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class of people。 They required that the three new arts should furnish
two Signors； the fourteen minor arts； three； and that the Signory
should provide a suitable place of assembly for them。 They also made
it a condition that no member of these companies should be expected
during two years to pay any debt that amounted to less than fifty
ducats； that the bank should take no interest on loans already
contracted； and that only the principal sum should be demanded； that
the condemned and the banished should be forgiven； and the admonished
should be restored to participation in the honors of government。
Besides these； many other articles were stipulated in favor of their
friends； and a requisition made that many of their enemies should be
exiled and admonished。 These demands； though grievous and dishonorable
to the republic； were for fear of further violence granted； by the
joint deliberation of the Signors； Colleagues； and Council of the
people。 But in order to give it full effect； it was requisite that the
Council of the Commune should also give its consent； and； as they
could not assemble two councils during the same day it was necessary
to defer it till the morrow。 However the trades appeared content； the
plebeians satisfied； and both promised； that these laws being
confirmed； every disturbance should cease。
On the following morning； while the Council of the Commune were in
consultation； the impatient and volatile multitude entered the piazza；
under their respective ensigns； with loud and fearful shouts； which
struck terror into all the Council and Signory； and Guerrente
Marignolli； one of the latter； influenced more by fear than anything
else； under pretense of guarding the lower doors； left the chamber and
fled to his house。 He was unable to conceal himself from the
multitude； who； however； took no notice； except that； upon seeing him；
they insisted that all the Signors should quit the palace； and
declared that if they refused to comply； their houses should be burned
and their families put to death。
The law had now been passed； the Signors were in their own apartments；
the Council had descended from the chamber； and without leaving the
palace； hopeless of saving the city； they remained in the lodges and
courts below； overwhelmed with grief at seeing such depravity in the
multitude； and such perversity or fear in those who might either have
restrained or suppressed them。 The Signory； too； were dismayed and
fearful for the safety of their country； finding themselves abandoned
by one of their associates； and without any aid or even advice； when；
at this moment of uncertainty as to what was about to happen； or what
would be best to be done； Tommaso Strozzi and Benedetto Alberti；
either from motives of ambition （being desirous of remaining masters
of the palace）； or because they thought it the most advisable step；
persuaded them to give way to the popular impulse； and withdraw
privately to their homes。 This advice； given by those who had been the
leaders of the tumult； although the others yielded； filled Alamanno
Acciajuoli and Niccolo del Bene； two of the Signors； with anger； and；
reassuming a little vigor； they said； that if the others would
withdraw they could not help it； but they would remain as long as they
continued in office； if they did not in the meantime lose their lives。
These dissensions redoubled the fears of the Signory and the rage of
the people； so that the Gonfalonier； disposed rather to conclude his
magistracy in dishonor than in danger； recommended himself to the care
of Tommaso Strozzi； who withdrew him from the palace and conducted him
to his house。 The other Signors were； one after another； conveyed in
the same manner； so that Alamanno and Niccolo； not to appear more
valiant than wise； seeing themselves left alone； also retired； and the
palace fell into the hands of the plebeians and the Eight
Commissioners of War； who had not yet laid down their authority。
When the plebeians entered the palace； the standard of the Gonfalonier
of Justice was in the hands of Michael di Lando； a wool comber。 This
man； barefoot； with scarcely anything upon him； and the rabble at his
heels； ascended the staircase； and； having entered the audience
chamber of the Signory； he stopped； and turning to the multitude said；
〃You see this palace is now yours； and the city is in your power； what
do you think ought to be done？〃 To which they replied； they would have
him for their Gonfalonier and lord； and that he should govern them and
the city as he thought best。 Michael accepted the command； and； as he
was a cool and sagacious man； more favored by nature than by fortune；
he resolved to compose the tumult； and restore peace to the city。 To
occupy the minds of the people； and give himself time to make some
arrangement； he ordered that one Nuto； who had been appointed
bargello； or sheriff； by Lapo da Castiglionchio； should be sought。 The
greater part of his followers went to execute this commission； and； to
commence with justice the government he had acquired by favor； he
commanded that no one should either burn or steal anything； while； to
strike terror into all； he caused a gallows to be erected in the court
of the palace。 He began the reform of government by deposing the
Syndics of the trades； and appointing new ones； he deprived the
Signory and the Colleagues of their magistracy； and burned the
balloting purses containing the names of those eligible to office
under the former government。
In the meantime； Ser Nuto； being brought by the mob into the court；
was suspended from the gallows by one foot； and those around having
torn him to pieces； in little more than a moment nothing remained of
him but the foot by which he had been tied。
The Eight Commissioners of War； on the other hand； thinking
themselves； after the departure of the Signors； left sole masters of
the city； had already formed a new Signory； but Michael； on hearing
this； sent them an order to quit the palace immediately； for he wished
to show that he could govern Florence without their assistance。 He
then assembled the Syndics of the trades； and created as a Signory；
four from the lowest plebeians； two from the major； and two from the
minor trades。 Besides this； he made a new selection of names for the
balloting purses； and divided the state into three parts； one composed
of the new trades； another of the minor； and the third of the major
trades。 He gave to Salvestro de' Medici the revenue of the shops upon
the Old Bridge； for himself he took the provostry of Empoli； and
conferred benefits upon many other citizens； friends of the plebeians；
not so much for the purpose of rewarding their labors； as that they
might serve to screen him from envy。
It seemed to the plebeians that Michael； in his reformation of the
state； had too much favored the higher ranks of the people； and that
themselves had not a sufficient share in the government to enable them
to preserve it； and hence； prompted by their usual audacity； they
again took arms； and coming tumultuously into the court of the palace；
each body under their particular ensigns； insisted that the Signory
should immediately descend and consider new means for advancing their
well…being and security。 Michael； observing their arrogance； was
unwilling to provoke them； but without further yielding to their
request； blamed the manner in which it was made； advised them to lay
down their arms； and promised that then would be conceded to them；
what otherwise； for the dignity of the state； must of necessity be
withheld。 The multitude； enraged at this reply； withdrew to Santa
Maria Novella； where they appointed eight leaders for their party；
with officers； and other regulations to ensure influence and respect；
so that the city possessed two governments； and was under the
direction of two distinct powers。 These new leaders determined that
Eight； elected from their trades； should constantly reside in the
palace with the Signory； and that whatever the Signory should
determine must be confirmed by them before it became law。 They took
from Salvestro de' Medici and Michael di Lando the whole of what their
former decrees had granted them； and distributed to many of their
party offices and emoluments to enable them to support their dignity。
These resolutions being passed； to render them valid they sent two of
their body to the Signory； to insist on their being confirmed by the
Council； with an intimation； that if not granted they would be
vindicated by force。 This deputation； with amazing audacity and
surpassing presumption； explained their commission to the Signory；
upbraided the Gonfalonier with the dignity they had conferred upon
him； the honor they had done him； and with the ingratitude and want of
respect he had shown toward them。 Coming to threats toward the end of
their discourse； Michael could not endure their arrogance； and
sensible rather