s surname of Medici he added that of Sizi: he was the
wealthiest citizen of his day in Florence. His wife, Donna Mandina di
Filippo de' Arrigucci of Fiesole, gave him six sons--Giacopo, Giovenco,
Francesco, Salvestro, Talento, and Conte. All of them rose to eminence
in the State, but of one only can the story be told here--Salvestro.

Messer Salvestro de' Medici--who must not be confounded with his
celebrated namesake and kinsman, the "Grand" Salvestro--married Donna
Lisa de' Donati, of which union three sons were the issue--Talento,
Giovenco, and Averardo III. Salvestro di Averardo II. bore another
Christian name--Chiarissimo--the old-world cognomen of his family.
Possibly his father thought it wise to stand well with the world and
parade his honesty; for whatever ill-gotten gains other bankers
acquired, he, at least, was an upright man, and his profits were just!

Anyhow, Messer Salvestro became popular for rectitude in his private
life, and for his unselfish discharge of public duties. He was chosen to
fill many responsible offices of State, and reached the goal of personal
ambition as ambassador to Venice, in 1336. His youngest son, Averardo
III., acquired the sobriquet of "Bicci"--the exact meaning of which is
problematical--it may mean a "worthless fellow" or "one who lives in a
castle!" Nothing indeed is related of him, but, perhaps, like Brer Fox,
of a later epoch, he was content "to lie low" and enjoy, without much
exertion, the good things his ancestors had provided for him.

Messer Averardo married twice--Giovanna de' Cavallini and Giovanna de'
Spini. By the first he became the father of one of the very greatest of
the Medici--Giovanni, the parent of a still more famous son--Cosimo.

At this period Florence was ruled by Whalter von Brienne--the so-called
Duke of Athens--sagacious, treacherous and depraved. He sought to make
himself Lord of Florence by skilfully playing the various political
parties one against the other. The _Grandi_ he kept in check by the
_Popolo Minuto_, but ignored the _Popolo Grasso_, to which the Medici
belonged. Under Giovanni de' Medici, Guglielmo degli Altoviti, and
Bernardo de' Rucellai, the middle class rose against the usurper; but
their plans miscarried, and the leaders were imprisoned and fined.

A Giovanni de' Medici was beheaded in 1342--the first recorded "Tragedy
of the Medici." As to who this unfortunate man was, it is difficult to
say. He is called "the son of Bernardo