Pazzi Conspiracy
The Forces Gather
with the Signoria in the foreground.
The Medici Palace is on the far side
That Sunday, Florentines might have noticed a number of strangers in town, but not so many as to be worrisome. There was a band of thirty crossbowmen plus fifty mounted men, clearly mercenaries, but they were the bodyguard for the Archbishop. Two armies were also advancing on the city, led by Montesecco's allies Tolentino and Giustiani, but no one in the city knew of this. In addition, Francesco de' Pazzi and his fellow conspirators wore concealed weapons, but this was quite unremarkable, for many citizens carried at least a knife.
Despite the careful planning, matters did not go entirely to script. For one thing, the Cardinal went directly to the Medici Palace (Montesecco was with this group) whereas Lorenzo had thought they would meet at the cathedral and had already left. Someone was sent to fetch him, a matter of only a few minutes' walk. The priests held up Mass until the illustrious visitors could show up. Lorenzo came back, received his guests, then they all returned to the cathedral. It was a good-sized crowd by this point, including the Archbishop of Pisa (Salviati), the Cardinal (della Rovere), the Count of Montesecco and his men, Francesco Pazzi, and several other members of both the Salviati and Pazzi families.
Once again, Giuliano was not with them. He was again feeling unwell and had decided to stay behind, and had declared he would not be attending the banquet. But the dice had been cast. The armies were marching, and once their presence in Tuscany was noted, it would be reported to the Signoria and the plot would be revealed. It had to be now, today. Since the deed could not be done at the banquet, it would have to be at the cathedral.