Florence; and Pagolo Guinigi, to
regain the favor of the Florentines, which he imagined he had lost
in the war with the duke and by his friendship for Filippo, not only
refused assistance to Giusto, but sent his messenger prisoner to
Florence.

The commissaries, to come upon the Volterrani unawares, assembled their
cavalry, and having raised a good body of infantry in the Val d'Arno
Inferiore, and the country about Pisa, proceeded to Volterra. Although
attacked by the Florentines and abandoned by his neighbors, Giusto did
not yield to fear; but, trusting to the strength of the city and the
ruggedness of the country around it, prepared for his defense.

There lived at Volterra one Arcolano, brother of that Giovanni Contugi
who had persuaded Giusto to assume the command. He possessed influence
among the nobility, and having assembled a few of his most confidential
friends, he assured them that by this event, God had come to the relief
of their necessities; for if they would only take arms, deprive Giusto
of the Signory, and give up the city to the Florentines, they might be
sure of obtaining the principal offices, and the place would retain all
its ancient privileges. Having gained them over, they went to the
palace in which Giusto resided; and while part of them remained below,
Arcolano, with three others, proceeded to the chamber above, where
finding him with some citizens, they drew him aside, as if desirous
to communicate something of importance, and conversing on different
subjects, let him to the lower apartment, and fell upon him with their
swords. They, however, were not so quick as to prevent Giusto from
making use of his own weapon; for with it he seriously wounded two of
them; but being unable to resist so many, he was at last slain, and his
body thrown into the street. Arcolano and his party gave up the city
to the Florentine commissaries, who, being at hand with their forces,
immediately took possession; but the condition of Volterra was worse
than before; for among other things which operated to her disadvantage,
most of the adjoining countryside was separated from her, and she was
reduced to the rank of a vicariate.

Volterra having been lost and recovered almost at the same time, present
circumstances afforded nothing of sufficient importance to occasion a
new war, if ambition had not again provoked one. Niccolo Fortebraccio,
the son of a sister of Braccio da Perugia, had been in the service
of the Flor