CHAPTER I.

CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES IN FLORENCE.

Position of Lorenzo de’ Medici—Public and Private Finance—Constitutional Reform—General and Select Council—Council of Seventy and their Functions—Opinions of Contemporaries—Alessandro de’ Pazzi on Lorenzo’s Financial Position—The Taxation—Progressive Change of the Constitution—The Magistracy—Signories, Collegia, Councils—The Podestà and his Court—Magistracy of Eight—Guardians of the Law—The Council of Ten for Peace and War—Capitani di Parte Guelfa—Officers of the Customs and of the Public Debt—Officers of Trade—Guilds and Philanthropic Institutions—New Conspiracy against Lorenzo de’ Medici—Re-capture of Otranto 187