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lowest of the plebeians； who met armed in the piazza in his favor。
The duke immediately fortified the place； and ordered those of his
people who were lodged in different parts of the city to mount upon
horseback and join those in the court； but； pn their way thither； many
were attacked and slain。 However； about three hundred horse assembled；
and the duke was in doubt whether he should come forth and meet the
enemy； or defend himself within。 On the other hand； the Medici；
Cavicciulli； Rucellai； and other families who had been most injured by
him； fearful that if he came forth； many of those who had taken arms
against him would discover themselves his partisans； in order to
deprive him of the occasion of attacking them and increasing the
number of his friends； took the lead and assailed the palace。 Upon
this； those families of the people who had declared for the duke；
seeing themselves boldly attacked； changed their minds； and all took
part with the citizens； except Uguccione Buondelmonti； who retired
into the palace； and Giannozzo Cavalcanti； who having withdrawn with
some of his followers to the new market； mounted upon a bench； and
begged that those who were going in arms to the piazza； would take the
part of the duke。 In order to terrify them； he exaggerated the number
of his people and threatened all with death who should obstinately
persevere in their undertaking against their sovereign。 But not
finding any one either to follow him； or to chastise his insolence；
and seeing his labor fruitless； he withdrew to his own house。
In the meantime； the contest in the piazza between the people and the
forces of the duke was very great； but although the place served them
for defense； they were overcome； some yielding to the enemy； and
others； quitting their horses； fled within the walls。 While this was
going on； Corso and Amerigo Donati； with a part of the people； broke
open the stinche； or prisons； burnt the papers of the provost and of
the public chamber； pillaged the houses of the rectors； and slew all
who had held offices under the duke whom they could find。 The duke；
finding the piazza in possession of his enemies； the city opposed to
him； and without any hope of assistance； endeavored by an act of
clemency to recover the favor of the people。 Having caused those whom
he had made prisoners to be brought before him； with amiable and
kindly expressions he set them at liberty； and made Antonio Adimari a
knight； although quite against his will。 He caused his own arms to be
taken down； and those of the people to be replaced over the palace；
but these things coming out of season； and forced by his necessities；
did him little good。 He remained； notwithstanding all he did； besieged
in the palace； and saw that having aimed at too much he had lost all；
and would most likely； after a few days； die either of hunger； or by
the weapons of his enemies。 The citizens assembled in the church of
Santa Reparata； to form the new government； and appointed fourteen
citizens； half from the nobility and half from the people； who； with
the archbishop； were invested with full authority to remodel the state
of Florence。 They also elected six others to take upon them the duties
of provost； till he who should be finally chosen took office； the
duties of which were usually performed by a subject of some
neighboring state。
Many had come to Florence in defense of the people； among whom were a
party from Sienna； with six ambassadors； men of high consideration in
their own country。 These endeavored to bring the people and the duke
to terms； but the former refused to listen to any whatever； unless
Guglielmo da Scesi and his son； with Cerrettieri Bisdomini； were first
given up to them。 The duke would not consent to this； but being
threatened by those who were shut up with him； he was forced to
comply。 The rage of men is certainly always found greater； and their
revenge more furious upon the recovery of liberty； than when it has
only been defended。 Guglielmo and his son were placed among the
thousands of their enemies； and the latter was not yet eighteen years
old； neither his beauty； his innocence； nor his youth； could save him
from the fury of the multitude； but both were instantly slain。 Those
who could not wound them while alive； wounded them after they were
dead； and not satisfied with tearing them to pieces； they hewed their
bodies with swords； tore them with their hands； and even with their
teeth。 And that every sense might be satiated with vengeance； having
first heard their moans； seen their wounds； and touched their
lacerated bodies； they wished even the stomach to be satisfied； that
having glutted the external senses； the one within might also have its
share。 This rabid fury； however hurtful to the father and son； was
favorable to Cerrettieri； for the multitude； wearied with their
cruelty toward the former； quite forgot him； so that he； not being
asked for； remained in the palace； and during night was conveyed
safely away by his friends。
The rage of the multitude being appeased by their blood； an agreement
was made that the duke and his people； with whatever belonged to him；
should quit the city in safety； that he should renounce all claim； of
whatever kind； upon Florence； and that upon his arrival in the
Casentino he should ratify his renunciation。 On the sixth of August he
set out； accompanied by many citizens； and having arrived at the
Casentino he ratified the agreement； although unwillingly； and would
not have kept his word if Count Simon had not threatened to take him
back to Florence。 This duke； as his proceedings testified； was cruel
and avaricious； difficult to speak with； and haughty in reply。 He
desired the service of men； not the cultivation of their better
feelings； and strove rather to inspire them with fear than love。 Nor
was his person less despicable than his manners； he was short； his
complexion was black； and he had a long； thin beard。 He was thus in
every respect contemptible； and at the end of ten months； his
misconduct deprived him of the sovereignty which the evil counsel of
others had given him。
CHAPTER IX
Many cities and territories； subject to the Florentines； rebel
Prudent conduct adopted upon this occasionThe city is divided
into quartersDisputes between the nobility and the peopleThe
bishop endeavors to reconcile them； but does not succeedThe
government reformed by the peopleRiot of Andrea StrozziSerious
disagreements between the nobility and the peopleThey come to
arms； and the nobility are subduedThe plague in Florence of
which Boccaccio speaks。
These events taking place in the city； induced all the dependencies of
the Florentine state to throw off their yoke； so that Arezzo；
Castiglione； Pistoia； Volterra； Colle； and San Gemigniano rebelled。
Thus Florence found herself deprived of both her tyrant and her
dominions at the same moment； and in recovering her liberty； taught
her subjects how they might become free。 The duke being expelled and
the territories lost； the fourteen citizens and the bishop thought it
would be better to act kindly toward their subjects in peace； than to
make them enemies by war； and to show a desire that their subjects
should be free as well as themselves。 They therefore sent ambassadors
to the people of Arezzo； to renounce all dominion over that city； and
to enter into a treaty with them； to the end that as they could not
retain them as subjects； they might make use of them as friends。 They
also； in the best manner they were able； agreed with the other places
that they should retain their freedom； and that； being free； they
might mutually assist each other in the preservation of their
liberties。 This prudent course was attended with a most favorable
result； for Arezzo； not many years afterward； returned to the
Florentine rule； and the other places； in the course of a few months；
returned to their former obedience。 Thus it frequently occurs that we
sooner attain our ends by a seeming indifferent to them； than by more
obstinate pursuit。
Having settled external affairs； they now turned to the consideration
of those within the city； and after some altercation between the
nobility and the people； it was arranged that the nobility should form
one…third of the Signory and fill one…half of the other offices。 The
city was； as we have before shown； divided into sixths； and hence
there would be six signors； one for each sixth； except when； from some
more than ordinary cause； there had been twelve or thirteen created；
but when this had occurred they were again soon reduced to six。 It now
seemed desirable to make an alteration in this respect； as well
because the sixths were not properly divided； as that； wishing to give
their proportion to the great； it became desirable to increase the
number。 They therefore divided the city into quarters； and for each
created three sign