Commentary on the Pazzi Conspiracy

...in the Florentine curia are the doors. Being closed from the higher parts, they separate the heads of the conspirators. Thus, led into many rivulets, they lose their momentum. Meanwhile, the whole curia began to murmur, and a few of the citizens gathered there. Jacopo de' Pazzi, when he understood that his hope of killing Lorenzo had failed, not unaware of how great a crime he had committed against himself, struck his own face with both palms. Soon, while he was trying to stir up sedition, before he could exit the temple, he collapsed to the ground out of anguish. Finally, when he saw the situation was in a narrow strait, deliberating to risk fortune, he hastened straight to the forum with a few of his associates. He called the people to arms. Nothing succeeded for him; indeed, everyone held the wicked man—and then, barely able to let out the sound of a voice because of fear—in contempt. When he saw no help in the people, he began to tremble and lose heart. Those who had retreated into the highest fortress of the Curia rolled huge stones down upon Jacopo. The man, trembling, returned home. Francesco also, having received grievous wounds in that tumult, had suddenly taken refuge there. Meanwhile, the Laurentians retook the Curia. Certain Perugians who had come into the curia with Salviati were slaughtered by the prefect of the guards under the very steps of the curia. Then they raged against the rest. They hung Jacopo Poggio from the windows. They captured the Cardinal and led him into the curia with a great guard, and with difficulty protected the man from the onset of the people. Those who had been accustomed to be favored by him were for the most part killed by the plebs. Everything was plundered; the corpses were foully mangled. Now, before the doors of Lorenzo, a head...