ular end
in view, and wished to carry it into effect before they disarmed. The
ancient nobility, called the GREAT, could not bear to be deprived
of public honors; for the recovery of which they used their utmost
exertions, and earnestly desired that authority might be restored to the
Capitani di Parte. The nobles of the people and the major trades were
discontented at the share the minor trades and lowest of the people
possessed in the government; while the minor trades were desirous of
increasing their influence, and the lowest people were apprehensive
of losing the companies of their trades and the authority which these
conferred.

Such opposing views occasioned Florence, during a year, to be disturbed
by many riots. Sometimes the nobles of the people took arms; sometimes
the major and sometimes the minor trades and the lowest of the people;
and it often happened that, though in different parts, all were at once
in insurrection. Hence many conflicts took place between the different
parties or with the forces of the palace; for the Signory sometimes
yielding, and at other times resisting, adopted such remedies as they
could for these numerous evils. At length, after two assemblies of the
people, and many Balias appointed for the reformation of the city; after
much toil, labor, and imminent danger, a government was appointed,
by which all who had been banished since Salvestro de' Medici was
Gonfalonier were restored. They who had acquired distinctions or
emoluments by the Balia of 1378 were deprived of them. The honors of
government were restored to the Guelphic party; the two new Companies of
the Trades were dissolved, and all who had been subject to them assigned
to their former companies. The minor trades were not allowed to elect
the Gonfalonier of Justice, their share of honors was reduced from a
half to a third; and those of the highest rank were withdrawn from them
altogether. Thus the nobles of the people and the Guelphs repossessed
themselves of the government, which was lost by the plebeians after it
had been in their possession from 1378 to 1381, when these changes took
place.

The new establishment was not less injurious to the citizens, or less
troublesome at its commencement than that of the plebeians had been; for
many of the nobles of the people, who had distinguished themselves as
defenders of the plebeians, were banished, with a great number of the
leaders of the latter, among whom was Michael di Lan