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their proportion to the great； it became desirable to increase the
number。 They therefore divided the city into quarters； and for each
created three signors。 They abolished the office of Gonfalonier of
Justice； and also the Gonfaloniers of the companies of the people； and
instead of the twelve Buonuomini； or good men； created eight
counsellors； four from each party。 The government having been
established in this manner； the city might have been in repose if the
great had been content to live in that moderation which civil society
requires。 But they produced a contrary result； for those out of office
would not conduct themselves as citizens； and those who were in
government wished to be lords； so that every day furnished some new
instance of their insolence and pride。 These things were very grievous
to the people； and they began to regret that for one tyrant put down；
there had sprung up a thousand。 The arrogance of one party and the
anger of the other rose to such a degree； that the heads of the people
complained to the bishop of the improper conduct of the nobility； and
what unfit associates they had become for the people； and begged he
would endeavor to induce them to be content with their share of
administration in the other offices； and leave the magistracy of the
Signory wholly to themselves。
The bishop was naturally a well…meaning man； but his want of firmness
rendered him easily influenced。 Hence； at the instance of his
associates； he at first favored the duke of Athens； and afterward； by
the advice of other citizens； conspired against him。 At the
reformation of the government； he had favored the nobility； and now he
appeared to incline toward the people； moved by the reasons which they
had advanced。 Thinking to find in others the same instability of
purpose； he endeavored to effect an amicable arrangement。 With this
design he called together the fourteen who were yet in office； and in
the best terms he could imagine advised them to give up the Signory to
the people； in order to secure the peace of the city； and assured them
that if they refused； ruin would most probably be the result。
This discourse excited the anger of the nobility to the highest pitch；
and Ridolfo de' Bardi reproved him in unmeasured terms as a man of
little faith； reminding him of his friendship for the duke； to prove
the duplicity of his present conduct； and saying； that in driving him
away he had acted the part of a traitor。 He concluded by telling him；
that the honors they had acquired at their own peril； they would at
their own peril defend。 They then left the bishop； and in great wrath；
informed their associates in the government； and all the families of
the nobility； of what had been done。 The people also expressed their
thoughts to each other； and as the nobility made preparations for the
defense of their signors； they determined not to wait till they had
perfected their arrangements； and therefore； being armed； hastened to
the palace； shouting； as they went along； that the nobility must give
up their share in the government。
The uproar and excitement were astonishing。 The Signors of the
nobility found themselves abandoned； for their friends； seeing all the
people in arms； did not dare to rise in their defense； but each kept
within his own house。 The Signors of the people endeavored to abate
the excitement of the multitude； by affirming their associates to be
good and moderate men； but； not succeeding in their attempt； to avoid
a greater evil； sent them home to their houses； whither they were with
difficulty conducted。 The nobility having left the palace； the office
of the four councillors was taken from their party； and conferred upon
twelve of the people。 To the eight signors who remained； a Gonfalonier
of Justice was added； and sixteen Gonfaloniers of the companies of the
people； and the council was so reformed； that the government remained
wholly in the hands of the popular party。
At the time these events took place there was a great scarcity in the
city； and discontent prevailed both among the highest and the lowest
classes； in the latter for want of food； and in the former from having
lost their power in the state。 This circumstance induced Andrea
Strozzi to think of making himself sovereign of the city。 Selling his
corn at a lower price than others did； a great many people flocked to
his house； emboldened by the sight of these； he one morning mounted
his horse； and； followed by a considerable number； called the people
to arms； and in a short time drew together about 4；000 men； with whom
he proceeded to the Signory； and demanded that the gates of the palace
should be opened。 But the signors； by threats and the force which they
retained in the palace； drove them from the court； and then by
proclamation so terrified them； that they gradually dropped off and
returned to their homes； and Andrea； finding himself alone； with some
difficulty escaped falling into the hands of the magistrates。
This event； although an act of great temerity； and attended with the
result that usually follows such attempts； raised a hope in the minds
of the nobility of overcoming the people； seeing that the lowest of
the plebeians were at enmity with them。 And to profit by this
circumstance； they resolved to arm themselves； and with justifiable
force recover those rights of which they had been unjustly deprived。
Their minds acquired such an assurance of success； that they openly
provided themselves with arms； fortified their houses； and even sent
to their friends in Lombardy for assistance。 The people and the
Signory made preparation for their defense； and requested aid from
Perugia and Sienna； so that the city was filled with the armed
followers of either party。 The nobility on this side of the Arno
divided themselves into three parts； the one occupied the houses of
the Cavicciulli； near the church of St。 John； another； the houses of
the Pazzi and the Donati； near the great church of St。 Peter； and the
third those of the Cavalcanti in the New Market。 Those beyond the
river fortified the bridges and the streets in which their houses
stood； the Nerli defended the bridge of the Carraja； the Frescobaldi
and the Manelli； the church of the Holy Trinity； and the Rossi and the
Bardi； the bridge of the Rubaconte and the Old Bridge。 The people were
drawn together under the Gonfalon of justice and the ensigns of the
companies of the artisans。
Both sides being thus arranged in order of battle； the people thought
it imprudent to defer the contest； and the attack was commenced by the
Medici and the Rondinelli； who assailed the Cavicciulli； where the
houses of the latter open upon the piazza of St。 John。 Here both
parties contended with great obstinacy； and were mutually wounded；
from the towers by stones and other missiles； and from below by
arrows。 They fought for three hours； but the forces of the people
continuing to increase； and the Cavicciulli finding themselves
overcome by numbers； and hopeless of other assistance； submitted
themselves to the people； who saved their houses and property； and
having disarmed them； ordered them to disperse among their relatives
and friends； and remain unarmed。 Being victorious in the first attack；
they easily overpowered the Pazzi and the Donati； whose numbers were
less than those they had subdued； so that there only remained on this
side of the Arno； the Cavalcanti； who were strong both in respect of
the post they had chosen and in their followers。 Nevertheless； seeing
all the Gonfalons against them； and that the others had been overcome
by three Gonfalons alone； they yielded without offering much
resistance。 Three parts of the city were now in the hands of the
people； and only one in possession of the nobility； but this was the
strongest； as well on account of those who held it； as from its
situation； being defended by the Arno； hence it was first necessary to
force the bridges。 The Old Bridge was first assailed and offered a
brave resistance； for the towers were armed； the streets barricaded；
and the barricades defended by the most resolute men； so that the
people were repulsed with great loss。 Finding their labor at this
point fruitless； they endeavored to force the Rubaconte Bridge； but no
better success resulting； they left four Gonfalons in charge of the
two bridges； and with the others attacked the bridge of the Carraja。
Here； although the Nerli defended themselves like brave men； they
could not resist the fury of the people； for this bridge； having no
towers； was weaker than the others； and was attacked by the Capponi；
and many families of the people who lived in that vicinity。 Being thus
assailed on all sides； they abandoned the barricades and gave way to
the people； who then overcame the Rossi and the Frescobaldi； for all
those beyond the Arno took part with the conquerors。
There was now no resistance made except by the Bard