Medici: Supremacy by Matteo Strukul

Author:Matteo Strukul [Strukul, Matteo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781786692122
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

30

The Officers of the Night

Lorenzo knew the Magistrature of the Office of the Night well.

It couldn’t exactly be called his creation, but anyone claiming it was an invention of the Medici aimed at repressing sodomitical behaviour after the failures of secular and ecclesiastical institutions to do so wouldn’t have been too far from the truth.

For this reason he was optimistic that he had a good chance of ensuring that the accusation against Leonardo was dropped. His father and his grandfather before him hadn’t hesitated to use that same magistrature, created ad hoc for sexual crimes, as an effective tool against their personal political enemies, as well as a deterrent capable of forcing the uncertain morality of the citizens, both nobles and plebeians, back within the limits of decency.

In fact, the Magistrature of the Office of the Night had influenced public opinion, ensuring the gradual demotion of sodomy from capital to serious crime: deserving certainly to be punished by emasculation, but never by the death by fire which had previously been the norm.

The anonymous accusations against Leonardo had been deposited in the Mouths of Truth scattered around Florence, but lacked hard evidence. It was therefore with some optimism that Lorenzo left the prison in the early morning and went to see the Chief of the Office of the Night, Filippo Pitti.

He didn’t have far to go, as Pitti’s offices were in a room in the Palazzo del Podestà – more precisely, inside the Volognana tower.

Lorenzo knew for certain that at that time of day there was a good chance that Filippo would be alone. He nurtured an obsessive dedication for his work and spent almost all of his time in that office. When he was not there, he was certainly out on some investigation.

After knocking and announcing himself, Lorenzo entered.

Filippo sat at a table of dark oak, submerged in papers, documents and seals. As soon as he saw Lorenzo he got to his feet and came over to greet him. He wore the black toga with gold embroidery which was the uniform of his magistracy.

His eyes were tired and in all likelihood he hadn’t slept in days. His sharp face hinted at a firmness and a rare rigour of thought which made him the perfect man for that task.

Medici and Pitti were not exactly on excellent terms, but Filippo always demonstrated a clear autonomy of judgement and behaviour. He was a well-balanced man of great intellectual honesty and Lorenzo did not doubt him. Lorenzo squeezed his hand.

‘I did not expect to see you in this office, Messer Lorenzo,’ he said, returning his grip. ‘May I ask you the reason for such an honour?’

The magistrate’s question was perfectly legitimate, and Lorenzo realized immediately that it would be pointless to attempt artifice or tricks.

‘Messer Filippo, I have been informed of the arrest of Leonardo da Vinci on an accusation of sodomy. I hardly need to state that not only do I believe him to be innocent, but would like to see the evidence supporting such an accusation.

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