and Pietra Santa. The news sobered the headstrong, self-indulgent prince
for the moment, and then craven fear seized his undisciplined mind. In
a panic he mounted his horse and, attended only by two officers of the
city guard, he galloped off to King Charles' camp.

In the royal tent Piero fell upon his knees, craved forgiveness for
Florence's opposition, and pleaded for generous terms for himself and
his fellow-countrymen. Charles demanded the cession absolutely of the
three fortresses, with the cities of Pisa and Livorno, and with them the
"loan" of 200,000 gold florins! Piero's report was listened to in solemn
silence by the _Signoria_, but when its tenor was conveyed to the
concourse of citizens, outside the Palazzo Vecchio, cries of
"_Liberta!_" "_Liberta!_" rent the air.

When Piero rode out of the Piazza, accompanied by an armed escort, he
was met by an exasperated mob who assailed him with missiles and stones.
The big bell, up in the Campanile, began to speak its ominous summons,
and, in reply to faint cries of "_Palle!_" "_Palle!_" renewed shouts of
"_Liberta!_" "_Liberta!_" proclaimed the abdication of the Medici.

A Parliament was convened and five ambassadors were appointed to treat
with Charles and revoke Piero's surrender. One of them, speaking for the
rest, denounced him as "No longer fit to rule the State"--it was Piero
de' Capponi. The _Signoria_ passed a sentence of expulsion upon Piero
and his brothers, and placed a reward of two thousand gold florins upon
his head, and five thousand more, if he and Giovanni, his Cardinal
brother, were captured together.

Needless to say, before the decree was promulgated Piero and Giovanni
flew precipitately through the Porta San Gallo, upon their way to