Innocents

**Innocents** is the 4th episode of Season 3 and the 20th episode of the series overall.

## Plot synopsis

A restless Lorenzo awakens at night and decides to check on his children. His teenage boys are sleeping soundly, but his young daughter Maddalena is awake in the parlor, examing some rolls of carpet. She asks Lorenzo what they are and he explains that they are gifts for the envoys from across Europe, who are to visit a peace conference to be held in Florence. He unfurls one to show a map that has been stitched on it, which displays the whole of Christendom, with Florence at its center.

Meanwhile, the forces of Girolamo Riario invade and occupy Ferrara, and attempt to locate Florentine ambassador Tommaso Peruzzi, who is awaiting the return of the city's duke. Peruzzi hides in the home of a friendly Florentine family, who claim he left the city the previous night when questioned by Riario's men. Despite this attack and the urging of the Ten, Lorenzo refuses to go to war, not wishing to affect the upcoming peace conference. Riario then decides to cut off trade routes of salt, needed by Florence for food preservation for the upcoming winter. Lorenzo again refuses to engage, offering to pay for more expensive salt shipments from Volterra, using money from the Medici Bank.

At Palazzo Medici, Lucrezia tends to a cut sustained by Giulio in a duel, which he had initiated after his father was accused of cowardice regarding Ferrara. Giulio comments on Lucrezia's large stockpile of medicine, to which she responds that she has many grandchildren, and confiscates his sword. In reality, she is suffering from an illness of the lungs, but has kept this hidden from the rest of the family. She reacts angrily when Maddalena later stumbles upon her treating herself, but apologizes to the crying girl, who in turn keeps quiet when her mother Clarice enquires about the commotion. Lucrezia decides to confide in Clarice, but asks that she keep her illness secret from Lorenzo, while he is busy arranging the peace conference. Clarice reluctantly agrees and Lucrezia offers to teach her more about the Bank, intending that she become her successor, although Clairce is alarmed to learn that the Bank is actually taking money from the city's coffers during the current crisis.

In desperation, Lorenzo visits Pope Sixtus IV in Rome, hoping to convince him to join the peace conference. Although angered, Sixtus begs Lorenzo's forgiveness for his role in the Pazzi Conspiracy and expects Lorenzo to ask for his in return. Lorenzo refuses, feeling his actions were fully justified following his brother Giuliano's death. When Peruzzi is convinced to reveal himself by Riario's wife Caterina Sforza, he and the other Florentine families are expelled from Ferrara, expecting that Lorenzo will ensure their safety. However, despite sending his forces to oversee the exodus, Lorenzo arranges for them to hold back, allowing Riario's men to cut them down, with only Peruzzi being offered rescue.

Lorenzo had live sketches be made of the massacre and they are forwarded to the Pope, who relents due to his nephew Riario's behavior, and agrees to attend the peace conference, but stipulates it be held in Bologna. Knowing this will give the appearance of the Pope being the arranger of peace instead of the Medici, Lorenzo agrees anyway. However, at the conference, Lorenzo takes the first action, asking the Pope's forgiveness in front of the other envoys. Knowing that regardless of the Pope's acceptance or rejection, he will have ensured that it is the Medici that are recognized as having taken the firt step in mending relations. Although angered by Lorenzo's audacity, the Pope reluctantly accepts.

When Lucrezia's condition worsens, she becomes delirious and runs into the streets after discovering that Giulio has taken his sword, fearing for his safety. She experiences a vision of her deceased son Giuliano, Giulio's father, who smiles and beckons her forward. Clarice finds her soon afterwards, and she passess away. Later, an upset Giulio throws his sword into the river, and decides to accompany his cousin Giovanni to Rome, and study to become a cardinal. Lorenzo is upset to learn of his mother's death upon his return and grieves, and Clarice comforts him, choosing to withhold her knowledge of the Bank's illicit actions for the time being.

## Appearances

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* Character 1
* Character 2