THE MISFORTUNES OF PIETRO

MEDICIS.

To Cosmo succeeded a very different and very inferior personage, his son Pietro; a man of very limited understanding and ability, and one who inherited only one of the business qualifications of his father, that of looking well to the preservation of his property. The great scholar, Poggio, had forced a knowledge of Latin and Greek into his head; and made an attempt to introduce philosophy along with it. But Pietro's brain was not equal to its comprehension. Add to these defects, the presence of gout in his system from the age of fifteen, and the almost incapability of using his hands and feet. Poor Pietro formed no exception to the generality of the children of great men, when put in comparison with their fathers. Cosmo, well aware of the inability of his successor to support the glory of his house, had, during his latter years, interested his many friends in all the orders of the state in the weal of his successor. He also endeavoured to strengthen for him, and generally for the republic, the good feelings of the King of Naples, Ferdinand of Arragon, and Galeas Sforza, Duke of Milan. While these potentates acted in concert with Florence, he feared little

for the unfriendly feelings of any of the other states.

But the great man was not long in his tomb when the family of the Pitti formed a conspiracy to get rid of Pietro, and thus effectually humble the pretensions of the House of Medicis. Their family was distinguished in arts, and arms, and letters, even the then living three brothers and their seven cousinsgerman, and why should it be overshadowed by one whose only distinction arose from success in business? To the minds of these learned and warlike scions of a noble house, no means of humbling the rival establishment presented itself but assassination. Such, four hundred years since, were the amenities of life in an Italian free republic.

Some knights of the poniard were accordingly subsidised; and invited from Romagna to take the life of Pietro at an unguarded moment. A good round sum was guaranteed to the little troop, to be handed over to their manager when the work was done; and ample instructions and a favourable opportunity pointed out for its accomplishment.

Pietro's house was in the neighbourhood of the gate at the lower part of the city. He himself was to return thither on a certain evening from his country house, and the

assassins might conveniently wait for him outside the gate. To render harmless their appearance at that locality in a body, they were to keep themselves employed in exercising their horses whenever they found curious eyes directed towards

them.

Nothing could at first promise better than the design. Pietro set out on his return at the hour expected, his litter being merely accompanied by two attendants; but he had not proceeded far when he changed his purpose, and instead of returning directly home, he took the road which led to the upper part of the city, to pay a flying visit to a friend. He arrived safely, chatted with his friend, and was persuaded to stay and sup with him. Darkness by this time having descended on the city, his host would not allow him to proceed homewards without a special good guard of his own people.

Nightfall having arrived to the assassins without the arrival of their man, they entered the city, and, separating into groups, watched the different approaches which conducted to Pietro's dwelling. One of these groups had the fortune of seeing him approach in his litter at a rather late hour, but alas, front and rear, and sides of his vehicle were guarded by stout fellows well armed. Nothing was to be done, and the separate little bodies being informed of the mischance, betook themselves to the rendezvous, where it was agreed that they should return with out delay to Romagna, all save their manager, who wonld needs remain to touch the reward.

Alack-a-day! a difference arose between his learned and warlike employers and himself. His opinion was that he and his men honourably fulfilled their part of the contract. "They had punctually attended at the appointed place, and if some influence inimical to the views of the gentlemen of their profession

had not inspired Pietro to go a round-about away to his home that evening, they would have most certainly left him outside the gate as dead as Julius Cæsar. Therefore they were entitled to their full reward, having achieved as much of their stipulated duty as men on mould could do." Their honourable employers could not see the thing in this light. "They had not finished the job for which payment was covenanted. Let it be tried the next opportunity, and their money awaited them. Otherwise they should be content with half pay-very good remuneration indeed for nothing done." The master bravo would have made an angry rejoinder to this speech, but something of a threatening character in the mien of the padrones changed his intent He said that he could do nothing without the approval of his comrades. Their resolve he would respectfully communicate to the signori early as possible. For the present he would respectfully wish his patrons good day.

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This he did; but instead of quitting the city he repaired to one of his friends, who had access to Pietro, and requested him to inform the great man that he was possessed of a secret touching the weal of the republic and his own life, and that he was prepared to exchange this secret for a full pardon for all offences, and a certain sum of money in hand. This message the friend delivered, and found Pietro much interested in it, for the sight of the strangers stationed at the outlets of his mansion had left a disagreeable impression on his mind. The bandit was treated in such an open and liberal fashion as to entirely remove all mistrust, and he candidly revealed the plot, the hiring of himself and his band, and the failure of the attempt. The Gonfalonier being informed of the occurrence, seized on the conspirators, brought them to trial, and a sentence of exile in per

petuity was pronounced against the heads of the Pitti family.

Compared with death by the executioner's knife this was a merciful adjudication, but it was an unwise one in a political sense. The Pitti were joined by the outlaws of the houses of the Petrucci, the Albizzi, the Strozzi, and others,-the sons of those banished for their crlmes against Cosmo. At their head the Pitti sought assistance from Venice in their design to invade Florence. The Doge and his nobles wished for nothing better than the humiliation of their great rival in commerce; but they were obliged to consult appearances, and outwardly observe political civility with a state at peace with them. But admitting the chiefs to a private council, they said, "We cannot ostensibly support you in your hostile movements against your city; but there is our general, Coliogno, the greatest captain of this age. There are numbers of mercenary warriors of experience who have served under him. We do not need their services, at least for the present. Hire them. They will do the work of heroes for you, and when you have wrought out your will on your mortal foes, they can return, and reenter our service. Thus will you gain needful aid, and preserve unblemished our character as a not unfriendly power." The advice was acted on, and the united forces under Coliogno did much damage to the Tuscan towns and farms, and might easily have won the capital, but for secret instructions given to the general, whose conduct resembled that of an inert and incapable commander.

LORENZO TO THE RESCUE! While Coliogno, much to the disgust of the Pitti, loitered before the well-fortified and well-defended city of Pisa, instead of investing Florence, Pietro was carried off by a fever, and the upholders of the interests of his family were seized with apprehension of the danger now impend

ing over the fortunes of the Medicis and of Florence, the present head of the house, Lorenzo, being under twenty years of age. But the very day after his father's death he summoned a council, and exhibited such prudence, judgment, and determination, in his address, that he roused a strong feeling of hope and confidence in his hearers. He paid up the arrears due to his mercenaries, sent addresses to Naples and Milan, and gave out that he had in his possession an intercepted list of the secret friends which the Pitti still retained in Florence. This report soon rid the city of these dangerous inmates, and left a sense of security behind.

Still Coliogno remained inactive before Pisa, notwithstanding the objurgations of his employers, the Pitti, but had soon to raise the siege, in order to show fight to the Florentines, who in force were coming against him under the command of Federigo D'Urbino, young Lorenzo contenting himself with the post of commissary-general. In the battle which soon ensued, Coliogno used, for the first time it was seen in Italy, a moveable field-piece. There was a general outcry against him afterwards, for taking his foes at a disadvantage-an outcrynot justified by the damage done that day by the piece of flying artillery. This damage was confined to the destruction of the heel of the Prince of Farrara's boot. Some of the Italian fights seem to have been little more destructive than what the French would name combats pour rire. This particular fight began late in the day, and night coming on before the noble ardour of the combatants evaporated, the squires and valets held up torches and flambeaux to light their masters at the noble game of destruction. There were but a few killed on either side; and at last, as by mutual agreement, the battle came to an end, and the foemen still alive felt amazingly tired, and betook themselves to rest as they best could.

The brave and shrewd Florentine commander, being anxious to exhibit an improvement in warfare as well as his Venetian rival, gave his troops only a couple of hours repose till he had them assailing the Pitti camp, the occupiers dreaming of anything but such a sudden rousing. Great confusion and some slaughter ensued, but not so much as if the fray had occurred out of Italy, whose natives have an eye to business in their most martial enterprises. No one unprepared for combat asked quarter in vain. It was granted in every instance for a consideration; and when the fight was done the Pitti found their forces little diminished in number, but much money paid, or to be paid, for ransom. Their wrath against their dearly-purchased general was extreme. They cashiered him on the spot, but his Venetian masters again secured his services with the greatest willingness. Coliogno's chief care all along was evidently to gratify the Doge and his people. Still it must have been very galling to the spirit of a great commander, such as he undoubtedly was, to play his part so badly in the great military drama then enacted.

The invaders now found themselves in evil plight. They had discharged their incapable commander, but were not able to supply his place by a capable one. They saw their strength in men and money rapidly diminishing, and found they had caught a Tartar in young Lorenzo. Negotiations were inaugurated, and in the end they had to endure ten more years of exile, after which they would be permitted to return to Florence, but never again to aspire to the magistracy. The subordinate people were forgiven on condition of serving gratis in the siege of Volterra, one of the Tuscan towns which had revolted. The inhabitants of this fortress held out most stubbornly till they were reduced by famine. The mercenaries under Lorenzo would have mercilessly sacked and

pillaged the place, but he effectually thwarted their cruel purpose, and sent them to find congenial employment elsewhere. Having won as much praise for his clemency as for his military talents, he quietly returned to Florence, refusing (but without giving offence) a triumphal entry.

A great mistake made by Lorenzo during his otherwise judicious management of the affairs of his family and of his city, was his endeavours to advance to the rank of Cardinal his brother Julian, who was totally unfitted for the office by his immoralities, and other unsuitable qualities. He found the reigning pontiff, Pope Sixtus IV., inexorable in his refusals, and a series of ill offices ensued on both sides, which produced an unsurmountable dislike between the Riaires, the Pope's relatives, and the Medicis.

THE CONSPIRACY OF THE PAZZI.

While things were in this uncomfortable condition, Francisco Pazzi, a second Catiline, was obliged to quit Florence, owing to his most disorderly life and the heavy debts which he had contracted. Getting on intimate terms with the Pope's nephew, Riaire, it was concerted between them that the two Medicis, Lorenzo and Julian, should be assasinated, and that the Riaire family, jointly with the Pazzi, should acquire supremacy in the City. As it would be expedient to obtain the cooperation of Ferdinand, King of Sicily, in their design, an emissary was sent to him, and he represented that the great object of his principals was to restore the ancient kingdom of Etruria, and make his (Ferdinand's) best-beloved daughter its queen. The monarch had long entertained a personal dislike to Lorenzo, and entered heartily into the design. He gave orders to a portion of his fleet which was conveying provisions to a town wasted by the Turks, to approach the mouth of the Arno, and co-ope

rate with the party at the proper moment; and his son, the Duke of Tuscany, he despatched to that State, ostensibly to transact some ordinary business with the Government of Florence, but in reality to aid the plot when ripe. The young prince was kept in the dark as to the real service required of him, for he was of a frank, sincere disposition, and no way disposed to stratagem or plots. A young Cardinal of the Riaire family was also despatched to Florence, to be on the spot, when the explosion would take place to exert his influence in the notable scheme. He was also kept in ignorance of the service expected at his hands. One of the most shameful features of the conspiracy was the co-operation of Francisco Salviati, Archbishop of Pisa. This was secured by the elder Pazzi, a companion to the unworthy churchman in scenes where no decent layman, much less a cleric of high or low grade, should ever be found. Salviati entered more heartily into the plot, as the Medicis had opposed on more than one occasion his advancement in church dignities. In case of a traverse of their scheme, the conspirators would have his palace to repair to as a place of refuge. Now, Francisco Pazzi had some influence with Julian de Medicis, chiefly through sharing his luxurious penchants, and had lately been augmenting it by apparently winning over a lady, of whom Julian was enamoured, to treat him with consideration. In a conversation which they had, he mentioned that the Pazzi were about entertaining the young Cardinal Riaire, and hinted that it would look well on the part of the Medicis to do the like. It would show that the coldness between them and the Pope did not interfere with their desire to show attention to a young and amiable dignitary of his family. Julian gladly heard the proposition, and offered to communicate t to his brother, who, he was sure,

would be as well disposed as he himself to show every respect to His Holiness's kinsman. In fact, there was such a strong brotherly sympathy between Julian and Lorenzo, that one had only to mention a wish, to have it acceded to on the instant by the other.

So the invitation was made, in a polite and cordial manner, to the young cardinal, to honour with his company the brothers De Medicis at their country house of Frejola; and after some hesitation on his eminence's part, it was graciously accepted. The conspirators decided on half their number attending the banquet and slaying the two brothers, while the other half would, at the head of their followers, present themselves in the city, and, aided by the archbishop, excite a sedition and raise the people, by shouting liberty in their ears.

The evening came, and so did one moiety of the conspirators, and so did the youthful dignitary, and so did Lorenzo, having provided a most recherché and costly entertainment to do honour to the Pope's relative; but Julian did not put in an appearance. He had been seized with a troublesome attack of the lungs and visitation of phlegm, and was, much against his will, detained from the feast. The young cardinal, who was entirely ignorant of any evil intentions entertained towards his hosts, was unfeignedly sorry for the absence of Julian, and no less so were the plotters. They might slay Lorenzo, indeed, but Julian was safe, and his influence would certainly mar their after-efforts. They had no need of intercommunication to decide on doing nothing just then, and the chief found an opportunity of sending an order to the party in the city to keep quiet for the present. If Lorenzo's thoughts had not been unpleasantly occupied with his brother's condition, he could not have failed to remark the troubled demeanour of his guests,