with his souldiers retired to Camurata a place betwixt Furli and Rauenna where he fortified himselfe to remaine till such time as some other resolution were taken The fame of his anger being blowne about euery where Nicholo gaue the Pope to vnderstand of his well deseruing of the Duke and with what ingratitude he was requited He also alleaged that the Duke through the helpe of principall Captaines had wonne all the souldiers of Italy to be at his commaundement Notwithstanding if his holinesse were so pleased he could procure that of these two Captaines the one should prooue enemy to the Duke and the other improfitable For accomplishment whereof if money were prepared and the warres continued he would so assault the Earle who had surprized the townes belonging to the Church as he should haue ynough to defend his owne and not be able to follow the ambition of Philippo The Pope gaue credit to these words seeming to him reasonable and sent vnto Nicholo fiue thousand Duckets with many faire promises offering to giue lands to him and his sonnes And although the Pope were diuerse wayes aduertised of this deceipt yet he beleeued well and was not content to heare any thing to the contrarie The Cittie of Rauenna was then gouerned for the Pope by Octacio de Polenta Nicholo thinking good not to deferre his enterprise because his sonne had alreadie with the ignomie of the Pope sacked Spoletto determined to assault Rauenna either because he iudged the enterprise easie or that he had some secret intelligence with Octacio within few dayes he tooke the Towne by composition and shortly after Bologna Imola and Furli were by him surprized Also as a thing more meruailous of twentie Castles which were in those countries holden for the Pope there was not one that refused to yeeld vnto Nicholo Neither did it suffice him with this iniurie to offend the Pope but he would also to these deeds mock and deride him in words Writing vnto the Pope that vpon iust cause his Townes were surprized because he had broken the friendship betwixt the Duke and him and written letters to many places of Italy signifying that he the Earle had abandoned the Duke and ioyned with the Venetians Nicholo thus possessing Romagna left the same in charge to his sonne Francesco and himselfe with the greater part of his army went into Lombardy Where ioyning with the remaine of the Dukes forces he assayled the Countrey of Brescia which in short space he tooke and besieged the Cittie The Duke who desired that the Venetians should be left for him as a pray excused himselfe to the Pope to the Florentines and to the Earle declaring that those things which had bene done in Romagna by Nicholo if they were contrarie to the Capitulations they were likewise contrarie to his will Moreouer by secret messengers he gaue them to vnderstand that for his disobedience as occasion and time should suffer he would finde meanes to haue him punished The Florentines and the Earle gaue no credit thereunto but beleeued as in deede the truth was that these warres were made to hold them occupied till such time as he might oppresse the Venetians who being full of pride and beleeuing they could by themselues resist the Dukes forces did not vouchsafe to demaund aid of any man but with Gatamelata their Captaine made warre alone The Earle Francesco with the fauour of the Florentines intended to haue gone to the aide of King Rinato if the accidents of Romagna and Lombardy had not withholden him And the Florentines would also willingly haue fauoured that enterprise for the auncient friendship betweene them and the house of Fraunce But the one and the other of those being occupied in the warres neere at hand refrained to attempt any enterprise further off The Florentines then seeing Romagna surprized by the Dukes forces and the Venetians assaulted as those that by the ruine of others did feare their owne desired the Earle to come into Toscana there to consider what was to be done to encounter the forces of the Duke which were greater then euer they had bene Affirming that if his insolencie were not by some meanes bridled euery man that gouerned any part of Italy should within short space be oppressed The Earle knew well that the Florentines had reason to feare Notwithstanding the desire he had to proceed in the marriage with the Dukes daughter did make him suspected And the Duke knowing his desire gaue him great hope thereof if he would refuse to take armes against him And because the Dukes daughter was alreadie marriageable the matter was brought to this ripenesse that all things for the purpose were prepared Notwithstanding with diuerse cauillations the marriage day was delayed yet by words to hold the Earle in hope some deeds were performed and to that end thirtie thousand Florins according to the Articles agreed vpon for the marriage were sent vnto him notwithstanding the warre of Lombardy increased and the Venetians euery day lost some Towne or other Also all the vessels for the warres which they sent into the Riuers were by the Dukes Souldiers taken The Countries of Verona and Brescia were all spoiled and both those Citties so straightly besieged as in the common opinion it was hard for them to be many dayes defended The Marquesse of Mantoua who had bene many yeares Generall for that State beyond all expectation had abandoned them and was ioyned with the Duke so as that which in the beginning of the warres their pride suffered not afterwards feare inforced them to do For knowing none other remedie but the friendship of the Florentines and the Earle they began to speake them faire though shamefully and with suspition bicause they feared least the Florentines would make them the same answere which they at the enterprise of Lucca and in the Earles cause had receiued at their hands Neuerthelesse they found the Florentines more easily intreated then either they hoped or their deserts did merit For greater was the Florentines hate to a friend become a foe then the displeasure they bare to an old and auncient enemy They hauing long before knowne the necessitie whereunto the Venetians would fall declared to the Earle that their ruine woulde be also his and that hee deceiued himselfe if hee beleeued the Duke Philippo woulde esteeme him so much in his good as his euill fortune For the occasion why the Duke offered his daughter vnto him was the feare wherein he stood and sith things promised by necessitie are neuer performed without necessitie it behoued him still to hold the Duke distressed which without the greatnesse of the Venetians could not be done Therefore hee ought to thinke that if the Venetians were forced to abandon their Countrey vppon the firme land he should not onely want those commodities which he receiued by them but also all others which of other men for feare of them he might attaine vnto And if hee considered well the other states of
Bologna made the resolutiō for the war the more speedie notwithstanding it had before great contradiction Giouan de Medici publikely spake against it saying that although he were certaine of the Dukes euil disposition yet were it better that hee should march first thē they go towards him for so the war shuld be iustifiable in the iudgement of other princes neither could we so boldly aske aid as we might after that his ambitiō was discouered Also mē wold with an other mind defend their own thē assault the goods of others To the cōtrary was said it were not good to tarry for the enemy at home but rather go seeke him And fortune was more friend to him that assaulteth thē to him that defendeth Moreouer with lesse losse though with more charge the war is made far frō home then neare at hand In the end this opiniō preuailed And resolutiō was set down that the Ten should deuise some means how the city of Furli might be recouered frō the Duke Philippo seeing that the Florentines went about to surprize those things which he had taken in hand to defend set respects apart sent Agnolodella Pargola with great forces to Imola to the end that prince hauing occasion to defend his own should not think vpō his grandchild Agnolo arriued neare Imola the forces of the Florentines being also at Magdigliana the weather frostie and the towne diches frozen in the night by stealth surprized the towne and sent Lodouico prisoner to Milan The Florentines seeing Imola lost and the warre discouered commaunded their men to go vnto Furli and on euerie side besieged that citie Also to the end that all the Dukes forces should not come to rescue it they hired the Earle Alberigo who from his towne Zagonara issued out spoyling the country euen to the gates of Imola Agnola della Pergola finding he could not with securitie succour Furli by reason of the strength where our Campe laie thought good to besiege Zagonara thinking that the Florentines would not lose that place and if they did relieue it then of force they must abandon Furli and fight with disaduantage The Dukes forces then enforced Alberigo to demaund composition which was graunted he promising to yeeld the towne at any time if within fifteene daies it were not rescued by the Florentines This disorder knowne in the Florentines Campe and in the Citie and euerie man desirous to preuent the enemie of that victorie occasioned them to haue a greater For their Campe being departed from Furli to succour Zagonara and entercountring the enemie was ouerthrowne not so much through vertue of the aduersarie as the vnhappinesse of the weather For our men hauing diuerse houres marched in the deepe myre and raine found the enemies fresh and for that reason by them were vanquished Notwithstanding in so great an ouerthrow published through all Italy there died no more then Lodouico degli Obizi with two others who fallen from their horse were myred to death All the citie of Florence at this ouerthrow became sad and chiefly the great Citizens who had counselled the warre For they sawe the enemie braue their selues disarmed without friends and the people against them who murmured and with iniurious words complained of the great Impositions and Subsidies they had paide to the maintenance of the warre taken in hand without any cause or occasion Saying moreouer now they hauing created the Ten to terrifie the enemie haue succoured Furli and taken it from the Duke Thus do they bewraie their Councels to what end they are not to defend the libertie but encrease their own power which God iustly hath diminished Neither haue they only burthened the citie with this enterprise but with many others for like to this was that against King Ladislao To whome will they now resort for aide To Pope Martine who hath bene in their sight trodden vpon by Braccio To the Queene Giouanna she was by them abandoned and forced to put her selfe vpon the King of Aragon Besides these contumelies they repeated all such iniurious reproues as a people offended could imagine It was therefore thought good to the Senators to assemble a good number of Citizens and with curteous speech appease the humours mooued in the multitude Then Rinaldo degli Albizi eldest sonne of Masso who with his owne vertue the memorie of his father aspired to the chief honour of the citie declared at large that it was no wisedome to iudge enterprises by their successe Because many things well deuised haue had no good end others euil deuised haue good Also if euil counsels hauing good successe should be commended the same wold encourage men to commit errors which would proue to great disaduantage of the Common weale for it euer falleth out that euill counsels be vnfortunate In like maner they erred to blame a wise counsell that hath no desired end for thereby they discouradge the Citizens to counsell the citie saie frankly what they knew or vnderstood Then he shewed the necessitie of that war and how if it had not bene begun in Romagna it should haue bene in Toscana But sith it pleased God that their forces be ouerthrowne the losse should be the lesse if the enterprise were not abandoned For if they would still shewe their faces to Fortune and endeuour themselues to recouer that was lost neither should they finde any losse nor the Duke any victorie They ought also not to repine at the charge or Impositions that should be laid vpon them because those paiments which they had made were reasonable and the rest that should after be imposed would not bee so great For lesse preparation is required for them that defend then those that will offend In the end he perswaded them to imitate their auncestors who by being in euerie aduersitie couragious did defend themselues against all Princes whatsoeuer The Citizens encouraged with the authoritie of this man enterteined the Earle Oddo sonne of Braccio with whom they ioyned Nicholo Piccinino brought vp vnder Braccio a man most esteemed of all those that serued vnder his Ensigne and vnder them they appointed other leaders Also of their owne forces lately broken some Captaines of horse men remained Moreouer they elected twentie Citizens to impose new Subsidies who being encouraged with seeing the greatest Citizens oppressed by the late ouerthrow imposed vpon them without respect This imposition much greeued the great Cittizens yet not to declare themselues vnwilling at the first shewed no priuate offence but generally blamed the matter giuing their aduise that the Impositions might cease which being knowne to many tooke no effect in the Councels and thereupon to occasion these repiners feele the smart of their counsell and make the matter more odious they ordered that the Imposers should proceed with all seueritie and haue authoritie to kill any man that should withstand the publique officers Whereof followed many foule accidents by murthering and hurting of the Citizens In so
much as the factions came to bloud and euerie wise man feared future mischiefes Because the great men who were vsed to respect could not endure to be laide hand vppon and others were not content that euerie man should equally be burthened Many of the chiefe Citizens therefore assembled themselues and concluded that it behoued them to take the gouernment into their hands because their small diligence had giuen head and suffered the publique proceedings to be reproued allowing ouermuch boldnesse in those that were wont to be heads of the multitude Hauing to this effect consulted they determined manie times to meete all togither and in the church of S. Steffano assembled more then 70. Citizens with the lycence and allowance of Lorenzo Ridolfi and Francesco Gianfi gliazzi who at that time were of the Senate To this conuention Giouanni de Medici came not either because he was as a suspect vncalled or that hee would not being of contrary opinion appeare But Rinaldo delli Albizi as mouth of that companie discoursed the estate of the citie how by their negligence it was come to the hand of the multitude from whome in the yeare 1381. by their auncestors it was taken putting them in minde of the iniquitie that raigned in that state from the yeare 77. till 81. And how sith that time till this present some had their fathers slaine some their grandfathers now were returned to the selfesame perils the citie fallen to the like disorders because the multitude had alreadie at their pleasure imposed Subsidies wold ere lōg if the same were not by a greater force or better order withstood appoint the Magistrates Which being brought to passe the multitude would vsurpe their places and ruine that state which had bene with much glorie of the cittie fortie and two yeares continued and Florence should be gouerned either casually vnder the will of the multitude so as one part should liue lycentiously the other daungerously or vnder the commandement of some one that shall make him selfe Prince of all Wherefore he assured them that euerie man that loued his country and his owne honour was constrained to beware and put them in minde of the vertue of Bardo Mancini who with the ruine of the Alberti saued the citie from those perils wherein it then was and that occasion of boldnesse in the multitude proceeded of the large Squittini which were by their negligence made which was the cause also that the Pallace was filled with new men and people of base condition He therefore concluded that the only remedie was to yeeld the gouernment to the great Citizens and remoue the lesse Artificers from their authoritie reducing them from 14. to 7. companies Which should be a meane that the multitude could haue in the Councels lesse authoritie as well in respect that the number of them were diminished as that the great men should haue most power who for the old enmity did disfauour the multitude affirming likewise that to know how to imploy men according to the time was great wisedom For as their ancestors vsed the multitude to oppresse the insolency of the great men who thereby became humble and the multitude insolent so it were now fit to bridle the insolencie thereof with the aide of the great men And for compassing of these matters they might resort either to subtiltie or force For some of them beeing of the Tenne by that colour might bring men secretly into the citie This counsell giuen by Rinaldo was by euery man allowed And Nicholo of Vzano among other said that all things alledged by Rinaldo were true and the remedies good and certaine if the same might be done without manifest diuision of the citie which would come to passe if Giouan de Medici were not perswaded from them For hee being on our side the multitude without head and force could not offend But if he wold not consent without armes it could not be And with armes it were daungerous for either they should not preuaile or not enioy the victory Also modestly he reduced to their memories his former admonitions how they refused to preuent these difficulties when they might But now the time serued not to do it without hazarding a greater mischiefe and therefore as the vttermost refuge it behoued to gaine his fauour Commissiō therfore was granted for Rinaldo to goe vnto Giouanni and perswade him to be of their minde This Gentleman performed his Commission and with the best reasons he was able perswaded him to enter with them into this action and that he would not for the loue of the multitude become insolent to the ruine of the state citie Wherto Giouanni answered that he thought it the office of a wise and good Citizen not to alter the accustomed orders of the citie because there was nothing that so much offended men as alteration sith thereby many be offended where many liue discontented some euill accident is daily to be looked for Also hee thought that this their resolution might worke two effects verie dangerous The one by giuing the honours to those who neuer before hauing them would not much esteeme them and should haue the lesse occasion to complaine if they neuer had them The other by taking the honours from those that were vsed to haue them should make them vnquiet till they were restored And so shall the iniurie done to the one part be greater then the benefit which the other part could thereby receiue Thus shall the authour of this change win few friends many enemies and these will be more ready to offend him thē the others to defend him For mē are more naturally inclined to reuēge an iniury thē be thankful for a good turne because this bringeth losse but that promiseth profit and pleasure Then turning his face towards Rinaldo saide And you sir if you remember matters passed with what subtilties men walk within this citie your self would be more lowe in these resolutions For the giuer of that counsell so soone as with your forces he hath taken away the authoritie of the people would againe take the same from you by the aide of those who by this meane of iniurie will become your foes And it will befall to you as it did to Benedetto Alberti who through the perswasions of him that loued him not cōsented to the ruine of Georgio Scali and Tomazo Strozzi and shortly after by the selfesame men that perswaded him was sent into exile Hee therefore wished him more naturally to thinke vpon matters be willing to follow his father who hauing loue of the multitude cared not to offend a fewe men euill disposed It was then ordained that whosoeuer had to paie halfe a Florine for Subsidie should paie it or not as himselfe pleased And besides all men indebted should for the day of the councell goe free with out molestation of his creditors In the end he concluded that for his owne part he would leaue the cittie in that
be sure they should finde other ministers then me to performe that deed For I will not imbrew my hands in the bloud of any man and chiefly in thine who neuer offended me Be therefore of good cheare eate thy meate and preserue thy life to the comfort of thy friends and country and because thou shalt mistrust the lesse I my selfe will eate part of those meates which be set before thee These words comforted Cosimo exceedingly and with teares in his eyes he embraced and kissed Federigo thanking him most heartily for his friendly and pitious dealing offering to be thankfull whensoeuer occasion should be presented Thus Cosimo somewhat comforted and his cause disputed among the Citizens It happened that Federigo brought with him to supper a friend of the Gonfalonieries called Farganaccio a man verie wittie and pleasantly disposed The supper being almost ended Cosimo hoping to helpe himselfe by this mans presence for he was with him well acquainted made signes to Federigo to go aside who knowing the occasion fained to go for something that wanted And leauing them alone Cosimo after a fewe friendly words spoken to Farganaccio gaue him a token and sent him to the Hospital of Santa Maria Nuoua for a thousand and one hundreth crownes wherof one hundreth to be kept to his owne vse the other to beliuered to the Gonfaloniere Farganaccio performed his Commission the mony was paide and by vertue thereof Barnardo became more fauourable So as then it was ordered that Cosimo should be onely confined to Padoa contrary to the expectation of Rinaldo that desired his life Auerardo many others of the house of Medici were also banished and with them Puccio and Giouanni Pucci Also to terrifie others that were offended with the exile of Cosimo they gaue Commission of Balia to the Eight of the Guard and the Captaine of the people After which order taken Cosimo vpon the third of October in the yeare 1433. came before the Senators who pronounced his banishment and perswaded him to obey the same Or if he would refuse more seueritie would be vsed both vnto his person and goods Cosimo with chearfull countenance receiued his confinement protesting that whither so euer the Senate should please to send him hee was most willing to obey Humbly desiring that as they had preserued his life so it might please them to defend him for he was giuen to vnderstand of many that watched in the Market place to haue his bloud He said moreouer that himselfe and his substance should be euer at the commandement of the citie the people and their Lordships The Gonfaloniere did comfort him and kept him in the Pallace till night was come There he supped after brought him to his house which done caused him to be accompanied with many armed men by them was cōducted to the cōfines Wheresoeuer Cosimo passed he was honourably receiued and by the Venetians publikely visited not as banished but as a man in great authoritie Florence thus depriued of so worthie a Citizen so vniuersally loued euerie man was dismaid and as wel they that had the victorie as those that were victored did feare Rinaldo mistrusting future misaduenture to serue his owne turne and his friends assembled many Citizens and said to them that he now saw their ruine at hand because they were with faire words teares the enemies mony vanquished forgetting that shortly themselues should be forced to entreate and weepe when their sutes shall not be heard and of their teares no man would take compassion Also touching the monies receiued the same must be repaid with torments death exile instead of vsurie Moreouer that it had bin better for themselues to be dead then suffer Cosimo to passe with life and leaue his friends in Florence Because great personages should either not be touched or being must be made sure from taking reuenge No other remedie therefore remained but to fortifie themselues within the citie to the end that the enemies taking knowledge thereof as easily they will we may resist them with armes sith by order and lawe we could not auoyd them The remedie of all this was that which long before had bene remembred to recouer the great men restoring giuing to them all the honors of the citie making our selues strong with that faction because the aduersaries were strengthned by the multitude By this means their partie should be knowne of how great force vertue courage and credite it were Alledging also that if this last and truest refuge were not put in proofe he sawe not by what other meane the state might be among so many enemies preserued And therefore he beheld at hand a destruction of them and their Citie To answer this speech Mariotto Baldouineti one of the company opposed himselfe and said that the pride and insupportable nature of the Nobilitie was such that it were no wisedome to submit themselues to a tyrannie certain to eschue the doubtfull perils of the multitude Rinaldo seeing his counsell not heard lamented the misfortune of himselfe and his friends imputing euerie thing rather to the heauens that so would haue it then to the ignorance and blindnesse of men The matter thus depending without any necessarie prouision made a letter was found written by Agnolo Acciaiuoli to Cosimo wherein he aduertised the disposition of the citie towards him and wished him to moue some warre making Nero di Gino his friend For hee thought the Cittie had much need of mony and no way knowne that would supplie that want By occasion wherof the desire of his return would be greatly reuiued in the Citizens minds And if Neri should fall from Rinaldo then that side would become so weak as could not defend it selfe This letter come to the handes of the Magistrates was the cause that Agnolo was taken and sent to exile By this example some part of that humour which fauoured Cosimo was cooled The yeare of Cosimo his banishment expired the end of August at hand in the yere 1430. Nicholo di Cocco was chosen Gonfaloniere for the two moneths next following and with him eight Senators all friends to Cosimo So as that Senate terrified Rinaldo all his followers Also because the custome was that the Senators elected should three dayes before they enter their office remaine as priuate men at home within that time Rinaldo conferred with the chiefe of his faction and shewed them their certaine and approching perill the remedie whereof was to take armes and by force procure that Donato Velluti who was yet Gonfaloniere should assemble the people in the Market place call a new Balia depriue the new Senators of their office creating a new Senate for their purpose exchaunging the old Squittini put in new with the names of their friends This deuise was by many thought secure and necessarie Of others it was holden ouer violent and dangerous Among those that disallowed thereof was Palla Strozzi who being a man indeed quietly disposed gentle curteous
proofe if they might be by sea releeued and for that purpose loaded their Gallies with victuall and sent them thither But in their passage they were encountred with seuen of the Kings Gallies which tooke two of them and suncke the others This losse bereft the Florentine souldiers of hope to be reuictualled Thereupon two hundreth or more Pyoners for want of drinke fled vnto the Kings Campe the rest of the souldiers mutined complayning that in those hote places they could not remaine without wine because water was there most vnwholesome So that the Commissaries determined to abandon that place and imploy their forces to recouer certaine Castles which remained in the Kings hand Who on the other side although he wanted not victual being in force the stronger yet was his Camp afflicted with sicknesse bred there by the infection of the aire nere vnto the sea by mean wherof almost euerie man was infected and many of them also died These occasions ministred communication of peace wherin the King demaunded fiftie thousand Florins and Piombino to be left at his discretion The matter being debated at Florence by many desirous of peace the demands were thought reasonable For they were perswaded a war so chargeable as that was could not without great expence be mainteined Notwithstanding Neri Capponi went vnto Florence and there with such reasons as he made altered their minds Disswading them vtterly to accept those conditions and the Florentines receiued the Lord of Piombino as recommended promising both intime of warre and peace to defend him if he would as hitherto he had fight couragiously in defence of his owne Citie The King vnderstanding this resolution and seeing his owne Campe afflicted with sicknesse brake vp and retired with the rest into the country of Siena leauing behinde him two thousand dead bodies From thence he marched towards the kingdome and being exceedingly offended with the Florentines threatned the next Spring to make vppon them a new warre While matters were thus handled in Toscana the Earle Francesco became Generall of the Milanesi and before anie thing done obteined the friendship of Francesco Piccinino who had likewise serued them which he did to the end that his enterprises might be the more fauoured and by Piccinino the lesse impeached Then marched he with his Armie to the field wherby the Citizens of Pauia fearing they could not defend themselues and being on the other side vnwilling to obey the Milanesi offered him the Towne with condition that he should not deliuer it to them The Earle greatly desired the possession of that Citie thinking that the hauing thereof would be a good beginning to colour his intent being neither deteined with feare nor abashed to breake his faith For great men do call losse a thing dishonourable but to compasse their desire by craft is accounted no shame at all Notwithstanding he doubted least his taking of the Towne in this sort would so offend the Milanesi as for that cause they woulde yeeld themselues to the Venetians and if it were not taken by him then he feared the Duke of Sauoia to whom many of the Citizens were willing to giue it So as by euerie of those meanes hee thought himselfe bereft of the dominion of Lombardy yet supposing it lesse perill to take the Citie for himselfe then leaue it to an other determined to accept it being perswaded it was notwithstanding possible to content the Milanesi whom he enformed of those perils wherunto they should fall if he accepted not the Citie of Pauia For that Citie if it were by him refused would yeelde to the Venetians or the Duke of Sauoia in either of which cases their countrey should be lost and therefore thought rather be contented to haue him their neighbour and friend then any other that were more mightie and their enemie The Milanesi were much troubled with this matter imagining that the Earle had thereby discouered his ambition and the end whereunto he tended Yet thought they not good to take knowledge thereof because leauing the Earle they sawe not whither to addresse themselues vnlesse it were to the Venetians whose pride and hard dealing they mistrusted Wherefore they resolued not to shake off the Earle but for the present by him to be be deliuered of those inconueniences hoping after to be also deliuered of himselfe For they were not onely assaulted by the Venetians but also by the Genouesi and the Duke of Sauoia who made warre in the name of Carlo of Orliens sonne to the sister of Philippo But the Earle easily withstood their mallice Then were the Venetians his only enemies who with a mightie Armie determined to surprize that state and had alreadie possessed Lodi and Piacenza wherunto the Earle brought his camp and after a long siege sacked that Citie Which done because the winter was alreadie come he retired his men to their lodgings and went himselfe to Cremona where with his wife he rested all that winter But the spring being come the Armies of the Venetians and Milanesi returned to the field The Milanesi desired to surprize Lodi and after make peace with the Venetians Because the charges of warre did burthen them and the fidelitie of their General was suspected For these reasons they wished a peace as well to repose themselues as to be assured of the Earle Then they resolued their Army should besiege Carrauaggio hoping that Lodi would yeeld so soone as the Castle could be taken from the enemie The Earle obeyed the Milanesi although his intent was to haue passed Adda and assault the country of Brescia The siege being laid to the Castle of Carrauaggio hee trenched and fortified his Campe least happily the Venetians would assaile him The Venetians on the other side conducted by Micheletto their Generall marched within two bowes shot off the Earles Campe where diuerse dayes both the Armies remained the one many times offending the other Notwithstanding the Earle stil besieged the castle did so straightly distresse it as it was readie to yeeld which greatly displeased the Venetians fearing that the losse thereof would be the ruine of all the enterprise Great disputation arose among their Captaines by what meanes it might be succoured But no other way could be deuised then to assault the enemies in their trenches which was exceeding daungerous Notwithstanding so greatly they esteemed the losse of that Castle as the Senate of Venice beeing naturally fearefull to meddle with any matter either doubtful or dangerous did chuse rather to hazard all then with the losse of that to lose the enterprise They resolued therfore by all meanes to assault the Earle one morning earely charged him on that side where they thought he was weakest At the first charge as it happeneth in those assaults which be not looked for all the Armie was dismaid Notwithstanding the Earle sodeinly repaired the disorders had handled the matter so that notwithstanding many assaults the enemies were forced in the end not onely to retire but also
rather for his mercie then their merits To which excuses the Pope answered with great pride and anger reprouing them of all things done against the church notwithstāding for Gods sake he was pleased to grant them the pardō they desired yet therwith affirming they were to obey him if they shal faile of obedience their libertie which now should haue bin lost shall then be iustly taken from thē For they deserue libertie who take in hand good actions not they that in euil enterprises employ themselues Because libertie abused offendeth it self and others Also to esteem God litle the church lesse is not the office of good mē but of vain persons enclined to euil The correction of whō apperteineth not onely to Princes but to euery christian so as they were for matters passed to blame their own euil doings which was the first occasion of war by their worse doings it was norished But all anger was now extinguished rather by the goodnes of others thē their own deserts After publication of the peace the Popes blessing was read Whereunto his holinesse by word of mouth added that if they would enioy the benifit of his benediction they should during the Turks war in the kingdom maintein at their charge 15. gallies wel paid The Embassadors complained much of this burdē imposed ouer and aboue the contract Yet by no meanes they could make or by any lamentation they vsed the Pope would diminish any part of that penance But the Embassadors being returned to Florence the Senate for confirmation of this peace sent Embassador to the Pope Guidantonio Vespucci who was lately ariued frō France He by his wisdom brought all matters vnto reasonable termes obteined many fauours of the Pope which was a token of greater reconciliatiō The Florentines hauing ended their busines with the Pope and Siena with themselues being deliuered from feare of the King by the departure of the Duke of Calauria and the Turkes warre continuing constrained the King to restore all the Castles which the Duke of Calauria at his departure left in the handes of the Sanesi Wherby that King hoped that the Florentines in so great necessitie would not shrincke from him or by moouing of warre against the Sanesi impeach the aide which hee hoped of from the Pope and other Italian Princes And therefore was content that the Castles should bee restored and bound the Florentines by a new obligation So as thereby we see that force and necessitie but not writings or obligations do make Princes to obserue their faith The Castles thus receiued and the new confederacie made Lorenzo di Medici recouered that reputation which the warre first and after the peace when the King was feared had taken from him For there wanted not those that openly slaundered him and said that for sauing himselfe he had sould his countrey and that by the warre they lost their townes and by the peace they should lose their libertie But the townes recouered an honorable peace made with the King and the Cittie returned to the auncient reputation For in Florence a Cittie free of speech and therein matters iudged by their successe and not by counsell the case was altered and Lorenzo commended to the skies euerie man saying that he with his wisedome had found meanes to recouer that by peace which euill fortune had taken from them in warre and that his counsell and iudgement had preuailed more then the enemies armes or their money The assault of the Turks had deferred that warre which by offence of the Pope and Venetians would haue bene moued But as the beginning of that assault was vnlooked for and occasion of much good so was the end thereof vnlooked for and the cause of much euill for Mahumetto great Turke beyond all expectation died and discord growing betwixt his sonnes those Turks that were in Puglia being abandoned of their Lord by composition yeelded Ottranto to the King This feare remoued which held the Pope and Venetians firme euery man doubted new tumults On the one side the Pope and the Venetians were in league and with them the Genouesi Sanesi and other lesse Potentates On the other were the Florentines the King and the Duke with whome the Bolognesi and many other Lords ioyned The Venetians desired to become Lords of Farrara supposing they had reasonable occasion to begin that enterprise and certaine hope to performe it The occasion was bicause the Marquesse affirmed he was no longer bound to receiue the Visdomine and their salte bicause the contract was that after seauentie yeares the Cittie should be disburthened of those charges The Venetians to the contrarie answered that so long as he did hold the Polesine so long he ought to receiue the Visdomine and the salte But the Marquesse not consenting thereto the Venetians thought they had iust occasion to take armes and time fit for the same seeing the Pope much offended with the Florentines and the King whose fauour they hoped the rather to haue bicause the Earle Girolamo being at Venice was there receiued most honorablie and the Venetians bestowed on him the title of a Gentleman of that state which is the greatest token of honor which they will or can giue They had also for preparation of the warres imposed a new Subsidie and chosen Roberto de Sanseuerino for their Generall who being offended with Lodouico Gouernour of Milan was fled to Tortona and there hauing made some tumults went to Genoua from thence he was called by the Venetians and made Chiefetaine of their armie These preparations and new motions being knowne to those of the contrarie league was the cause that they also prepared for the warre The Duke of Milan made Federigo Lord of Vrbino his Generall and the Florentines Costanzo de Pesaro Also to sound the disposition of the Pope and to discouer whether the Venetians with his consent did make the warre against Farrara the King Ferrando sent Alfonso Duke of Calauria with his armie to the riuer of Tronto and there desired leaue of the Pope to passe into Lombardy to aide the Marquesse which was by the Pope vtterly denied Whereupon the King and the Florentines being resolued thought to constraine him by force so as thereby he should either become their friend or at the least they would so trouble him as he could not be able to aide the Venetians for they were in the field and had alreadie begun the warre with the Marquesse spoyled his countreys and besieged Figarolo a Castle of much importance for the countrey of that Prince Thus the King and the Florentines determined to assaile the Pope Alfonso Duke of Calauria spoiled the countrey towards Rome and with aide of the Colonni who were on his side bicause the Orsini were ioyned with the Pope did great dammage to that countrey on the other side of Rome The Florentines on the other side vnder Nicholo Vitelli assaulted the Cittie of Castello surprized it and draue out Lorenzo who kept that
being perswaded it was shame and dishonor that a priuate Gentleman had taken from them the Castle of Serezana And bicause the capitulations were that it was lawfull to demaund all things taken and if they were not restored to make warre against the withholder they resolued speedily to prepare money and men to performe that enterprise Then Agostino Fregoso who had surprized Serezana being perswaded that at his priuate charge he could not mainteine so great a warre gaue that towne to S. George And sithens we are to make mention diuerse times of S. George and the Genouesi it seemeth not amisse to declare the orders and customes of that Cittie being one of the principall states of Italy The peace made betwixt the Genouesi and Venetians after the greatest warre that was seene in many yeares past the State not being able to pay those Cittizens who had lent great summes of money appointed their reuenues of the Dogana to be paid vnto them till such time as the principall debts were discharged And for their meeting togithers they appointed the Pallace ouer the Dogana These creditors among themselues ordeined a forme of gouernment appointing a Councell of a hundred and a Senate of eight Citizens which officers as heads of the Cittie might dispatch all affaires The debts were diuided into parts which they called Luoghi and intituled the whole corporation of S. Georgeo This gouernment thus established euer hapned new necessities whereupon they resorted to S. George for new aide who being riche and well ordered could easily serue their turnes And the communaltie on the other side hauing graūted the Dogana began for pawne of the moneys to giue their lands yea the matter went so farre by reason of the common necessities and seruices of S. George that vnder gouernment thereof the greater part of the Townes Citties and Lands of Genoua doe now belong to S. George who doth gouerne and defend them Also euery yeare by publique suffrage officers be appointed without any intermedling of the Communaltie Hereof it proceedeth that those Citizens haue no regard of the common profit as a thing tirannized and set their whole care vpon S. George as well and equally gouerned whereof do arise the easie and often alterations of the State and that the people do otherwhiles yeeld their obedience to some of their owne Citizens and sometimes to a Stranger for not S. George but the Communaltie doth alter in gouernment which was the cause that whē the Adorni Fregosi contending for the principallitie did fight the communaltie only and the greater part of the citizēs stood neutrall and yeelded to the victorious Neither doth the office of S. George other then whensoeuer any man hath taken the gouernment it sweareth him to obserue the lawes thereof which to this day are not changed For S. George hauing in possession the armes the money and the gouernment cannot without the danger of a certaine rebellion be altered A rare order surely and not found by the Philosophers amōg their imagined or visible Cōmon-weales to see within one circle and among one number of Citizens libertie and tirannie ciuill life and corruption iustice and licentiousnes which order onely mainteineth that towne full of auncient and venerable customes And if it should happen which in time will assuredly come to passe that S. George shall be owner of all the Citie that State will be more notable then the Venetian Common-weale To this S. George Agostino Fregoso gaue Serezana who receiued it willingly and taking in hand the defence thereof presently prepared a nauie by sea and sent certaine forces to Pietrasanta to impeach all those that resorted to the Florentine Camp then neare vnto Serezana On the other side the Florentines desired to take Pietrasanta as a towne needfull to be had for the winning of Serezana for being betwixt it and Pisa they could not besiege it so long as by the Pietrasantesi or others therein they were impeached in the siege of Serezana To bring this enterprise to passe they sent from Pisa to the Camp a great quantitie of munition and victuall slenderly garded to the end that they of Pietrasanta should feare the lesse and in hope of a good bootie to assault them The matter was then followed according to expectation For the souldiers in Pietrasanta seeing before their eyes so great a bootie tooke it which gaue the Florentines iust occasion to execute the enterprise wherefore leauing Serezana they besieged Pietrasanta which was well manned and brauely defended The Florentines hauing their artillerie in the plaine made a bulwarke vpon the mountaine hoping from thence to batter it Giacopo Guicciardino was Commissarie of the Florentine forces And while they besieged Pietrasanta the nauie of Genoua tooke and burnt the fortresse of Vada and setting some of their souldiers a land spoiled the countrey thereabout Against whome Buongianni Gianfiliazzi was sent with certaine footmen who partly stayed their pride so as they durst no longer spoile at their pleasures Yet the nauie continuing to molest the Florentines went vnto Liuorno and with certaine instruments approched Torre Nuoua battering it diuerse dayes with artillerie but seeing nothing done to their aduantage returned back with shame In the meane space Pietrasanta was coldly assaulted whereupon the enemies tooke hart assaulted the Bulwarke and tooke it which was so greatly to their reputation and the Florentines feare as they were readie to breake vp the Campe. In so much as they retired foure miles from the towne and the officers of the Camp thought good that the moneth of October being come it was time to lodge the army and deferre that siege till the next Spring This disorder being knowne in Florence made the Magistrates much offended and therefore to repaire the Camp in force and reputation made choise of new Commissaries Antonio Pucci and Bernardo del Nero who with great summes of money went vnto the Camp and declared to the Captaines the indignation of the Senate and the people and how great a shame it should be vnlesse the army did againe returne to the siege for it were an infamie so great a Camp to be repulsed by so small a guard and so weake a towne They also shewed the present and future commoditie that would insue of that victorie Which perswasion moued the souldiers to returne to the walls and first of all to recouer the Bulwarke For the performance whereof they knowing how much curtesie affabilitie and good vsage might do to incourage the minds of men Antonio Pucci by comforting promising and imbracing the souldiers procured the Bulwarke to be assaulted so furiously as euen in a sodeine it was taken yet not without losse for in that assault the Earle Antonio de Marciano with a peece of artillerie was slaine This victorie terrified those of the towne so much as they began to offer composition whereupon to the end the conclusion might be made with the more reputation Lorenzo di Medici thought good to come to the Camp
minds more prepared for that action they alwaies talked thereof and with the sheathes of daggers made for that purpose one of them in the breast and belly strake the other Then they deuised of the time and place In the Castle they thought it not fit to be performed In hunting they feared it would proue incerteine perilous When the Duke walked in the streets for pleasure they imagined it would be hard and vnlikely to be done And at feasts they doubted the places would not serue Wherefore they resolued at some publique pompe and triumph where they were certaine of his being to kill him for thither they might vnder diuerse coulours assemble their friends They concluded also that if any of them vpon occasion were by the officers apprehended the rest should with their swords in the middest of his enemies sley him This happened in the yeare 1476. The feast of Christmas then being at hand at which time on S. Stephens day the Duke was woont with great pomp to visit the Church of that holie Martir they resolued that place and time would best serue for the execution of their intent The morning of S. Stephens day being come they caused certaine of their most assured friends and seruants to arme themselues saying they would go to aide Giouandrea who contrarie to the mind of some his euill willers would make a conduct for water in a certaine ground of his They being thus armed went to the Church pretending that they would before their departure take leaue of the Prince They procured also diuerse other their friends and kinsfolks for sundrie considerations to come thither hoping that the deed being done euery one would follow them to performe the rest of the enterprise And their intent was the Duke being slaine to ioyne with those armed and goe to that place of the Cittie where they might more easily raise the people and perswade them to arme themselues against the Duchesse and Princes of the State supposing the people by meanes of the famine wherewith they were then grieued would easily fauour the enterprise and vnto the people they determined to giue leaue to spoile the houses of Ceco Simonetta Giouanni Botti and Francesco Lucani all Magistrates of the gouernment whereby they should be assured of them and gaue the people libertie This resolution was set downe and the execution thereof firmely agreed vpon in their minds Giouandrea with the rest met earely in the Church and there altogithers heard Masse which being ended Giouandrea turning towards the image of S. Ambrose sayd O Ambrose Lord of our Cittie thou knowest our intention and the end wherefore we will aduenture our selues to so many perils Be fauourable to this our enterprise and by fauouring of iustice shew how greatly iniustice doth displease thee To the Duke on the other side before he came to the Church many signes happened to prognosticate his death at hand For the day being come he put on his priuie armour as euerie other day for the most part he did yet sodeinly before he went from his house either bicause he thought it not sightly or that it did hurt his bodie he tooke it off Then thought he to haue heard Masse in the Castle but his Chapleine was gone to S. Steffano Then commaunded hee that the Bishop of Como should say the Masse but he alleaged certaine reasonable lets so the Duke was as it were by necessitie occasioned to goe to the Church But first he called for his two sonnes Giouangaliazzo and Hermes whome he embraced and kissed often as though he had no power to depart from them yet in the end he determined to goe and comming out of the Castle betwixt the Embassadors of Farrara and Mantoua rode to the Temple The conspirators in the meane while to giue the lesse suspition and keepe them from the cold were retired into a chamber belonging to the chiefe Priest of the Church their friend and vnderstanding that the Duke did come they came from the chamber into the Church Giouandrea and Girolamo placed themselues on the right hand of the Church doore and Carlo on the left hand Then those that went before the Duke entered the Churche doore and after the Duke himselfe inuironed with a greate multitude of people as it alwaies happeneth in time of such a princelie pompe The firste of the Conspirators that went towardes him were Lampugnano and Girolamo They pretending to make place and roome for the Prince came hard vnto his person and assaulted him with short and sharpe daggers which they had hidden in their sleeues Lampugnano gaue him two woundes the one in the bellie the other in the throate Girolamo likewise in the throate and in the brest strake him Carlo Visconti standing neare vnto the doore and the Duke past him at such time as his companions gaue the assault could not hurt him before but gaue him two other wounds one on the shoulder the other in the back and these sixe wounds were all so sodeinly and speedily giuen that the Duke was fallen to the ground before any man knewe what the matter meaned Neither could he do or say any thing that was knowne but in falling one onely time he cried O Ladie helpe me The Duke thus laid on the ground the rumor grew great many swords were drawne out and as it hapned in like cases vnlooked for some fled out of the Church and some ranne thither without any certaine knowledge or occasion of the matter But those who were next vnto the Duke seeing him slaine and knowing the murtherers pursued them Of the conspirators Giouandrea intending to get out of the Church went amongst the women who being many and according to their custome set on the ground was so troubled and staied with their garments that he was by a Moore one of the Dukes footmen ouertaken and slaine Carlo was likewise by those that were present killed But Girolamo Olgiato escaped out of the Church seeing his companions slaine and not knowing whither to flee went home where he could be neither by his father nor brothers receiued But his mother onely hauing compassion of her sonne did recommend him to a Priest an auncient friend of that house who put him in Priestlike garments and remooued him to his house where he remained two daies hoping that some tumult in Milan would arise and thereby he might be saued But that not comming to passe and fearing to be found there he assaied to flee disguised yet being knowne was brought before the Magistrates and there he confessed all the order of the conspiracie This Girolamo was twentie three yeares of age and died with no lesse courage then he had executed the enterprise For being brought to his death stript naked and prepared for the hangman who with his knife in hand stood readie to cut him in pieces he spake these Laten words Mors acerba fama perpetua stabit vetus memoria facti This enterprise was by these vnhappie yoong men secretly practised and
resolutely executed The cause of their destruction was that they were not followed and defended of them to whome they trusted Let Princes therefore learne to make themselues so much honored and loued as no man can hope to hurt them and saue himselfe And let all priuate persons know how vaine it is to thinke that the multitude notwithstanding it be discontented will in their perils follow or accompanie them This accident amazed all Italy but much more trouble proceeded of other chances that shortly after happened in Florence For thereby the peace which had continued in Italy the space of twelue yeares was broken as in the Booke following shall be declared Which Booke as it beginneth with bloud and terror so doth it end with sorrow and miserie The ende of the seuenth Booke THE EIGHT BOOKE THE beginning of this Booke placed amidst two conspiracies the one in Milan alreadie declared the other happened in Florence and to be spoken of it may be thought fit that according to my custome I should somewhat saie touching the quallitie of conspiracies and of what importance they are Which willingly I would do had I not in other places discoursed thereof or that such a matter might be briefelie passed ouer But seeing it requireth great consideration and is alreadie spoken of we will proceed and tell how the Medici hauing ouercome all enemies that openly opposed themselues being desirous their house alone might haue authoritie in the Cittie it behoued them to oppresse all others that secretly practised against them For so long as they contended against other families but with equall authoritie the Cittizens enuying their greatnesse might openly and without feare affront them Bicause the Magistrates being free neither partie before losse of victorie had any occasion to feare it selfe But after the victorie in the yeare 66. the State became so much in the hand and power of the Medici as all men discontented were inforced either patiētly to abide the condition wherein they liued or else by way of conspiracie and secret practise to amend their fortune But sith cōspiracies are with difficultie performed for the most part they procure the ruine of the conspirators and the greatnes of him against whome they be conspired So that a Prince by conspiracie assaulted if he be not therein slaine as was the Duke of Milan which seldome hapneth becommeth thereby the stronger and being before good becommeth euill Bicause conspiracies do giue him occasion to feare feare counsaileth him to seeke assurance and in seeking assurance he doth iniure others whereby he gaineth hatred and many times procureth his own destruction So as in cōclusion treasons do sodeinly ouerthrow those who attempt them and trouble him many times against whome they be attempted Italy was as hath bene before declared diuided into two factions the Pope and the King on the one side and the Venetians the Duke and Florentines on the other side And albeit there was not betwixt them any warre moued yet was there dailie occasion giuen thereof and the Pope chiefelie in all his actions studied to offend the state of Florence Philippo de Medici Archbishop of Pisa then dying the Pope contrarie to the will of the Senate of Florence gaue that Bishopprick to Francesco Saluiati whome hee knewe to bee enemie to the house of Medici But the Senate denying to deliuer possession thereof there followed great displeasure betwixt the Pope and the Medici Besides that the Pope did great fauours in Rome to the familie of Pazzi and in euerie acte disfauoured the house of Medici In those daies the house of Pazzi liued aboue other the Florentine families in most riches and glorie The chiefe of them was called Giacopo who for his riches and Nobilitie was made Knight He hauing no children but one onely daughter had for heires diuerse nephews sonnes of Piero and Antonio his brethren The chiefe of whom were Guglielmo Francesco Rinato and Giouanni After them Andrea Nicholo and Galeotto Cosimo de Medici seeing their riches and nobilitie gaue his neece Biancha in marriage to Guglielmo hoping that alliance would make those houses more vnited and remoue all occasion of displeasures and suspitions which many times hapned betwixt them Notwithstāding so incertaine and fallible are the expectatiōs of men the matter came otherwise to passe for those that counselled Lorenzo told him it was perilous and contrary to his authoritie to suffer the Citizens to increase their riches and state which was the cause that those degrees of honor were not graunted to Giacopo and his nephews which as other Citizens thought they deserued Hereof grew the first displeasure of the Pazzi and the first feare of the Medici The increasing of the one was cause that the other also increased in so much as the Pazzi in all actions whereat other Citizens did meete were not to the Magistrates welcome Also the officers of eight men vpon a like occasion without such respect as was wont to be borne towards the great Citizens constrained Francesco de Pazzi being at Rome to returne to Florence Whereupon the Pazzi in all places with iniurious words and full of offence complained which doings caused others to suspect think thēselues to be iniured Giouanni de Pazzi had married the daughter of Giouanni Barromei a man of great riches which riches after his death for want of sonnes should come vnto her Neuertheles Carlo his nephew toke possession of part of those goods and therby the matter being brought to triall and sute an order was made by vertue wherof the wife of Giouanni de Pazzi was disinherited and the possessions giuen to Carlo which iniurie the Pazzi did altogither impute to the Medici Of this matter Giuliano de Medici did many times lament and complaine to his brother Lorenzo saying he feared least they desiring too much should lose all But Lorenzo being full of youth and authoritie would needs take all vpon him and make euery man know that all things were done by him The Pazzi being noble and rich could not indure so great iniuries but deuised by what means they might procure reuenge The first that moued speech against the Medici was Francesco He being of more courage and life then the others determined to get that which he wanted or lose that which he had And bicause the gouernment of Florence was hatefull vnto him he liued for the most part in Rome and there according to the custome of Florentine Merchants occupied great summes of money Being also of familier acquaintance with the Earle Girolamo one of them often complained to the other of the Medici In so much as after many consultations they concluded that to make the one of them assured of his lands and the other of his Cittie it was necessarie to alter the gouernment of Florence which they thought could not be done without the death of Giuliano and Lorenzo They also supposed that the Pope and the King would easily thereto consent if the facilitie of the enterprise