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Francesco de’ Pazzi was cast in a very different sort of mould—­the very antithesis in character, demeanour, and aspiration to Tommaso de Soderini—­he has very appropriately been called “the Cataline of Florence.”  Possessed of immense wealth, much of which had come to him from his father, Messer Antonio, he rapidly dissipated it by selfish extravagance:  no man surpassed him in the virtue or the vice—­which you will—­of self-seeking.

In the bitterness of an overweening and mortified ambition he rejected, with the utmost discourtesy, Lorenzo’s overtures, at the same time remorselessly exposing his intentions, and vowing that no Pazzo should “go round the corner” for a Medico!  Messer Francesco displayed unreservedly the true character of his family:  he was in truth the “Mirror of his race”—­“L’implacabile Pazzi.”

The descent of the Pazzi was one of the most ancient among the noble families of Tuscany.  The senior branch claimed Greek descent, and its members were early denizens of the hill-country about Fiesole.  Leaders of men, they became adherents of the aristocratic party—­the Ghibellines—­and were consistent and energetic in their allegiance to the Emperor.  The junior branch of the Pazzi were dwellers in the Vale of Arno—­men of peaceful predilections in agriculture and commerce, throwing in their lot with the Guelphs—­the democratic party of the Pope.

Giano della Bella’s “Ordinamenti di Giustizia,” in 1293, led to the disqualification of the Pazzi and many other notable families from the exercise of the franchise, and, as a consequence, they were deprived of all share in the Government.

They recognised, even in those early days of the formation of the first of modern states, that the Medici were rivals and opponents not only in domestic and commercial enterprise, but also in political advancement, and no love was lost between the two families.  Nevertheless, the Pazzi were beholden to their rivals for the restoration of their civil rights.

On the return of Cosimo de’ Medici from exile in 1434, they were reinstated, and thenceforward maintained their position.  Messer Andrea, next after Cosimo the most influential citizen of Florence, was elected to the Priorate in 1435, and in 1439 he was called upon to entertain no less a personage than King Rene of France.  In 1441 he was Gonfaloniere di Giustizia.

Messer Andrea left three sons—­Piero, Giacopo and Antonio.  Piero served the supreme office of Gonfaloniere in 1462.  He was the father of a numerous family—­some historians say he had nineteen children by his wife, Madonna Fiammetta de’ Guigni!  None of them, however, made their mark in the life and history of the city, except the fourth son, Belforte Renato, who was a prominent man but suffered for the ill-doings of his relations.