VI

THEREhadbeenagreatcommotioninForliduringthelasttwodaysforithadbecomeknownthatthecountrypeopleoftheCount'sdomainhadsentapetitionfortheremovalofcertaintaxeswhichpressedsoheavilyuponthem,thatthelandwasspeedilygoingtoruin.Theproprietorsweredismissingtheirlabourers,thehousesofthepeasantswerefallingintodecay,andincertaindistrictsthepovertyhadreachedsuchaheightthatthefarmershadnotevengrainwherewithtosowtheirfields,andallaroundthegroundwaslyingbareanddesolate.Afaminehadbeentheresult,andifthepreviousyearthecountrymenhadfounditdifficulttopaytheirtaxes,thisyeartheyfounditimpossible.Girolamohadlistenedtotheirarguments,andknewthemtobetrue.Afterconsideringwithhiscouncillors,hehadresolvedtoremitcertainofthemoreoppressivetaxesbutindoingthishewasconfrontedwiththefactthathisTreasurywasalreadyempty,andthatiftheincomewerefurtherdiminisheditwouldbeimpossibleforhimtomeetthedemandsofthecomingyear. Itwasclearthatthecountrycouldnotpay,anditwasclearthatthemoneymustbeprocured.Hesethiseyesonthetown,andsawthatitwasrichandflourishing,buthedarednot,onhisowninitiative,proposeanyincreaseinitsburdens.Hecalledacouncil,showedthestateofhisaffairs,andaskedtheeldersforadvice.Noonestirredorspoke.AtlastAntonioLassi,acreatureoftheCount,whomhehadraisedtothecouncilfromahumbleposition,rosetohisfeetandgaveutterancetotheplanwhichhismasterhadsuggestedtohim.Thepithofitwastoabrogatethetaxesonthecountrypeople,andincompensationplaceothersoncertainfood-st