iors, forasmuch
as many and great changes followed therefrom to the city of Florence,
as hereafter, in due place and time, we shall relate. At present we
will leave telling, for a time, of the doings of Florence, and we will
tell of other events which came to pass in those times.

[Sidenote: 1282 A.D.]

Sec. 80.--_How Pope Martin sent M. Jean d'Appia into Romagna, and how he
took the city of Faenza and besieged Forli._

Sec. 81.--_How M. Jean d'Appia, count of Romagna, was defeated at Forli
by the count of Montefeltro._

[Sidenote: Inf. xxvii. 76-78.]

[Sidenote: 1282 A.D.]

[Sidenote: Inf. xx. 118.]

[Sidenote: Inf. xxvii. 44.]

[Sidenote: Inf. xxxii. 122.]

In the said time, when the said M. Jean d'Appia, count of Romagna, was
in Faenza, and was making war against the city of Forli, he dabbled in
practices whereby he might gain the said city by treachery; the which
practices Count Guido of Montefeltro himself, which was lord of the
city, had set in motion and floated, as one that was master both of
plots and of war, and who knew the folly of the French. At last, on
the first day of May, in the year of Christ 1282, the said M. Jean
came with his forces in the morning very early before day to the city
of Forli, thinking to have it; and as it was ordered by the count of
Montefeltro, the entrance to one gate was granted him, which he
entered with part of his followers, and part he left without with the
orders, if need arose, to succour those within, and if things went
against them, to assemble all his forces in a field under a great oak.
The French which entered into Forli rode through the city without
meeting any opposition; and the count of Montefeltro, which knew all
the plot, had gone forth from the city with his followers; and it was
said that this same count of Montefeltro was guided by the augury and
counsel of one Guido Bonatti, a roof-maker, who had turned astrologer
or the like, and that it was he who prompted his actions; and for this
emprise he gave him the standard and said, "Thou hast it at such a
pitch, that so long as a rag of it hold, wheresoever thou bearest it
thou shalt be victorious." But I more believe that his victories were
won by his own wit and mastery of war. And according as he had
planned, he charged those without under the tree, and put them to
rout. They which had entered in, thinking the city was theirs, had
given themselves to plunder and gone into the houses; and as was
o