e is given in the _Facetiae_ of Piovano Arlotto, which is considered
a truthful record of the adventures of its subject, a tale relative to
San Miniato which cannot here be deemed out of place. It is as follows:

LA TESTA DI SAN MINIATO.

"There was in Florence a poor and learned gentleman--_savio e da bene_,
who was a good friend of Piovano Arlotto, who was also good to him, since
he had often aided the former with money, meal, and many other things,
and indeed without such help he could hardly have fed his family; for he
had fourteen sons and daughters, and though the proverb says _Figliuoli_,
_mioli_, _'lenzuoli non sono mai troppi in una casa_--there are never too
many children, glasses, or linen sheets in a house, this good man found
indeed that he had too many of the former.

"Now to help dire need, this gentleman tried to buy on credit two bales
of cloth, one wherewith to clothe his family, and the other to sell in
order to make some money. To do this, he needed some one to be his
security, and he had recourse to Piovano Arlotto, who willingly agreed to
pay the manufacturer in case the friend who gave his note could not meet
it. Now he found that the manufacturer had sadly cheated the purchaser
in the measure or quantity, fully one-half, as was also evident to many
others; however, as matters stood, he was obliged to let it pass.

"As things were thus, the poor gentleman died and passed away from this
_misera vita_ or sad life, and Piovano was in deep grief for his loss,
and as much for the poor orphans.

"When the note fell due, the manufacturer went to Piovano Arlotto and
asked for his money, saying that he only demanded what was justly due to
him.

"And after a few days' delay, he paid the man two-thirds of the sum, and
ten florins for the time and trouble, and said he would not give a
farthing more. Then the dealer begun to dun him, but he evaded every
demand. Then the merchant employed a young man, eighteen years of age,
who had not his equal in Florence to collect debts. And this youth set
to work in earnest to get from the priest the sum of about twenty-eight
gold florins, still due from the account.

"In a few days he had attacked Piovano a hundred times with the utmost
impudence, in the market, in the public squares, on the streets at home,
and in the church, without regard to persons present, at all times, and
in every aggravating way, until the priest conceived a mo