1 Bened.  Varchi, lib. xv.; Bern.  Segni, 1. vii.; Filippo de Nerli, 1. xii.; Gio.  Batt.  Adriani, 1. i.; Scipione Ammirato, 1. xxxi.; Pauli Jovii.  Hist. 1. xxxviii.; Istorie di Marco Guazzo, fol. 159.

“Lorenzino failed to reap the fruits of the crime, which he had planned with so much skill and such profound secrecy.  By the life he had led, he had aroused the distrust of all honest folks, he had no friends to whom he could apply for advice or help, he had no party behind him, he had never been known to display that zeal for liberty which he subsequently affected.  Although he was the first of the Medici in the order of succession, no one thought of him.  For his own part, he only thought of ensuring his safety.  He locked the door of the room, taking the key away with him, and having obtained an order for the city gates to be opened, and for post-horses to be provided for him, under pretence that he had just learned that his brother was ill, in the country, he started for Bologna, whence he proceeded to Venice, accompanied by Scoronconcolo.”

D. (Tale XVI., Page 183.)

With reference to this story Brantome writes as follows in the Sixth Discourse of his Vies des Dames Galantes:—­

“In the hundred stories of Queen Margaret of Navarre we have a very fine tale of that lady of Milan who, having one night given an assignation to the late M. de Bonnivet, afterwards Admiral of France, posted her maids with drawn swords on the stairs so that they might make a noise there; which they did right well, in obedience to the orders of their mistress, who for her part feigned great affright, saying that her brothers-in-law must have remarked something amiss, that she herself was lost, and that he, Bonnivet, ought to hide under the bed or behind the hangings.  But M. de Bonnivet, without evincing any fear, wrapped his cape round his arm, and taking his sword replied:  ’Well, where are these brave brothers who want to frighten me, or do me harm?  When they see me they will not even dare to look at the point of my sword.’  Then opening the door he rushed out, and just as he was about to charge down the staircase he espied the women making all this noise; and they, taking fright at sight of him, began to cry out and confess everything.  M. de Bonnivet, seeing that it was nothing more serious, left them, bidding them betake themselves to the devil; and then, returning into the room, he closed the door after him and went to find his lady, who began to laugh and embrace him, and confess to him that it was a trick devised by herself, assuring him that if he had behaved as a poltroon, and had not thus displayed the valour which he was said to possess, he should never have had her favours....  She was one of the most beautiful women of Milan, and he had had a deal of trouble to win her.