CHAPTER VII.

LORENZO DE’ MEDICI IN ROME. PRATO AND VOLTERRA.

Accession of Sixtus IV. to the Papal Chair—Congratulatory Embassy from Florence—Lorenzo accompanies it—Disposition of the new Pope—Attempted Insurrection in Prato—Bernardo Nardi—Connection of Volterra with Florence—Alum Pits of Volterra—Dispute about Leasing the Alum—Intervention of Florence—Tumult in Volterra—Various Views in Florence—Triumph of the Reigning Faction—Expedition against Volterra—Its Capture and Sack—Volterra and Florence—Misery of the Volterraneans 274