by desire
of the Florentines--Conspiracy against Galeazzo, duke of Milan--His
vices--He is slain by the conspirators--Their deaths.

The pope, anxious to retain the territories of the church in obedience,
had caused Spoleto to be sacked for having, through internal factions,
fallen into rebellion. Citta di Castello being in the same state of
contumacy, he besieged that place; and Niccolo Vitelli its prince, being
on intimate terms with Lorenzo de' Medici, obtained assistance from
him, which, though inadequate, was quite enough to originate that enmity
between Sixtus IV. and the Medici afterward productive of such unhappy
results. Nor would this have been so long in development had not the
death of Frate Piero, cardinal of St. Sixtus, taken place; who, after
having traveled over Italy and visited Venice and Milan (under the
pretense of doing honor to the marriage of Ercole, marquis of Ferrara),
went about sounding the minds of the princes, to learn how they were
disposed toward the Florentines. But upon his return he died, not
without suspicion of having been poisoned by the Venetians, who found
they would have reason to fear Sixtus if he were allowed to avail
himself of the talents and exertions of Frate Piero. Although of very
low extraction, and meanly brought up within the walls of a convent,
he had no sooner attained the distinction of the scarlet hat, than
he exhibited such inordinate pride and ambition, that the pontificate
seemed too little for him, and he gave a feast in Rome which would
have seemed extraordinary even for a king, the expense exceeding twenty
thousand florins. Deprived of this minister, the designs of Sixtus
proceeded with less promptitude. The Florentines, the duke, and the
Venetians having renewed their league, and allowed the pope and the king
to join them if they thought proper, the two latter also entered into
a league, reserving an opening for the others if they were desirous
to become parties to it. Italy was thus divided in two factions; for
circumstances daily arose which occasioned ill feeling between the two
leagues; as occurred with respect to the island of Cyprus, to which
Ferrando laid claim, and the Venetians occupied. Thus the pope and the
king became more closely united. Federigo, prince of Urbino, was at
this time one of the first generals of Italy; and had long served the
Florentines. In order, if possible, to deprive the hostile league of
their captain, the pope advised, and t