ion between the Armada and his
mission to Spain?

C. B.

* * * * *

IOVANNI VOLPE.

(Vol. iii., p. 188.)

The Volpes were an ancient, noble Florentine family of the second class,
some branches of which according to the usage of Florence, changed their
name, and adopted that of Bigliotti. The object of the change was to remove
the disqualification which attached to them, as nobles, of holding offices
under the republic. In illustration of this singular practice, the
following extracts may be cited:

"Le peuple nomma une commission pour corriger les statuts de la
republique, et reprimer par les lois l'insolence des nobles. Une
ordonnance fameuse, connue sous le nom _d'Ordinamenti della Giustizia_,
fut l'ouvrage de cette commission. Pour le maintien de la liberte et de
la justice, elle sanctionna la jurisprudence la plus tyrannique, et la
plus injuste. Trente-sept familles, les plus nobles et les plus
respectables de Florence, furent exclus a jamais du priorat, sans qu'il
leur fut permis de recouvrer les droits de cite, en se {245} faisant
matriculer dans quelque corps de metier, ou en exercant quelque
profession.... Les membres de ces trente-sept familles furent designes,
meme dans les lois, par les noms de grands et de magnats; et pour la
premiere fois, on vit un titre d'honneur devenir nonseulement un
fardeau onereux, mais une punition."--Sismondi, _Histoire des
Republiques Italiennes_, tom. iv. pp. 63-4.: Paris, 1826.

"The people, now sure of their triumph, relaxed the Ordinances of
Justice, and, to make some distinction in favour of merit or innocence,
effaced certain families from the list of the nobility. Five hundred
and thirty persons were thus elevated, as we may call it, to the rank
of commoners. As it was beyond the competence of the Republic of
Florence to change a man's ancestors, this nominal alteration left all
the real advantage of birth as they were, and was undoubtedly an
enhancenent of dignity, though, in appearance, a very singular one.
Conversely, several unpopular commoners were ennobled in order to
disfranchise them. Nothing was more usual, in subsequent times, than
such an arbitrary change of rank, as a penalty or a benefit. (Messer
Antonio de Baldinaccio degli Adimari, tutto che fosse de piu grandi e
nobili, per grazia era misso tra 'l popolo.--_Villan