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commission of new crimes against your fellow…citizens； and are
desirous of making new exiles； our displeasure increases in proportion
to your misconduct。 And certainly； could we have believed that during
our magistracy the city was to be ruined； whether with or without your
concurrence； we should certainly； either by flight or exile； have
avoided these horrors。 But trusting that we had to do with those who
possessed some feelings of humanity and some love of their country； we
willingly accepted the magistracy； thinking that by our gentleness we
should overcome your ambition。 But we perceive from experience that
the more humble our behavior； the more concessions we make； the
prouder you become； and the more exorbitant are your demands。 And
though we speak thus； it is not in order to offend； but to amend you。
Let others tell you pleasing tales； our design is to communicate only
what is for your good。 Now we would ask you； and have you answer on
your honor； What is there yet ungranted； that you can； with any
appearance of propriety； require？ You wished to have authority taken
from the Capitani di Parte； and it is done。 You wished that the
ballotings should be burned； and a reformation of them take place； and
we consent。 You desired that the admonished should be restored to
their honours； and it is permitted。 At your entreaty we have pardoned
those who have burned down houses and plundered churches； many
honorable citizens have been exiled to please you； and at your
suggestion new restraints have been laid upon the Great。 When will
there be an end of your demands？ and how long will you continue to
abuse our liberality？ Do you not observe with how much more moderation
we bear defeat than you your victory？ To what end will your divisions
bring our city？ Have you forgotten that when disunited Castruccio； a
low citizen of Lucca； subdued her？ or that a duke of Athens； your
hired captain did so too？ But when the citizens were united in her
defense； an archbishop of Milan and a pope were unable to subdue it；
and； after many years of war； were compelled to retire with disgrace。
〃Then why would you； by your discords； reduce to slavery in a time of
peace； that city； which so many powerful enemies have left free； even
in war？ What can you expect from your disunion but subjugation？ or
from the property of which you already have plundered； or may yet
plunder us； but poverty？ for this property is the means by which we
furnish occupation for the whole city； and if you take it from us； our
means of finding that occupation is withdrawn。 Besides； those who take
it will have difficulty in preserving what is dishonestly acquired；
and thus poverty and destitution are brought upon the city。 Now； I；
and these Signors command； and if it were consistent with propriety；
we would entreat that you allow your minds to be calmed； be content；
rest satisfied with the provisions that have been made for you； and if
you should be found to need anything further； make your request with
decency and order； and not with tumult； for when your demands are
reasonable they will always be complied with； and you will not give
occasion to evil designing men to ruin your country and cast the blame
upon yourselves。〃 These words conveying nothing but the truth；
produced a suitable effect upon the minds of the citizens； who
thanking the Gonfalonier for having acted toward them the part of a
king Signor； and toward the city that of a good citizen； offered their
obedience in whatever might be committed to them。 And the Signors； to
prove the sincerity of their intentions； appointed two citizens for
each of the superior magistracies； who； with Syndics of the arts； were
to consider what could be done to restore quite； and report their
resolutions to the Signors。
While these things were in progress； a disturbance arose； much more
injurious to the republic than anything that had hitherto occurred。
The greatest part of the fires and robberies which took place on the
previous days were perpetrated by the very lowest of the people； and
those who had been the most audacious； were afraid that when the
greater differences were composed； they would be punished for the
crimes they had committed； and that as usual； they would be abandoned
by those who had instigated them to the commission of crime。 To this
may be added； the hatred of the lower orders toward the rich citizens
and the principals of the arts； because they did not think themselves
remunerated for their labor in a manner equal to their merits。 For in
the time of Charles I。； when the city was divided into arts； a head or
governor was appointed to each； and it was provided that the
individuals of each art； should be judged in civil matters by their
own superiors。 These arts； as we have before observed； were at first
twelve； in the course of time they were increased to twenty…one； and
attained so much power； that in a few years they grasped the entire
government of the city； and as some were in greater esteem than
others； they were divided into MAJOR and MINOR； seven were called
〃major；〃 and fourteen； the 〃minor arts。〃 From this division； and from
other causes which we have narrated above； arose the arrogance of the
Capitani di Parte； for those citizens who had formerly been Guelphs；
and had the constant disposal of that magistracy； favored the
followers of the major and persecuted the minor arts and their
patrons； and hence arose the many commotions already mentioned。 When
the companies of the arts were first organized； many of those trades；
followed by the lowest of the people and the plebeians； were not
incorporated； but were ranged under those arts most nearly allied to
them； and； hence； when they were not properly remunerated for their
labor； or their masters oppressed them； they had no one of whom to
seek redress； except the magistrate of the art to which theirs was
subject； and of him they did not think justice always attainable。 Of
the arts； that which had always had； and now has； the greatest number
of these subordinates； is the woolen； which being both then； and
still； the most powerful body； and first in authority； supports the
greater part of the plebeians and lowest of the people。
The lower classes； then； the subordinates not only of the woolen； but
also of the other arts； were discontented； from the causes just
mentioned； and their apprehension of punishment for the burnings and
robberies they had committed； did not tend to compose them。 Meetings
took place in different parts during the night； to talk over the past；
and to communicate the danger in which they were； when one of the most
daring and experienced； in order to animate the rest； spoke thus：
〃If the question now were； whether we should take up arms； rob and
burn the houses of the citizens； and plunder churches； I am one of
those who would think it worthy of further consideration； and should；
perhaps； prefer poverty and safety to the dangerous pursuit of an
uncertain good。 But as we have already armed； and many offenses have
been committed； it appears to me that we have to consider how to lay
them aside； and secure ourselves from the consequences of what is
already done。 I certainly think； that if nothing else could teach us；
necessity might。 You see the whole city full of complaint and
indignation against us； the citizens are closely united； and the
signors are constantly with the magistrates。 You may be sure they are
contriving something against us； they are arranging some new plan to
subdue us。 We ought therefore to keep two things in view； and have two
points to consider； the one is； to escape with impunity for what has
been done during the last few days； and the other； to live in greater
comfort and security for the time to come。 We must； therefore； I
think； in order to be pardoned for our faults； commit new ones；
redoubling the mischief； and multiplying fires and robberies； and in
doing this； endeavor to have as many companions as we can； for when
many are in fault； few are punished； small crimes are chastised； but
great and serious ones rewarded。 When many suffer； few seek vengeance；
for general evils are endured more patiently than private ones。 To
increase the number of misdeeds will； therefore； make forgiveness more
easily attainable； and will open the way to secure what we require for
our own liberty。 And it appears evident that the gain is certain； for
our opponents are disunited and rich； their disunion will give us the
victory； and their riches； when they have become ours； will support
us。 Be not deceived about that antiquity of blood by which they exalt
themselves above us； for all men having had one common origin； are all
equally ancient； and nature has made us all after one fashion。 Strip
us naked； and we shall all be found alike。 Dress us in their clothing；
and they in ours； we shall appear noble； they ignoblefor poverty and
riches make all the difference。