The trend of affairs in Florence gave Pope Clement grave anxiety, for,
of course, his own personal control became less and less effective upon
his elevation to the Papacy. Accredited representatives of the family
were required to be in residence there for the maintenance of Medici
supremacy. Alas, legitimate male heirs of the senior branch from Cosimo,
"_Il Padre della Patria_," were non-existent, and Giovanni delle Bande
Nere and his family would not, had he been chosen as _Capo della
Repubblica_, consent to be dependent upon Rome.

Clement took counsel with the Florentine ambassadors, who had been sent
to congratulate him upon his elevation. Very adroitly he placed by his
chair of state the two youths, who passed for Medici, and who were "as
dear to him as sons"--Ippolito and Alessandro. In compliment to the
Pope, and certainly not from conviction, the fourteen envoys agreed in
asking him to send the two boys to Florence, under the charge of a
worthy administrator, who should hold the reins of government in
Clement's name.

Delighted with the success of his stratagem, Clement chose the Cardinal
of Cortona, one of his most obedient and faithful creatures, to
accompany Ippolito, nearly sixteen years old, to Florence as
quasi-Regent for the lad. With them went, as Ippolito's chamberlains,
four Florentine youths of good birth who were favourites of the Pope,
Alessandro de' Pucci, Pietro de' Ridolfi, Luigi della Stufa, and Palla
de' Rucellai. The cortege was received in Florence without
demonstrations of any kind; but certainly Ippolito made a very
favourable impression by his good looks and gaiety. The Cardinal and his
companions drew rein first at the Church of the SS. Annunziata, where
they heard Mass, and they then rode on to the renovated Palazzo Medici.
A meeting of the _Signoria_ was convened, and by a narrow majority