Meeting Lorenzo
The next move of the conspirators was for Count Riario to send Giovan Battista on a minor embassy to Lorenzo de' Medici. Using the excuse of the illness of his neighbour and rival, the Lord of Faenza, Count Riario sent an appeal for friendship to the Florentine Signoria via Battista; "... despite the things that have come between them, [the Count] wishes to cast all that aside ... and to have [Lorenzo] as a father."
When Battista met with Lorenzo at the Medici palace in Florence, he was pleasantly surprised to find that he liked this man who had been so vilified to him. He found Lorenzo to be friendly, hospitable, and seemingly eager to befriend both Battista and his master, Count Riario. Battista could detect none of the hatred and animosity that the Count had claimed Lorenzo held for him.
After his meeting with Lorenzo, still acting on the orders of his lord, Battista made his way to the Inn of the Bell and took a room. From there he sent letters of introduction from Count Riario and Archbishop Salviati to Messr Jacopo de' Pazzi. Jacopo wasted no time in coming to the Inn and hence to Battista's rooms for a secret meeting. Battista conveyed well wishes to Jacopo from Pope Sixtus IV, Count Riario, and Archbishop Salviati.
"What have we to say to each other, Giovan Battista?" Jacopo asked sternly, "Are we supposed to talk about a matter of state?"
"Yes." Battista replied, "Absolutely."
"Look," Jacopo warned, "I don't want to hear anything you have to say, because these gentlemen are racking their brains to make themselves lords of Florence. But I understand things here better than they do, so don't talk to me about this business. I don't want to listen to you."
The Count and Archbishop had stressed to Battista that he must recruit Jacopo into the conspiracy if it had any hope of success. They needed the senior Pazzi's status, dignity, and respect and especially his knowledge and skills in Florentine politics. Battista spoke with authority when he said:
"I bring encouragement from our lord [Pope Sixtus IV]. I spoke with him just before I left Rome. In the presence of the Count and the Archbishop, His Holiness said that I should urge you to get on with the Florence matter, because he has no idea of where there may be another siege like this one of Montone with so many men ready, together, and so close to Florence. And since it is dangerous to delay, he wants to move you to take action."
Despite his misgivings, despite the dishonourable act they were about to commit against a family who had been charitable to his own, Jacopo was stunned to silence and agreement. After all: How could one deny the Pope?
Giovan Battista journeyed to Florence twice more in the following months to confer with Francesco and Jacopo de' Pazzi. But despite night-long discussions as candles burned low in shuttered rooms, no clear plan was forthcoming. They knew they would need a military presence, but not before the Medici brothers were dead. Archbishop Salviati would also have to be in Florence on the day, and Messr Jacopo would have to be the one to stir the citizens in the streets of Florence to secure the takeover of the Palazzo della Signoria and thus the government. But when and where to strike?
Francesco asserted that the assassinations had to be simultaneous - neither brother could be left alive for supporters to rally around. Messr Jacopo did not want the assassinations at all, but if it had to be done, did not want it to take place within Florence - to do so, he felt, would bring even more dishonour upon them and spilling blood within the city would not work to their favour. Francesco, as always, insisted that assassination was the only way and declared that he would commit the murders himself with a few good men at his side; "... in a church, at a game of cards, or at a wedding party." Francesco, Battista decided, thirsted for the blood of Lorenzo and Giuliano even more so than the change in government of Florence.
Next: The Window Narrows