the rare honour offered him. Then he went on to say that as the supreme
office had been worthily served by Cosimo and Piero de' Medici, it was
but fitting that it should be continued in that illustrious family.

He expatiated upon the advantages which had accrued to Florence under
the Headship of the Medici; and he urged upon the assembly to offer
their allegiance to Piero's sons, and to give them the authority that
their father and grandfather had possessed.

Keen debate followed Messer Tommaso's speech: some wished that he would
reconsider his decision, others were in favour of trying a new man and
of another family--Niccolo Soderini's name was freely mentioned, but
gradually the meeting came to accept the proposal. It gained at all
events the adhesion of such pronounced ante-Mediceans as Gianozzo de'
Pitti and Domenico de' Martelli, and led to a fusion, there and then, of
the two parties, "_del Poggio_" and "_del Piano_." Unanimity was the
more readily reached when those who demurred perceived that Messer
Tommaso would be the virtual ruler of the State in the personal
direction of his two young nephews. A deputation was accordingly chosen
to convey to Domina Lucrezia and her sons the condolences of the city,
and to offer to Lorenzo the coveted Headship of the State.

At noon on the following day the deputation was honourably received at
the Medici Palace. "The principal men of the State and of the City,"
wrote Lorenzo in his _Ricordi_, "came to our house to condole with us in
our bereavement, and to offer me the direction of the Government in
succession to my grandfather and father. I hesitated to accept the high
honour on account of my youth and because of the danger and
responsibility I should incur; and I only consented in order to
safeguard our friends and our property."