Frescobaldi helped much, which was a noted Ancient in the
Popolo, and he and his had come to great state and riches.

[Sidenote: 1252 A.D. Cf. Par. xvi. 50.]

Sec. 51.--_How the Florentines took the fortress of Fegghine._

Sec. 52.--_How the Sienese were routed by the Florentines at Montalcino._

Sec. 53.--_How the golden florins were first made in Florence._

[Sidenote: 1252 A.D.]

[Sidenote: Cf. Par. xviii. 133-136.]

The host of the Florentines having returned, and being at rest after
the victories aforesaid, the city increased greatly in state and in
riches and lordship and in great quietness; for the which thing the
merchants of Florence, for the honour of the commonwealth, ordained
with the people and commonwealth that golden coins should be struck at
Florence; and they promised to furnish the gold, for before the custom
was to strike silver coins of 12 pence the piece. And then began the
good coins of gold, 24 carats fine, the which are called golden
florins, and each was worth 20 soldi. And this was in the time of the
said M. Filippo degli Ugoni of Brescia, in the month of November, the
year of Christ 1252. The which florins weighed eight to the ounce, and
on one side was the stamp of the lily and on the other of S. John. By
reason of the said new money of the golden florin there fell out a
pretty story, and worth narrating. The said new florins having begun
to circulate through the world, they were carried to Tunis in Barbary;
and being brought before the king of Tunis, which was a worthy and
wise lord, they pleased him much, and he caused them to be tried; and
finding them to be of fine gold, he much commended them, and having
caused his interpreters to interpret the imprint and legend on the
florin, he found that it said: S. John the Baptist, and on the side of
the lily, Florence. Perceiving it to be Christian money, he sent to
the Pisan merchants who were then free of the city and were much with
the king (and even the Florentines traded in Tunis through the
Pisans), and asked them what manner of city among Christians was this
Florence which made the said florins. The Pisans answered spitefully
through envy, saying: "They are our inland Arabs": which is to say,
"our mountain rustics." Then answered the king wisely: "It does not
seem to me the money of Arabs. O you Pisans, what manner of golden
money is yours?" Then were they confused, and knew not how to answer.
He asked if there were among them