He went home, and wrote to his brother-in-law, Paolo Orsini, to come and help him with his gendarmes.

Unluckily for him, his letter was intercepted.

The Signoria considered that it was an attempt at rebellion.

They summoned the citizens to their aid; they armed hastily, sallied forth in crowds, and thronged about the piazza of the palace.

Meanwhile Cardinal Gian dei Medici had mounted on horseback, and under the impression that the Orsini were coming to the rescue, was riding about the streets of Florence, accompanied by his servants and uttering his battle cry, "Palle, Palle." But times had changed: there was no echo to the cry, and when the cardinal reached the Via dei Calizaioli, a threatening murmur was the only response, and he understood that instead of trying to arouse Florence he had much better get away before the excitement ran too high.