deserved. He was compassionate; not only bestowing
alms on those who asked them, but very frequently relieving the
necessities of the poor, without having been solicited so to do. He
loved all; praised the good, and pitied the infirmities of the wicked.
He never sought the honors of government; yet enjoyed them all; and
never went to the palace unless by request. He loved peace and shunned
war; relieved mankind in adversity, and assisted them in prosperity;
never applied the public money to his own uses, but contributed to the
public wealth. He was courteous in office; not a man of great eloquence,
but possessed of extraordinary prudence. His demeanor expressed
melancholy; but after a short time his conversation became pleasant and
facetious. He died exceedingly rich in money, but still more in good
fame and the best wishes of mankind; and the wealth and respect he left
behind him were not only preserved but increased by his son Cosmo.

The Volterran ambassadors grew weary of lying in prison, and to obtain
their liberty promised to comply with the commands of the Florentines.
Being set free and returned to their city, the time arrived for the new
Priors to enter upon office, and among those who were drawn, was one
named Giusto, a plebeian, but possessing great influence with his class,
and one of those who had been imprisoned at Florence. He, being inflamed
with hatred against the Florentines on account of his public as well as
personal injuries, was further stimulated by Giovanni di Contugi, a man
of noble family, and his colleague in office, to induce the people, by
the authority of the Priors and his own influence, to withdraw their
country from the power of the Florentines, and make himself prince.
Prompted by these motives, Giusto took arms, rode through the city,
seized the Capitano, who resided in it, on behalf of the Florentines,
and with the consent of the people, became lord of Volterra. This
circumstance greatly displeased the Florentines; but having just made
peace with the duke, and the treaty being yet uninfringed on either
side, they bethought themselves in a condition to recover the place;
and that the opportunity might not be lost, they immediately appointed
Rinaldo degli Albizzi and Palla Strozzi commissaries, and sent them upon
the expedition. In the meantime, Giusto, who expected the Florentines
would attack him, requested assistance of Lucca and Sienna. The latter
refused, alleging her alliance with