that day had bene euer there mainteined reducing all vnder one Duke who was yearely sent thither from Rauenna and his gouernment called the Romane Dukedome but the generall Gouernour who continually remained at Rauenna by the Emperours commaundement and gouerned all Italy vnder him was called Esarco This diuision made the ruine of Italy to be more easie and gaue opportunitie to the Longobardi to vsurpe the same The gouernment of that country gotten by the vertue and blood of Narsete thus taken from him he being also by Sophia iniured reuiled threatned to be called home and spinne with women moued him so greatly to chollor and offence that he perswaded Alboino King of the Lombardi who at that time reigned in Pannonia to come into Italy conquere it The Longobardi beeing as is aforesaid entered into those countries neare Danubio who had lately bene abandoned by the Heruli and Turingi when by their King Odoacre they were led into Italy for a time they there remained But the kingdome being come to Alboino a man couragious cruel they passed the riuer Danubio and fought with Comundo King of the Zepedi and ouerthrew him in Pannonia which hee then possessed Alboino in this victorie amongst others happened to take prisoner the daughter of Comundo called Rosmundo married her and thereby became Lord of Pannonia Then mooued by the crueltie of his nature hee made a cup of her fathers hed whereof in memorie of the victorie he vsed to drinke But then called into Italy by Narsete with whome in the warres of the Gotti hee had acquaintance and friendship left Pannonia to the Vuni who after the death of Attila as is aforesaid were returned into their countrey Then he came againe into Italy where finding the same into many partes diuided sodenly wan Pania Millan Verona Vicenza all Toscana and the more part of Flamminia now called Romagna So that perswading himselfe through so many and so speedie successes to haue already as it were gotten the victorie of all Italy hee celebrated a solemne feast in Verona whereat being by drinking much become very merry and seeing the skull of Comundo full of wine hee caused the same to be presented to the Queene Rosmunda who sat ouer against him at the table saying vnto her with so loude a voice that euerie one might heare him that she should now at this feast drinke with her father which speech pearced the Lady to the heart and she forthwith determined to reuenge the same Then knowing that Almachilde a valiant young gentleman of Lombardi loued a maiden of hers of whome hee obtained to lie with her and the Queene beeing priuy to that consent did her selfe tarry in the place of their meeting which beeing without light Almachilde came thither and supposing to haue lien with the mayden enioyed the Queene her mistresse which done the Queene discouered her selfe and said vnto him that it was in his power to kill Alboino and possesse her with her kingdome foreuer but if hee refused so to do shee would procure that Alboino should kill him as one that had abused his wife To this motion and murther of Alboino Almachilde consented After the murther performed finding that he could not according to his expectation enioy the kingdome and fearing to be slaine of the Lombardes for the loue they bare to Alboino the Queene and hee taking their princely treasure and iewels fled to Longino at Rauenna who honorably there receiued them During these troubles Iustiniano the Emperour died and in his place was elected Tiberio who beeing occupied in the warres against the Parthi could not go to the reliefe of Italy Whereby Longino hoped that time would well serue him with the countenance of Rosmunda and helpe of her treasure to become King of Lombardy and all Italy And conferring his intent with the Queene perswaded her to kill Almachilde and take him for her husband shee accepted and agreed vnto that which hee perswaded preparing a cup of wine poisoned and with her owne hand shee offered the same to Almachilde comming from a bath hote and thriftie hee hauing drunke halfe the wine and finding his bodie thereby greatly mooued mistrusting the poison enforced Rosmunda to drinke the rest whereof both the one and the other within fewe houres died and Longino bereft of his expectation to become King The Longobardi in the meane while assembling themselues in Pauia which was the chiefe Cittie of their kingdome elected there Clefi their King who reedified Imola which had bene ruinated by Narsete hee wan Rimino and almost euerie place from thence to Rome but in the midst of these his victories hee died This Clefi was so cruell not onely to strangers but also to his owne subiects the Longobardi as they were so terrified with his kingly authoritie that after his daies they determined no more to make anie King but elected amongst them selues thirtie persons whome they called Dukes giuing them iurisdiction ouer the rest which was the cause that the Longobardi did not proceed in the conquest of all Italy and that their kingdome did not extend further then Beneuento and that Rome Rauenna Cremona Mantoua Padoua Monselice Parma Bologna Faenza Furli and Cesena some of them defended them selues a time and some other were neuer taken Because the Lombardi wanting a King their warres proceeded the more slowlie and after the election of a new King by reason of their libertie were lesse obedient and more apt to mutinie among them selues which thing first hindered the victorie and in the end draue them out of Italy The Longobardi being come to this estate the Romanes and Longino made with them an agreement The effect thereof was that euerie one of them should lay downe their armes and enioy so much as they possessed In that time the Bishops of Rome began to aspire vnto more authoritie then they had in times past for by meane of the holy life of S. Peter and some other Bishops with their godly examples and the miracles by them done they became much reuerenced amongst men and greatly encreased the christian Religion In so much as Princes were occasioned the more easily thereby to appease the great disorder and confusion of the world to obey them The Emperour then being become a Christian and remooued from Rome to Constantinople it came to passe as is aforesaid that the Romane Empyre decaied and the Church of Rome the rather thereby encreased notwithstanding till the comming of the Longobardi Italy being subiect either to Emperours or Kings the Empyre still prospered and the Bishops of Rome had no greater authoritie then their learning and good life did deserue For in all other thinges either by the Kings or by the Emperours they were commaunded and as their ministers imploied and sometimes put to death But he that made the Bishops to become of greatest authoritie in Italy was Theodorico King of the Gotti when he remoued his royall seate to Rauenna For thereby Rome
the inhabitants of Florence and all the Princes of Italy lamented his death and made manifest shewe thereof For there was not any of them that sent not Embassadors to condole the death of Lorenzo And for triall that they had iust cause to lament the effect following prooued For Italy being depriued of his counsell had not any man left therein whose wisedome could preuent or bridle the ambition of Lodouico Sforza Gouernour of the yoong Duke of Milan Wherefore Lorenzo being dead those euill seedes beganne to grow which shortly after wanting such a one to roote them out did ruine and yet doth ruine all Italy FINIS LONDON Printed by Thomas Creede for William Ponsonby 1595. The subiect of this Historie Mediocritie the scope of Aristocracie Gouernment Aristocracie imperfit Equalitie the scope of Democracie Democracie imperfit Monarchie the most excellent Gouernment The order of the Northren people The Northren people oppressed the Romane Empire The Empire diuided into three gouernments Rome sacked by the Visigotti Bonifacio gouernor of Affrica How Gallia became named Francia How Hungaria became so named Votigerio king of the Angli How the name of England was giuen to that Iland The antient English people now inhabitants of Bretagna Attila his comming into Italy The cause of the election of an Emperour in the VVest The coÌ„ming of the Longobardi into Italy How the ancient Empyre became diuided Theodorico king of Ostrogotti a most vertuous Prince The death of Theodorico The acts of Bellisario The acts of Totila The acts of Narsete The acts of Longino The acts of Alboino The acts of Clefi The Lombardi refused to be gouerned by Kings At what time the Bishops of Rome aspired to authoritie The remooue of the Emperiall seat from Rome the cause of the Popes greatnes The East Empyre suppressed in the reigne of Eracleo The troubles of Italy caused by the ambition of Popes By what meanes the preseÌ„t Princes of Italy aspired Gregorio tertio Pope Theodoro primo Great honour dore to the pope by Carlo magno with indignitie to the Emperors Pope Pascale 1. Originall of Cardinals by Pope Pascale 1. The first occasion why the Popes did take new names at ther election At what time the Empire was taken froÌ„ the house of France The kingdom of Italy giuen to Beringario How Italy was gouerned Anno. 931. The election of the Emperour giuen to the Germans Ann. 1002. Three Popes deposed by Enrico 2. The Romans auncient enemies to the Pope The creation of the Pope taken froÌ„ the Romanes The originall of the Guelfi and Gibellini An. 1080. Rome sacked The discent of the kings of Napoli Pope Vrbano 2. La Crociata The originall of knights of Ierusalem Pope Pascale 2. Pope Alessandro 3. The King of England put to penance by Pope Alissandro The death of Federigo the Emperor Pope Celestino 3. Pope Innocentio 4. Pope Honorio 3. erector of the order of S. Francisco Anno 1218. Ezelino Azone de Este first Duke of Farrara The Emperor forced to entertaine Sarasins Pope Innocent 4. The death of Ezelino Pope Vrbano 4. Pope Clement 4. Pope Adriano 5. The ambition of Popes a ruyne to Italy Pope Adriano 3. Pope Martino 3. Pope Celestino and Bonifacio 8. Pope Bonifacio inuentor of the Guibileo Pope Clements 5. Pope Iohn 22. A practise of Ma. Visconts against the house of Torre The meane how the Visconti aspired to be Dukes of Milan The king of Boemia called into Italy The originall of Vinegia The decree of Pope Benedetto 12. against the Emperour The Emperours decree to the Popes preiudice Giouanna Q of Naples Nicholo di Lorenzo Francesco Barocegli Q. Giouanna deposed Pope Innocentio sexto Pope Vrbano 5. The Papall court returnâ—d to Rome An. 1376. Great artillery first vsed in Italy 1376. Pope Benedetto 13. The first frutes of Benefices taken by the Pope Pope Innocentio 7. K. Ladislao deposed by pope Alissandro 5. Three popes at one time The Curch after fortie yeares diuision was vnited VVarre betwixt Queene Giouanna and her husband Lodouico de Angio adopted king of Naples How Italy was gouerned and diuided VVhereof the name of Florence is deriued The first deuision of Florence By what means the factioÌ„s of Guelfi and Ghibilini arose in Florence An vnion and policie setled in Florence King Manfredi a chiefe of the Ghibilini Farinata Vberti The Duke of Angio called into Italy by the Pope King Manfre dislaine New ordinances in FloreÌ„ce New ordinances in FloreÌ„ce by the Guelfi Fâ—orence excomunicate The Pope euer suspitious New ordinances in Florence Florence reformed Priori Discord between the nobility and the people New ordinances in fauour of the people Giano della Bella. Diuision betwixt the Nobilitie and people Perswasions to the Nobilitie to laie downe armes Perswasions vsed to the people New reformation in Florence 1298. New diuision of the Bianchi Carlo di valloys made Gouernor of Horence New troubles by Corso Donati Medici and Guini New reformation in Florence Corso Donati Corso condemned The death of Corso Donati 1308. The Emperor Arrigo called into Italy 1312. The death of Arrigo. New diuition in Florence Lando de Agebio made Gouernor of Florence Castruccio castracani Ramondo di Cardona Generall for the Florents The Florentines ouerthrowne by Castruccio The Duke of Athene Gouernour of Florence The Emperour Lodouico called into Italy The death of castruccio carlo Duke of calauria New reformation in Florence The death of Lodouico The troubles and war in Florence all ceased Conspiracy against Iacomo Gabrieli of Agobio Taldo Valori Maffeo de Maradi The Bardi and Frescobaldi condemned The Duke of Athene The Dukes answere to the Senate Ordinaunces made by the Duke of Athene in Florence Matteo di Moroso Conspiracy against the Duke of Athene The Duke of Athene banished by the Florentines Discription of the Duke and his disposition Florence againe reformed The people of Florence offended with the nobilitie The autoritie of the nobilitie taken from them Andrea Strozzi The nobilitie assaie to recouer their honours The People armed against the nobilitie The Nobilitie oppressed The enimitie betweene the people and the multitude The faction or diuision of Albizi and Ricci A new lawe against the Ghibilini occationed by a priuie respect Ammoniti The Oration of the cittizens touching factions New reformation in Florence Pope Gregorio A new Commission for the gouernment of war New tumults in Florence The Conspiracy reuealed The speech of Saluestro di Medici New reformation in Florence The Oration of Luigi Guicciardini New tumult in Florence A seditious persuation of one of the multitude Demaunds of the People The Gouerment gained by the multitude Michele Lando Ordinaunces of Michele Lando The multitud offended with Michele Lando his lawes Michele Lando victorious New diuision in Florence Diuers great Cittizens accused The Queene of Napoli taken prisoner Benedetto Alberti Georgio Scali beheaded New reformation in Florence Michele Lando confined Carlo di Angio come into Italy The death of Carlo di Angio
assemble more forces returned with thē into Italy had though hardly the victorie and then though with displeasure of the Legate returned to Bohemia leauing onely Reggio and Modena manned recommending Parma to Marsilio and Piero de Rossi who were in that citie of most power He being gone Bologna reuolted to the league and diuided among them foure Citties apperteining to the church allotting Parma to the house of Scala Reggio to Gonzaga Modena to Este and Lucca to the Florentines During the conquest of these Cities grew great warres but they were chiefly by the Venetians compounded It may perhaps be thought strange that among so many accidents of Italy I haue omitted to speake of the Venetians common weale being for the order and power thereof to be preferred before euerie other principallitie To satisfie that admiration the cause thereof being knowne I wil looke backward to time long since passed and declare what beginning that Cittie had King Attila at such time as he besieged Aquilegia the inhabitants of that towne hauing long defended themselues dispairing fled with their goods to the rocks within the point of Mare Adriatico The Padouani seeing the fire at hand and fearing that Aquilegia being wonne Attila would assault them carried all their moueables of most value into the same sea to a place there called Riuoalto whither they also sent their wiues children and aged men leauing the youth to defend the citie Aquilegia being taken Attila defaced Padoua Monselice Vicenza and Verona The Padouani and the chiefe of the others seated themselues in the marishes about Riuoalto Likewise all the people of that prouince which vvas aunciently called Venetia vvere driuen out by the same misfortune did also flie thither Thus constrained by necessitie they abandoned faire and fertile countries to inhabit these steril and paludious places void of all cōmoditie And yet because great numbers of people were at one instant come thither they made that place not onely habitable but also pleasant ordeining among themselues lawes and orders which amidst so great ruines of Italy they obserued and within short space encreased in force and reputation For besides the inhabitants aforesaid many of the cities of Lombardy chiefly those that feared the cruelty of their king Clefi fled thither which was no small encrease to that citie So that in the time of Pipino king of France when at the request of the Pope he came to driue the Lombardi out of Italy it was agreed in Capitulations betwixt him and the Emperour of Grecia that the Duke of Beneuento and the Venetians should be subiects neither to the one nor the other but among themselues enioy libertie Moreouer considering that as necessitie had driuen them to dwell within the water so it behoued them without helpe of the firme land to seeke meanes wherby they might procure their own liuelihood For which purpose they made ships gallies with them sailed throughout the world and filled their citie with sundry sorts of marchandise whereof other men hauing necessitie required free accesse vnto them At that time and many yeares after the Venetians thought not vppon other dominions then those where the traffique of their marchandise might safely arriue Then they wan diuers hauens in Grecia Soria and in the passages that the French men made in Asia because they oftentimes imploying the Venetian shippes appointed vnto them as a reward the Ile of Candia While in this estate and order they liued their name by sea was terrible and vpon the firme land of Italy venerable So that in all controuersies that happened they were for the most part arbitrators as in cōtrouersies which rose in the league by reason of those cities which they had diuided amongst them For that controuersie being recommended to the Venetians they ordered that Bargamo Brescia should appertaine to the Visconti But in processe of time hauing conquered Padoua Vicenza Triuigi Verona Bargamo Brescia with diuerse cities in the kingdom and Romagna entised with desire of gouernment they atteined so great an opinion of power and reputatiō that not only of the princes of Italy but also of the kings beyōd the mountaines they became feared Wherupon those princes conspiring togither tooke from them in one day all the states and countries vvhich they in many yeares and vvith infinite expences had gained And though in these late times they haue recouered part yet not recouering their forces and reputation do like all other princes of Italy remaine at the deuotion and discretion of others Now was Benedetto 12. come to the Papacy who seeing himselfe driuen out of Italy and fearing that the Emperour Lodouico should become Lord thereof determined to make all those his friends who had vsurped the townes which the Emperour possessed To the end that thereby they should haue cause to feare the Empire and ioyne with him in the defence of Italy For the more assurance of this attempt he made a decree that all tyrants of Lombardy should by iust title possesse the townes by them vsurped But the Pope presently vpon this grant died and Clemente sexto elected in his place The Emperour then seeing with what liberalitie the Pope had giuen the towns belōging to the Empire determined to be no lesse liberall of the Popes goods then the Pope had bene of his and therefore gaue freely all lands belonging to the church which any tyrant had vsurped and they to hold them by authoritie imperiall By meane whereof Galiotto Malatesti and his brethren became Lords of Rimino Pesaro Fano Anthonio di Montefeltro of la Marca and Vrbin Gentile da Varano of Camerino Guido di Polenta of Rauenna Sinibaldo Ordalaffi of Furli and Cesena Giouanni Manfredi of Faenza Lodouico Alidosi of Imola Besides these many others possessed towns belōging to the church so as fevv remained out of the hands of one Prince or other vvhich vvas the cause that the Church till the comming of Alissandro 6. vvas holden dovvne vveake but he vvith the ruine of these Lords or their posteritie restored the same At such time as the Emperor made this grant he remained at Trento seemed as thogh he vvould passe from thence into Italy wherby grevv many warres in Lombardy by that occasiō the Visconti became Lords of Parma Then died king Robarto of Napoli of vvhom remained only tvvo grand children vvomen begotten by Carlo his Son vvho long before vvas dead bequeathing his kingdom to the elder of them called Giouanna vvhom he vvilled to marrie vvith Andrea sonne to the K. of Vngaria his nephevv This Andrea continued not long her husband but vvas by her murdred she married anevv to a brother in lavv of his called Lodouico prince of Tarranto But K. Lodouico brother to Andrea to reuenge his death came vvith Forces into Italy draue the Q. Giouanna vvith her husband out of the kingdom About this time hapned in Rome a thing very memorable vvhich vvas that one called
where is abundance supply where want is that Country in short space must of force be ruined because the one part thereof through the small number of inhabitants becommeth desolate and the other being ouercharged oppressed with pouertie And for that nature could not reforme this disorder it is necessarie that industry should do it For vnwholesome Countries planted full of people comming thither all togither do make the same healthful by reason that the tilling of the earth doth alter the soyle and the fiers do greatly purge the aire which things nature by her selfe could not The experience thereof is seene by the Cittie of Venice seated in a place paludious and vnwholesome Notwithstanding the assemblie of many inhabitants come thither at one instant did make the same healthy inough Pisa likewise through the contagion of the aire was neuer replenished but when Genoua and the riuers thereto belonging were by the Sarasins destroyed it enforced the people driuen from their natiue countrey to flye thither and make that place well inhabited and strong This custome of sending Collonies being discontinued is the occasion that countreyes conquered are holden with more difficultie those that be emptie are not supplied and countreyes ouer full are not disburthened whereby manie parts of the world and chiefly Italy in respect of the ancient times are become desarts The reason thereof is that there hath not bene nor is not in Princes anie desire of true glorie nor in Common-weales anie ordinance that meriteth commendation In the old time we see that through vertue of these Collonies Citties were often made new and some others alreadie begun encreased of which number was the Cittie of Florence begunne by the people of Fiesole and inlarged by Collonies A thing most true it is as Dante and Iohn Villano haue written that the Cittie of Fiesole being set on the top of a mountaine to occasion their markets to bee the more frequented and giue commoditie to those that with their merchandize would resort thither did giue order that they should not clime vp the hill but stay in the plaine betwixt the foote of the mountaine the riuer Arno. These markets as I iudge were occasion of the first building in that place The merchants also being desirous to haue storehouses commodious for the receiuing of wares made buildings there which in time became houses of habitation Afterwards when the Romanes hauing vanquished the Carthaginesi had made Italy from forreine warres secure in great numbers there they multiplied for me◠doo neuer seeke the defence of themselues if by necessitie they are not incouraged and as feare of warre doth constraine them willingly to inhabit barren places and strong so that feare remooued allured with commoditie more willingly they couet to dwell in Countryes pleasant and profitable The securitie which grew in Italy by reputation of the Roman common-weale might occasion the number of the inhabitants to bee so great as made this place to become as it were in forme of a Towne and was at the beginning called Arnina After that time ciuill warres happened in Rome first betweene Mario and Silla then betwixt Cesare and Pompeio and at last betweene the murtherers of Caesar and those which sought to reuenge his death It seemeth therefore that first by Silla and next by those three Citizens of Rome that after the reuenge made for Caesar diuided the Empire Collonies were sent to Fiesole who either all or part did plant their dwellings in the plaine neare vnto the Towne alreadie begun insomuch as the same was much enlarged and so well replenished with buildings men and other things necessarie for ciuill life as it became to be numbred among the Citties of Italy Yet whence this name Firenze should be deriued diuers men do diuersly hold opinion Some suppose it so called of Florino one of the chiefe of the Colloni Others would not consent that it was called Florentia at the beginning but Fluentia because it was neare the riuer of Arno which floweth And they alledge the authoritie of Plinny where he saith that the people Fluentini be neare vnto Arno which may be false because Plinny maketh demōstration where the Florentines were seated not how they were called And that word Fluentini must needes be corrupted because Frontino and Cornelio Tacito who wrote almost in the time of Plinny do call the Towne Florentia and the people Florentini for that long since in the time of Tiberio they were gouerned according to the custome of other Cities in Italy Cornelio reporteth also that the Florentines had sent Embassadors to the Emperor praying that the waters of Chiane might not discend vppon their Countrie neither is it reasonable that the Citie should haue in one time two names I beleeue therefore it was alwaies called Florentia For what cause soeuer it was so named or for what cause soeuer it had the beginning most sure it is that vnder the Empire of Rome it had the foundation in the reigne of the first Emperours Writers did make mention thereof Moreouer at such time as the barbarous people did persecute the Empire Florence was by Tottila King of the Ostragotti defaced and after 250. yeares by Carlo Magno reedified from which time till the yeares after Christ 1215. it continued vnder that fortune which others did who then commanded in Italy In which time first gouerned there the posteritie of Carlo then Barengarii and last of all the Emperours of Germanie as hath bene in our vniuersall discourse before declared The Florentines could not in those times increase or do anie thing worthie memorie for the authoritie of them vnto whom it was subiect notwithstanding in the yeare 1010. and the day of S. Romolo a solemne Feast with the Fiesolane they surprized Fiesole and demolished the same which they did either with consent of the Emperours or else at such times as one Emperor being dead the other was not elected whereby euerie man for the present remained at libertie But since the Popes tooke vnto themselues more authoritie in Italy and the Germane Emperours grew weake euerie Towne in that Prouince with lesse reuerence to their Prince was gouerned Insomuch as in the yere 1080. in the time of Arrigo the third Italy was openly diuided into faction betwixt him and the Church notwithstanding the Florentines maintained themselues vnited all the yere 1215. yelding to the victorious without aspiring farther thā to saue themselues But as to the bodies of men the longer they bee healthie the more dangerous and mortall are the sicknesses when they happen so Florence the more slowlie it followed the factions the more speedily and greeuously it was by them afterwards afflicted The first occasion of diuision in that Citie is most publiquely knowen because it hath bene written by Dante and diuers others neuertheles I thinke good briefely to speake thereof There was in Fiorence among others of the mightie Families Buondelmonti and Vberti next vnto them were the Amidei and Donati In
rode vp and down in the country where himselfe listed spoyling and committing what cruelties hee thought good The Florentines scantly able after so great an ouerthrow to defend the citie yet were they not so greatly dismayd but that they made much prouision both of men and money sending also to their friends to haue their aide All which sufficed not to bridle the furie of so mightie an enemie Wherefore as constrained they made choyse of Carlo Duke of Calauria son to King Roberto to be their Prince offering him not their friendship but their obedience and prayed him to defend their Citie But Carlo being occupied in the warres of Sicilia and therefore not at leisure to come in person sent thither Gualtieri by Nation a French man and Duke of Athene He as deputie for his maister tooke possession of the Citie and placed officers according to his owne discretion Notwithstanding his behauiour was so modest and contrary to his owne nature that euerie man loued him Carlo hauing ended the warres of Sicilia being followed with a thousand horse men came to Florence and made his entry in the yeare 1326. whose comming staied Castruccio from spoyling of the Florentines countrey But that reliefe which was found abroad was lost within and those displeasures which the enemies could not were by friendes performed Bicause the Senators did nothing without the Dukes consent who within the space of one yeare leuied in the Citie foure thousand Florins notwithstanding that by the capitulation with him taken it was agreed hee should haue but two thousand So great impositions were daily by him or his exacted To these displeasures new suspitions and new enemies were discouered For the Ghibilini of Lombardy suspected so much the comming of Carlo into Toscana that Galiazzo Visconti other tyrants of Lombardy by mony and promises procured Lodouico di Bauiera Emperour elected against the Popes wil to come into Italy who being arriued in Lombardy marched towardes Toscana where with the helpe of Castruccio hee became Lord of Pisa And being relieued with mony he went towards Rome which caused Carlo to leaue Florence and returne to the kingdome leauing Philippo de Sagginetto his Lieftenant Castruccio after the Emperours departure possessed Pisa and the Florentines tooke from him by practise Pistoia which Castruccio after besieged with so great vertue and resolution that although the Florentines many times assaied to rescue the Towne sometimes assailing the Army and sometimes disturbing the Country yet could they neuer either by force or industry remoue him from that enterprise So greatly he thirsted to chastise the Pistoiesi and offend the Florentines By meanes whereof the Pistoiesi were constrained to receiue him for their Prince which thing albeit were greatly to his glorie proued in the end his disaduantage For being returned to Lucca there he died And because that one good or euil hap commeth sildome vnaccompanied with the like also at the same time died Carlo Duke of Calauria Prince of Florence as it were to the end that the Florentines beyond all expectation might be deliuered from the gouernment of the one and the feare of the other They thus become free reformed the cittie disanulled all orders of the olde Councelles and created twoo newe Councelles the one hauing in it three hundreth Cittizens Commoners and the other two hundreth and fiftie Gentlemen and Commoners mixed The first of these was called the Councell of the people the other the common Councell The Emperour beeing arriued at Rome created an Antipope and ordered many things in preiudice of the church and many other things also hee attempted without effect And therefore with this honour he remoued from Rome to Pisa where either of melancholy or for want of mony to paie eight hundred Almaine horsemen who were rebelled and at Montechiaro had fortified themselues died They so soone as the Emperour departed from Pisa to go vnto Lombardy surprised Lucca and draue out of that cittie Francesco Castracani left there by the Emperour Then being possessed of that cittie and intending to make profit thereof offered to sell it to the Florentines for threescore thousand Florins was refused by the Councell of Simon della Tosa This refusal would haue bene to our cittie most profitable if the Florentines had euer continued in that minde but because shortly after they changed opinion it was greatly to our losse For if at that time for so small price they might so peaceably haue had it and would not afterward desiring it and offering much more then was required they could not obteine it which was the occasion that Florence many times with great preiudice hath changed the gouernment Lucca being thus by the Florentines refused was by Gerardino Spinola of Genoua for thirtie thousand Florins bought And because men be more slow to laie hold of that which they may come by then to desire that they cannot attaine vnto so soone as this bargaine made with Gerardino was knowne and how small a summe of mony he paid the people of Florence became greatly desirous to haue it repenting themselues and blaming those that were the cause that the bargaine proceeded not Then sought they to get that by force which for money was refused For obteining whereof they sent their souldiers to spoile the country belonging to Lucca In this meane time the Emperour was gone out of Italy and the Antipope by order of the Pisani sent prisoner into France The Florentines then from the death of Castruccio which happened in the yeare 1328. til the yeare 1340. continued quiet within attended their matters of state abroad They also made many wars in Lombardy for the comming thither of king Iohn of Bohemia in Toscana touching the state of Lucca They likewise ornefied their cittie with new buildings For in that time the Tower of S. Reparata according to the direction of Giotto an excellent Painter was builded And because in the yeare 1333. by meanes of a maruellous flood the Riuer of Arno into many places ouerflowed the cittie more then 12. cubits many bridges and buildings were thereby decaied which with great care and expence were now restored But the yeare 1340. being come new occasions of alteration were growne vp The cittizens of most power had two meanes to encrease and maintain their greatnesse The one by restraining the number of those that should be elected Magistrates whereby the offices of authoritie came either vnto them or their friends The other because themselues being chiefe at the election of the Rettori they were by them in their offices the more fauoured And this second cause they esteemed so much that to these two ordinarie Rettori they also ioyned a third whom they in those dayes brought in extraordinarie vnder the title of Captaine of the Guard and placed therein Iacamo Gabrieli de Agobio giuing him absolute authoritie ouer the citizens He day by day before the face of them that gouerned committed many iniuries among
but they of Florence would be alone and gouerne all without companie of the Nobilitie And for as much as the desire of the Romane people was more reasonable the offences done to the Nobilitie became the more tollerable By meane whereof that Nobilitie without resistance gaue place and after some disputation a lawe was made to the peoples satisfaction they being content that the Nobilitie should continue their dignities On the other side the desire of the Florentine people was iniurious and vniust by reason whereof the Nobilitie prepared themselues for defence and without banishment and bloud of the Cittizens their contentions were not ended Also those lawes which were afterwards made not for the common commoditie but altogither in fauour of the people were ordeined Thereof proceeded likewise that by victories of the people the citie of Rome became more vertuous Also the people hauing sometime authoritie in the warres and commaundement in gouernment with the Nobilitie were indowed with like vertue and caused that citie by encrease of vertue in men to encrease also in power But in Florence the people hauing victorie the Nobilitie were depriued of Magistracie and being desirous to recouer it it behoued them by their behauiour and manner of life to endeuour themselues not onely to seeme but also to be men populer Heereof came the alteration of Ensignes and the chaunge of titles which the Nobilitie to seeme common people were constrained to make So as that vertue in armes and generositie of minde which had bene in the Nobilitie was extinguished and could not be reuiued in the people where it was not which is the cause that Florence euer after becam the more abiect And as Rome knowing the vertue of it self grew to such pride as without a Prince could not be mainteined so Florence was reduced to such termes as euery wise law maker might haue brought the same to any order or forme of gouernment as by reading of the former booke may partly be perceiued Now hauing already shewed the beginning of Florence the original of the liberty therin with the occasions of diuision and how the factions of the nobilitie and of the people with the tyrannie of the Duke of Athene did end lastly how the Nobilitie were destroyed It remaineth to discourse the enimitie betwixt the people and the multitude with such accidents as of those diuisions proceeded So soone as the authoritie of the Nobilitie was oppressed and the warre with the Arch-Duke of Milan finished it seemed that no occasion of displeasure or offence remained in Florence But the froward fortune of our Cittie and the euill orders thereof caused newe dissention to arise betwixt the families of Albizi and Ricci which diuided Florence as by the Buondelmonti and the Vberti and as by the Donati and Circhi it had before beene diuided The Popes who at that time remained in Fraunce and the Emperours in Germany to maintaine their reputation in Italy sent thither at sundrie times sundrie multitudes of souldiers English men Germaines and Brittaines They the warres ended beeing without paie and entertainment sometime vnder the Ensigne of one Prince and sometimes vnder an other spoyled the Countrey In the yeare 1353. one of those companies came into Toscana vnder the conduct of Monsigneur Reale whose comming amazed all the Citties of that Prouince And the Florentines did not onelie in that respect publiquely leuie forces but also diuerse priuate Cittizens Amongest whome the Albizi and Ricci for their owne defence Armed themselues These two houses hating one the other studied howe they might one oppresse the other yet were they not come to Armes but onely contended in the gouernment and in Councell The Cittie then vpon this occasion armed there happened by chaunce a quarrell in the olde Market whither many people as is at like occasions the custome resorted During the brunt of this brute newes were brought to the Ricci that the Albizi assailed them And in like maner it was tolde to the Albizi that the Ricci sought for them Vpon these rumours all the citie arose and the Magistrates could with difficultie hold backe the one and the other of these families from dooing of that violence which without any fault or intent of theirs was occasioned This chance though of no importance somwhat kindled the minds of those gentlemen euery of them were the rather desirous to allure partakers And forasmuch as by the ruin of the nobilitie the Citizens were reduced to such an equalitie that the magistrates had more reuerence then they were wont either of them determined by ordinary meane and without priuate violence to oppresse his aduersary We haue alreadie tolde how after the victory of Carlo the first the Guelfi were created Magistrates and to them great authoritie giuen ouer the Ghibilini Notwithstanding through tract of time and new diuisions that law became so much neglected that many descended of Ghibilini aspired to the most principall offices Vguccione de Ricci then chiefe of his family found meane that the law against the Ghibilini was reuiued of which faction as some thought the Albizi were who many yeares past did come from Arezzo to inhabit Florence Vpon reuiuing of this law Vguccione hoped to depriue the Albizi of authoritie because thereby it was ordeined that whosoeuer was descended of the Ghibilini should not in any wise beare office in the state This practise of Vguccione was discouered to Piero sonne of Philippo degli Albizi who determined to fauour it least doing the contrarie he should declare himselfe a Ghibilino This lawe although renewed by ambition of the Ricci yet did it not diminish but encrease the reputation of the Albizi and was the originall of many mischiefs Neither can any lawe be made more preiudiciall to a Common weale then that which hath relation to time long since passed Piero hauing thus consented to the law that which his enemies had deuised for a let was the high way to lead him to his greatnesse For being made as chiefe of this new ordinance he still encreased in reputation and became more fauoured of the Guelfi then any other And for as much as there was no Magistrate appointed for discouerie of the Ghibilini the lawe alreadie made serued to small purpose It was therefore prouided that authoritie should be giuen to the Captaines to detect those that were of faction Ghibilini and finding them to giue admonishment that they should not take vppon them any office in the state Or if they should disobey the said admonishment then to be condemned Hereof it commeth that since that time all those that be disabled to beare office in Florence be called Ammoniti The captains thē by this authority grew to be so insolent as they did not only admonish those that deserued admonition but also euery man whomsoeuer it pleased them being thereto moued by any cause whatsoeuer either of couetousnesse or ambition So that from the yeare 1357. at which time this ordinance was made
driuen out and oppressed Which request being presented the Senators called before them the officers of misteries the Sindachi to whom Luigi Guicciardini Gonfaloniere spake in manner following If these Lordes and I also had not knowne the fortune of this cittie the custome whereof is that so soone as it hath made peace abroad the warre within beginneth we would haue more maruelled at the tumuls passed and therewith haue bene more greeued But because things accustomed do bring with them lesse sorrow we haue endured these troubles with great patience and the rather for that they were begun without any our default and shall we hope end as all others before haue done sith we haue alreadie in so many and so great demands satisfied you Neuerthelesse perceiuing that you neuer rest contented but still with new iniuries seeke to disturbe your Citizens and condemne them to newe banishments of your dishonest dealings our greeuous sorrow groweth And truly if we had thought that within the tearme of our gouernment this citie should haue bene so troubled we would either by voluntary or violent exile haue shunned these honors But hoping to deale with men in whom remained curtesie and loue to their country we willingly receiued these offices beleeuing our clemencie should haue suppressed your ambition But we now see by experience that the more mildly we beare our selues towards you the more proud ye are and the more dishonest requests ye demand at our hands This plainnesse of speech we vse not to offend you but to remember you for our meaning is that others shall speake that which pleaseth you and we that which is best for you Tell vs we pray you what is that you can honestly more require at our hands You required that the authoritie should be taken from the captains of factions so it was You desired the Imborsations should be burnt new reformation made to that we cōsented You demanded the restitutiō of the admonished Citizens to their honors and they were restored We haue also at your entreatie pardoned those that burned houses robbed the churches Yea for your satisfactiō we haue sent into exile many honourable and mightie Citizens The great men also by your meanes are with new lawes brideled What end will those your demands haue Or how long will you abuse your libertie See ye not that we with more patience did endure to be victored then you to be victorious Whither will these misdemeanours drawe this your citie Do ye not remember that by like disunion Castruccio a poore Citizen of Lucca did oppresse it And the Duke of Athene a priuate Captaine of your owne did conquere it So long as it liued in vnion the power of an Archbishop of Milan and a Pope could not preuaile against it but after a warre continued diuerse yeares abandoned the enterprise with shame Why would ye then that your own discord should in peace bring this citie in bondage which so many mightie enemies haue notwithstanding their warre left free What profit shall you looke for by your diuision other then seruitude Or what commoditie will rise of the goods you haue robbed other then pouertie For they are those that by our industry haue fed the citie wherof being spoiled it can no longer be nourished And they that shall vsurpe them wil as of things euil gottē not know how to keep them Wherof shal follow famine and pouertie I and these Lords commaund yee and if without indignitie we so may earnestly praie you to staie your minds and rest contented with those things which by vs are ordeined And whensoeuer you desire anie new sute at our hands seek the same ciuilly and striue not with tumult armes to obtaine it For whatsoeuer you reasonably aske will be graunted and men euill disposed shal want occasion to oppresse our citie to your shame and the ruine therof These words because they were true greatly moued the citizens and much they thanked the Gonfaloniere for hauing performed the office of a good Lord citizen offering to obey wherin so euer it should please him to command them The Senators also to giue the occasion did authorize two citizens of euery principal office togither with the Sindachi to practise a reformation to the common quiet and report their doings to the Senate While these matters were in hand an other tumult arose which troubled the state more then the former For the greater part of the burning spoyling in times past were done by the basest sort of people who notwithstanding that being altogither they were audatious yet they euer feared that the furie once past and appeased they should receiue punishment for their defaults or as it often happened be abandoned by those that encouraged them to the performance of the disorder Whereunto was ioyned a hatred of the base people towards the rich Cittizens and heads of the mysteries iudging themselues not so well paide for their labours as they had deserued Because at such time as the cittie was first by Carlo diuided into mysteries and euerie mysterie a head thereunto appointed it was enacted that the subiects of euerie mysterie should be in all ciuill matters iudged by the head thereof These mysteries as we said before were at the beginning twelue afterwards encreased to 21. and they became of so great power as in fewe yeares they had all the gouernment of the Cittie Also to the end there should be difference betwixt those that were more or lesse honourable they were diuided and seuen of them were called great mysteries and foureteene named the lesse mysteries By these diuisions and some other occasions before recited grew the insolencie of the Captaines of factions Because those Cittizens which aunciently were Guelfi vnder whose gouernment that office continued did euer fauour the people of the great mysteries and persecuted the lesse mysteries with their protectors Whereuppon followed all the tumults that we haue rehearsed And for that in ordering the bodies of the mysteries many occupations exercised by diuerse of the base people and common multitude had no place of their owne in the bodie of the mysteries they were referred put vnder some other mysteries like vnto theirs Whereof followed that they either were not satisfied for their labours or by their maisters oppressed and so forced to complaine to the Magistrates of those mysteries who gouerned them at whose handes as they thought they receiued not that iustice that to them belonged Also that mysterie which had in it the greatest number was the mysterie of wooll which being of most force and authoritie did nourish and entertaine the greatest part of the multitude and base people The multitude then as well of the mysterie of wooll as others for the cause before saide was full of offence therewith remembring the burning and spoiles by them committed diuerse times assembled in the night and reasoning of matters past euerie man tolde other the daunger wherein they stoode The one of them a man
gaue great reputation to the faction of Cosimo and much terror to the enemy that so mightie a Common weale refused not to sell their libertie to the Florentines Which was thought to be done not so much to gratifie Cosimo as to exasperate the factions in Florence make by meanes of bloud the diuision of our citie the more daungerous Because the Venetians found that there was nothing that so much hindred their greatnes as the vniting thereof Thus the citie being acquite both of the enemies persons suspected to the state the gouernours studying to pleasure other people make their own part the stronger restored the house of Alberti with all other Rebels All the great Citizens a few except were brought into the order of the people the possessions of the rebels at smal prices among them sold Moreouer with new lawes and orders they strengthened themselues making new Squittini taking out the names of their enemies putting in the names of their friends Also being warned by the ruine of their enemies and iudging that it sufficed not for the holding of the state to haue the Squittini full of their friends they also thought good that the Magistrates of life and death should be chosen of the chiefe of their faction It was therfore required that the makers of the new Squittini togither with the old Senate should haue authoritie to create the new They gaue vnto the Eight authoritie ouer life and death and prouided that those that were banished should not though their time were expired return vnlesse of the Senat and the Colledges being in number 37. were thereunto consenting or at the least thirtie foure of them To write vnto those that were confined or receiue any letters from them was forbidden Also euery word euery signe euery action that offended the Gouernours was greeuously punished And if in Florence remained any suspitiō it was the Impositions lately imposed so hauing driuē out their aduersaries or brought thē to great pouerty assured themselues of the state Also not to want forrein aid but preuent such as thereby determined to offend them they did confederate and make league with the Pope the Venetians and the Duke of Milan The state of Florence resting in these tearmes Giouanna Queene of Naples dyed making by her testament Rinieri de Angio heyre of her Kingdome At that time Alfonso King of Aragon happened to be in Sicilia and hauing the friendship of many Barrons there prepared himselfe to possesse that Kingdome The Napolitanes and many of the Lords fauoured Rinieri The Pope on the other side would neither that Rinieri nor Alfonso might possesse it but desired that himselfe should gouerne it by a Deputy of his owne Yet Alfonso being arriued in the Kingdome was by the Duke of Sessa receiued and there enterteined some other Princes hoping to surprize Capoua which the Prince of Tarranto in the name of Alfonso possessed and by that meane to constraine the Napolitanes to yeeld to his will For that purpose he sent his Nauie to assault Gaietta which was holden for the Neapolitanes The Napolitanes then prayed ayde of Philippo who perswaded the Genouesi to take that enterprise in hand They not onely to satisfie the Duke their Prince but also to saue the merchandize they had in Naples and Gaietta armed a mightie Nauie Alfonso on the contrary side vnderstanding thereof encreased his forces and went in person to encounter the Genouesi with whom he fought neere vnto the Island of Pontio and there his Nauie was vanquished himselfe with diuerse other Princes taken and sent by the Genouesi to Philippo This victorie dismayd all the Princes of Italy because thereby they thought he might become owner of all But he so diuerse are the opinions of men tooke a course cleane contrary to expectation This Alfonso being a man verie wise so soone as he could come to the speech of Philippo tolde how greatly he deceiued himselfe to fauour Rinieri and disfauour him because if Rinieri were King of Naples he would labour with all his force to bring the Dukedome of Milan to the hands of the French King by reason his ayde was at hand his furniture of all things necessarie and the way open for his reliefe Neither could he looke for better then his owne ruine if he made that state to become French But the contrarie would follow if himselfe might be Prince For he not fearing any other enemy then the French should be enforced to loue honour and obey him who had the onely power to open the way to his enemies So that although the Kingdome should rest with Alfonso yet the authoritie and power thereof would remaine in the hands of Philippo Wherefore it would much more import him then himselfe to consider the perill of the one and the profit of the other vnlesse he desired more to satisfie his fantesie then assure the state Because in doing the one he should be Prince and free by the other in the middest of two mightie enemies either sure to lose the state vtterly liue alwayes in suspition or as a subiect obey them These words wrought so deepe in the Dukes mind that changing his intent he deliuered Alfonso honorably returned him to Genoua and from thence to the Kingdome There he imbarked againe and being arriued at Gaietta his deliuery was knowne and that Countrey sodeinly surprized by certaine Lords his followers The Genouesi seeing that without respect to them the Duke had deliuered the King and that he whome they with their charge and perill had honoured did not make them aswell partakers of the honor in the Kings inlargement as of the iniurie to him done and his ouerthrow grew greatly offended In the Cittie of Genoua when it liueth in libertie there is created one head whome they call Doge not to be a Prince absolute nor to determine alone but as chiefe to propound those matters whereof the Magistrates and Councels should consult Within that Towne be many noble Families which are so mightie that with difficultie they yeeld to the authoritie of Magistrates And of them the houses of Fregosa and Adorna be of greatest force From these the diuisions of that Cittie and the causes of ciuill disorders did proceed For they many times contending for gouernment not onely ciuilly but also by armes it falleth out that euer the one faction is afflicted and the other gouerneth It also happeneth many times that those who are deposed from authoritie do pray ayde of forreine armes and yeeld that gouernment to others which they themselues could not enioy Hereof it proceedeth that those who gouerned in Lombardy do for the most part commaund in Genoua as it happened at such time as Alfonso was taken Among the chiefe of the Genouesi that caused the Cittie to be giuen into the hands of Philippo was Francesco Spinola who not long after he had brought his countrey in bondage as in like cases it euer happeneth became suspected to
their religion their tounge their apparrell and their names All which things nay any one of them considered vnseene would moue the hardest heart to cōpassion At that time many cities were ouerthrowen many begun many enlarged Among those that were ruined were Aquilegia Luni Chiusi Popolonia Fiesole and others Of those which were buylt new were Vinegia Siena Ferrara Aquila and other townes and castels which for breuitie I omit Those which of small Cities became great were Fiorenza Genoua Pisa Milan Napoli and Bologna to the which may be ioyned the ruine and repaire of Rome with diuerse others Citties in like sort defaced and after amended Among these ruines and these new people there grewe vp new languages since that time vsed in France Spaine and Italy which mixed with the ancient tongues of those Countries and the Romane speech haue framed languages neuer before time knowen The names also of those Prouinces riuers lakes seas and men were vtterly changed For France Italy and Spayne be full of new names from the olde farre differing as appeareth omitting many others The riuers of Po Garda and the Archipelago which are names diuers from those of auncient time vsed Men likewise commonly in those dayes called Caesari Pompei and such like are new baptized Peter Mathew and so forth But among so many variations the chaunge of Religion was not the least for those of the ancient faith contending with the miracles of the new wrought among men occasion of great discord but had the christian Religion bene vnited the disorders had not bene so great For the Greeke church the Romane church and the church of Rauenna contended one against the other Besides them many other differents arose among the christian people into many opinions diuided the world An example whereof was Affrica which suffered more affliction by reason of the opinion of Arius which the Vandoli beleeued then by any other cause either of their couetousnes or naturall crueltie During the multitudes of these miseries euerie man beare as it were in his face the markes of his discontented mind For besides the manifold mischiefes by them endured the greater number wanted the knowledge of God by whome all creatures hope to be comforted For the most of those people being ignorant of the true God wanting helpe and hope most miserably dyed Thus it appeareth that Theodorico deserued no small commendation being the first that appeased so many troubles For within these 28. yeares which he reigned in Italy he reduced it to so great order and honour as the markes of miserie were scantly perceiued But he being dead and leauing Atalarico for king who was the sonne of Amalasciunta his daughter Italy in short space returned to the former disorders For Attalarico shortly after his graundfather died left the gouernment to his mother and she making Theodato her minister in the gouernment was by him betraied Theodato by this meane made King became odious to the Ostrogotti and Iustiniano the Emperour hoped the rather to driue him from Italy To performe that enterprise he deputed Bellisario to be his Lieftenaunt who had alreadie conquered Affrica and chasing from thence the Vandoli reduced the same to obedience of the Empyre Bellisario also conquered Sicilia from thence passed into Italy where he surprized Napoli and Rome The Gotti receiuing these ouerthrowes killed their king Theodato as the cheife occasion of their misaduenture In his place was chosen Vitigete who after a few conflicts was by Bellisario besieged and in Rauenna takē Then was Bellisario before he had performed the whole victorie by Iustiniano reuoked to his charge were appointed Giouanni and Vitale men both for vertue and conuersation farre inferiour wherfore the Gotti tooke heart and created a king called Ildouado who was at that time Gouernour of Verona After him being within a few daies slaine Totila aspired to the kingdome and distressed the Emperours armie recouered Toscana and Napoli and brought vnder his obedience well neare all those states which Bellisario had gotten Wherfore Iustiniano thought good to send him again into Italy who being come thither with smal forces rather lost the reputation he had gotten before then encreased the same For Totila as it were before the face of Bellisario who was then with his armie at Hostia besieged Rome and tooke it Then considering with him selfe that he could neither hold it nor leaue it without daunger he razed the greatest part of the Citie driuing the people from thence and leading away the Senatours as prisoners which Bellisario little regarding marched with his armie vnto Calauria to meete there with souldiers sent in his aide from Greece Thus Bellisario seeing Rome abandoned determined with him selfe an honourable enterprise and entering into the ruines of Rome with what speed he possibly could repaired the walles of the citie called home the inhabitants But fortune as it seemeth enemie to so laudable an atempt apposed her selfe For Iustiniano the Emperour at the same time happened to be assaulted by the Parthi and for that cause called home Bellisario hee to obey his master lest Italy at the discretion of Tottila who anew possessed Rome but not with so great crueltie as he had before time there vsed For being entreated by S. Benedetto of whome in those daies there was holden a great opinion of holines he endeuoured him selfe rather to amend then marre that citie In this meane while Iustiniano had concluded a peace with the Parthi intending to send a new supply into Italy was empeached to performe that intent by a new people of the North called Sclaui who hauing passed Danubio assailed Illiria and Thracia so as by that meanes Tottila got into his hands all Italy But so soone as Iustiniano had suppressed the Sclaui he sent thither his armie conducted by Narsete an Eunuch who distressed the forces of Tottila slew him with the remaine of the Gotti After that ouerthrow retired to Pauia where they created Teia for their King Narsete on the other side after this victorie surprized Rome and at the last fought with Teia not farre from the cittie of Nocera slew him and vanquished his armie By meane of which victorie the name of Gotti in Italy was clearely extirped hauing there remained from the reigne of Theodorico vnto Teia their Kings threescore and ten yeares But so soone as Italy was deliuered from the Gotti Iustiniano died leauing Iustino his sonne to succeed him who through counsell of Sophia his mother reuoked Narsete from Italy in his place sent Longino his sonne thither This Longino following the order of his predecessors inhabited Rauenna setled in Italy a new fourme of gouernment appointing no Gouernours of Prouinces as did the Gotti but created in euerie cittie and towne of importance a Chieftaine whome he called Duke In which diuision he allotted no more honour to Rome then to other townes because he tooke from thence the Consuls and Senate which names till
Pope distraught of his vvits died This Bonifacio vvas he that ordeined the Iubilie in the yeare 1300. and commanded that euery hundreth yeare the same should be so solemnized After that time happened many troubles betvveene the factions of Guelfi Ghibellini And by reason that Italy vvas abandoned by the Emperors many towns became free and many others by tyrants possessed Pope Benedetto restored the Hat to the Cardinals Colonesi and absolued Philippo the French King To him succeeded Clemente quinto vvho being a French man remoued his court into France in the year 1306. In the meane space Carlo the second King of Napoli died To that kingdom succeeded Robarto his sonne and to the Empire Arrigo of Lucemburgh who notwithstanding the absence of the Pope from Rome vvent thither to be crowned By meane of that iourney grevv many troubles in Lombardy because all those that had bene banished either Guelfi or Ghibellini vvere admitted to returne to their townes and there being made so great quarrels among themselues as the Emperour vvith all his power could not appease The Emperour then departed from Lombardy to Genoua and so to Pisa vvhere he practised to take Toscana from the king Robarto But hauing no successe vvent on to Rome where he remained not long being driuen out by the Orsini and the friends of king Robarto Then returned he to Pisa vvhere he deuised for his better proceeding in the vvars of Toscana and the rather also to remooue king Robarto from his gouernment that Frederigo king of Sicilia should assault those countries But at such time as hee hoped at one instant to performe both those enterprises he died and Lodouico of Bauiera was chosen Emperour In this meane space was created Giouanni 22. In whose dayes the Emperour ceased not to persecute the Guelfi and the church which vvas chiefly defended by king Robarto and the Florentines Wherof grew great vvarre in Lombardy by the Visconti against the Guelfi and in Toscana by Castruccio of Lucca against the Florentines And because the family of Visconti vvas that vvhich beganne the Dukedome of Milan one of the fiue principallities that gouerned Italy I thinke good more at large hereafter to intreate of them After that the league of the cities of Lombardy vvas concluded as hath bene beforesaid and they resolued to defend themselues from Federigo Barbarossa Milan also being repaired of the ruines conspired vvith those cities of the league to be reuenged of former iniuries Which league brideled Barbarossa and for a time gaue countenance to the faction of the church then in Lombardy During these vvarres the house of Torre grevv to great reputation so long as the Emperours had in that country small authoritie But vvhen Federigo the second vvas come into Italy and the Ghibellini through the helpe of Ezelino became strong the humour of Ghibilini sprung vp in euery citie and the house of Visconti taking part with that factiō chased out of Milan the family of Torre yet were they not long out but by meane of a peace concluded betwixt the Emperour and the Pope hee with his Court beeing in France and Arrigo of Lucimburg going to Rome for the Crowne was receiued into Milan by Maffeo Visconti and Guido della Torre who at that time were chiefe of those houses yet Maffeo intending by helpe of the Emperour to driue Guido out of the Citie and supposing that enterprise the more likely because Guido was in faction contrary to the Empire hee tooke occasion vpon the complaints of the people against the euil demeanor of the Germains slily perswading and encouraging euery man to take Armes and deliuer themselues from the seruitude of that barbarous nation And when all things were made ready he caused a secret minister of his to mooue a tumult Whereat all the people tooke Armes against the name of Germany and Maffeo with his sonnes and followers suddeinly armed went to Arrigo letting him vnderstand that this tumult proceeded frō those of the house of Torre who not contented to liue priuate in Milan tooke occasion to spoyle him gratifie the Guelfi of Italy and make themselues princes of that citie Notwithstanding hee perswaded the Emperour to be of good cheare for they and their followers would in euery respect saue and defend him Arrigo beleeued all that which Maffeo had spoken ioyning his forces with the Visconti assailed those Della Torre Who beeing dispersed in diuerse places of the Cittie to appease the tumult so many of them as could be found were slaine and the rest spoyled sent into Italy Maffeo Visconti thus made as it were prince of Milan had diuerse sonnes the chiefe of them were called Galiazzo and Azo and after them Luchino Giouanni Giouanni became Archbishop of that Citie and of Luchino who died before him remained Barnabo and Galiazzo called Conte de Vertu He after the death of the Archbishop killed Barnabo his vncle and so became onely prince of Milan and was the first that had the title of Duke Of him descended Philippo Giouan Mariangilo who being slaine by the people of Milan the state remained onely to Philippo and he hauing no heires male the Dukedome was translated from the house of Visconti to the Sforzi as shall be hereafter declared But to returne to our matter Lodouico the Emperour to giue reputation to his faction and take the Crowne came into Italy and being arriued at Milan to the end he might leauy mony of the Milanesi offred to make them free and for proofe thereof imprisoned the Visconti Afterwards by mediation of Castruccio of Lucca deliuered them and went to Rome Then the more easily to disturbe Italy he made Piero de la Coruara Antipope by whose authoritie and the force of Visconti he hoped to keepe downe the contrary faction both in Toscana and Lombardy But Castruccio then died which was the cause of his ruine for Pisa and Lucca presently rebelled And the Pisani sent the Antipope prisoner to the Pope thē remaining in France Whereupon the Emperour dispairing of his enterprise in Italy returned to Germany So soone as he was gone Giouanni king of Bohemia came into Italy called thither by the Ghibilini of Brescia and possessed that Citie with one other called Bergamo And forasmuch as the comming of this king was with consent of the Pope although hee fained the contrarie the Legate of Bologna fauoured him imagining for that cause the Emperour would no more returne into Italy by whose departure thence the country was greatly altered The Florentines and the king Robarto seeing that the Legate fauoured the enterprise of the Ghibilini became enemies to all those that the Legate and the king of Bohemia fauoured against whom without respect of Guelfi or Ghibilini many princes ioyned Among them were the Visconti the family of La Scala Filippino Gonzaga of Mantoua the house of Carrara and Este wherupon the Pope did excommunicate them all The king for feare of this league went home to
S. Bruocolo and because the people had that Senate in suspition they ioyned with them six Citizens for the gouernment While the one and the other part prepared themselues to fight some of the people and some of the Nobilitie togither with certaine religious men of good fame came betweene them and perswaded a peace Letting the Nobilitie vnderstand that the cause why the honours from them was taken and the lawes against them made proceeded of their owne pride and euil gouernment And because they had before that time taken Armes to recouer that which through their owne diuision and euil behauiour had bene taken from them it would not do other then occasion the ruine of their country and hinder themselues It was moreouer said vnto them that the people in number riches and mallice was much their superiour and that these noble men by whom they thought to oppresse others would not fight but went their waies so soone as the fight began It was therefore a folly for them against so great a multitude to contend They perswaded the people on the other side that it was no wisedome to seeke their will by way of extremitie and that it was no part of iudgement to driue men into desperation for whosoeuer hopeth of no good feareth no euill They ought also to remember that the Noble men were those which in the warres had honored the citie therfore it was no reason nor iust occasion why they should be so greatly hated And moreouer although the Nobilitie could be content not to possesse the supreame offices yet would they not endure to be driuen out of their Country It were therefore well done to laie Armes aside and grow to agreement not trusting to the multitude of the people for it hath bene often seene that the greater number haue by the lesse bene vanquished Vpon these speeches grew diuers opinions among the people many wold haue fought as a thing that of force at one time or other must be and therefore was better to do the same now then afterwards when their enemies were become stronger And though it were beleeued that by mittigation of the lawes the Nobilitie wold become contented yet the pride of them was such as without enforcement would neuer rest Others of the people wiser better aduised and of more quiet disposition thought that the mitigation of the lawes was no great matter but to fight one part against the other was a thing of great importance So in the end this opinion preuailed and it was prouided that no accusation against any of the Nobilitie should bee receiued without witnesses The Armes of the one and the other side thus laide aside either of them continued full of suspition fortifying themselues in their houses and preparing weapons anew Then the people reordeined the gouernment restraining the same into a smal number mooued thereto because that Signoria had bene fauoured of the Nobilitie of whom the chiefe were Mancini Magalotti Altouiti Peruzzi and Gerrettani The state thus setled for more magnificence and securitie of the Senate in the yeare 1298. they builded their Pallace and made a Court before it of that place where the houses of the Vberti sometimes were At this verie time were also the common prisons begunne and within few yeares after finished For in those daies our cittie was in as great and happie estate as at anie time it hath bene being full of men and reputation The number of Cittizens fit for the warres were numbred at thirtie thousand and the people of the Countrey able for that purpose amounted to threescore and tenne thousand All Toscana either as subiects or friends obeyed vs. And albeit betwixt the Nobilitie and people some indignation and suspitiō were yet no euil effect thereof followed but euery man neighborly peaceably liued And had not this peace bene by new enimitie within the cittie disturbed no forreine disorder could haue molested the state because the cittie stood in such tearmes that it neither feared the Empire nor those that were banished And against all the states of Italy it was of force sufficient to defend it selfe That iniury therfore which external forces could not do by inward discord was performed There were in Florence two families one called Circhi the other Donati in riches Nobilitie and men mightie Betweene them being both in Florence and the Country neare neighbors there grew displeasure yet not so great as to occasion the vse of armes neither would there perhaps thereof haue growne any great matter had not the same bene by some new occasions encreased Among the chiefe houses of Pistoia is that of Cancellieri It happened that Lore sonne of Guglielmo and Geri sonne of Bertaccio both of that familie playing togither fell into quarrell and Geri of Lore was lightly hurt This chance greeued Guglielmo much and thinking with curtesie to amend the matter made the same much worse For he commanded his sonne to go vnto the house where the father of the hurt man dwelled and there aske pardon The yoong man obeyed his father Notwithstanding that humble act did no whit decrease the bitter disposition of Bertaccio who caused Lore to be taken and holden by his seruants till his hand were cut off saying vnto him return home vnto thy father and tel him that wounds be cured with steele and not with words The crueltie of this fact so greatly offended Guglielmo that he armed his friends to reuenge it Bertaccio on the other side armed to defend himselfe Whereby not onely these families but all the cittie of Pistoia was diuided And because these Cancellieri were descended frō one of that name who had two wiues the one named Biancha the one party being descēded of that woman called their faction Biancha the other partie to take a name contrarie was called Nera Betwixt them at diuerse times diuerse conflicts and slaughters of men followed At length both parties growing wearie and yet not knowing how to be reconciled did desire either to make an end of their discord or else to draw others into quarrels with them and so encrease their faction For which purpose they come to Florence And the Neri hauing familiar acquaintance with the Donati were by Corso chiefe of that house fauoured which the Bianchi vnderstanding to make themselues strong and able to resist the Donati resorted to Veri dei Circhi a man in euerie condition no whit inferiour to Corso This humour come from Pistoia encreased the olde hate betweene the Circhi and Donati and was alreadie so apparant that the Priori and other good Cittizens feared euerie houre least some slaughter would therof ensue and the whole citie be diuided For preuenting whereof they resorted vnto the Pope desiring him that with his authoritie he would take order for these quarrels which they themselues could not The Pope sent for Veri and pressed him to make peace with the Donati whereat Veri seemed to maruell said he had no quarrell vnto them
disaduantage The Legate returning to Rome and hearing the troubles that were begunne in Florence perswaded the Pope that for the vniting of that Cittie it was necessarie for him to send thither for twelue principall Cittizens whereby the roote of the mischiefe remoued it should be the more easie to quench the same This Councell was by the Pope allowed and the Citizens sent for appeared Amongst whom was Corso Donati When these Cittizens were absent the Legate wrote vnto the Rebels that the chiefe of the Cittizens were from home and therefore the time serued well for them to returne vnto Florence Which encouragement being receiued they assembled their forces and came to the Cittie entering where the walles were not fully finished and passed forward till they came to the Piazza di Saint Giouanni It was a thing notable to see how those cittizens who had lately fought for the Rebelles so long as disarmed they desired reuocation beeing now armed and forcing the citie became their enemies and tooke armes against them So much the common good was by those Cittizens esteemed and preferred before priuate friendship Wherefore they vniting themselues with all the people enforced the rebels to depart and returne from whence they came This enterprise had no successe both because the banished men had left part of their forces at Lastria and for not hauing tarried the comming of Tolosetto Vbarti who should haue come from Pistoia with three hundreth men But they imagined that expedition should haue preuailed more then force as often in like cases it so happeneth that delaies do hinder occasion and haste wanteth force The Rebels being gone back Florence returned to the wonted diuisions Then to take authoritie from the house of Caualcanti the people by force remoued them from possession of the Castle called Le Stinche seated in the vale of Greue aunciently belonging thereto And because the souldiers therein taken were the first that were put into that prison newly builded that prison euer after was called Le Stinche by the name of the Castle from whence the prisoners came Also those that were chiefe of the Common-weale renewed the companies of the people and gaue them Ensignes as had bene before ordered making Gonfalonieri of the misteries calling them Colleggio di Signori They ordeined also that the Senate should reforme all disorders in time of warre by Armes and in time of peace by Counsell They ioyned vnto the two old Rettori one Essecutore who togither with the Gonfalonieri should reforme the insolencie of the great men In the meane time died the Pope and Corso with other Cittizens was returned from Rome The Cittie should then haue continued quiet had it not bene with the vnquietnesse of Corso anew disturbed He to gaine himselfe reputation euer vsed to hold opinion contrarie to men of most authoritie and wherunto he found the people enclined to gaine their fauour that way he directed his authoritie Whereby he made himselfe head of all new opinions and to him resorted all those who sought to obteine any thing by extraordinary meane For that cause many great Citizens did hate him which hatred encreased so much as the faction of Neri came to open diuision because Corso imployed priuate forces and such as were enemies to the state Notwithstanding so great was the authoritie of his person and presence that euerie man feared him yet to winne from him the populer fauour as by such kinde of meanes might easily be done a brute was put foorth that he went about to tyrannize the citie which was easily beleeued because his maner of liuing did in troth surpasse the charge of ciuil expence That opiniō was encreased greatly after he tooke to wife the daughter of Vguccione della Faggiola chiefe of the faction Ghibilini Bianca in Toscana most mightie This alliance come to knowledge the aduerse part tooke Armes and the people for the same occasion refused to defend him the chiefest of them ioyning with his enemies The greatest of his aduersaries were Rosso della Tosa Pazzino de Pazzi Geri Spini and Berto Brunelleschi they with their followers and the greater part of the people assembled themselues armed at the foote of the Pallace of the Signori By whose order an accusation was preferred to Piero Brancha Captain of the people against Corso Donati for that he with the aide of Vguccione sought to make himselfe a tyrant Then was he cited to appeare and after for contumacie iudged a Rebell Betwixt his accusation the iudgement pronounced was not longer time then two houres This sentence giuen the companies of the people vnder their Ensignes marched towards him Corso on the other side was not dismaied though he were abandoned by many his friends nor for the sentence pronounced nor yet with the authoritie of the Senators nor the multitude of his enemies but fortified his house hoping there to defend himselfe till he were rescued by Vguccione for whom he had sent All his houses all the waies vnto them were fortified made close and within many of his faction to defend them So that the people though in great numbers come thither could not enter The conflict was great many slaine and many hurt of either side And the people seeing that by those wayes they could not preuaile brake the houses of his neighbours and by that deuise not mistrusted did enter Corso then seeing himselfe beset with enemies and no longer trusting to the helpe of Vguccione resolued to see what meane he could finde to saue himselfe sith of victorie hee vtterly dispaired Then with Gherardo Bondini and many others his most valiant and faithfull friends he charged his enemies with so great furie as he brake them and made way to passe through to the gate of the Citie where they got out Yet were they still pursued Gherardo vpon the bridge Affrico was by Bocaccio Cauicciuoli slaine Corso also was taken at Bouezano by certaine horsemen belonging to the Senate Notwithstanding beeing brought towardes Florence hating the sight of his enemies and the glorie of their victorie he fell from his horse and was by one of them which ledde him there murthered The bodie was after taken vp by the Monkes of S. Salui and without any honor by them buried This was the end of Corso Donati vnto whom his country the faction of Neri for many deeds both good and bad must acknowledge it selfe beholding But had his disposition mind bene more quiet the memorie of him had deserued great honour For indeed he was a Citizen so rare as had at any time before bene seene in our citie Yet true it is that his factious mind bereft him of that honour which by his country and confederates was due and in the end procured his owne death with many other misaduentures Vguccione comming to the rescue of his sonne in law arriued at Remoli heard there that Corso was by the people taken Wherupon knowing that he could by no means then
helpe him for not hurting himselfe returned backe Corso thus ending his life which happened in the yeare 1308. was the cause that all tumults ceased and the citie continued quiet till such time as intelligence was giuen that Arrigo the Emperour who fauoured by the Florentine Rebelles was come into Italy followed by them and intending to put them againe in possession of their country For preuenting of which mischiefe the Magistrates of the citie thought good to call home all those that had not bene by speciall name banished whereby the number of their enemies should be the lesse The greater number that remained in exile were Ghibilini and some fewe of the faction Bianca among whom were Dante Alighieri the sonnes of Veri de Cerchi and Giano della Bella. They sent also for aide to Roberto King of Napoli which not obteined at his hand as their friend they were enforced to giue him the citie for fiue yeares to the end he might defend them as his subiects Then the Emperour passed into Italy and by the way of Pisa went to Rome there to be crowned in the yeare 1312. Afterwards determining to reforme Florence hee returned thither by Perugia and Arezzo and lodged his Campe at the Monastery of S. Salui distant one myle from the citie where he remained fiftie dayes without any good done and therfore as desperate of successe remoued to Pisa where he agreed with Federigo King of Sicilia to assault the kingdom of Napoli Being with his Army there arriued in great hope of victorie and the King Roberto in great feare of his distruction at Buouconuento he died It happened shortly after that Vguccione di Faggiola became Prince of Pisa and not long after of Lucca brought thither by the faction of Ghibilini with whose aide he greatly iniured his neighbours Amongst whom the Florentines to be deliuered gaue vnto the brother of King Roberto the gouernment of their Army Vguccione on the other side for the encreasing of his power laboured continually till by force and subtiltie he had gotten many Castles in the vale of Arno and Nieuole Then marching towards Monte Catini with intent to besiege the same the Florentines thought it necessarie to rescue that place least the losse thereof might disturbe the whole countrey Then assembling a great Army they passed into the vale Nieuole where they fought with Vguccione and in the end of their battaile two thousand or more of their men were slaine with Piero the Kings brother their Generall whose bodie afterwards was neuer found neither was this victorie without losse to Vguccione whose sonne was also killed with many Captaines and Leaders of his Armie The Florentines after this ouerthrow fortified the townes about them and the King Roberto sent them a new Generall called Andrea Earle Nouello By whose gouernment or rather by the naturall inclination of the Florentines discontented with euerie state and diuided by euerie accident notwithstanding the warres they lately had with Vguccione fell to faction The one part whereof called themselues the Kings friends the other the Kings enemies The chiefe of the Kings enemies were Simon della Tosa the house of Magalotti with certaine other populer men in whom rested the chiefe of the gouernment These men found meanes to send into France and Germany to leauie Captaines and souldiers to remoue the Earle Andrea Gouernour for the King But their fortune was such as could not bring to passe that they desired yet did they not abandon the enterprise but beeing disappointed both by France and Germany they found out a Gouernour in Agobio and before his comming remoued Andrea Lando de Agobio being come was made their minister or rather their hangman hauing receiued absolute authoritie ouerall the citizens He being a man couetous and cruell accompanied with his souldiers all armed visited euerie streete murthering euerie man whom those that elected him would require Yea such was his insolencie that he caused false mony to be quoined with the stampe of Florence and no man durst gainsay the doing therof so great was the authoritie whereunto the discord of the citie had brought him Great and lamentable was the estate of this towne which neither the memorie of passed diuision neither the feare of Vguccione nor the authoritie of the King could reforme In most miserable plight it then remained when the country abroad was spoyled by Vguccione and the citie within by Lando of Agobio sacked The Kings friends were all contrary to Lando and his followers Likewise all Noble houses the chiefe of the people al the Guelfi Notwithstanding because the aduerse party had the gouernment they could not without perill to themselues be discouered Yet resoluing to be deliuered from so dishonest a tyrannie they wrote secretly vnto the King Roberto to make the Earle Guido Buttifolle his Lieftenant in Florence which the King presently did and the aduerse part notwithstanding that the Senators were contrarie to the King durst not for the respect they bare to the Earle finde fault But the Earle had not therby much authoritie because the Senators the Gonfaloniere were by Lando and his partie fauoured During the continuance of these troubles in Florence the daughter of King Alberto comming from Germany passed that way in her iourny towards Carlo the sonne of Roberto her husband She was greatly honoured by the Kings friends and they imparted vnto her the state of the citie and the tyrannie of Lando with his followers In so much as by the fauour of her before her departure the citie was pacified Lando remoued from his authoritie and with riches blood and spoile sent home to Agobio The gouernment also of the King ouer the citie for three yeares was continued And whereas there had bene before seuen Senators elected by Lando six more were chosen for the King so the Magistrates were for a time thirteene After they were reduced to the auncient number of seuen About this time Vguccione was depriued of his authoritie in Lucca Pisa and Castruccio Castracani from a priuate Cittizen aspired to be Lord of Lucca for hee being a yoong man of great courage in euerie enterprise fortunate became in short space the principall Leader of all the Chibilini in Toscana For which respect the Florentines setting aside priuate discord deuised with themselues by what meanes Castruccio might be kept downe and how his forces alreadie growne might be resisted And to the end that the Senators might with better counsell be aduised with more authoritie execute the same they elected twelue Cittizens whome they called Boni Homini without whose consent and counsell the Senators might not do any thing of importance In this mean while the gouernment of king Roberto was expired the citie became Prince ouer it selfe with the auncient Magistrates and gouernors therof Also the great feare they had of Castruccio did hold the same vnited hee hauing done many things against the Lords of Lunigiana and assembled Prato The
those that were iniured was Piero de Bardi and Bardo Frescobaldi They being gent. and naturally proud could not endure that a stranger wrongfully and in the presence of some Magistrates had done them iniurie which both against him and those that gouerned they conspired to reuenge Into that conspiracie entered many Noble families and some of the people whom the tyrannie of him that gouerned did offend The order of execution agreed vpon was that euery man shuld assemble into his house as many armed men as he could and in the morning of All Saints day when euerie bodie was in the church to take armes and kill the Captaine Which done they determined to place new Senators and with new orders to reforme the state But because enterprises of perill the more they be thought vpon the more vnwillingly be performed It alwaies happeneth that cōspiracies not suddenly executed are for the most part discouered There was among the conspirators one called Andrea de Bardi in whom the consideration of punishment could do more then the hope of reuenge reuealed all to Iacamo Alberti his brother in law Then Iacamo enformed the Priori and the Priori enformed the Gouernours And because the day of danger grew neare which was the feast of All Saints manie citizens consulted in the Pallace and thinking it dangerous to deferre the time iudged it best that the Senators should cause the bell to be rung and thereby call the people to armes Taldo Valori was Gonfaloniere and Francesco Saluiati one of the Senate They being to the Bardi kinsmen would not haue the Bell rung saying it were not well done vpon euerie light occasion to arme the people For authority being giuē to a loose multitude could worke no good effect It was also easie to moue tumults but to appease them hard It were therfore much better first to examin the troth of the cause punish the same by law thē correct it disorderly with ruine of the citie which words were not willingly heard For the Senators with many iniurious and presumptuous speeches were enforced to ring the Bell vpon hearing wherof all the people ran sodeinly into the market place armed On the other side the Bardi Frescobaldi seeing themselues discouered intending to winne their purpose with glory or die without shame tooke armes hoping to defend that part of the citie where their own houses were and on the other side of the riuer fortified the bridges trusting to be succoured by the nobility of the country other their friends Which purpose was disappointed by the people that inhabited where their houses were who tooke armes in fauour of the Senat so that finding themselues disapointed they abādoned the bridges retired to the street where the Bardi dwelt as a place of more strength then any other that very valiantly they defēded Iacobo de Agobio knowing all this conspiracy to be against him fearful of death amazed at the pallace of the Senators in the midst of the armed men placed himself But there was more courage in the Rettori who had lesse offended and most of all in the Podesta called Maffeo de Maradi For he presented himself to those that fought as a mā senceles without al feare passing the bridge Rubaconte entred in amōg the swords of the Bardi making signes to speak with thē Wherupon they cōsidering the reueuerence of the man his vertue other his good great qualities staied their weapons quietly heard him He then with modest graue words blamed their cōspiracy laying before them the perils wherto they were subiect if they gaue not ouer this populer enterprise giuing thē also hope that they should be fauourably heard and mercifully iudged And promised moreouer to be the mean wherby their reasonable offences should find compassion Then he returned back to the Senators and persuaded thē not to be victorious with the bloud of their own citizens neither to iudge before the cause were heard And his persuasion preuailed so much as by cōsent of the Senate the Bardi Frescobaldi with their friends were suffered to abandō the citie return to their castles They being gone and the people disarmed the Senators proceeded onely against the families of Bardi and Frescobaldi who had taken armes And to spoile them of some part of their power they bought of the Bardi the Castle of Mangona and the Castle of Varina and made a lawe that no Cittizen might possesse a Castle within twentie miles of Florence Within fewe monethes after Stiatta Frescobaldi was beheaded and many others of that familie proclaimed Rebelles It sufficed not the Gouernours to haue oppressed the Bardi and Frescobaldi but they did as men commonly doo the more authoritie they haue the worse they vse it and the more insolent they become so where was before one Captaine of the Guard who oppressed the Cittizens within Florence they also chose an other in the Countrey to the ende that men to them suspected should neither within the Cittie nor without haue anie dwelling So earnestly were they bent against the Nobilitie that they forced not to sell the Cittie to be reuenged aspecting onely occasion which came well and they better vsed the same By meanes of many troubles which hapned in Lombardy Toscana the possession of the citie of Lucca was come into the hāds of Mastino della Scalla Lord of Verona who notwithstanding hee was bounde to deliuer the same to the Florentines did not because he thought himselfe able to hold it the rather by being Lord of Parma and therefore of his promise he made none account at all which moued the Florentines to offence For reuenge whereof they ioyned against him with the Venetians and made so hotte warres vpon him as thereby he was inforced almost to abandon his country Notwithstanding therof followed nothing but some satisfaction of mind to haue oppressed Mastino For the Venetians as all other doe that ioyne in league with such as be weaker then themselues after they had surprised Triuigi and Vuensa without respect of the Florentines made peace with Mastino Shortly after the Visconti Princes of Milan hauing taken Parma from Mastino and hee fearing for that cause that Lucca could not be kept determined to sell it Those that desired to buy that citie were the Florentines and the Pisani In beating the bargaine the Pisani perceiued that the Florentines richer then they would obteine it Therefore they sought to winne it by force and with the aide of Visconti besieged it The Florentines notwithstanding proceeded and bargained with Mastino paying part of the money in hand and for payment of the rest deliuered hostages Naldo Ruccelai Giouanni the sonne of Barnardino de Medici and Rosso de Rici and then by order of Mastino the possession of the Citie was deliuered The Pisani notwithstanding pursued their enterprise and by all meanes possible laboured to get the Cittie by force yet went the Florentines to rescue the Cittie
was by the offence of the Florentines followed For the better execution thereof they made league with Barnabo and with all the cities enemies to the church and elected eight Citizens to gouern the said war vnto whom authoritie was giuen to proceed without appeale and spend without account This warre begun against the Pope notwithstanding the death of Vgucciono encouraged those that followed the faction of Ricci and had against the Albizi alwaies fauoured Barnabo and disfauoured the church and the more for that the eight were all foes to the faction of Guelfi which was the reason that Piero delli Albizi Lapo di Castiglionichio Carlo Strozzi and the rest diuerse times ioyned to the offence of the aduersarie And while the eight made warre and they admonished the warre continued three yeares and by death of the Pope was ended This warre was with so vniuersall satisfaction and so great vertue gouerned that the office of the eight was from yeare to yeare continued in those men and they were called Santi notwithstanding they litle regarded the Popes curses spoiled churches and forced the Clergie Thus without respect they preferred the seruice of their country before the Popes indignation And thereby taught the church that as being friend thereunto they had defended it so being enemie they were able to annoy it hauing procured all Romagna La Marca and Perugia to rebell But notwithstanding all these warres made by the Florentines against the Pope yet could they not defende themselues from the Captaines of their owne factions and their followers For the enuie which the Guelfi bare vnto the eight made them to become insolent and though they spared the rest of the Nobilitie yet rested they not to iniure the eight Also the Captaines of factions were growne vp to so great arrogancie as they were more fauoured then the Senators and men with more reuerence resorted to their houses then to the Pallace In so much as euerie Embassadour that came to Florence brought with him some commission or instruction to entreate with these Captaines Then died Pope Gregorio whereby the citie being deliuered of forreine warre presently begun great confusion at home For on the one side the insolencie of the Guelfi was insupportable and on the other side no meane could be deuised to oppresse them Onely this hope was left that euerie man should take armes and so make triall whether partie should preuaile On the part of the Guelfi were all the old Nobilitie with the greater number of the mightiest people of whom as hath bene declared Lapo Piero and Carlo were the chiefe On the other side were all the people of least reputation who had for Leaders the eight Gouernours of warre Georgio Scali Tomazo Strozzi and with them the Ricci Alberti and Medici The rest of the multitude as in like cases it euer happeneth ioyned to the partie discontented It seemed then to the Guelfi that the forces of their aduersaries were great and therefore themselues in much daunger whensoeuer any vnfriendly Senate should happen to be chosen Therefore thought good for the preuenting of that mischiefe to assemble themselues in some place conuenient where they might consult of the state of that Citie For it seemed that the Citizens admonished being in number growne great the most part of the Citie were their foes Whereto they could not deuise other remedie but as they had taken from them the honours so also to banish them the Citie take the Pallace by force and reduce all the state to the order wherunto it was by the auncient Guelfi reduced who liued not secure for any other reason but onely because they had driuen out all their aduersaries To this plot euerie man consented but of the time of execution they discented The yeare 1378. being come in the moneth of Aprill Lapo thought good not to deferre the time saying there was nothing that hindred time so much as time and then specially because in the next Senate Saluestro de Medici was likely to be chosen Gonfaloniere whom to their factiō they knew most contrary Piero delli Albizi thought otherwise for his opinion was it should be deserred because the execution of their intent required forces which without publishing of the matter could not beleuied if the matter were discouered they should therby incurre manifest daunger His opinion therefore was it should be delaied till the feast of S. Iohn then at hand at which time many people would resort to the towne among whome they might conuey in vnknowne as many friendes as they thought good Moreouer to finde meanes how to preuent the election of Saluestro it was thought fit to admonish him and if that deuise seemed not good then to put into the election an other also of the same quarter So as it might fall out that insteed of him some other of his companions should be chosen This cause was set downe as a resolution notwithstanding that Lapo vnwillingly thereunto consented iudging delaie was dangerous and that no time can be in euerie respect fit for execution For whosoeuer tarrieth all opportunities either he shall neuer performe anything or if he doth the same for the most part falleth out to his disaduantage The Colledge was warned and Saluestro not repulsed but chosen Gonfaloniere for the eight hauing discouered the practise found meanes to preuent that which was looked for Thus Saluestro sonne of Alemanno di Medici who being of a verie noble populer house could not endure that the people should be by a few great men oppressed And hauing deuised how to end their insolencie seeing the people fauoured that enterprise he did communicate his intent to Benedetto Alberti Tomazo Strezzi and Georgio Scali and they promised to bring him all the aide they possibly could Thē was there a law secretly established wherby the ordināces of iustice against the great men were renewed the authoritie of Captains was diminished The same also restored power to the admonished to haue restitution of their dignities And because as it were at one instant they intended both to propound and obteine hauing first to passe the Colledge after to determine in the Councels finding Saluestro President which place in those dayes for the time being made him be placed as Prince of the Citie they caused the Colledge Councell in one selfe morning to be assembled And first to the Colledge onely they propounded the lawe made which as a new thing was by that small number reiected Whereby Saluestro seeing his wings clipped wherewith he hoped to ascend to his desire fained for his necessitie to depart the place and contrarie to expectation went to the Councell and standing vp where he might be both seen and heard of euerie man said He thought himselfe made Gonfaloniere not to determine of priuate causes which haue their ordinary Iudges but to attend the state correct the insolencie of the great men and qualifie the rigor of those lawes which were found by proofe to hinder the
greater tyrannie then that of the Duke of Athene but the bountie of Lando was such as suffred no thoght to enter his mind that might be preiudiciall to the vniuersall quiet His wisedom directed all things so as many of his fellowship gaue him place his aduersaries by force of armes were oppressed Which maner of proceeding caused the multitude to stand dismaied and the better sort of Artificers to looke about them thinke how great their shame was hauing oppressed the great mens pride to endure the populer dregs At such time as Michele obteined this victorie against the multitude a new Senate was chosen wherin were two men of so vile and vnworthie condition as euery man desired to be acquit of that great infamie When these officers were created which was the first day of September the Market place was full of armed men So soone as the olde Senators came out of the Pallace there was a brute giuen out among the armed men that they would not that any of the base people should be of the number of Senators Whereupon the Senate for their satisfaction depriued two the one called Tira the other Baroccio in whose roomes they placed Georgio Scali and Francesco di Michele They also deposed the mysteries of the base people and all officers excepting Michele-Lando Lorenzo di Puccio and a fewe others of the better sort They diuided the honours into two parts allotting the one to the greater mysteries the other to the lesse Of the Senate they willed there should be euer fiue of the lesse mysteries and foure of the great And the Gonfaloniere to be chosen sometimes of the one and sometimes of the other The state thus ordeined for the present appeased the citie And albeit the gouernment was taken away from the base people yet the Artificers of meanest condition remained more mightie then the populer Nobilitie who were forced to giue place to winne from the base people the fauoure of the mysteries and content them which was also fauoured by such as desired that those should be oppressed who vnder the name of Guelfi had with great insolencie iniured many Cittizens Among others that allowed this manner of gouernment Georgio Scali Benedetto Alberti Saluestro di Medici and Tomazo Strozzi were made as Princes of the citie These matters thus proceeding and handled the diuision alreadie begunne betwixt the populer Nobilitie and the meane Artificers through ambition of Ricci and Albizi became confirmed Whereof because afterwardes followed greeuous effects and of them we shall be often occasioned to speake we will call the one populer the other plebeiall The state continued thus three yeares full of banishments and murthers For they that gouerned knowing there were both within and abroade manie euill contented did liue in great suspition The Cittizens within discontented either they continually attempted some newe practise or deuised with themselues how they might do it And those that liued without hauing no bridle by meane of some Prince or some Common weale here and there sowed sedition At this time Giannozzo di Salerno Lieutenant to Durazzo descended of the Kings of Napoli hapned to be at Bologna intending to assault the kingdom take the same frō Queene Giouanna At the same time also were in Bologna many banished Florentines who with the Pope and with Carlo practised diuerse things which was the cause that they who gouerned in Florence did liue in great suspition and gaue credit easily to the slaunders of those Citizens that were suspected During this doubtfull time it was reuealed to the Magistrates that Giannozzo of Salerno should with the banished men present himselfe before Florence and that many within would take armes and deliuer the citie to his hand Vpon this report many were accused the chiefe of whom were Piero delli Albizi and Carlo Strozzi and next to them the Cipriani Giaccomo Sacchetti Donati Barbadori Filippo Strozzi and Giouanni Anselini who were all taken sauing Carlo Strozzi that fled And the Senate to the end none should take armes in their fauour appointed Tomazo Strozzi and Benedetto Alberti with many armed men to guard the citie These Citizens were apprehended and examined but the accusation and their answere conferred togither no fault was in them found Insomuch that the Captaine not willing to condemne them their enemies in the meane space moued the people to mutinie and by force they were iudged to death Neither was Piero degli Albizi any whit fauoured either for the greatnesse of his house or for that long time he had in the citie more reputation then any other and had bene there more honoured and feared During his prosperitie some friend of his either to perswade him to curtesie in his greatnesse or else some enemie to threaten him with the inconstancie of fortune at such time as hee made a solemne banquet to diuerse Citizens sent him a siluer dish full of Comfits and in those Comfits was hidden a naile which being founde and seene of diuerse his guestes it was imagined that thereby he should remember to staie the wheele because fortune hauing set him on the height thereof the wheele keeping course must needes cast him downe Which interpretation was first by his decaie and after by his death verified After this execution the citie remained full of confusion because both the victored and the victorious stood in feare but the worst of all was that the gouernours themselues liued in continuall suspition For euerie accident were it neuer so litle made them to do new iniuries to the factions condemning admonishing and sending the Citizens into exile Whereunto they ioyned new lawes and new orders many times made onely to fortifie their authoritie All which was done to the iniurie of them who were to their faction suspected And they created fortie sixe men who with the Senate should discouer men suspected to the state These officers admonished thirtie nine Citizens making many populer persons great men many great men populer Also the rather to withstand all external forces they enterteined Iohn Aguto an English Captain who in those daies was accounted of great experience in the war had long serued the Pope others in Italy The suspition abroad proceeded of intelligence giuen how certain companies of men at armes belonging to Carlo Durazzo were put in readinesse to assault the kingdome Among whom as was reported were many banished Florentines For the meeting with those perils besides the ordinarie forces a summe of mony was prouided Carlo arriued in Arezzo receiued of the Florentines fortie thousand Duckets promising not to molest them After that time he atchiued his enterprise and happily surprized the kingdome of Napoli tooke the Queen Giouanna sent her prisoner into Hungary Which victorie encreased a new suspition of those that in Florence feared the state Because they could not beleeue that their money should do more with the King then the auncient friendship which that house had with the Guelfi who with manifold
neither was this gouernment lesse iniurious towards the Citizens nor more mild then was that of the multitude For so many of the populer Nobilitie were confined as had bene noted to be defenders thereof togither with a great number of the principall men of the multitude And among them Michele Lando whose former authoritie and good deserts could not in this time of populer furie saue him His country therfore for many good merits was to him vnthankfull Into which errour because many Princes and Common weales do fall is the cause that men vppon like examples terrified before they feele the smart of their gournours ingratitude do first offend them These exilements these slaughters did displease and euer had displeased Benedetto Alberti and he both publiquely and priuately blamed them For which cause the Lords of the state feared him as chiefe friend to the multitude and thought him consenting to the death of Georgio Scali not because his doings did offend him but to be alone in the gouernment Besides that his words and workes did encrease the suspition which made that side which gouerned to keepe eye vpon him and watch opportunitie to oppresse him The citie liuing in these tearmes the actions abroad were of no great importance For if any thing were done it proceeded of feare by reason that Lodouico di Angio came then into Italy to restore the kingdome of Napoli to the Quene Giouanna and remooue Carlo Durazzo The passage of this Prince greatly amazed the Florentines for Carlo according to the custome of old friends demaunded of them aide Lodouico like vnto him that seeketh new friends desired them to stand neutrall Whereupon the Florentines to seeme willing to content Lodouico and aide Carlo discharged Giouanni Aguto and procured Pope Vrbano to entertaine him which subtiltie was easily by Lodouico discouered and for the same held himselfe much iniured by the Florentines During the warre betwixt Lodouico and Carlo in Puglia new forces came from France in the fauoure of Lodouico who arriued in Toscana were by the banished men of Arezzo brought into that citie where they remoued the faction which gouerned for Carlo intending also to haue chaunged the state of Florence as they had altered Arezzo Then died Lodouico wherby the affaires of Puglia Toscana varied Fortune For Carlo assured himselfe on the kingdome which was well neare lost And the Florentines mistrusting the defence of Florence recouered Arezzo and bought it of those souldiers which kept it for Lodouico Carlo then being assured of Puglia went to take possession of Hungheria which was by inheritance descended vnto him leauing his wife in Puglia with Ladislao and Giouanna his children being but babes as hereafter shall be declared Carlo possessed Hungheria but shortly after there died For this conquest much tryumph was made in Florence and the magnificence thereof was no lesse both for publique and priuate expence then if the occasion therof had bene their owne For many families kept open feasts and the house of Alberti for pompe and magnificence exceeded the rest The expences charge of Armour that the Alberti vsed were not onely fit for priuate persons of the best degree but for the greatest Princes which gained them no small enuie Whereto adding the suspition which the state had of Benedetto was the cause of his ruine because those that gouerned could not endure him fearing euerie houre it might come to passe that through fauoure of his faction hee might recouer reputation and driue them from the citie These doubts remaining it happened that he being Gonfaloniere of companies Philippo Malagotti his sonne in lawe was chosen Gonfaloniere di Giustitia which doubled the mistrust of the Gouernours imagining that Benedetto encreased ouer fast in force and the state thereby in much perill For preuention of which inconueniences without tumult they encouraged Bese Magalotti his companion to signifie to the Senate that Philippo hauing passed his turne could not nor ought not exercise that office The cause was by the Senate examined some of them for hate some to take away occasion of slander iudged Philippo not capable of that dignitie and elected in his place Bardo Mancini a man to the plebeyan faction contrarie and mortall enemie to Benedetto In so much as hee beeing placed in office called a Balia for reformation of the state and therein confined Benedetto Alberti and admonished the rest of that family onely Antonio Alberti excepted Benedetto being readie to depart called vnto him all his friendes and seeing them sad said you see my good fathers and Lords in what sort Fortune hath oppressed me and threatned you whereof I maruell not neither ought you to maruell Because it euer commeth to passe that who so euer will be good among many euil or doth seek to hold vp that which many labour to pull downe must of force perish The loue of my Countrey made me to ioyne with Saluestro di Medici and after to depart from Georgio Scali The same did likewise perswade me to hate the maners of those that now gouerne who as they haue not had any to punish them so do they desire that none should finde fault with them For my part I am content with my banishment to acquite them of that feare which they had not of me onely but of euerie other man that knoweth their tyrannous and wicked dealings My punishment therefore doth threaten others of my selfe I take no pitie for those honors which my country being free hath giuen me now brought vnto seruitude cannot take from mee And the memorie of my passed life shall alwaies more comfort mee then mine hard fortune which brought mine exile shall discourage me It greeueth me much that my country should become a spoile for a fewe and be subiect to their pride and couetousnesse I am also right sorie to thinke that those euils which now ende in me will begin in you And I feare least those miseries wil persecute you with more hinderance then they haue persecuted me I would therefore counsell you to prepare your mindes against all misfortunes and beare your selues so as what aduersitie so euer happen for many will happen euery man may know you are faultlesse that without your guilt they be hapned After this leaue taken to giue as great a testimonie of his bountie abroad as hee had done in Florence he trauelled to the Sepulchre of Christ from whence returning in the Ile of Roda hee died His boanes were brought to Florence and therewith great honour buried by those who in his life with all slaunder and iniurie did molest him During these troubles the house of Alberti was not onely oppressed but many other Citizens also admonished and confined Among whom were Piero Benini Mattheo Alderotti Giouanni and Francesco del Bene Giouanni Benci Andrea Adimari and with them a great number of the lesse mysteries Among the admonished were the Couoni the Benini the Rinucci the Formiconi the Corbozi the
neuer desired offices yet had he them all he went not at any time to the Pallace vncalled he loued peace and shunned warre he relieued men in aduersitie and furthered them in prosperitie He medled not with publique extortion but encreased the common profit He was in office curteous of no great eloquence but singuler wise His complexion seemed melancholy yet was he in cōuersation pleasant and merrie He died rich in treasure but more rich of loue and good report which inheritance aswell in goods of fortune as of mind was by Cosimo not only preserued but also enlarged The Volterani being wearie of imprisonment promised to condiscend to that which was demaunded They then being deliuered and returned to Volterra found the time come for the election of new Priori Among whom was chosen one iust man a base fellow yet of credit among the multitude and was in the number of those that had ben prisoners in Florence He being moued with the iniurie offred both in publique and priuate by the Florentines was encouraged by one Giouanni a noble man who also sate in office with him to stirre the people with the authority of the Priori and his owne credit to take the towne from the Florentines and make himselfe Prince thereof By whose perswasion this Giusto for so he was called tooke armes ransacked the towne imprisoned the Captayne of the Florentines and made him selfe by consent of the people Lord thereof This new matter happened in Volterra greatly displeased the Florentines Yet hauing lately made peace with the Duke they imagined a time was come to recouer it And not omitting oportunitie they sodeinly sent thither Rinaldo de gli Albizi and Palla Strozzi as their Comissaries Giusto in the meane space supposing the Florentines would assault him prayed ayd of the Sanesi and Lucchesi The Sanesi denyed him saying they were in league with the Florentines And Pagolo Guinigi Lord of Lucca to recouer the fauoure of the Florentine people which in the Dukes warres he feared to haue lost did not onely refuse to ayde Giusto but also sent his messenger prisoner to Florence These commissaries in the meane space to come vnlooked for of the Volterani assembled all their men of Armes and in the neather Valderno and the Prouince of Pisa leauyed many footemen from whence they marched to Volterra Neyther did Giusto for being abandoned of his neighbours nor the assault of the Florentines abandon himselfe but trusting to the strength of the Scite and the greatnes of the Towne prepared for defence There was at that time in Volterra one called Arcolano brother to Giouanni who had perswaded Giusto to take the gouernment a man among the Nobilitie of good reputation He assembling his friends declared how God by this accident had supplied the necessitie of their Cittie For now if they were pleased to take armes remoue Giusto from the Senate and restore the Cittie to the Florentines they should thereby become chiefe of their Cittie and continue their auncient priuiledges These men consenting to the enterprise went to the Pallace where this Lord Giusto remayned some of them also being left belowe Arcolano with three others went vp and finding him with some other Cittizens drew him aside as though he had to speake with him in some earnest matter so enterteyning him from chamber to chamber till he came to the place where the rest of the companie remayned Yet were they not so suddein but that Giusto drew his sword and before himselfe was slayne hurt two of them Notwithstanding in the end vnable to resist so manie was murthered and cast out of the Pallace Then all the rest of the conspiracie with Arcolano tooke Armes and gaue the Towne to the Commissaries for the Florentines who were with Souldiers neere at hand They without other capitulation entered the Towne whereby the Volterani made their condition worse then before For among other things they dismembred the greater part of the Countrey and was reduced to Vicariato Thus Volterra as it were at one instant lost and recouered no occasion of new warre remayned had not the ambition of men bene cause thereof There serued long time the Florentines in their warres against the Duke of Milan one called Nicholo Fortibraccio sonne to one of the sisters of Braccio di Perugia He after the peace made was by the Florentines discharged and at such time as this chance happened at Volterra was lodged at Fucecchio whereby the Commissaries in that enterprise employed him and his Souldiers It was supposed that at such time as Rinaldo trauelled with him in that warre he perswaded Nicholo vnder some fayned quarrell to assault the Lucchesi saying that if he would goe against Lucca he should be made Generall of the iourney Volterra thus surprized and Nicholo returned home to Fucecchio either by perswasion of Rinaldo or of his owne will in Nouember the yeare 1429. with 300. horse and 300. footemen surprized Ruoti and Compito Castles belonging to the Lucchesi and after came into the Countrey and there made great spoyle The newes of this enterprise published at Florence many people assembled in diuers places of the Cittie and the greater number wished that Lucca might be assaulted The great Cittizens that fauoured the enterprise were those of the faction of Medici and with them ioyned Rinaldo thereto perswaded either because he thought the enterprise profitable to the common-weale or else for his owne ambition hoping to haue the honor of the victorie Those that disfauoured the attempt were Nicholo de Vzano and his followers And it seemeth a thing incredible that so great contrarietie should be in one Cittie touching the making of a warre For those Cittizens and that people who after tenne yeeres of peace blamed the warre against the Duke Philippo for defence of their libertie now after so great expences and so much affliction of the Cittie withall earnestly desired to make a new warre against Lucca and to vsurpe the libertie of others On the other side those that desired the first warre found fault with this motion so greatly did the opinions of men alter with time for the multitude seemeth more readie to take from others then keepe their owne Also men are more moued with hope of winning then feare of losing For this feare is not beleeued till it be neere at hand but that hope is hoped for although farre off The people of Florence was full of hope both by the victories they had obteyned and by letters sent vnto Fortebraccio from the Rettori neere to Lucca For the Deputies of Pescia and of Vico did write that if they might haue leaue to receiue those Castles they would be deliuered to them and by that meanes all the Countrey of Lucca should be gayned Besides these good newes the Lord of Lucca sent his Embassador to Florence to complayne of the spoyles committed by Nicholo desiring the Senate not to moue warre against their neighbours and a Citie that had euer
perswaded them so farre as the tenne gaue commission that this experiment should be tried yet thereof followed nothing but disorder to our camp and suretie of the Lucchesi for the Lucchesi aduaunced their land and then in the night brake the sluice of that ditch whereby the water was conducted so that the ground towards Lucca being mounted the water could not enter and the ditch whereby the water should passe being broken caused the riuer to reuert towards the plaine by meane whereof the Campe was forced to remoue and could not approch the towne This enterprise by meanes aforesaid preuented the tenne newly elected sent Giouanni Guicciardini for their Generall He with all speede possible besieged the Cittie The Lord thereof finding himselfe enuironed with enemies and encouraged by Anthonio del Rosso who there remained as Embassador for the Sanesi sent vnto the Duke of Milan Saluestro Trenta and Lodouico Bonuisi They in the behalfe of their Lord desired the Dukes aide but finding him cold secretly desired him to graunt them souldiers and in recompence thereof they promised to deliuer into his hands their Lord with the possession of their Cittie Assuring him that if hee did not accept this offer their Lord would giue the Towne to the Florentines who with great promises required to haue it at his hand The feare which the Duke conceaued thereof caused him to lay aside all respects and gaue order that the Earle Francesco Sforza his chiefe Captaine should openly aske him leaue to make a iourney to the Kingdome of Napoli Which being obteined he with his forces went vnto Lucca although that he knewe the practise was mistrusted and that the Florentines had sent to the Earle Boccacino Alamanni their friend to preuent it The Earle Francesco being arriued at Lucca the Florentines retired their Campe to Librafatta and the Earle presently besieged Pescia where Pagolo da Diacetto was Gouernor who being rather counselled by feare then any other passion fled vnto Pistoia And if that towne had not bene by Giouanni Malauolti defended it had bene presently lost The Earle then after one assault retired thence and surprized Borgo a Buggiano and burned Stiliano a Castell neere thereunto The Florentines seeing these ruines resorted vnto those helpes which oftentimes had before saued them well knowing that against mercinarie souldiers when force preuaileth not corruption may and therefore proffered vnto the Earle certaine money to the end he should not onely depart but also deliuer the towne into their hands The Earle supposing that more money could not be had of the Lucchesi was contented to take of those that could giue it Wherefore he concluded with the Florentines not to deliuer them Lucca because with his honestie he could not so do but so soone as he should receiue fiftie thousand duckets he would abandon the enterprice This bargaine being made to the end the people of Lucca might excuse him to the Duke he practised with them to driue out their Lord. At that time as is before said Antonio Rosso Embassador of Siena was at Lucca He with the authoritie of the Earle practised with the Citizens the destruction of Pagolo The chiefe of this conspiracie were Piero Cennanni and Giouanni da Chiuizano The Earle was lodged without the towne by the Riuer Scirchio and with him Lanzilao the sonne of Pagolo The conspirators being in number fortie all armed went vnto Pagolo who seeing them demaunded the cause of their comming To whome Piero Cennanni answered that they had bene gouerned by him till their enemies besieged them with sword and famine and therefore they were now determined from that time forward to gouerne themselues Therewith they required the keyes of the Citie and the treasure Pagolo answered that the treasure was consumed but the keyes and himselfe also were at their deuotion Then he desired thē that as his gouernmēt was begun and continued without bloud so without bloud by their fauours it might be ended Pagolo and his sonne were by the Earle Francesco brought to the Duke and died in prison The departure of the Earle deliuered Lucca from the tyrant the Florentines frō feare of his souldiers So as then the one prepared to defend the other returned to offend electing the Earle of Vrbino to be their Generall who againe straightly besieging the citie enforced the Lucchesi to resort anew vnto the Duke who vnder the same colour that hee had sent the Earle did now imploy in their aide Nicholo Piccinino He being readie to enter into Lucca was encountred vppon the Riuer of Serchio and in the passage thereof our men receiued the ouerthrow and the Generall with a fewe of our souldiers saued themselues at Pisa This misfortune greeued the whole citie yet because the enterprise was taken in hand by generall consent the people not knowing whom to blame slaundered onely them that were officers of the warre sith they could not accuse those that were the deuisers therof Then they reuiued the former fault laid vpon Rinaldo but aboue al others they charged Giouanni Guicciardini accusing him for not hauing ended the warre after the departure of the Earle Francesco saying that he had bene corrupted with mony whereof he had sent part to his own house and the rest he had carried with him consumed These rumours and these accusations proceeded so farre that the Captaine of the people moued with publike voices and also by the contrary partie prouoked sent for him Giouanni full of offence appeared wherupon his kinsfolkes for their owne honour laboured the matter so earnestly that the Captain did not proceed The Lucchesi after the victorie did not onelie recouer their owne townes but also surprized all others belonging to Pisa except Bientia Calcinaua Liuorno Librafatta And had not a conspiracie bene discouered in Pisa the citie it selfe should haue bene lost The Florentines repairing their forces made Michelletto their Generall who had bene trained vp by Sforza On the contrarie side the Duke followed the victorie and the rather to molest the Florentines procured that the Genouesi Sanesi and the Lord of Piombino ioyned in league for the defence of Lucca and that Nicholo Piccinino should be enterteined for their General which was the cause that the practise was laid open Therupon the Venetians and Florentines renewed their league and the warre began to be openly made both in Lombardy and Toscana In either of which Countries with diuerse fortune diuerse conflicts followed So that either side wearie a peace was cōcluded in the yeare 1343. whereby the Florentines Lucchesi and Sanesi who had surprized the Castles one of the others in the warre left them all and euerie man repossessed his owne During the time that this warre continued the euill disposition of factious men within the citie beganne to worke and Cosimo de Medici after the death of Giouanni his father gouerned all things concerning the Common wealth with more care of the publike profit and more liberalitie
vniuersal you cannot assure him The more of his chiefe friends you labour to banish the more enemies you winne to your selues So that within short space he shall be returned and you haue gained thus much that a good man he was banished and returned an euil man because his nature shall be corrupted by those that will labour his reuocation To whom being made beholding he may not oppose himselfe and if you would put him to death by order of Magistrates you could neuer procure it because his riches and our corruptible nature would assuredly saue him Yet admit he were dead or banished neuer to returne I see not what is gotten to our Common weale for though it be thereby deliuered of Cosimo it becommeth subiect to Rinaldo and I am one of those who wish that no Citizen should surpasse an other in power and authoritie But if any of these two should preuaile I know not for what cause I ought to loue Rinaldo more then Cosimo Neither will I say more then I pray God to defend that any Citizen should aspire to be Prince of this citie And though our sinnes haue merited such a plague yet God forbid we should obey him Do not therefore perswade an enterprise which in euerie respect is dangerous nor thinke that you accompanied with a fewe can withstand the will of many For all these Citizens partly through ignorance and partly of their lewdnesse be prepared to make sale of the Common weale and fortune is so friendly vnto them as they haue alreadie founde a chapman Be therefore pleased to follow my counsell liue modestly and so shall you find cause as well to suspect some of our side for enemies to the libertie as those of the contrarie and when any troubles happen being neutrall you shall be to both acceptable So shall you helpe your selfe and not hinder your country These words did somewhat appease the minde of Barbadoro and the citie continued quiet during the war of Lucca But the peace made and Nicholo da Vzano dead the cittie remained both without warre and order By meane whereof euill humours grew and Rinaldo thinking himselfe to be onely Prince ceased not to entreate and perswade all those Citizens whom he thought likely to be Genfalonieri to arme themselues for the defence of their country against that man who through the lewdnesse of a few the ignorance of many should of necessitie bring the same to seruitude This course holden by Rinaldo and the contrarie laboured by the aduerse part filled the citie with suspition and at the election of euerie Magistrate the one against the other partie publikely murmured at the election of the Senators all the citie was in open vproare Euerie matter brought before the Magistrates how litle soeuer it were occasioned a mutinie All secret matters were laide open good and euill were fauoured disfauoured good men and euill men equally molested and no Magistrate could execute his office Florence remaining in this confusion and Rinaldo labouring to oppresse the greatnesse of Cosimo knowing that Barnardo Guadagni was likely to be elected Gonfaloniere paide his debts to the end that such mony as he owed to the state should not be a meane to keepe him from that dignitie The Senators being chosen and fortune fauouring our discords it came to passe that Barnardo was chosen Gonfaloniere to sit in that office during the two moneths of September and October Him presently Rinaldo visited and told him how greatly the Nobilitie reioyced for his being aspired to that honour which for his vertue he deserued and therfore required him so to behaue himselfe in the office that their reioycing should not be in vaine Then he laid before him the perils which proceeded of faction that there was no other remedie to vnite the citie but the oppression of Cosimo because hee with the loue which his exceeding riches had gained him held others downe and aspired to make himselfe Prince It were therfore conuenient for remedie of so great a mischiefe that the people should be assembled in the Market place And by vertue of the Gonfaloniere the citie restored to libertie He moreouer declared how Saluestro de Medici could without iustice bridle the greatnesse of the Guelfi vnto whome by the bloud of their auncestors lost in that quarrell the gouernment to them apperteined And if he iniustly could do that against so many then might Barnardo with iustice do the same against one alone Then he perswaded him not to feare any man because his friends would be readie armed to assist him Of the multitude which so greatly honoured Cosimo none account was to be made for Cosimo should haue by their fauours none other good then had Georgio Scali Neither should he feare his riches for they being come to the hands of the Senators should be theirs And in conclusion said that this action should make the state vnited and him famous To these perswasions Barnardo briefly answered how he thought necessary to do according to that counsel And bicause the time was to be imploied rather in actiō then words he would presently prepare forces to be readie so soone as his companions could be perswaded to the enterprise Barnardo being placed in office and hauing woon his companions counselled with Rinaldo sent for Cosimo who albeit he were otherwise aduised did appeare trusting rather to his owne innocencie then the mercie of the Senators So soone as Cosimo was entered the Pallace Rinaldo with many others armed came to the Market place and there met with the rest of that faction Then the Senators caused the people to be called and made a Balia of two hundreth men to reforme the state of the citie which Balia with such speed as possibly they could consulted vpon the reformation and also of the life and death of Cosimo Many perswaded he should be banished others would haue him put to death and many also said nothing either for the compassion they tooke of the man or for the fear of them selues This diuersitie of opinions did procure that nothing was cōcluded In a Tower of the Pallace called Albergettino Cosimo was kept prisoner vnder the guard of Federigo Malauolti From which place Cosimo hearing them talke and perceiuing the noyse of armed men in the Market place togither with the often ringing of the Bell to the Balia he stood in great suspition of his life and feared also least his particuler enemies would extraordinaly murther him For these respects during the space of foure dayes he would eate nothing but one litle peece of bread which Federigo perceiuing saide vnto him Cosimo I see thou fearest to be poysoned and therefore would first famish thy selfe But thou doest me great dishonor to thinke that I wold put my hand to so wicked a deede I surely beleeue that thou art not to die for this matter hauing so good friends both within without the Pallace But if it be ment that thy life shall be taken from thee
for no euill desert did hate thē and whensoeuer that gouernment had need of the people to reestablish their authoritie they found them readie to giue vnto the chiefe of the faction the Balia and whatsoeuer else they desired Thus frō the 1434. till the 55. being 21. yeares they were cōfirmed in office 6. times ordinarily elected by the Councels There were in Florence as we haue diuerse times said two most mightie Citizens Cosimo de Medici and Neri Capponi of whome Neri had gained his reputation by publike meanes by season whereof he had many friends but few followers Cosimo on the other side being aspired both by publike and priuate waies had not onely many friends but also many followers These two men continuing vnited during their liues easily obteined of the people whatsoeuer they desired bicause they had loue mixed with authoritie But the yere 1455. being come Neri dead the aduerse part extinguished Cosimo found no small difficultie to be cōfirmed and his own friends being most mightie in the state were cause therof bicause they feared no more the cōtrary faction put downe desired to decrease the power of Cosimo which was the beginning of those diuisions which followed after in the yeare 1466. So as they vnto whome the offices apperteined in their councels where the publike gouernment of that state was debated did alleage it was not conueniēt that the authoritie of Balia should be resumed but that the order of election ought proceed as it was wont by lots and not according to the former Squittini Cosimo to quallifie this humor had to determine vpon one of these two remedies either by force with the aide of his friends and followers to possesse himselfe of the State and therewith to compell the contrarie faction or else to suffer the matter proceed and in time let his friends know that not his honor but their reputation was by the enemy taken away Of these two remedies he made choise of the last for hee knew well that the Squittini being fullest of his friends himselfe could not incurre any perill and might also at his pleasure resume the State The Cittie then determined to create the Magistrates by lot the greatest number thought the libertie recouered and that the offices should not after be allotted according to the will of the most mightie men but as seemed best to themselues Whereupon the followers of the great Cittizens began to be disesteemed and by the people were in sundrie places beaten downe and oppressed So as they who were wont to haue their houses full of suters and presents were now become emptie and without any resort at all They also sawe themselues made equall with those who were before time farre vnder them and their equals were become their superiors They were not regarded nor honored but rather many times mocked and derided Also in the streets the people without respect spake their pleasures both of them and of the Common-weale Whereof was conceiued that they and not Cosimo had lost the gouernment All which things Cosimo dissimuled and whensoeuer any thing plausible to the people was propounded he was euer the first that allowed thereof But that which most terrified the great men and made Cosimo to looke about him was the reuiuing of the Catasto the yeare 1427. Whereby was ordeined the Imposition should proceed by the order of lawe and not the pleasure of men This lawe made and Magistrates for execution thereof chosen occasioned the great Citizens to assemble goe vnto Cosimo and desire him be pleased to concurre with them in their and his owne deliuery from the people whereby he should recouer reputation to the State make himselfe mightie and them honored Thereunto Cosimo answered he was content so that the lawe were made orderly with consent of the people and without force otherwise no speech to be thereof Then went they about in the Councels to make a new Balia whereby they might create new Officers but that intention preuailed not then the great Cittizens returned to Cosimo desiring him most humblie to consent to the Parliament which Cosimo vtterly refused to do meaning thereby to bring to passe that they should finde the error they committed And bicause Donato Cochi being Gonfaloniere di Giustitia would in any wise without his consent call the Parliament Cosimo procured him by the rest of the Senators who sate with him in office to be so mocked and disdeined as thereby he became mad and was as a man sencelesse sent home to his house Notwithstanding bicause he thought it not fit to suffer matters to runne further out of order then that they might be at his pleasure reformed Lucca Pitti become Gonfaloniere di Giustitia a stout and selfe-willed man Cosimo thought good to leaue the gouernment to his discretion to the end that if any thing were misdone the fault might be to Lucca and not to himselfe imputed Lucca then in the beginning of his Magistracie propounded many things to the people touching restauration of the Balia but not obteining his desire with iniurious words full of pride he threatned those of the councels Which threatnings shortly after he performed indeed For in August vpon the eue of S. Lorenzo the yeare 1458. he assembled secretly within the Pallace many armed men called the people thither and forced thē to consent to that which voluntarily they had before denied By this means being againe in possession of the State the Balia was created and the chiefe Magistrates according to the pleasure of a fewe were appointed Then to begin that gouernment with terror which was gotten by force they confined Girolamo Machiauelli with some others and depriued many from their offices which Girolamo hauing afterwards passed the bounds of prescription was proclaimed a Rebell Then went he from place to place in Italy to perswade the Princes against his countrey till at length in Lunigiana through the treason of one of that Senate he was taken brought to Florence and there in prison died This forme of gouernmēt continuing eight yeares was violent and insupportable For Cosimo being old weake vnhealthie and vnable to be present as he was wont at the affaires of the Common-weale a fewe Cittizens at their pleasures did rob and spoyle the Cittie Lucca Pitti for his good seruice was made Knight and he to declare himselfe no lesse thankfull to the State then the State had bene to him caused that the Officers called Priori delli Arti hauing passed their authoritie should be called Priori della Liberta He ordeined also that whereas the Gonfaloniere was woont to sit on the right hand of the Rettori that after he should be placed in the middest of them Moreouer to the end that God might seeme partaker of this action they made publique processions and prayers thanking him for the restauration of their honors Lucca was by the Senate and by Cosimo richly presented To him also euerie other Cittizen resorted and gaue somewhat so that it
resolutely executed The cause of their destruction was that they were not followed and defended of them to whome they trusted Let Princes therefore learne to make themselues so much honored and loued as no man can hope to hurt them and saue himselfe And let all priuate persons know how vaine it is to thinke that the multitude notwithstanding it be discontented will in their perils follow or accompanie them This accident amazed all Italy but much more trouble proceeded of other chances that shortly after happened in Florence For thereby the peace which had continued in Italy the space of twelue yeares was broken as in the Booke following shall be declared Which Booke as it beginneth with bloud and terror so doth it end with sorrow and miserie The ende of the seuenth Booke THE EIGHT BOOKE THE beginning of this Booke placed amidst two conspiracies the one in Milan alreadie declared the other happened in Florence and to be spoken of it may be thought fit that according to my custome I should somewhat saie touching the quallitie of conspiracies and of what importance they are Which willingly I would do had I not in other places discoursed thereof or that such a matter might be briefelie passed ouer But seeing it requireth great consideration and is alreadie spoken of we will proceed and tell how the Medici hauing ouercome all enemies that openly opposed themselues being desirous their house alone might haue authoritie in the Cittie it behoued them to oppresse all others that secretly practised against them For so long as they contended against other families but with equall authoritie the Cittizens enuying their greatnesse might openly and without feare affront them Bicause the Magistrates being free neither partie before losse of victorie had any occasion to feare it selfe But after the victorie in the yeare 66. the State became so much in the hand and power of the Medici as all men discontented were inforced either patiētly to abide the condition wherein they liued or else by way of conspiracie and secret practise to amend their fortune But sith cōspiracies are with difficultie performed for the most part they procure the ruine of the conspirators and the greatnes of him against whome they be conspired So that a Prince by conspiracie assaulted if he be not therein slaine as was the Duke of Milan which seldome hapneth becommeth thereby the stronger and being before good becommeth euill Bicause conspiracies do giue him occasion to feare feare counsaileth him to seeke assurance and in seeking assurance he doth iniure others whereby he gaineth hatred and many times procureth his own destruction So as in cōclusion treasons do sodeinly ouerthrow those who attempt them and trouble him many times against whome they be attempted Italy was as hath bene before declared diuided into two factions the Pope and the King on the one side and the Venetians the Duke and Florentines on the other side And albeit there was not betwixt them any warre moued yet was there dailie occasion giuen thereof and the Pope chiefelie in all his actions studied to offend the state of Florence Philippo de Medici Archbishop of Pisa then dying the Pope contrarie to the will of the Senate of Florence gaue that Bishopprick to Francesco Saluiati whome hee knewe to bee enemie to the house of Medici But the Senate denying to deliuer possession thereof there followed great displeasure betwixt the Pope and the Medici Besides that the Pope did great fauours in Rome to the familie of Pazzi and in euerie acte disfauoured the house of Medici In those daies the house of Pazzi liued aboue other the Florentine families in most riches and glorie The chiefe of them was called Giacopo who for his riches and Nobilitie was made Knight He hauing no children but one onely daughter had for heires diuerse nephews sonnes of Piero and Antonio his brethren The chiefe of whom were Guglielmo Francesco Rinato and Giouanni After them Andrea Nicholo and Galeotto Cosimo de Medici seeing their riches and nobilitie gaue his neece Biancha in marriage to Guglielmo hoping that alliance would make those houses more vnited and remoue all occasion of displeasures and suspitions which many times hapned betwixt them Notwithstāding so incertaine and fallible are the expectatiōs of men the matter came otherwise to passe for those that counselled Lorenzo told him it was perilous and contrary to his authoritie to suffer the Citizens to increase their riches and state which was the cause that those degrees of honor were not graunted to Giacopo and his nephews which as other Citizens thought they deserued Hereof grew the first displeasure of the Pazzi and the first feare of the Medici The increasing of the one was cause that the other also increased in so much as the Pazzi in all actions whereat other Citizens did meete were not to the Magistrates welcome Also the officers of eight men vpon a like occasion without such respect as was wont to be borne towards the great Citizens constrained Francesco de Pazzi being at Rome to returne to Florence Whereupon the Pazzi in all places with iniurious words and full of offence complained which doings caused others to suspect think thēselues to be iniured Giouanni de Pazzi had married the daughter of Giouanni Barromei a man of great riches which riches after his death for want of sonnes should come vnto her Neuertheles Carlo his nephew toke possession of part of those goods and therby the matter being brought to triall and sute an order was made by vertue wherof the wife of Giouanni de Pazzi was disinherited and the possessions giuen to Carlo which iniurie the Pazzi did altogither impute to the Medici Of this matter Giuliano de Medici did many times lament and complaine to his brother Lorenzo saying he feared least they desiring too much should lose all But Lorenzo being full of youth and authoritie would needs take all vpon him and make euery man know that all things were done by him The Pazzi being noble and rich could not indure so great iniuries but deuised by what means they might procure reuenge The first that moued speech against the Medici was Francesco He being of more courage and life then the others determined to get that which he wanted or lose that which he had And bicause the gouernment of Florence was hatefull vnto him he liued for the most part in Rome and there according to the custome of Florentine Merchants occupied great summes of money Being also of familier acquaintance with the Earle Girolamo one of them often complained to the other of the Medici In so much as after many consultations they concluded that to make the one of them assured of his lands and the other of his Cittie it was necessarie to alter the gouernment of Florence which they thought could not be done without the death of Giuliano and Lorenzo They also supposed that the Pope and the King would easily thereto consent if the facilitie of the enterprise