On the day appointed, the Two Hundred, in order to impart more solemnity to their proceedings, assembled at the Town Hall and thence accompanied the syndics and the council to St. Peter’s church. These magistrates felt keenly the accusations which were spread abroad against them by the opposition; and having a good conscience they wished the people to decide between them and their calumniators. Consequently, when the assembly had been formed, the following _remonstrance_ was addressed to the people in the name of the syndics and the councils. ‘Magnificent, discreet, most dear and honored lords,-- ‘The lords syndics whom you have elected according to your custom, as likewise their ordinary council, that of the Sixty and that of the Two Hundred, feel hurt by the talk of some private persons, who speak as if they had charge of the general council, alleging that the said councils were elected by intrigues and have violated the franchises; that it is they (the opponents) who are princes, and that they wish that for the future everything should be transacted in a general council. The syndics and councils desire to learn from you, gentlemen, before they proceed further in the investigation of the matter, whether you allow that. You know whether or not your magistrates were elected by the intrigues of three or four citizens, as they are alleged to have been. You know that the four syndics were chosen by you in general council; and while in time past the ordinary council was chosen by the four syndics, this election, since 1530, has been made by the Council of the Two Hundred. [Sidenote: PROCEEDINGS AT THE COUNCIL.] ‘Elected thus, the councils ask you whether you will not acknowledge them as your magistrates, that they may continue to exercise the power which God has given them by your general election. They are prepared to submit to punishment with all legal rigor, if it be found that they are in fault; but if it be otherwise, they demand that those who defame them should suffer chastisement, so that God may not be angry with us, nor take away the spiritual lordship and liberty which he has given us by his Son Jesus Christ. Assuredly he has shown us more favor than he ever did to the children of Israel. But it might happen to us as it did to the Romans, who by civil discords of this sort lost little by little the empire which they had acquired over the world, and fell into the bondage in which they still remain. ‘We ought to pray God to send us well-instructed and Godfearing men to administer justice. But if we will treat them with contempt, we shall by-and-by find no one to serve us. Well may the heart of a citizen ache when, after laying aside his private affairs to serve the community, he gets for his reward the censure of those who dread correction and will not obey the lawful authorities.