laid to Poyson him but he avails himself of the Goalers Irresolution and of a Boufoon's Address by whose means he gains the Gonfalioniere who nicks his time and dexterously sets him again at Liberty He withdraws to Venice from whence he contrives his return to Florence and causes his Enemies to be banish'd He ends his Life in quiet and leaves but one Son call'd Piero of small Sence but a sequestred Health The Pitti's Conspire to assassinate him and lay their Measures competently well but he scapes 'em through a Caprice that happily came into his mind Their Conspiracy is discover'd they are banish'd The Venetians support them They invade Tuscany with an Army but the design of surprising Pisa being ill concerted makes them lose th' occasion of entering Florence and of taking the advantage of Piero de Medici's death occasion'd by the Gout The Contents of the Second Book LOrenzo de Medici rallies his Fathers Friends and restores the Affairs of his Family He goes and joins the Florentine Army with fresh Troops and is present at the Battel wherein Field-pieces are first put in use and where the Servants one both sides with Flambeaus light their Masters while a Fighting Federigo d'Urbino wins one of Coglione's Quarters The Republick of Venice abandons the Pitti's and the Marquess of Mantoua reconciles them with the State of Florence The Volterrans Revolt Lorenzo de Medici causes the Siege of the Town to be rais'd and pardons them after having constrain'd 'em to surrender at discretion He demands of the Pope is Cardinals Cap for his Brother Giuliano but is refus'd He takes his Revenge by causing the Army of the Church to moulder away before Tiferno and by hindring the Pope's Nephew from acquiring the Soveraignty of Immola from whence is fram'd the Pazzi's Conspiracy Giuliano de Medici is therein kill'd and Lorenzo escapes All the Accomplices are punish'd and the Archbishop of Pisa is truss'd up at a Window of the Palace in his Pontifical Vestments Bandini only gets into Turkey But Sultan Bajazet delivers him to Lorenzo de Medici's Factors The Contents of the Third Book COmmissioner Nardi concludes a League between the Pope and the King of Naples against the Florentines Lorenzo de Medici sustains the War but seeing himself abandon'd by his Allies takes a bold Resolution He causes the choice of the young Florentine Nobility to follow him under the Pretence of a Hunting Match Goes aboard a Gally Bears away directly for Naples Amazes King Ferrand by this Heroick Act of Trust Breaks all the Measures of Resalli the Ambassadour By new ways disconcerts the Practices of that Old Minister Ruines him in the Kings good Opinion Enstates himself in his room Enclines the King to all he aims at Makes him break his League with the Pope Procures Peace to the Florentines Causes their Towns to be restor'd them and a Treaty of Guaranty to be sign'd with them Two years after the King of Naples is almost oppress'd by his Nobles Conspiring with the Pope and the Venetians who meant to share his State Lorenzo de Medici succours him without staying to be desir'd to do 't Lends him Money Debauches the Troops that had overcome him Causes the Orsini's to declare for him and restores him to all Intents After which all his Thoughts tend only to maintain Peace in Italy The Contents of the Fourth Book THE famous Astrologer Leoni the Topping Physician of all Italy comes to Carrego to prescribe to Lorenzo de Medici during his Sickness Is mistaken as well in his Predictions in quality of Astrologer as in his Prescriptions in quality of Physician The Patient dies through his Fault and Piero de Medici out of rage throws him into a Well wherein he is drown'd as was Prognosticated by the Calculation of his own Nativity The Eulogy of the Wits that were Friends or receiv'd Gratifications from Lorenzo de Medici Aretin thinking there to be no other Manuscripts than his of Procopius his History burns it and has it Printed in his own Name but his Larceny is discover'd December prostitutes the Reputation of the Duke of Milan who sets him to write his History The Academicks of Rome take a fancy to travesty their Name in Greek The Pope imagines it a cover to a Conspiracy they had contriv'd against him He causes 'em to be secur'd and some of 'em put upon the Rack Platina is of this number The Cardinals of the Conclave go to Bessarion's Cell to make him Pope His Conclavist Perroti sends 'em away for fear of diverting his Master from his Studies They take pet and chuse another Politianus dies of a transport of Love The Prince of Mirandola writes against Astrologers They meet Calculate his Nativity and send him word he will dye as young as he is before his Work is finisht Their Prediction is fullfill'd The Contents of the Fifth Book THE Calamities of the House of Medici proceeded from the same Lodovico Sforza who ruin'd that of Naples and his own A curious Recital of Piero de Medici's Imprudences that are found mingl'd with th' Artifices of his Enemies He flies away from Florence He is upon the point of being restor'd by a French Intrigue who foster designs of supplanting Cardinal Brissonnet He is sought after but not found The true Causes of Savonarola's Advancement and Downfall The Ursini's labour in vain to re-establish the Medici's and reveal to them Valentinois's design of delivering them up to the Florentines Valentin finding by whom his Design was detected kills the Ursini's at the Feast of Senegaglia which plunges Piero de Medici into a Despondency He sides with France and is drown'd at the Mouth of the Garigliano His Brother the Cardinal withdraws to Rome where he sharps it until his Legation The secret Circumstances of his taking at the Battel of Ravenna and of his escape Soderim's Brother's Covetousness gives him occasion to bribe the Officers of the Spanish Army which restores him in Florence He has Machiavel there put to the Rack then receives him into favour but Machiavel broods his Revenge and not finding th' occasion procures his own Death by a Doze unseasonably taken The Contents of the Sixth Book ERasmus th' Astrologer and Ficino the Philosopher Prognostic are that Cirdal Medici should be Pope tho' not any appearance of it then He is carried to Rome in a Litter by reason of an Imposthume he had in a place thâ— Modesty forbids mentioning He enters thâ—â—â—clave The Imposthume breaks and exhales such a stink that th' Old Cardinals fancy'd upon the Relation of brib'd Physicians that he will suddenly dye and so leave off crossing his Election A Dream of his Mother which he remembers of himself makes him take the Name of Leo. He repairs his Cousin Giulio's defect of Birth and gives him his Cap. Massimiliano Sforza falls distracted and puts it into Leo's Head to make his Brother Giuliano Duke of Milan but is deluded by Fregossa who accomodates himself with the French Giuliano
him the most profound Respects That the Republick of Florence in consequence of a Suspension of Arms which she had concluded for two Months with the Duke of Calabria had rightly judg'd that this Interval was too short to observe all Formalities necessary for the Conclusion of a Peace and that to improve these her few so precious Moments to her best advantage by justling up to the main of the Business without losing time about the Preliminaries to Naples she had sent Lorenzo de Medici the most Considerable of her Subjects that he might Personally Treat with his Majesty upon the Presupposition That the Pope would not fail to approve of what should be concluded on at Naples The King of Naples after having made young Soderini withdraw ask'd Ressalli what his Thoughts were of the Business Ressalli made answer That he persisted in the belief that Lorenzo de Medici ought to be dispatch'd out of the World or at least secur'd But things are no longer in the same State reply'd the King for we thought yesterday he came of his own motion and as a Private Person and now we are inform'd he comes in the Name of the Commonwealth of Florence and has the Character of Ambassador Extraordinary But tho' it were so reply'd Ressalli hastily your Majesty may pretend Ignorance till such time as the Florentines have inform'd you of it by the Ways in use among Soveraign Powers in matter of Deputation and in the mean while you will have sufficient ground to act against Lorenzo de Medici tho' it were onely to punish him for having neglected these Formalities The King of Naples rejoyn'd When I have practis'd this subtle Prank and Cavil it will not skreen my Honour from Reproach in having violated the Right of Nations in so signal a Conjuncture Then he fell to making a long Exaggeration of Lorenzo's Merit and concluded it with letting Ressalli know That if he fail'd making a favourable Reception to Lorenzo's Dignity that alone would be sufficient to render his Reign odious to Posterity These last Words utterly discompos'd and nonplus'd Ressalli's Violence He manifestly saw the King of Naples fully set upon giving Lorenzo Audience and was not ignorant of the Consequences Nevertheless as there was no possibility of preventing it at least without running the hazard of a Rupture with the King from which he was forewarn'd by Riario above all things Moreover if the King of Naples was resolv'd to discourse him the more advantageous was it to the Pope and his Nephew that it were done with their Participation and in their Deputy's Presence than if it was perform'd without their Privity because that in the first Case they might find occasion perhaps to prevent its taking effect And that if it succeeded maugre these Endeavours they would be still in a capacity to husband their Interests Whereas in the second Case the Odds was too great against them and their whole Stake in danger of being lost without hopes of Retrieve since the King of Naples after having treated with Lorenzo needed onely to send word to the Duke of Calabria to lead back into his own Dominions the Army that acted in Tuscany For as that Army depended almost on three Regiments of Infantry the Florentines would enjoy Peace nevertheless with almost as much Tranquillity as if they had treated with the Pope whose Weakness would be then obvious to all the World and tarnish'd with the utmost Affront This mov'd Ressalli to give the Neapolitan King to understand That if his Majesty thought convenient to grant Lorenzo Audience the Pope his Master hoped he would have the Goodness not to do any thing prejudicial to their Union The King of Naples reply'd That he would neither see Lorenzo nor speak to him but in the Presence of his Holinesse's Minister that he might have an irreproachable Evidence to vouch for the sincerity of his Intentions Lorenzo's first Audience pass'd almost wholly in Civilities on both sides He appear'd as Ambassador Extraordinary from the Republick of Florence and said That his Superiours had sent him modestly to bewail the Misfortune they had had of incurring the Pope's Indignation without being guilty of any thing to challenge it That for overplus of Ill Fortune they had seen the Arms of Naples joyn with those of the Church to lay desolate their Territory but that these Acts of Hostility had diminish'd nothing of the ancient Confidence which the Commonwealth of Florence had ever had in his Majesty's Justice because she had suppos'd that so wise a Prince must necessarily have been prepossess'd to her Prejudice to treat her as an Enemy without any Lawful Cause That it was in order to the destroying so dangerous an Opinion that he was sent to implore Peace of his Majesty and to declare to him That the Florentines were so persuaded of their not having offended him in any manner that they would submit to all he should please to decree and humbly to beseech him to be their Mediator with the Pope The King of Naples answer'd sparkishly That the Commonwealth of Florence had found the Secret to make his Sword fall out of his Hand if he himself had been onely Interessed in the Tuscan War But as the Pope was a Party he could then make no other Return than that he already gave his Royal Word to sacrifice to the Good of the Peace all his Pretensions and all the Charges he had been at and to employ his Offices with his Holiness in order to dispose him to an Accommodation This favourable Reception was follow'd two days after with a Private Conference between the Neapolitan King and Lorenzo de Medici wherein Lorenzo fell immediately to the Business and unvail'd to this Monarch the true Causes of the War which the Riario's had so craftily let him see onely in disguise He shew'd him the Informations of Pazzi's Case and the Memoirs written and sign'd by the Accomplices own Hand He made appear that the Conspiracy had been hatch'd at Rome with Design to mount Riario to the Soveraignty of Florence He modestly insinuated That the Care he had taken to manage the Soveraign Pontiff's Reputation that of the Cardinal-Nephew and Prince Furli in the time they themselves prostituted it by the basest of all Crimes had drawn the Devastations executed upon the Territory of Florence But that he hop'd his Majesty would cause them to cease after he was inform'd of the Truth from his own Eyes Then he represented to him in a Discourse that was beyond contest That since Italy was divided into so many different Soveraignties 't was impossible to change any one of them without hazarding the All it made a Part of That this Harmony depended no less of the smallest Powers than of the greatest because none of them was then so weak but whose Aggrandizement it was necessary to obstruct That those whose States were more Considerable for their Riches or Extent had more Interests than the rest to maintain the Counterpoise
satisfy'd without at least revealing to him that Court Mystery which tho' he had caus'd to pass in the second Book of the War of the Vandales for an effect of a Soveraign's Ingratitude and Jealousie towards one of his Subjects whom Fortune lifted too high was properly speaking only an Intrigue of Love of Antonina Belisarius his Wife she being Cock-a hoop to return to Constantinople there to see again the infamous Object of her Passion Procopius took the same Course in his Books of the Gothick War when he had spoken of the same Belisarius his second or third Disgrace for after having with all the vigour of his stile exagerated the Prejudice Justinian did his own Concerns by degrading that brave General in the very instant he came from taking Rome and delivering Italy from the Lording of the Goths by winning of a Battel wherein the King and all the Royal Family remained Prisoners he was contented with writing that Belisarius his Enemies were sufficiently powerful at the Imperial Court to procure his Repeal But he speaks much more home in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wherein he maintains that the true and principal Cause of his Degradation came from the Empress Theodora Justinian's Wife who being desirous to make Belisarius purchase the Continuation of his Employment caus'd him to return to Constantinople where she propos'd to him the obtaining his re-establishment on condition that his Daughter who was to be the only Heiress of the immense Riches he possess'd shou'd Marry the Empress's Nephew having nor Estate nor Virtue nor Birth Belisarius Sacrific'd his Daughter to his Ambition and recover'd the Generalship at that price But he kept it but two years And in this place do I make a third Observation upon the Conduct of Procopius For tho' he owns Belisarius to have surpass'd himself by recovering the City of Rome and the rest of Italy which the Barbarians had seiz'd on during his absence tho' he declaims against the harshness of Justinian and Theodora's Infidelity who recalled him unseasonably for the third time yet was not he wanting however when he examines the occasion of it towards the end of his second Book to have recourse to the same Calumny he had made use of to explain the foregoing Disgrace And 't is only in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that representing Belisarius once again upon the Precipice he draws the Curtain and downright avers that what absolutely pusht him in it was that the Empress had got a Fancy to have his Wife return to Constantinople to have a Confident nay and a Companion in her Disorders The reason of so different a Conduct in one and the same Author proceeds if I be not mistaken from that the Historian considers almost ever Men in Publick whereas the Anecdoto-grapher only examines 'em in private Th' one thinks he has perform'd his duty when he draws them such as they were in the Army or in the tumult of Cities and th' other endeavours by all means to get open their Closet-door th' one sees them in Ceremony and th' other in Conversation th' one fixes principally upon their Actions and th' other wou'd be a Witness of their inward Life and assist at the most private hours of their leisure In a word the one has barely Command and Authority for Object and the other makes his Main of what occurs in Secret and in Solitude Not but that the Writer of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 draws a Picture of Persons as exact and as faithful at the least as can be done by the Historian but he does it after his own Mode He represents only as much of the Man's Out-side as is necessary to know his Inside and as the good and bad dispositions of the Mind are only to be disclos'd in the Manners 't is also for the Manners that he reserves his liveliest Colours and finest Materials So scrupulous is he in this point that he minds not provoking the Anger or incurring the Indignation of the Persons Concern'd But he is commonly so unhappy that what ought to pass for a Virtue is imputed to him as a Crime He supposes for one of his Principles that fine Secret which Plutarch first discover'd in Moral Philosophy namely That there is no state in Life wherein a Man is more careless to conceal what passes in the bottom of his Heart than when the passion that Lords him is arriv'd to excess However when he follows the divers Agitations occasion'd for example by the fury of Love and the despair of Jealousie he is forthwith aspers'd as a Detractor and that he only writes a Satyr wherein his Condition is much more unhappy than that of the Painter who is fully justify'd if he can shew that his Pourtraict altogether resembles th' Original whereas the Writer of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 has never more reason to fear being ill treated than when what he relates of Viciousness is most true I insist upon this point it being perchance that which has diverted Historians before and since Procopius from this kind of Writing and which by Consequence must needs set me a trembling I undertake to draw the Picture of Pope Clement the 7th and if I design to do it to the Life I must detect his Ruling Passion and examine to its least Symptoms Not a Man that I know of has yet said what it was and I am the first that maintains it to have consisted in a blind and whimsical desire with which he was ever possess'd of ravishing his fellow Citizens of their Freedom to raise to the Soveraignty of Florence two Bastards of his House though it did not then want several Legitimate Children whose Heroick actions might have merited the Choice and whom all Mankind judg'd beyond Comparison more capable of filling that place I do not fear being Cavill'd upon this Proposition as being sure there cannot any material Circumstance be found in the Life of that Pope but what alludes to this Assertion Nay I fancy that if I proceeded no further I should be so happy as to scape the on-set of Criticks But have I not reason to lye under dismal Apprehensions when the necessity of my subject shall oblige me to grope on and put Truth in all its Light When the sad Destiny of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that cannot indure any thing mysterious shou'd be left to Posterity without explaining it or any thing secret without revealing it shall ingage me insensibly to take off the Paint with which Historians fucuss'd most of Clement's Actions to shew how many weaknesses and faults against true Policy budded from this first irregularity and to explain the minutes of those failings which past at length ev'n to the preference of the youngest of those two Bastards to the eldest tho' the youngest had not any of the qualities necessary for Command and Government and that the Eldest possess'd them all by the consent of those who knew him and ev'n to the exposition of Catharine only Daughter and
Allies without running any hazard there was no question but that he would use them with all the Prudence natural to him That if Lorenzo pretended to be come upon the Faith of the Truce then granted by the Duke of Calabria he would learn to his cost that that Truce onely regarded Tuscany or at most the neighbouring Countries that lay expos'd to the Inconveniences of the War but not the City of Naples which was an hundred Leagues distant thence That tho' all the Dominions of King Ferrand had been comprehended therein which was not however done in any of the Articles Lorenzo had incapacitated himself for enjoying the Benefit of it by neglecting a Formality so universally receiv'd in all the Countries of the Earth that there was reason to maintain that it appertain'd to the Right of Nations That this Formality consisted in making known to Soveraigns the Desire a Person has of seeing or crossing their Dominions or demanding their Passport before the Journey be undertaken and that as Lorenzo could not be ignorant of this he ought to be treated as Culpable for having violated it That nothing more was there to do than two things in his regard the one to rid his Person out of the World and the other to seise it That the former would be the shortest and safest but that if his Majesty could not so soon resolve upon that his Allies hoped from his Prudence and Equity that he would give his Orders incontinently for the performing the second The King of Naples made no precise Answer to Ressalli He onely gave him to understand That this Adventure was so surprising that it well merited to be examin'd with more leisure And indeed hardly ever was Prince seen more puzzl'd than King Ferrand when he fell to deliberate in himself upon the manner he should receive Lorenzo de Medici The Cruelty he was naturally prone to persuaded him to use Violence And the fair Pretence he had to execute it egg'd him on the more to gratifie this Inclination Moreover he look'd on the Soveraignty of Florence as a Fief which would hold of his Crown as soon as Lorenzo de Medici should be no more and the Life of a Private Man did not seem to him sufficiently considerable to ballance such an Advantage He was engag'd in a War that might be terminated with one Blow He had promis'd the Pope to put his Nephew in possession of Florence He knew the violent Humour of that Pontiff He foresaw that he would never pardon him if he let so fair an Occasion escape of satisfying his Ambition and Revenge And the History of three or four Ages had taught him that the Popes had taken away and giv'n the Crown of Naples almost as often as the Will or the Caprice had whirl'd them so to do On the other side the Right of Nations and good Faith on which Lorenzo was come seem'd to be two sufficient Reasons to dissuade his Detention to whomsoever should have an abhorrence to notorious Crimes And as the Genius of King Ferrand was sufficiently irresolv'd he felt in his Soul an extraordinary agitation when he was to come to a Determination However it is not doubted but that he had at length chosen the unjust Course if Curiosity had not justl'd in to the Succour of what Virtue he had left to hinder him from violating the Right of Hospitality He remembers that Lorenzo de Medici was bruited the Worthiest Man in Europe He remembers the Wonders that were blaz'd of him abroad and comparing them with the Generous Resolution that had conducted him to Naples he had a grudging to see this Heroe who was both the greatest Polititian and the gallantest Man living He was confirm'd in the Design by the facility of gratifying this Desire of his without its being in the least known He had Lorenzo whisper'd That they might confer together provided their Interview was perform'd without any Witnesses Lorenzo not caring in what manner he saw the King so he had but time to discourse him joyfully receiv'd the Proposal that was made him nay and suggested the Means of having it effected according to his Majesty's Mind by offering to be conducted alone as soon as it was Night to any Place appointed him Thus was the Interview had in the King's Closet where Lorenzo having insinuated into to the Monarch's good Opinion by all the ways that Decency allow'd of discours'd him upon the Subject of his Voyage and made him see into the real cause of the Tuscan War which so much care had been taken to conceal and masquerade so as that it might not fall within his ken He justify'd himself fully upon all which the Riario's had laid to his Charge and perceiving the King took some delight in what he related to him he stagger'd him quite by declaring to him That he needed to bring no other Proof of his Innocence than the Resolution he had taken of coming himself to acquaint his Majesty with the true State of the Case He added That he demanded no other Articles of Peace than those his Majesty should judge reasonable and that the Florentines would receive without murmuring the Law he should vouchsafe to give them after having had the Honour of informing him of the Quarrel wherein they were engag'd maugre their Endeavours and Inclinations for Peace As the King of Naples was naturally vain and that Fortune had never afforded him the Occasions of satisfying the Inclination he had for false Glory tho' he had already Raign'd above Thirty years he swallow'd with avidity that now offer'd of becoming Arbiter of the Florentines Destiny and footh'd his Fancy with the Pleasure he should have in giving the Citizens of Naples a Spectacle approaching that of the Romans when Tiridates the King of Parthia's Brother came to demand Peace of Nero for Armenia In this thought he sweetned insensibly and abated of his Tartness even to the letting Lorenzo know That if he sent to inform him of his Arrival by the most considerable Gentlemen that accompany'd him and to declare to him he was come as a Deputy from the Republick of Florence to negotiate the Peace under the Sanction of the Truce this Overture would furnish him with the Pretext he needed to give him a Publick Audience without derogating from the League he had made with the Pope Lorenzo accepted this Offer so much the more willingly as that at his departure from Florence he had provided himself with a sufficient Power and had taken care to bring along with him the Gonfaloniere's onely Son the fittest Man that could be to represent the Personage desir'd by the King of Naples Whereupon he sent him the next day to that Prince to make him the Compliment agreed on And the King of Naples took his time to receive him in Ressalli's Presence The Gonfaloniere's Son call'd Tomaso Soderini acquitted himself admirably well of his Commission and acquainted the King of Naples with much Boldness and Confidence after having paid
for the Peoples Diversion and they afterwards found they had all mutiny'd against an extraordinary great and furious Lion so as that their Keepers were not able to hinder them from tearing him piece-meal and that after this Execution they were of themselves appeas'd As the Italians easily puzzle their Heads with Thoughts of the Future they fail'd not to make Predictions upon these three Prodigies which were almost all justify'd by the Event But none save Savanarola a Religious of the Order of St. Dominic carried the Prophecy to its due Extent by preaching in the most famous Auditory of Florence That the Italians having fill'd the measure of their Sins God who would no longer defer their Punishment was going to bereave them of the onely Man that maintain'd their Tranquillity and that incontinently after his Death they would worry one another and be expos'd a Prey to Foreign Nations Yet however eminent was already Savanarola's Renown and tho' he employ'd all his Eloquence the greatest of the latter Ages to procure Belief he hardly persuaded any to give credence to his Assertions and those who were most concern'd to appease the Anger of Heaven lov'd rather to imagine that this admirable Preacher threatned them through a prepossession of Spirit disadvantageous to the House of Medici than resolve upon doing Penance The End of the Third Book THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE HOUSE OF MEDICIS The Fourth Book NEver was any Disease more treacherous than that which seis'd Lorenzo de Medici on the very Day the Comet first appear'd It was in the beginning onely a very slight Fever and so much the less to be dreaded in that his Friends thought they knew its Causes They judg'd it to be excited by an Obstruction complain'd of by the Patient and that this Obstruction could onely be imputed to the Malignity of the Rhewm of which he suffred ev'ry Moment strange Defluxions Yet the Fits continuing tho' not augmenting Lorenzo's Relations and Adherents sent for Piero Leoni the most celebrated Physician in Italy from Spoleto That what I am going to relate may be the better understood it is necessary to presuppose That this Leoni was the first who since the fall of the Roman Empire had thought of questing after the Medicinal Art in the Ancient Greek Authors whereas those of his time addicted to that Profession commonly study'd onely the Writings of Arabian Physicians He had translated with so much fidelity and eloquence the most considerable Works of Galen and was become so famous by the Novelty and Importance of this Performance as to be offer'd the Principal Professor of Physick's Chair at Padoua where he had taught with applause during several Years But his ill Genius pushing him into the Snare wherein most Physicians were then entangled I mean Judicial Astrology he was become so expert that way as to be consulted from all Parts of Italy One day the Fancy took him to calculate his own Nativity He found he was born under so malign a Constellation that he must infallibly be drown'd by an unforeseen Accident The fear he was in of this falling out accordingly made him quit Padoua as being call'd to Venice whither he could not go but by Water And that besides by making a long abode at Padoua he could by no means have dispens'd passing over the Bridge which he suppos'd would fall under him He had Estate sufficient to subsist on any where at ease and if he preferr'd dwelling in his own Country before others he did it on the account of there being neither Torrent nor River Whereupon he return'd to Spoleto where he remain'd Ten years without setting Foot over his Threshold But at length his Renown attracted him so great a number of Visits that Civility pressing him to repay some of them he grew insensibly wean'd from that hideous Apprehension he had harbour'd of Waters He began to pass over the Bridge on Foot afterwards pass'd in on Horseback He since ventur'd to Ferry over Rivers He went by Boat on Brooks But as Hazard does ever extraordinary things when Prudence has resolv'd to bring about some surprising Contingencies it came into Lorenzo's Friends thoughts to commit to Leoni the Concern of his Cure They invited him to Carrego with all the Reasons and Allurements of Honour and Profit capable of tempting him and prevail'd with him at last to undertake the Journey after having been thorowly inform'd there were no Risques for him to run He came saw the Sick Man observ'd all the Symptoms of his Malady with the utmost exactness joyn'd the Predictions of Judicial Astrology to the Indications of Physick and from all these things together unhappily concluded That there was nothing to be fear'd in the Distemper they had in hand that there needed not any Remedy and that Nature that would not fail to rouse it self in due time would have sufficient strength to loosen and disperse the ill Humours which fed the Fever and to reestablish the Patient in perfect Health Leoni's Advice was follow'd with the utmost punctuality but they likewise perceiv'd that Nature in stead of making its Efforts in the Critical Days grew still weaker and weaker and insensibly sunk and dwindl'd Ludovico Sforza having Spies throughout all Italy was inform'd how Matters stood And as he had an Int'rest in Lorenzo de Medici's Life as thinking him too Pacifick to suffer any Disturbance in the Tutelage of the Dutchy of Milan tho' he had usurp'd the Station he sent with all diligence to Carrego Lazaro de Plaisanza the most famous Physician of Lombardy dwelling then at Pavia Lazaro visiting the Sick despair'd of him at the very first and plainly declar'd it was impossible to cure him He shew'd the Malignity of the Phlegm which had so seis'd upon the Noble Parts that Remedies were no longer capable of driving it thence And or that the loss of so Great a Person augmented his Indignation or that he was overjoy'd with having found an Occasion to disparage Leoni the onely Physician that gave a Jealousie to his Fame he took delight in demonstrating by indubitable Proofs and even by Trials made upon the Patient's Body that had he been prescrib'd the Common Courses he would infallibly have recover'd his pristine Vigour While the Family of Medici were cursing Leoni's Negligence and Temerity Lorenzo being inform'd that his End was near at hand appear'd no more mov'd than if some indifferent News had been brought him and carry'd his steadiness of Courage to the very last Degree that Philosophy teaches it can go He comforted his Friends gave them all the Orders and Directions he judg'd to be necessary after his Death regulated his Domestick Concerns by a Will which could not be more humble or judicious and taking his leave of the World refus'd seeing any other than Ecclesiastick and Religious Persons He expir'd in their Arms after having giv'n Tokens of a most Christian Submission and receiv'd all the Sacraments There wanted three Months of his having accomplish'd forty
Boy to go to the Inn of Carro ask for the Abbot Bongalle and tell him all was ready The Lad on the way forgot half of his Commission and remembred nothing more when come to the Inn save asking to speak with the Abbot without adding any proper name The Person the Child spoke to was a French Pedee who hearing him mention an Abbot imagin'd him to be the same to whose care the Fathers of the Council upon their passing the Po had recommended the Cardinal de Medici They had conjur'd him not to suffer him out of sight and to make him pass the River very early for that intent the Souldiers of the Guard had a most peculiar Order to obey him The French Boy calls this Abbot and the Child not knowing Bongalle believ'd it to be the same then present thought he was to do his Message and tell him All was ready Then wou'd the Lad have gone his ways but the Abbot he had spoken to not knowing what he meant staid him and askt him several questions which he did not so handsomly clear tho' he pretended to come from a poor Peasant whom he call'd his Father but that the French Abbot suspected some Mystery He commanded the Souldiers to redouble their Vigilance for the guard of their Prisoner and went himself to find out the Ferry Men that they might make ready to carry over the Cardinal at break of Day while the Cardinal and his Chamberlain were under strange disquiets As they had had no inkling of the little Boys adventure they conceiv'd Zacti to have fail'd in his word to them or that Visimbardi refus'd to second him They despair'd of their delivery after having spent the Night without hearing any Noise or receiving any Notice And it was not so much with a set design as through a kind of retchlesness which Persons fall in when destitute of all hopes that the Cardinal de Medici was still musing in his Bed when summon'd to make ready to pass the River Up got he mounted his Mule gave his Benediction to the Passengers thronging to receive it at the Inn door and so suffer'd them to lead him where they listed The two fore Feet of his Mule were already in the Boat when he heard a noise behind him which made him turn his head 'T was Zacti with Visimbardi who came full Gallop crying Liberty They surrounded the Cardinal to preserve him from danger during the Conflict which they expected to be sharp but the French seeing the March unequal chose rather to abandon a Prisoner whom it was no longer possible for them to keep and throw themselves into the Boat just at hand than to engage in a Combat to them unprofitable even tho' attended with Success Thus Zacti and his Companion remain'd Masters of the Cardinal's Person and not daring to take him home to their own Houses where they expected search to be made Visimbardi urg'd the Conducting him to Barnabo Malaspino's Castle as being a place near enough the State of Genoua for them there to take Refuge in case of pursuit Malespina being their Friend at first made them a kind Reception but after they had told him their business and shew'd him the Cardinal de Medici then in disguise and passing only for a Cavalier of their Train then Malespina put on a more serious look remonstrated to them their Imprudence in having ventur'd their Lives and Fortunes to save a Person to them indifferent accus'd them of coming only to his House to render him the Complice of their Crime and using them as Enemies sent them surlily away after having taken from them the Cardinal de Medici He shut up the Cardinal in a Tennis-Court till such time as he had receiv'd directions from the Mareschal Trimulee Governour of Milan for France what course to take with the Prisoner Fortune had put into his Hands Trimulee receiv'd Malespina's Courier in the very time that two French Souldiers of the number of those who had been push'd by the Confederate Army at the Pass of Mincio had put Milan into a Consternation by divulging that the Enemy wou'd be suddenly at the Gates The mischief prov'd much greater than reported for that the French Army after this defeat despairing of retaining Milan march'd away towards the Alpes So as Trimulee had no more measures to keep with People that abandon'd him notwithstanding he had sacrific'd all for them He wrote a Letter to Malespina to advise him to make a Friend of the Cardinal de Medici by letting him go provided he did it with such Cautions as not to seem the having contributed to his Escape Malespina follow'd this Council and went by night to the Cardinal de Medici in the Tennis-Court let him know the importance of the Service he meant to do him and agreed with him that one of his Servants should open the door and keep him Company that Malespina might rumour it abroad the Cardinal had Corrupted him The thing pass'd as projected but the Cardinal went not far without falling into the Banditti's hands who dismounted him took what Money he had and kill'd Malespina's Servant for standing on his defence Then the Cardinal wander'd alone up and down the Fields without wisting where he was till he met a Curate who knowing him led him into his Presbytery made him the best Cheer he cou'd and lent him his Mare to carry him as far as Plaisanza He arriv'd at that City a moment after it had put it self of its own proper motion under the Popes Obedience insomuch that the Cardinal de Medici who entred in disguised laid hold of the Conjuncture to make him self known and took upon him again the Badges of his Legation He dispatcht the most urgent affairs and departed immediately after for Bologna with a sufficient Convoy There he found the Inhabitants busy'd with driving out the Bentivoglii's and in setting up the Arms of the Church They accepted him for their Governour till the Pope shou'd otherwise Decree He receiv'd the Bull of it with so much the more joy as that Fortune cou'd not send him an Employ more commodious to lye at catch for his Families re-establishment in Florence And indeed the Deputies of the Pope of the King of Spain and of Italy being assembled at Mantoua to regulate the Revenge to be inflicted on those who had assisted the French Giuliano de Medici being sent thither by the Cardinal his Brother demanded permission to return into his Country Soderini had foreseen this Request and dispatcht his Brother to Mantoua to disappoint it Thus the affair being of Consequence and the Parties present they were allow'd to debate their Pretensions in Publick before the Deputies of the League Giuliano de Medici maintain'd that the Florentines ought to be treated as Disturbers of the Peace of Italy and undergo the Penalties ordain'd by the Roman Law against the Disserters of the common Cause seeing they had sent Succours to the assistance of the French in the Land of