to Venice, where the Venetians, valuing the friendship
of Cosmo de’ Medici more than their own honor,
sent them prisoners to him, and they were basely put
to death. This circumstance greatly increased
the influence of that party, and struck their enemies
with terror, finding that such a powerful republic
would so humble itself to the Florentines. This,
however, was supposed to have been done, not so much
out of kindness to Cosmo, as to excite dissensions
in Florence, and by means of bloodshed make greater
certainty of division among the citizens, for the Venetians
knew there was no other obstacle to their ambition
so great as the union of her people.
The city being cleared of the enemies, or suspected
enemies of the state, those in possession of the government
now began to strengthen their party by conferring
benefits upon such as were in a condition to serve
them, and the family of the Alberti, with all who had
been banished by the former government, were recalled.
All the nobility, with few exceptions, were reduced
to the ranks of the people, and the possessions of
the exiles were divided among themselves, upon each
paying a small acknowledgment. They then fortified
themselves with new laws and provisos, made new Squittini,
withdrawing the names of their adversaries from the
purses, and filling them with those of their friends.
Taking advice from the ruin of their enemies, they
considered that to allow the great offices to be filled
by mere chance of drawing, did not afford the government
sufficient security, they therefore resolved that
the magistrates possessing the power of life and death
should always be chosen from among the leaders of their
own party, and therefore that the Accoppiatori,
or persons selected for the imborsation of the new
Squittini, with the Signory who had to retire from
office, should make the new appointments. They
gave to eight of the guard authority to proceed capitally,
and provided that the exiles, when their term of banishment
was complete, should not be allowed to return, unless
from the Signory and Colleagues, which were thirty-seven
in number, the consent of thirty-four was obtained.
It was made unlawful to write to or to receive letters
from them; every word, sign, or action that gave offense
to the ruling party was punished with the utmost rigor;
and if there was still in Florence any suspected person
whom these regulations did not reach, he was oppressed
with taxes imposed for the occasion. Thus in
a short time, having expelled or impoverished the
whole of the adverse party, they established themselves
firmly in the government. Not to be destitute
of external assistance, and to deprive others of it,
who might use it against themselves, they entered into
a league, offensive and defensive, with the pope,
the Venetians, and the duke of Milan.
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