t 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 slain--Lorenzo escapes--The archbishop Salviati
endeavors to seize the palace of the Signory--He is taken
and hanged--The enterprise of the conspirators entirely
fails--Manifestations of the Florentines in favor of Lorenzo de'
Medici--The conspirators punished--The funeral of Giuliano--The pope
and the king of Naples make war upon the Florentines--Florence
excommunicated--Speech 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 conjunc