When the legate, Brother Matteo d'Acquasparta, had returned to the papal court, he informed Pope Boniface of the evil and uncertain condition of the city of Florence; and afterwards, by reason of the things which came to pass after the departure of the legate, as we have said, and by reason of the importunity and free expenditure of the captains of the Guelf party, and of the aforesaid exiles which were at the village of the Pieve hard by the court, and of M. Geri Spini (for he and his company were merchants for Pope Boniface and his general advisers), it came to pass that by their zeal and industry, and by that of M. Corso Donati, who followed the court wheresoever it went, the said Pope Boniface took counsel to send for M. Charles of Valois, brother of the king of France, with a double purpose; principally for the aid of King Charles in his Sicilian war, giving the king of France and the said M. Charles to understand that he would cause him to be elected Emperor of the Romans, and confirm the election, or at the least by the authority of the Pope and of Holy Church would make him imperial lieutenant for the Church in virtue of the rights of the Church when the Empire is vacant; and beyond this he gave him the title of Peacemaker in Tuscany, to the end he might use all his force to bring Florence to his purpose. And when he sent his legate into France for the said M. Charles, the said M. Charles by the will of the king, his brother, came, as we shall hereafter make mention, in the hope of being Emperor, because of the promises of the Pope, as we have said. [Sidenote: 1301 A.D.] Sec. 44.--_How the Guelfs were driven from Agobbio, and how they afterwards recovered the city and drove the Ghibellines thence._ Sec. 45.--_How the Black party were driven out of Pistoia._ [Sidenote: 1301 A.D.] [Sidenote: Inf. xxiv. 143.] In the year of Christ 1301, in the month of May, the White party in Pistoia, with the aid and favour of the Whites which were governing the city of Florence, drove thence the Black party and destroyed their houses, palaces and possessions, and among others a strong and rich possession of palaces and towers which pertained to the Black Cancellieri, which was called Damiata. [Sidenote: 1301 A.D.] Sec. 46.--_How the Interminelli and their followers were driven out of Lucca._ Sec. 47.--_How the Guelf refugees from Genoa were peaceably restored._ Sec. 48.--_How a comet appeared in the heavens._ Sec. 49.--_How M. Charles of Valois of France came to Pope Boniface, and afterwards came to Florence and drove out the White party._ [Sidenote: 1301 A.D.] [Sidenote: Purg. xx. 70-78.] [Sidenote: 1302 A.D.]