At last in March 1498 his staunch friends, the Signory, or supreme executive of Florence, suspended him from preaching in the Duomo.

Even the populace were weary of the protracted quarrel with the Holy See: nor could any but his own fanatical adherents anticipate the wars which threatened the state, with equanimity.
Savonarola himself felt that the supreme hour was come.

One more resource was left; to that he would now betake himself: he could afterwards but die.

This last step was the convening of a general council.[1] Accordingly he addressed letters to all the European potentates.

One of these, inscribed to Charles VIII., was dispatched, intercepted, and conveyed to Alexander.