by year his vicars; and he appointed twelve good
citizens to rule the city with the vicar. And it may be noted
concerning this banishment of the Ghibellines, that it was on the same
day, Easter Day of the Resurrection, whereon they had committed the
murder of M. Bondelmonte de' Bondelmonti, whence the factions in
Florence broke out, and the city was laid waste; and it seemed like a
judgment from God, for never afterwards did they return to their
estate.

Sec. 16.--_How, after the Ghibellines had been driven from Florence, the
ordinances and councils of the city were reorganized._

[Sidenote: 1267 A.D.]

When the Guelf party had returned to Florence, and the vicar or
Podesta was come from King Charles (the first of them being M. . . .),
and after twelve good men had been appointed, as of old the Ancients,
to rule the republic, the council was re-made of 100 good men of the
people, without whose deliberation no great thing or cost could be
carried out; and after any measure had been passed in this council, it
was put to the vote in the council of the colleges of consuls of the
greater Arts, and the council of the credenza [privy council of the
Captain of the People] of eighty. These councillors, which, when
united with the general council, numbered 300, were all popolani and
Guelfs. After measures had been passed in the said councils, the
following day the same proposals were brought before the councils of
the Podesta, first before the council of ninety, including both
magnates and popolani (and with them associated yet again the colleges
of consuls of the Arts), and then before the general council, which
was of 300 men of every condition; and these were called the
occasional councils; and they had in their gift governorships of
fortresses, and dignities, and small and great offices. And this
ordered, they appointed revisors, and corrected all statutes and
ordinances, and ordered that they should be issued each year. In this
manner was ordered the state and course of the commonwealth and of the
people of Florence at the return of the Guelfs; and the chancellors of
finance were the monks of Settimo and of Ognissanti on alternate
half-years.

Sec. 17.--_How the Guelfs of Florence instituted the Ordinances of the
Party._

[Sidenote: 1267 A.D.]

[Sidenote: Cf. Inf. x. 120.]

In these times, when the Ghibellines had been driven out from
Florence, the Guelfs which had returned thither being at strife
concerning t