35-49) exposes the principle and the _modus operandi_ of this Council of Seventy, by means of which Lorenzo controlled the election of the magistracies, diverted the public moneys to his own use, and made his will law in Florence.

The councils which he superseded at this date were the Consiglio del Popolo and the Consiglio del Comune, about which see Nardi, lib i.cap.

4.
[3] For the operation of the Parlamento and Balia, see Varchi, vol.
ii.p.

372; Segni, p.

199; Nardi, lib.vi.cap.4.Segni says: 'The Parlamento is a meeting of the Florentine people on the Piazza of the Signory.