that he could not avoid the battle,
caused the outposts of the plain to be assailed (to wit, the Sienese
and them of Colle and others,) by his forefighters, about 150 horse,
whereof were captains with the imperial pennon, M. Giovanni Giacotti
Malespini, a rebel against Florence, and Uguccione's son; and the
Sienese and men of Colle were without resistance broken up and driven
back as far as the troop of M. Piero, which was with the Florentine
horse. There the said forefighters were checked and well-nigh all cut
off and slain, and the said M. Giovanni was left there dead, and
Uguccione's son, and their company; and the imperial pennon was cut
down, with many good and brave folk.

Sec. 72.--_More about the said battle and defeat of the Florentines and
of the prince._

[Sidenote: 1315 A.D.]

When the attack was begun, and Uguccione perceived how sorry a figure
was made by the Sienese and the men of Colle when they fled by reason
of the assault of his forefighters, he straightway caused the German
troop to strike in, which were 800 horse and more; and they furiously
attacked the camp and the said ill-ordered host, whereof by reason of
the sudden movement a great part of the horse was not fully armed, and
the foot so ill ordered, that when the Germans attacked them in flank,
the javelin men let their missiles fall upon our own horse, and then
took to flight. And this, among others was one great cause of the rout
of the Florentine host, forasmuch as the said German troop pricking
forward turned them to flight with little resistance save from the
troop of M. Piero and of the Florentines, which endured long, but in
the end were discomfited. In this battle there died M. Piero, brother
of King Robert, and his body was never found; and M. Carlo, son of the
prince, died there, and Count Charles of Battifolle, and M. Caroccio,
and M. Brasco of Aragon, constables of the Florentines, men of great
valour; and of Florence were left on the field some from well-nigh all
the great houses and many magnates of the people, to the number of 114
cavaliers, between slain and prisoners; and, in like manner, of the
best of Siena and Perugia and Bologna, and the other cities of Tuscany
and of Romagna; in which battle there were slain 2,000 men in all, of
horse and foot, and there were 1,500 prisoners. The prince fled with
all the rest of his followers, some towards Pistoia and some towards
Fucecchio and some by the Cerbaia; wherefore, since n