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accomplished at any time； she had not made known her intention； when
it happened that the cavalier betrothed himself to a maiden of the
Amidei family。 This grieved the Donati widow exceedingly； but she
hoped； with her daughter's beauty； to disturb the arrangement before
the celebration of the marriage； and from an upper apartment； seeing
Buondelmonti approach her house alone； she descended； and as he was
passing she said to him； 〃I am glad to learn you have chosen a wife；
although I had reserved my daughter for you〃； and； pushing the door
open； presented her to his view。 The cavalier； seeing the beauty of
the girl； which was very uncommon； and considering the nobility of her
blood； and her portion not being inferior to that of the lady whom he
had chosen； became inflamed with such an ardent desire to possess her；
that； not thinking of the promise given； or the injury he committed in
breaking it； or of the evils which his breach of faith might bring
upon himself； said； 〃Since you have reserved her for me； I should be
very ungrateful indeed to refuse her； being yet at liberty to choose〃；
and without any delay married her。 As soon as the fact became known；
the Amidei and the Uberti； whose families were allied； were filled
with rage； and having assembled with many others； connections of the
parties； they concluded that the injury could not be tolerated without
disgrace； and that the only vengeance proportionate to the enormity of
the offence would be to put Buondelmonti to death。 And although some
took into consideration the evils that might ensue upon it； Mosca
Lamberti said； that those who talk of many things effect nothing；
using that trite and common adage； /Cosa fatta capo ha/。 Thereupon；
they appointed to the execution of the murder Mosca himself； Stiatti
Uberti； Lambertuccio Amidei； and Oderigo Fifanti； who； on the morning
of Easter day； concealed themselves in a house of the Amidei； situate
between the old bridge and St。 Stephen's； and as Buondelmonti was
passing upon a white horse； thinking it as easy a matter to forget an
injury as reject an alliance； he was attacked by them at the foot of
the bridge； and slain close by a statue of Mars。 This murder divided
the whole city； one party espousing the cause of the Buondelmonti； the
other that of the Uberti； and as these families possessed men and
means of defense； they contended with each other for many years；
without one being able to destroy the other。
Florence continued in these troubles till the time of Frederick II。；
who； being king of Naples； endeavored to strengthen himself against
the church； and； to give greater stability to his power in Tuscany；
favored the Uberti and their followers； who； with his assistance；
expelled the Buondelmonti； thus our city； as all the rest of Italy had
long time been； became divided into Guelphs and Ghibellines； and as it
will not be superfluous； I shall record the names of the families
which took part with each faction。 Those who adopted the cause of the
Guelphs were the Buondelmonti； Nerli； Rossi； Frescobaldi； Mozzi；
Bardi； Pulci； Gherardini； Foraboschi； Bagnesi； Guidalotti； Sacchetti；
Manieri； Lucardesi； Chiaramontesi； Compiobbesi； Cavalcanti；
Giandonati； Gianfigliazzi； Scali； Gualterotti； Importuni； Bostichi；
Tornaquinci； Vecchietti； Tosinghi； Arrigucci； Agli； Sizi； Adimari；
Visdomini； Donati； Passi； della Bella； Ardinghi； Tedaldi； Cerchi。 Of
the Ghibelline faction were the Uberti； Manelli； Ubriachi； Fifanti；
Amidei； Infangati； Malespini； Scolari； Guidi； Galli； Cappiardi；
Lamberti； Soldanieri； Cipriani； Toschi； Amieri； Palermini；
Migliorelli； Pigli； Barucci； Cattani； Agolanti； Brunelleschi；
Caponsacchi； Elisei； Abati； Tidaldini； Giuochi； and Galigai。 Besides
the noble families on each side above enumerated； each party was
joined by many of the higher ranks of the people； so that the whole
city was corrupted with this division。 The Guelphs being expelled；
took refuge in the Upper Val d'Arno； where part of their castles and
strongholds were situated； and where they strengthened and fortified
themselves against the attacks of their enemies。 But； upon the death
of Frederick； the most unbiased men； and those who had the greatest
authority with the people； considered that it would be better to
effect the reunion of the city； than； by keeping her divided； cause
her ruin。 They therefore induced the Guelphs to forget their injuries
and return； and the Ghibellines to lay aside their jealousies and
receive them with cordiality。
CHAPTER II
New form of government in FlorenceMilitary establishmentsThe
greatness of FlorenceMovements of the GhibellinesGhibellines
driven out of the cityGuelphs routed by the forces of the king
of NaplesFlorence in the power of the king of NaplesProject of
the Ghibellines to destroy Florence opposed by Farinata degli
UbertiAdventures of the Guelphs of FlorenceThe pope gives his
standard to the GuelphsFears of the Ghibellines and their
preparations for the defense of their powerEstablishment of
trades' companies； and their authorityCount Guido Novello
expelledHe goes to PratoThe Guelphs restored to the cityThe
Ghibellines quit FlorenceThe Florentines reform the government
in favor of the GuelphsThe pope endeavors to restore the
Ghibellines and excommunicates FlorencePope Nicholas III。
endeavors to abate the power of Charles king of Naples。
Being united； the Florentines thought the time favorable for the
ordination of a free government； and that it would be desirable to
provide their means of defense before the new emperor should acquire
strength。 They therefore divided the city into six parts； and elected
twelve citizens； two for each sixth； to govern the whole。 These were
called Anziani； and were elected annually。 To remove the cause of
those enmities which had been observed to arise from judicial
decisions； they provided two judges from some other state；one called
captain of the people； the other podesta； or provost；whose duty it
was to decide in cases； whether civil or criminal； which occurred
among the people。 And as order cannot be preserved without a
sufficient force for the defense of it； they appointed twenty banners
in the city； and seventy…six in the country； upon the rolls of which
the names of all the youth were armed； and it was ordered that
everyone should appear armed； under his banner； whenever summoned；
whether by the captain of the people or the Anziani。 They had ensigns
according to the kind of arms they used； the bowmen being under one
ensign； and the swordsmen； or those who carried a target； under
another； and every year； upon the day of Pentecost； ensigns were given
with great pomp to the new men； and new leaders were appointed for the
whole establishment。 To give importance to their armies； and to serve
as a point of refuge for those who were exhausted in the fight； and
from which； having become refreshed； they might again make head
against the enemy； they provided a large car； drawn by two oxen；
covered with red cloth； upon which was an ensign of white and red。
When they intended to assemble the army； this car was brought into the
New Market； and delivered with pomp to the heads of the people。 To
give solemnity to their enterprises； they had a bell called
Martinella； which was rung during a whole month before the forces left
the city； in order that the enemy might have time to provide for his
defense； so great was the virtue then existing among men； and with so
much generosity of mind were they governed； that as it is now
considered a brave and prudent act to assail an unprovided enemy； in
those days it would have been thought disgraceful； and productive only
of a fallacious advantage。 This bell was also taken with the army； and
served to regulate the keeping and relief of guard； and other matters
necessary in the practice of war。
With these ordinations； civil and military； the Florentines
established their liberty。 Nor is it possible to imagine the power and
authority Florence in a short time acquired。 She became not only the
head of Tuscany； but was enumerated among the first cities of Italy；
and would have attained greatness of the most exalted kind； had she
not been afflicted with the continual divisions of her citizens。 They
remained under the this government ten years； during which time they
compelled the people of Pistoria； Arezzo； and Sienna； to enter into
league with them； and returning with the army from Sienna； they took
Volterra； destroyed some castles； and led the inhabitants to Florence。
All these enterprises were effected by the advice of the Guelphs； who
were much more powerful than the Ghibellines； for the latter were
hated by the people as well on account of their haughty bearing while
in power； during the time of Frederick； as because the church party
was in more favor than that of the emperor； for with the aid of the
church they hoped to