of sycophants and adventurers--all immoral rulers are. Each knew his man
and held him in the palm of his left hand; and none were backward in
impressing this knowledge upon him.

"We can always make our lord the Pope do as we please," was Archbishop
Salviati's very apposite declaration! It was re-echoed by Francesco de'
Pazzi, who added significantly, "and we mean to rid Florence of the
Medici."

* * * * *

All through the year 1477 the three arch-conspirators were elaborating
their plan of action. Possibly Sixtus--and we may give the miscreant
the favour of the doubt--at first merely wished to upset the Government
of Florence and banish Lorenzo and Giuliano by direct means. When,
however, it was borne in upon him that the immense popularity of the
Medici would, in the event of their supersession, only lead to their
triumphant recall, he agreed that there was nothing for it but the
removal of the two brothers in a more summary manner.

This association of Giuliano with Lorenzo was a miserable exhibition of
personal spite. He had refused him the Cardinalate simply because he
foresaw the succession of a Medici to the Papal throne, whilst he
purposed handing over the triple tiara to his son, Cardinal Piero de'
Riari. Nevertheless, there was some idea in the mind of Sixtus, which he
conveyed to his fellow-conspirators, of making an agreement with
Giuliano, that if he would condone the exile of his brother, then his
should be the reversion of the Popedom after Cardinal de' Riari!

Some authorities say Giuliano lent a not unwilling ear to those
overtures, but a saner view is that expressed by Agnolo Poliziano in an
epigram:--

"Lorenzo--Giuliano--one spirit, love, and aim
Animate you both--this, truly, I, your friend, proclaim."

Giuliano's love for Lorenzo was, like that of David and Jonathan, "a
love surpassing that of women." He consistently submitted his own
ambitions to the exaltation of his brother's magnificence.

The cogitations of the leaders of the conspiracy were disturbed by the
fact that, however excellent their schemes might be, there was absolute
necessity for the co-operation of other influences. Rome unaided could
not cope with Florence, backed as she was by France, Venice, Milan,
Ferrara, and Mantua. Sixtus consequently broached the subject of the
suppression of the Medici to the King of Naples and to the Duke of
Urbino--the support of Siena was always assured in any