Note 310 — BOOK THE SEVENTH. (continued 2)

This treaty was published in the Cathedral of Florence during the celebration of mass on the 26th of November, 1494. It was at one time very near being broken off; for Charles at first insisted on conditions disgraceful to the Florentines, which his secretary read as his ultimatum. But the gonfalonier Pietro Capponi suddenly snatched the paper from the secretary’s hand, and, tearing it up, exclaimed, “Well, if it be thus, sound your trumpets, and we will ring our bells!” This energetic movement daunted the French king, who at once abated his pretensions, and peace was concluded.—Sismondi, xii. 168.