Pagina 259 van 310

Castruccio, fearing no evil, went to the governor in a friendly

way, was entertained at supper, and then thrown into prison. But

Neri, fearing to put him to death lest the people should be

incensed, kept him alive, in order to hear further from his

father concerning his intentions. Ugucionne cursed the hesitation

and cowardice of his son, and at once set out from Pisa to Lucca

with four hundred horsemen to finish the business in his own way;

but he had not yet reached the baths when the Pisans rebelled and

put his deputy to death and created Count Gaddo della Gherardesca

their lord. Before Uguccione reached Lucca he heard of the

occurrences at Pisa, but it did not appear wise to him to turn

back, lest the Lucchese with the example of Pisa before them

should close their gates against him. But the Lucchese, having

heard of what had happened at Pisa, availed themselves of this

opportunity to demand the liberation of Castruccio,

notwithstanding that Uguccione had arrived in their city.