. Life and times of Girolamo Savonarola. even for the haughty Swiss infantry,who were dismayed by seeing how easily an army couldbe destroyed in those narrow Thereupon the Signory took advantage of the opportu-nity, and, with the aid of many of the foreign ambassadors, atlast succeeded in bringing the king to a more reasonableframe of mind. Some of his extravagant pretensions wereabated ; he said nothing more of Piero or the conqueredcity, and almost all the terms of the treaty were fixed. 1 It was in these terms that the king and his officers boasted that theywere masters of Florenc
. Life and times of Girolamo Savonarola. even for the haughty Swiss infantry,who were dismayed by seeing how easily an army couldbe destroyed in those narrow Thereupon the Signory took advantage of the opportu-nity, and, with the aid of many of the foreign ambassadors, atlast succeeded in bringing the king to a more reasonableframe of mind. Some of his extravagant pretensions wereabated ; he said nothing more of Piero or the conqueredcity, and almost all the terms of the treaty were fixed. 1 It was in these terms that the king and his officers boasted that theywere masters of Florence. As we have seen, the French made chalkmarks on the houses they intended to occupy. 3 Vide the descriptions of this riot given by Cerretani and (MS., loc. cit., sheet 211) concludes his narrative of the eventin the following words : A most courageous defence was made, thewhich inspired no little fear in the French ; for the greater part of them,armed soldiers though they were, gathered together trembling like THE MEDICI PALACE—NOW PALAZZO RICCARDI—WHERE THE TREATY WIT1! FLORENXE WAS SIGNED. CHARLES FORCED TO MAKE TERMS. 239 The king was to receive the title of Protector of theliberty of Florence, and have the right to hold the for-tresses for two years, on condition that he restored themsooner, should the war be ended before that date. TheFlorentines also agreed to pay him a large sum of money ;but fresh dissensions then arose as to its amount. CharlesVIII. having been much impressed by the lavish promisesof Piero de Medici and his kindred, demanded a far largersum than the Republic was able to pay, without most un-justly burdening all the citizens. Thus there was againmuch exasperation on either side, and messengers were con-tinually sent backwards and forwards between the Signoryand the king, without anything being settled. Charlesclung obstinately to his demands, and Capponi found itvery difficult to control his temper and restrain his indig-n
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