By April 1434, six months after Cosimo de Medici’s banishment, the people were turning against Rinaldo degli Albizzi.  Even the banking families weren’t supporting him, not sure he could be around much longer. According to Cosimo, nobody could be persuaded to fill the city treasury ‘with so much as a pistachio nut’. He was so unpopular, that supporters of Cosimo were elected to all 8 seats on the Signoria and a Medici business partner from the wool guild even ended up as gonfaloniere. Albizzi first tried to prevent them from taking office, then relents on one condition – they swear not to bring back the Medici. And they so swear. With their fingers crossed behind their backs.