The Correspondence of Coluccio Salutati (Vol. 1)

...that no error could arise, if both parties desired their honor in whatever occurred. And several times I have been [disposed] to give this order. I see that each was acting for himself, and that if anything had happened, there would have been a very great dispute between them, much greater than they could have extinguished. This thing weighs heavily upon me, seeing in them so little foresight. From this disorder it arose that your knight—matters having proceeded peacefully by the great grace of God—wishing to depart, had it proclaimed that everyone should return home; which thing was opposed by the notary of the podestà. Now I would like to reason here with your knight. Seeing that the said notary was in that place with the guard assigned by the commune, which always remains under the obedience of the podestà and his court, how did he presume to lay hands upon that notary? And to counter his proclamation, how was he moved to wish to seize him, seeing his company? Certainly he will forgive me: his was no small error. Now I hear that for this reason you wish to proceed against the notary of the podestà and against Menico di Michele, who was the constable of the company assigned to the guard, and against the commune: at which I marvel, because I have always seen such things crushed and trodden underfoot, as I am sure you will do, even if others think the contrary. And you know well that no one was ever a just punisher of his own injury. Wherefore I pray you that in these matters you take a wise course, as I doubt not you will do, because in truth the fault was principally your knight's, for issuing an unusual proclamation and then setting himself to try to seize the notary of the podestà. And if this matter were brought into practice, much blame would be placed upon your official; and you know how one lives today in Florence and how much danger there is in putting it to the vote (1). One thing I wish to tell you in particular: that Menico, or whoever else was with him to prevent the notary from being seized, could not have done otherwise, being placed in his company; and I say this not because he is my first cousin, but only for the sake of the truth. I well know

He exhorts Del Bene not to exacerbate the dispute, which has already subsided.