Byways in southern Tuscany . time, if one was killed, the fine was but a third ofwhat was exacted if the victim were a citizen. In thecountry the Signore could take the law into his own handsin such cases and he seldom troubled to consult any otherauthority. Is it to be wondered at that when the youngcommunes thought to gain firmer control of the feudalbarons by ordering them to come into the cities, theyfound they had introduced an element of turbulence andinsubordination hard to cope with, for these gentry at-tempted to carry on there the same independence of lawwhich they had practised in t
Byways in southern Tuscany . time, if one was killed, the fine was but a third ofwhat was exacted if the victim were a citizen. In thecountry the Signore could take the law into his own handsin such cases and he seldom troubled to consult any otherauthority. Is it to be wondered at that when the youngcommunes thought to gain firmer control of the feudalbarons by ordering them to come into the cities, theyfound they had introduced an element of turbulence andinsubordination hard to cope with, for these gentry at-tempted to carry on there the same independence of lawwhich they had practised in their inaccessible castles, andwhen they were fortunate enough to capture an enemy,judged him without asking any participation by the cityauthorities and also dealt the penalty. In Florence itselfit was no uncommon thing to see torture being appliedopenly at the gates of private individuals, as in theBostichi family whose house was known through the cityfor the fact that the torture of prisoners went on therealmost daily. 171. An Old Palazzo in San Casciano CHAPTER XIThe Merse—Rapolano
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjecttuscany, bookyear1919
