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Donato a conjuncture of circumstances too favorable to be lost； and he
requested they would propose a law to the councils； which would
include the restoration of the citizens。 They； at his entreaty； spoke
about the matter to their associates； who replied； that it was
improper to attempt any innovation in which the advantage was doubtful
and the danger certain。 Upon this； Donato； having in vain tried all
other means he could think of； excited with anger； gave them to
understand that since they would not allow the city to be governed
with peaceful measures； he would try what could be done with arms。
These words gave so great offense； that being communicated to the
heads of the government； Donato was summoned； and having appeared； the
truth was proven by those to whom he had intrusted the message； and he
was banished to Barletta。 Alamanno and Antonio de' Medici were also
banished； and all those of that family； who were descended from
Alamanno； with many who； although of the inferior artificers；
possessed influence with the plebeians。 These events took place two
years after the reform of government effected by Maso degli Albizzi。
At this time many discontented citizens were at home； and others
banished in the adjoining states。 Of the latter there lived at Bologna
Picchio Cavicciulli； Tommaso de' Ricci； Antonio de' Medici； Benedetto
degli Spini； Antonio Girolami； Cristofano di Carlone； and two others
of the lowest order； all bold young men； and resolved upon returning
to their country at any hazard。 These were secretly told by Piggiello
and Baroccio Cavicciulli； who； being admonished； lived in Florence；
that if they came to the city they should be concealed in their house；
from which they might afterward issue； slay Maso degli Albizzi； and
call the people to arms； who； full of discontent； would willingly
arise； particularly as they would be supported by the Ricci； Adimari；
Medici； Manelli； and many other families。 Excited with these hopes； on
the fourth of August； 1397； they came to Florence； and having entered
unobserved according to their arrangement； they sent one of their
party to watch Maso； designing with his death to raise the people。
Maso was observed to leave his house and proceed to that of an
apothecary； near the church of San Pietro Maggiore； which he entered。
The man who went to watch him ran to give information to the other
conspirators； who took their arms and hastened to the house of the
apothecary； but found that Maso had gone。 However； undaunted with the
failure of their first attempt； they proceeded to the Old Market；
where they slew one of the adverse party； and with loud cries of
〃people； arms； liberty； and death to the tyrants；〃 directed their
course toward the New Market； and at the end of the Calimala slew
another。 Pursuing their course with the same cries； and finding no one
join them in arms； they stopped at the Loggia Nighittosa； where； from
an elevated situation； being surrounded with a great multitude；
assembled to look on rather than assist them； they exhorted the men to
take arms and deliver themselves from the slavery which weighed so
heavily upon them； declaring that the complaints of the discontented
in the city； rather than their own grievances； had induced them to
attempt their deliverance。 They had heard that many prayed to God for
an opportunity of avenging themselves； and vowed they would use it
whenever they found anyone to conduct them； but now； when the
favorable circumstances occurred； and they found those who were ready
to lead them； they stared at each other like men stupefied； and would
wait till those who were endeavoring to recover for them their liberty
were slain； and their own chains more strongly riveted upon them； they
wondered that those who were wont to take arms upon slight occasions；
remained unmoved under the pressure of so many and so great evils； and
that they could willingly suffer such numbers of their fellow…citizens
to be banished； so many admonished； when it was in their power to
restore the banished to their country； and the admonished to the
honors of the state。 These words； although full of truth； produced no
effect upon those to whom they were addressed； for they were either
restrained by their fears； or； on account of the two murders which had
been committed； disgusted with the parties。 Thus the movers of the
tumult； finding that neither words or deeds had force sufficient to
stir anyone； saw； when too late； how dangerous a thing it is to
attempt to set a people free who are resolved to be slaves； and；
despairing of success； they withdrew to the temple of Santa Reparata；
where； not to save their lives； but to defer the moment of their
deaths； they shut themselves up。 Upon the first rumor of the affair；
the Signory being in fear； armed and secured the palace； but when the
facts of the case were understood； the parties known； and whither they
had betaken themselves； their fears subsided； and they sent the
Capitano with a sufficient body of armed men to secure them。 The gates
of the temple were forced without much trouble； part of the
conspirators were slain defending themselves； the remainder were made
prisoners and examined； but none were found implicated in the affair
except Baroccio and Piggiello Cavicciulli； who were put to death with
them。
Shortly after this event； another occurred of greater importance。 The
Florentines were； as we have before remarked； at war with the duke of
Milan； who； finding that with merely open force he could not overcome
them； had recourse to secret practices； and with the assistance of the
exiles of whom Lombardy was full； he formed a plot to which many in
the city were accessory。 It was resolved by the conspirators that most
of the emigrants； capable of bearing arms； should set out from the
places nearest Florence； enter the city by the river Arno； and with
their friends hasten to the residences of the chiefs of the
government； and having slain them； reform the republic according to
their own will。 Of the conspirators within the city； was one of the
Ricci named Samminiato； and as it often happens in treacherous
practices； few are insufficient to effect the purpose of the plot； and
among many secrecy cannot be preserved； so while Samminiato was in
quest of associates； he found an accuser。 He confided the affair to
Salvestro Cavicciulli； whose wrongs and those of his friends were
thought sufficient to make him faithful； but he； more influenced by
immediate fear than the hope of future vengeance； discovered the whole
affair to the Signory； who； having caused Samminiato to be taken；
compelled him to tell all the particulars of the matter。 However； none
of the conspirators were taken； except Tommaso Davizi； who； coming
from Bologna； and unaware of what had occurred at Florence； was seized
immediately upon his arrival。 All the others had fled immediately upon
the apprehension of Samminiato。
Samminiato and Tommaso having been punished according to their
deserts； a Balia was formed of many citizens； which sought the
delinquents； and took measures for the security of the state。 They
declared six of the family of the Ricci rebels； also； six of the
Alberti； two of the Medici； three of the Scali； two of the Strozzi；
Bindo Altoviti； Bernado Adimari； and many others of inferior quality。
They admonished all the family of the Alberti； the Ricci； and the
Medici for ten years； except a few individuals。 Among the Alberti； not
admonished； was Antonio； who was thought to be quiet and peaceable。 It
happened； however； before all suspicion of the conspiracy had ceased；
a monk was taken who had been observed during its progress to pass
frequently between Bologna and Florence。 He confessed that he had
often carried letters to Antonio； who was immediately seized； and；
though he denied all knowledge of the matter from the first； the
monk's accusation prevailed； and he was fined in a considerable sum of
money； and banished a distance of three hundred miles from Florence。
That the Alberti might not constantly place the city in jeopardy；
every member of the family was banished whose age exceeded fifteen
years。
These events took place in the year 1400； and two years afterward； died
Giovanni Galeazzo； duke of Milan； whose death as we have said above；
put an end to the war； which had then continued twelve years。 At this
time； the government having gained greater strength； and being without
enemies external or internal； undertook the conquest of Pisa； and
having gloriously completed it； the peace of the city remained
undisturbed from 1400 to 1433； except that in 1412； the Alberti；
having crossed the boundary they were forbidden to pass； a Balia was
formed which with new provisions fortified the state and punished the
offenders with heavy fines。 During this period also； the Florentines
made war with Ladislaus； king of Naples； who finding himself in great
danger ceded to