es to
breaking down the ordinances of the people. And first they made up
their great quarrels amongst themselves, especially between the
Adimari and Tosinghi, and between the Mozzi and the Bardi. And this
done, on an appointed day, they made a great gathering of folk, and
petitioned the Priors to have the said articles amended; whereupon all
the people in the city of Florence rose in tumult and rushed to arms;
the magnates, on armoured horses themselves, and with their retainers
from the country and other troops on foot in great numbers; and one
set of them drew up in the piazza of S. Giovanni, over whom M. Forese
degli Adimari held the royal ensign; another set assembled at the
Piazza a Ponte, whose ensign was held by M. Vanni Mozzi; and a third
set in the Mercato Nuovo, whose standard M. Geri Spini held; with
intent to overrun the city. The popolani were all in arms, in their
ranks, with ensigns and banners, in great numbers; and they
barricaded the streets of the city at sundry points to hinder the
horsemen from overrunning the place, and they gathered at the palace
of the Podesta, and at the house of the Priors, who at that time abode
at the house of the Cerchi behind San Brocolo. And the people found
themselves in great power and well ordered, with force of arms and
folk, and they associated with the Priors, whom they did not trust, a
number of the greatest and most powerful and discreet of the popolani
of Florence, one for each sesto. Wherefore the magnates had no
strength nor power against them, and the people might have overthrown
them; but consulting for the best, and to avoid civil battle, by the
mediation of certain friars between the better sort of either side,
each party disarmed; and the city returned to peace and quiet without
any change; the Popolo being left in its state and lordship; save that
whereas before the proof of public report was established by two
witnesses, it was now laid down that there must be three; and even
this was conceded by the Priors against the will of the popolani, and
shortly afterwards it was revoked and the old order re-established.
But for all that this disturbance was the root and beginning of the
dismal and ill estate of the city of Florence which thereafter
followed, for thenceforth the magnates never ceased to search for
means to beat down the people, to their utmost power; and the leaders
of the people sought every way of strengthening the people and abasing
the magnates