Outlawed from his native city for a homicide, Lodovico adopted the profession of arms and the management of secret diplomacy.

He first took refuge at the Court of France, where in 1541 he obtained such credit, especially with the Dauphin, that he was entrusted with a mission for raising revolt in Siena against the Spaniards.[229] His transactions in that city with Giulio Salvi, then aspiring to its lordship, and in Rome with the French ambassador, led to a conspiracy which only awaited the appearance of French troops upon the Tuscan frontier to break out into open rebellion.

The plot, however, transpired before it had been matured; and Lodovico took flight through the Florentine territory.

He was arrested at Montevarchi and confined in the fortress of Florence, where he made such revelations as rendered the extinction of the Sienese revolt an easy matter.

After this we do not hear of him until he reappears at Venice in the year 1545.