[3] See Rappresentazione di S. Antonio, Le Monnier (1872), II, 33. [↑]
LXXXIV
How Messer Azzolino Romano arranged a great charity
Messer Azzolino Romano once announced a great charity in his territory, and invited the people there and elsewhere to attend.
And so all the poor men and women were summoned to his meadows on a certain day, that each should be given a new habit and plenty to eat. The news spread abroad. Folk came from all parts. [[189]]
When the day of the assembly arrived, the seneschals[1] were ready with the clothes and the food, and each person was made to undress and cast off his old shoes, when new clothes were given and food handed out.
The poor people wanted their old clothes back, but it was of no avail, for they were all piled up in a heap and fire was laid thereto.
Then so much gold and silver were given as compensated them, and they were told to go home in the name of God.
It was in his[2] time that a certain peasant charged a neighbour with having stolen his cherries. When the accused appeared, he said: send and see if that be true, for the cherry tree is covered with fruit. Then Messer Azzolino had proof that this was so, and condemned the accuser to pay a sum of money, telling the other to look after his cherries rather than rely on his lord’s justice.