“Now it pleased God that Lorenzo fell ill, and becoming worse and nigh unto death he sent for the said Father Fra Ieronimo, using these very words: ‘Go for the Father Fra Ieronimo, for I have never found one save him who was an honest friar.’ Thus going to Careggi, where Lorenzo was, he entered and after a few words Lorenzo said he desired to make his confession. Fra Ieronimo answered he was willing, but before hearing the confession he wished to mention three things, if these were acceded to no doubt whatever his salvation was assured. Lorenzo replied he was willing and would do what was asked. The Father said: ‘Lorenzo, it is needful for you to have great faith,’ and he answered: ‘Father, that I have.’ Fra Ieronimo then added the second: ‘Also it is needful that you restore what has been wrongfully taken.’ After reflecting for a while he answered: ‘Father, I will do so, or I will cause my heirs to do it if I cannot.’ The Father then said: ‘It is needful for you to give back to the Republic the liberty of the city, and to see that she returns to her ancient state.’ To these words he gave no reply. Thus the said Father departed without further confession, and not long after Lorenzo died. These words I heard from Fra Silvestro who died together with Fra Ieronimo; and I believe he knew and heard them from Father Fra Ieronimo.”[404] Popular opinion in Florence at the time certainly seems to favour Poliziano’s account. Bartolommeo Cerretani, who noted events carefully in his chronicle, wrote on April 7, 1492: “About the fifth hour Lorenzo received the Sacraments.” A few days later Benedetto Dei wrote the following letter to his uncle, who was an adherent of the Medici and often went to foreign lands on their commercial business. Curious readers will find the discrepancies between the two narratives discussed in Creighton’s _History of the Papacy_, Villari’s _Life and Times of Savonarola_, and Horsburgh’s _Lorenzo the Magnificent_. Bartolommeo Dei _to his uncle_ Benedetto Dei, _with Machiavelli in Ferrara_