Hence it will be plainly seen that this book is composed of various separate parts which, although informed, one and all, by the same leading idea and treating of the same argument, were produced at distant intervals during a quarter of a century, in which the study of Florentine history had made rapid advance through the labours of numerous and competent writers. Therefore, in spite of devoting my best efforts to pruning, revising, and arranging my lectures, they are still old essays more or less disjointed, and containing many unavoidable repetitions. Greater organic unity could only have been attained by re-writing the whole and composing a new book; whereas my intention was merely to republish a series of scattered compositions, under the fitting title of "Researches." What finally decided me to reprint them was, that, as I venture to think, their dominant and fundamental notes still ring true, even after the numerous works produced by other hands. Indeed, unless I be mistaken, those works frequently support my observations, and confirm the ideas expressed throughout on the general character and progressive development of Florentine history. Whether I be right or wrong in this belief the reader must decide. At any rate I venture to hope that, in judging this book, he will kindly make allowance for the time and manner in which it came into existence. CONTENTS. PAGE INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER I. THE ORIGIN OF FLORENCE 38 CHAPTER II. THE ORIGIN OF THE FLORENTINE COMMUNE 80 CHAPTER III. THE FIRST WARS AND FIRST REFORMS OF THE FLORENTINE COMMUNE 131 CHAPTER IV. STATE OF PARTIES--CONSTITUTION OF THE FIRST POPULAR GOVERNMENT AND OF THE GREATER GUILDS IN FLORENCE 173 CHAPTER V. FLORENCE THE DOMINANT POWER IN TUSCANY 240 CHAPTER VI. THE COMMERCIAL INTERESTS AND POLICY OF THE GREATER GUILDS IN FLORENCE 310 CHAPTER VII. THE FAMILY AND THE STATE IN ITALIAN COMMUNES 360 CHAPTER VIII. THE ENACTMENTS OF JUSTICE 431 CHAPTER IX. THE FLORENTINE REPUBLIC IN DANTE'S TIME 484 CHAPTER X. DANTE, FLORENTINE EXILES AND HENRY VII. 521 ILLUSTRATIONS. THE MERCATO VECCHIO, BEFORE ITS DEMOLITION _Frontispiece._