fortress of Sant Angelo, raised the spirits of the Republicans of
Florence. Niccolo de' Soderini, Francesco de' Guicciardini and Pietro
de' Salviati took up a strong position as leaders of a popular party,
and once more the cry of "_Liberta!_" "_Liberta!_" was raised. Cardinal
Passerini was advised to leave Florence and to take the two lads with
him.

Among those who escaped from Rome were Filippo negli Strozzi and his
wife Clarice. They posted off to Florence, and whilst Filippo temporised
with the Cardinal and with the party of reform on either hand, Clarice
declared openly for the opponents of her own family.

She attended a specially convened meeting of the anti-Medicean party,
and placed her services at their disposal. It was arranged that she
should visit the Cardinal the following day. Dressed superbly, wearing
the family jewels, and conveyed in a State sedan-chair, she proceeded to
the Palazzo Medici--the house of her fathers. Ippolito and Alessandro,
with their tutors and attendants, met her upon the grand staircase, and
conducted her to the presence of the Cardinal.

Standing in the Long Gallery, she poured forth a torrent of scornful
words upon the base-born scions of her family. "My Lord," she cried, "my
Lord, to what a pass has my family sunk. Do you think that any of my
great ancestors would have borne you so long. Alas! that my race has
none but female legitimate offspring." Then turning to the astonished
lads she continued: "You had better both look out for yourselves and go
away before the Cardinal here destroys you and Florence!"

Some of the suite tried to interfere and to pacify the enraged woman,
but to no avail, she went on vehemently to denounce the intrusion of the