Agnello went back to Pisa full of this dream:[43] and at the first opportunity suggested that Visconti would be flattered if a Lord were to be elected in Pisa, if only for a year at a time; and in his subtilty he proposed Pietro d’ Albizzo da Vico, a very much respected (di gran stima) citizen, as Lord.  But Messer Pietro replied by asking to be sent with other citizens to Pescia to arrange the peace with Florence.  Then a certain Vanni Botticella applied for the post; and Agnello praised him for his patriotism, but asked him whether he had money enough to be Lord.  Certainly Pisa had fallen.  By this Agnello was suspected, and indeed one night certain citizens got leave to search his house, for they believed him to be a traitor[44].  But he had warning, and already Hawkwood had sold himself, for it was his business.  So, when those citizens had returned disappointed, for they found Agnello abed, he arose and joined his bandits.  With Hawkwood he went to the Palazzo dei Anziani, bound the guard and had the Elders summoned, and told them a tale of how the Blessed Virgin had bidden him assume the lordship of the city.  Well, he had his way, his bandits saw to that; so the Anziani agreed and swore obedience.  Next day Pisa acclaimed her Doge.

Agnello remained Doge, or Lord as he preferred to be called, for four years.  Then Charles IV marched back over the Alps into Italy.  Bought off and thwarted in Lombardy, he came towards Lucca, which the Lucchesi exiles again offered to buy from him.  Agnello was terrified.  In haste he sent to Charles offering to give him Lucca if he were made sure in Pisa.  Outside the walls of Lucca, Charles knighted this astute tradesman.  Agnello ran back to Pisa and conferred knighthood on his nephews.  Then he built a platform and awaited the Emperor.  His end was in keeping with his life.  As he stood on the insecure “hustings” which he had built, that in sight of all the people Charles might declare him Imperial Vicar of Pisa, the platform collapsed and Agnello’s leg was broken.  Now, whether the comic spirit, so helpful to justice, be strong in our Pisans still, I know not, but on learning of the misfortune of their Lord, they rose, and, without noticing their Imperial Vicar, appointed Anziani to rule by the old laws.

Then the burghers and nobles—­“Cittadini amatori della Patria,” Tronci calls them—­formed the Campagnia di S. Michele, for it bore on its gonfalon St. Michael Archangel, and the black eagle of the Empire.  It was the business of this company to restore peace and unity to the city.  The leaders resolved to recall the exiles, among them Pietro Gambacorti.  He came, and the city greeted him, and he swore to serve the Republic and to forgive his enemies.  A riot followed; the Bergolini armed themselves and burnt the Gambacorti palaces.  But Pietro Gambacorti called to the city, which had risen to defend itself and to make reprisals, saying, “I have pardoned them—­I, whose parents they slew.  By what right do you refuse to do what I have done?"[45] The Bergolini took the government, and there was peace.  Then the Campagnia di S. Michele broke up.