the Cittie which was the cause he failed to performe that enterprise for he knew not that the parts do more willingly follow the head then the head doth follow them After this ouerthrow the King Ferrando being fled into Naples thither resorted vnto him diuerse of his subiects who were driuen from their countreys then by all curteous meanes he leuied men and money to make a new Camp sending againe for aide to the Pope and Duke From the one and the other of whome he was aided more speedily and abundantly then before time he had bene bicause they greatly feared he should otherwise lose his Kingdome King Ferrando in this sort growne strong marched out of Naples and hauing gotten some reputation recouered also part of his lost townes During these warres in the Kingdome a chance happened that vtterly depriued Giouanni de Angio of reputation and meane to haue victorie in that enterprise The Genouesi being wearie of the French insolent and couetous gouernment tooke armes against the Kings Gouernour there and forced him to flee to the little Castle of Genoua The Fregosi and the Adorni were content to ioyne in that action and by the Duke of Milan they became furnished of money and men both for the winning and keeping the Cittie So that the King Rinato with his nauie came to the succour of his sonne and hoping to recouer Genoua by meane of the small Castle in landing his souldiers was ouerthrowne and forced with shame to returne vnto Prouenza These newes being carried to the Kingdome of Naples greatly dismaied Giouanni de Angio notwithstanding he still followed his enterprise and continued the warre being serued by those Barons who were rebelled and could not looke for fauour of Ferrando In the end after many accidents those two royall armies ioyned battell wherein neare vnto the Cittie of Troia Giouanni was vanquished the yeare 1463. This ouerthrow did not so much hinder the successe of the King Giouanni as did the reuolt of Giacopo Piccinino who left him and ioyned with King Ferrando whereby being spoiled of his forces he retired into Histria and from thence to Fraunce This warre continued foure yeares and was in the end lost by his owne negligence for it was many times in good way of victorie by the vertue of his souldiers Therein the Florentines intermedled not apparantly yet were they desired by Embassadors of the King Giouanni of Arragon newly come to that Kingdome by the death of Alfonso to assist the enterprise of Ferrando his nephew as they had bound themselues by the league lately made with Alfonso his father To whome by the Florentines it was answered that they were not by any obligation bound to aide the sonne in that warre which was begun by the father for as the same had bene without their counsell or knowledge taken in hand so without their assistance it should be performed and ended The Embassadors being thus to the request of their King answered protested the execution of their band and the Kings preiudice so in great displeasure with that Cittie departed The Florentines during these warres continued in peace abroad but within they rested not as in the next Booke shall be particulerly declared The ende of the sixt Booke THE SEVENTH BOOKE TO those that haue read the former Booke it may seeme in writing of Florence and the proceedings of the Florentines we haue ouermuch spoken of such accidents as hapned in Lombardy and the Kingdome Neuerthelesse as heretofore I haue so am I hereafter to continue with the like discourses For albeit I did not promise to write of matters concerning Italy yet haue I thought good to speake of those that were in that countrey most notable For if I should not make mention of them our historie would be with more difficultie vnderstood and to the Readers lesse pleasing Chiefely bicause the actions of other people and Princes of Italy did occasion the warres wherein the Florentines were forced to intermeddle as of the warre of Giouanni de Angio and King Ferrando great enimitie grew which was after betwixt Ferrando and the Florentines and particulerly with the house of Medici continued For the King complained that the Florentines did not onely leaue him in that warre vnaided but also that his enemies were by them fauoured which anger was the occasion of exceeding many inconuenients as shall be hereafter declared And for as much as I haue written at large those matters which happened without the Cittie till the yeare 1463. it behoueth me for the declaration of such troubles as happened in those daies within to looke back many yeares passed Yet first by way of discourse as is my custome I say that whosoeuer doth thinke that any Common-weale can continue vnited he greatlie deceiueth himselfe But true it is that some diuisions be preiudiciall to Common-weales and some others be profitable Those be preiudiciall which are with factions and followers accompanied And those are profitable which without factions and followers bee mainteined Seeing then it is a thing impossible for that man who frameth a Common-weale to prouide that no enimitie shall therein arise he ought at the least foresee that no factions be permitted It is then to be considered that the Citizens in euerie state do win reputation either by publike or priuate meanes Publike reputation is gotten by victorie in the field by surprizing of townes by wise and discreet performing of Embassages or by counsailing the State grauely and fortunately By priuate meanes men attain to reputatiō by pleasuring particuler citizēs by sauing them frō punishments by relieuing them with money by aduancing thē vnworthily to honors and offices and by enterteining the common people with sports publike gifts From these causes faction following and partaking do proceed And as reputation thus gotten is hurtful so the other not being intermedled with faction is the occasion of great good bicause it is grounded vpon no priuate but common commoditie And albeit among such Citizens so great displeasures wil grow as the wisdome of man is not able to preuēt yet wāting partakers to follow thē for proper profit they cannot by any way hinder the common-weale but shal rather help it for in aspiring to that they would come vnto it behoueth them to indeuor the aduancement of the state and particularly one to respect the other so much as the lawes ciuil orders be not infringed The enimities of Florēce were alwaies followed with factions and therfore hurtfull to the state neither was any victorious faction longer vnited then the contrary part continued in force for so soone as the enemies were extinguished the faction remaining no more in awe of the enemy nor hauing order to bridle it selfe became diuided The faction of Cosimo de Medici in the yeare 1434. remained with victorie Neuerthelesse bicause the partie oppressed was stil great and full of mightie men it continued vnited and tollerable so long as among those of the factiō no error was cōmitted and the people
footmen After that time in the warre against Filippo Visconti Duke of Milan hauing rather to proue industrie then their owne proper Armes for at that time they were decayed we see in fiue yeares which that warre continued the Florentines spent three Milions and fiue hundreth thousand Florins And that warre being ended as not pleased with peace to shew more of their greatnesse they besieged the Cittie of Lucca I cannot therefore conceiue any cause why these diuisions should not be particulerly written And if those notable writers before named were withholden by feare to offend the posteritie of such as they should haue made mention of they greatly deceiued themselues and seeme to know little the ambition of men with the desire they haue to make the names of their Ancestors and themselues to continue perpetuall Neyther do they remember that many men wanting occasion to win themselues fame by some laudable deede by some impious acte haue laboured to aspire thereunto And they considered not that the actions of men which haue in them greatnesse as gouernments and authorities howsoeuer they be handled or what end soeuer they haue do seeme alwayes to giue men more honor then blame VVhich I hauing thought vpon did determine to change my meaning and resolued to begin my Historie at the beginning of our Cittie And sith my intent is not to vsurp the place of others I will particulerly set downe what chanced onely within the Cittie till the yeare 1334. and of such things as hapned without I will not say more then that which for the vnderstanding of the other shall be necessarie The yeare 1434. being passed I will particulerly write the one and the other Moreouer to the end this Historie may be the better vnderstood before I intreate of Florence I shall discourse by what meanes Italy became subiect to such Potentates as in those dayes there gouerned The first Booke shall briefly recite all accidents hapned in Italy from the declination of the Romayne Empire till the yeare 1434. The second will shew what things hapned from the beginning of Florence till the warre which the Florentines made against the Pope after expulcion of the Duke of Athene The third doth end with the death of King Ladislao of Naples Anno 1434. In the fourth Booke we wil intreate what other things chanced till the yeare abouesaid And from thencefoorth discourse particulerly of such accidents as befell within Florence till this our time To the Reader NOT by my suite though by my consent this Historie is now become publike The translation thereof was diuerse yeares past desired by an honorable personage not now liuing yet for loyaltie to his Prince loue to his Countrey and vertuous deseruing of all men worthie a longer life had not God in his diuine prouidence otherwise ordeyned Loth I was to medle with matter of so much waight in regard of mine owne insufficiencie being neither learned nor making profession of learning and lother it should be published for that the Author in some other his works hath not as is thought written with due respect to pietie Howsoeuer that be in this Booke being a meere relation of the Florentines fortune when they were gouerned Aristocraticallie appeareth not any thing vnfit to be knowne or that may receiue euill construction The first part sheweth the occasions of ruyne in the Romaine Empire and how the Prouinces of Italy became diuided into diuerse gouernments with their often variations Secondly by what meanes the Pope the Venetians the King of Naples and the Duke of Milan possessed the greatest parts of Italy Lastly how that the Florentines abandoning obedience to the Emperour liued almost continually in faction and ciuill partialitie vntill the house of Medici by the great vertue of Giouanni Cosimo Piero and Lorenzo atteyned to a singuler reputation in that State where now and some yeares past they gouerne as Princes with great honor iustice and integritie which happinesse they could not finde in their Aristocraticall pollicie Yet diuerse notable Polititians and wise law-makers haue not onely allowed but also highlie commended it aboue others Affirming that as mediocritie is in all things most praiseable and extremities reproueable so the Aristocracie being the meane betweene the multitude and one Prince is speciallie to be preferred Also for that the authoritie to commaund is due to the most worthie and worthinesse consisteth either in honor in vertue in riches or in them altogither the state Aristocraticall must needs be most allowed bicause the noble the riche and vertuous men are in all places the fewest number and they onely in that kinde of gouernment haue authoritie They alleage also how the rich men onely as they that haue most interest in the State do bestowe most in publike seruices and therefore to them the Gouernment ought be allotted so was it in Rome after the Kings were deposed likewise in Athens in Carthage and at this day in Venice Genoua and Lucca For answere of these reasons in fauour of Aristocracie wherein mediocritie seemeth to be speciallie sought for who so shall duely examine thereof may finde that to diuide things in the midst and thereby to marke out the vertue which consisteth in reason were impossible as all Philosophers haue determined True it is that the meane betweene all and one is perfit yet no where to be found sith in some Cities there are not one thousand Citizens and in some other more then an hundreth thousand which maketh the Aristocracie alwayes incertaine by the incertaintie of the numbers And where the Gouernors be many there are also factions many the resolutions slowe and the secrets of State often discouered For by experience is seene how those Aristocracies which haue in them fewest Gouernors are most durable As that of the Lacedemonians gouerned by thirtie persons and that of the Pharsalians by twentie It is not therefore the meane betweene one and all which causeth mediocritie Now for bestowing Soueraigntie vpon the most worthie true it is so it ought be yet that argument maketh more for the Monarchie For among the noble rich and wise some one doth euer excell the rest and to him by that reason the authoritie ought be giuen seeing it is not possible to find all those things equally in all men If it be alleaged that among the greatest number are found most vertuous and good men that reason serueth not either in that state or the Democracie seeing in them both as in all Corporations the most voices are preferred before the wise and better To conclude I say that in all States wherein are most Gouernors there are fewest resolutions and most disputations The Venetians therefore to meete with those inconuenients do commit the mannaging of their ordinarie affaires to the Senate which consisteth of seuen persons onely as knowing that the fewer be made priuie the more secretly they shall be handled and no Aristocracie haue had so long continuance Thus much touching Aristocraticall gouernment of which
brother into Florence Of M. Corso with certaine banished men entereth the Citie How the Lucchesi setled the state in Florence Florence both by fire and sword tormented Of a place called le Stinche in the vale of Greue Vguccione cheefe of the faction Ghibilina and Bianca The Ghibilini banished and among them the Poet Dante Of great misery in Florence New reformation in Florence Castruccio of Lucca The order of casting Lots and how it begunne in Florence How the great Cittizens encreased their authority by two meanes Conspiracy against Giacopo de Agobio League betweene the Florentines and Venetians The Duke of Athene made Lord of Florence Proclamation of banishment made by that Duke and murther of some Citizens The Oration of certayn cheefe Citizens before the Duke The Dukes Pallace sacked Conspiracy against the Duke The Duke assaulted and vanquished The Duke dismissed out of Florence his lyfe and condition Andrea Strozzi entendeth to vsurpe the state of Florence At what time the great plague hapned in that City whereof Boccatio hath at large written In the third Booke HOw the discord which groweth of ambition are the occasion of deuision in Cities The partialities of the Albizi and Rizzi How M. di Riale of Prouenza came to Florence A law made against the Ghibilini How the word Ammoniti arose in Florence and what it meaneth An Oration of one Citizen to the Lords The occasion of the corruption of Italy The cheefe of the faction of Guelfi New tumults in Florence The Oration of Luigi Guicciardini Gonfaloniere New reformation of the City One Simone discouereth a conspiracy against the state Michiele di Lando an artificer by his courage aspired to be chosen Gonfaloniere di Giustitia New reformation in Florence A commendation of Michiele di Lando An accusation of many Cittizens for their returne being banished The insolency of Georgio Scali The death of that Georgio Exile and slaughter in Florence The speech of Benedetto Alberti to his cōpanions Of the maner of creation of the Balia in Florence Of Iohn Galeazzo Visconti The words of Veri di Medici What qualitie the Florentines required to be in him that occupied the place of Gonfaloniere Giacopo Acciaiuoli The death of certaine Cittizens In the fourth Booke FIlippo Visconti Duke of Milan intendeth to become Lord of Genoa Georgio Ordilaffi Lord of Furli The Duke of Milan maketh warre against the Florentines Giouanni de Medici New league betweene the Florentines and Venetians Of an Imposition among the Florentines called Catasto Carmignuolo Generall of the warre in Lombardy Peace taken with the Duke of Mylan and the League and what Citties remained to the Venetians The death of Giouanni de Medici and his commendation Of Cosimo his sonne Volterra rebelleth from the Florentines The enterprise of the Florentines against Lucca The violence offered to Sarauezesi and the speech of one man of that place to the Senate of Florēce Filippo Brunalesco an excellent Architector The defeate of the Florentine army by Nicholo Piccinino A consultation to expulse Cosimo di Medici out of Florence The answere of Nicholo Vzano Cosimo di Medici cited before the Senate was imprisoned Cosimo confined to Padoa Cosimo returneth to his Countrey In the fift Booke BRaccio and Sforza two great Captaynes in Italy Nicholo Piccinino Generall for the Duke of Mylan Gattamelata Generall for the Venetians Banishment of many Cittizens in Florence Alfonso of Aragon maketh warre for Naples The ordinances of the Cittie of Genoua The speech of Rinaldo delli Albizi to the Duke of Mylan Rebellion of Genoua from the Duke An Oration of an antient Cittizen of Lucca to the people Francesco Sforza Generall of the league of Florence and Venice Discord betweene Andrea Mauroceno and Francesco Sforza Cosimo di Medici Embassador to the Venetians The Duke of Mylan determineth to take Romagna from the Pope Sforza desiring to marrie the Duke of Mylan his daughter practiseth by diuerse indirect meanes Sforza refuseth to passe the Po with his army The speech of Neri Capponi to the Senate of Venice The diuerse waies from Pesaro to Verona and which of them the Earle Sforza made choise of The Nauy of the Venetians taken by Nicholo Piccinino The Earle remoueth to rescue Brescia The scite of Verona The Earle goeth to Venice Piccinino passeth to Casentino The Castle of San Nicholo The Earle breaketh the Dukes Nauy The ouerthrow of Piccinino Alberto de Albizi setleth himselfe to dwell at Ancona The taking of Poppi and what words the Earle owner of that place vsed In the sixt Booke A Description of certaine lawdable customes vsed in auncient Common-weales A proude request made by Piccinino to the Duke of Mylan The Duke marrieth Bianca his daughter to the Earle Francesco Sforza and giueth her the Cittie of Cremona Alfonso of Aragon beseegeth Naples Annibal Bentiuogli breaketh the forces of Piccinino Baldaccio de Anghiari Generall for the Florentines The Canneschi murdered Annibal Bentiuogli The people for that fact cut the Canneschi in pieces and killed Battista that slew Anniball Santo Bentiuogli appointed to gouerne Bologna vntill the sonne of Anniball came to full age Certaine Cities yeelded to the Venetians The Earle Sforza beseegeth Carauaggio The taking of one Venetian Proueditor whom the Earle set at libertie hauing first informed him of his pride The Venetians become bond to pay vnto the Earle a certaine number of Florins Embassadors sent from Mylan to the Earle and their Oration The Milanesi made choise of that Earle for their Duke The Embassadors of Venice denyed audience by the Florentines The Venetians begun warre agaynst the Duke Steffano Porcari determining to surprize Rome is discouered and put to death by the Pope King Rinato Pope Calisto 3. endeuoreth to make warre against the Infidels giuing crosses to the souldiers and therefore the enterprise was called la Crociata but it proceeded not Meruailous tempest about Florence and great harme proceeding thereby Giouan di Augio in the name of the French King taketh possession of Genoua Dissention betweene the Fregosi and Giouanni Giouanni vanquished In the seuenth Booke HOw hard it is to continue a Common-weale vnited The Cittizens of Florence desire Cosimo di Medici to reforme the Cittie Lucca Pitti Lucca Pitti builded magnificently The death of Cosimo di Medici The commendation of Cosimo A new enterprise against the infidels impeached A conspiracie of certaine Cittizens against Piere di Medici Piero armeth against his enemies The enemies of Piero banished Florence An Oration made by Piero in his house to the Senators The Duke of Milan goeth to Florence The Florentines against the Volterani Federigo Duke of Vrbino an excellent Captaine Bad condition of Galiazzo Duke of Milan Treason against that Duke The death of the Duke The death of the Conspirators In the eight Booke COnspiracie against Lorenzo and Giuliano di Medici The murder of Giuliano The death of the Archbishop and some other Conspirators The death of Francesco Pazzi The death of Giacopo di Pazzi The
Pope and King make war vpō the Florētines The death of Lorenzo di Medici 1492. FINIS AA ⧠THE FIRST BOOKE OF the Florentine Historie THE people inhabiting the North beyond the Riuers of Reyne and Danubio being borne in a cold Region yet wholesome apt to generation do many times encrease and become so populous that part of them are cōstrained to abandon their natiue countries and seeke new places where to remaine The order which those people hold in dispersing the inhabitants is to diuide themselues into three parts yet so as in euerie one may be some of the nobilitie and some of the people some of the rich and some of the poore equallie diuided which done the one part whose lot falleth so out leaueth that country and seeketh fortune elsewhere to abide The other two parts of the people there remaining doo possesse and enioy the landes of them that are departed These people were those which destroyed the Romane Empire whereunto the Emperours themselues gaue some occasion by forsaking Rome the antient Emperiall seate and setling themselues at Constantinople For thereby the West part of the Empire became weake lesse regarded more easie to be harmed both of their owne ministers and others their enemies Surely the destruction of so great an Empire builded vpon the blood of so many vertuous men could not be lost without the sloath of Princes infidelitie of ministers great forces and much obstinacie in them who assaulted the same for not onely one sort of people but many multitudes in that action conspired The first enemies which came to the destruction of the Roman Empire after the Cimbri vanquished by Marius the Romane were the Visigotti which name in our language may bee called Gotti of the West These people after some conflicts in the Empire and through the sufferance of the Emperours long time continued their dwellings vpon the Riuer of Danubio And although at sundrie occasions and sundrie times they assaulted the prouinces belonging to the Empire yet were they by the power of the Emperours from time to time impeached and at last by Theodotio gloriously vanquished So that thereby being brought vnder his obedience they could not againe make any King ouer them but contented with the Emperours paie vnder his gouernment and ensigne they liued and serued But Theodotio being dead and leauing Arcadio and Honorio his sonnes heires of the Empire but not of his vertue and fortune the time with the Prince clearly altered and chaunged Theodotio authorized vnto three parts of the Empire three gouernours In the East Ruffino in the West Stillicone and in Affrica Gildonio Euerie one of these determined after the death of their Prince not to gouerne as ministers but to possesse the countries as Princes Of these three Gildonio and Ruffino were at their beginnings oppressed but Stillicone better dissembling his intent sought to winne himselfe credit with the new Emperours neuerthelesse disturbe the quietnesse of their state Then to the end he might the rather atteine the possession thereof and procure the Visigotti to become enemies to the Empire he counselled the Emperour no more to paie them Besides that Stillicone imagining these enemies were not of force sufficient to disturbe the Empire found meanes that the Burgundi Fraunchi Vandali and Alani all people of the North and appointed to seeke themselues a new habitation assailed the Romane countries The Visigotti then being discharged from their paie determined as of an iniury to be reuenged creating Alarico their King assaulted the Empire destroyed Italy and sacked Rome After which victory Alarico died and to him succeeded Ataulfo who tooke to wife Placidia sister to the Emperours and through that alliance agreed with them to succour France and Spaine which countries wereby the Vandali Burgundi Alani and Fraunchi thereto moued by the occasions aforesayd assailed Whereof ensued that the Vandali who had alreadie conquered that part of Spaine which is called Betica were sore molested by the Visigotti and not hauing other helpe were forced to accept the offer of Bonifacio at that time gouerning Affrica for the Emperour who required them to take in hand the conquest thereof being by his meane in Rebellion and he fearing least his fault should be to the Emperour detected For these reasons aforesaid the Vandali most willingly tooke the enterprise in hand vnder Genserico their King possessed Affrica By this time Theodotio sonne to Archadio was become Emperour who litle regarding the affaires of the Empire in the West gaue great hope to these forrein people to enioy those things they had conquered So that the Vandali possessed Affrica the Alani and Visigotti gouerned Spaine the Fraunchi and Burgundi did not onely conquere Gallia but also vnto the parts thereof by them conquered gaue their owne names calling the one Francia the other Burgogna The happie successe of those encouraged new people to the destructiō of the Empire For at that time the people called Vnni assailed and possessed Pannonia a prouince adioyning to the Riuer Danubio which at this day hauing taken the name of these Vnni is called Vngheria Vpon consideration of these disorders the Emperour seeing himselfe on euerie side assailed to the end he might haue the fewer foes beganne to take truce sometimes with the Vandali and sometimes with the Franchi which did greatly encrease the reputatiō and power of the barbarous people disgracing and diminishing the credit of the Empire Neither was in those dayes the Iland of Bretagna at this day called England assured from such inuasion for the Bertoni fearing these people which had possessed France and not finding how the Emperour could defend them called to aide them the Angli a people of Germany so named These Angli vnder Votigerio their King tooke the enterprise in hand ouerthrew the enemy and in the end draue them out of the Iland themselues there remaining inhabiting By the name of which Angli that country was and yet is called Anglia The inhabitants whereof being thus spoiled and driuen from their country became desperate perswading themselues that although they could not defend their own country yet was it possible for them to conquere an other Whereupon they with their families passed the seas and planted them on the other side neare the shoare and called that country by their owne name Bretagna The people called Vnni who as is aforesaid had conquered Pannonia assembling themselues with other people called Zepedi Eruli Turinghi and Ostrogotti which word signifieth in that language Gotti of the East prepared themselues to seeke new countries but not being of force sufficient to enter France being defended by other barbarous forces they came vnto Italy conducted by Attila their king who not long before to gouerne alone in his kingdome had slaine Bleda his brother Thus Attila became mightie Andarico king of Zebedi and Velamer king of the Ostrogotti were made as it were his subiects