CHAPTER I.

FLORENTINE STATE AFFAIRS. MATTERS PUBLIC AND FINANCIAL ABOUT 1490.

The Ruling Party and Old Enemies—Albizzi, Soderini, Pazzi—Francesco Guicciardini’s Description of Florentine Affairs—Alessandro de’ Pazzi on the Position of Lorenzo de’ Medici—Progressive Personal Authority—Supplications and Recommendations—Alessandro Farnese—Requests and Compliments of Foreign Princes—Friends and Dependants of the Medicis—Giovanni Lanfredini—Lorenzo’s Behaviour towards his Dependants—The Gonfalonier Neri Cambi—Weakness of the Administration—Committees for the Choice of Magistrates and for Finance—Reform of the Coinage and Currency—Finance of the Medicis—Losses of the Banks—Employment of Public Moneys—Institution for the Dowry of Daughters—Reduction of the Payments of the Institution—The Bank in Lyons, and Philippe de Commines—Commines’ Last Letter to Lorenzo de’ Medici 317