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of the honors； they should in future have only a fourth。 That there
might always be two of the signors particularly devoted to the
government； they gave authority to the Gonfalonier of Justice； and
four others； to form a ballot…purse of select citizens； from which； in
every Signory； two should be drawn。
This government from its establishment in 1381； till the alterations
now made； had continued six years； and the internal peace of the city
remained undisturbed until 1393。 During this time； Giovanni Galeazzo
Visconti； usually called the Count of Virt？ imprisoned his uncle
Bernabo； and thus became sovereign of the whole of Lombardy。 As he had
become duke of Milan by fraud； he designed to make himself king of
Italy by force。 In 1391 he commenced a spirited attack upon the
Florentines； but such various changes occurred in the course of the
war； that he was frequently in greater danger than the Florentines
themselves； who； though they made a brave and admirable defense； for a
republic； must have been ruined； if he had survived。 As it was； the
result was attended with infinitely less evil than their fears of so
powerful an enemy had led them to apprehend； for the duke having taken
Bologna； Pisa； Perugia； and Sienna； and prepared a diadem with which
to be crowned king of Italy at Florence； died before he had tasted the
fruit of his victories； or the Florentines began to feel the effect of
their disasters。
CHAPTER VII
Maso degli AlbizziHis violence excites the anger of the people
They have recourse to Veri de' MediciThe modesty of VeriHe
refuses to assume the dignity of prince； and appeases the people
Discourse of Veri to the SignoryThe banished Florentines
endeavor to returnThey secretly enter the city and raise a
tumultSome of them slain； others taken to the church of St。
ReparataA conspiracy of exiles supported by the duke of Milan
The conspiracy discovered and the parties punishedVarious
enterprises of the FlorentinesTaking of PisaWar with the king
of NaplesAcquisition of Cortona。
During the war with the duke of Milan the office of Gonfalonier of
Justice fell to Maso degli Albizzi； who by the death of Piero in 1379；
had become the inveterate enemy of the Alberti： and as party feeling
is incapable either of repose or abatement； he determined；
notwithstanding Benedetto had died in exile； that before the
expiration of his magistracy； he would revenge himself on the
remainder of that family。 He seized the opportunity afforded by a
person； who on being examined respecting correspondence maintained
with the rebels； accused Andrea and Alberto degli Alberti of such
practices。 They were immediately arrested； which so greatly excited
the people； that the Signory； having provided themselves with an armed
force； called the citizens to a general assembly or parliament； and
appointed a Balia； by whose authority many were banished； and a new
ballot for the offices of government was made。 Among the banished were
nearly all the Alberti； many members of the trades were admonished；
and some put to death。 Stung by these numerous injuries； the trades
and the lowest of the people rose in arms； considering themselves
despoiled both of honor and life。 One body of them assembled in the
piazza； another ran to the house of Veri de' Medici； who； after the
death of Salvestro； was head of the family。 The Signory； in order to
appease those who came to the piazza or court of the palace； gave them
for leaders； with the ensigns of the Guelphs and of the people in
their hands； Rinaldo Gianfigliazzi； and Donato Acciajuoli； both men of
the popular class； and more attached to the interests of the plebeians
than any other。 Those who went to the house of Veri de' Medici； begged
that he would be pleased to undertake the government； and free them
from the tyranny of those citizens who were destroying the peace and
safety of the commonwealth。
It is agreed by all who have written concerning the events of this
period； that if Veri had had more ambition than integrity he might
without any impediment have become prince of the city； for the
unfeeling treatment which； whether right or wrong； had been inflicted
upon the trades and their friends； had so excited the minds of men to
vengeance； that all they required was some one to be their leader。 Nor
were there wanting those who could inform him of the state of public
feeling； for Antonio de' Medici with whom he had for some time been
upon terms of most intimate friendship； endeavored to persuade him to
undertake the government of the republic。 To this Veri replied： 〃Thy
menaces when thou wert my enemy； never alarmed me； nor shall thy
counsel； now when thou art my friend； do me any harm。〃 Then； turning
toward the multitude； he bade them be of good cheer； for he would be
their defender； if they would allow themselves to be advised by him。
He then went； accompanied by a great number of citizens； to the
piazza； and proceeded directly to the audience chamber of the Signory；
whom he addressed to this effect： That he could not regret having
lived so as to gain the love of the Florentines； but he was sorry they
had formed an opinion of him which his past life had not warranted；
for never having done anything that could be construed as either
factious or ambitious； he could not imagine how it had happened； that
they should think him willing to stir up strife as a discontented
person； or usurp the government of his country like an ambitious one。
He therefore begged that the infatuation of the multitude might not
injure him in their estimation； for； to the utmost of his power； their
authority should be restored。 He then recommended them to use good
fortune with moderation； for it would be much better to enjoy an
imperfect victory with safety to the city； than a complete one at her
ruin。 The Signory applauded Veri's conduct； begged he would endeavor
to prevent recourse to arms； and promised that what he and the other
citizens might deem most advisable should be done。 Veri then returned
to the piazza； where the people who had followed him were joined by
those led by Donato and Rinaldo； and informed the united companies
that he had found the Signory most kindly disposed toward them； that
many things had been taken into consideration； which the shortness of
time； and the absence of the magistrates； rendered incapable of being
finished。 He therefore begged they would lay down their arms and obey
the Signory； assuring them that humility would prevail rather than
pride； entreaties rather than threats； and if they would take his
advice； their privileges and security would remain unimpaired。 He thus
induced them to return peaceably to their homes。
The disturbance having subsided； the Signory armed the piazza；
enrolled 2；000 of the most trusty citizens； who were divided equally
by Gonfalons； and ordered to be in readiness to give their assistance
whenever required； and they forbade the use of arms to all who were
not thus enrolled。 Having adopted these precautionary measures； they
banished and put to death many of those members of the trades who had
shown the greatest audacity in the late riots； and to invest the
office of Gonfalonier of Justice with more authoritative majesty； they
ordered that no one should be eligible to it； under forty…five years
of age。 Many other provisions for the defense of the state were made；
which appeared intolerable to those against whom they were directed；
and were odious even to the friends of the Signory themselves； for
they could not believe a government to be either good or secure； which
needed so much violence for its defense； a violence excessively
offensive； not only to those of the Alberti who remained in the city；
and to the Medici； who felt themselves injured by these proceedings；
but also to many others。 The first who attempted resistance was
Donato； the son of Jacopo Acciajuoli； who thought of great authority；
and the superior rather than the equal of Maso degli Albizzi （who on
account of the events which took place while he was Gonfalonier of
Justice； was almost at the head of the republic）； could not enjoy
repose amid such general discontent； or； like many others； convert
social evils to his own private advantage； and therefore resolved to
attempt the restoration of the exiles to their country； or at least
their offices to the admonished。 He went from one to another；
disseminating his views； showing that the people would not be
satisfied； or the ferment of parties subside； without the changes he
proposed； and declared that if he were in the Signory； he would soon
carry them into effect。 In human affairs； delay causes tedium； and
haste danger。 To avoid what was tedious； Donato Acciajuoli resolved to
attempt what involved danger。 Michele Acciajuoli his relative； and
Niccolo Ricoveri his friend； were of the Signory。 This seemed to
Donato a conjuncture of circumstances too f