faction, for our faithful subjects,
and to make that city our treasure and archive house, and the loftiest
of our empire." And it was known of a surety by folk which were near
to him, that up to that time he had purposed with pure intent to
maintain them which were ruling Florence in their estate, which intent
the refugees greatly dreaded. But henceforth, by reason of this anger,
or through evil report of his ambassadors which came to Florence, and
of the Ghibellines and Pisans, he gave his mind the other way.
Wherefore, in the following August, the Florentines, being alarmed,
raised 1,000 citizen cavalry, and began to provide themselves with
soldiers and with money, and to make a league with King Robert, and
with many cities of Tuscany and of Lombardy, to oppose the coming and
the coronation of the Emperor; and the Pisans, to the end that he
might cross the Alps, sent him 70,000 golden florins, and promised him
as many more when he should be come to Pisa; and with this aid he set
forth from Lausanne, forasmuch as he was not himself a lord rich in
money.

Sec. 8.--_How King Robert came to Florence as he returned from his
coronation._

[Sidenote: 1310 A.D.]

In the said year 1310, on the 30th day of September, King Robert came
to Florence on his way back from his coronation at Avignon, where was
the Pope's court; he abode in the house of the Peruzzi dal Parlagio
[of the Forum], and the Florentines did him much honour, and held
jousts, and gave him large presents of money, and he abode in Florence
until the 24th day of October, to reconcile the Guelfs together, which
were divided into factions among themselves, and to treat of warding
off the Emperor. He could do but little in reconciling them; so much
had error increased among them, as before has been narrated.

Sec. 9.--_How the Emperor Henry passed into Italy and gained the city of
Milan._

[Sidenote: 1310 A.D.]

[Sidenote: Johannes de Virgilio. Carmen _v._ 26.]

In the year 1310, at the end of September, the Emperor departed from
Lausanne with his followers, and crossed the mountains of M. Cenis,
and at the beginning of October he came to Turin in Piedmont:
afterwards he came to the city of Asti, the 10th day of October. By
the people of Asti he was peaceably received as lord, and they went
out to meet him, with rejoicing and a great procession, and he
pacified all the disputes among the people of Asti. In Asti he awaited
his followers, and before he de