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parties; the head of the Bianchi was Bastiano di Possente,
and of the Neri, Jacopo da Gia. Each of these men held secret
communications with Castruccio, and each desired to
drive the other out of the city; and, after many threatenings,
they came to blows. Jacopo fortified himself at the Florentine
gate, Bastiano at that of the Lucchese side of the city;
both trusted more in Castruccio than in the Florentines,
because they believed that Castruccio was far more ready
and willing to fight than the Florentines, and they both sent
to him for assistance. He gave promises to both, saying to
Bastiano that he would come in person, and to Jacopo that
he would send his pupil, Pagolo Guinigi. At the appointed
time he sent forward Pagolo by way of Pisa, and went himself
direct to Pistoia; at midnight both of them met outside
the city, and both were admitted as friends. Thus the two
leaders entered, and at a signal given by Castruccio, one
killed Jacopo da Gia, and the other Bastiano di Possente,
and both took prisoners or killed the partisans of either
faction. Without further opposition Pistoia passed into the
hands of Castruccio, who, having forced the Signoria to
leave the palace, compelled the people to yield obedience
to him, making them many promises and remitting their
old debts. The countryside flocked to the city to see the new
prince, and all were filled with hope and quickly settled
down, influenced in a great measure by his great valour.
About this time great disturbances arose in Rome, owing
to the dearness of living which was caused by the absence
of the pontiff at Avignon. The German governor, Enrico,
was much blamed for what happened—murders and tu-
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