rson armed himself with all his followers, and they met one another
with great vigour upon the ruined walls with swords in hand, but the
great barons and knights of the king drove back their enemies with
great loss both to one side and to the other, and they rebuilt the
walls with great labour in a short time, working both day and night.
The king and his followers being thus besieged and attacked in Genoa,
sent for aid into Tuscany, and received it from many quarters: from
the Florentines, 100 horse and 500 foot, all with lilies for their
device, and the same number from Bologna, and likewise from Romagna,
and from many other places, and they went to Genoa by sea by the way
of Talamone; so that when his allies were come to him, the king was
supported in Genoa on the first day of November of the said year by
more than 2,500 horse, and by footmen without number. Without were
more than 1,500 horse, and the captain of the host was M. Marco
Visconti of Milan, and they held the hill fortresses round about in
such wise that the king could not go afield; and thus abode the said
hosts in close war and skirmishes, hurling and shooting at one another
all the said summer, and also the winter, forasmuch as neither one
side nor the other could get the advantage. And thus abiding, M. Marco
Visconti was so presumptuous as to request King Robert to fight with
him in single combat, and whichever was victorious should be lord,
which put the king into great scorn.

Sec. 96.--_How in the city of Siena there was a conspiracy, and uproar,
and great changes followed thereupon._

Sec. 97.--_How King Robert's followers discomfited the exiles from Genoa
at the village of Sesto, and how they departed from the siege of the
city._

[Sidenote: 1318 A.D.]

[Sidenote: Johannes de Virgilio. Carmen _v._ 29.]

In the said year 1318, after that King Robert had been besieged in
Genoa for more than six months, as already narrated, he bethought him
that he could not crush his enemies without unless he could land his
army between the suburbs and Saona; and he raised a fleet of sixty
galleys and transport vessels, and assembled 850 horse, and of foot
full 15,000; and together with them were some Florentines and other
Tuscans, and Bolognese and Romagnese; and they departed from Genoa on
the 4th day of February, to bring the said people into the country
around Sesto. And when the exiles and those without heard this,
straightway they sent thither of thei