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the Pazzi； and pursued them with relentless cruelty。 The people took
possession of their houses； and Francesco； naked as they found him；
was led to the palace； and hanged beside the archbishop and the rest。
He could not be induced； by any injurious words or deeds； to utter a
syllable； but regarding those around with a steady look； he silently
sighed。 Guglielmo de' Pazzi； brother…in…law to Lorenzo； fled to the
latter's house； and by his innocence and the intercession of his wife；
Bianca； he escaped death。 There was not a citizen of any rank whatever
who did not； upon this occasion； wait upon Lorenzo with an offer of
his services； so great were the popularity and good fortune which this
family had acquired by their liberality and prudence。 Rinato de' Pazzi
was at his villa when the event took place； and on being informed of
it； he endeavored to escape in disguise； but was arrested upon the
road and brought to Florence。 Jacopo de' Pazzi was taken while
crossing the mountains of Romagna； for the inhabitants of these parts
having heard what had occurred； and seeing him in flight； attacked and
brought him back to the city； nor could he； though he frequently
endeavored； prevail with them to put him to death upon the road。
Jacopo and Rinato were condemned within four days after the murder of
Giuliano。 And though so many deaths had been inflicted that the roads
were covered with fragments of human bodies； not one excited a feeling
of regret； except that of Rinato； for he was considered a wise and
good man； and possessed none of the pride for which the rest of his
family were notorious。 As if to mark the event by some extraordinary
circumstance； Jacopo de' Pazzi； after having been buried in the tomb
of his ancestors； was disinterred like an excommunicated person； and
thrown into a hole at the outside of the city walls； from this grave
he was taken； and with the halter in which he had been hanged； his
body was dragged naked through the city； and； as if unfit for
sepulture on earth； thrown by the populace into the Arno； whose waters
were then very high。 It was an awful instance of the instability of
fortune； to see so wealthy a man； possessing the utmost earthly
felicity； brought down to such a depth of misery； such utter ruin and
extreme degradation。 It is said he had vices； among which were gaming
and profane swearing； to which he was very much addicted； but these
seem more than balanced by his numerous charities； for he relieved
many in distress； and bestowed much money for pious uses。 It may also
be recorded in his favor； that upon the Saturday preceding the death
of Giuliano； in order that none might suffer from his misfortunes； he
discharged all his debts； and whatever property he possessed belonging
to others； either in his own house or his place of business； he was
particularly careful to return to its owners。 Giovanni Batista da
Montesecco； after a long examination； was beheaded； Napoleone Franzesi
escaped punishment by flight； Giulielmo de' Pazzi was banished； and
such of his cousins as remained alive were imprisoned in the fortress
of Volterra。 The disturbances being over； and the conspirators
punished； the funeral obsequies of Giuliano were performed amid
universal lamentation； for he possessed all the liberality and
humanity that could be wished for in one of his high station。 He left
a natural son； born some months after his death； named Giulio； who was
endowed with that virtue and felicity with which the whole world is
now acquainted； and of which we shall speak at length when we come to
our own times； if God spare us。 The people who had assembled in favor
of the Pazzi under Lorenzo da Castello in the Val di Tavere； and under
Giovan Francesco da Tolentino in Romagna； approached Florence； but
having heard of the failure of the conspiracy； they returned home。
The changes desired by the pope and the king in the government of
Florence； not having taken place； they determined to effect by war
what they had failed to accomplish by treachery； and both assembled
forces with all speed to attack the Florentine states； publicly
declaring that they only wished the citizens to remove Lorenzo de'
Medici； who alone of all the Florentines was their enemy。 The king's
forces had already passed the Tronto； and the pope's were in Perugia；
and that the citizens might feel the effect of spiritual as well as
temporal weapons； the pontiff excommunicated and anathematized them。
Finding themselves attacked by so many armies； the Florentines
prepared for their defense with the utmost care。 Lorenzo de' Medici；
as the enemy's operations were said to be directed against himself
alone； resolved first of all to assemble the Signory； and the most
influential citizens； in the palace； to whom； being above three
hundred in number； he spoke as follows：〃Most excellent signors； and
you； magnificent citizens； I know not whether I have more occasion to
weep with you for the events which have recently occurred； or to
rejoice in the circumstances with which they have been attended。
Certainly； when I think with what virulence of united deceit and
hatred I have been attacked； and my brother murdered； I cannot but
mourn and grieve from my heart； from my very soul。 Yet when I consider
with what promptitude； anxiety； love； and unanimity of the whole city
my brother has been avenged and myself defended； I am not only
compelled to rejoice； but feel myself honored and exalted； for if
experience has shown me that I had more enemies than I apprehended； it
has also proved that I possess more warm and resolute friends than I
could ever have hoped for。 I must therefore grieve with you for the
injuries others have suffered； and rejoice in the attachment you have
exhibited toward myself； but I feel more aggrieved by the injuries
committed； since they are so unusual； so unexampled； and （as I trust
you believe） so undeserved on our part。 Think； magnificent citizens；
to what a dreadful point ill fortune has reduced our family； when
among friends； amidst our own relatives； nay； in God's holy temple； we
have found our greatest foes。 Those who are in danger turn to their
friends for assistance； they call upon their relatives for aid； but we
found ours armed； and resolved on our destruction。 Those who are
persecuted； either from public or private motives； flee for refuge to
the altars； but where others are safe； we are assassinated； where
parricides and assassins are secure； the Medici find their murderers。
But God； who has not hitherto abandoned our house； again saved us； and
has undertaken the defense of our just cause。 What injury have we done
to justify so intense desire of our destruction？ Certainly those who
have shown themselves so much our enemies； never received any private
wrong from us； for； had we wished to injure them； they would not have
had an opportunity of injuring us。 If they attribute public grievances
to ourselves （supposing any had been done to them）； they do the
greater injustices to you； to this palace； to the majesty of this
government； by assuming that on our account you would act unfairly to
any of your citizens； and such a supposition； as we all know； is
contradicted by every view of the circumstances； for we； had we been
able； and you； had we wished it； would never have contributed to so
abominable a design。 Whoever inquires into the truth of these matters；
will find that our family has always been exalted by you； and from
this sole cause； that we have endeavored by kindness； liberality； and
beneficence； to do good to all； and if we have honored strangers； when
did we ever injure our relatives？ If our enemies' conduct has been
adopted； to gratify their desire for power （as would seem to be the
case from their having taken possession of the palace and brought an
armed force into the piazza）； the infamous； ambitious； and detestable
motive is at once disclosed。 If they were actuated by envy and hatred
of our authority； they offend you rather than us； for from you we have
derived all the influence we possess。 Certainly usurped power deserves
to be detested； but not distinctions conceded for acts of kindness；
generosity； and magnificence。 And you all know that our family never
attained any rank to which this palace and your united consent did not
raise it。 Cosmo； my grandfather； did not return from exile with arms
and violence； but by your unanimous desire and approbation。 It was not
my father； old and inform； who defended the government against so many
enemies； but yourselves by your authority and benevolence defended
him； neither could I； after his death； being then a boy； have
maintained the position of my house except by your favor and advice。
Nor should we ever be able to conduct the affairs of this republic； if
you did not contribute to our support。 Therefore； I know not the
reason of their hatred toward us； or what just cause they have of
envy。 Let them direct their enmity against