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Thus authorized； Charles armed all his friends and followers； which
step gave the people so strong a suspicion that he designed to rob
them of their liberty； that each took arms； and kept at his own house；
in order to be ready； if Charles should make any such attempt。 The
Cerchi and the leaders of the Bianchi faction had acquired universal
hatred by having； while at the head of the republic； conducted
themselves with unbecoming pride； and this induced Corso and the
banished of the Neri party to return to Florence； knowing well that
Charles and the Captains of the Parts were favorable to them。 And
while the citizens； for fear of Charles； kept themselves in arms；
Corso； with all the banished； and followed by many others； entered
Florence without the least impediment。 And although Veri de Cerchi was
advised to oppose him； he refused to do so； saying that he wished the
people of Florence； against whom he came； should punish him。 However；
the contrary happened； for he was welcomed； not punished by them； and
it behooved Veri to save himself by flight。
Corso； having forced the Pinti Gate； assembled his party at San Pietro
Maggiore； near his own house； where； having drawn together a great
number of friends and people desirous of change； he set at liberty all
who had been imprisoned for offenses； whether against the state or
against individuals。 He compelled the existing Signory to withdraw
privately to their own houses； elected a new one from the people of
the Neri party； and for five days plundered the leaders of the
Bianchi。 The Cerchi； and the other heads of their faction； finding
Charles opposed to them； withdrew from the city； and retired to their
strongholds。 And although at first they would not listen to the advice
of the pope； they were now compelled to turn to him for assistance；
declaring that instead of uniting the city； Charles had caused greater
disunion than before。 The pope again sent Matteo d'Acquasparta； his
legate； who made peace between the Cerchi and the Donati； and
strengthened it with marriages and new betrothals。 But wishing that
the Bianchi should participate in the employments of the government；
to which the Neri who were then at the head of it would not consent；
he withdrew； with no more satisfaction nor less enraged than on the
former occasion； and left the city interdicted for disobedience。
Both parties remained in Florence； and equally discontented； the Neri
from seeing their enemies at hand； and apprehending the loss of their
power； and the Bianchi from finding themselves without either honor or
authority； and to these natural causes of animosity new injuries were
added。 Niccolo de' Cerchi； with many of his friends； went to his
estates； and being arrived at the bridge of Affrico； was attacked by
Simone； son of Corso Donati。 The contest was obstinate； and one each
side had a sorrowful conclusion； for Niccolo was slain； and Simone was
so severely wounded that he died on the following night。
This event again disturbed the entire city； and although the Neri were
most to blame； they were defended by those who were at the head of
affairs； and before sentence was delivered； a conspiracy of the
Bianchi with Piero Ferrante； one of the barons who had accompanied
Charles； was discovered； by whose assistance they sought to be
replaced in the government。 The matter became known from letters
addressed to him by the Cerchi； although some were of opinion that
they were not genuine； but written and pretended to be found； by the
Donati； to abate the infamy which their party had acquired by the
death of Niccolo。 The whole of the Cerchi were； however； banished；
with their followers of the Bianchi party； of whom was Dante the poet；
their property confiscated； and their houses pulled down。 They
sought refuge； with a great number of Ghibellines who had joined them；
in many places； seeking fresh fortunes in new undertakings。 Charles；
having effected the purpose of his coming； left the city； and returned
to the pope to pursue his enterprise against Sicily； in which he was
neither wiser nor more fortunate than he had been at Florence； so that
with disgrace and the loss of many of his followers； he withdrew to
France。
After the departure of Charles； Florence remained quiet。 Corso alone
was restless； thinking he did not possess that sort of authority in
the city which was due to his rank； for the government being in the
hands of the people； he saw the offices of the republic administered
by many inferior to himself。 Moved by passions of this kind； he
endeavored； under the pretense of an honorable design； to justify his
own dishonorable purposes； and accused many citizens who had the
management of the public money； of applying it to their private uses；
and recommended that they should be brought to justice and punished。
This opinion was adopted by many who had the same views as himself；
and many in ignorance joined them； thinking Corso actuated only by
pure patriotism。 On the other hand； the accused citizens； enjoying the
popular favor； defended themselves； and this difference arose to such
a height； that； after civil means； they had recourse to arms。 Of the
one party were Corso and Lottieri； bishop of Florence； with many of
the nobility and some of the people； on the other side were the
Signory； with the greater part of the people； so that skirmishes took
place in many parts of the city。 The Signory； seeing their danger
great； sent for aid to the Lucchese； and presently all the people of
Lucca were in Florence。 With their assistance the disturbances were
settled for the moment； and the people retained the government and
their liberty； without attempting by any other means to punish the
movers of the disorder。
The pope had heard of the tumults at Florence； and sent his legate；
Niccolo da Prato； to settle them； who； being in high reputation both
for his quality； learning； and mode of life； presently acquired so
much of the people's confidence； that authority was given him to
establish such a government as he should think proper。 As he was of
Ghibelline origin； he determined to recall the banished； but designing
first to gain the affections of the lower orders； he renewed the
ancient companies of the people； which increased the popular power and
reduced that of the nobility。 The legate； thinking the multitude on
his side； now endeavored to recall the banished； and； after attempting
in many ways； none of which succeeded； he fell so completely under the
suspicion of the government； that he was compelled to quit the city；
and returned to the pope in great wrath； leaving Florence full of
confusion and suffering under an interdict。 Neither was the city
disturbed with one division alone； but by many； first the enmity
between the people and the nobility； then that of the Ghibellines and
the Guelphs； and lastly； of the Bianchi and the Neri。 All the citizens
were； therefore； in arms； for many were dissatisfied with the
departure of the legate； and wished for the return of the banished。
The first who set this disturbance on foot were the Medici and the
Guinigi； who； with the legate； had discovered themselves in favor of
the rebels； and thus skirmishes took place in many parts of the city。
In addition to these evils a fire occurred； which first broke out at
the garden of St。 Michael； in the houses of the Abati； it thence
extended to those of the Capoinsacchi； and consumed them； with those
of the Macci； Amieri； Toschi； Cipriani； Lamberti； Cavalcanti； and the
whole of the New Market； from thence it spread to the gate of St。
Maria； and burned it to the ground； turning from the old bridge； it
destroyed the houses of the Gherardini； Pulci； Amidei； and Lucardesi；
and with these so many others that the number amounted to seventeen
hundred。 It was the opinion of many that this fire occurred by
accident during the heat of the disturbances。 Others affirm that it
was begun willfully by Neri Abati； prior of St。 Pietro Scarragio； a
dissolute character； fond of mischief； who； seeing the people occupied
with the combat； took the opportunity of committing a wicked act； for
which the citizens； being thus employed； could offer no remedy。 And to
insure his success； he set fire to the house of his own brotherhood；
where he had the best opportunity of doing it。 This was in the year
1304； Florence being afflicted both with fire and the sword。 Corso
Donati alone remained unarmed in so many tumults； for he thought he
would more easily become the arbitrator between the contending parties
when； weary of strife； they should be inclined to accommodation。 They
laid down their arms； however； rather from satiety of evil than from
any desire of union； and the only consequence was； that the banished
were not recalled； and the party which favored them remained inferior。
CHAPTER V
The emigrants attempt to re…enter Florence； but are not allowed to
do so