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length the people of Pistoia were compelled to receive him for their
sovereign； but this event； although greatly to his glory； proved but
little to his advantage； for upon his return to Lucca he died。 And as
one event either of good or evil seldom comes alone； at Naples also
died Charles duke of Calabria and lord of Florence； so that in a short
time； beyond the expectation of their most sanguine hopes； the
Florentines found themselves delivered from the domination of the one
and the fear of the other。 Being again free； they set about the
reformation of the city； annulled all the old councils； and created
two new ones； the one composed of 300 citizens from the class of the
people； the other of 250 from the nobility and the people。
The first was called the Council of the People； the other the Council
of the Commune。
CHAPTER VII
The Emperor at RomeThe Florentines refuse to purchase Lucca； and
repent of itEnterprises of the FlorentinesConspiracy of the
Bardi and the FrescobaldiThe conspiracy discovered and checked
Maffeo da Marradi appeases the tumultLucca is purchased by the
Florentines and taken by the PisansThe duke of Athens at
FlorenceThe nobility determine to make him prince of the city。
The emperor； being arrived at Rome； created an anti…pope； did many
things in opposition to the church； and attempted many others； but
without effect； so that at last he retired with disgrace； and went to
Pisa； where； either because they were not paid； or from disaffection；
about 800 German horse mutinied； and fortified themselves at
Montechiaro upon the Ceruglio； and when the emperor had left Pisa to
go into Lombardy； they took possession of Lucca and drove out
Francesco Castracani； whom he had left there。 Designing to turn their
conquest to account； they offered it to the Florentines for 80；000
florins； which； by the advice of Simone della Tosa； was refused。 This
resolution； if they had remained in it； would have been of the
greatest utility to the Florentines； but as they shortly afterward
changed their minds； it became most pernicious； for although at the
time they might have obtained peaceful possession of her for a small
sum and would not； they afterward wished to have her and could not；
even for a much larger amount； which caused many and most hurtful
changes to take place in Florence。 Lucca； being refused by the
Florentines； was purchased by Gherardino Spinoli； a Genoese； for
30；000 florins。 And as men are often less anxious to take what is in
their power than desirous of that which they cannot attain； as soon as
the purchase of Gherardino became known； and for how small a sum it
had been bought； the people of Florence were seized with an extreme
desire to have it； blaming themselves and those by whose advice they
had been induced to reject the offer made to them。 And in order to
obtain by force what they had refused to purchase； they sent troops to
plunder and overrun the country of the Lucchese。
About this time the emperor left Italy。 The anti…pope； by means of the
Pisans； became a prisoner in France； and the Florentines from the
death of Castruccio； which occurred in 1328； remained in domestic
peace till 1340； and gave their undivided attention to external
affairs； while many wars were carried on in Lombardy； occasioned by
the coming of John king of Bohemia； and in Tuscany； on account of
Lucca。 During this period Florence was ornamented with many new
buildings； and by the advice of Giotto； the most distinguished painter
of his time； they built the tower of Santa Reparata。 Besides this； the
waters of the Arno having； in 1333； risen twelve feet above their
ordinary level； destroyed some of the bridges and many buildings； all
which were restored with great care and expense。
In the year 1340； new sources of disagreement arose。 The great had two
ways of increasing or preserving their power； the one； so to restrain
the emborsation of magistrates； that the lot always fell upon
themselves or their friends； the other； that having the election of
the rectors； they were always favorable to their party。 This second
mode they considered of so great importance； that the ordinary rectors
not being sufficient for them； they on some occasions elected a third；
and at this time they had made an extraordinary appointment； under the
title of captain of the guard； of Jacopo Gabrielli of Agobbio； and
endowed him with unlimited authority over the citizens。 This man；
under the sanction of those who governed； committed constant outrages；
and among those whom he injured were Piero de' Bardi and Bardo
Frescobaldi。 These being of the nobility； and naturally proud； could
not endure that a stranger； supported by a few powerful men； should
without cause injure them with impunity； and consequently entered into
a conspiracy against him and those by whom he was supported。 They were
joined by many noble families； and some of the people； who were
offended with the tyranny of those in power。 Their plan was； that each
should bring into his house a number of armed men； and on the morning
after the day of All Saints； when almost all would be in the temples
praying for their dead； they should take arms； kill the Capitano and
those who were at the head of affairs； and then； with a new Signory
and new ordinances； reform the government。
But； as the more a dangerous business is considered； the less
willingly it is undertaken； it commonly happens； when there is any
time allowed between the determining upon a perilous enterprise and
its execution； that the conspiracy by one means or another becomes
known。 Andrea de' Bardi was one of the conspirators； and upon
reconsideration of the matter； the fear of the punishment operated
more powerfully upon him than the desire of revenge； and he disclosed
the affair to Jacopo Alberti； his brother…in…law。 Jacopo acquainted
the Priors； and they informed the government。 And as the danger was
near； All Saints' day being just at hand； many citizens met together
in the palace； and thinking their peril increased by delay； they
insisted that the Signory should order the alarm to be rung； and
called the people together in arms。 Taldo Valori was at this time
Gonfalonier； and Francesco Salviati one of the Signory； who； being
relatives of the Bardi； were unwilling to summon the people with the
bell； alleging as a reason that it is by no means well to assemble
them in arms upon every slight occasion； for power put into the hands
of an unrestrained multitude was never beneficial； that it is an easy
matter to excite them to violence； but a difficult thing to restrain
them； and that； therefore； it would be taking a more prudent course if
they were to inquire into the truth of the affair； and punish the
delinquents by the civil authority； than to attempt； upon a simple
information； to correct it by such a tumultuous means； and thus hazard
the safety of the city。 None would listen to these remarks； the
Signory were assailed with insolent behavior and indecent expressions；
and compelled to sound the alarm； upon which the people presently
assembled in arms。 On the other hand； the Bardi and the Frescobaldi；
finding themselves discovered； that they might conquer with glory or
die without shame； armed themselves； in the hope that they would be
able to defend that part of the city beyond the river； where their
houses were situated； and they fortified the bridge in expectation of
assistance； which they expected from the nobles and their friends in
the country。 Their design was frustrated by the people who； in common
with themselves； occupied this part of the city； for these took arms
in favor of the Signory； so that； seeing themselves thus
circumstanced； they abandoned the bridges； and betook themselves to
the street in which the Bardi resided； as being a stronger situation
than any other； and this they defended with great bravery。
Jacopo d'Agobbio； knowing the whole conspiracy was directed against
himself； in fear of death； terrified and vanquished； kept himself
surrounded with forces near the palace of the Signory； but the other
rectors； who were much less blamable； discovered greater courage； and
especially the podesta or provost； whose name was Maffeo da Marradi。
He presented himself among the combatants without any fear； and
passing the bridge of the Rubaconte amid the swords of the Bardi； made
a sign that he wished to speak to them。 Upon this； their reverence for
the man； his noble demeanor； and the excellent qualities he was known
to possess； caused an immediate cessation of the combat； and induced
them to listen to him patiently。 He very gravely； but without the use
of any bitter or aggravating expressions； blamed their conspiracy；
showed the danger they would incur if they still contended against the
popular feeling； gave them reason to hope their complaints would be
heard and mercifully considered； and promised that he him