in Florence
who would join them as soon as they found the inhabitants resolved to
support him. His speech did not produce the desired effect upon the
Eight, who replied that they knew not whether Florence was free or
enslaved, for that was a matter which they were not called upon to
decide; but this they knew very well, that for their own part, they
desired no other liberty than to obey the magistrates who governed
Florence, from whom they had never received any injury sufficient
to make them desire a change. They therefore advised him to set the
governor at liberty, clear the place of his people, and, as quickly as
possible, withdraw from the danger he had so rashly incurred. Bernardo
was not daunted by these words, but determined to try whether fear
could influence the people of Prato, since entreaties produced so little
effect. In order to terrify them, he determined to put Cesare to death,
and having brought him out of prison, ordered him to be hanged at the
windows of the palace. He was already led to the spot with a halter
around his neck, when seeing Bernardo giving directions to hasten
his end, he turned to him, and said: "Bernardo, you put me to death,
thinking that the people of Prato will follow you; but the direct
contrary will result; for the respect they have for the rectors which
the Florentine people send here is so great, that as soon as they
witness the injury inflicted upon me, they will conceive such a disgust
against you as will inevitably effect your ruin. Therefore, it is not
by my death, but by the preservation of my life, that you can attain the
object you have in view; for if I deliver your commands, they will be
much more readily obeyed, and following your directions, we shall soon
attain the completion of your design." Bernardo, whose mind was not
fertile in expedients, thought the advice good, and commanded Cesare, on
being conducted to a veranda which looked upon the piazza, to order the
people of Prato to obey him, and having done which, Cesare was led back
to prison.

The weakness of the conspirators was obvious; and many Florentines
residing in the town, assembled together, among whom, Giorgio Ginori, a
knight of Rhodes, took arms first against them, and attacked Bernardo,
who traversed the piazza, alternately entreating and threatening those
who refused to obey him, and being surrounded by Giorgio's followers, he
was wounded and made prisoner. This being done, it was easy to set the
g