Villani's Chronicle: Being Selections from the First Nine Books of the Croniche Fiorentine of Giovanni VillaniVillani, Giovanni
History
Villani's Chronicle: Being Selections from the First Nine Books of the Croniche Fiorentine of Giovanni Villani
Villani, Giovanni
Florence (Italy) -- History
In the said year, on the 11th day of the month of February, M.
Guidetto della Torre, seeing himself cast out from the lordship of
Milan, and Maffeo Visconti and his other enemies much in favour with
the Emperor, thought to cause the city of Milan to rebel against the
Emperor, seeing that he had with him but few horse, forasmuch as they
were gone away and dispersed throughout the cities of Lombardy; and
this would have come to pass, if it had not been that Matteo Visconti
very wisely warned the Emperor thereof, and his marshal, and the count
of Savoy. For the which thing the city rose in arms and uproar, and
there was some fighting. Now there were who said that M. Maffeo
Visconti by his wit and sagacity deceived him to the end he might
bring him under the Emperor's suspicion, coming to him secretly, and
complaining of the lordship of the Emperor and of the Germans, making
as though he would better love the freedom of Milan than such
lordship; and saying to him that he would rather have him for lord
than the Emperor, and that he and his followers would give him all aid
and assistance in driving out the Emperor. To which proposal M.
Guidetto gave heed, trusting in his former enemy, through desire of
recovering his state and lordship; or perhaps it was for his sins, of
which he had many, and was the answer of Maffeo coming true, which he
had made to him through the mouth of the jongleur, as we related
before. M. Maffeo under the said promise betrayed him, and revealed
all to the Emperor and to his council; and this we believe of a
surety, because of what we heard thereof afterwards from wise Lombards
which were then in Milan. And for this cause M. Guidetto della Torre
was called upon to defend himself, who did not appear, but departed
with his followers from Milan, asserting that he was not guilty of
treachery, but that his enemies had charged him therewith to bring him
to nought and drive him out of Milan. But the most believe that he was
in fault, forasmuch as he was in league with the Florentines and the
Bolognese, and with other Guelf cities, and it was said that he was to
receive much money therefor from the Florentines and their league. But
whatever might have been the cause, the said intrigues made the city
of Cremona immediately rebel against the Emperor, on the 20th day of
February, and this rebellion and others in Lombardy were of a surety
brought about by the zeal and the spending of the Florentines, to give
the Emperor so much to do in Lombardy that he would not be able to
come into Tuscany. At this time the Ghibellines of Brescia drave out
the Guelfs, and this likewise came to pass to those of Parma; for the
which thing the Emperor sent his vicar and followers into Brescia, and
caused peace to be made, and the Guelfs to return to the city, which a
short time afterwards finding themselves strong in the city, and
seeing that Cremona had rebelled, and being encouraged by the
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