on the occasion of some procession or public festivity when
there would be no doubt of his presence, and where they might, under
various pretexts, assemble their friends. It was also resolved that
if one of their number were prevented from attending, on any account
whatever, the rest should put him to death in the midst of their armed
enemies.

It was now the close of the year 1476, near Christmas, and as it was
customary for the duke to go upon St. Stephen's day, in great solemnity,
to the church of that martyr, they considered this the most suitable
opportunity for the execution of their design. Upon the morning of that
day they ordered some of their most trusty friends and servants to arm,
telling them they wished to go to the assistance of Giovanandrea,
who, contrary to the wish of some of his neighbors, intended to turn a
watercourse into his estate; but that before they went they wished to
take leave of the prince. They also assembled, under various
pretenses, other friends and relatives, trusting that when the deed
was accomplished, everyone would join them in the completion of their
enterprise. It was their intention, after the duke's death, to collect
their followers together and proceed to those parts of the city where
they imagined the plebeians would be most disposed to take arms against
the duchess and the principal ministers of state, and they thought the
people, on account of the famine which then prevailed, would easily be
induced to follow them; for it was their design to give up the houses of
Cecco Simonetta, Giovanni Botti, and Francesco Lucani, all leading men
in the government, to be plundered, and by this means gain over the
populace and restore liberty to the community. With these ideas, and
with minds resolved upon their execution, Giovanandrea, together with
the rest, were early at the church, and heard mass together; after
which, Giovanandrea, turning to a statue of St. Ambrose, said, "O patron
of our city! thou knowest our intention, and the end we would attain,
by so many dangers; favor our enterprise, and prove, by protecting the
oppressed, that tyranny is offensive to thee." To the duke, on the other
hand, when intending to go to the church, many omens occurred of his
approaching death; for in the morning, having put on a cuirass, as was
his frequent custom, he immediately took it off again, either because
it inconvenienced him, or that he did not like its appearance. He
then wished to hear