Chapter 10 - Page 2

councils and magistrates to assemble in churches. At first they were
only called Priors, but to increase their distinction the word
signori, or lords, was soon afterward adopted. The Florentines
remained for some time in domestic quiet, during which they made war
with the Aretins for having expelled the Guelphs, and obtained a
complete victory over them at Campaldino. The city being increased in
riches and population, it was found expedient to extend the walls, the
circle of which was enlarged to the extent it at present remains,
although its diameter was previously only the space between the old
bridge and the church of St. Lorenzo.

Wars abroad and peace within the city had caused the Guelph and
Ghibelline factions to become almost extinct; and the only party
feeling which seemed occasionally to glow, was that which naturally
exists in all cities between the higher classes and the people; for
the latter, wishing to live in conformity with the laws, and the
former to be themselves the rulers of the people, it was not possible
for them to abide in perfect amity together. This ungenial
disposition, while their fear of the Ghibellines kept them in order,
did not discover itself, but no sooner were they subdued than it broke
forth, and not a day passed without some of the populace being
injured, while the laws were insufficient to procure redress, for
every noble with his relations and friends defended himself against
the forces of the Priors and the Capitano. To remedy this evil, the
leaders of the Arts' companies ordered that every Signory at the time
of entering upon the duties of office should appoint a Gonfalonier of
Justice, chosen from the people, and place a thousand armed men at his
disposal divided into twenty companies of fifty men each, and that he,
with his gonfalon or banner and his forces, should be ready to enforce
the execution of the laws whenever called upon, either by the Signors
themselves or the Capitano. The first elected to this high office was
Ubaldo Ruffoli. This man unfurled his gonfalon, and destroyed the
houses of the Galletti, on account of a member of that family having
slain one of the Florentine people in France. The violent animosities
among the nobility enabled the companies of the Arts to establish this
law with facility; and the former no sooner saw the provision which
had been made against them than they felt the acrimonious spirit with
which it was enforced. At first it impressed them with greater terror,
but they soon after returned to their accustomed insolence, for one or
more of their body always making part of the Signory, gave them
opportunities of impeding the Gonfalonier, so that he could not
perform the duties of his office. Besides this, the accuser always