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respect he had shown toward them。 Coming to threats toward the end of
their discourse； Michael could not endure their arrogance； and
sensible rather of the dignity of the office he held than of the
meanness of his origin； determined by extraordinary means to punish
such extraordinary insolence； and drawing the sword with which he was
girt； seriously wounded； and cause them to be seized and imprisoned。
When the fact became known； the multitude were filled with rage； and
thinking that by their arms they might ensure what without them they
had failed to effect； they seized their weapons and with the utmost
fury resolved to force the Signory to consent to their wishes。
Michael； suspecting what would happen； determined to be prepared； for
he knew his credit rather required him to be first to the attack than
to wait the approach of the enemy； or； like his predecessors； dishonor
both the palace and himself by flight。 He therefore drew together a
good number of citizens （for many began to see their error）； mounted
on horseback； and followed by crowds of armed men； proceeded to Santa
Maria Novella； to encounter his adversaries。 The plebeians； who as
before observed were influenced by a similar desire； had set out about
the same time as Michael； and it happened that as each took a
different route； they did not meet in their way； and Michael； upon his
return； found the piazza in their possession。 The contest was now for
the palace； and joining in the fight； he soon vanquished them； drove
part of them out of the city； and compelled the rest to throw down
their arms and escape or conceal themselves； as well as they could。
Having thus gained the victory； the tumults were composed； solely by
the talents of the Gonfalonier； who in courage； prudence； and
generosity surpassed every other citizen of his time； and deserves to
be enumerated among the glorious few who have greatly benefited their
country； for had he possessed either malice or ambition； the republic
would have been completely ruined； and the city must have fallen under
greater tyranny than that of the duke of Athens。 But his goodness
never allowed a thought to enter his mind opposed to the universal
welfare： his prudence enabled him to conduct affairs in such a manner；
that a great majority of his own faction reposed the most entire
confidence in him； and he kept the rest in awe by the influence of his
authority。 These qualities subdued the plebeians； and opened the eyes
of the superior artificers； who considered how great must be the folly
of those； who having overcome the pride of the nobility； could endure
to submit to the nauseous rule of the rabble。
CHAPTER V
New regulations for the elections of the SignoryConfusion in the
CityPiero degli Albizzi and other citizens condemned to death
The Florentines alarmed by the approach of Charles of DurazzoThe
measures adopted in consequence thereofInsolent Conduct of
Giorgio ScaliBenedetto AlbertiGiorgio Scali beheaded。
By the time Michael di Lando had subdued the plebeians； the new
Signory was drawn； and among those who composed it； were two persons
of such base and mean condition； that the desire increased in the
minds of the people to be freed from the ignominy into which they had
fallen； and when； upon the first of September； the new Signory entered
office and the retiring members were still in the palace； the piazza
being full of armed men； a tumultuous cry arose from the midst of
them； that none of the lowest of the people should hold office among
the Signory。 The obnoxious two were withdrawn accordingly。 The name of
one was Il Tira； of the other Baroccio； and in their stead were
elected Giorgio Scali and Francesco di Michele。 The company of the
lowest trade was also dissolved； and its members deprived of office；
except Michael di Lando； Lorenzo di Puccio and a few others of better
quality。 The honors of government were divided into two parts； one of
which was assigned to the superior trades； the other to the inferior；
except that the latter were to furnish five Signors； and the former
only four。 The Gonfalonier was to be chosen alternately from each。
The government thus composed； restored peace to the city for the time；
but though the republic was rescued from the power of the lowest
plebeians； the inferior trades were still more influential than the
nobles of the people； who； however； were obliged to submit for the
gratification of the trades； of whose favor they wished to deprive the
plebeians。 The new establishment was supported by all who wished the
continued subjugation of those who； under the name of the Guelphic
party； had practiced such excessive violence against the citizens。 And
as among others； thus disposed； were Giorgio Scali； Benedetto Alberti；
Salvestro di Medici； and Tommaso Strozzi； these four almost became
princes of the city。 This state of the public mind strengthened the
divisions already commenced between the nobles of the people； and the
minor artificers； by the ambition of the Ricci and the Albizzi； from
which； as at different times very serious effects arose； and as they
will hereafter be frequently mentioned； we shall call the former the
popular party； the latter the plebeian。 This condition of things
continued three years； during which many were exiled and put to death；
for the government lived in constant apprehension； knowing that both
within and without the city many were dissatisfied with them。 Those
within； either attempted or were suspected of attempting every day
some new project against them； and those without； being under no
restraint； were continually； by means of some prince or republic；
spreading reports tending to increase the disaffection。
Gianozzo da Salerno was at this time in Bologna。 He held a command
under Charles of Durazzo； a descendant of the kings of Naples； who；
designing to undertake the conquest of the dominions of Queen
Giovanna； retained his captain in that city； with the concurrence of
Pope Urban； who was at enmity with the queen。 Many Florentine
emigrants were also at Bologna； in close correspondence with him and
Charles。 This caused the rulers in Florence to live in continual
alarm； and induced them to lend a willing ear to any calumnies against
the suspected。 While in this disturbed state of feeling； it was
disclosed to the government that Gianozzo da Salerno was about to
march to Florence with the emigrants； and that great numbers of those
within were to rise in arms； and deliver the city to him。 Upon this
information many were accused； the principal of whom were Piero degli
Albizzi and Carlo Strozzi： and after these Cipriano Mangione； Jacopo
Sacchetti； Donato Barbadori； Filippo Strozzi； and Giovanni Anselmi；
the whole of whom； except Carlo Strozzi who fled； were made prisoners；
and the Signory； to prevent any one from taking arms in their favor；
appointed Tommaso Strozzi and Benedetto Alberti with a strong armed
force； to guard the city。 The arrested citizens were examined； and
although nothing was elicited against them sufficient to induce the
Capitano to find them guilty； their enemies excited the minds of the
populace to such a degree of outrageous and overwhelming fury against
them； that they were condemned to death； as it were； by force。 Nor was
the greatness of his family； or his former reputation of any service
to Piero degli Albizzi； who had once been； of all the citizens； the
man most feared and honored。 Some one； either as a friend to render
him wise in his prosperity； or an enemy to threaten him with the
fickleness of fortune； had upon the occasion of his making a feast for
many citizens； sent him a silver bowl full of sweetmeats； among which
a large nail was found； and being seen by many present； was taken for
a hint to him to fix the wheel of fortune； which； having conveyed him
to the top； must if the rotation continued； also bring him to the
bottom。 This interpretation was verified； first by his ruin； and
afterward by his death。
After this execution the city was full of consternation； for both
victors and vanquished were alike in fear； but the worst effects arose
from the apprehensions of those possessing the management of affairs；
for every accident； however trivial； caused them to commit fresh
outrages； either by condemnations； admonitions； or banishment of
citizens； to which must be added； as scarcely less pernicious； the
frequent new laws and regulations which were made for defense of the
government； all of which were put in execution to the injury of those
opposed to their faction。 They appointed forty…six persons； who； with
the Signory； were to purge the republic of all suspected by the
government。 They admonished thirty…nine citizens； ennobled many of the
people； and degraded many nobles to the popular rank。 To strengthen
themselves against external foes； they took into their pay John
Hawkwood； an Englishman of great military rep