Pagina 262 de 310

And now Castruccio, deeming it imprudent any longer to defer

making himself a prince, got himself created the lord of Lucca by

the help of Pazzino del Poggio, Puccinello dal Portico, Francesco

Boccansacchi, and Cecco Guinigi, all of whom he had corrupted;

and he was afterwards solemnly and deliberately elected prince by

the people. At this time Frederick of Bavaria, the King of the

Romans, came into Italy to assume the Imperial crown, and

Castruccio, in order that he might make friends with him, met him

at the head of five hundred horsemen. Castruccio had left as his

deputy in Lucca, Pagolo Guinigi, who was held in high estimation,

because of the people's love for the memory of his father.

Castruccio was received in great honour by Frederick, and many

privileges were conferred upon him, and he was appointed the

emperor's lieutenant in Tuscany.