confusion into the army and town, when
loud cursing arose against the tyrant and his executioners. Louis of
Hungary, suddenly threatened by the wrath of Heaven and the people's
vengeance, was terrified both by the plague and by the riots, and
disappeared in the middle of the night. Leaving the government of Naples
in the hands of Conrad Lupo, one of his captains, he embarked hastily at
Berletta, and left the kingdom in very much the same way as Louis of
Tarentum, fleeing from him, had left it a few months before.

This news arrived at Avignon just when the pope was about to send the
queen his bull of absolution. It was at once decided to take away the
kingdom from Louis's viceroy. Nicholas Acciajuoli left for Naples with
the marvellous bull that was to prove to all men the innocence of the
queen, to banish all scruples and stir up a new enthusiasm. The
counsellor first went to the castle of Melzi, commanded by his son
Lorenzo: this was the only fortress that had always held out. The father
and son embraced with the honourable pride that near relatives may justly
feel when they meet after they have united in the performance of a heroic
duty. From the governor of Melzi Louis of Tarentum's counsellor learned
that all men were wearied of the arrogance and vexatious conduct of the
queen's enemies, and that a conspiracy was in train, started in the
University of Naples, but with vast ramifications all over the kingdom,
and moreover that there was dissension in the enemy's army. The
indefatigable counsellor went from Apulia to Naples, traversing towns and
villages, collecting men everywhere, proclaiming loudly the acquittal of
the queen and her marriage with Louis of Tarentum, also that the pope was
offering indulgences to such as would receive with joy their lawful
sovereigns. Then seeing that the people shouted as he went by, "Long
live Joan! Death to the Hungarians!" he returned and told his sovereigns
in what frame of mind he had left their subjects.

Joan borrowed money wherever she could, armed galleys, and left
Marseilles with her husband, her sister, and two faithful advisers,
Acciajuoli and Spinelli, on the 10th of September 1348. The king and
queen not being able to enter at the harbour, which was in the enemy's
power, disembarked at Santa Maria del Carmine, near the river Sebeto,
amid the frenzied applause of an immense crowd, and accompanied by all
the Neapolitan nobles. They made their way to the palace of