umbers were lost
in the marshes of the Guisciana, many of the aforesaid slain were
drowned without stroke of sword. This lamentable discomfiture was on
the day of the beheading of S. John, the 29th day of August, 1315.
After the said discomfiture, the stronghold of Montecatini surrendered
to Uguccione, and the stronghold of Montesommano, which the
Florentines held; and they which were within were allowed to go out
safe and sound under conditions.

[Sidenote: 1316 A.D.]

Sec. 73.--_How Vinci and Cerretoguidi rebelled against the Florentines._
Sec. 74.--_How King Robert sent Count Novello into Florence as captain._
Sec. 75.--_How Uguccione beheaded Banduccio Bonconti and his son,
magnates of Pisa._ Sec. 76.--_How the Florentines were divided into
factions among themselves, and elected a Bargello._ Sec. 77.--_How a part
of the walls of Florence was built, and how bad coins were struck._ Sec.
78.--_How Uguccione da Faggiuola was expelled from the lordship of
Pisa and of Lucca, and how Castruccio at first had the lordship of
Lucca._ Sec. 79.--_How the count of Battifolle was vicar in Florence,
and expelled the Bargello and changed the state of Florence._ Sec.
80.--_Tells of a great famine and mortality beyond the mountains._

Sec. 81.--_Of the election of Pope John XXII._

[Sidenote: 1317 A.D.]

[Sidenote: Par. xxvii. 58. Epistola viii.]

John XXII., born in Cahors, of base lineage, occupied the papal chair
for 18 years 2 months and 26 days. He was elected on the 7th day of
August, 1316, in Avignon by the cardinals, after a vacancy of two
years, and after great discord among themselves, forasmuch as the
Gascon cardinals, which were a large part of the college, desired the
election of one of themselves, and the Italian and French and
Provencal cardinals would not consent thereto, so much had they
endured from the Gascon Pope. After long dispute, both one party and
the other entrusted their votes to this Cahorsine, as a mediator, the
Gascons believing that he would elect the cardinal of Besiers, which
was of their nation, or Cardinal Pelagru. Who, with the consent of the
other Italians and Provencals, and by the device of Cardinal Napoleone
Orsini, head of the faction against the Gascons, gave the chair to
himself, electing himself Pope after the manner ordained according to
the Decretals. This man was a poor clerk, and his father was a
cobbler, and he was brought up by the bishop of Arles, chancellor to
King Charl