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drawn together。 The disturbance spreading； it was told the Ricci that
the Albizzi had assailed their partisans； and to the Albizzi that the
Ricci were in quest of them。 Upon this the whole city arose； and it
was all the magistrates could do to restrain these families； and
prevent the actual occurrence of a disaster which； without being the
fault of either of them； had been willfully though falsely reported as
having already taken place。 This apparently trifling circumstance
served to inflame the minds of the parties； and make each the more
resolved to increase the number of their followers。 And as the
citizens； since the ruin of the nobility； were on such an equality
that the magistrates were more respected now than they had previously
been； they designed to proceed toward the suppression of this disorder
with civil authority alone。
We have before related； that after the victory of Charles I。 the
government was formed of the Guelphic party； and that it thus acquired
great authority over the Ghibellines。 But time； a variety of
circumstances； and new divisions had so contributed to sink this party
feeling into oblivion； that many of Ghibelline descent now filled the
highest offices。 Observing this； Uguccione； the head of the family of
the Ricci； contrived that the law against the Ghibellines should be
again brought into operation； many imagining the Albizzi to be of that
faction； they having arisen in Arezzo； and come long ago to Florence。
Uguccione by this means hoped to deprive the Albizzi of participation
in the government； for all of Ghibelline blood who were found to hold
offices； would be condemned in the penalties which this law provided。
The design of Uguccione was discovered to Piero son of Filippo degli
Albizzi； and he resolved to favor it： for he saw that to oppose it
would at once declare him a Ghibelline； and thus the law which was
renewed by the ambition of the Ricci for his destruction； instead of
robbing Piero degli Albizzi of reputation； contributed to increase his
influence； although it laid the foundation of many evils。 Nor is it
possible for a republic to enact a law more pernicious than one
relating to matters which have long transpired。 Piero having favored
this law； which had been contrived by his enemies for his stumbling…
block； it became the stepping…stone to his greatness； for； making
himself the leader of this new order of things； his authority went on
increasing； and he was in greater favor with the Guelphs than any
other man。
As there could not be found a magistrate willing to search out who
were Ghibellines； and as this renewed enactment against them was
therefore of small value； it was provided that authority should be
given to the Capitani to find out who were of this faction； and；
having discovered； to signify and ADMONISH them that they were not to
take upon themselves any office of government； to which ADMONITIONS；
if they were disobedient； they became condemned in the penalties。
Hence； all those who in Florence are deprived of the power to hold
offices are called /ammoniti/； or ADMONISHED。
The Capitani in time acquiring greater audacity； admonished not only
those to whom the admonition was applicable； but any others at the
suggestion of their own avarice or ambition； and from 1356； when this
law was made； to 1366； there had been admonished above 200 citizens。
The Captains of the Parts and the sect of the Guelphs were thus become
powerful； for every one honored them for fear of being admonished； and
most particularly the leaders； who were Piero degli Albizzi； Lapo da
Castiglionchio； and Carlo Strozzi。 This insolent mode of proceeding
was offensive to many； but none felt so particularly injured with it
as the Ricci； for they knew themselves to have occasioned it； they saw
it involved the ruin of the republic； and their enemies； the Albizzi；
contrary to their intention； became great in consequence。
On this account Uguccione de' Ricci； being one of the Signory；
resolved to put an end to the evil which he and his friends had
originated； and with a new law provided that to the six Captains of
Parts an additional three should be appointed； of whom two should be
chosen from the companies of minor artificers； and that before any
party could be declared Ghibelline； the declaration of the Capitani
must be confirmed by twenty…four Guelphic citizens； appointed for the
purpose。 This provision tempered for a time the power of the Capitani；
so that the admonitions were greatly diminished； if not wholly laid
aside。 Still the parties of the Albizzi and the Ricci were continually
on the alert to oppose each other's laws； deliberations； and
enterprises； not from a conviction of their inexpediency； but from a
hatred of their promoters。
In such distractions the time passed from 1366 to 1371； when the
Guelphs again regained the ascendant。 There was in the family of the
Buondelmonti a gentleman named Benchi； who； as an acknowledgment of
his merit in a war against the Pisans； though one of the nobility； had
been admitted among the people； and thus became eligible to office
among the Signory； but when about to take his seat with them； a law
was made that no nobleman who had become of the popular class should
be allowed to assume that office。 This gave great offense to Benchi；
who； in union with Piero degli Albizzi； determined to depress the less
powerful of the popular party with ADMONITIONS； and obtain the
government for themselves。 By the interest which Benchi possessed with
the ancient nobility； and that of Piero with most of the influential
citizens； the Guelphic party resumed their ascendancy； and by new
reforms among the PARTS； so remodeled the administration as to be able
to dispose of the offices of the captains and the twenty…four citizens
at pleasure。 They then returned to the ADMONITIONS with greater
audacity than ever； and the house of the Albizzi became powerful as
the head of this faction。
On the other hand； the Ricci made the most strenuous exertions against
their designs； so that anxiety universally prevailed； and ruin was
apprehended alike from both parties。 In consequence of this a great
number of citizens； out of love to their country； assembled in the
church of St。 Piero Scarraggio； and after a long consideration of the
existing disorders； presented themselves before the Signors； whom one
of the principal among them addressed in the following terms：
〃Many of us； magnificent Signors！ were afraid of meeting even for
consideration of public business； without being publicly called
together； lest we should be noted as presumptuous or condemned as
ambitious。 But seeing that so many citizens daily assemble in the
lodges and halls of the palace； not for any public utility； but only
for the gratification of their own ambition； we have thought that as
those who assemble for the ruin of the republic are fearless； so still
less ought they to be apprehensive who meet together only for its
advantage； nor ought we to be anxious respecting the opinion they may
form of our assembling； since they are so utterly indifferent to the
opinion of others。 Our affection for our country； magnificent Signors！
caused us to assemble first； and now brings us before you； to speak of
grievances already great and daily increasing in our republic； and to
offer our assistance for their removal： and we doubt not that； though
a difficult undertaking； it will still be attended with success； if
you will lay aside all private regards； and authoritatively use the
public force。
〃The common corruption of all the cities of Italy； magnificent
Signors！ has infested and still vitiates your own； for when this
province had shaken off the imperial yoke； her cities not being
subject to any powerful influence that might restrain them；
administered affairs； not as free men do； but as a factious populace；
and hence have arisen all the other evils and disorders that have
appeared。 In the first place； there cannot be found among the citizens
either unity or friendship； except with those whose common guilt；
either against their country or against private individuals； is a bond
of union。 And as the knowledge of religion and the fear of God seem to
be alike extinct； oaths and promises have lost their validity； and are
kept as long as it is found expedient； they are adopted only as a
means of deception； and he is most applauded and respected whose
cunning is most efficient and secure。 On this account bad men are
received with the approbation due to virtue； and good ones are
regarded only in the light of fools。
〃And certainly in the cities of Italy all that is corruptible and
corrupting is assembled。 The young are idle； the old lascivious； and
each sex and every age abounds with debasing habits； which the good
laws； by misapplication； have lost the power to correct。 Hence arises
the avarice so observable among the citizens； and that greedi