named a committee of four
to confer with them. They demanded new judges, and three new companies
of the arts who should have representation in the signory, one for the
wool combers and dyers; one for the barbers and tailors, and a third for
the lowest class of the people, that is, the unskilled laborers. We
demanded a cancellation of all debts and that our enemies be banished or
punished. These demands we forced the signory to grant, and gave our
promise that disorders should cease.

"The next morning, while the council was still considering the
proposition, a tremendous mob of the trades entered the square carrying
their ensigns and so intimidated the council and signory that the
members fled with the exception of Alemanno and Niccolo. They were
finally driven away by threats that if they did not leave their houses
would be burned and their families murdered.

"Then we entered the palace, led by Michael di Lando, who bore the
standard of the gonfalonier of justice. The most of our crowd were in
rags.

"He took possession of the dias of the presiding officer of the Signory
and, turning to his followers, said; 'You are now in possession of the
palace and the council hall, in control of the city and in a position to
constitute yourselves the governing authority in place of those who have
deserted their posts; what is your pleasure?'

"'We wish you for our gonfalonier and that you govern the city as the
representative of the trade unions and the people.'

"'I accept your command and shall proceed to restore peace and order in
the city.'

"Though meanly clad, he was possessed of much good sense and was not
without dignity and courage. With capacity and self-possession, he
proceeded at once to exercise the authority he had assumed.

"Lorenzo and I, who all the time had acted as his lieutenants and
advisers, to hold the mob in check and at the same time settle an old
score dating back to my imprisonment in the monastery, suggested that
Ser Nuto, then sheriff, be arrested and delivered to the mob. He had
made himself very officious in oppressing the trades and the plebeians.

"While those deputized to find him were searching the city, others built
a gallows in the palace square for his execution; we having determined
that his execution should be the first to strike terror into those who
had opposed our wishes.

"He was soon found and hung by the mob from the gallows by one foot. In
less than five minutes he was tor