alm of Bohemia
was in discord, and there were two which claimed to be king thereof,
each one gave his voice to his own party. And for many years there had
been this discord between the two pretenders, but the Church of Rome
gave more favour to Alfonso of Spain, to the end that he might, with
his forces, come and beat down the pride and lordship of Manfred; for
the which cause the Guelfs of Florence sent him ambassadors, to
encourage his coming, promising him great succour, to the end he might
favour the Guelf party. And the ambassador was Ser Brunetto Latini, a
man of great wisdom and authority; but before the embassage was ended
the Florentines were defeated at Montaperti, and King Manfred gained
great vigour and state throughout Italy, and the power of the Church
was much abased, for the which thing Alfonso of Spain abandoned the
enterprise of the Empire, and neither did Richard of England follow it
up.

Sec. 74.--_How the Ghibelline refugees from Florence, sent into Apulia to
King Manfred for succour._

[Sidenote: 1260 A.D.]

[Sidenote: Inf. x. 32.]

In these times the Ghibelline refugees from Florence (who being in the
city of Siena were ill-supported against the Florentines by the
Sienese, forasmuch as they had no forces to bring against their host)
took counsel amongst themselves to send their ambassadors into
Apulia, to King Manfred, for succour. And when they were come thither,
albeit they were of the best and chiefest of the band, much time
elapsed, and Manfred did not dispatch their affair, nor give audience
to their request, by reason of the manifold businesses he had to do.
And when at last they had a mind to depart, and took their leave of
him very ill-content, Manfred promised them 100 German horsemen for
their aid. Whereon the said ambassadors were troubled at this his
first offer, and were minded to make their reply in the way of
refusing so sorry an aid, for they were ashamed to return to Siena,
inasmuch as they had hoped for more than 1,500 horsemen. But hereon
Messer Farinata degli Uberti said, "Be not dismayed, neither refuse
any aid of his, be it never so small. Let us have grace of him to send
his standard with them, and when it be come to Siena we will set it in
such a place that he must needs send us further succour." And so it
came to pass; and following the wise counsel of the knight, they
accepted Manfred's offer, praying him as a grace to give his own
standard to their captain, and so