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knowing the power of which the duke was possessed； than to endeavor by
entreaty to induce him either to forego his design or to make his
government less intolerable。 A party of them was； therefore； appointed
to wait upon him； one of whom addressed him in the following manner：
〃We appear before you； my lord； induced first by the demand which you
have made； and then by the orders you have given for a meeting of the
people； for it appears to us very clearly； that it is your intention
to effect by extraordinary means the design from which we have
hitherto withheld our consent。 It is not； however； our intention to
oppose you with force； but only to show what a heavy charge you take
upon yourself； and the dangerous course you adopt； to the end that you
may remember our advice and that of those who； not by consideration of
what is beneficial for you； but for the gratification of their own
unreasonable wishes； have advised you differently。 You are endeavoring
to reduce to slavery a city that has always existed in freedom； for
the authority which we have at times conceded to the kings of Naples
was companionship and not servitude。 Have you considered the mighty
things which the name of liberty implies to such a city as this； and
how delightful it is to those who hear it？ It has a power which
nothing can subdue； time cannot wear away； nor can any degree of merit
in a prince countervail the loss of it。 Consider； my lord； how great
the force must be that can keep a city like this in subjection； no
foreign aid would enable you to do it； neither can you confide in
those at home； for they who are at present your friends； and advise
you to adopt the course you now pursue； as soon as with your
assistance they have overcome their enemies； will at once turn their
thoughts toward effecting your destruction； and then take the
government upon themselves。 The plebeians； in whom you confide； will
change upon any accident； however trivial； so that in a very short
time you may expect to see the whole city opposed to you； which will
produce both their ruin and your own。 Nor will you be able to find any
remedy for this； for princes who have but few enemies may make their
government very secure by the death or banishment of those who are
opposed to them； but when the hatred is universal； no security
whatever can be found； for you cannot tell from what direction the
evil may commence； and he who has to apprehend every man his enemy
cannot make himself assured of anyone。 And if you should attempt to
secure a friend or two； you would only increase the dangers of your
situation； for the hatred of the rest would be increased by your
success； and they would become more resolutely disposed to vengeance。
〃That time can neither destroy nor abate the desire for freedom is
most certain； for it has been often observed； that those have
reassumed their liberty who in their own persons had never tasted of
its charms； and love it only from remembrance of what they have heard
their fathers relate； and； therefore； when recovered； have preserved
it with indomitable resolution and at every hazard。 And even when
their fathers could not remember it； the public buildings； the halls
of the magistracy； and the insignia of free institutions； remind them
of it； and these things cannot fail to be known and greatly desired by
every class of citizens。
〃What is it you imagine you can do； that would be an equivalent for
the sweets of liberty； or make men lose the desire of their present
conditions？ No； if you were to join the whole of Tuscany to the
Florentine rule； if you were to return to the city daily in triumph
over her enemies； what could it avail？ The glory would not be ours；
but yours。 We should not acquire fellow…citizens； but partakers of our
bondage； who would serve to sink us still deeper in ignominy。 And if
your conduct were in every respect upright； your demeanor amiable； and
your judgments equitable； all these would be insufficient to make you
beloved。 If you imagine otherwise； you deceive yourself； for； to one
accustomed to the enjoyment of liberty； the slightest chains feel
heavy； and every tie upon his free soul oppresses him。 Besides； it is
impossible to find a violent people associated with a good prince； for
of necessity they must soon become alike； or their difference produce
the ruin of one of them。 You may； therefore； be assured； that you will
either have to hold this city by force； to effect which； guards；
castles； and external aid have oft been found insufficient； or be
content with the authority we have conferred； and this we would
advise； reminding you that no dominion can be durable to which the
governed do not consent； and we have no wish to lead you； blinded by
ambition； to such a point that； unable either to stand or advance； you
must； to the great injury of both； of necessity fall。〃
This discourse did not in the slightest degree soften the obdurate
mind of the duke； who replied that it was not his intention to rob the
city of her liberty； but to restore it to her； for those cities alone
are in slavery that are disunited； while the united are free。 As
Florence； by her factions and ambition； had deprived herself of
liberty； he should restore； not take it from her； and as he had been
induced to take this charge upon himself； not from his own ambition；
but at the entreaty of a great number of citizens； they would do well
to be satisfied with that which produced contentment among the rest。
With regard to the danger he might incur； he thought nothing of it；
for it was not the part of a good man to avoid doing good from his
apprehension of evil； and it was the part of a coward to shun a
glorious undertaking because some uncertainty attended the success of
the attempt； and he knew he should so conduct himself； that they would
soon see they had entertained great apprehensions and been in little
danger。
The Signory then agreed； finding they could not do better； that on the
following morning the people should be assembled in their accustomed
place of meeting； and with their consent the Signory should confer
upon the duke the sovereignty of the city for one year； on the same
conditions as it had been intrusted to the duke of Calabria。 It was
upon the 8th of November； 1342； when the duke； accompanied by Giovanni
della Tosa and all his confederates； with many other citizens； came to
the piazza or court of the palace； and having； with the Signory
mounted upon the ringhiera； or rostrum （as the Florentines call those
steps which lead to the palace）； the agreement which had been entered
into between the Signory and himself was read。 When they had come to
the passage which gave the government to him for one year； the people
shouted； 〃FOR LIFE。〃 Upon this； Francesco Rustichelli； one of the
Signory； arose to speak； and endeavored to abate the tumult and
procure a hearing； but the mob； with their hootings； prevented him
from being heard by anyone； so that with the consent of the people the
duke was elected； not for one year merely； but for life。 He was then
borne through the piazza by the crowd； shouting his name as they
proceeded。
It is the custom that he who is appointed to the guard of the palace
shall； in the absence of the Signory； remain locked within。 This
office was at that time held by Rinieri di Giotto； who； bribed by the
friends of the duke； without waiting for any force； admitted him
immediately。 The Signory； terrified and dishonored； retired to their
own houses； the palace was plundered by the followers of the duke； the
Gonfalon of the people torn to pieces； and the arms of the duke placed
over the palace。 All this happened to the indescribable sorrow of good
men； though to the satisfaction of those who； either from ignorance or
malignity； were consenting parties。
The duke； having acquired the sovereignty of the city； in order to
strip those of all authority who had been defenders of her liberty；
forbade the Signory to assemble in the palace； and appointed a private
dwelling for their use。 He took their colors from the Gonfaloniers of
the companies of the people； abolished the ordinances made for the
restraint of the great； set at liberty those who were imprisoned；
recalled the Bardi and the Frescobaldi from exile； and forbade
everyone from carrying arms about his person。 In order the better to
defend himself against those within the city； he made friends of all
he could around it； and therefore conferred great benefits upon the
Aretini and other subjects of the Florentines。 He made peace with the
Pisans； although raised to power in order that he might carry on war
against them； ceased paying interest to those merchants who； during
the war against Lucca； had lent money to the republic； increased the
old taxes； levied new ones； and took from the Signory all authority。
His rectors were Baglione da Perugia and Guglielmo da Scesi； who； with
Cerrettieri Bisdo