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armed men； took her away from Agnolo's house。 The Acciajuoli
complained of the injury done them by the Bardi； and the matter was
referred to Cosmo； who decided that the Acciajuoli should restore to
Alessandra her fortune； and then leave it to her choice either to
return to her husband or not。 Agnolo thought Cosmo had not； in this
instance； treated him as a friend； and having been unable to avenge
himself on the father； he now resolved to do his utmost to ruin the
son。 These conspirators； though each was influenced by a different
motive from the rest； affected to have only one object in view； which
was that the city should be governed by the magistrates； and not be
subjected to the counsels of a few individuals。 The odium against
Piero； and opportunities of injuring him； were increased by the number
of merchants who failed about this time； for it was reported that he；
in having； quite unexpectedly to all； resolved to call in his debts；
had； to the disgrace and ruin of the city； caused them to become
insolvent。 To this was added his endeavor to obtain Clarice degli
Orsini as wife of Lorenzo； his eldest son； and hence his enemies took
occasion to say； it was quite clear； that as he despised a Florentine
alliance； he no longer considered himself one of the people； and was
preparing to make himself prince； for he who refuses his fellow…
citizens as relatives； desires to make them slaves； and therefore
cannot expect to have them as friends。 The leaders of the sedition
thought they had the victory in their power； for the greater part of
the citizens followed them； deceived by the name of liberty which
they； to give their purpose a graceful covering； adopted upon their
ensigns。
In this agitated state of the city； some； to whom civil discord was
extremely offensive； thought it would be well to endeavor to engage
men's minds with some new occupation； because when unemployed they are
commonly led by whoever chooses to excite them。 To divert their
attention from matters of government； it being now a year since the
death of Cosmo； it was resolved to celebrate two festivals； similar to
the most solemn observed in the city。 At one of them was represented
the arrival of the three kings from the east； led by the star which
announced the nativity of Christ； which was conducted with such pomp
and magnificence； that the preparations for it kept the whole city
occupied many months。 The other was a tournament （for so they call the
exhibition of equestrian combats）； in which the sons of the first
families in the city took part with the most celebrated cavaliers of
Italy。 Among the most distinguished of the Florentine youth was
Lorenzo； eldest son of Piero； who； not by favor； but by his own
personal valor； obtained the principal prize。 When these festivals
were over； the citizens reverted to the same thoughts which had
previously occupied them； and each pursued his ideas with more
earnestness than ever。 Serious differences and troubles were the
result； and these were greatly increased by two circumstances： one of
which was； that the authority of the balia had expired； the other；
that upon the death of Duke Francesco； Galeazzo the new duke sent
ambassadors to Florence； to renew the engagements of his father with
the city； which； among other things； provided that every year a
certain sum of money should be paid to the duke。 The principal
opponents of the Medici took occasion； from this demand； to make
public resistance in the councils； on pretense that the alliance was
made with Francesco and not Galeazzo； so that Francesco being dead；
the obligation had ceased； nor was there any necessity to revive it；
because Galeazzo did not possess his father's talents； and
consequently they neither could nor ought to expect the same benefits
from him； that if they had derived little advantage from Francesco；
they would obtain still less from Galeazzo； and that if any citizen
wished to hire him for his own purposes； it was contrary to civil
rule； and inconsistent with the public liberty。 Piero； on the
contrary； argued that it would be very impolitic to lose such an
alliance from mere avarice； and that there was nothing so important to
the republic； and to the whole of Italy； as their alliance with the
duke； that the Venetians； while they were united； could not hope
either by feigned friendship or open war to injure the duchy； but as
soon as they perceived the Florentines alienated from him they would
prepare for hostilities； and； finding him young； new in the
government； and without friends； they would； either by force or fraud；
compel him to join them； in which case ruin of the republic would be
inevitable。
The arguments of Piero were without effect； and the animosity of the
parties began to be openly manifested in their nocturnal assemblies；
the friends of the Medici meeting in the Crocetta； and their
adversaries in the Pieta。 The latter being anxious for Piero's ruin；
had induced many citizens to subscribe their names as favorable to the
undertaking。 Upon one occasion； particularly when considering the
course to be adopted； although all agreed that the power of the Medici
ought to be reduced； different opinions were given concerning the
means by which it should be effected； one party； the most temperate
and reasonable； held that as the authority of the balia had ceased；
they must take care to prevent its renewal； it would then be found to
be the universal wish that the magistrates and councils should govern
the city； and in a short time Piero's power would be visibly
diminished； and； as a consequence of his loss of influence in the
government； his commercial credit would also fail； for his affairs
were in such a state； that if they could prevent him from using the
public money his ruin must ensue。 They would thus be in no further
danger from him； and would succeed in the recovery of their liberty；
without the death or exile of any individual； but if they attempted
violence they would incur great dangers； for mankind are willing to
allow one who falls of himself to meet his fate； but if pushed down
they would hasten to his relief； so that if they adopted no
extraordinary measures against him； he will have no reason for defense
or aid； and if he were to seek them it would be greatly to his own
injury； by creating such a general suspicion as would accelerate his
ruin； and justify whatever course they might think proper to adopt。
Many of the assembly were dissatisfied with this tardy method of
proceeding； they thought delay would be favorable to him and injurious
to themselves； for if they allowed matters to take their ordinary
course； Piero would be in no danger whatever； while they themselves
would incur many； for the magistrates who were opposed to him would
allow him to rule the city； and his friends would make him a prince；
and their own ruin would be inevitable； as happened in 1458； and
though the advice they had just heard might be most consistent with
good feeling； the present would be found to be the safest。 That it
would therefore be best； while the minds of men were yet excited
against him； to effect his destruction。 It must be their plan to arm
themselves； and engage the assistance of the marquis of Ferrara； that
they might not be destitute of troops； and if a favorable Signory were
drawn； they would be in condition to make use of them。 They therefore
determined to wait the formation of the new Signory； and be governed
by circumstances。
Among the conspirators was Niccolo Fedini； who had acted as president
of their assemblies。 He； being induced by most certain hopes；
disclosed the whole affair to Piero； and gave him a list of those who
had subscribed their names； and also of the conspirators。 Piero was
alarmed on discovering the number and quality of those who were
opposed to him； and by the advice of his friends he resolved to take
the signatures of those who were inclined to favor him。 Having
employed one of his most trusty confidants to carry his design into
effect； he found so great a disposition to change and instability；
that many who had previously set down their names among the number of
his enemies； now subscribed them in his favor。
CHAPTER III
Niccolo Soderini drawn Gonfalonier of JusticeGreat hopes excited
in consequenceThe two parties take armsThe fears of the
SignoryTheir conduct with regard to PieroPiero's reply to the
SignoryReform of government in favor of Piero de' Medici
Dispersion of his enemiesFall of Lucca PittiLetter of Agnolo
Acciajuoli to Piero de' MediciPiero's answerDesigns of the
Florentine exilesThey induce the Venetians to make war on
Florence。
In the midst of these events； the time arrived for the renewal of the
supreme magistracy； and Niccolo Soderini was drawn Gonfalonier of
Justice。 It was surprising to see by what a concourse； not only of
distinguished citizens； but also of the popula