie face down on my pallet, placing the edge

of my sword across the back of his neck and telling him if he made the

slightest sound I would cut off his head, I stood quietly waiting.

"These preparations were scarcely finished before two men entered the

upper cell and looking around a bit and trying the grating, which of

course was locked, they went on.

"About an hour later the friar returned and I climbed up the ladder,

locking the door after me.

"We put on our metal corselets and swords and over them slipping cowl

and habit, went out into the corridor and to the main portal. At the

gate were three guards wearing metal helmets, leather jackets and each

armed with sword and lance.

"My friend told the guard I was a visiting friar of the order and was to

leave in his company. This statement satisfied two of the guards, but

the third, more careful,--said; 'You must procure a permit from the

prelate before I will open the gate.'

"While arguing with him we edged towards the gate and turning quickly

started to open it, whereupon he thrust at me with his lance, but my

corselet turned it aside.

"Quickly drawing my sword and throwing off the cowl and robe, I made a

vicious thrust at him, piercing his leather jacket. He sank at my feet

helplessly wounded.

"My companion and I then rushed the other two who turning fled, uttering

loud cries of alarm. We ran and opened the small gate, when one of my

men rode forward leading two horses, and mounting, the three of us rode

rapidly away through a near gate of the city into the open country and

by nightfall reached the camp of my horsemen.

"I immediately dispatched a special messenger with a note to my wife

telling of my escape and promising within the week to come to her.

"These men were anxious to hear an account of our adventures, believing

we had been to England or some distant country on important service; but

I had to remain silent to hide the identity of my faithful friend. To

their inquiries I answered; 'You must be satisfied with the little we

have told; I will say further my experiences have not increased my love

for the church, or the Pope.'

"At the monastery they were unable to learn who had escaped with the

friar or what became of either of us. Their records showing me dead,

made their investigation the more difficult. Of course, in time they

learned that was a mistake and doubtless concluded that I accompanied

the friar.

"On the following morning I resumed formal command and in a day or two

things were moving along as though I had never been absent. The only

persons to whom I ever disclosed the place of my imprisonment, were my

wife, her brother and Sir John.

"On the third day after I resumed command we were ordered to take an old

castle which the owner, though a Tuscan, more churchman than patriot,

had voluntarily turned over to the Bologna legate.

"It was situated on the mountain side and made admirable headquarters

for several companies of soldiers who acted as a guard for the mountain

pass less than a mile distant, through which the legate's army procured

supplies and beyond which we had, as yet, been unable to penetrate.

"To our force of horsemen were added one hundred English bowmen and more

than that number of hardy native mountaineers, whom it was thought might

render valiant service in scaling or undermining the walls of the castle

if we were forced to take it by assault. These additional men made our

forces about equal numerically to those occupying the castle. The

ex-friar and several mountaineers were the only ones of our force who

had ever been within its walls or had knowledge of its interior

arrangements. These I sent for, seeking information which might he of

value in perfecting our plans for its assault.

"Their description of the stronghold was such as to convince one that

its taking was no easy matter.

"The structure was built on a spur which jutted out from the mountain

side and which on three sides was too precipitate to be scaled. The

overtopping main peaks were too distant to be used by our bowmen. The

only approach was across a narrow neck of land which was intersected by

a deep moat, crossed only by a narrow drawbridge and against which

abutted the perpendicular walls of great height and thickness.

"The ex-friar said; 'A guard of six is always kept at the gate and

several watchmen are stationed on the walls. I know of no way by which

we can gain admission except, by deception or strategy, we first gain

possession of the drawbridge and the gate.'

"'And how might that be done?'

"'This evening three of us dressed in the habit of the monastery of

Agnoli, but wearing armor under our vesture, might approach the gate and

ask leave to spend the night, stating we are traveling as messengers to

Bologna and have gotten separated from two companions for whom we must

wait. During the night you will bring your men to the chestnut wood that

lies along the road as you approach the castle and place a dozen of your

best archers in the trees nearest the walls. On the morrow just at six

we will come to the gate as though leaving the castle and stop there

talking with the watchmen. When you are ready our two companions will

approach the drawbridge and join us. Then we will assault the six guards

and your archers at the same time must kill the watchmen on the wall.

While we hold the gate you with your men must cross the drawbridge and

get to us. You know we can hold out but a few moments; there must be no

delay.'

"'If we adopt this plan I want you and your companions to understand

that the danger is great and you will probably be killed by the time we

cross. I will force no man to assume the risk. It will be impossible for

me to go as I must lead the assault. You will choose the two who go with

you and I from volunteers will select two of my best men to meet you at

the gate. You shall command the squad and, if successful, Sir John and

your companions shall know to whom the credit is due.'

"That afternoon at four, three stalwart Italians left the camp, walking

up the mountain. They were equipped in full armor and each carried a

bundle under his arm.

"They crossed a rapid mountain stream near the headwaters of the Arno

and were seen no more. Shortly thereafter three peaceful-looking friars

came forth and took the trail leading to the castle and the pass, as

they walked along chanting in a subdued tone the vesper service of their

monastery.

"At twilight, dusty and sweat-stained from apparent long travel, they

crossed the drawbridge just before it was raised for the night and the

gates closed. When challenged by the guards they asked food and shelter

for the night. The corporal of the guard interrogated them as to their

business in the mountains.

"'We are three of five messengers sent by our order to Bologna. One of

the other two was taken sick and forced to remain in the village

overnight and a companion stayed with him; they will meet us here or in

the pass on the morrow.'

"Reporting to the officer of the day, he was directed to let them in and

to provide them with food and a bed of straw in the barracks.

"In the morning, just before six, they came to the gate and stood

waiting. They were civilly greeted by the corporal who had let them in

the night before, but who was being relieved by another corporal and

guard.

"The new squad let down the drawbridge and opened the gate as was the

custom when no danger threatened.

"The corporal in charge, who had little love for monks and friars,

turning to them said: 'You are three big strapping fellows to be

supported by charity. You should be working in the fields or else

helping us fight for the church. Why they pay us to do their fighting

instead of training you for that purpose I will never understand.

Either one of you looks as strong as a bull and with that habit in the

ditch, a helmet on your head, wearing corselet and sword you might pass

as a soldier. Here come two more of your order; not only the cities but

the mountains are full of you. No wonder there is so much poverty in

Bologna and Florence.'

"'I have always wished to be a soldier. I would like to try on your

helmet and sword and see how my companions and I look dressed as your

squad.'

"'Let's see how the three beggars look in helmets, and you might just as

well buckle on our swords. Let the other two across, they can join in

the comedy.'

"So we found ourselves within the gates with the swords of the guards in

our hands.

"'Remove your habits and stand forth as men.'

"And so we did and, giving the defenseless, surprised and chagrined

corporal a shove, I threw him into the moat and my men forced the others

to follow him, where, standing in water and mud to their arm pits and

facing an unscalable wall, they yelled an alarm and hoarsely bawled for

help.

"In the meantime, the castle and the neighboring wood were in commotion.

The watchmen on the walls had been shot down by the archers as had also

several soldiers who rushed to see what had caused the uproar. I had a

glimpse across the draw of Captain Hawkwood and his soldiers within a

hundred yards of the gate, when turning, I saw more than a hundred of

the castle guard running towards and within a few feet of our archway.

"They took us for the gate guards and yelled to draw the bridge and

close the gate, but instead, sword in hand, we stood at the entrance

waiting for them. Then, seeing they faced foes, they came on, but too

closely placed for free sword play.

"So the five of us held the gate; then four, then three, then but two,

and then I stood alone and as I pitched forward wounded and bleeding in

many places, you stepped over me, followed by your men and the battle

raged in the court of the castle.

"(The above account was given me by the friar when he recovered. I have

told it in his own words.)

"In a few minutes we were masters of the wall and court and our foes

masters of the castle proper.

"I had reason to be thankful for our bowmen, who, ranged around and

protected by the coping of the wall, made death certain for anyone

daring to approach a window or port hole of the castle, else our

quarters might have been most uncomfortable.

"Of our five masqueraders three were dead and the other two were sorely

wounded in many places. I staunched and dressed the wounds of the

ex-friar. In about an hour he opened his eyes and looking at me smiled

then sank into semi-conciousness.

"Placing the bowmen on the walls so as to command every aperture of the

castle I determined upon an assault of the main portal. The corporal and

gate guards having been lifted from the moat were placed in the front

line to shield us and we advanced against the great doors of the castle,

using a heavy bridge timber as a ram, and in a few minutes effected an

entrance, but found each foot of space which we gained a bloody

conquest.

"Within an hour after effecting our entrance we were in possession of

the ground floor, but our enemy held the upper stories and were too

strong and well fortified to be ousted by assault.

"We felt certain they were without food and water, since our assault had

been a surprise, and we had captured their storerooms, which were on the

ground floor.

"That night we rested, having placed a heavy guard at the gate and on

the wall and barricaded ourselves against the upper story. The next

morning I sent off fifty men to guard the pass and a messenger to report

our progress to Sir John.

"We saw nothing of our foes until afternoon, when we heard them

carefully removing their barricades of the door; then it was suddenly

thrown open and they stood ready for an assault, facing our barricade,

which they had not expected to find.

"Our bowmen, brought in for the purpose, let fly a shower of arrows into

their faces at close range, which wounded many. They quickly closed the

door and replaced their barricades. More than a dozen of them had been

killed or severely wounded by the archers.

"Shortly before sundown the barricade was again removed, the door opened

a few inches and a conference asked. I consented that their commander

with two aids might be admitted to our quarters.

"To see if they were hungry, a table was prepared with food and drink,

at which I asked them to be seated, stating; 'I am about to dine, and

after the meal we will discuss any matter you see fit to call up.'

"While the commander ate and drank quite sparingly, I was convinced by

the way the two aids responded that they were without provisions.

"We finally agreed upon the terms of their surrender. All were to be

liberated and their arms and horses returned, but not until they had

retired from the castle and crossed through the pass into the valley

towards Bologna.

"Our work, in less than two days, thanks to the ex-friar and his brave

companions, was completed. We were the masters of the castle and the

pass, which for two years had been held against repeated assaults.

"Shortly afterward we received word that the legate was dead and that

his entire force had retired from Tuscany.

"The ex-friar, who now called himself Lorenzo di Puccio was not so

seriously wounded as at first appeared. His armor and remarkable

expertness as a swordsman had rendered such protection that of his more

than thirty wounds only two were rated as serious; and even these, with

a month's careful nursing, in my opinion, would be healed.

"He was placed in the living quarters of the owner of the castle and

orders were issued that he should be cared for as a member of the

family. In fact, dire punishment was promised the thoroughly frightened

owner if he was not given the most careful treatment and nursing. He was

even told that the lives of the inmates and the release of the castle

depended upon the complete recovery of his patient.

"The result was that Lorenzo received the most solicitous attention from

the wife and daughter of the owner. Throughout the day one sat

constantly by his bedside and in time both grew quite fond of their

patient, regarding him as a most important personage, since such

particular orders had been issued for his care. Lorenzo and his fair

nurse, the daughter, became lovers, and several months later were

married.

"Everything having turned out to the complete satisfaction of Sir

John--there being no longer an enemy to fight and the campaign

practically ended--I made application for and was given leave to return

home.

* * * * *

"Upon arrival in Florence I found the city torn asunder by jealousy and

dissention. Such government as existed was one of gabble. All recognized

and appreciated that a fiercer contest than the one just happily closed

was impending.

"Criticism of the conduct of the war and the nature of the peace to be

made appeared the principal issues but the real issue was factional

rule. Though the five war commissioners, with the assistance of Sir

John, had carried through the war without the loss of a single battle

and had driven the Pope's legate from Tuscan territory, the campaign had

not been conducted in accordance with the great courage and generalship

of the stay-at-homes of the other faction.

"All this I perceived with great sadness, since I now claimed to be a

citizen of Florence, and upon the enforcement of law and order depended

the safety of my wife and property.

"During my imprisonment and absence, I had, reflectively at least,

become a personage of importance; as my brother-in-law, Silvestro de

Medici, was the head of the Ricci, or anti-Guelph faction, now in power.

It was, therefore, incumbent upon me, when I moved about the city, to be

attended by a squire and even a small guard of troopers. Next to Sir

John, I was considered the most important military officer in the city.

"The Ricci faction was in control of the city. They had the support of

the populace and the Alberti and Medici families.

"The faction opposing them was known as the Guelphs and, while not

directing the government, had the power to admonish. They controlled

the captains of the parts, and had the support of the church, the

nobility and the Albizzi family.

"On St. John's day, when the gathering of their followers would go

unnoticed in the vast holiday crowd, they had determined upon seizing

the government.

"In the meantime, the government, or Ricci faction, learned of their

purpose, and, over their opposition, elected my brother-in-law,

Silvestro, Gonfalonier, or chief magistrate of the city.

"He was thoroughly familiar with their schemes for oppressing the people

and, as steps towards diminishing their influence, resolved that laws

should be enacted retrenching their powers.

"To do this he had first to obtain the consent of the colleague and the

council and called together the two bodies the same morning for that

purpose.

"When he presented his proposition to the colleagues he was surprised at

the opposition encountered and, concluding that his purpose might be

defeated upon a vote, excused himself from the colleagues and went

before the council, to which body he tendered his resignation, declaring

that since he could neither help the government nor the people he felt

in duty bound to resign as chief magistrate.

"At this, his friends in the council gave voice to strenuous protest.

They raised such a commotion that the colleagues and council, assembling

together, demanded that he remain in office and the colleagues, in the

midst of the greatest confusion, passed his proposed laws.

"Lorenzo, the ex-friar, now married and living in Florence, was present

as a spectator. He became greatly incensed at the remarks of Carlo

Strozzi and, seizing him by the throat, would have strangled him had

not several of us torn his half-conscious victim away.

"The excitement increased until the whole city was aroused and in arms.

"The plebs, led by Benedetto degli Alberti and Lorenzo, who some time

before had joined the wool-combers' union, and was an intimate friend

and trusted lieutenant of Michael di Lando, the head of the strongest

trade union or order in the city, were soon so wrought up as to be past

restraint and were ready for any acts of violence.

"The merchants closed their doors, the nobles fortified themselves in

their homes and many hid their valuables in the churches, the monastery

of Agnoli, and the convent of S. Spirito.

"The captains of the parts, and the other forces of the Guelph faction,

gathered to organize their deferred revolution and defend themselves;

but learning of the action of the colleagues and the council and

perceiving the opposition too great and dangerous, separated, each

hunting safety for himself.

"A part of the trade unions, particularly the members of the

wool-combers, joined the mob to avenge themselves upon the Guelphs. Led

by Michael di Lando, Lorenzo and myself, they broke into, looted and

burned the house of Lapo, but he escaped, disguised as a monk, into the

Casentino. Piero and Carlo, two other of their leaders, hid themselves

and so well we could not find them.

"Then we looted and burned the houses of other Guelphs and wound up our

orgy by sacking and thoroughly looting the monastery of Agnoli, at which

place we found great treasure in gold and jewels, knowing just where to

look for it.

"Visiting my old cell in the cloisters we found in one corner of the

dungeon a humped up skeleton, which led us to believe that the prison of

the captive spy had never been discovered.

"The next day the trade unions appointed each a syndic and these, with

the colleagues, sought to quiet the city, but without success.

"On the following day the unions appeared in force bearing the ensigns

of their trades and, fully armed, took possession of the palace of the

signory.

"Upon this the council in terror created a balia, giving general power

to the Signory, the colleagues, the eight commissioners of war, the

captains of the parts and the trade unions to reorganize the government

of the city.

"The balia restored all privileges to the admonished, annulled all

unpopular laws passed by the Guelphs, declared Lopo, Carlo and Piero

traitors and outlaws, elected a new signory and appointed Luigi Guiccia,

Gonfalonier.

"Still the disorders continued unabated. No business was done, the shops

remained closed and the populace, no better satisfied, paraded the

streets in armed bands and in a dangerous humor.

"The heads of the trade unions were called before the Signory, when

Luigi, the Gonfalonier, speaking for the signory, asked; 'What do you

yet want? At your request we have taken all power from the opposition;

we have restored to the admonished the power to hold office. You

demanded that those participating in the riots and guilty of robbery and

arson be pardoned; even this to our shame, we have granted. Yet

continuously you appear before us making new demands, continue rioting

and by numbers and threats seek to intimidate our body. You have so

terrorized the people that no business is transacted. Where will it all

end? What more do you want? How will business be restored and peace

brought about? What is to become of the city? Your vandalism destroys

the very property which furnishes your unions with employment; your

employers are powerless to continue in business or give the people work.

Why do you not disband and return to work? Your requests, reasonable and

unreasonable, have been granted. What better government can you expect

than the one you enjoy? It is of your own choosing and based upon the

fundamental principle that the supreme authority of the state is in the

majority of the people.'

"His suggestions, which were fair and conciliatory, might have

prevailed, except that I wanted greater concessions for our particular

union; and for that purpose frightened the weakening and consenting ones

who had participated in the riots to further violence by telling them

that to save themselves they must burn and loot yet more; must commit

other and greater wrongs and incite others to join them, saying:

"'If many commit wrongs few or none are punished; the petty criminal is

chastised, but the great one is rewarded. When the whole people suffer,

few seek vengeance. The government stands great and public wrongs with

more patience and resignation than private and little ones. If we

hesitate, or lose, or give ground, we will be punished; if we carry our

rebellion through to the extent of forcing a reorganization of the

government, we conquer and are glorious. Great power is acquired by

force and great wealth by fraud; the faithful in service remain in

service; and the reward of honesty is poverty; men, like fishes, feed

upon one another. To save yourselves you must continue to destroy and

excite the opposition to such fear for themselves and their property

that they will pardon your offences and look upon you as saviors when

you cease to oppress them. Shape your conduct by your desires; if you

wish to be masters, continue to oppress; if you wish to be banished and

punished as criminals, submit. What I suggest, though dangerous, is

under the circumstances not only expedient, but your only course, your

only salvation.'

"This reasoning, coupled with similar arguments from Lorenzo, seemed so

conclusive that our auditors agreed to our suggestions, and Michael di

Lando was chosen to command our organization. He was already head of the

wool-combers union, the largest and most powerful in the city,

supporting the plebs and the low class people.

"The second night thereafter was fixed upon to put our plans into

execution. We bound ourselves in mutual defense and to undertake to gain

possession of the republic.

"One of our men named, Simone, was arrested and, when put to the

torture, disclosed the plot. While he was being tortured, Nicolo Friano,

who was repairing the palace clock, saw it and heard a part of his

confession. He fled to our meeting place and reported what he had seen

and heard.

"Immediately we armed ourselves and, more than a thousand strong,

gathered in the square of S. Spirito, and so the revolution began.

"The signory issued orders that the gonfaloniers of the people and their

companies should assemble in the public square at daylight the next

morning, but less than a hundred men appeared under arms in support of

the government, while our forces had grown to more than three thousand.

"A body of the plebeians first assembled at San Pietro, but there was no

force to oppose them. Then other trade unions gathered in various

squares and market places, including the palace, or public square.

"They demanded from the signory that all prisoners be released, which

was done, and these immediately joined our ranks.

"We took the gonfalon of Justice from its bearer and under the authority

of that banner burned and looted many houses and killed many of our

enemies. Any member of our companies who desired to punish any private

enemy or satisfy his revenge had but to call out; 'Let us burn the house

of Luigi Poggi; he is an enemy of the people and unfriendly to our

order.' When leading the way he was followed by and had the assistance

of the whole assemblage.

"Many a plebeian in rags was knighted during this period, and many a

patrician was satisfied to lose all if he and his family but escaped

with their lives.

"By night of that first day our numbers had increased to more than six

thousand, and before the following morning we were in possession of all

the trade ensigns, were using their headquarters as barracks, and

practically controlled the city.

"The signory, assembling, asked our wishes. We named a committee of four

to confer with them. They demanded new judges, and three new companies

of the arts who should have representation in the signory, one for the

wool combers and dyers; one for the barbers and tailors, and a third for

the lowest class of the people, that is, the unskilled laborers. We

demanded a cancellation of all debts and that our enemies be banished or

punished. These demands we forced the signory to grant, and gave our

promise that disorders should cease.

"The next morning, while the council was still considering the

proposition, a tremendous mob of the trades entered the square carrying

their ensigns and so intimidated the council and signory that the

members fled with the exception of Alemanno and Niccolo. They were

finally driven away by threats that if they did not leave their houses

would be burned and their families murdered.

"Then we entered the palace, led by Michael di Lando, who bore the

standard of the gonfalonier of justice. The most of our crowd were in

rags.

"He took possession of the dias of the presiding officer of the Signory

and, turning to his followers, said; 'You are now in possession of the

palace and the council hall, in control of the city and in a position to

constitute yourselves the governing authority in place of those who have

deserted their posts; what is your pleasure?'

"'We wish you for our gonfalonier and that you govern the city as the

representative of the trade unions and the people.'

"'I accept your command and shall proceed to restore peace and order in

the city.'

"Though meanly clad, he was possessed of much good sense and was not

without dignity and courage. With capacity and self-possession, he

proceeded at once to exercise the authority he had assumed.

"Lorenzo and I, who all the time had acted as his lieutenants and

advisers, to hold the mob in check and at the same time settle an old

score dating back to my imprisonment in the monastery, suggested that

Ser Nuto, then sheriff, be arrested and delivered to the mob. He had

made himself very officious in oppressing the trades and the plebeians.

"While those deputized to find him were searching the city, others built

a gallows in the palace square for his execution; we having determined

that his execution should be the first to strike terror into those who

had opposed our wishes.

"He was soon found and hung by the mob from the gallows by one foot. In

less than five minutes he was torn to pieces, nothing remaining but the

foot by which he had been suspended.

"The first order issued by Michael di Lando was that any one who burned

or looted a house should be punished as Ser Nuto had been.

"He removed the members of the signory and the colleagues and deposed

the syndics of the trades. The eight war commissioners who had assumed

to set up a new signory were ordered to resign, which they did.

"He then assembled the newly-elected syndics of the trades and in

conjunction with them created a new signory, composed of four members

from the plebeians, two from the major and two from the minor trades.

One of the four members of the plebeians was the ex-friar, appointed

under his assumed name of Lorenzo di Puccio. No one ever suspicioned his

former connection with the monastery of Agnoli.

"My brother-in-law was awarded the rentals from the butcher stalls of

Ponte Vecchio; Michael di Lando retained for himself the provostry of

Empoli; Sir John Hawkwood was made Captain General, and I was made his

aid, knighted and placed in command of all mercenaries.

"No sooner had order been restored than certain of the trade unions,

much incensed at the prospect of work, and a majority of the plebeians

who seemed better satisfied with disorder, sought to incite violence by

charging that Michael di Lando in reformation of the government had

favored the higher or richer class citizens and neglected his

associates, who had placed him in power; a charge which was not true.

Whereupon many of them took up arms and started fresh disorders.

"They came before him a riotous multitude, demanding many changes. He

ordered them to lay down their arms, stating that no concessions would

be made to a show of intimidation.

"His answer but enraged them the more. They withdrew and, assembling at

Santa Maria Novella, appointed eight leaders and prepared to storm the

palace and make good their demands. They then sent a delegation to the

signory, directing that they grant their demands.

"This delegation was so arrogant and threatening that Michael di Lando,

losing his temper, drew his sword and, after wounding several, had them

cast into prison.

"When this was reported, their organization marched towards the palace.

Michael, in the meantime gathering his forces, started for their place

of assemblage. The opposing forces, traveling different streets, passed

on the way; the mob arriving at the palace about the time that his

forces reached their place of assemblage.

"With his force, in which was the remnant of The White Company, he

returned to the palace, where a fierce contest waged for its possession.

Our opponents were vanquished and driven beyond the city walls or found

safety by hiding within the city.

"Order was restored and for the first time in many months the city was

quiet. Michael gave to the city a just and, for the time, a peaceful

administration of three years. While he rescued the city from the lowest

plebeians, his administration was artisan-controlled and governed. The

signory was made up of nine members, of which the superior trades

furnished four and the inferior trades five members.

"Shortly after restoration of order and reorganization new factions were

organized between the artificers on the one side, called the plebeians,

and the nobles and church on the other, called the popular party.

"It was discovered that certain members of the popular party were in

conspiracy with Gianozzo da Salerno of Bologna, who had been prevailed

upon to undertake the conquest of the city.

"Piero and Carlo were accused of connection with this conspiracy and Sir

John Hawkwood, Tomasso Strozzi and Benedetto Alberti, with a strong

force, prepared to resist this invasion.

"Piero was executed. Subsequently Giorgio Scali and Tomasso Strozzi made

themselves offensive to the government. Tomasso fled, but Giorgio was

made prisoner and beheaded.

"Beginning with this, one disorder followed another in the political

struggles between the plebeians and the popular party and the major and

minor trades.

"After many balias had been appointed for the reformation of the

government and there had been two general assemblies of the people, a

new government was formed, controlled by the opposition. They recalled

all people banished by Sylvestro. All who had acquired office by the

balia of 1378 were deposed. The Guelphs were restored to power and the

plebeians and trades deposed. Michael di Lando and Lorenzo di Puccio

were banished. The good they had done and the services they had rendered

were quickly forgotten."

* * * * *

The boss carpenter, after more than an hour's steady talking, stirred

and groaned; he opened his eyes and sat up saying;

"I have been dreaming of labor unions and fighting. I believe I will

walk to Winchester, as I am expected to talk to some friends at a

meeting tonight."

[Illustration: A Chiseled Cavern and Italian Battery, Front Line 7th

Army; Dolomite Peaks, Italian Alps, Altitude 8,000 Feet.]

THE SEARCHLIGHT.

In the summer of 1918, I visited an Italian army hospital at Edelo. On

one of the small white beds was a young soldier, horribly mangled by a

bomb dropped from an Austrian airplane.

I learned that he had lived seven years in New York, having been carried

there by his father when a boy of fourteen. When Italy entered the war,

he returned to his native land and volunteered his services. At the time

he was wounded he was operating a portable searchlight.

He was near death and, in unconscious monotone, spoke in English:

"A year ago it looked mighty blue; we were on the run at Caparetto. Now

it looks as though we might win the war within the year. Things are

mighty quiet with the enemy. I have not seen an Austrian plane for more

than a week.

"I do love this old searchlight. How it makes the ice and snow of the

mountain tops shine out in the night. When things are quiet like tonight

I turn the light way down into the valley upon the house in the olive

grove where Marcella lives.

"She has said her prayers and lies asleep; and I, ten kilometers

distant, flash the light upon her shutters. It seems I might walk upon

the beam as upon a bridge of silver to her very door.

"My God! Is the war to last forever? Is she to live on macaroni and

chestnuts and break rock upon the road in sun and rain and snow, summer

and winter, until she dies? Am I to stay up here within sight of her

house but never within reach of her arms? When can we ever marry? On my

pay it would take a thousand years to save a decent fee for the priest.

Mother of God, be good to her!

"Let's take a look at those poor devils up there in that hell of ice. No

wonder our great poet pictures a section of hell as such a place. They

can have no fire and must sleep with the dogs to keep warm. It looks

grand in the light; but it is the grandeur of eternal winter, and

eternal winter is death. It is a lonely beautiful region ten thousand

feet above the sea. God and those boys alone will ever know the

heart-bursting strain of placing their big guns, which were raised a few

feet, day by day. What a land to live and fight and die in. The chasms,

the sliding snow and the Austrians each demand and receive toll. Are the

dug-outs and trenches and tunnels, in solid ice and rock, lonely places

for those boys from Naples and Palermo? When they look at the dolomite

peaks which, too pointed to give the snow bedding, stick out from under

the white spread of the mountain tops like big black horns, do they long

for the azure sea and lemon groves? No wonder they call the peaks the

'Horns of The Old One'; or that when my light falls upon them I think of

ebon fangs protruding from white guns, and call the place 'The Mouth of

Hell.' If those boys but show their heads above the crest the awful

silence is broken by the roar of guns. What a life! Always under

potential fire and for three years within range of the deadly machine

gun and hand-grenade.

"There seems little use for this searchlight tonight. The Austrians, if

it be possible, are even more weary of the war, more discouraged and

worse off than we. There's nothing doing; no airplane hovers above like

a great hawk to be plucked out of the darkness and clothed in lucent

raiment for destruction by my arrows of light.

"I will turn it down into the valley again. May it be a precursor of

where I shall soon go. There's the house and her shutters and to the

right on the spur of the Cima della Granite in the chestnut grove, the

old church. How the gold cross on the spire stands out!

"Sometimes at night the light catches the spire so I see only the cross

of gold. Then the thought comes that all there is in life for the poor,

or me, or any one, is the cross; and that my lot may not be so bad, even

though I die here, the death of a man for men.

"Since Christ had none to comfort him upon the cross, why should I have

so much comfort here? Is it not enough to have the bar of light and the

cross of gold! Can not I reach out along the bar towards the cross and

say; 'Into thy hands, Father, I commend my spirit?'

"When the night is dark and still I flash the bar of light from this

high point down the valley and I say; 'It is the eye of God, the

shepherd, searching for a lost lamb.' And, in order that the sheep may

know the way into the fold, I flash the light upon the door of the

church and then slowly let it climb the spire until its rests upon the

cross.

"Alone in the night, I have learned that the one great thing is light.

With the light you may find the way. I have learned that all things

bright and fair are from the Father; and understand why God first said;

'Let there be light!' I can partly measure his infinite love and

compassion in offering to all, even those as poor as I, who cannot buy a

postage stamp, light and the cross and the resurrection. In the light of

this thought may I not in faith and peace, await the life eternal?"

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