from the citizens, had never been
addressed as "_Signori_"--"Lords and Masters." The "_Spirito del
Campanile_" as it was called, was nowhere more rampant than in the "City
of the Lion and Lily," where everybody at all times seemed only too
ready to disparage his fellow.

The cry was as astounding as it was unanimous--"_Signori!_" "_Signori!_"
"_Evviva i due Signori de' Medici!_" "_Signori!_" "_Signori!_" "_Evviva
i due figli della Domina Lucrezia._" Thus it gathered strength--its
importance was emphatic--it was epoch-marking.

"_Signori!_" "_Signori!_" was the acknowledgment of the sovereignty of
the Medici, made quite freely and spontaneously by the dignified Lords
of the Signory, in the name of the whole population of Florence and
Tuscany.

* * * * *

Piero de' Medici died on 3rd December 1469, and his interment, which was
conducted with marked simplicity, in accordance with his will, was
completed that same evening. He had, during his short exercise of power
as _Capo della Repubblica_, given a pageant--"The Triumph of Death," he
called it, by way of being his own funeral obsequies--a grim
anticipation of the future indeed!

At midnight a secret meeting of citizens was convened, by the officials
of the _Signoria_, within the Monastery of Sant' Antonio by the old
Porta Faenza, to debate the question of filling the vacant Headship of
the State. Why such a remote locality was chosen is not stated, but it
was in conformity with Florentine usage, which, for general and personal
security, required secrecy in such gatherings.

More than six hundred--"the flower of the city" as Macchiavelli called
them--attended, and upon the proposition of Ridolfo de' Pandolfini,
Messer Tommaso Soderini, by reason of seniority of years and priority of
importance, was called upon to preside. "Being one of the first citizens
and much superior to the others, his prudence and authority were
recognised not only in Florence, but by all the rulers of Italy."

The Soderini had, for three hundred years, held a leading position in
the affairs of Florence; but they were rivals and enemies of the Medici.
Indeed Messer Tommaso's uncle--Ser Francesco--was one of the principal
opponents in the city counsels of Cosimo--"_il Padre della Patria_."
Messer Niccolo, his brother, carried on the feud, and was, with
Diotisalvi Neroni, Agnolo Acciaiuolo, and others, banished in 1455, for
their complicity in the abortive attempt