ABSTRACT
Florence had always made up for the shortcomings of her laws with the ability of her citizens, but at this period its best citizens held aloof from public office. Disaffected, malcontent, and frightened by the jealousies of the populace, they were no longer willing to serve the Republic with their wisdom or their money. The Republic was hampered by old forms ill-suited to modern times and to the new conflict of interests and forces. Their curious way of electing the Signoria by lot for very short periods regularly brought to power men without experience or ability, and removed them from office before they gained any experience of public affairs. The consequences of these and other abuses had been seen in the Republic’s latest tribulations.
