[10] For an account of his death, see chap. v. p. 143.
[11] _Beccherini_: probably derived from _beccaio_ (butcher) or _beccheria_ (slaughter-house), which place Perugia greatly resembled at times.
[13] Some say that the bull was found reposing in the hands of S. Ercolano's statue, as nobody had courage enough to present it to the citizens.
[14] On all the lower hills and in the plains around Perugia the nobles had their strongholds--great walled citadels of bricks and mortar, like the nests of prehistoric birds. Deruta was one of these, belonging to the Baglioni in early times: Bettona, another (where some descendants of the Baglioni still live in a large red villa). In the Palazzo degli Oddi--Via dei Priori--some well-kept canvasses still show what the nests of the Oddi looked like, and also their position.
[15] Sir John Hawkwood and his English soldiers became a scourge in Umbria at this period.
[16] Pandolfo was the first of the Baglioni who openly attempted to get power in his native town.
[17] His son, Francesco Sforza, was afterwards Duke of Milan.
[18] Paolo Uccello's splendid picture in our National Gallery is always said to represent the battle of S. Egidio. We have however no proof that the youth with yellow hair is indeed, as hitherto reported, a portrait of Galeazzo Malatesta.
[19] It was believed by some that Braccio's success depended on a kindly spirit imprisoned in a crystal who gave him good council, and brought him luck.
[20] A poet of Aquila, Ciunillo, points to a more tragic cause of Braccio's death. We are given to understand that young Francesco Sforza (the son of Braccio's great rival Attendolo Sforza, who had met his death a few months previously whilst crossing the river Pescara on his way to relieve Aquila) gave the surgeon's arm a slight nudge as he was cleaning the wound, and drove the sharp instrument straight into Braccio's brain. Nothing that we know of Francesco Sforza's character (he was afterwards Duke of Milan) would lead us to suppose him capable of such a deed.
[21] Date of his birth uncertain (1386?).
[22] While Alexander VI., the Borgia Pope, was staying at Perugia in the summer of 1495, he made an effort to rid the Church of the whole Baglioni family at one stroke, but to gather at once all its members into his net required some diplomacy. With Borgia cunning he called to him Guido, the head of the clan, and expressed a great desire to see, during his stay in the city, a joust or tournament, politely implying that if organised by the illustrious house of Baglioni it must surely be a magnificent success. Guido, as shrewd and crafty as any of his family, replied that he was ready to do anything to gratify the Pope, and that he could think of nothing more likely to be acceptable and pleasing to His Holiness than to see the people of Perugia fully armed and equipped for battle, with the _condottieri_ of the Baglioni house and their retainers ready for instant combat. Guido's covert threat was taken with a smile, but very soon afterwards Alexander left for Rome, and spoke no more of tournaments.