What prophet of Israel from Samuel to Isaiah was not the maker and destroyer of kings and constitutions?
When we call him by their title, we mean to say that he, like them, controlled by spiritual force the fortunes of his people.

Whether he sought it or not, this role of politician was thrust upon him by the course of events: nor was the history of Italian cities deficient in precedents of similar functions assumed by preaching friars.[1] [1] It is enough to allude to Arnold of Brescia in Rome, to Fra Bussolari in Pavia, ami to John of Vicenza.

Sec Appendix iv.
To Lorenzo succeeded the incompetent Piero de' Medici, who surrendered the fortresses of Tuscany to the French army.

While Savonarola was prophesying a sword, a scourge, a deluge, Charles VIII.

rode at the head of his knighthood into Florence.