CHAPTER VI.

LORENZO DE’ MEDICI AS MEDIATOR BETWEEN ROME AND NAPLES.

Lorenzo de’ Medici and Innocent VIII.—Affair of Osimo—Boccalino de’ Guzzoni—Surrender of Osimo—Boccalino in Florence—Boccalino’s End—House of Medici—Death of Madonna Lucrezia—Maddalena de’ Medici and Franceschetto Cybò—Negotiations with King Ferrante concerning the Marriage of Maddalena—Life and Character of Franceschetto Cybò—Fresh Breach between Rome and Naples—Lorenzo de’ Medici’s Despondency—Negotiations between Innocent VIII. and King Ferrante—Lorenzo’s Opinion on the Relation of the Pope to the King, and on the Political Situation—Weakness of the Pope—Gian. Jac. Trivulzio in Florence—Mission of Jacopo Gherardi to Florence and Milan—Lorenzo’s Exhortations to Prudence—Lorenzo’s Instructions for the Negotiation with Milan—Proposed Basis of Agreement—Illness of Lodovico il Moro 260