In this assembly, the only one which, up to that time, had been held in secret, the mode of bringing about the Good State was deliberated on. Here he showed the eloquence of a man who speaks from conviction, and of things which are too true not to produce a deep impression. He described the discord of the great, the debasement of the poor, the armed men roaming about in quest of plunder, wives dragged from their marriage-beds, pilgrims murdered at the gates, priests drowned in sensual orgies, no strength or wisdom among those who held the reigns of power. From the nobles there was everything to fear and nothing to hope. Where were they, in the midst of all these disorders? They were leaving Rome, to enjoy a holiday on their estates, while everything was going to wreck and ruin in the city. As the members of the popular party were hesitating for want of funds, he gave them a hint that these might be obtained from the revenues of the Apostolic Chamber, reckoning 10,000 florins for the tax on salt alone, 100,000 for the hearth-tax, figures which Sismondi (chapter xxxviii.) declares to be absolutely erroneous. He also gave them to understand that he was acting in accordance with the wishes of the Pope (_which was false_), and that he was able with the consent of the latter, to seize upon the revenues of the Holy See. On May 18, 1347, in Colonna’s absence, he had proclamation made through the streets, by sound of trumpet, that all citizens were to assemble in the night of the day following, in the church of Sant’ Angelo, to take measures for the establishment of the Good State. On the 19th, Rienzi was present at the meeting, in armour, guarded by a hundred armed men, and accompanied by the Papal Vicar, and by three standards covered with the most extraordinary symbols--one of them representing Liberty, one Justice, and one Peace. Among the measures which he caused to be adopted by this improvised assembly were some which would be well suited to our own times; the following, for instance:-- All lawsuits were to be terminated within fifteen days. The Apostolic Chamber was to provide for the support of widows and orphans. Every district of Rome was to have a public granary. If a Roman were killed in the service of his country, his heirs to receive a hundred _lire_ if he were a foot soldier, and a hundred _florins_ if a horseman. The garrisons of cities and fortresses to be formed of men chosen from among the Roman people. Every accuser who could not make good his accusation, to be subject to the penalty which his victim would have incurred. The houses of the condemned not to be destroyed (as was then the case in all communities), but to become the property of the municipality.