222 POLITICAL HERESY.— THE CHURCH. be not merely a deprivation of spiritual privileges, but that it might comprehend segregation from the outside world and seizure of person and property wherever found, which was ruin to a commer- cial community. The merchants and bankers of Florence received %J from their Roman correspondents the most alarming accounts of the papal wrath and of his intention to expose their property to pillage. Fear took possession of the city, as rumors spread from day to day that the dreaded interdict had been proclaimed. It shows the immense influence still wielded by Savonarola that, after earnest discussions and various devices, the Signoria could only bring itself, March IT, to send to him five citizens at night to beg him to suspend preaching for the time. He had promised that, while he would not obey the pope, he would respect the wishes of the civil power, but when this request reached him he replied that he must first seek the will of Him who had ordered him to preach. The next day, from the pulpit of San Marco, he gave his answer — " Listen, for this is what the Lord saith : In asking this Frate to give up preaching it is to Me that the request is made, and not to him, for it is I who preach ; it is I who grant the request and who do not grant it. The Lord assents as regards the preaching, but not as regards your salvation." * It was impossible to yield more awkwardly or in a manner more convincing of self-deception, and Savonarola's enemies grew correspondingly bold. The Franciscans thundered triumphantly from the pulpits at their command ; the disorderly elements, wearied with the rule of righteousness, commenced to agitate for the license which they con Id see was soon to be theirs. Profane scoffers commenced to ridicule the Frate openly in the streets, and within a week placards were posted on the walls urging the burn- ing of the palaces of Francesco Yalori and Paolo Antonio Sode- rini, two of his leading supporters. The agents of the Duke of Milan were not far wrong when they exultingly wrote to him pre- dicting the speedy downfall of the Frate, by fair means or foul.f Just at this juncture there came to light a desperate expedient to which Savonarola had recourse. After giving Alexander fair warning, March 13, to look to his safety, for there could no longer
- Perrens, pp. 237, 238.— Landucci, pp. 164-66.
f Landucci, p. 166. — Villari, U. App. pp. lviii.-lxii.
