l these plots and counterplots were exactly to the liking of Francesco
de' Pazzi, and he laid himself out to make capital out of them. Not only
did he encourage the Pope in his inimical policy, but he placed at his
command the sum of money which had been refused by the Medici bank.
Sixtus was delighted with his new and wealthy adherent, and forthwith
gave the presidents of the Medici bank in Rome notice that they no
longer retained his confidence as Papal bankers, and that, accordingly,
he had transferred the accounts of the Curia to the care of the rival
Pazzi house. Upon Francesco de' Pazzi he conferred the accolade of
knighthood. This hostile action of course further estranged Lorenzo and
the Government of Florence, and, quite naturally, a system of
quarrelsome incidents was set up, with a very complete equipment of
spies.

Sixtus never concealed his desire for the overthrow of Lorenzo and the
subversion of the Florentine Government, and his hostility found a
whole-hearted response in the persons of Count Girolamo de' Riari,
Archbishop Francesco de' Salviati, and Cavaliere Francesco de' Pazzi.
The Pope exulted openly in what capital he could make out of tales and
gossip about Lorenzo and his entourage. Two prominent Florentines
fomented this factious spirit. Giovanni Neroni--the Archbishop of
Florence in succession to Archbishop d'Orsini, brother of the notorious
Diotisalvi, who was banished in 1466--and Agnolo Acciaiuolo--also
banished the same year, who resided in Rome and was an especial
favourite at the Vatican.

Charges of opposition to the policy of the Pope were freely thrown in
the teeth of Lorenzo, and some of them were true, for the actions of
the Pope led all observant men to the conclusion that he proposed to
assume the role of arbiter in the affairs of all the Italian States. On
the other hand, Lorenzo's policy was peaceful, his aim being the
consolidation of Medicean domination in the affairs of the Republic.

Causes such as these brought about the initiation of the dastardly plot
known in history as "The Pazzi Conspiracy." The name is somewhat open to
criticism, for, although the Pazzi were the chief instruments employed,
and exceeded all others in detestation of the Medici, the "forefront and
head of the offending" was no less a personage than Pope Sixtus IV.

"His Holiness hates Lorenzo," said Count Girolamo de' Riari; this was
the cue to all that followed. Doubtless the Pope was much in the power