[283] The fall of Otranto mentioned in this letter was such a godsend to Lorenzo that he was suspected of being in league with the Turk. It forced the King of Naples to recall his son, the Duke of Calabria, from Siena, where he had aided the nobles to overthrow the popular government, and the Pope to cancel the interdict and make peace with Florence. In November an embassy, with old Luigi Guicciardini at its head, went to Rome and were solemnly reprimanded by Sixtus and then blessed. The only condition he imposed was the equipment of fifteen galleys to serve against the Turk. [284] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza xxxiv. No. 367. [285] _Lucrezia Tornabuoni_, op. cit. [286] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza, No. 43, inside No. 150. [287] Giovanni Albino, a Neapolitan, historian and politician, and a great friend of Lorenzo. [288] _Laurentii Medicis Vita_, op. cit. ii. 216. [289] _Lettere e Notizie di Lorenzo de’ Medici_, Archivio Palatina di Modena, published in a pamphlet by Antonio Cappelli. [290] Bernardo Bandini was one of the men who assassinated Giuliano de’ Medici in the cathedral of Florence. He fled to Constantinople and was arrested by permission of the Sultan through the agency of Frescobaldi, Florentine ambassador to the Porte. [291] Count Girolamo Riario, the Pope’s nephew, was implicated in the Pazzi conspiracy to murder the two brothers Lorenzo and Giuliano de’ Medici. [292] _Lettere e Notizie_, &c., _op cit._, Arch. Pal. di Modena. [293] _Lettere e Notizie_, &c., Arch. Pal. di Modena, _op. cit._ [294] Ibid. [295] Ibid. [296] _Laurentii Medicis Vita_, op. cit. ii. 236. [297] Andrea Zuccalmaglio, Archbishop of Krain. [298] An old Italian dance. [299] _Laurentii Medicis Vita_, op. cit. ii. 227. [300] _Laurentius Medicis Vita_, ii. 229. [301] _Lorenzo de Medicis Vita_, op. cit. ii. 232. [302] Guicciardini throws some doubt on Riario’s presence. [303] For a full account of the Ferrarese war see _Lorenzo de’ Medici_, Alfred von Reumont, ii. 249 _et seq._; _A History of the Papacy_, &c., Dr. Creighton, iv. 100 _et seq._; _Lorenzo de’ Medici_, &c., E. Armstrong, M.A, 182 _et seq._ [304] _Laurentii Medicis Vita_, &c., _op. cit._ ii. 298. [305] Bartolommeo Scala, born at Colle 1430, was the son of a miller. “I came to the Republic,” he wrote, “bare of all things, a mere beggar, of the lowest birth, without money, rank, connections, or kindred. Cosimo, the Father of his country, raised me up by receiving me into his family.” He became Chancellor of Florence and is known for his feud with Poliziano. [306] O lovely maiden. [307] Thou art as fair as the light of the sun. [308] _Arch. di Stato Carte Strozziane_, Filza cxxxviii. No. 57. [309] _Arch._ &c., Carte Strozziane, Filza cxxxviii. No. 58. [310] The abbey of Fonte Doulce, bestowed by the King of France on Giovanni de’ Medici, Lorenzo’s second son, which gift the Pope hesitated to confirm on account of the child’s youth.