s, who, designing
to undertake the conquest of the dominions of Queen Giovanna, retained
his captain in that city, with the concurrence of Pope Urban, who was at
enmity with the queen. Many Florentine emigrants were also at Bologna,
in close correspondence with him and Charles. This caused the rulers in
Florence to live in continual alarm, and induced them to lend a willing
ear to any calumnies against the suspected. While in this disturbed
state of feeling, it was disclosed to the government that Gianozzo da
Salerno was about to march to Florence with the emigrants, and that
great numbers of those within were to rise in arms, and deliver the city
to him. Upon this information many were accused, the principal of whom
were Piero degli Albizzi and Carlo Strozzi: and after these Cipriano
Mangione, Jacopo Sacchetti, Donato Barbadori, Filippo Strozzi, and
Giovanni Anselmi, the whole of whom, except Carlo Strozzi who fled, were
made prisoners; and the Signory, to prevent any one from taking arms
in their favor, appointed Tommaso Strozzi and Benedetto Alberti with
a strong armed force, to guard the city. The arrested citizens were
examined, and although nothing was elicited against them sufficient to
induce the Capitano to find them guilty, their enemies excited the minds
of the populace to such a degree of outrageous and overwhelming fury
against them, that they were condemned to death, as it were, by force.
Nor was the greatness of his family, or his former reputation of any
service to Piero degli Albizzi, who had once been, of all the citizens,
the man most feared and honored. Some one, either as a friend to
render him wise in his prosperity, or an enemy to threaten him with the
fickleness of fortune, had upon the occasion of his making a feast for
many citizens, sent him a silver bowl full of sweetmeats, among which
a large nail was found, and being seen by many present, was taken for a
hint to him to fix the wheel of fortune, which, having conveyed him to
the top, must if the rotation continued, also bring him to the bottom.
This interpretation was verified, first by his ruin, and afterward by
his death.

After this execution the city was full of consternation, for both
victors and vanquished were alike in fear; but the worst effects arose
from the apprehensions of those possessing the management of affairs;
for every accident, however trivial, caused them to commit fresh
outrages, either by condemnations, admonitions, or