4. A Privy Council of four Councillors elected for three months by 12 Accopiatori chosen out of the Senate.
These with the hereditary Grand Duke fulfilled duties of the Signory.
| The Otto di Pratica | ⎰ ⎱ | to be nominated by the Senate. |
| The Otto di Guardia | ||
| The Buonuomini |
All distinction between higher and lower ‘arti’ abolished.
The offices paid.
TAXATION.
See Napier, iii. 117. Von Reumont, i. 30. Ewart, Cosimo de’ Medici. Armstrong, Lorenzo de’ Medici.
I. Indirect Taxes. Import and Export Duties. Monopoly on Salt.
II. On Real and Personal Property.
III. Prestanze.—Forced loans on the estimated property. In theory these were to be repaid and interest paid meanwhile, but this was rarely done (‘tenere i luoghi’ (shares) = to withhold the payment of interest), so much so that most took advantage of the law, that where the amount did not exceed two golden florins they might pay one-third down and forfeit all claim to interest or repayment.