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favor； or from some other reason； saying he should not have resolution
sufficient to commit such a deed in a church； and thus add sacrilege
to treachery。 This caused the failure of their undertaking； for time
pressing； they were compelled to substitute Antonio da Volterra and
Stefano； the priest； two men； who； from nature and habit； were the
most unsuitable of any； for if firmness and resolution joined with
experience in bloodshed be necessary upon any occasion； it is on such
as these； and it often happens that those who are expert in arms； and
have faced death in all forms on the field of battle； still fail in an
affair like this。 Having now decided upon the time； they resolved that
the signal for the attack should be the moment when the priest who
celebrated high mass should partake of the sacrament； and that； in the
meantime； the Archbishop de' Salviati； with his followers； and Jacopo
di Poggio； should take possession of the palace； in order that the
Signory； after the young men's death； should voluntarily； or by force；
contribute to their assistance。
CHAPTER II
Giuliano de' Medici slainLorenzo escapesThe archbishop
Salviati endeavors to seize the palace of the SignoryHe is taken
and hangedThe enterprise of the conspirators entirely fails
Manifestations of the Florentines in favor of Lorenzo de' Medici
The conspirators punishedThe funeral of GiulianoThe pope and
the king of Naples make war upon the FlorentinesFlorence
excommunicatedSpeech of Lorenzo de' Medici to the citizens of
Florence。
The conspirators proceeded to Santa Reparata； where the cardinal and
Lorenzo had already arrived。 The church was crowded； and divine
service commenced before Giuliano's arrival。 Francesco de' Pazzi and
Bernardo Bandini； who were appointed to be his murderers； went to his
house； and finding him； they； by earnest entreaties； prevailed upon
him to accompany them。 It is surprising that such intense hatred； and
designs so full of horror as those of Francesco and Bernardo； could be
so perfectly concealed； for while conducting him to the church； and
after they had reached it； they amused him with jests and playful
discourse。 Nor did Francesco forget； under pretense of endearment； to
press him in his arms； so as to ascertain whether under his apparel he
wore a cuirass or other means of defense。 Giuliano and Lorenzo were
both aware of the animosity of the Pazzi； and their desire to deprive
them of the government； but they felt assured that any design would be
attempted openly； and in conjunction with the civil authority。 Thus
being free from apprehension for their personal safety both affected
to be on friendly terms with them。 The murderers being ready； each in
his appointed station； which they could retain without suspicion； on
account of the vast numbers assembled in the church； the preconcerted
moment arrived； and Bernardo Bandini； with a short dagger provided for
the purpose； struck Giuliano in the breast； who； after a few steps；
fell to the earth。 Francesco de' Pazzi threw himself upon the body and
covered him with wounds； while； as if blinded by rage； he inflicted a
deep incision upon his own leg。 Antonio and Stefano； the priest；
attacked Lorenzo； and after dealing many blows； effected only a slight
incision in the throat； for either their want of resolution； the
activity of Lorenzo； who； finding himself attacked； used his arms in
his own defense； or the assistance of those by whom he was surrounded；
rendered all attempts futile。 They fled and concealed themselves； but
being subsequently discovered； were put to death in the most
ignominious manner； and their bodies dragged about the city。 Lorenzo；
with the friends he had about him； took refuge in the sacristy of the
church。 Bernardo Bandini； after Giuliano's death； also slew Francesco
Nori； a most intimate friend of the Medici； either from some previous
hatred or for having endeavored to render assistance to Giuliano； and
not content with these murders； he ran in pursuit of Lorenzo；
intending； by his own promptitude； to make up for the weakness and
inefficiency of the others； but finding he had taken refuge in the
vestry； he was prevented。
In the midst of these violent and fearful deeds； during which the
uproar was so terrible； that it seemed almost sufficient to bring the
church down upon its inmates； the cardinal Riario remained close to
the altar； where he was with difficulty kept in safety by the priests；
until the Signory； upon the abatement of the disturbance； could
conduct him to their palace； where he remained in the utmost terror
till he was set at liberty。
There were at this time in Florence some people of Perugia； whom party
feuds had compelled to leave their homes； and the Pazzi； by promising
to restore them to their country； obtained their assistance。 The
Archbishop de' Salviati； going to seize the palace； together with
Jacopo di Poggio； and the Salviati； his friends； took these Perugini
with him。 Having arrived； he left part of his people below； with
orders that when they heard a noise they should make themselves
masters of the entrance； while himself； with the greater part of the
Perugini； proceeded above； and finding the Signory at dinner （for it
was now late）； was admitted after a short delay； by Cesare Petrucci；
the Gonfalonier of Justice。 He entered with only a few of his
followers； the greater part of them being shut up in the cancelleria
into which they had gone； whose doors were so contrived； that upon
closing they could not be opened from either side； without the key。
The archbishop being with the gonfalonier； under pretense of having
something to communicate on the part of the pope； addressed him in
such an incoherent and hesitating manner； that the gonfalonier at once
suspected him； and rushing out of the chamber to call assistance；
found Jacopo di Poggio； whom he seized by the hair of the head； and
gave into the custody of his attendants。 The Signory hearing the
tumult； snatched such arms as they could at the moment obtain； and all
who had gone up with the archbishop； part of them being shut up； and
part overcome with terror； were immediately slain or thrown alive out
of the windows of the palace； at which the archbishop； the two Jacopi
Salviati； and Jacopodi Poggio were hanged。 Those whom the archbishop
left below； having mastered the guard and taken possession of the
entrance occupied all the lower floors； so that the citizens； who in
the uproar； hastened to the palace； were unable to give either advice
or assistance to the Signory。
Francesco de' Pazzi and Bernardo Bandini； perceiving Lorenzo's escape；
and the principal agent in the enterprise seriously wounded； became
immediately conscious of the imminent peril of their position。
Bernardo； using the same energy in his own behalf that had served him
against the Medici； finding all lost； saved himself by flight。
Francesco； wounded as he was； got to his house； and endeavored to get
on horseback； for it had been arranged they should ride through the
city and call the people to arms and liberty； but he found himself
unable； from the nature of his wound； and； throwing himself naked upon
his bed； begged Jacopo de' Pazzi to perform the part for which he was
himself incapacitated。 Jacopo； though old and unaccustomed to such
business； by way of making a last effort； mounted his horse； and； with
about a hundred armed followers； collected without previous
preparation； hastened to the piazza of the palace； and endeavored to
assemble adherents by cries of 〃people；〃 and 〃liberty〃； but the
former； having been rendered deaf by the fortune and liberty of the
Medici； the latter was unknown in Florence； and he found no followers。
The signors； who held the upper part of the palace； saluted him with
stones and threats。 Jacopo； while hesitating； was met by Giovanni
Seristori； his brother…in…law； who upbraided him with the troubles he
had occasioned； and then advised him to go home； for the people and
liberty were as dear to other citizens as to himself。 Thus deprived of
every hope； Lorenzo being alive； Francesco seriously wounded； and none
disposed to follow him； not knowing what to do； he resolved； if
possible； to escape by flight； and； accompanied by those whom he had
led into the piazza； left Florence with the intention of going into
Romagna。
In the meantime the whole city was roused to arms； and Lorenzo de'
Medici； accompanied by a numerous escort； returned to his house。 The
palace was recovered from its assailants； all of whom were either
slain or made prisoners。 The name of the Medici echoed everywhere； and
portions of dead bodies were seen borne on spears and scattered
through the streets； while everyone was transported with rage against
the Pazzi； and pursued them with relentless cruelty。 The people took
possession of their houses； and Francesco； naked as they found him；
was led to the pal