The Holy State, Book 5 · Chapter 16
CHAP. 16. The Pazzians conspiracie.
IN the city of Anno 1478. April 26. The summe hereof is taken out of Machiavels Florent. Hist lib. 8. pag. 407. & sequent.Florence, being then a Popular State, the honourable familie de-Medices managed all chief affairs, so beloved of the people for their bounty, that the honour they had was not extorted by their greatnesse, but seemed due to their goodnesse. These Mediceans depressed the Pazzians, another familie in that State, as big set, though not so high grown, as the Medicei themselves, loading them with injuries, and debarring them not onelyonly from Offices in the city, but their own right. The Pazzians, though highly wrong'd, counterfeited much patience, and, which was a wonder, though malice boyled hot in their hearts, yet no scumme ran over in their mouthes.
At last, meeting together, they concluded, that seeing the Legall way was stopp'd with violence, the violent way was become Legall, whereby they must right themselves; and they determined to invite Julian and Laurence Medices, the Governours of the State, to dinner, with Cardinall Raphael Riarius, and there to murther them. The matter was counted easie, because these two brethren were but one in effect, their heads in a manner standing on the same shoulders, because they alwayes went together, and were never asunder. Fifty were privy to this plot; each had his office assigned him. Baptista Monteseccius was to kill Laurence, Francis Pazzius and Bernardus Bandinius were to set on Julian, whilest the Archbishop of Pisa, one of their allies, was with a band of men to seise on the Senate-house. Cardinall Raphaels company rather then assistance was required, being neither to hunt, nor kill, but onelyonly to start the game, and by his presence to bring the two brothers to the dinner. All appointed the next morning to meet at Masse, in the chief Church of S. Reparata.
Here meeting together, all the designe was dash'd: for here they remembred that Julian de Medices never used to *Machiav. disput. de Repub. lib. 3. cap. 6. pag. 397.dine. This they knew before, but considered not till now, as if formerly the vapours arising out of their ambitious hearts had clouded their understanding. Some advised to referre it to another time, which others thought dangerous, conceiving they had sprung so many leaks of suspition, it was impossible to stop them, and feared, there being so many privie to the plot, that if they suffered them to consult with their pillows, their pillows would advise them to make much of their heads; wherefore not daring to stay the seasonable ripening of their designe, they were forced in heat of passion to parch it up presently, and they resolved to take the matter at the first bound, and to commit the murther (they intended at dinner) here in the Church, taking it for granted, the two Mediceans would come to Masse, according to their dayly custome.
But changing their stage, they were fain also to alter their Actours. Monteseccius would not be employed in the businesse, to stain a sacred place with bloud; and the breaking of this string put their plot quite out of tune. And though Anthony Volateran and Stephen a Priest were substituted in his room, yet these two made not one fit person; so great is the difference betwixt a choice and a shift. When the Host was elevated, they were to assault them; and the Sacrament was a signe to them, not of Christs death past, but of a murther they were to commit.
But here again they were at a losse. Treason, like Pope Adrian, may be choak'd with a flie, and marr'd with the least unexpected casualtie. Though Laurence was at Church, Julian was absent. And yet by beating about, they recover'd this again: for Francis Pazzius and Bernard Bandinius going home to his house, with complements and courteous discourse brought him to the Church. Then Bandinius with a dagger stabb'd him to the heart, so that he fell down dead, and Francis Pazzius insulting over his corps (now no object of valour but cruelty) gave it many wounds, till blinded with revenge, he strook a deep gash into his own thigh.
But what was over-measure in them, in overacting their parts, was wanting in Anthony and Stephen, who were to kill Laurence in the Quire. You *Machiav. disp. de Repub. lib. 3. cap. 6. pag. 399.Traitour, said Anthony; and with that Laurence starting back avoided the strength of the blow, and was wounded onelyonly to honour, not danger, and so recovered a strong chapell. Thus Malice, which vents it self in threatning, warns men to shun it, and like hollow singing bullets, flies but halfway to the mark. With as bad successe did the Archbishop of Pisa seise on the Senate-house, being conquered by the Lords therein assembled, and, with many of his Complices, hung out of a window.
The Pazzians now betake themselves to their last refuge which their desperate courses had left them. James the chief of their family with one hundred more repair to the market-place, and there crie, Liberty, Liberty. A few followed them at first, but the snow-ball by rolling did rather melt then gather, and those, who before had seen the foul face of their treason naked, would not be allured to love it now masked with the pretences of the publick good; and at last, the whole strength of the State subdued them.
Every tree about the city bare the fruit of mens heads, and limbes: many were put to death with torment, more with shame, and onelyonly one Renatus Pazzius with pity, who loved his conscience better then his kinred, that he would not be active in the conspiracy; and yet his kinred better then his conscience, that he would not reveal it; Treason being like some kind of strong poyson, which though never taken inwardly by cordiall consenting unto it, yet kill's by being held in ones hand, and concealing it.