THE CERTOSA OF FLORENCE 



that he asks is justice, that justice which is not denied 

 to heretics or Jews, and remarks in conclusion that 

 were he as rich in substance as he is in enemies, the 

 rents due to the Papal See by the Queen would soon 

 be paid, Sicily subdued, and all the foes of the realm 

 ' conquered. " But misery alone is without envy, 

 and because we know not what it is we seek, all is 

 for the best. Farewell." 



Already in this letter, written from Melfi on the 

 feast of St. Stephen, 1364, there was a foreboding of 

 the coming end. A fever had then attacked him, 

 which, however, passed off in a short time, but he 

 only lived till the following November, when a few 

 days' illness ended his career at the early age of fifty- 

 five. 



The suddenness of his death filled Naples with 

 consternation at the moment. The prop of the king- 

 dom was gone, the man who had saved the throne and 

 restored peace to the Sicilies, and there was no one to 

 fill up the gap which he had left. 



In a short note Angelo Acciaiuoli, his son and 

 successor in all his dignities, communicated the sad 

 news to the prior of the Certosa, and the prayers of 

 the whole Carthusian Order were asked for the soul 

 of their illustrious benefactor. His own city of 

 Florence was the first to do him honour, and paid 



magnificent homage to the memory of " this our most 



223 



