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