reuenge A thing most certain it is that no time can weare out the desire of liberty For we know where the same hath bene in a citie reuiued by those who neuer tasted thereof saue onely by the memorie of this name libertie which their ancestors by traditiō did leaue them Therfore hauing recouered it with all obstinacie and resolution they wil defend it and if our ancestors had neuer left any signe of libertie yet should we be put in mind therof by these publike Pallaces by these places made for Magistrates these badges of freedom libertie which things be publikely knowne and with great desire euery citizen studieth to know them What can you do or what can by any meanes be done to counteruaile the sweetnesse of life in libertie or make the people forget the commodities therof Yea though you could ioyne all Toscana to the dominiō of this state or might euery day return to the citie triumphing ouer your enemies yet all should not suffice Because that glory should not be yours but ours And our citizens should cōquer no subiects but encrease companions in seruitude Albeit your maners were godly your behauiour curteous and your iudgements iust yet were they not of force inough to make you be loued If you would beleeue they did suffice you therin should deceiue your self For to men accustomed to a life in libertie the lightest clog seemeth heauie the losest bands do pinch A thing impossible it is for any state by violence gotten to be by a good Prince mainteined because of force he must become like vnto his gouernmēt otherwise the one the other wil perish You must therfore thinke either to hold the citie with extreame violence as castles garrisons of men forrein friends yet many times they suffice not or els be content with that authoritie which we haue giuen you We therefore perswade you and pray you to remember that such obedience is durable as is also voluntary And labor not being blinded with some ambition to set your self where you neither can stand nor clime higher without your great preiudice ours so be forced to fall These words moued not at all the hardened heart of the Duke saying his intention was not to take away but restore the liberty of the citie For cities disunited were not free but those that were vnited And if Florence by reason of factions ambition and enmitie had lost the libertie hee would restore it Saying moreouer that not his owne ambition but the sute of many Cittizens brought him to take this burthen and therefore they should do well to be content with that wherewith others were contented As touching those perils which hee might by this occasion incurre hee feared them not at all For it was the office of no good man to leaue the good for feare of euill and the propertie of a coward for feare of good successe to abandon a glorious enterprise Also hee hoped so to beare himselfe as they should haue cause in short space to confesse that they trusted him too little and feared him too much The Senate then seeing no more good to be done agreed that the next morning with their authoritie to giue the gouernment vnto the Duke for one yeare with the same conditions it was giuen to Carlo Duke of Calauria It was the eight day of September 1342. when the Duke accompanied by Giouan della Tosa with all his followers and many Cittizens came into the Market place and there in presence of the Senators ascended vp to the Ringiera for so they called that place of the staires belōging to the Pallace where the conditions between the Senate the Duke were read And when the Reader pronounced those words which gaue the Duke authoritie for one yeare the people cried for his life Then Francesco Rusticheli one of the Senate rose vp to speake and appease the tumult but his words were with shouting of the people interrupted So as by consent of the multitude he was created Prince not for one yeare only but for euer being carried by the multitude about the market place his name was proclaimed It is the custome that whosoeuer is appointed to the Guard of the Pallace shall in absence of the Senators be shut vp therein To which office at that time was Rinieri di Giotto appointed hee being corrupted by the Dukes friends without anie violence offered receiued the Duke into the Pallace And the Senators therewith amazed and dishonored went home to their owne houses Then was the Pallace by the Dukes seruants sacked The Gonfaloni del Populo thrust out and the Dukes Armes set vppon the Pallace to the great and inestimable griefe and sorrow of all good men and the great content of those who either for ignorance or wicked mind thereunto consented The Duke hauing gotten the gouernment intending to take all authoritie from those that were woont to defende the libertie of the Cittie did forbid the Senators to assemble anie more in the Pallace and appointed them a priuate house Hee tooke also the Ensignes from the Gonfalonieri of companies Hee remooued the order of iustice against the Nobilitie and deliuered the prisoners that had bene committed Hee called home the Bardi and Frescobaldi who had bene banished and gaue generall commandement that no man should weare weapon Also for his better defence within the Citie he wanne himselfe forraine friends and for that purpose pleasured the Aretini and all others vnder the Florentine gouernment Hee made peace with the Pisani notwithstanding hee were created Prince purposely to make warre with them Hee tooke the obligations from those merchants that in the warre of Lucca had lent mony to the state He encreased the old Imposts and erected new taking all authoritie from the Senators The Rettori by him appointed were Raglione da Perugia and Guglielmo da Scesi with whom he ioyned Cerrettieri Bisdomini and those three men were his onely Councell The taxes which he imposed vpon the Citizens were extreme his iudgements vniust that grauitie curtesie which he had before fained was conuerted into pride and crueltie For many citizens both wealthy and noble were condemned and diuerse also by new inuented tortures tormented Moreouer to shew his authoritie in like sort abroad as it was in the citie he authorized six Rettori for the country who oppressed and spoiled the rurall people He had the great men in suspition although by them hee had bene pleasured and that some of them by his meanes had bene restored to their Countrey For hee imagined that such Noble mindes as commonly are in Gentlemen could not be contented with his gouernment Hee sought therefore to winne the good will of the people hoping with their loue and the aide of straungers to defende his tyrannie Then the moneth of May being come at which time the people were accustomed to make sport and triumph he caused the companies of the Common people and basest sort to haue Ensignes
reasons according to their owne desire perswaded the Duke Nicholo tolde him that himselfe might be sent into Toscana and Brescia might neuerthelesse be still besieged for the Duke was Lorde of the Lage and had the strong places belonging to the Towne well furnished the Captaines there remaining and men inough to encounter the Earle whensoeuer he should attempt any other enterprise which without the rescue of Brescia hee could not and to rescue it was impossible So that he might make war in Toscana and yet not leaue the enterprise in Lombardy Hee told him moreouer that the Florentines were enforced so soone as he came into Toscana to reuoke the Earle or else lose it so that if any of these two things came to passe the victorie would follow The banished men alledged that if Nicholo with his Army did drawe neare to Florence it was impossible but that the people being wearie of charges and the insolency of the great men would take Armes against the Gouernours They shewed also how easie it was to approach Florence promising to make the way open through Casentino by meanes of the friendship which Rinaldo had with that Earle Thus the Duke first disposed of himselfe and after confirmed by perswasions of these men resolued vpon this enterprise The Venetians on the other part notwithstanding the bitternesse of the winter failed not to call vpon the Earle with all his forces to succor Brescia Which the Earle answered could not be in that time done but of force it must tarrie the spring of the yeare and in the mean time prepare an Army by water so as both by water and land it might at time conuenient be releeued Hereupon the Venetians became sorie and slow in all their prouisions which was the cause that in their Army many people died Of all these things the Florentines being aduertised began to mistrust seeing the warre at hand and no great good done in Lombardy The suspition also which they had of the Popes souldiers did greatly perplex them not because the Pope was their enemie but for that they sawe those souldiers more obedient to the Patriarke their mortall foe more then to the Pope himselfe Giouanni Vittelleschi Cornetano was first Notarie Apostolicall after Bishop of Ricanati then Patriark of Alessandria and at length after all these dignities become Cardinall was called the Cardinall of Florence This Cardinall being a man both couragious and craftie such a one as was by the Pope so greatly beloued as thereby he became Generall of all the forces belonging to the Church and was Captaine in all enterprises that the Pope tooke in hand either in Toscana Romagna the Kingdome or the Citie of Rome Whereby he wonne such reputation among the people and so great authoritie vnder the Pope that the Pope himselfe stood in doubt how to commaund him and the people did onely obey him and no other At such time as the newes came that Nicholo would passe into Toscana this Cardinall with his company happened to be at Rome whereby the Florentines feare was doubled because that Cardinall after the banishment of Rinaldo had euer bene enemie to Florence for that the pacification among the factions of Florence made by his meanes were not obserued but all things done to the preiudice of Rinaldo who had bene the occasion that Armes were laid down which gaue his enemies good means to banish him Then the Gouernors of the state imagined the time come to restore Rinaldo of his losses if with Nicholo being come into Toscana they ioyned their forces but therof they doubted the more by the vntimely departure of Nicholo from Lombardy who left there an enterprise halfe wonne to begin an other more doubtfull which he would not do without some new intelligence and secret subtiltie Of this their mistrust they had enformed the Pope who knew his owne errour in giuing to an other ouermuch authoritie But when the Florentines stood thus doubtfull what to do Fortune found then a meane whereby to assure the Patriarke That state in those times mainteined diligent espials to discouer what Letters were brought too and fro and thereby conceiued if any thing were practised to the preiudice thereof It happened that at Monte Pulliciano some Letters were taken which the Patriarke without consent of the Pope wrote vnto Nicholo Piccinino Those Letters by the Generall of the warre were presently sent vnto the Pope And although they were written in Carects vnused so as no certaine sence could be made of them yet this obscuritie togither with the practise of the enemie bred so great suspition in the Pope as he determined to assure himselfe The charge of this action he committed to Antonio Rido of Padoua being then Captaine of the Castle in Rome Rido hauing receiued this Commission was readie to obey the Popes commandement aspecting an opportunitie to performe the same The Patriarke being determined to goe into Toscana and minding the next day to depart from Rome desired the Captaine Rido to attend for him in the morning vpon the Castle Bridge at such time as hee should passe that way Antonio Rido thought then a good occasion was presented and gaue order to his men what to do tarrying for the comming of the Patriarke vppon the Bridge which way of necessitie he must passe hard by the Castle So soone as hee was arriued vppon that part which vsed to be drawne vp Rido gaue his men a signe to drawe the Bridge and shut the Patriarke into the Castle which was performed So as of a Generall to the Armie the Patriarke was become a prisoner in the Castle The people that followed him at the first murmured but vnderstanding the Popes pleasure pacified themselues The Captaine did comfort him with curteous wordes and perswaded him to hope well To whome the Patriarke aunswered that great personages were not wont first to be apprehended and after set at libertie For those that deserue imprisonment did not merite to bee enlarged and so shortly after died in prison After his death the Pope appointed Generall of his Armie Lodouico Patriarke of Aquilea Who albeit before that time would not intermeddle with the warre betwixt the League and the Duke yet was then content to take the same in hande promising to be readie to defende Toscana with foure thousande Horse and two thousande footemen The Florentines deliuered of this feare stood yet in doubt of Nicholo and mistrusted the confusion of matters in Lombardy by reason of the diuersitie of opinions betwixt the Venetians and the Earle Wherefore to bee more fullie aduertised of their mindes they sent Neri the sonne of Gino Capponi and Guiliano de Auanzati to Venice Whom they gaue in Commission to determine in what sorte the Warre shoulde bee made the next yeare following Commaunding Neri that so soone as hee vnderstoode the mindes and opinions of the Venetians hee shoulde goe vnto the Earle to knowe his and perswade him to those thinges which for
remaining without a Prince the Romanes were enforced to yeeld their obedience to the Pope Yet did not his authoritie thereby greatly encrease because he could not procure to him selfe more preheminence then that the Church of Rome should haue precedence before the Church of Rauenna But the Longobardi being come and Italy diuided into diuerse parts occasioned the Pope to take the more vppon him for he then beeing as it were chiefe of Rome the Emperour of Conctantinople and the Longobardi did respect him so much as the Romanes by his meanes not as subiects but as companions with the Longobardi and with Longino ioyned Thus the Popes sometimes by the fauour of the Longobardi and sometime with the countenance of the Grecians encreased their dignitie But after the destruction of the Empyre in the East which happened in the time of the Emperour Eracleo because the people called Sclaui assaulted conquered againe Iliria calling the same by their owne name Sclauonia the other partes of the Empyre were assailed first by the Persians and after by the Sarasins who came from Arabia conducted by Mahomet and last of all by the Turkes These people amongst them possessed Soria Affrica and Egipt So that the Empyre weakened the Pope dispaired to haue succour there in time of his necessitie On the other side the power of the Longobardi encreasing it behooued him to seeke some new friendship and for the same resorted to the Kinges of France So as after that time all the warres made vppon Italy by forraine people were by the Bishops of Rome occasioned and all the barbarous nations who repaired in so great multitudes to Italy were for the moste part by them called thither which manner of proceeding continueth in our dayes and hath heretofore kept and yet dooth keepe Italy weake and impotent Therefore in discourse of such thinges as haue happened since those to these our daies more shall not be said of the distruction of the Empyre which is altogither cast downe and ruined But wee will heerafter discourse by what meanes the Popes and those other Potentates which till the comming of Carlo the eight gouerned Italy haue atteined to their greatnes whereby we shal conceiue how the Popes first by their censures after with them and their armes mixed with indulgences became terrible venerable and how by euill vsing the one the other they haue altogither lost the vse of their armes in the other they stand at discretion But returning to the order of our matter I say that Gregorio the third beeing atteined to the Papacy Aistulpho to the kingdome of Lombardy contrarie to the agreement afore made surprized Rauenna and made warre against the Pope Gregorio who for the occasions aforesaid not trusting any more to the Emperour of Constantinople beeing then weake neither reposing trust in the Longobardi who had diuerse times distressed him fled for ayde to Pipino the second who from beeing Lord of Austracia and Brabancia was become King of France not so much for his owne vertue as his fathers Carlo Martello and his graundfathers Pipino because Carlo Martello beeing Gouernour of that Kingdome wonne that memorable victorie against the Sarasins neare vnto Torsci vpon the riuer of Era wherein were slaine two hundred thousand Sarasins For which cause Pipino his sonne for the reputation of his father and his owne vertue became after king in that kingdome vnto whome Pope Gregorio as is beforesaid sent for ayde against the Longobardi Pipino answered that hee was very willing to performe his request but first desired to see him and in his presence to honour him For which purpose Gregorio trauailed into France and without any let passed the townes of the Longobardi his enemies so great reuerence was then borne to that Religion Gregorio arriued in France was there greatly honoured by the King and sent back accompanied with the Kings forces who in Pauia besieged the Longobardi wherby Aistulpho was enforced to make peace with the Frenchmen which hee did at the request of the Pope who desired not the death of his enemie but that hee should conuert and liue In which peace Aistulpho promised to render vnto the Church all those townes thereto belonging and by him vsurped But the French souldiers returned home Aistulpho obserued not the conditions of the peace which beeing knowen to the Pope hee prayed ayde a new of Pipino who sent againe into Italy where hee ouerthrew the Lombardy tooke Rauenna and contrarie to the will of the Grecian Emperour gaue the same vnto the Pope with all other townes vnder his Esarcato adding also to them the countrie of Vrbino and La Marca during the time that these townes were in bestowing Aistulpho died and Desiderio a Lombard and Duke of Tuscan tooke armes to vsurpe the kingdome and praied ayde of the Pope to whome hee promised his friendship which request was graunted and the other Princes gaue place Desiderio at the beginning kept his promise and according to the conditions made with Pipino rendred the townes allotted vnto the Pope neither did the Esarco of Constantinople after that time come any more in Rauenna but all things were gouerned according to the pleasure and direction of the Pope Then died the King Pipino to whome succeeded his sonne called Carlo who for the great and memorable exploites by him done was called Magno To the Papacy was at that time aspired Theodoro Primo He falling into contention with Disiderio was by Disiderio besieged in Rome and constrained to craue ayde of Carlo who speedily passed the mountaines besieged Desiderio in Pauia and tooke him with all his Children And hauing sent them prisoners into France went in person to visit the Pope at Rome where hee pronounced this sentence That the Pope beeing Vicar of God could not be iudged of men For the which the Pope with the people of Rome created him Emperour In this manner Rome beganne to haue an Emperour againe in the West And where the Popes were woont to take their instaulation from the Emperours after this time the Emperours in their election would needes take their authoritie from the Pope wherby the reputation of the Empire decreased and the Church gained the same By these meanes the Popes grew great and kept downe the authoritie of temporall Princes The Longobardi hauing then bene in Italy 232. yeares there was of them none other marke of straungers then the name and Carlo being desirous to reforme that Countrey in the time of Pope Leo the third was pleased they should inhabit those places where they were borne and called that prouince of their name Lombardia But forasmuch as they had the name of Rome in great reuerence hee commaunded that all the next Countrey to it adioyning then in the obedience of the Esarcato of Rauenna should bee called Romagna Moreouer he created Pipino his sonne King of Italy the iurisdiction whereof extended to Beneuento the rest remained to the Emperour in Greece with
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
til the yeare 1366. more then two hundreth Citizens were admonished By this mean the Captaines faction of Guelfi were become mightie because euery man fearing to be admonished honoured them The chief of them were Piero delli Albizi Lapo d◠Castiglionichio and Piero Strozzi And albeit this insolent order of proceeding displeased many yet the Ricci were of all other most discontented For they supposing themselues to be the occasion of this disorder saw the common weale ruined the Albizi their enemies contrary to expectation become of most authoritie Wherfore Vguccione de Ricci being one of the Senate desired to staie this mischiefe whereof he his friends were the beginners and by a new law he prouided that the six captains should be encreased to the number of nine of whom two should be of the smal misteries And ordeined moreouer that the detection of the Ghibilini should be by 24. Citizens of the sect of Guelfi confirmed This ordinance for the time qualified the authoritie of the Captaines so as the admonishment grew colde And if anie happened to be admonished they were not manie Notwithstanding the factions of Albizi and Ricci continued and the leagues practises and resolutions deuised in hatred one of the other did proceed In this vnquietnesse the citie liued from the yeare 1366. till 1371. In which time the Guelfi recouered their forces There was in the family of Buondelmonti one Gentleman called Benchi who for his merit in the warre against the Pisani was made one of the people and thereby become capable of the office of the Senate And when he looked to be chosen to that honour a lawe was made that no Gentleman become one of the people might exercise the office of the Senate This greatly offended Benchi wherefore consulting with Piero delli Albizi determined with the admonition to oppresse the meaner sort of the people and the rest alone to enioy the gouernment Then through the fauour which Benchi had with the olde Nobilitie and through the affection of manie of moste mightie people borne to Piero the faction of Guelfi recouered some force and with new reformation they handled the matter so that they might both of the Captaines and the twentie foure Cittizens dispose as themselues thought good Wherevppon they returned to admonish more boldlie then they were woont and the house of Albizi as head of this secte still encreased On the other side the Ricci failed not by their owne force and friendes to hinder their enterprises all they were able so that all men liued in suspition and euerie one mistrusted his owne ruine For which cause manie Cittizens mooued with the loue of their Countrey assembled themselues in Saint Pietro Sceraggio and reasoning of these disorders went to the Senators vnto whome one of most authoritie spake thus Wee haue my Lordes doubted although for a publique occasion to assemble our selues by priuate consent fearing to be noted for presumptuous or condemned as ambitious Yet considering that euerie day without respect manie Cittizens conferre both in the streetes and in their houses not for anie common commoditie but their owne ambition we do hope that as they haue come togithers for the ruine of the Common weale so it shall not be offensiue that we consult by what meane the same might be preserued Neither is there cause why we should regard them seeing they of vs make none estimation at all The loue my Lordes which we beare to our Countrey did first bring vs togither and the same also hath ledde vs hither to intreate of these inconueniences which are now great and daily encrease in this our Common weale In the redresse whereof we offer our selues to assist you And albeit the enterprise do seeme hard yet may it be performed if it shall like your Lordships to laie by all priuate respects and with publique forces imploy your authorities The common corruption of other Citties of Italy doth also corrupt ours For sith this Prouince was drawne vnder the Empire all Cities wanting Gouernours able to rule them haue gouerned themselues not as free but as townes into sects and faction diuided Out of this be sprung vp al other discords that are to be found First among the Citizens there is neither vnion nor friendship but onely among such as haue against their countrey or priuate persons conspired some lewde enterprise Also bicause religiō feare of God is in euery man almost extinguished othes and faith giuen are none obligations equall to profit which all men couet Yet do they stil vse both promising othes not to obserue them but the rather to deceiue those that trust them And the more easily safely they can deceiue the more they account their praise glory For this reason hurtfull men be commended as industrious good men blamed as foolish Yea I assure my selfe that all corruption or that can corrupt others is to be found in the cities of Italy The young men are idle old men wanton euery sects and euery age full of lewde conditions which good lawes being euil vsed do not amend Hereof the couetousnes which we see in Citizens and the desire not of true glory but of shamefull honors do proceed wherevpon depend hatred enmitie displeasures sects Also of them do follow murders banishments persecution of the good aduancement of the euill For good men trusting in their owne innocencie do not as euil men seeke extraordinary defence Whereby vnsupported and dishonoured they are suffered to sinke This example occasioneth loue of the factions and their forces because the worst sort for couetousnesse and ambition and the best for necessitie do follow them It is also worthie consideration as that which is more perillous to see how the leaders of these enterprises do colour their lewdnesse with some honest or godly tearme For albeit they are all enemies to libertie yet vnder the word Ottimacy or popularitie they cloake their euill intent Because the rewarde which they aspect of victorie is not glorie by hauing deliuered the Cittie but the satisfaction they take to be victorious and vsurpe the gouernment thereof Wherewith allured there is nothing so iniust nothing so cruell or couetous that they leaue vnattempted Hereof it proceedeth that lawes and statutes not for the common but the priuate profit be made Hereof it proceedeth that warre peace and leagues not for publike glory but for the pleasure of a few are contracted And albeit some other Cities be touched with these disorders yet none so fowly infected as ours Because the lawes the statutes and ciuil ordinances not according to a life in libertie but according to desire of the faction victorious haue bene and yet are ordeined which is the cause that euer one faction driuen out or one diuision extinquished sodeinly ariseth an other For that citie which is mainteined more by faction then law so soone as anie faction hath gotten the ouer hand is without opposition it must of force be that the same
becommeth in it selfe diuided For by those priuate meanes which were made for preseruation therof it cannot be defended which to be true the ancient and moderne diuisions of our citie do make triall Euerie man thought that the Ghibilini extirped the Guelfi should euer haue continued in honour Notwithstanding within short time the Bianchi and Neri arose The Bianchi vanquished our citie continued not long without partes but was sometimes troubled with fauouring those that were banished and somtimes with the enmitie betwixt the people nobilitie Yea at length giuing that to others which by accord either we would not or could not possesse our selues sometimes to the King Roberto sometimes to his brother last of all to the Duke of Athene we yeelded our libertie And in troth we neuer setled our selues in any estate as men that could not consent to liue free nor be willing to obey neither feared we liuing vnder a King so greatly are our orders disposed to diuision to preferre before his maiestie a man of most base condition born in Agobio The Duke of Athene may not without shame of this citie be remembred whose bitter and cruel mind might make vs wise and instruct vs how to liue But he being sent away we suddeinly tooke armes in hand and with more malice and fury fought among our selues til all our auncient nobilitie were oppressed and left at the peoples discretion Then was it thought by many that neuer for any occasiō it were possible to stir vp new troubles or factions in Florence they being cast down whose pride vnsupportable ambition was the cause thereof Yet is it now seene by experience how easily the opinion of men is deceiued For the ambition and pride of the nobilitie was not quenched but remoued into the people who now according to the custome of ambitious men hope to aspire to the most soueraigne offices And not wanting other meane to vsurpe the same they moued new discords new diuisions in the citie raising vp the name of Guelfi Ghibilini which had they neuer bene knowne should haue made our country the more happie Besides that to the end in this world should be nothing in continuance or quietnes Fortune hath prouided that in euery state there should be certaine fatall families borne and destined to the destruction thereof Of these our Common weale hath bene more then anie other replenished For not one but many of them haue disturbed the quiet therof As first of all the Buondelmonti and Vberti then the Donati and Circhi And euen now a shamefull and ridiculous matter the Ricci and Albizi do trouble and diuide our Citie We haue not remembred you of those corrupt customes and our continuall diuision to dismay you but call to your minds the occasions of them and enforme you that the example of those should not make you to dispaire the reformation of these Because the power of these auncient houses was so great and the fauour that Princes did beare towards them so much that the lawes and ciuill ordinances were not of force sufficient to hold them in quiet and due obedience But now the Empire hauing no force the Pope not feared and that all Italy this Citie also is reduced to so great equalitie as may by it self be gouerned the difficultie cannot be much And this our common weale notwithstanding the ancient examples to the cōtrary may not only be brought to vniō but also in good customs ciuil orders be reformed if your lordships be disposed to do it Wherunto we moued with the loue of our coūtry no priuate passiō do persuade you And albeit the corruptiō thereof be great yet allaie that disease which infecteth that furie which consumeth that poyson that killeth and impute the auncient disorders not to the nature of men but the time which being changed it may hope that by meane of new orders new fortune will follow whose frowardnesse may be by wisedome gouerned in putting a bridle vpon the ambitious disanulling such ordinances as were nourishers of factions and vsing those that to a ciuill life and libertie are agreeable Be ye also pleased to do this by vertue of lawe rather now then deferre the same till such time as by armes you shall be enforced thereunto The Senators moued with these reasons which themselues had before considered and thereunto adding the authoritie and comfort of the men gaue commission to fiftie sixe Citizens to prouide for the safetie of the Common weale True it is that the counsell of many is more fit to conserue a good order then to inuent it These Citizens then studied rather to extirpate the present factions then take away the occasion of future diuision In so much as neither the one or the other was brought to passe because not remouing the occasions of new diuision and the one part of those sects which were present being of greater force then the other became the more perillous to the state Wherefore out of euerie office excepting those that were in the handes of the Guelfi for three yeares they depriued three men of the families of Albizi and three of the house of Ricci amongst whom were Piero delli Albizi Vguccione dei Ricci They prohibited all Citizens to come into the Pallace sauing at such times as the Magistrates sate there They prouided that who euer was striken or letted to possesse his owne might call his aduersarie to the Counsels protest him for one of the Nobilitie These ordinances discouraged the Ricci and incouraged the Albizi For although they were equally noted yet the Ricci were the more iniured And albeit the Pallace of the Senate was forbidden to Piero yet the counsell house of the Guelfi where he had great authoritie was open for him Therefore if he and his followers were at the first earnest in admonishing now after this iniurie they became much more earnest and to that euil disposition new occasions were ioyned At this time Gregorio 11. was aspired to the Papacie who liuing at Auignion did as his predecessors gouerne Italy by Legates They being men inclined to pride and couetousnesse had thereby greatly afflicted many Cities One of these Legates being in Bologna taking occasion of the dearth which happened that yeare in Florence determined to make himselfe Lord of Toscana And therefore he not onely withheld from the Florentines present reliefe but also to remoue all hope of future prouision at the beginning of the next spring with a great Army entered their Countrey imagining the people disarmed and famished might be easily conquered And happily the enterprise had taken effect if the souldiers that serued him had bene faithfull and not corruptible For the Florentines not hauing other remedie gaue vnto them 130. thousand Florins and for that mony the souldiers abandoned the enterprise To begin a warre is in the power of euerie man but to end a warre no man can when himselfe so liketh This warre by the ambition of the Legate begun
the Duke Wherewith he being discontent voluntarily exiled himselfe to Gaietta and there chanced to be at such time as the fight by sea was performed against Alfonso In which exploit he serued so valiantly that he perswaded himselfe to haue deserued so well of the Duke as in respect of his seruice he might at the least liue in Genoua with securitie Yet perceiuing the Duke to continue in his suspition and fearing least he beleeued that a man who had not loued the liberty of his countrey could not loue him determined to try a new fortune and at one instant both to deliuer his countrey and win himselfe fame with securitie Being perswaded that by no meanes he might recouer the good will of the Cittizens better then to performe such an acte with his owne hand So as the same hand which had offended and hurt his countrey should also minister the medicine and heale it Then knowing the vniuersall hatred borne to the Duke by the deliuerie of the King thought the time to serue well for the execution of his intent Wherefore he imparted his mind to some whome he knew of his owne opinion Them he perswaded and prepared to followe him The feast of S. Iohn Baptist being come Arismino the new Gouernor sent by the Duke entred into Genoua accompanied with Opicino the old Gouernor and many other Cittizens Francesco Spinola thought then good no longer to deferre the matter but came out of his house with diuerse others all armed and priuie to his determination So soone as hee came to the market place where himselfe dwelled he proclaymed the name of libertie And it was a thing very maruellous to see with how great speed the people and Cittizens to that name assembled So as no man that loued the Duke either for his owne profit or other occasion had leisure to take armes or thinke how to saue himselfe Arismino with some other Genouesi fled into the Castle which he kept for the Duke Opicino presuming that if he fled to the Pallace hauing there two thousand Souldiers at his commaundement he should either saue himselfe or giue courage to his friends to defend him went thitherwards but before he came to the market place was slaine cut in pieces and drawne through euery streete of the Cittie The Genouesi hauing thus reduced the Cittie vnder their owne Magistrates and libertie within few dayes also surprized the Castle with the other places of strength possessed by the Duke and so clearely cast off the yoke of Philippo These matters thus handled as at the beginning the Princes of Italy was dismayd fearing that the Duke should become ouermightie so this gaue them hope seeing what end they had to be able to bridle him And notwithstanding the league lately made the Florentines and the Venetians made peace with the Genouesi whereupon Rinaldo delli Albizi and other leaders of the Florentines banished seeing things out of order and the world changed did hope to perswade the Duke to make open warre against the Florentines For which purpose they went to Milan and Rinaldo being come to the Dukes presence spake as followeth If we sometimes your enemies do now confidently desire ayde of you for the recouerie of our countrey neither you nor any other that consider worldly matters how they proceed and how variable fortune is ought to meruaile albeit neither of our passed or present actions nor of that we haue long since done either to you or to our countrey or that which now is in doing we can render a good and reasonable excuse There is no good man reprooueth another for defending his Countrey in what sort soeuer the same is defended Neither was it euer our meaning to iniure you but to defend our owne frō being iniured which was sufficiētly proued in the greatest victories of our league For so soone as we knew you inclined to a true peace we were thereof more desirous then you your selfe so that we need not feare to obteine any fauour at your hands Neither can our Countrey find fault although we now perswade you to take armes against it whome with so great resolution we haue withstood For that countrey deserueth to be loued of all men which indifferētly loueth them and not that countrey which disdaining the greatest number aduanceth a few There is no man also that ought to condemne men although for some causes they take armes a-against their countrey For albeit the Cities be bodies mixed yet haue they of bodies simple some resemblance And as in these many infirmities grow which without fire force cannot be cured so in the other many mischiefes arise which a godly and good Citizen should offend to leaue vncured notwithstanding that in the cure he doth as it behoueth him apply both fire force What sicknes in the bodie of a common-weale can be greater then seruitude And what medicine is more needfull then this in the cure of that disease Those warres be only iust which be necessarie and those armes most mercifull where other hope cannot be had then by thē I know not what necessitie is greater then ours or what compassion can be more then to deliuer a Countrey frō seruitude Most certainly we know our cause is to be pittied and iust which ought to be both by vs and you cōsidered For your part faile not to affoord this iustice sith the Florentines haue not bene ashamed after a peace with so great solemnitie concluded to make league with the Genouesi your rebels so that though our cause moue you not to cōpassion yet this dishonor offered vnto your selfe ought to perswade you and the rather that you see the enterprise easie Let not exampls passed discourage you hauing seen the power of that people and their obstinate defence of themselues Which two things might yet reasonably be feared were they of the same vertue which in those daies they haue bene But now you shall finde all contrarie For what force can you looke for in any Cittie which hath spoiled the greatest part of the riches and industrie thereof What resolution can be hoped of in a people by so diuers and new quarrels disunited Which disunion is cause that those riches there remaining in such sort as they were wont be imploied because mē do willingly spend their patrimony whē they see the same for their owne glory their owne honor and their owne Countrey imployed euer hoping to recouer that in peace which the warre hath consumed and not whē they see themselues both in war peace oppressed hauing in the one to suspect the iniurie of enemies and in the other the insolencie of them that command Also the people are more harmed by couetousnes of our own Citizens then the spoile of our enemies for of this some end may be hoped of but of that none at all In the warres passed you made warre to the whole Citie but now you are only to contend with a few Then you came to take the state from
men of mean cōditiō were near to the new gate talking of the calamities of the city their misery deuising what means might be wroght for redres therof Others drew vnto them till they were a good number Therby a brute was blowne through Milan that the inhabitants neare to the new gate were alreadie in Armes Then all the multitude which aspected onely occasion tooke Armes and created Gasparo da Vicomercato their Captain went to the place where the magistrates were assembled whom they so terrified that so many as could did flee the rest were slain Among whom Leonardo Veniero the Venetian Embassador was murthered who had before that time reioyced at their miserie and was thought to haue bene the occasion of the mischiefe and famine Thus the multitude as Lords of the Citie among themselues consulted what was to be done to deliuer them from so manifold sorrowes wherinto they were entred And euery man thought good to yeeld the citie sith the libertie could not be preserued to some Prince that were able to defend it Some said to the king Alfonso some to the Duke of Sauóia some to the French king Of the Earle no mā made mentiō so great was yet the offence of the people towards him Notwithstanding seeing they could not resolue vpon any Gasparo Vicomercato was the first that named the Earle declaring at large that if they would be discharged of the warre there was no other way but to chuse him because the people of Milan had necessitie of certain present peace could not tarry long in hope of future relief Moreouer he excused the actions of the Earle accusing the Venetians and all the other Princes of Italy because they would not some for ambition some for couetise that Milan should continue free And therfore being forced to depart with libertie it was best to yeeld to such a one as could would defend it So as by that seruitude they might at the least gain peace without further losse or war more dangerous This speech was with great attentiō hearkned vnto euery man with one voice cōsented that the Earle should be chosen and Gasparo was made Embassador to call him who by commandement of the people went vnto the Earle to present him this pleasant happie newes The Earle willingly accepted the same entered into Milan as Prince the 26. of February in the yere 1450. And was there with exceeding gladnes receiued euē by those who not lōg before had hated defamed him The newes of this victory being brought to Florence order was taken with the Embassadors sent frō thence and were already vpon the way towards the Earle that in stead of entreaty of peace with him as Earle they shuld cōgratulate the victory as Duke These Embassadors were by the Duke honorably receiued bountifully enterteined For he knew wel that against the power of the Venetians he could not find in all Italy more faithful nor more mighty friends then the Florentins Who hauing remoued feare of the Visconti thought they should be forced to fight with Aragon Venice Because the house of Aragon then Kings of Naples was their enemie in respect of the friendship by them borne to the house of France and the Venetians knew that the auncient feare of the Visconti was fresh and that carefully they had persecuted them wherefore doubting the like persecution sought their ruine These matters were the occasion that the new Duke was easily induced to friend the Florentines and that the Venetians and the King Alfonso agreed to ioyne against their common enemie binding themselues at one selfe time to take armes that the King should assault the Florentines and the Venetians set vpon the Duke Who being new in the state was not as they thought neither able with his owne forces to withstand them nor with the aide of others could be defended Yet because the league betwixt the Florentines and Venetians continued and that the King after the warres of Piombino had made peace with them they thought not good to breake that peace till such time as they had some colour to make warre Wherefore both the one the other sent Embassadors to Florēce to signifie in the behalf of their Lords that the league was made not to offend any man but to defend their Countries And moreouer the Venetians complained that the Florentines had giuen passage to Alisandro brother to the Duke of Lunigiana whereby he with his forces passed into Lombardy and that they were also the Authors and Councellours to make the agreement betwixt the Duke and the Marquesse of Mantoua All which things they said were preiudiciall to their state and the friendship betwixt them Wheresore friendly wished thē to remember that who so offendeth an other wrongfully doth giue occasion to him that is offended iustly to seek reuenge and he that breaketh the peace must euer looke to find war The answer of this Embassage was by the Senate committed to Cosimo who in a long and wise Oration laid before them all the benifits which his citie had bestowed vpon the Venetian common-weale Declaring how great dominion they had wonne by means of the mony the men counsel of the Florentines And assured them that sith the Florentines did occasion the friendship no cause of warre should euer proceed from them For they hauing bene euer louers of peace commended greatly the agreement betwixt them so as for peace and not for war the same were made But he maruelled much of the Venetian complaints that of so small vain matters so great a common-weale wold make account But if they had bene worthie consideration yet was it knowne to the world that the Florentine country was free and open to all men and the Duke was such a one as to win friendship with Mantoua had no need either of counsel or fauour Wherfore he doubted that these complaints had vnder them hidden some secret poison not yet perceiued Which so being euery man should easily vnderstand that as the Florentines friendship did profit them so their displeasure could hinder them Thus for that time the matter was lightly passed ouer the Embassadors seemed to depart wel inough cōtented Notwithstanding the league being made the maner of the Venetians and the Kings proceedings did occasiō the Florentines the Duke rather to looke for some new war then hope of firme peace Therefore the Florentines ioyned in league with the Duke in the mean while the euil disposition of the Venetians was discouered because they made league with the Sanesi banished all the Florentines with euery other person subiect to the state of Florēce Shortly after the king Alfonso did the like without any respect to the peace made the yeare before without iust cause or coloured occasion The Venetians laboured to gain the possession of Bologna for that purpose aided the banished men of that Citie who with many others found
fauoured them and therefore might hope of victorie certaine But if he remained in his house hee should be either by the armed men oppressed or by those that were disarmed shamefully deceiued Or if he should after repent that he did not take armes that repentance were too late But if he wold with the warre oppresse Piero he might easily do it and after if he liked to make peace it was better for him to giue then to receiue the conditions therof These words moued not Lucca hauing alreadie setled his mind and promised to Piero new alliances and new conditions For he had alreadie married vnto Giouanni Tornabuoni one of his neeces and therefore perswaded Nicholo to laie downe armes and returne to his house For it ought to suffice him that the Cittie should be gouerned by the Magistrates and it would come to passe that euerie man would laie downe armes and the Senators being the stronger partie should be Iudge of the controuersie Nicholo then seeing he could not otherwise perswade him returned home But first said vnto Lucca I cannot alone worke the well doing of our Citie but I alone can prognosticate the euil whereinto it is falling This resolution you haue made will breed losse of libertie to our country your depriuation of gouernment and wealth and my banishment The Senate in this tumult shut vp the Pallace and the Magistrates kept themselues therin not seeming to sauour any part The Citizens and chiefly those who had followed Lucca seeing Piero armed and his aduersaries disarmed began to deuise not how to offend Piero but how to become his frends Wherupon the chief citizens leaders of the factions went to the Pallace in the presence of the Senate debated many things touching the state of the Cittie and pacification thereof And for that Piero by reason of his infirmitie could not come thither they determined by consent to go all vnto him Nicholo Soderini except who hauing first recommended his children familie to Tomaso went to his owne house in the country aspecting there the euent of these matters accounting himselfe vnhappie and for his countrey infortunate The other Cittizens being come to the presence of Piero one of them appointed to speake complained of the tumults in the Cittie declaring that they who first tooke armes were most too blame they not knowing what Piero who indeed did first take armes would doo They were come therefore to vnderstand what was his intent which being for good of the Cittie they would follow the same Whereunto Piero answered that hee who taketh armes first is not euer the cause of disorder but he that giueth first occasion and if they would consider what their behauiours had bene towards him they should maruaile lesse at that he had done for his own safetie For therby they should see that their assemblies in the night their subscriptions their practises to take from him his gouernment life were the occasions why he tooke armes which not vsed but in the defence of his owne house and not the offence of them sufficiently proued his intent was to defend himselfe and not to harme others Neither would he any thing or desired more then his own securitie quiet nor had giuē cause that they shuld think he sought for other For the authoritie of Balia discontinued he neuer laboured by extraordinarie meane to reuiue it and was well content that the Magistrates should gouern the citie if they so pleased assuring them that Cosimo and his children could liue in Florence honorably both with and without the Balia and that the yeare 58. the same had bene not by his house but by them renued and if now they wold not haue it more he should also be so contented But this sufficed not for them for he found that his aduersaries beleeued they could not dwell in Florence if he also there dwelled A thing which he neuer thought that the friends of his father him wold feare to liue in Florence with him hauing euer born himselfe among them as a quiet and peaceable man Then turning his speech to Diotisalui his brethren there present he reproued them with words of much grauitie offence putting thē in mind what benifits they had receiued of Cosimo how much he had trusted thē how vnthankfully they had vsed him Which words wrought such effect in some that were present that if Piero had not staied them they sodenly wold haue striken Diotisalui In conclusion Piero said he wold maintein euery thing that they the Senat had determined And that he desired nothing but to liue quiet assured After this speech was ended many matters were cōmoned of yet nothing don but in general was cōcluded that it was necessary to reunite the citie reform the state At that time Barnardo Lotti was Gonfaloniere d'Giustitia a man not trusted by Piero wherefore thought not good to attempt any thing during his Magistracy but the end of his authority drawing neare election was made by the Senators of a Gonfaloniere to sit in September and October 1466. And they elected Roberto Lioni who was no sooner in office all other thinges beeing prepared but hee assembled the people in the Market place and made a new Balia all of the faction of Piero which shortly created the Magistrates according to the will of the new gouernment which terrified the heads of the enemies and Agnolo Acciaiuoli fled to Naples Diotisalui Neroni and Nicholo Soderini to Venice and Lucca Pitti remained in Florence trusting to the promises of Piero and the newe alliance with his house All the fugitiues were proclaimed Rebels and all the familie of Neroni dispersed Also Giouanni Neroni then Bishop of Florence to auoide a worse mischiefe voluntarily confined himselfe to Rome Many other likewise banished themselues to diuers places neither did this suffice but a publike procession was ordeined to giue God thanks for the preseruation and vniting the state In the solemnization wherof some citizens were apprehended tormented Afterwards part of them put to death the rest confined In this variation of fortune there was nothing so notable as the example of Lucca Pitti who sodeinly saw the difference of victorie and losse of honor and dishonor For his house whereunto was wont be great repaire became vnfrequented himself that had bin accustomed to passe the streets folowed with many friends kinsfolks could neither be accompanied nor scarcely saluted because some of them had lost their offices some their goods al the rest threatned His stately houses in building were by the workmen abandoned Those that were wont to present him did now offer him iniury despite Some who had giuē him presents of great value did now demand them again as things lent Others that were wont with praises to extoll him to the skies did as a person vngratefull and violent blame him So that ouerlate he repented his not giuing credit to Nicholo Soderini and that
and beganne to deuise rather how hee might winne him for a friend then continue him an enemie Notwithstanding for diuerse causes hee enterteined him from December till Marche not onelie to make the more triall of him but also of his Cittie For Lorenzo wanted not enemies in Florence who desired that the King would haue holden him and enterteined Giacopo Piccinino and vnder colour of lamenting they speake their mindes Also in publique Councelles they opposed their opinions against Lorenzo By these deuises It was bruted that if the King woulde keepe Lorenzo long at Naples the gouernment in Florence should be chaunged Whiche was the onely cause that the King deferred his dispatch so long hoping there might some tumult arise in Florence But seeing that all thinges passed quietly on the sixt day of March in the yeare 1479. he had leaue to depart and before his departure was by the King so bountifully presented louingly vsed that betwixt Lorenzo the King their grew a perpetual amity preseruation of both their states Thus Lorenzo returned to Florence with greater reputation honor then he went thence was with so great ioy of the citie receiued as his great vertues new merits deserued hauing put his own life in hazard to recouer peace to his country For within two daies after his arriuall the treaty betwixt the common weale of Florence the King was proclaimed wherby they were both both bound to defend one the others country that the townes taken frō the Florentines in the war shuld be by the King restored And that the Pazzi imprisoned in the town of Volterra shuld be deliuered And that mony should be for a certaine time paide vnto the Duke of Calauria This peace being published did much offend the Pope the Venetians because the Pope thought he was litle esteemed of the King the Venetians as litle regarded of the Florentines who being their companions in the war thought themselues il vsed not to be partakers of the peace This indignation vnderstood and beleeued at Florence did sodeinly breed suspition in euerie man that of the peace wold arise a greater war Wherupon the Magistrates of the state determined to restraine the gouernment and that the affaires of most importance should be reduced into the hands of a lesse number and so ordeined a Councell of 70. Citizens with authoritie that they might proceed in matters of most importance This new ordinance staied the minds of those that desired innouation and to giue thereto countenance first of all they accepted the peace which Lorenzo had made with the King and sent vnto the Pope Antonio Ridolphi and Piero Nasi Neuertheles Alfonso Duke of Calauria did not remoue his army from Siena saying he was staied by the discord of the citizens there which was so great that he being lodged without the citie was called in and made iudge of their differents The Duke taking these occasions punished many of those citizens in mony imprisoning banishing others and some also were iudged to death In so much as by this meanes he became suspected not only to the Sanesi but the Florentines also mistrusted he would make himself Prince of that citie Wherof they knew no remedy cōsidering the new friendship of Florence with the King the enmitie of the Pope King Which suspition not only in the people of Florence generally who mistrustfully cōsider of all things but in the chief gouernors of the state appeared euery man imagining that our citie had neuer bin in so great danger to lose the liberty therof But God who had euer a particuler care therof caused an accident to happē vnlooked for which made the King the Pope the Venetians to think of greater matters thē these of Toscana Mahumetto great Turk was with a mighty army gone to the Isle of Rodi had many months assaulted it But notwithstanding his forces were great and his resolution to win the town greater yet was the vertue of those that defended the same greatest of all For Mahumetto notwithstanding his furious assaults was forced to depart with shame Thus the Turk being departed frō Rodi part of his army cōducted by Saccometto Bascia went towards Velona by the way either for that he saw the enterprise easie or because the Turk had so commanded passed by the coast of Italy sodeinly set 4000. men on land who assaulted the citie of Ottranto tooke it sacked it slew all the inhabitants therof which done by all the best means he could fortified both the citie the hauen Thē sent he for horsmen with them he forraged spoiled the coūtry round about The king seeing this assault knowing how great a prince had takē that enterprise in hād sent vnto al places to signify the same desired aid of thē al against the cōmon enimy Also speedily reuoked the Duke of Calauria with his forces frō Siena This assault thogh it grieued the duke the rest of Italy yet did the same cōfort Florēce Siena One hoping therby to recouer liberty th'other trusting the rather to shun those perils which made them to feare the losse of their libertie Which opinion was encreased by the vnwilling departure and lamentation of the Duke at his going from Siena accusing fortune that she by an vnlooked for and vnreasonable accident had taken frō him the dominion of Toscana The selfsame chance did alter the Popes mind for where before he refused to giue audience to all Florentines he was now become so curteous as he refused not to hear any that wold speak vnto him of the vniuersal peace Whereupon the Florentines were aduertised that if they would desire pardon of the Pope they might obteine it It was then thought good not to omit this occasion and 12. Embassadors were sent to the Pope who being arriued at Rome were by his holinesse before they had audience enterteined with diuers practises In the end it was betweene the parties concluded how either of them should afterwards liue in what sort either of them both in peace and war were to make contribution After this conclusion the Embassadors were admitted to present themselues at the Popes feete and he sitting in the midst of his Cardinals with exceeding great pomp receiued them These Embassadors excused all matters passed sometimes blaming necessitie sometimes the euil disposition of others sometimes the populer furie and the iust offence thereof saying they were most vnhappie being forced either to fight or die And because all things are endured to eschue death they had suffred war excommunicatiōs all other troubles which the matters passed had brought with thē And all to the end that their common weale might auoyd bondage which is the death of all free Cities Neuertheles if any error or enforced fault were committed they were ready to make satisfaction euer hoping in his goodnes who following the examples of the almightie Redeemer he would receiue them