Pagina 148 di 310

Endless examples could be given on this subject, but I will be

content with one, brought to pass within the memory of our

fathers. Messer Annibale Bentivogli, who was prince in Bologna

(grandfather of the present Annibale), having been murdered by

the Canneschi, who had conspired against him, not one of his

family survived but Messer Giovanni,[1] who was in childhood:

immediately after his assassination the people rose and murdered

all the Canneschi. This sprung from the popular goodwill which

the house of Bentivogli enjoyed in those days in Bologna; which

was so great that, although none remained there after the death

of Annibale who was able to rule the state, the Bolognese, having

information that there was one of the Bentivogli family in

Florence, who up to that time had been considered the son of a

blacksmith, sent to Florence for him and gave him the government

of their city, and it was ruled by him until Messer Giovanni came

in due course to the government.