The city was leaderless, unused to liberty.

Who but the monk who had predicted the invasion should now attempt to control it?
Who but he whose voice alone had power to assemble and to sway the Florentines should now direct them?
His administrative faculty in a narrow sphere had been proved by his reform of the Dominican Convents.

His divine mission was authenticated by the arrival of the French.

The Lord had raised him up to act as well as to utter.

He felt this: the people felt it.