ates he visited on his way to enforce a claim transmitted
to him through Charles of Anjou. Piero de Medici made concessions to
the invader without the knowledge of the people. The Florentines
rebelled against the admission of soldiers within their walls as soon
as the advance guard arrived to mark with chalk the houses they would
choose for their quarters. There were frantic cries of "_Abbasso le
palle_," "Down with the balls," in allusion to the three balls on the
Medici coat of arms. Piero himself was disowned and driven from the
city.

All the enemies of the Medici were recalled, and the populace entreated
Savonarola to return and protect them in their hour of peril. They had
heard him foretell the coming of one who should punish the wicked and
purge Italy of her sins. Now their belief in the Prior's utterances
was confirmed. They hastened to greet him as the saviour of their city.

Savonarola went on an embassy to Charles' camp and made better terms
than the Florentines had {46} expected. Nevertheless, they had to
endure the procession of French troops through their town, and found it
difficult to get rid of Charles VIII, whose cupidity was aroused when
he beheld the wealth of Florence. There was tumult in the streets,
where soldiers brawled with citizens and enraged their hosts by
insults. The Italian blood was greatly roused when the invading
monarch threatened "to sound his trumpets" if his demands were not
granted. "Then we will ring our bells," a bold citizen replied. The
French King knew how quickly the town could change to a stronghold of
barricaded streets if such an alarm were given, and wisely refrained
from further provocation. He passed on his way after "looting" the
palace in which he had been lodged. The Medicean treasures were the
trophies of his visit.

In spite of himself, the monk had to turn politician after the French
army had gone southward. He was said to have saved the State, and was
implored to assume control now that the tyranny was at an end. There
was a vision before him of Florence as a free Republic in the truest
sense. He took up his work gladly for the cause of liberty. The
_Parliamento_, a foolish assembly of the people which was summoned
hastily to do the will of any faction that could overawe it, was
replaced by the Great Council formed on a Venetian model. In this sat
the _benefiziati_--those who had held some civic office, and the
immediate descendants of off