The Second Meeting
Two weeks later Count Riario himself summoned Battista to meet with himself and Archbishop Salviati. Count Riario went right to the point;
"The Archbishop tells me that they've discussed a certain matter with you. Well, what do you think?"
"My Lord," replied Battista, "I don't know what to say about this thing because I don't understand it yet. When I do, I will tell you what I think."
"Come now," the Archbishop interjected, "Haven't I told you that we want a coup d'etat in Florence?"
"Indeed you have, yes." replied Battista, "But you haven't told me how [you plan to go about it], and not knowing this, I don't know what to say about it."
Count Riario and the Archbishop then frankly outlined Lorenzo's "evil" intentions against each of them, reiterating that upon the Pope's death, Riario and his state would face grave dangers from Lorenzo. But by overturning the Medici favoured government of Florence, they would be arranging things so the Count could never be hurt. But when Battista asked them to clarify exactly how they planned to go about the coup, they both again spoke in generalities about the Pazzi and Salviati families in Florence. They also at this point spoke of other parties to the plot; King Ferrante of Naples, and - shockingly - Lorenzo's supposed ally, the Duke of Urbino, Federigo da Montefeltro.
It was as Battista was considering the latter unnerving information that Count Riario and the Archbishop admitted that the only way to ensure the success of the coup was to "cut Lorenzo and Giuliano to pieces, to have troops ready in secret, and to go into Florence to do this thing." They were speaking of two assassinations followed by an armed invasion.
"My Lords," Battista warned, "Look again at what you want to do. I guarantee that this is something big, and I don't know how it can be done, because Florence is something big and the Magnificent Lorenzo is, I gather, much liked there."
The Count responded quickly; The Archbishop Salviati and Francesco de' Pazzi held the opposite point of view; That Lorenzo "enjoys little grace and is much hated [in Florence], that once they [Lorenzo and Giuliano] are dead, the Florentines will raise their hands up to heaven [in thanksgiving]."
"Giovan Battista," the Archbishop added, "You've never been to Florence. We know more about Florentine affairs than you do, and we know all about the good and bad that Florentines bear Lorenzo. So don't worry about our plan. As sure as we are sitting here, it will work. All we have to do is fix on the way. And what is it? To warm up [recruit] Messr Jacopo [de' Pazzi], who is colder than an icicle, but once we have him, the whole thing will be on its way. And don't doubt that for a moment."
Still reluctant about the entire affair, Battista offered one last cautioning question; "Very well, and will this [coup and and double assassination] please the Holy Father?"
The answer was just as shocking as the plot; "We will always make him [Pope Sixtus IV] do whatever we want. Besides, His Holiness hates Lorenzo. He wants this more than anyone else."
"Have you talked to him?" asked Battista.
"Of course we have, and we'll arrange to have him tell you too, so that you fully understand his will."
One can imagine how chilling the affirmation that the Pope would condone assassination and armed invasion was to Battista.
In subsequent conversations, Count Riario, Archbishop Salviati and Giovan Battista worked out a way to raise and move troops within the borders of Florence without arrousing suspicion; In September, 1477, papal mercenaries had retaken the Castle of Montone from the wife of Carlo Fortebraddi, a Florentine protégé and anti-papal rebel. It was decided that the plotter's troops could be "hidden" amongst the papal mercenaries within Florentine territory without notice.
Next: The Pope's Blessing