Uberti and M. Gherardo Ciccia de' Lamberti. These subtly chose out two
wise minor friars as their messengers to the people of Florence, and
first caused them to confer with nine of the most powerful men of
Siena, who made endless show to the said friars that the government of
Messer Provenzano Salvani was displeasing to them, who was the
greatest of the citizens of Siena, and that they would willingly yield
up the city to the Florentines in return for 10,000 florins of gold,
and that they were to come with a great host, under guise of
fortifying Montalcino, as far as the river Arbia; and then they with
their own forces, and with those of their followers, would give up to
the Florentines the gate of Santo Vito, which is on the road to
Arezzo. The friars, under this deceit and treachery, came to Florence
with letters and seals from the aforesaid, and were brought before the
Ancients of the people, and proposed to them means whereby they might
do great things for the honour of the people and commonwealth of
Florence; but the thing was so secret that it must under oath be
revealed to but few. Then the Ancients chose from among themselves
Spedito di Porte San Piero, a man of great vigour and boldness, and
one of the principal leaders of the people, and with him Messer Gianni
Calcagni, of Vacchereccia; and when they had sworn upon the altar, the
friars unfolded the said plot, and showed the said letters. The said
two Ancients, who showed more eagerness than judgment, gave faith to
the plot; and immediately the said 10,000 golden florins were
procured, and were deposited, and a council was assembled of magnates
and people, and they represented that of necessity it behoved to send
a host to Siena to strengthen Montalcino, greater than the one sent in
May last to Santa Petronella. The nobles of the great Guelf houses of
Florence, and Count Guido Guerra, which was with them, not knowing of
the pretended plot, and knowing more of war than the popolani did,
being aware of the new body of German troops which was come to Siena,
and of the sorry show which the people made at Santa Petronella when
the hundred Germans attacked them, considered the enterprise not to be
without great peril. And also esteeming the citizens to be divided in
mind, and ill disposed to raise another host, they gave wise counsel,
that it were best that the host should not go forth at present, for
the reasons aforesaid; and also they showed how for little cost
Mo