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popular feeling； gave them reason to hope their complaints would be
heard and mercifully considered； and promised that he himself would
use his endeavors in their behalf。 He then returned to the Signory；
and implored them to spare the blood of the citizens； showing the
impropriety of judging them unheard； and at length induced them to
consent that the Bardi and the Frescobaldi； with their friends； should
leave the city； and without impediment be allowed to retire to their
castles。 Upon their departure the people being again disarmed； the
Signory proceeded against those only of the Bardi and Frescobaldi
families who had taken arms。 To lessen their power； they bought of the
Bardi the castle of Mangona and that of Vernia； and enacted a law
which provided that no citizen should be allowed to possess a castle
or fortified place within twenty miles of Florence。
After a few months； Stiatta Frescobaldi was beheaded； and many of his
family banished。 Those who governed； not satisfied with having subdued
the Bardi and the Frescobaldi； as is most commonly the case； the more
authority they possessed the worse use they made of it and the more
insolent they became。 As they had hitherto had one captain of the
guard who afflicted the city； they now appointed another for the
country； with unlimited authority； to the end that those whom they
suspected might abide neither within nor without。 And they excited
them to such excesses against the whole of the nobility； that these
were driven to desperation； and ready to sell both themselves and the
city to obtain revenge。 The occasion at length came； and they did not
fail to use it。
The troubles of Tuscany and Lombardy had brought the city of Lucca
under the rule of Mastino della Scala； lord of Verona； who； though
bound by contract to assign her to the Florentines； had refused to do
so； for； being lord of Parma； he thought he should be able to retain
her； and did not trouble himself about his breach of faith。 Upon this
the Florentines joined the Venetians； and with their assistance
brought Mastino to the brink of ruin。 They did not； however； derive
any benefit from this beyond the slight satisfaction of having
conquered him； for the Venetians； like all who enter into league with
less powerful states than themselves； having acquired Trevigi and
Vicenza； made peace with Mastino without the least regard for the
Florentines。 Shortly after this； the Visconti； lords of Milan； having
taken Parma from Mastino； he found himself unable to retain Lucca； and
therefore determined to sell it。 The competitors for the purchase were
the Florentines and the Pisans； and in the course of the treaty the
Pisans； finding that the Florentines； being the richer people； were
about to obtain it； had recourse to arms； and； with the assistance of
the Visconti； marched against Lucca。 The Florentines did not； on that
account； withdraw from the purchase； but having agreed upon the terms
with Mastino； paid part of the money； gave security for the remainder；
and sent Naddo Rucellai； Giovanni di Bernadino de' Medici； and Rosso
di Ricciardo de' Ricci； to take possession； who entered Lucca by
force； and Mastino's people delivered the city to them。 Nevertheless；
the Pisans continued the siege； and the Florentines used their utmost
endeavors to relieve her； but after a long war； loss of money； and
accumulation of disgrace； they were compelled to retire； and the
Pisans became lords of Lucca。
The loss of this city； as in like cases commonly happens； exasperated
the people of Florence against the members of the government； at every
street corner and public place they were openly censured； and the
entire misfortune was laid to the charge of their greediness and
mismanagement。 At the beginning of the war； twenty citizens had been
appointed to undertake the direction of it； who appointed Malatesta da
Rimini to the command of the forces。 He having exhibited little zeal
and less prudence； they requested assistance from Robert king of
Naples； and he sent them Walter duke of Athens； who； as Providence
would have it； to bring about the approaching evils； arrived at
Florence just at the moment when the undertaking against Lucca had
entirely failed。 Upon this the Twenty； seeing the anger of the people；
thought to inspire them with fresh hopes by the appointment of a new
leader； and thus remove； or at least abate； the causes of calumny
against themselves。 As there was much to be feared； and that the duke
of Athens might have greater authority to defend them； they first
chose him for their coadjutor； and then appointed him to the command
of the army。 The nobility； who were discontented from the causes above
mentioned； having many of them been acquainted with Walter； when upon
a former occasion he had governed Florence for the duke of Calabria；
thought they had now an opportunity； though with the ruin of the city；
of subduing their enemies； for there was no means of prevailing
against those who had oppressed them but of submitting to the
authority of a prince who； being acquainted with the worth of one
party and the insolence of the other； would restrain the latter and
reward the former。 To this they added a hope of the benefits they
might derive from him when he had acquired the principality by their
means。 They； therefore； took several occasions of being with him
secretly； and entreated he would take the command wholly upon himself；
offering him the utmost assistance in their power。 To their influence
and entreaty were also added those of some families of the people；
these were the Peruzzi； Acciajuoli； Antellesi； and Buonaccorsi； who；
being overwhelmed with debts； and without means of their own； wished
for those of others to liquidate them； and； by the slavery of their
country； to deliver themselves from their servitude to their
creditors。 These demonstrations excited the ambitious mind of the duke
to greater desire of dominion； and in order to gain himself the
reputation of strict equity and justice； and thus increase his favor
with the plebeians； he prosecuted those who had conducted the war
against Lucca； condemned many to pay fines； others to exile； and put
to death Giovanni de' Medici； Naddo Rucellai； and Guglielmo Altoviti。
CHAPTER VIII
The Duke of Athens requires to be made prince of FlorenceThe
Signory address the duke upon the subjectThe plebeians proclaim
him prince of Florence for lifeTyrannical proceedings of the
dukeThe city disgusted with himConspiracies against the duke
The duke discovers the conspiracies； and becomes terrifiedThe
city rises against himHe is besieged in the palaceMeasures
adopted by the citizens for reform of the governmentThe duke is
compelled to withdraw from the cityMiserable deaths of Guglielmo
da Scesi and his sonDeparture of the duke of AthensHis
character。
These executions greatly terrified the middle class of citizens； but
gave satisfaction to the great and to the plebeians；to the latter；
because it is their nature to delight in evil； and to the former； by
thus seeing themselves avenged of the many wrongs they had suffered
from the people。 When the duke passed along the streets he was hailed
with loud cheers； the boldness of his proceedings was praised； and
both parties joined in open entreaties that he would search out the
faults of the citizens； and punish them。
The office of the Twenty began to fall into disuse； while the power of
the duke became great； and the influence of fear excessive； so that
everyone； in order to appear friendly to him； caused his arms to be
painted over their houses； and the name alone was all he needed to be
absolutely prince。 Thinking himself upon such a footing that he might
safely attempt anything； he gave the Signory to understand that he
judged it necessary for the good of the city； that the sovereignty
should be freely given to him； and that as the rest of the citizens
were willing that it should be so； he desired they would also consent。
The Signory； notwithstanding many had foreseen the ruin of their
country； were much disturbed at this demand； and although they were
aware of the dangerous position in which they stood； that they might
not be wanting in their duty； resolutely refused to comply。 The duke
had； in order to assume a greater appearance of religion and humanity；
chosen for his residence the convent of the Minor Canons of St。 Croce；
and in order to carry his evil designs into effect； proclaimed that
all the people should； on the following morning； present themselves
before him in the piazza of the convent。 This command alarmed the
Signory much more than his discourse to them had done； and they
consulted with those citizens whom they thought most attached to their
country and to liberty； but they could not devise any better plan；
knowing the power of which the duke was possessed； than to endeavor by
entreaty to induce him either to