by various political and social contrivances, which grew up from the exigencies and the habits of the moment.  Instead of recruiting soldiers from the stationary population, it became usual, when a war was imminent, to enroll outlaws.  Thus, when Lucca had to make an inroad into Garfagnana in 1613, the Republic issued a proclamation promising pardon and pay to those of its own bandits who should join its standard.  Men to the number of 591 answered this call, and the little war which followed was conducted with more than customary fierceness.[184]

[Footnote 184:  See Salvatore Bonghi, op. cit. p. 159.]

Even the ordinary police and guards of cities were composed of fugitives from other states, care being taken to select by preference those who came stained only with honorable bloodshed.  In 1593 the guard of the palace of Lucca was reinforced by the addition of forty-three men, among whom four were bandits for wounds inflicted upon enemies in open fight; twelve for homicide in duel, sword to sword; five for the murder of more than one person in similar encounters; one for the murder of a sister, and the wounding of her seducer; two for mutilating an enemy in the face; one for unlawful recruiting; one for wounding; one for countenancing bandits; and sixteen simple refugees.[185] The phrases employed to describe these men in the official report are sufficiently illustrative of contemporary moral standards.  Thus we read ’Banditi per omicidi semplici da buono a buono, a sangue caldo, da spada a spada, o di nemici.’  ‘Per omicidio d’una sorella per causa d’onore.’  To murder an enemy, or a sister who had misbehaved herself, was accounted excusable.

The prevalence of lawlessness encouraged a domestic custom which soon grew into a system.  This was the maintenance of so-called bravi by nobles and folk rich enough to afford so expensive a luxury.  The outlaws found their advantage in the bargain which they drew with their employers; for besides being lodged, fed, clothed and armed, they obtained a certain protection from the spies and professional murderers who were always on the watch to kill them.  Their masters used them to defend their persons when a feud was being carried on, or directed them against private enemies whom they wished to injure.

[Footnote 185:  Bonghi, op. cit. p. 159, note.]

It is not uncommon in the annals of these times to read:  ’Messer So-and-so, having received an affront from the Count of V., employed the services of three bravi, valiant fellows up to any mischief, with whom he retired to his country house.’  Or again:  ’The Marquis, perceiving that his neighbor had a grudge against him on account of the Signora Lucrezia, thought it prudent to increase his bodyguard, and therefore added Pepi and Lo Scarabone, bandits from Tuscany for murders of a priest and a citizen, to his household.’  Or again:  ’During the vacation of the Holy See the Baron X had, as usual, engaged men-at-arms for the protection of his palace.’