gathered in the wide street of
Santa Trinita, and Messer Gianni de' Soldanieri made himself head of
the people to the end he might rise in estate, not considering the
end, that it must bring about loss to the Ghibelline party, and damage
to himself, which seems always to have happened in Florence to
whomsoever becomes head of the people; and thus armed, at the foot of
the house of the Soldanieri, the popolani gathered in very great
numbers and put up barricades at the foot of the tower of the
Girolami. Count Guido Novello, with all the horsemen and with the
Ghibelline magnates of Florence, was in arms and mounted in the piazza
of S. Giovanni; and they advanced against the people, and drew up
before the barricade on the ruins of the houses of the Tornaquinci,
and made some show and attempt at fighting, and some mounted Germans
passed within the barricade; the people defended it boldly with
crossbows and by hurling missiles from the towers and houses. When the
Count saw that they could not dislodge the people, he reversed the
banners and returned with all the horsemen to the piazza of S.
Giovanni, and then came to the palace on the piazza of S. Apollinari,
where were the two Podestas, M. Catalano and M. Roderigo, the Jovial
Friars; the horsemen meanwhile having command of the city from Porte
San Piero as far as San Firenze. The Count demanded the keys of the
gates of the city to depart from the town; and for fear missiles
should be hurled at him from the houses, he had for his safety on one
side of him Uberto de' Pucci, and on the other Cerchio dei Cerchi, and
behind him Guidingo Savorigi, which were of the said Thirty-six, and
among the greatest in the town. The said two friars were crying from
the palace, demanding with loud voices that the said Uberto and
Cerchio should come to them, to the end they might pray the Count to
return to his house and not depart; and they themselves would quiet
the people, and see that the soldiers were paid. The Count being in
greater suspicion and fear of the people than was called for, would
not wait, but would only have the keys of the gate; and this showed
that it was more the work of God than any other cause; for that great
and puissant body of horse had not been opposed nor driven out, nor
dismissed, nor was there any force of enemies against them; for albeit
the people were armed and gathered together, this was more from fear
than to oppose the Count and his horsemen, and they would