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being more sensitive and resolute than the others； determined either
to obtain what was withheld from him； or lose what he still possessed。
As the government of Florence gave him great offense； he resided
almost constantly at Rome； where； like other Florentine merchants； he
conducted extensive commercial operations； and being a most intimate
friend of Count Girolamo； they frequently complained to each other of
the conduct of the Medici。 After a while they began to think that for
the count to retain his estates； or the Pazzi their rights in the
city； it would be necessary to change the government of Florence； and
this they considered could not be done without the death of Giuliano
and Lorenzo。 They imagined the pope and the king would be easily
induced to consent； because each could be convinced of the facility of
the enterprise。 Having acquired these ideas； they communicated them to
Francesco Salviati； archbishop of Pisa； who； being ambitious and
recently offended by the Medici； willingly adopted their views。
Considering their next step； they resolved； in order to facilitate the
design； to obtain the consent of Jacopo de' Pazzi； without whose
concurrence they feared it would be impracticable。 With this view； it
was resolved that Francesco de' Pazzi should go to Florence； while the
archbishop and the count were to remain at Rome； to be ready to
communicate with the pope when a suitable opportunity occurred。
Francesco found Jacopo de' Pazzi more cautious and difficult to
persuade than he could have wished； and on imparting this to his
friends at Rome； it was thought he desired the sanction of some
greater authority to induce him to adopt their views。 Upon this； the
archbishop and the count communicated the whole affair to Giovanni
Batista da Montesecco； a leader of the papal forces； possessing
military reputation； and under obligations to the pope and the count。
To him the affair seemed difficult and dangerous； while the archbishop
endeavored to obviate his objections by showing how much assistance
the pope and the king would lend to the enterprise； the hatred of the
Florentines toward the Medici； the numerous friends the Salviati and
the Pazzi would bring with them； the readiness with which the young
men might be slain； on account of their going about the city
unaccompanied and without suspicion； and the facility with which the
government might then be changed。 These things Giovanni Batista did
not in reality believe； for he had heard from many Florentines quite
contrary statements。
While occupied with these deliberations； Carlo； lord of Faenza； was
taken ill； and tears were entertained for his life。 This circumstance
seemed to the archbishop and the count to offer an opportunity for
sending Giovanni Batista to Florence； and thence to Romagna； under
pretence of recovering certain territories belonging to the latter； of
which the lord of Faenza had taken possession。 The count therefore
commissioned Giovanni Batista to have an interview with Lorenzo de'
Medici； and on his part request his advice how to proceed with respect
to the affair of Romagna； that he should then see Francesco de' Pazzi；
and in conjunction with him endeavor to induce his uncle Jacopo to
adopt their ideas。 To render the pope's authority available in their
behalf； Giovanni Batista was ordered； before his departure； to
communicate with the pontiff； who offered every means at his disposal
in favor of their enterprise。 Giovanni Batista； having arrived at
Florence； obtained an interview with Lorenzo； by whom he was most
graciously received； and with regard to the advice he was commissioned
to ask； obtained a wise and friendly answer； so that he was astonished
at finding him quite a different character from what he had been
represented； and considered him to possess great sagacity； an
affectionate heart； and most amicably disposed toward the count。 He
found Francesco de' Pazzi had gone to Lucca； and spoke to Jacopo； who
was at first quite opposed to their design； but before they parted the
pope's authority seemed to have influenced him； for he told Giovanni
Batista； that he might go to Romagna； and that before his return
Francesco would be with him； and they would then consult more
particularly upon the subject。 Giovanni Batista proceeded to Romagna；
and soon returned to Florence。 After a pretended consultation with
Lorenzo； upon the count's affairs； he obtained an interview with
Francesco and Jacopo de' Pazzi； when the latter gave his consent to
their enterprise。 They then discussed the means of carrying it into
effect。 Jacopo de' Pazzi was of opinion that it could not be effected
while both the brothers remained at Florence； and therefore it would
be better to wait till Lorenzo went to Rome； whither it was reported
he had an intention of going； for then their object would be more
easily attained。 Francesco de' Pazzi had no objection to Lorenzo being
at Rome； but if he were to forego the journey； he thought that both
the brothers might be slain； either at a marriage； or at a play； or in
a church。 With regard to foreign assistance； he supposed the pope
might assemble forces for the conquest of the fortress of Montone；
being justified in taking it from Count Carlo； who had caused the
tumults already spoken of in Sienna and Perugia。
Still no definite arrangement was made； but it was resolved that
Giovanni Batista and Francesco de' Pazzi should go to Rome and settle
everything with the pontiff。 The matter was again debated at Rome； and
at length it was concluded that besides an expedition against Montone；
Giovan Francesco da Tolentino； a leader of the papal troops； should go
into Romagna； and Lorenzo da Castello to the Val di Tavere； that each；
with the forces of the country； should hold himself in readiness to
perform the commands of the archbishop de' Salviati and Francesco de
Pazzi； both of whom were to come to Florence； and provide for the
execution of their design； with the assistance of Giovanni Batista da
Montesecco。 King Ferrando promised； by his ambassador； to contribute
all in his power to the success of their undertaking。 Francesco de'
Pazzi and the archbishop having arrived at Florence； prevailed upon
Jacopo di Poggio； a well educated youth； but ambitious and very
desirous of change； to join them； and two others； each of the name of
Jacopo Salviati； one a brother； the other a kinsman； of the
archbishop。 They also gained over Bernardo Bandini and Napoleone
Franzeni； two bold young men； under great obligations to the family of
the Pazzi。 Besides those already mentioned； they were joined by
Antonio da Volterra and a priest named Stefano； who taught Latin to
the daughter of Jacopo de' Pazzi。 Rinato de' Pazzi； a grave and
prudent man； being quite aware of the evils resulting from such
undertakings； refused all participation in the conspiracy； he held it
in abhorrence； and as much as possible； without betraying his kinsmen；
endeavored to counteract it。
The pope had sent Raffaello di Riario； a nephew of Count Girolamo； to
the college of Pisa； to study canon law； and while there； had advanced
him to the dignity of a cardinal。 The conspirators determined to bring
this cardinal to Florence； as they would thus be better able to
conceal their design； since any persons requisite to be introduced
into the city might easily be made to appear as a part of his retinue；
and his arrival might facilitate the completion of their enterprise。
The cardinal came； and was received by Jacopo de' Pazzi at his villa
of Montughi； near Florence。 By his means it was also intended to bring
together Giuliano and Lorenzo； and whenever this happened； to put them
both to death。 They therefore invited them to meet the cardinal at
their villa of Fiesole； but Giuliano； either intentionally or through
some preventing cause； did not attend； and this design having failed；
they thought that if asked to an entertainment at Florence； both
brothers would certainly be present。 With this intention they
appointed Sunday； the twenty…sixth of April； 1478； to give a great
feast； and； resolving to assassinate them at table； the conspirators
met on the Saturday evening to arrange all proceedings for the
following day。 In the morning it was intimated to Francesco that
Giuliano would be absent； on which the conspirators again assembled
and finding they could no longer defer the execution of their design；
since it would be impossible among so many to preserve secrecy； they
determined to complete it in the cathedral church of Santa Reparata；
where the cardinal attending； the two brothers would be present as
usual。 They wished Giovanni Batista da Montesecco to undertake the
murder of Lorenzo； while that of Giuliano was assigned to Francesco
de' Pazzi and Bernardo Bandini。 Giovanni Batista refused； either
because his familiarity with Lorenzo had created feelings in his
favor； or from some other reason； saying he should not