he did. And when they returned to
Siena with so poor an aid, great scorn was made thereof by the
Sienese, and great dismay came upon the Florentine refugees, which had
looked for aid and support from Manfred beyond measure greater.

Sec. 75.--_How the commonwealth and people of Florence led a great host
up to the gates of Siena with the carroccio._

[Sidenote: 1260 A.D.]

It happened in the year of Christ 1260, in the month of May, that the
people and commonwealth of Florence gathered a general host against
the city of Siena and led thither the carroccio. And note, that the
carroccio, which was led by the commonwealth and people of Florence,
was a chariot on four wheels, all painted red, and two tall red masts
stood up together thereupon, whereon was fastened and waved the great
standard of the arms of the commune, which was dimidiated white and
red, and still may be seen to-day in S. Giovanni. And it was drawn by
a great pair of oxen covered with red cloth, which were set apart
solely for this, and belonged to the Hospitallers of Pinti, and he who
drove them was a freeman of the commonwealth. This carroccio was used
by our forefathers in triumphs and solemnities, and when they went out
with the host, the neighbouring counts and knights brought it from the
armoury of S. Giovanni and conducted it to the piazza of the Mercato
Nuovo, and having halted by a landmark, which is still there, in the
form of a stone carved like a chariot, they committed it to the
keeping of the people, and it was led by popolani in the expeditions
of war, and to guard it were chosen the best and strongest and most
virtuous among the foot soldiers of the popolani, and round it
gathered all the force of the people. And when the host was to be
assembled, a month before the time when they were to set forth, a bell
was hung upon the arch of Porte Sante Marie, which was at the head of
the Mercato Nuovo, and there was rung by day and by night without
ceasing. And this they did in their pride, to give opportunity to the
enemy, against whom the host should go forth, to prepare themselves.
And some called it Martinella, and some the Asses' Bell. And when the
Florentine host went forth, they took down the bell from the arch and
put it into a wooden tower upon a car, and the sound thereof guided
the host. By these two pomps of the carroccio and of the bell was
maintained the lordly pride of the people of old and of our
forefathers in their expeditions