Byways in southern Tuscany . h to attack therebellious Cacciaconti again, and they decided this timeto assemble an army sufficiently strong to punish them andcompel obedience. This force was to be placed under avalorous captain and provided with abundant food, ma-chines for battering down walls, and all the other mightyengines of war that the twelfth century knew. When news of these ominous preparations reached theears of the Cacciaconti they had a hasty family conferenceand agreed that they had not men enough to stand againstSiena, and therefore it was better to come to terms thanto fight wit
Byways in southern Tuscany . h to attack therebellious Cacciaconti again, and they decided this timeto assemble an army sufficiently strong to punish them andcompel obedience. This force was to be placed under avalorous captain and provided with abundant food, ma-chines for battering down walls, and all the other mightyengines of war that the twelfth century knew. When news of these ominous preparations reached theears of the Cacciaconti they had a hasty family conferenceand agreed that they had not men enough to stand againstSiena, and therefore it was better to come to terms thanto fight with the certainty of being overcome. To dohomage to Siena for their holdings—to humble themselvesbefore the base rabble of a town—was an intolerablehumiliation, yet for the moment there was no other way,and Siena was sure to be in trouble with her various ene-mies before long, and oaths were things that could bebroken. They sent word that if safe conduct was assuredthem they would present themselves in that city forth- 226. IMontisi. BYWAYS IN SOUTHERN TUSCANY with, and this was promptly given. So the Cacciacontilords came down from their respective eagles nests, blackand scowling, we may be sure, and traveled to Siena,Ildibrandino, Bernardo, Rinaldo, Tancredi, Ranieri, andthere in open assembly at the church of San Pellegrino,before the consuls of the people, they took the oath offidelity to the republic for themselves and their heirs for-ever, with the promise to live in Siena for three months ofthe year and to pay a tribute of five hundred lire. ForMontisi in particular they were to oflPer a wax candle ofsix pounds weight every summer on the festival of SantaMaria dAgosto. It was a very solemn and binding ceremony but it didnot eternally cement the relations between Siena and hernewly sworn subjects. The Cacciaconti went their wayand rebelled as often as ever. Whenever they could safelydo so they threw off allegiance and refused tribute andthey got the protection of the Em
Size: 1432px × 1745px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjecttuscany, bookyear1919
