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and they in ours； we shall appear noble； they ignoblefor poverty and
riches make all the difference。 It grieves me much to think that some
of you are sorry inwardly for what is done； and resolve to abstain
from anything more of the kind。 Certainly； if it be so； you are not
the men I took you for； because neither shame nor conscience ought to
have any influence with you。 Conquerors； by what means soever； are
never considered aught but glorious。 We have no business to think
about conscience； for when； like us； men have to fear hunger； and
imprisonment； or death； the fear of hell neither can nor ought to have
any influence upon them。 If you only notice human proceedings； you may
observe that all who attain great power and riches； make use of either
force or fraud； and what they have acquired either by deceit or
violence； in order to conceal the disgraceful methods of attainment；
they endeavor to sanctify with the false title of honest gains。 Those
who either from imprudence or want of sagacity avoid doing so； are
always overwhelmed with servitude and poverty； for faithful servants
are always servants； and honest men are always poor； nor do any ever
escape from servitude but the bold and faithless； or from poverty； but
the rapacious and fraudulent。 God and nature have thrown all human
fortunes into the midst of mankind； and they are thus attainable
rather by rapine than by industry； by wicked actions rather than by
good。 Hence it is that men feed upon each other； and those who cannot
defend themselves must be worried。 Therefore we must use force when
the opportunity offers； and fortune cannot present us one more
favorable than the present； when the citizens are still disunited； the
Signory doubtful； and the magistrates terrified； for we may easily
conquer them before they can come to any settled arrangement。 By this
means we shall either obtain the entire government of the city； or so
large a share of it； as to be forgiven past errors； and have
sufficient authority to threaten the city with a renewal of them at
some future time。 I confess this course is bold and dangerous； but
when necessity presses； audacity becomes prudence； and in great
affairs the brave never think of dangers。 The enterprises that are
begun with hazard always have a reward at last； and no one ever
escaped from embarrassment without some peril。 Besides； it is easy to
see from all their preparations of prisons； racks； and instruments of
death； that there is more danger in inaction than in endeavoring to
secure ourselves； for in the first case the evils are certain； in the
latter doubtful。 How often have I heard you complain of the avarice of
your superiors and the injustice of your magistrates。 Now then is the
time； not only to liberate yourself from them； but to become so much
superior； that they will have more causes of grief and fear from you；
than you from them。 The opportunity presented by circumstances passes
away； and when gone； it will be vain to think it can be recalled。 You
see the preparations of our enemies； let us anticipate them； and those
who are first in arms will certainly be victors； to the ruin of their
enemies and their own exaltation； and thus honors will accrue to many
of us and security to all。〃 These arguments greatly inflamed minds
already disposed to mischief； so that they determined to take up arms
as soon as they had acquired a sufficient number of associates； and
bound themselves by oath to mutual defense； in case any of them were
subdued by the civil power。
While they were arranging to take possession of the republic； their
design became known to the Signory； who； having taken a man named
Simone； learned from him the particulars of the conspiracy； and that
the outbreak was to take place on the following day。 Finding the
danger so pressing； they called together the colleagues and those
citizens who with the syndics of the arts were endeavoring to effect
the union of the city。 It was then evening； and they advised the
signors to assemble the consuls of the trades； who proposed that
whatever armed force was in Florence should be collected； and with the
Gonfaloniers of the people and their companies； meet under arms in the
piazza next morning。 It happened that while Simone was being tortured；
a man named Niccolo da San Friano was regulating the palace clock； and
becoming acquainted with what was going on； returned home and spread
the report of it in his neighborhood； so that presently the piazza of
St。 Spirito was occupied by above a thousand men。 This soon became
known to the other conspirators； and San Pietro Maggiore and St。
Lorenzo； their places of assembly； were presently full of them； all
under arms。
CHAPTER IV
Proceedings of the plebeiansThe demand they make of the Signory
They insist that the Signory leave the palaceThe Signory leave
the palaceMichael di Lando GonfalonierComplaints and movements
of the plebeians against Michael di LandoMichael di Lando
proceeds against the plebeians and reduces them to order
Character of Michael di Lando。
At daybreak on the 21st of July； there did not appear in the piazza
above eighty men in arms friendly to the Signory； and not one of the
Gonfaloniers； for knowing the whole city to be in a state of
insurrection they were afraid to leave their homes。 The first body of
plebeians that made its appearance was that which had assembled at San
Pietro Maggiore； but the armed force did not venture to attack them。
Then came the other multitudes； and finding no opposition； they loudly
demanded their prisoners from the Signory； and being resolved to have
them by force if they were not yielded to their threats； they burned
the house of Luigi Guicciardini； and the Signory； for fear of greater
mischief； set them at liberty。 With this addition to their strength
they took the Gonfalon of Justice from the bearer； and under the
shadow of authority which it gave them； burned the houses of many
citizens； selecting those whose owners had publicly or privately
excited their hatred。 Many citizens； to avenge themselves for private
injuries； conducted them to the houses of their enemies； for it was
quite sufficient to insure its destruction； if a single voice from the
mob called out； 〃To the house of such a one；〃 or if he who bore the
Gonfalon took the road toward it。 All the documents belonging to the
woolen trade were burned； and after the commission of much violence；
by way of associating it with something laudable； Salvestro de Medici
and sixty…three other citizens were made knights； among whom were
Benedetto and Antonio degli Alberti； Tommaso Strozzi and others
similarly their friends； though many received the honor against their
wills。 It was a remarkable peculiarity of the riots； that many who had
their houses burned； were on the same day； and by the same party made
knights； so close were the kindness and the injury together。 This
circumstance occurred to Luigi Guicciardini； Gonfalonier of Justice。
In this tremendous uproar； the Signory； finding themselves abandoned
by their armed force； by the leaders of the arts； and by the
Gonfaloniers； became dismayed； for none had come to their assistance
in obedience to orders； and of the sixteen Gonfalons； the ensign of
the Golden Lion and of the Vaio； under Giovenco della Stufa and
Giovanni Cambi alone appeared； and these； not being joined by any
other； soon withdrew。 Of the citizens； on the other hand； some； seeing
the fury of this unreasonable multitude and the palace abandoned；
remained within doors； others followed the armed mob； in the hope that
by being among them； they might more easily protect their own houses
or those of their friends。 The power of the plebeians was thus
increased and that of the Signory weakened。 The tumult continued all
day； and at night the rioters halted near the palace of Stefano；
behind the church of St。 Barnabas。 Their number exceeded six thousand；
and before daybreak they obtained by threats the ensigns of the
trades； with which and the Gonfalon of Justice； when morning came；
they proceeded to the palace of the provost； who refusing to surrender
it to them； they took possession of it by force。
The Signory； desirous of a compromise； since they could not restrain
them by force； appointed four of the Colleagues to proceed to the
palace of the provost； and endeavor to learn what was their intention。
They found that the leaders of the plebeians； with the Syndics of the
trades and some citizens； had resolved to signify their wishes to the
Signory。 They therefore returned with four deputies of the plebeians；
who demanded that the woolen trade should not be allowed to have a
foreign judge； that there should be formed three new companies of the
arts； namely； one for the wool combers and dyers； one for the barbers；
doublet…makers； tailors； and such like； and the third for the lowest
class of people。 They required that the t