ily if he had abandoned the enterprise
of the siege of Brescia, and had come into Tuscany, he would have
quietly secured Bologna, Florence, and Lucca and Siena, and afterwards
Rome, and the Kingdom of Apulia, and all the lands against him,
forasmuch as they were not furnished nor provided, and the minds of
the people were much at variance, forasmuch as the said Emperor was
held to be the most just and benign sovereign. It pleased God that he
should abide at Brescia, the which siege cost him much both in people
and in power, by reason of the great destruction both by death and
pestilence, as hereafter I shall make mention.

Sec. 16.--_How the Florentines, by reason of the Emperor's coming,
recalled from banishment all the Guelfs._

[Sidenote: 1311 A.D.]

In the said year, on the 26th day of April, the Florentines having
heard how Vicenza and Cremona had surrendered to the Emperor, and how
he was going to the siege of Brescia, in order to strengthen
themselves put forth express decree and ordinance, and recalled from
banishment all the Guelf citizens and country people under what
sentence soever they had been banished, on their paying a certain
small toll; and they made many leagues both in the city and in the
country, and with the other Guelf cities of Tuscany.

Sec. 17.--_How the Florentines, with all the Guelf cities of Tuscany,
made a league together against the Emperor._

[Sidenote: 1311 A.D.]

In the said year 1311, on the 1st day of June, the Florentines, the
Bolognese, the Lucchese, the Sienese, the Pistoians, and they of
Volterra, and all the other Guelf cities of Tuscany held a parliament,
and concluded a league together, and a union of knights, and swore
together to defend one another and oppose the Emperor. And afterwards,
on the 26th day of June, the Florentines sent the king's marshal with
400 Catalan soldiers which were in their pay, for the defence of
Bologna, and to oppose the Emperor if he should advance from that
quarter; and in like manner the Sienese and Lucchese sent troops, and
they abode there many months in Bologna and in Romagna in the service
of King Robert.

[Sidenote: 1311 A.D.]

Sec. 18.--_How King Robert caused the Ghibellines of Romagna to be taken
by craft._ Sec. 19.--_How the Pope's marquis took Fano and Pesaro._

Sec. 20.--_How the Emperor Henry took the city of Brescia by siege._

[Sidenote: 1311 A.D.]

[Sidenote: Epistola vii.]

In the said year 1311, the Empero