himselfe followers in Florence and friends abroad was exceeding liberall of his substance and had for that occasion lent out summes of great importance This counsaile to Piero seemed good and honest supposing he should by execution thereof without perill repaire himselfe with his owne Notwithstanding so soone as hee called for these debts the Citizens grew no lesse offended then if hee should haue desired their owne goods and without respect they spake euill of him slaundering him to be a man vnthankfull and couetous Diotisalui seeing this common and populer disgrace which Piero had gotten by his counsaile ioyned himselfe with Lucca Pitti Agnolo Acciaiuoli and Nicholo Soderini determining to take from Piero reputation and gouernment These men were moued thereunto for diuerse respects Lucca desired to succeed in the place of Cosimo for hee was aspired to such greatnesse as he disdained to await vpon Piero. Diotisalui knowing that Lucca was not fit to be chiefe of the gouernment thought if Piero had lost his reputation it would in short time fall vpon himselfe Nicholo Soderini desired that the Cittie might liue more at libertie and that the Magistrates might gouerne at their discretion Also betwixt Agnolo and the house of Medici remained particuler displeasures The occasion whereof was this Rafaello his sonne had long before taken to wife Alessandra de Bardi and receiued with her a great dowrie She either through her owne default or the mallice of others was by her father in lawe and her husband euill handled Whereupon Brenzo de Illarione her kinsman being moued with compassion went in the night accompanied with many armed men and tooke her out of the house of Agnolo Agnolo and the rest of the Acciaiuoli complained of this iniurie done them by the Bardi The matter was committed to the hearing of Cosimo who iudged that the Acciaiuoli should restore the marriage money receiued with Alessandra and shee after to return to her husband or not as her selfe was disposed Agnolo thought himselfe in this iudgement not friendly handled by Cosimo of whom because hee could not be reuenged he thought to execute the reuenge vpon his sonne These conspirators notwithstanding the diuersitie of their humors pretended all one occasion saying they would haue the Citie gouerned by the magistrates and not by the counsaile of a fewe The displeasure towards Piero and the euill speech of him was encreased by many marchants who at that time became bankerout and laide the fault thereof vpon Piero for that he calling home his money hastily had hindered their credit and forced them with the preiudice of the Citie to be vndone Besides that they did surmise that he practised to marry his sonne with Clarise Orsini Whereof the Citizens conceiued that he did disdaine to make alliance with any Citizen therfore prepared to vsurpe the state and make himselfe Prince For whosoeuer disdaineth his owne Citizens to be of his kindred desireth to haue them his subiects In these respects they had no reason to be his friends The leaders of this sedition persuaded themselues to haue the victorie in their own hands because the greater number of the Citizens deceiued with the name of libertie whereby they vsed to make their enterprises seeme more honest followed them These humours then boyling in the breasts of the Cittizens it was thought good to them whome ciuill disorder displeased to assaie if by some new found mirth or feast the mindes of men might be setled For most commonly the idle people be instruments for those that desire alteration Then to remoue this idlenesse and giue some occasion to alienate the minds of men from consideration of the state the yeare of Cosimo his death being passed they tooke occasion to make the Citie some mirth ordeining two tryumphs more solemne then was the custome The one made representation how the three Magi came from the East following the starre that ledde them to the place where Christ was borne which was performed with so great solemnitie as enterteined the Citie diuerse moneths The other was a torniament wherein the principall yoong Gentlemen of the Citie exercised Armes against all the chiefe men of Armes in Italy And of the Florentine youth Lorenzo the eldest sonne of Piero gained most honor for not by fauour but in deed by his owne valour he wanne the best prize These triumphs being ended the Citizens returned to thinke of the state and euerie man with more care then before studied to maintaine his owne opinion whereof great diuersitie of conceits and troubles ensued The one was that the authoritie of Balia tooke no effect The other by the death of Francesco Duke of Milan Whereuppon the newe Duke Galiazzo sent Embassadors to Florence to confirme the capitulations made by Francesco his father wherein among other things it was concluded that yearely the Duke should receiue from them certaine summes of money Vpon this Article the Gouernours of the state tooke occasion to hold opinion contrarie to the House of Medici publiquely in these Councels inueying against that payment alleaging that pencion to be promised not to Galiazzo but vnto Francesco For Francesco being dead there was no cause to cōtinue it Because in Galiazzo there was not that vertue which was in Francesco and so consequently that good was not nor could not be looked for at his hand which was found at his fathers And although of Francesco they receiued not much yet were they to looke for lesse of Galiazzo and if any Cititzen would entertaine him to mainteine his owne priuate power that were a thing contrarie to ciuill life and the libertie of the Citie Piero on the contrary alleaged that it were not well done through couetousnesse to lose a friendship so necessarie and that there was nothing so meete for the Common-weale and all Italy as to continue in league with the Duke To the ende that the Venetians seeing them vnited might not hope either by fained friendship or by open warre to oppresse the Dukedome For if they should perceiue the Florentines to haue forsaken the Duke they would presently take Armes and the rather knowing he was yoong newly come to the gouernment and without friends Wherof they might hope either by fraud or force to win his countrey which would be also the vtter ruine of the Florentine Common-weale These reasons were not allowed and secret hatred began openly to shewe it selfe For the same night either partie in diuerse companies assembled The friends of the Medici met at Crocetta and their aduersaries in La Pieta who studying to oppresse Piero had gotten their enterprise subscribed with the hands of many Citizens Also being among many other times one night assembled they held a particuler Councell for the maner of their proceeding when euerie man consented to diminish the power of the Medici yet in the order how to bring the matter to passe they concurred not Some that were of most modest nature thought that the authoritie of the Balia
Castle for the Pope and Nicholo remained a Prince thereof By these actions the Pope was greatlie distressed bicause Rome within the Cittie was troubled with factions and the countrey without spoiled by enemies Notwithstanding as a man of courage he would not giue place to the enemie but enterteined Roberto da Rimino and calling him to Rome where all his men of warre were assembled told him how great honor he might win if he could against the force of a King deliuer the Church from those troubles wherewith it was occupied and how great obligation he should thereby haue not onely of him but also of all other Popes his successors and that both God and men would reacquite the same Roberto first viewing the Popes men of armes and other his preparations perswaded him to make all the footmen he was able which with all speed and diligence was performed By this time the Duke of Calauria was neare vnto Rome and spoiled the countrey euen to the walls of the Cittie which offended the people so much as many of them voluntarily offered themselues to serue with Roberto and recouer the libertie of Rome who were all by that Lord thanked and receiued The Duke hearing of these preparations retired a little from the Cittie thinking that if he were further off Roberto would not seeke him and he also looked that Federigo his brother should come with fresh men sent from the King their father Roberto seeing himselfe equall with the Duke for men of armes and in footmen aboue him marched out of Rome without order and lodged his Camp within two miles of the enemie The Duke seeing his enemies at hand not looking for them thought it stood him vpon either to fight or flee Wherefore as constrained and for not doing a thing vnworthie the sonne of a King determined to fight and turning his face to the enemy either camp put their men in order and brought them to battell which continued from the morning till noone and the same was performed with more vertue then any had bene in Italy fiftie yeares before for therein were slaine on both sides more then a thousand men and the end was glorious to the Church For the great multitude of the Popes footmen so much offended the Dukes horsemen as they were forced to turne their backs and the Dukes person had bene taken prisoner had he not bene saued by many Turks who were left at Ottranto and serued vnder him Roberto hauing this victorie returned to Rome with triumph which he enioyed not long for that by drinking of much water at the day of battell he fell into a flixe which within fewe dayes brought him to death His bodie was by the Pope with great honor buried The Pope hauing this victorie sent the Earle presently towards the Cittie of Castello to see that towne restored vnto Lorenzo and besides to prooue how the Cittie of Rimino was enclined For after the death of Roberto who had onely one yong sonne and the Cittie left to the gouernment of his mother the Pope imagined it was easie for him to surprize it And in deed it would haue so come to passe had not that woman bene by the Florentines defended who tooke her part with such forces as the enemie could not worke his will either against Castello or Rimino While these matters were a doing in Romagna and Rome the Venetians had surprized Figarolo and with their men had passed the Riuer of Po and in the Duke of Milan his campe and the Marquesse also there was disorder bicause Federigo Earle of Vrbino being sick caused himselfe to be carried to take phisick at Bologna and there died whereby the affaires of the Marquesse proceeded slowlie and the Venetians hoped dailie more and more to surprize Farrara On the other side the King and the Florentines laboured to make the Pope of their side which not brought to passe by armes they threatned by a Generall Councell to make him yeeld which Councell was by the Emperours commaundement appointed at Baselia whereupon by perswasion of the Emperours Embassador at Rome and the chiefe Cardinals who desired peace the Pope was perswaded and constrained to allow of peace and the vniting of Italy Then the Pope for feare and also for that he found the greatnesse of the Venetians to be the ruine of the Church and all Italy resolued to come into the league and sent his Nuncii to Naples where a league was concluded for fiue yeares betwixt the Pope the King the Duke of Milan and the Florentines reseruing a place for the Venetians if they were pleased to enter This done the Pope commaunded the Venetians to surcease the warre of Farrara which they not onely refused to do but also made the preparation greater and hauing alreadie broken the Dukes and Marquesse forces at Argenta they at Farrara were so neare distressed as the Dukes forces were lodged in the Marquesse Park Then the League thought good no longer to deferre the aiding of that Prince and caused the Duke of Calauria with his and the Popes men to goe to Farrara The Florentines likewise sent all their forces thither and for the better ordering of the warre the League appointed a Councell to be holden at Cremona where the Popes Legat the Earle Girolamo the Duke of Calauria the Lord Lodouico Lorenzo de Medici with many other Princes of Italy met In this Councell the Princes deuised the order of the future warre And bicause they iudged that Farrara could not be better relieued any way then by some braue assault they ordered that Lodouico should begin a warre vpon the Venetians for the countreys belonging to the Duke of Milan But thereunto that Lord would not consent fearing to begin a warre which he could not end at his pleasure Wherefore it was determined they should go with all their footmen to Farrara and with foure thousand men of armes and eight thousand footmen assault the Venetians who had two thousand and two hundred men of armes and sixe thousand footmen And the League thought good first to assaile the nauie which the Venetians had lying vpon the riuer of Po and the same being assaulted was broken at Bondeno with the losse of two hundred vessels and Antonio Iustiniano the Proueditor of the nauie was taken Then the Venetians seeing all Italy vnited against them to win some reputation enterteined the Duke of the Rhene with two thousand men of armes But hauing receiued this ouerthrow of their nauie they sent this Duke with part of their armie to frunt the enemie and commaunded Roberto de Sanseuerino with the rest of their camp to passe the riuer of Adda and approching to Milan to proclaime the name of the Duke and of the Ladie Bona his mother for by that meanes they hoped to make some Innouation in the Cittie supposing that the Lord Lodouico and his gouernment was hated This assault at the beginning brought therewith some terror and moued all the Cittie to take armes but in
Christians did in the ende recouer all that before had bene gotten So were the Christians after foure scorce and tenne yeares driuen out of those Countries which with great honour and happinesse they had wonne and defended After the death of Vrbano Pascale secundo was created Pope and Enrico the fourth became Emperour who went to Rome pretending friendship to the Pope but beeing arriued there by force hee tooke the Pope prisoner and put him with all his Clergie in prison from whence they could not bee discharged till the Pope had graunted that the Emperour might dispose of the Churches in Germany as himselfe thought good Then died the Countesse Matilda and made the Church heire of all her Countrey After the death of Pascale and Enrico the fourth succeeded diuerse Popes and diuerse Emperours till at length to the Papacie was elected Alissandro tertio and to the Empire Federigo Sueuo called Barbarossa The popes in that time had manie quarrelles with the people of Rome and the Emperours which were encreased in the raigne of Barbarossa Federigo was a man of warre most excellent but therewith so haughtie of minde and courage as hee disdained to giue place to the pope notwithstanding hee came to Rome to bee Crowned Emperour and peaceably returned into Germanie though hee remayned there not very long contented For shortly after he came againe into Italy to reforme some Towns in Lombardy which would not obey him At that time it happened the Cardinal of S. Clement by Nation a Romane deuided himselfe from the Pope Alissandro found meanes by fauour of some Cardinalls to be also chosen Pope At that instant Federigo the Emperour was with his Armie before the Citie of Crema to whom Alissandro complained of the Antipope the Emperour answered that both he and the Antipope should come vnto him and then he would decide their controuersie and iudge which of them were true Pope This answere displeased Alissandro who conceauing thereby that the Emperour was inclined to fauour the Antipope did excommunicate him and fled to Phillip King of Fraunce Federigo in the meane while proceeding in the Warres of Lombardy tooke Millan and razed it which was the cause that Verona Padoua and Vicenza by common consent determined to resist him Then died the Antipope in whose place Federigo created Guido of Cremona The Romanes by meanes of the Popes absence and the busines of the Emperour in Lombardy had recouered a little authoritie in Rome began to command some Townes vnder them and because the Tusculani would not yeeld to their authoritie they went popularly to assaile them who being aided by Federigo the Romanes were ouerthrowne with so great slaughter as after that Ouerthrow Rome was neuer well peopled nor rich In this meane space Pope Alissandro was returned to Rome perswading himselfe that through the enmitie of the Romanes and Federigo he might there safely remaine and the rather by reason of the Enemies which the Emperour had in Lombardy Neuertheles Federigo setting aside all respectes besieged Rome where Alissandro tarried not his comming but fled to Gulielmo King of Puglia who after the death of Ruggiero remained Heire of that Kingdome Federigo driuen thence by the Plague left the Siege and returned into Germany The Townes of Lombardy which were rebelled to the end they might the rather recouer Pauia Tortona which stood for the Emperor built a new Cittie to be the refuge of that Warre calling the same Alissandria in honour of the Pope Alissandro and in despite of the Emperour Federigo Then died Guidone Antipope in whose place Giouanni of Fermo was created He through the fauour of the Emperours Faction in Montefiascone there dwelled Pope Alissandro in the meane time was gone into Tuscolo called thether by that People hoping that with his authoritie he might defend them from the Romanes Thither came Embassadors from Enrico King of England to declare vnto the Pope that their King was not culpable in the murther of Thomas Bishop of Canterbury as he had bene publiquely slandered For triall whereof the Pope sent two Cardinals into England to examine the truth of that matter who found the King not guiltie Neuertheles in respect of the infamie and that he had not honoured that holy Man according to his desert they enioyned the King for penance to assemble his Nobilitie and in their presence to sweare and protest his innocencie and was moreouer commanded that with all speed he should at his proper charge send two hundred Souldiers to Ierusalem and there paye them for one yeare and himselfe within three yeares to goe thither in person and lead with him an Armie the greatest that hee could possibly make besides that hee should disanull all things done within his Kingdome to the preiudice of the Libertie Ecclesiasticall and consent that all and euerie Subiect of his might appeale to Rome All which things Enrico graunted and notwithstanding hee were a mightie King submitted himselfe to that Iudgement which at this day euerie priuate man would be ashamed to yeeld vnto But notwithstanding the Popes great power ouer Princes farre off yet could he not make himselfe obeyed of the Romanes by whom hee was not suffered to dwell at Rome though he promised not to intermeddle in anie thing saue only the Ecclesiasticall gouernment Hereby may be noted that things vvhich seeme to bee and be not are dreaded more farre of then feared neare at hand By this time Federigo vvas returned to Italy and being prepared to make nevv vvarres vvith the Pope all his prelates and Barons gaue him to vnderstand that they intended to leaue him vnlesse he reconciled himselfe to the church vvhereby this Emperour vvas constrained to go vnto Venice and there to adore the pope vvhereof ensued a full pacification In this peace the pope depriued the Emperor of all his authoritie in Rome and named Gulielmo king of Sicilia and Puglia for his confederate Federigo not content to liue in peace but louing the warres determined to enterprise Asia so gain glory against Mahomet which against the Pope he could not But being arriued at the riuer Cidno enticed with the excellencie of that water hee washed himself therin sodenly died Wherby may be imagined that water did more good to the Mahumetans then the popes excōmunicatiō to the Christians because the excōmunicatiō did only allay the Emperors ambitiō but this water did vtterly quench it Federigo being dead it remained onely for the pope to reforme the disobedience of the Romans after many disputations touching the creation of the Consuls it was agreed that according to the ancient custom they shuld be elected by the Romans yet before they tooke their office vppon them they should sweare fidelitie to the church which agreement caused Giouanni the Antipope to flie to Monte Albano where shortly after hee died Then died also Gulielmo king of Napoli who hauing one onely sonne called Tancredi the pope determined to take that kingdome from him
the house of Donati was a Gentlewoman a widow and rich who hauing one onely daughter a maiden of much beautie whom within her selfe shee determined to marrie vnto Buondelmonti a yong Gentleman and the chiefe of his house This her intent eyther through negligence or delay of time none beeing made priuie thereof was deferred so long that Buondelmonti was contracted to the daughter of Amidei wherwith she greatly discontented supposing it were possible with the beautie of her daughter to stay the marriage before the same should be solemnized one day seeing Buondelmonti comming towards her house came downe her daughter following and meeting him at the gate said I am very glad that you are now become maried yet was it my meaning you should haue had this my daughter and with those words she opened the gate and shewed her vnto him The Gentleman beholding the beautie of the maiden which indeed was rare and therewith considering that her parentage and portion was not inferiour to hers whom he had alreadie taken became exceedingly desirous to haue her Then not respecting his faith alreadie giuen nor the iniurie he did in breaking the same nor yet the inconuenience that might ensue thereof said Sith it hath pleased you to reserue your daughter for me I should bee vnthankfull beeing yet all in time to refuse her After the speaking of these words without farther delay hee married her This marriage beeing knowen highly offended all the Familie of Amidei and Vbarti who were by his first marriage allied Then assembling themselues and consulting together in the ende concluded that such an iniurie might not bee borne without shame nor the reuenge thereunto due could bee other than the death of Buondelmonti And albeit some did fore-cast the inconueniences that might followe such an Action yet Moscha Lamberti sayde that who so euer casteth all doubts should neuer resolue anie thing alleadging the auncient Prouerbe A thing once done is past remedie Then gaue they the charge of this murther to bee performed by Moscha Stiatta Vberti Lambertuccio Amidei Odorigo Fifanti These men in the morning of Easter day at the houre of Resurrection assembled themselues in the houses of the Amidei by which streete Buondelmonti passed the bridge vpon a white horse and supposing as it seemeth that it had bene a thing as easie to forget an iniurie as renounce a marriage was at the foote of the bridge vnder an Image of Mars which there is standing assaulted and slaine This murther diuided the whole Citie the one halfe tooke part with Buondelmonti the other with Vberti These Families by reason they were strong in houses towers and men fought manie yeares before the one could chase the other out of the Cittie till at length without anie firme peace made a truce was taken which according vnto occasion was sometimes kept and sometimes broken Florence continued in these troubles till the time of Federigo the second who being also King of Napoli was perswaded hee might encrease his dominion against the Church And to make his authoritie more assured in Toscana he fauoured the Vberti and their followers who thereby draue out the Buondelmonti and so our Cittie like vnto all other Townes of Italy became diuided into Guelfi and Ghibilini And it seemeth not superfluous to make mention of the Families that depended of the one and the other Those that followed the faction of Guelfi were Buondelmonti Narli Rossi Frescobaldi Mozzi Baldi Pulci Gherardini Faraboschi Bagnesi Guidalotti Sachetti Manieri Lucardesi Chiaramonti Compiobbesi Caualcanti Giandonati Gianfigliazzi Scali Gualerotti Importuni Bostichi Tornaquinci Vecchietti Tosinghi Arregucci Agli Sitii Adimari Visdomini Donati Pazzi della Bella Ardinghi Tebaldi Cherchi For the Ghibilini were Vberti Mannelli Vbriachi Fifanti Amidei Infanganti Malespini Scolari Guidi Galli Capardi Lamberti Soldanieri Capriani Toschi Ameri Palermini Migliorelli Pigli Baruchi Cattani Agollanti Brunelleschi Caponsachi Elisei Abbati Tedaldini Giuochi Caligai Besides these noble houses manie popular families ioyned in that action so that welneare all the Cittie became corrupted with this diuision But the Guelfi being driuen out retyred themselues into Townes of the Vale of Arno where their chiefe places of strength were and the best they could against the furie of their enemies defended themselues Federigo then dying such as remained in Florence and were men neuterall hauing also credite with the people thought better to reunite the Cittie than holding it in diuision vtterly to ouerthrow it They therefore found meanes that the Guelfi setting all iniurie aside should returne and the Ghibilini without suspition receaue them They thus vnited it seemed to them that the time would well serue to frame an order for the libertie of the Cittie before the new Emperour should grow strong For which purpose they diuided the Cittie into sixe parts and chose twelue Cittizens for euerie part to gouerne the same whom they called Antiani and were changed euerie yeare Also to remoue all offences that might arise by Iudges they elected two Straungers to that office calling the one Captaine of the people and the other Podesta who were authorised to iudge all causes that happened in the Cittie either ciuill or criminall Also because no order is assured without defenders thereof they appointed in the Citie twentie Ensignes and threescore and sixteene in the Countrey vnder which all the youth was mustred and commanded they should bee readie armed euerie man vnder the ensigne whereto he belonged whensoeuer he were either by the Captain or the Antiani called And as the ensignes which those soldiers were appointed vnto were diuers so were the weapons diuersly diuided for the crosbowes had their priuate ensigne the holberdiers theirs Also at euerie feast of Penticost with great pompe they erected new ensignes and appointed new Captaines trained the souldiers to such perfection as euerie man knew in what order hee should march retire and charge the enemy Then they caused a great chariot couered with redde and drawne by two Oxen to carry their chiefe ensigne of colour white and redde Whensoeuer they intended to assemble all their forces they commanded this Chariot to be brought into the market place and with great ceremony giue charge thereof to the chiefe Captaines of the people They had also for the magnificence of their enterprise a greatbell called Martinella which was rung continually one whole moneth before their Army was brought into the field to the end that the enemie might prepare for his defence So great was the vertue of men in those dayes and so honourably they proceeded in their actions where at this present to assaile the enemy sodeinly and without warning is thought to be a wise and honourable thing in those dayes the same was holden cowardly and dishonourably This Bell was also carried with the Army and by the sound thereof the watches and other orders of the Campe were commanded Vpon these martiall ordinances and ciuill rules the Florentines laide the foundation of their libertie Neither can
assault him and in the night kill him determined forthwith to flie and so saue himselfe So as contrarie to the counsell of the gouernours and others of his faction he presently fled with his men to the Citie of Prato So soone as hee came thither finding himselfe out of feare being in a place of securitie remembred how great an errour he had committed and desirous to amend the same the next morning earely marched with his men towards Florence offering to enter the Citie by force which by cowardise hee had abandoned but that attempt tooke no successe for the people which with difficultie might haue driuen him away with facilitie could hold him out So that with great sorow and shame he went vnto Casentino and the Ghibilini to their vilages Thus the people remained with victorie and for the comfort of those which loued the common wealth determined to reunite the citie and call home all citizens as well Ghibilini as Guelfi by meanes whereof the Guelfi after sixe yeares absence from the citie were returned And the Ghibilini notwithstanding the memorie of their late iniurie were pardoned and put in their country yet much hated both of the people and the Guelfi for these could not forget their exile and those remembred too much the tyrannie which was vsed during their authoritie which things caused that neither the one nor the other were contented While in this forme the Florentines liued it was reported that Corradino nephew to Manfredi should come with forces from Germany to the conquest of Napoli Whereupon the Ghibilini tooke heart and hope thereby to recouer their authoritie And the Guelfi began to thinke how they might assure themselues of their enemies for which purpose they praied king Carlo to defend them in the time of Corradino his passage The souldiers of Carlo being in march made the Guelfi insolent and amazed the Ghibilini so much that two dayes before they arriued without any violence offered they fled The Ghibilini thus departed the Florentines reordeined the state of their citie elected twelue chiefe men to be magistrates and gouerne their citie for two moneths whom they called not Antiani but Buoni Homini Next vnto them they appointed a Councell of fourescore Citizens which they called La Credenza After them were an hundreth and fourescore Commoners who with the Credenza and the twelue Buoni Homini were called the Councell generall They ordeined moreouer one other Councell of a hundreth and twentie Citizens of the Comonaltie and Nobilitie mixed which should giue perfection confirmation to al things determined in the other Councels This gouernment thus setled the faction of the Guelfi togither with the Magistrates fortified the citie to the end they might the better defend themselues from the Ghibilini whose goods they diuided into three parts the one they imployed to publike vses the second was giuen to the Captaines the third diuided amongst the Guelfi in recompence of their losses The pope also to maintain the Guelfi in Toscana ordeined the King Carlo to bee Lieftenant Emperiall of that countrey The Florentines thus holding themselues in reputation by vertue of these new orders gouerned all things well with their lawes at home and with their armes abroad Then died the Pope and after long disputation in the end of two yeares Gregorio decimo was elected who hauing bene long time in Soria and was at the time of his election did not make so great account of the factions as his predecessors had done But returning home towards France being arriued at Florence to performe the office of a good Pastor sought to vnite that citie wherein he preuailed so farre with the Florentines as they were content that Commissioners for the Ghibilini might be receiued into Florence to solicit the return of their faction which was concluded Notwithstanding the Ghibilini were so terrified as they durst not come home The Pope laid the fault thereof to the citie and being offended did excommunicate the same In which displeasure the Florentines continued all the life of that Pope but after his death the citie was absolued by Pope Innocentio quinto to whom succeeded Nicholao tertio descended of the house of Orsini And because the Popes had alwaies in suspition those that aspired to greatnes in Italy although by the fauour of the church they were thereunto atteined sought alwaies to put them backe Therof grew many tumults and often variations for the feare of him that was become strong occasioned the aduancement of an other that was weake who beeing likewise growne vp was forthwith feared and being feared cast downe This was the cause that ocsioned the kingdome to be taken from Manfredi and giuen to Carlo This was also that which caused the Pope to mistrust Carlo and seek his distruction Nicholao tertio then for the reasons beforesaid sound meanes through the helpe of the Emperour that the gouernment of Toscana was taken from Carlo and in his place hee sent thither Latino his Legate At that time Florence remained in verie hard estate because the Nobilitie of the Guelfi were become insolent and feared not the Magistrates so as euerie of them committed murthers and other violences without any iustice or punishment of those that committed the same because they were alwaies by one or other great person fauoured To bridle this great insolencie it was by the chiefe of the people thought good to reuoke such as were banished which gaue opportunitie to the Legate to reunite the citie and the Ghibilini returned home In the place of twelue gouernours there were foureteene made for euerie part seuen to gouerne the cittie during one yeare and they to be elected by the Pope Florence continued in this order of gouernment two yeares Then Pope Martino aspired to the Papacie who being a French man restored vnto king Carlo all that authoritie which the Pope Nicholao had taken from him wherby the factions in Toscana were suddeinly reuiued For the Florentines tooke Armes against the Emperours Gouernour to depriue the Ghibilini of the gouernment therewith also to hold the great men in awe they ordeined a new forme of gouernment The yeare 1282. beeing come the companies of the Misteries hauing receiued their Magistrates Ensigns became greatly esteemed They among themselues elected in the place of the fourteene three Citizens to remaine two moneths gouernours of the common-weale and called them Priori who might be either Commoners or Gentlemen so that they were Merchants of some Misterie Afterwards the chiefe Magistracie was reduced to sixe men so as in euery part of the citie there might be one which order continued till the yeare 1342. At which time the cittie was diuided into quarters and the number of Priori encreased to nine and diuerse times in that meane while by reason of some accident they were in number twelue This Office was the meane as shall hereafter appeare that the Nobilitie was ruined for then by many occasions they were excluded and afterwards
and money with honourable titles to bee giuen them Wherupon the one part of them went from place to place feasting and triumphing and the other part with great pompe receiued the triumphers When fame had dispersed abroad the new principallitie of the Duke many of the French Nation came vnto him And hee to euerie one of them as men most to be trusted gaue countenance and enterteinment So that Florence within short space was not onely subiect to the French men but also to their factions and apparrell Because both men and women without respect of shame did followe them But aboue all things that displeased was the violence which he and his without respect vsed to the women The Citizens liued then with great indignation seeing the maiestie of their state ruined their ordinances broken their lawes disanulled honest life corrupted and all ciuill modestie extinguished For the Citizens not accustomed to see any regall pompe could not without sorrow behold the Duke amidst his guardes of armed men both on foote and horsebacke for so with their owne shame they were forced to honour him whome they most hated Whereunto might be ioyned the feare and death of many Citizens and the continuall exactions wherewith he impouerished and consumed the citie All which indignations and feares were well inough knowne to the Duke yet would he not be thought to mistrust any thing but shew himselfe as though he were beloued of all men For it happened that Matteo di Moroso either to gratifie him or acquite himselfe of danger reuealed a conspiracie practised by the house of Medici and some others The Duke enformed therof did not onely not examine the cause but also caused Matteo most miserably to be put to death By which doing he tooke courage from all those that would tell him anie thing for his good and encouraged others that went about his ruine He caused also with great crueltie the tongue of Bettone Cini to be cut off who after therof died And this punishment was done because Bettone had found fault with the exactions laid vpon the Cittizens These cruelties encreased offence in the people with their hatred to the Duke because that citie which was accustomed freely to do and speake all things could not endure to haue their hands tied and their mouthes closed These offences and this hatred grew to that ripenesse as mooued not onely the Florentines who could neither maintaine their freedome nor suffer seruitude but euen the most seruile people of the world to recouer libertie And therupoÌ„ many citizens of all estates resolued with the losse of their liues to recouer their libertie lost Then practised they three sorts of conspiracies the one among the Nobilitie the second among the people the third among the artificers These conspiracies besides the general respect were for particuler reasons willingly taken in hand The great men desired to recouer authoritie The people were sorrowfull for hauing lost the gouernment And the Artificers found their trades and earning of money to be decaied At that time Agnolo Acciaiuoli was Archbishop of Florence who in his Sermons and otherwise had extolled the actions of the Duke and done him great fauour among the people But afterwards seeing him Prince and knowing his tyrannous proceedings knew how much he had deceiued his country and therefore to make amendes of that faulte determined that the hande which had made the wound should also cure it Wherefore he became head of the first and greatest conspiracie wherein were the Bardi Rossi Frescobaldi Scali Altouiti Malagotti Strozzi and Mancini The chiefe of the second conspiracie were Manno and Corso Donati and with them the Pazzi Cauicciulli Cherchi and Albici The principall of the third conspiracie was Antonio Adimari and with him the Medici Bordini Ruccelai Aldobrandini whose intent was to haue slaine the Duke in the house of Albezi whither as they thought he intended to go vpon Midsomer day to behold the running of horses But thither he went not and therfore that enterprise became frustrate Then they ment to assault him walking in the citie but that seemed haâ—d to do because he was well accompanied and alwaies armed therewith also euerie day changed his walke so as they knew not in what place certaine to wait for him It was likewise the opinion of some that the best were to kill him in the Councell and yet that were hazardous for though he were slaine the conspirators should be at the discretion of his forces During that the conspirators communed of these matters Anthonio Adimari discouered the matter to some of his friends of Siena whose aide hee hoped of and tolde them the names of some conspirators saying that the whole Citie was bent to recouer libertie Then one of them imparted his knowledge to Francesco Brunelleschi not with intent the practise should be laid open but supposing that hee also had bene of the same conspiracie Francesco either for feare of himselfe or for the hatred he bare towards some other reuealed all to the Duke and presently Pagolo del Mazecchia and Simon da Mantezappoli were apprehended Who detecting the qualitie and quantitie of the conspirators did thereby much amaze the Duke and was therefore counselled rather to send for them then arrest them For if they fled then he might without his owne dishonour by their banishment assure himselfe The Duke therefore caused Antonio Adimari to be called who trusting to his companions presently appeared Adimari being staied the Duke was aduised by Francescho Brunelleschi and Vguccione Buondelmonti to search the Citie and kill so many as could be taken But that the Duke thought not good supposing his forces not sufficient to encounter so many enemies and therefore proceeded an other way which hauing taken effect should both haue assured him of the enemies and also gained him strength The Duke was accustomed at occasions to assemble the Citizens and to take their counsell Hauing therefore sent out to assemble the people he made a bill of three hundreth Citizens names and caused his Serieants vnder colour of councelling with them to warne them to appeare and being appeared he intended either to kill them or imprison them The apprehension of Antonio Adimari and the sending for other Citizens which could not be secretly done did greatly dismay euery man but most of all those that knew themselues guiltie Insomuch as men of greatest courage would not obey him And because manie had read the bill wherin one saw an others name the one encouraged the other to take armes and chose rather to die like men then as Calues to be led to the butchery By this means within an houre all the three conspiracies became knowne one vnto the other and determined the day following which was the twentie sixt of Iuly in the yeare 1343. to raise a tumult in the olde Market place there to arme themselues and call the people to libertie The next day about high noone according to appointment euerie man tooke armes
come all the Cittie was in Armes and the Nobilitie made head on this side Arno in three places At the houses of Cauicciulli neare to S. Giouanni at the houses of the Pazzi and Donati in S. Piero Maggiore and at the houses of the Caualcanti in the newe Market The others beyonde Arno fortified the bridges and streetes next to their houses The Nerli at the bridge Caraia The Frescobaldi and Mannelli at S. Trinita The Rossi and Bardi at the olde bridge and the bridge Rubaconte defended themselues The people on the other part vnder the Gonfaloniere della Iustitia the Ensignes of companies assembled themselues Being thus prepared the people thought good no longer to delaie the fight The first that gaue the charge were the Medici and the Rondinegli who assaulted the Cauicciulli in that way which leadeth from the Court before S. Giouanni to their houses There the conflict was great by reason that from the Towers stones were cast downe to the harme of many below others with Crosse-bowes were sore hurt This fight continued three houres and still the people encreased Then the Cauicciulli seeing themselues by the multitude ouermatched and wanting aide yeelded to the people who saued their houses and their goods and tooke from them onely their weapons commanding them to diuide themselues and remaine in the houses of such Commoners as were their kinsfolks and friends This first troupe vanquished the Donati the Pazzi who being of lesse force were easily subdued Then remained only on this side Arno the Caualcanti who by men and the seat of the place were strong Neuerthelesse seeing all the Gonfalonieri against them and knowing the others to haue bene by three Gonfaloni vanquished without any great resistance yeelded Thus were three parts of the Cittie in the hands of the people one part more remained to the Nobilitie which was hard to be wonne by reason of the strength of them which defended it and the seat of the place it being so fortified with the riuer of Arno that the bridges must first of force be surprised which were defended in that sort as is beforesaid The people then knowing that there they laboured in vaine assaied to passe the bridge Rubaconte where finding the like difficultie they left for guard of those two bridges foure Gonfaloni and with the rest assaulted the bridge Caraia Where albeit the Nerli manfully defended themselues yet could they not withstand the furie of the people Both because the bridge wanting towers of defence was weak the Capponi with other populer families also assailed them In so much as being on euery side distressed they retired and gaue place to the people who forthwith likewise vanquished the Rosci by reason that all the people on the farre side of Arno ioyned with the victorious Then the Bardi were onely left whom neither the ouerthrow of others nor the vniting of the people against them nor the small hope they had of rescue could any whit amaze for they did choose rather to die fighting see their houses burnt and their goods spoyled then voluntarily submit themselues to the mercie of their enemies They therefore defended themselues with so great resolution that the people many times in vaine assaulted them both vpon the old bridge and vpon Rubaconte and were with death of many and the hurting of more repulsed There was in times past a lane whereby men passed from the way that leadeth towardes Rome by the house of the Pitti to go vnto S. Giorgio By this way the people sent six Gonfalonieri with commandement to assault the back side of the house of Bardi That assault made the Bardi to loose their hope and occasioned the people to assure themselues of victorie for so soone as those who defended the streetes knew their houses were assaulted they abandoned the fight and ranne to saue them This was the cause that the chaine of the old bridge was lost and that the Bardi on euerie side fled who were by the Quaratesi Panzanesi and Mozzi encountred The people in the meane while chiefly those of basest qualitie being greedie of spoyle sacked their houses razed their Towers and burned them with so great furie that euen he that is most foe to the Florentine name would haue bene ashamed to behold so great a crueltie The Nobilitie thus oppressed the people ordeined a gouernment And because the Cittizens were diuided into three sorts that is to say great men meane men and base men It was ordered that of the great men there should be two Senators of the meane men three and of the basest men three Also the Gonfalonieri should sometime be of the one and sometime of the other sort Moreouer the ordinances of Iustice against the Nobilitie were confirmed And to make the Nobilitie weaker they tooke some of that number and mixed them with the populer multitude This ruine of the Nobilitie was great and so much weakened their faction as after that time they durst neuer take armes against the people but continually remained poore and abiect of minde which was the occasion that Florence became spoyled not onely of armes but also of all generositie After this ruine the citie continued quiet till the yeare 1353. In which time happened that memorable plague whereof Giouan Boccacio with great eloquence hath written Of which died in Florence 96. thousand persons The Florentines made then the first warre with the Visconti occasioned by the ambition of the Archbishop then Prince of Milan That warre being ended beganne suddeinly new factions within the Citie And albeit the Nobilitie was destroyed yet fortune found meanes to raise vp new diuisions and new troubles The ende of the second Booke THE THIRD BOOKE THE greeuous and naturall enimities betwixt the people and Nobilitie through desire of the one to commaund and the other not to obey are causes of all euils which happen in euerie citie For of the diuersitie of these humours all other things which disturbe Common weales doo take their nutriment This was that which held Rome disunited And this if we may compare small matters to great was that which continued Florence diuided Notwithstanding in those two cities the diuisions did bring forth two sundrie effects For the enimitie of the people and Nobilitie in Rome was at the beginning ended by disputation but the diuision of the people and Nobilitie of Florence was with sword and slaughter determined That of Rome by lawe but that of Florence by exile and death of many Citizens was ended That of Rome did alwaies encrease the vertue militarie but that of Florence vtterly extinguished the same That of Rome from an equalitie of the Citizens to a great disequalitie reduced the citie but that of Florence frō disequalitie to a maruellous equalitie was changed Which diuersitie of effects must of force be occasioned by the diuerse ends which these two people had For the people of Rome desired not more then to participate the soueraigne honours with the Nobilitie
greater tyrannie then that of the Duke of Athene but the bountie of Lando was such as suffred no thoght to enter his mind that might be preiudiciall to the vniuersall quiet His wisedom directed all things so as many of his fellowship gaue him place his aduersaries by force of armes were oppressed Which maner of proceeding caused the multitude to stand dismaied and the better sort of Artificers to looke about them thinke how great their shame was hauing oppressed the great mens pride to endure the populer dregs At such time as Michele obteined this victorie against the multitude a new Senate was chosen wherin were two men of so vile and vnworthie condition as euery man desired to be acquit of that great infamie When these officers were created which was the first day of September the Market place was full of armed men So soone as the olde Senators came out of the Pallace there was a brute giuen out among the armed men that they would not that any of the base people should be of the number of Senators Whereupon the Senate for their satisfaction depriued two the one called Tira the other Baroccio in whose roomes they placed Georgio Scali and Francesco di Michele They also deposed the mysteries of the base people and all officers excepting Michele-Lando Lorenzo di Puccio and a fewe others of the better sort They diuided the honours into two parts allotting the one to the greater mysteries the other to the lesse Of the Senate they willed there should be euer fiue of the lesse mysteries and foure of the great And the Gonfaloniere to be chosen sometimes of the one and sometimes of the other The state thus ordeined for the present appeased the citie And albeit the gouernment was taken away from the base people yet the Artificers of meanest condition remained more mightie then the populer Nobilitie who were forced to giue place to winne from the base people the fauoure of the mysteries and content them which was also fauoured by such as desired that those should be oppressed who vnder the name of Guelfi had with great insolencie iniured many Cittizens Among others that allowed this manner of gouernment Georgio Scali Benedetto Alberti Saluestro di Medici and Tomazo Strozzi were made as Princes of the citie These matters thus proceeding and handled the diuision alreadie begunne betwixt the populer Nobilitie and the meane Artificers through ambition of Ricci and Albizi became confirmed Whereof because afterwardes followed greeuous effects and of them we shall be often occasioned to speake we will call the one populer the other plebeiall The state continued thus three yeares full of banishments and murthers For they that gouerned knowing there were both within and abroade manie euill contented did liue in great suspition The Cittizens within discontented either they continually attempted some newe practise or deuised with themselues how they might do it And those that liued without hauing no bridle by meane of some Prince or some Common weale here and there sowed sedition At this time Giannozzo di Salerno Lieutenant to Durazzo descended of the Kings of Napoli hapned to be at Bologna intending to assault the kingdom take the same frō Queene Giouanna At the same time also were in Bologna many banished Florentines who with the Pope and with Carlo practised diuerse things which was the cause that they who gouerned in Florence did liue in great suspition and gaue credit easily to the slaunders of those Citizens that were suspected During this doubtfull time it was reuealed to the Magistrates that Giannozzo of Salerno should with the banished men present himselfe before Florence and that many within would take armes and deliuer the citie to his hand Vpon this report many were accused the chiefe of whom were Piero delli Albizi and Carlo Strozzi and next to them the Cipriani Giaccomo Sacchetti Donati Barbadori Filippo Strozzi and Giouanni Anselini who were all taken sauing Carlo Strozzi that fled And the Senate to the end none should take armes in their fauour appointed Tomazo Strozzi and Benedetto Alberti with many armed men to guard the citie These Citizens were apprehended and examined but the accusation and their answere conferred togither no fault was in them found Insomuch that the Captaine not willing to condemne them their enemies in the meane space moued the people to mutinie and by force they were iudged to death Neither was Piero degli Albizi any whit fauoured either for the greatnesse of his house or for that long time he had in the citie more reputation then any other and had bene there more honoured and feared During his prosperitie some friend of his either to perswade him to curtesie in his greatnesse or else some enemie to threaten him with the inconstancie of fortune at such time as hee made a solemne banquet to diuerse Citizens sent him a siluer dish full of Comfits and in those Comfits was hidden a naile which being founde and seene of diuerse his guestes it was imagined that thereby he should remember to staie the wheele because fortune hauing set him on the height thereof the wheele keeping course must needes cast him downe Which interpretation was first by his decaie and after by his death verified After this execution the citie remained full of confusion because both the victored and the victorious stood in feare but the worst of all was that the gouernours themselues liued in continuall suspition For euerie accident were it neuer so litle made them to do new iniuries to the factions condemning admonishing and sending the Citizens into exile Whereunto they ioyned new lawes and new orders many times made onely to fortifie their authoritie All which was done to the iniurie of them who were to their faction suspected And they created fortie sixe men who with the Senate should discouer men suspected to the state These officers admonished thirtie nine Citizens making many populer persons great men many great men populer Also the rather to withstand all external forces they enterteined Iohn Aguto an English Captain who in those daies was accounted of great experience in the war had long serued the Pope others in Italy The suspition abroad proceeded of intelligence giuen how certain companies of men at armes belonging to Carlo Durazzo were put in readinesse to assault the kingdome Among whom as was reported were many banished Florentines For the meeting with those perils besides the ordinarie forces a summe of mony was prouided Carlo arriued in Arezzo receiued of the Florentines fortie thousand Duckets promising not to molest them After that time he atchiued his enterprise and happily surprized the kingdome of Napoli tooke the Queen Giouanna sent her prisoner into Hungary Which victorie encreased a new suspition of those that in Florence feared the state Because they could not beleeue that their money should do more with the King then the auncient friendship which that house had with the Guelfi who with manifold
iniury had bene by him oppressed These suspitions encreasing encreased also the iniuries which did not decrease but multiply them By meanes whereof the greater number of them liued much discontented which discontent grew the greater by the insolency of Georgio Scali and Tomazo Strozzi whose authoritie preuailed more then the Magistrates and euerie man feared least they beeing followed with the people would oppresse them In so much as that not onely the good men but also the seditious sort accounted that gouernment tyrannicall violent But to the end that the insolencie of Georgio should at length take end it fortuned that hee became accused of one Giouanii Cambio his companion hauing as he said practised diuerse waies against the state yet vpon examination was found guiltlesse by the Captaine So as thē the Iudge went about to punish the accuser with that punishment which the partie accused should haue suffered had he bene found faultie And Georgio neither with sute nor authoritie able to saue him went with Tomazo Strozzi and the multitude armed to deliuer him by force At which time they sacked the Captaines Pallace and forced him for safetie of his person to hide himselfe which action filled the citie with so much hatred towards him that thereby his enemies hoped to ouerthrow him and take the citie both from him the plebeyall people also who through presumption had vsurped the same three yeares Thereof also the Captaine gaue great occasion for he the tumult ceased went to the Senate said that as he had willingly taken vpon him that whereto their Lordships had elected him because therein he hoped to serue iust men readie to take armes in the fauoure not in the preiudice of iustice so seeing he had seene and knew the gouernment of the citie and the maner of life therein that office which he willingly tooke in hand for his profit and honour as willingly there he would yeeld the same vp to shunne the perill and losse that might thereof follow The Captaine was by the Senators comforted and promised reparation of former losses and future securitie Then certaine of them togither with some Cittizens who were holden louers of the Common weale and men least suspected concluded that a good opportunitie was offered to take the citie from Georgio and the multitude By reason that through that his late insolencie the Citizens were greatly alienated from him and was therefore good to execute that intent before the offended mindes of the multitude were reconciled For well they knew that the fauoure of the multitude vpon euery trifling accident is gotten and lost Iudging moreouer that for the bringing this enterprise to effect it behoued them to winne the good will of Benedetto Alberti without whose consent the action seemed dangerous This Benedetto was a man exceeding rich curteous graue a louer of the libertie of his country and such a one as much misliked the tyrannous proceedings of the time By meane whereof it was easie both to appease him and also perswade him to the destruction of Georgio For the occasions which made him enemy to the populer Nobilitie and Guelfi and friend to the multitude was their insolencie and their tyrannous maner of gouernment And seeing that the heads of the multitude were become of like insolencie he would likewise leaue them as one that would not consent to the iniuries by them done to many Citizens So in conclusion those reasons which induced him to take part with the people did also perswade him to leaue them Benedetto and the heads of the Arts thus drawne to fauoure the populer Nobilitie tooke armes apprehended Georgio Tomazo fled away The next day after Georgio was beheaded to so great terror of his partie as no man moued in his fauour though euery man went to behold his ruine He being brought to die complained of those people that lately had adored him and lamented his own hard fortune and the malignitie of the Citizens who hauing wrongfully iniured him were forced to fauoure and honour the multitude wherin was neither trust nor grautuitie And knowing Benedetto Alberti among the rest of the armed men said vnto him And thou Benedetto doest consent to see me here so iniured as if I were where thou art I would not suffer thee but I do prognosticate that as this day is the end of my miserie so is the same the beginning of thy destruction He complained moreouer of himselfe for hauing too much trusted to the people whom euerie voice euerie action and euerie supition moueth and corrupteth With these lamentations he ended his life amidst his enemies armed and reioycing at his death Shortly after certaine other his nearest friends were slaine and drawne in the streetes by the people The death of this Citizen troubled all the citie for at the execution thereof many tooke armes in fauoure of the Senate and Captaine of the people Many other either for their owne ambition or suspition did the like Also the citie being full of diuerse humors euerie man had his diuerse intent which hee desired to execute before armes were layd downe The olde Nobilitie called great men could not endure to see themselues depriued of the publique honours and therefore with all studie laboured to recouer them liking well that authoritie should be restored to the Captaines of factions To the populer Nobilitie and the greater mysteries it was offensiue that the state was participated with the lesse mysteries and base people On the other side the lesse mysteries desired rather to encrease then diminish their dignities And the poore people feared to forgo their Colledges Which diuersitie of mindes made continually in Florence tumults to arise for the space of one yeare Sometimes the great men sometimes the chiefe mysteries sometimes the lesse togither with the multitude and sometimes altogithers at one instant in diuerse places were armed Whereof ensued among themselues and with the souldiers of the Pallace diuerse conflicts The Senate sometimes by giuing place and sometimes by fighting sought all they could to remedie that mischiefe Insomuch as in the end and after two consultations and two Balie for reformation of the citie and after many harmes many trauels and many great perils a gouernment was setled whereby were reuoked all those that before and sith Saluestro de Medici was Gonfaloniere had bene confined All priuiledges and prouisions were taken away from those to whome they had bene giuen by the Balia of 78. All honours were restored to the Guelfi The two new mysteries were discorporated and euerie of those remitted vnder the auncient mysteries The Gonfaloniere di Guistitia was taken away from the lesse mysteries and they reduced to be partakers of halfe the third part of the honours and of those the best were taken from them So that the faction of populer Nobilitie Guelfi recouered the gouernment the multitude lost their authoritie which they had holden from the yeare 1378. til 81. at which time this alteration happened
neither was this gouernment lesse iniurious towards the Citizens nor more mild then was that of the multitude For so many of the populer Nobilitie were confined as had bene noted to be defenders thereof togither with a great number of the principall men of the multitude And among them Michele Lando whose former authoritie and good deserts could not in this time of populer furie saue him His country therfore for many good merits was to him vnthankfull Into which errour because many Princes and Common weales do fall is the cause that men vppon like examples terrified before they feele the smart of their gournours ingratitude do first offend them These exilements these slaughters did displease and euer had displeased Benedetto Alberti and he both publiquely and priuately blamed them For which cause the Lords of the state feared him as chiefe friend to the multitude and thought him consenting to the death of Georgio Scali not because his doings did offend him but to be alone in the gouernment Besides that his words and workes did encrease the suspition which made that side which gouerned to keepe eye vpon him and watch opportunitie to oppresse him The citie liuing in these tearmes the actions abroad were of no great importance For if any thing were done it proceeded of feare by reason that Lodouico di Angio came then into Italy to restore the kingdome of Napoli to the Quene Giouanna and remooue Carlo Durazzo The passage of this Prince greatly amazed the Florentines for Carlo according to the custome of old friends demaunded of them aide Lodouico like vnto him that seeketh new friends desired them to stand neutrall Whereupon the Florentines to seeme willing to content Lodouico and aide Carlo discharged Giouanni Aguto and procured Pope Vrbano to entertaine him which subtiltie was easily by Lodouico discouered and for the same held himselfe much iniured by the Florentines During the warre betwixt Lodouico and Carlo in Puglia new forces came from France in the fauoure of Lodouico who arriued in Toscana were by the banished men of Arezzo brought into that citie where they remoued the faction which gouerned for Carlo intending also to haue chaunged the state of Florence as they had altered Arezzo Then died Lodouico wherby the affaires of Puglia Toscana varied Fortune For Carlo assured himselfe on the kingdome which was well neare lost And the Florentines mistrusting the defence of Florence recouered Arezzo and bought it of those souldiers which kept it for Lodouico Carlo then being assured of Puglia went to take possession of Hungheria which was by inheritance descended vnto him leauing his wife in Puglia with Ladislao and Giouanna his children being but babes as hereafter shall be declared Carlo possessed Hungheria but shortly after there died For this conquest much tryumph was made in Florence and the magnificence thereof was no lesse both for publique and priuate expence then if the occasion therof had bene their owne For many families kept open feasts and the house of Alberti for pompe and magnificence exceeded the rest The expences charge of Armour that the Alberti vsed were not onely fit for priuate persons of the best degree but for the greatest Princes which gained them no small enuie Whereto adding the suspition which the state had of Benedetto was the cause of his ruine because those that gouerned could not endure him fearing euerie houre it might come to passe that through fauoure of his faction hee might recouer reputation and driue them from the citie These doubts remaining it happened that he being Gonfaloniere of companies Philippo Malagotti his sonne in lawe was chosen Gonfaloniere di Giustitia which doubled the mistrust of the Gouernours imagining that Benedetto encreased ouer fast in force and the state thereby in much perill For preuention of which inconueniences without tumult they encouraged Bese Magalotti his companion to signifie to the Senate that Philippo hauing passed his turne could not nor ought not exercise that office The cause was by the Senate examined some of them for hate some to take away occasion of slander iudged Philippo not capable of that dignitie and elected in his place Bardo Mancini a man to the plebeyan faction contrarie and mortall enemie to Benedetto In so much as hee beeing placed in office called a Balia for reformation of the state and therein confined Benedetto Alberti and admonished the rest of that family onely Antonio Alberti excepted Benedetto being readie to depart called vnto him all his friendes and seeing them sad said you see my good fathers and Lords in what sort Fortune hath oppressed me and threatned you whereof I maruell not neither ought you to maruell Because it euer commeth to passe that who so euer will be good among many euil or doth seek to hold vp that which many labour to pull downe must of force perish The loue of my Countrey made me to ioyne with Saluestro di Medici and after to depart from Georgio Scali The same did likewise perswade me to hate the maners of those that now gouerne who as they haue not had any to punish them so do they desire that none should finde fault with them For my part I am content with my banishment to acquite them of that feare which they had not of me onely but of euerie other man that knoweth their tyrannous and wicked dealings My punishment therefore doth threaten others of my selfe I take no pitie for those honors which my country being free hath giuen me now brought vnto seruitude cannot take from mee And the memorie of my passed life shall alwaies more comfort mee then mine hard fortune which brought mine exile shall discourage me It greeueth me much that my country should become a spoile for a fewe and be subiect to their pride and couetousnesse I am also right sorie to thinke that those euils which now ende in me will begin in you And I feare least those miseries wil persecute you with more hinderance then they haue persecuted me I would therefore counsell you to prepare your mindes against all misfortunes and beare your selues so as what aduersitie so euer happen for many will happen euery man may know you are faultlesse that without your guilt they be hapned After this leaue taken to giue as great a testimonie of his bountie abroad as hee had done in Florence he trauelled to the Sepulchre of Christ from whence returning in the Ile of Roda hee died His boanes were brought to Florence and therewith great honour buried by those who in his life with all slaunder and iniurie did molest him During these troubles the house of Alberti was not onely oppressed but many other Citizens also admonished and confined Among whom were Piero Benini Mattheo Alderotti Giouanni and Francesco del Bene Giouanni Benci Andrea Adimari and with them a great number of the lesse mysteries Among the admonished were the Couoni the Benini the Rinucci the Formiconi the Corbozi the
certain day many of those banished men apt for armes should go to places neare Florence by the riuer Arno passe into the citie and there with friends enter the houses of the chiefe gouernors and sleying them reform the gouernment as themselues thought good Among the conspirators within was one of the house of Ricci named Samminiato but as in conspiracies for the most part it happeneth that a fewe are not of force inough and many will not keepe counsell Samminiato seeking companions found an accuser This man imparted the matter to Saluestro Cauicciulli whome the iniuries done to his kinsfolke and himselfe ought haue made trustie But he regarding more the feare at hand then the future hope suddeinly bewrayed the practise to the Senators and they apprehending Samminiato constrained him to confesse all the conspirators yet was there no man apprehended sauing Tomazo Duuisi who comming from Bologna and not hearing what happened in Florence was by the way intercepted All the rest after the apprehension of Samminiato for feare fled Then Samminiato and Tomazo being according to their merits punished authoritie was giuen to diuerse Cittizens to finde out more offenders and assure the state They then discouered for Rebels sixe of the family of Ricci sixe of the Alberti three of the Medici three of the Scali two of the Strozzi Bindo Altouiti Barnardo Adimari with many of the meaner sort They admonished all the family of Alberti Ricci and Medici for tenne yeares a fewe of them excepted Among the Alberti was one called Antonio who being accounted a quiet and peaceable man was in that respect not admonished It chanced after the suspition of the conspiracie not quenched there was a Monke taken who had bene seene diuerse times during the conspiracie to goe from Bologna to Florence This Monke confessed that he had brought diuerse letters to Antonio who denied the matter yet being auowed by the Monke he was condemned in mony and confined 300. miles distant from the citie Also to the end that the Alberti might not daily put the state in daunger all that family aboue fifteene yeares of age were banished This accident happened in the yeare 1402. The next yeare died Giouan Galiazzo Duke of Milan whose death as is beforesaid ended the warre which had continued twelue yeares In this meane space the gouernment became of more authoritie and hauing fewe enemies both within and without the Florentines attempted the enterprise of Pisa and gloriously conquered that citie They continued then quiet within from the yeare 1400. till 33. sauing that in the yeare 1412. the Alberti hauing broken their confines a Balia was chosen wherby new ordinances were made to assure the state and impose greater paiments vpon them In that time also the Florentines made war to Ladislao King of Napoli which was ended by the death of the King in the yeare 1414. In execution whereof the King finding himselfe the weaker yeelded to the Florentines the citie of Cortona where he was Lord. Yet shortly after he reuiued the warre which proued more dangerous then the former And had the same not bene as the other ended by the Duke of Milans death he had also brought the libertie of our citie into that daunger that by the Duke it had bene Neither did this war of the Kings end with lesser aduenture then the other For when he had surprized Rome Siena La Marca and Romagna and that he wanted nothing but Florence to passe with a mightie force into Lombardy hee died So as death was euer more friendly to the Florentines then any other friend and of more power to defend them then any other vertue After the death of this King the citie continued quiet without within eight yeares In the end of which time with the warres of Philippo Duke of Milan the factions were reuiued and continued til the ruine of that state which from 1380. had bene gouerned and with much glorie enterprised many warres and brought vnder the Empire thereof Arezzo Piso Cortona Liuorno and Monte Pulciano And would haue done greater things had the citie continued vnited and the old humors not bene reuiued As in the next booke shall particulerly be declared The ende of the third Booke THE FOVRTH BOOKE ALL Cities and chiefly they which be well gouerned vnder the name of Common-weales doo often alter their state and gouernment not by meanes of libertie and subiection as many imagine but by meane of seruitude and lycentiousnesse For onely the name of libertie is honoured of the people who are the ministers of lycentiousnesse and seruitude still sought for by the Nobilitie so as either of them do studie not to subiect themselues either to lawes or men True it is that when it happeneth as sildome it doth that by good fortune of some Citie there riseth vp therein a wise good and mightie Citizen of whome such lawes be made as these humours of the Nobilitie and of the people be kept quiet or at the least so restrained as they cannot doo euill then may that Cittie be called free and that state firme and stable For being builded vpon good lawes and good orders it needeth not afterwardes the vertue of anie man to vphold it Of such lawes and orders manie auncient Common-weales whose estates continued long were endowed Such orders and lawes those states wanted and doo want which haue oft times chaunged their gouernment from states tyrannicall to licentious and from licentious to tyrannicall And in them by meane of their mightie enemies there is not nor cannot be anie stabilitie at all because the one pleaseth not the good men and the other offendeth the wise men The one may do euill with facilitie the other can do good with difficultie In the one insolent men in the other fooles haue too much authoritie And therefore it behoueth that both the one and the other by the vertue and fortune of some excellent man be mainteined who either by death may be taken away or by aduersitie proue vnprofitable I say therefore that gouernment which had the beginning in Florence by the death of Georgio Scali in the yeare 1381. proceeded first from the vertue of Masso delli Albizi and after was by Nicholo di Vzano continued The Cittie liued quiet from the yeare 1314. till the 22. At which time the King Ladislao was dead and the state of Lombardy into partes diuided So that neither without nor within there was any thing that could breede diffidence or mistrust Next to Nicholo di Vzano the Citizens of most authoritie were Bartolomeo Valori Nerome di Nigi Rinaldo de gli Albizi Neridi Guio and Lapo Nicolini The factions which grew by the discord of the Albizi Ricci and after with great troubles by Saluestro di Medici reuiued were neuer quenched And albeit the partie most fauoured of the multitude raigned not aboue 3. yeares and in the yere 1381. the same was oppressed yet that humor hauing infected the greater number of the people
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
words should find beliefe and compassion if your Lordships did know in what sort your Generall hath vsed our Countrey and how we haue bene by him handled Our Vale as we hope your memorials do make mention did alwayes loue the faction Guelfa and hath bene many times a faithfull receptacle for your Citizens when flying persecution of the Ghibilini they came thither Our auncestors and we also haue euer adored the name of this noble common weale being the head and chiefe of that secte So long as the Lucchesi were Guelfi we willingly obeyed their gouernment but since they submitted themselues to a Tyrant who hath abandoned his old friends and followed the Ghibilini rather by compulsion then voluntarily we haue obeyed him And God knoweth how often we haue prayed for occasion whereby to shewe our zeale to the auncient faction But alas how blind are men in their desires that which we wished for our helpe is now become our harme For so soone as we heard your Generall marched towards vs we went not as enemyes to encounter him but as our auncestors were wont to yeeld into his hand our Countrey and fortunes hoping that in him although there were not the mind of a Florentine yet should we find him a man We beseech your Lordships to pardon vs for our extremitie is so much as more may not be indured which is the cause we make bold to speake thus plainely This your Generall hath not of a man more then his presence nor of a Florentine any thing saue the name but may be called a mortall plague a cruell beast and as horrible a monster as by any wrighter can be described For he hauing assembled vs in our Temple vnder pretence to talke with vs hath made vs his prisoners spoyling the whole countrey burning the houses robbing the inhabitants sacking their goods beating and murthering the men forcing the Virgins yea pulling them from the hands of their Mothers made them the pleasures of his souldiers If for any iniury done to the people of Florence or him we had deserued so great a punishment or if we had armed our selues against him and bene taken then should we haue had lesse cause to complayne yea we would rather haue accused our selues confessing that eyther for iniurie or pride we had so merited to be handled But being disarmed and freely offering ourselues then to rob vs and with so great despight and ignomie to spoyle vs we thinke it strange and are inforced before your Lordships to lay downe our griefe And albeit we might fill all Lombardy with offence and with reproch of this Citie publish our iniuries through all Italy yet would we not lest thereby to blemish so honest so honorable and so compassionate a common weale with the dishonestie and crueltie of one wicked Citizen whose auarice before our ruine was partly knowne vnto vs. And wee intended to strayne our selues to satisfie his greedie mind which hath neither measure nor bottom But sith our gifts come too late we thinke good to resort to your Lordships beseeching the same to relieue the misfortune of your subiects to the end that other men may not be afraid to yeeld them selues to your deuotion If our infinite miseries cannot moue you yet let the feare of Gods ire perswade you who hath seene the Churches sacked and burnt and our people betrayed in them These words pronounced they presently fell downe prostrate vpon the ground weeping and desiring their Lordships that their goods and countrey might be restored and that though the womens honors could not be recouered yet the Wiues might be deliuered to their Husbands and the Children to their Fathers This heauie case being before reported and now by the liuely voyce of those afflicted men confirmed did much moue the Magistrates and without delay they reuoked Astore who after was condemned and admonished Then was there Inquisition made for the goods of the Serauezesi and so much as could be found was restored For the rest they were in time diuers wayes satisfied Rinaldo de gli Albizi was likewise defamed for hauing made the warre not for the profit of the people of Florence but his owne Hee was also charged that so soone as hee became Generall the desire of surprizing Lucca was forgotten because hee sought no further then to spoyle the countrey fill his pastures with cattle and furnish his houses with the goods of others Moreouer that his owne share of the bootie contented him not but hee also bought the priuate spoyles of his souldiers So that of a Generall hee was become a Merchaunt These slaunders come to his owne hearing moued his honest and honorable mind more then they ought to haue done In so much as hee became therewith so amazed that taking offence against the Magistrates and Citizens without delay or leaue taken hee returned to Florence and presenting himselfe to the Tenne sayd He knew well how great difficultie and perill there was in seruing a loose people and a Cittie diuided For the one is credulous of euery rumor the other punisheth no euill doings rewardeth not the good and blameth the indifferent so that no man commendeth him that is victorious For as much as his fellowes for enuie and his foes for hatred will persecute him Notwithstanding himselfe had neuer for feare of vndeserued blame omitted to performe an action that promised a certaine good to his countrey But true it was that the dishonestie of the present slaunders had oppressed his patience and made him chaunge nature Wherefore hee besought the Magistrates to be from thence-foorth more readie to defend their Citizens to the end they might be likewise more readie to labour for their countrey And although that in Florence no triumph was graunted yet might they at the leaste defende them from ignominious reproche and remember that they them selues were also Citizens of the same towne and that to them selues euerie houre the like might happen whereby they shoulde vnderstand howe great griefe false slaunders might breede in the mindes of men of integritie The Tenne as time would serue laboured to appease him and committed the care thereof to Neri di Gino and to Alamanno Saluiati who leauing to spoyle the countrey of Lucca with their Campe approched the Towne And because the season was colde they stayed at Campanuole Where it seemed to the Generall that time was lost and desirous to besiege the Towne by reason of the euill weather the Souldiers woulde not thereto consent Notwithstanding that the Tenne did sollicite them to the siege and would accept none excuse at all At that time there was in Florence an Architector called Filippo Brunellesco of whose handie-worke our Cittie is full In so much that after death hee deserued to haue his Image of Marble erected in the chiefe Church of Florence with Letters to testifie hys greate vertue This man declared howe Lucca considering the scite of the Cittie and the passage of the Riuer Serchio mighte bee drowned And
there a new Balia which at the first assembly determined the reuocation of Cosimo with all others that were banished And of the contrary faction they confined Rinaldo delli Albizi Ridolfo Peruzzi Nicholo Barbadori Palla Strozzi and many other Cittizens that the number of them was such as that fewe Townes of Italy and many other places also but were full of them By this accident the Citie of Florence became depriued not onely of honest men but also of riches and industry The Pope seeing the ruine of those men who at his request had laide downe Armes became greatly discōtented lamenting with Rinaldo for the iniury to him done vnder his credit perswading him to patience and hope of better fortune To whome Rinaldo answered the small credit which they gaue me who ought to haue beleeued me and the ouermuch credite which I haue giuen to you hath vtterly vndone me and my Countrey But I complaine more of my selfe then anie others for beleeuing that you being banished your Countrey could maintaine mee in mine Of Fortunes dalliances I haue had experience inough and sith I little trusted to prosperitie mine aduersitie shall the lesse offend mee for I knowe well that Fortune beeing so pleased can againe fauoure mee But if shee neuer so do I shall euer care little to liue in that Cittie where the lawes are of lesse authoritie then men Because that Countrey is to be defired where the wealth and friends of men may be with securitie enioyed and not that where mens goods may bee taken from them and their friendes for feare to loose theyr owne in greatest necessitie forsake them It was also euer lesse greeuous to good and wise men to heare the miseries of their Countrey then with their owne eyes to see them And it is also thought a thing more glorious to be reputed an honourable Rebel then a slauish Citizen After this speech made being much troubled in mind he tooke leaue of the Pope finding great fault with his Councels and the coldnesse of his friends and so went towards his exile Cosimo on the other side hauing receiued knowledge of his restitution returned to Florence and was there receiued with no lesse pompe then is vsed to other Citizens who after victorie came home in tryumph So great was the Concourse of people so great the demonstration of their beneuolence towards him at this his returne from banishment as the Cittizens willingly saluted him by name of the peoples Benefactor and Father of the Country The ende of the fourth Booke THE FIFT BOOKE ALL Countries in their alterations doo most commonly chaunge from order to disorder and from disorder to order againe For nature hauing made all worldly thinges variable so soone as they haue atteined their vttermost perfection and height doo of force descend and being come downe so low as lower they cannot of necessitie must ascend So that from good they descended to euill and from euill ascend to good Warre begetteth quiet quiet occasioneth idlenesse Idlenesse breedeth disorder Disorder maketh ruine Likewise of ruine groweth order of order vertue and of vertue glorie with good fortune It hath bene therefore by wise men obserued that learning followeth Armes and in all Cities and Countries Captaines were before Philosophers For good and well gouerned Armes hauing wonne victorie of that victorie followeth quiet And surely the courage of warlike mindes cannot with a more honest idlenesse then the studie of Letters be corrupted nor idlenesse by anie greater or more perillous craft enter Cities well gouerned which Cato at such time as Diogenes and Carneades Philosophers were sent Embassadours from Athens to the Senate did well obserue For hee seeing with what admiration the youth beganne to follow them and knowing the inconueniences which might of that honest idlenesse ensue prouided that no Philosopher might after be receiued into Rome Euery country therefore by these meanes doth come to decaie Wherewith men being beaten and weary of troubles returne as is beforesaid to order if by extraordinarie force they be not vtterly ruined These occasions by vertue of the auncient Toscani and Romanes did make Italy sometimes happie and sometimes miserable And albeit since that time nothing hath bene builded vppon the Romane ruines comparable to the olde as might with great glorie haue bene vnder the gouernment of a vertuous Prince Yet in some newe Citties so much vertue is growne vp among the Romane spoyles that although no one hath atteined such power as to commaund the rest yet became they so well ordered and lincked togither as they deliuered and defended themselues from the barbarous people Of this number was the Florentines gouernment although of lesse Empire yet in authoritie and power not inferiour to anie but rather by inhabiting the middest of Italy being rich and readie to offend either happily they answered the warres made against them or else gaue the victorie to those in whose fauoure they imployed their forces By the vertue of these principallities although no times of quiet and long peace were yet were they not by terrour of warre much perillous For we cannot account that peace where one state oftentimes with Armes assayleth the other Neither can that be called warre where men be not slaine Citties not sacked nor principallities destroyed For the warres of that time became so cold as they were begunne without feare continued without perill and ended without losse Insomuch as that vertue which in other Countries was wont by long peace to be extinguished was in Italy by their owne cowardice quenched as will plainly appeare by that we will hereafter declare from the 1434. till the 94. Whereby we may see how at length a way was againe opened for the entrie of straungers and Italy became to them subiect And albeit the actions of our Princes both abroad and at home are not as those of auncient time were to be read and maruelled at for their vertue and greatnesse yet for some other quallities to be with no lesse admiration considered seeing so many Noble people were by so fewe and euill trained souldiers kept in awe And if in declaration of things happened in this badde world we shall not set downe the courage of anie souldier the vertue of anie Captaine or the loue of anie Cittizen towards his Countrey yet shall you finde what cunning and Art the Princes the Souldiers and chiefe Gouernours in Common weales to maintaine the reputation they did not deserue haue vsed which percase will prooue not lesse worthie and profitable to be knowne then those of most auncient time For as those do stirre vp Noble mindes to follow them So these to eschue their lewdnesse and lacke of vertue wil prouoke vs. In those dayes Italy was brought to such condition by them that there commaunded that whensoeuer through reconciliation of the Princes a peace was made shortly after by such as had weapons in hand it was againe disturbed So that neither by the warres ended was gotten glorie nor by the
verie holily liued and died Her house in memorie of her was after made a Monasterie by the name of S. Annalena as at this present it is and euer shall be This action somewhat decreased the power of Neri and tooke from him reputation and friends Neither did that onely content the Cittizens in authoritie For the tenne yeares of their office being passed and their authoritie in the Balia ended diuerse men both by word and deedes tooke courage to complaine against the continuance of those officers and therfore the Gouernors thought for the holding of their authoritie it was necessarie to haue their offices prolonged giuing new commission to friends oppressing their foes For which consideration in the yeare 1444. by their councels a new Balia was created which reestablished officers giuing authoritie to a few to create the Senate reuiuing the Chancelorship of reformation remouing Ser. Philippo Peruzzi and in his place appointing one other to gouerne according to the pleasure of the great men putting in prison Giouan the sonne of Simone Vespucci The gouernment thus setled the offices of state taken anew they turned their minds to matters abroad Nicholo Piccinino being as hath bene beforesaid abandoned by the King Alfonso and the Earle with the helpe he had of the Florētines became strong assailed Nicholo neare vnto Fermo and there gaue him so great an ouerthrow that Nicholo lost wel-neare all his souldiers and with a fewe fled into Montecchio Nicholo tarried there all the winter to increase his army and therein was helped by the Pope king Alfonso In so much as the spring time being come and the other Captaines returned to the field Nicholo was the strōger and the Earle brought to extreame necessitie and had bene vtterly defeated if the intent of Nicholo had not bene by the Duke altered Philippo sent for Nicholo pretēding to haue occasion by mouth to impart vnto him matters of great importance Which Nicholo being desirous to heare abandoned a certaine victorie for an incertaine pleasure and leauing Francesco his sonne to gouerne the army went vnto Milan The Earle vnderstāding of his departure frō the Camp would not lose the opportunitie to fight in the absence of Nicholo and assaulting the army of Nicholo neare vnto the Castle of Monte Loro ouerthrew it and tooke Francesco prisoner Nicholo at his arriuall in Milan seeing himself abused by Philippo vnderstāding his camp to be brokē his son prisoner with sorow died the yere 1445. being of the age of 64. yeares hauing bene a Captaine more vertuous then happie Of him there remained two sonnes Francesco and Giacopo who as they were of lesse vertue then the father so had they worse fortune By which meane the souldiers bred by Braccio were almost worne out and the discipline of Sforza alwaies holpen by fortune became more glorious The Pope seeing the army of Nicholo suppressed and him dead nor much hoping in the aide of Arragon sought to make peace with the Earle which by mediation of the Florentines was concluded The peace made in La Marca all Italy had liued in quiet if the Bolognesi had not disturbed the same There was in Bologna two mightie Families Channeschi and Bentiuogli of the one Annibale and of the other Battista was chiefe These to be the rather assured one of the others friendship contracted a marriage But betweene men which aspire to one greatnesse though alliance may easily be made yet friendship cannot Bolognia was in league with the Florentines and Venetians which league had bene concluded by meane of Annibale Bentiuogli after they had driuen out Francesco Piccinino Battista knowing that the Duke desired greatly to haue the fauour of that Cittie practised with him to kill Annibale and bring that Cittie vnder his ensigne The order of this murther agreed vpon the 24 of Iune 1445. Battista with his men assaulted Annibale slew him which done he proclaimed the Dukes name throughout the towne At that time the Commissaries for the Venetians and the Florentines were in Bologna and at the first rumor retired vnto their houses but afterwards perceiuing that the murtherers were not fauoured by the people who were in great numbers armed and assembled lamenting the death of Annibale they tooke courage went towards them assailed the Canneschi whom in lesse then one houre they ouerthrew slaying some and forcing the rest to flie the Cittie Battista not fleeing in time nor slaine remained at his house and hid himself in a vessell made for the keeping of corne His enemies hauing all the day sought him and assured he was not gone out of the towne threatned his seruants so much as one of them at length discouered where he was From thence he was taken out and slaine then drawne through the streets and at last burned so as the victorie of the Duke was of force sufficient to perswade Annibale to the enterprise but not of power ynough to saue him from death Thus by the death of Battista and the fleeing of the Canneschi these tumuls were appeased The Bolognesi remained in great confusion bicause there was not left of the house of Bentiuogli any man fit for gouernmēt And for that there remained one sonne onely of Annibale but six yeares old who was called Giouanni the Bolognesi feared least among the friends of the Bentiuogli some diuision would grow which might perhaps occasion the returne of the Canneschi with the ruine of their countrey and faction While the Bolognesi continued in this doubtfull imagination Francesco late Earle of Poppi being in Bologna informed the chiefe Cittizens that if they had desire to be gouerned by one descended of the bloud of Annibale he could informe them of such a one Declaring that about 20. yeares past Hercole the Cosen of Annibale happened to be at Poppi and had there carnall knowledge of a yong woman in that Castle who was after deliuered of a sonne called Santi whom Hercole diuerse times affirmed to be his And it seemed to be a thing likely for that the child so much resembled Hercole as liker it could not be His words were belieued by those Cittizens and they deserred no time to send vnto Florence to find out the yong man and perswade with Cosimo di Medici and Neri Capponi that they might haue him The supposed father of this Santi was dead and the yong man liued vnder the tuition of an Vncle of his called Antonio Cascese This Antonio was rich without children and friend to Neri The matter being vnderstood Neri thought fit neither to reiect the motion nor imbrace it but commaunded that Santi in the presence of Cosimo and those that were sent frō Bologna should speake with him Then order being taken for their meeting Santi was by the Bolognesi not only honored but also as it were adored Then Cosimo calling Santi aside said vnto him there is none that in this matter can better counsell thee then thy selfe for thou art to take
libertie and some others were contented to receiue a Prince Of those which desired a Prince some would haue the Earle and some the King Alfonso whereby those that loued libertie being more vnited became the stronger part and framed after their faction a state and gouernment which was neuerthelesse disobeyed by many Citties of the Dukedome imagining that they might also as Milan did enioy their libertie And others also which aspired not thereunto did likewise refuse to yeeld vnto the Milanesi The Citties of Lodi Piacenza gaue themselues to the Venetians Pauia Parma would be free The Earle vnderstanding these confusions went vnto Cremona whither his Embassadors and the Embassadors of Milan came with this cōclusiō that he should remain Captain general of the Milanesi with those conditions last set down by the Duke Philippo adding thereunto that the Earle should haue Brescia till he surprised Verona And being possessed therof to yeeld vp Brescia Before the death of this Duke Pope Nicholo at his assumptiō sought to make peace amongst all the Italian Princes For the compassing whereof by Embassadors he practised that the Florentines should send vnto him at the time of his creation desiring him to appoint a Parliament at Farrara to procure therein either a long truce or a perfect peace Vpon which occasion in that Cittie assembled the Popes Legat the Embassadors for the Venetians Embassadors for the Duke Embassadors for the Florentines But those which were looked for from King Alfonso appeared not This King was then at Tiboli accompanied with many men of warre both on foote and horseback From thence he gaue countenance to the Duke and it was thought that so soone as they had drawne the Earle to their side they would openly assault the Venetians and Florentines In the meane time the Earles souldiers should remaine in Lombardy the peace to be enterteined at Farrara whither the King sent not saying he would ratifie all things the Duke would assent vnto This peace was many dayes consulted vpō and after much disputation cōcluded that either it should be perpetuall peace or a truce for 5. yeares at the election of the Duke whose Embassadors being returned to Milan to vnderstād his pleasure at their cōming thither found him dead The Milanesi notwithstanding his death would needs haue the conclusion of peace allowed But the Venetians did not consent hoping greatly to vsurpe that state And the rather bicause Lodi and Piacenza sodeinly after the Dukes death were yeelded vnto them whereby they hoped either by force or composition within short space to become Lords of all the territorie of Milan and in the end so distresse the Cittie as it should also be forced to yeeld before any man could rescue it And the rather they thus perswaded themselues for that they sawe the Florentines busied in warre with King Alfonso That King being at Tiboli and intending to follow the enterprise of Toscana as he had determined with Philippo thinking therewith that the warre alreadie begun in Lombardy would giue him time and commoditie desired to haue one foote into the state of Florence before such time as he would openly make the warre and for that purpose practised to win the Castle Cennina in the vpper vale of Arno and wan it The Florentines striken with this vnlooked for accidēt and seeing the King readie to march to their offence hired souldiers created the ten Magistrates and according to their custome prepared all things for the warre By this time the King with his Army was come to the countrey of Siena labouring by all meanes to bring that Cittie to fauour him Notwithstanding the Cittizens there stood firme in their friendship to the Florentines and refused to receiue the King either into Siena or any other of their townes yet did they prouide him victuall whereof the importunitie of the King and the force of the enemy might excuse them The King then thought not good to enter by the way of the vale of Arno as he first determined aswell for that he had spoiled Cennina as bicause the Florentines were partly furnished with souldiers and therefore marched towards Volterra surprized many Castles in the countrey thereto belonging From thence he marched into the countrey of Pisa where by the fauour of Arrigo and Fatio Earles of Chirardesca he tooke some Castles and assaulted Campilia which being defended by the Florentines and the cold winter he could not surprize Then the King leauing certaine of his owne souldiers to guard the townes by him taken and to defend the countrey retired with the rest of his Army to his lodgings in the countrey of Siena The Florentines fauoured by that season of the yeare carefully laboured to prouide souldiers Their chiefe leaders were Federigo Lord of Vrbino and Gismondo Malatesta of Rimino And albeit there was betwixt them two some disagreement yet by the wisedome of Neri and Barnardetto di Medici Commissaries for the Florentines they agreed so well that notwithstanding the hard winter continuing they marched and recouered those townes which were lost in the countrey of Pisa and the Ripomerancie in the territorie of Volterra They also bridled the Kings souldiers who before had spoyled the sea coast so as with difficultie they might defend the townes committed to their guard But the Spring time being come the Commissaries drew forth all their souldiers to the number of 5000. horse and 2000. footmen And the King came with his to the number of welneare fifteene thousand besides 3000. at Campiglia And when he intended to returne to the siege of that towne he went to Piombino hoping easily to win it bicause the towne was not well furnished he thought the hauing thereof profitable for him and disaduantagious for the Florentines bicause from thence he might protract the warres and consume them hauing meane to victuall himselfe by sea and disturbe the whole countrey of Pisa This assault greatly displeased the Florentines and cōsulting vpō the matter thought that if they might with their Army remaine in the bounds of Campiglia that the King should therby be inforced to depart either broken or dishonoured For which purpose they armed foure small Gallies at Liuorno and with them put into the towne of Piombino three hundred footemen placing them at the Galdani a place where with difficultie they might be assaulted For if they were lodged in the plaine vpon the Confines the same was thought dangerous The Florentines receiued their victuals from the Townes thereabouts which being but fewe and not much inhabited did scarcely furnish them So as the Armie suffered penurie and most chiefly of wine Because none being there made nor brought thither from other places it was impossible for euerie man to haue so much as should suffice him But the King notwithstanding he were by the Florentines straightly holden in yet had he abundance almost of euerie prouision by reason hee receiued it from the sea The Florentines therefore thought good likewise to make
were so pursued that of their Camp which was twelue thousand horse not one thousand was saued All their goods were spoyled and their carriages taken So as neuer before that time the Venetians receiued any ouerthrow greater or more terrible Among the spoyles and prisoners taken in this conflict was the Venetian Proueditor who before that skirmish and after during the wars had vsed diuerse opprobrious words of the Earle calling him Bastard and Coward But being become prisoner remembring what hee had deserued and brought to the Earles presence according to the nature of proud cowardly men which is to be in prosperitie insolent and in aduersitie abiect vile kneeled down before him weeping desiring pardon of his offences The Earle tooke him vp by the arme comforted him and willed him to be of good cheare And afterwards said that he maruelled much how a man of his wisdom grauitie could commit so great an error as to speake euill of them that had not so deserued And touching the matter of slaunder he knew not in what sort Sforza his father had vsed his mother Maddonna Lucia because he was not there present So as of that which was done by them he could receiue neither blame nor commendation But for his owne doings he knew well that nothing was by any man to be reprooued and thereof both he and his Senate could fully and truly witnesse with him Whereof hee wished him afterwards to be more modest in speech and in his proceedings more discreet After this victorie the Earle with his tryumphant Campe marched to the territorie of Brescia and possessing all that country setled his Campe within two myles of the Citie The Venetians on the other side hauing receiued this ouerthrow feared as it came to passe that Brescia would be first assaulted speedily as they might made prouision and with all diligence leuied forces ioyning them to those that remained of the old Campe. Therewith also by vertue of the League desired aid of the Florentines Who being free from the warre of King Alfonso sent vnto them one thousand footemen and two thousand horse The Venetians by hauing these souldiers gained time to entreate of peace It hath bene long time a thing fatall to the Venetian state to lose by warre and recouer the losse by composition And those things which by the warres are taken from them by the peace many times be restored double The Venetians knew well that the Milanesi mistrusted the Earle and that he desired not to be their Captaine but aspired to the principallitie of Milan Also that it was in their choise to make peace with either of them the one desiring it for ambitiō the other for feare Then they chose to make peace with the Earle and deferred their aide for that enterprise being perswaded that if the Milanesi found themselues deceiued by the Earle they might grow so offended as they would giue themselues rather to anie other then to him Being then brought to this passe that they could not defende themselues nor would trust vnto the Earle they should be enforced not hauing other refuge to trust vnto the Venetians This resolution made they sounded the disposition of the Earle and found him greatly disposed to the peace as desirous that the victorie of Carrauaggio might be his and not the Milanieses Then was there a composition concluded wherein the Venetians bound themselues to paie vnto the Earle so long as he deferred the taking of Milan thirteene thousand Florines for euerie moneth and during the rest of the warre to aide him with foure thousand horse and two thousand footemen And the Earle for his part did binde himselfe to restore to the Venetians all Townes prisoners and euerie other thing by him taken and rest contented with those Townes onely which the Duke Philippo at his death possessed This agreement being knowne in Milan did bring much more sorrow to that Citie then the victorie of Carrauaggio had giuen gladnesse The chiefe Magistrates lamented the people were sorrowfull the women and children wept and all with one voyce called the Earle disloyall and traytour For although they beleeued not either by intreatie or promises to diuert him from his vnthankful intent yet sent they Embassadors to see with what face and with what words hee would maintaine his wickednesse Who being come to the presence of the Earle one of them spake to this effect Those that desire to obtaine any thing of others were wont by entreatie gifts or threatnings to perswade them So that either by compassion by profit or feare they might compasse the thing which they desired But of cruell men couetous being in their owne opinion mightie those three means not preuailing nothing is obteined so as whosoeuer doth trust by entreatie to make them pittifull or by gifts to winne them or by threatnings to feare them deceiueth himselfe We therefore now knowing though all too late thy crueltie thy ambition and thy pride are come vnto thee not requiring any thing nor hoping though we had such desire to obteine it but to put thee in remembrance what benefites thou hast receiued of the Milanesi and laie before thee with what ingratitude thou doest requite them To the end that among so many iniuries by vs endured wee may take this only pleasure to reproue thee Thou oughtst to remember wel what thy state and condition was after the death of Duke Philippo Thou wert enemie to the Pope and the King Thou wert abandoned by the Florentines and Venetians who either iustly offended with thee or hauing no more neede of thee wert become as their enemy Thou wert weary of the war which thou hadst made with the church Thou hadst fewe men fewe friends litle money and bereft of all hope to be able to hold thine owne countrey and thy auncient reputation which should easily haue bene taken from thee had not our simplicitie helped For we onely receiued thee perswaded with the reuerence we bare to the happie memorie of our Duke vnto whom thou being allied didst make vs belieue that his loue would haue continued in his heires And sith to his benefits we ioyned ours that fauour and friendship ought to haue bene not onely firme but also inseparable In respect whereof to the auncient composition we ioyned Verona Brescia What could we more giue thee or promise thee And what couldst thou either of vs or any others in those dayes either haue or desire more Thou hast receiued of vs a pleasure vnlooked for and we for recompence haue receiued of thee a displeasure not deserued Neither hast thou deferred thus long to shew thy pride For thou wert no sooner General of our Armie but contrary to iustice thou didst receiue Pauia which ought to haue warned vs to what end thy friendship tended Which iniurie we bare supposing that victorie with the greatnesse thereof would haue satisfied thy ambition But alasse those who desire all cannot with inough be contented Thou didst
his treasure in euerie place of Europe did perticipate of his felicitie Also many excessiue rich houses in Florence had their beginning from him as Tornabuoni Benchi Portinari and Sassetti Besides all these euerie man depending vppon his counsell and fortune became wealthie And albeit that his building of Temples and giuing of almes was knowne throughout the world yet would he to his friends many times lament that he had not spent and bestowed so much to the honor of God but that he found himselfe still in his booke a debtor He was of meane stature in complexion browne and of presence venerable vnlearned yet eloquent and full of naturall wisedome friendlie to his friends and pittifull to the poore In conuersation he was frugall in counsell aduised in execution speedie in speech and answering wittie and graue Rinaldo de gli Albizi in the beginning of his exile sent him a message saying that the hen did sit whereunto Cosimo answered that she could neuer hatch being farre from her nest To other Rebels who sent him word they slept not he answered that he beleeued the same bicause there sleepe was taken from them Vnto the Pope Pio perswading Princes to take Armes against the Turke Cosimo said An old man taketh in hand a yong enterprise To the Embassadors of Venice who came with the messengers of Alfonso to complaine of the Florentines he shewed his head bare and asked of what colour it was they answered white Then he replying said that ere it belong your Senators will also haue white heads like vnto mine His wife a few houres before his death seeing him shut his eyes asked him for what cause he so did He answered to bring them in vse Some Citizens saying vnto him after his returne from exile that he hindered the Cittie and offended God in banishing so many honest men To them hee answered It was better to haue a Cittie hindered then lost and that the State was not defended with beades in mens hands Which words gaue his enemyes matter to speake euill of him as a man that loued himselfe more then his Countrey and that esteemed more this world then the world to come Many other sayings as things not necessarie I omit Cosimo was also a louer and preferrer of learned men for he brought vnto Florence Argiropolo a Grecian borne and in that time of singuler learning to the end that the youth of Florence might be by him instructed in the Greeke toong and other his good learnings He enterteyned in his house Marsilio Ficino a second father of the Philosophie of Plato and him he entirely loued Also to the end he might with commoditie exercise the studie of learning and more aptly vse his help therein he gaue him certaine land neare vnto his house of Careggi This his wisedome these his riches this manner of life and this fortune were the causes that in Florence he was both feared and loued and of the Princes not onely of Italy but also of all Europe esteemed so as he left vnto his posteritie such a foundation as they might with vertue equall him and in fortune farre excell him Whatsoeuer authoritie Cosimo had either in Florence or elsewhere in Christendome he deserued the same notwithstanding in the end of his life he had great sorrowes For of two onely sonnes Pietro and Giouanni the one of whome he had most hope dyed the other was continually sick and therefore vnable either for publique or priuate function In so much as his sonne being dead he caused him to be carried about the house and he following the Coarse sighed and saide this house is ouer great for so small a familie It also offended the greatnesse of his minde that he had not in his owne opinion inlarged the Florentine dominion with some honorable conquest And it grieued him the more knowing that Francesco Sforza had deceiued him who being but Earle promised that so soone as hee was possessed of Milan hee would winne the Cittie of Lucca for the Florentines Which was not performed bicause the Earle with his fortune changed his minde and being become Duke determined to enioy that state with peace which he had gotten by warre Therefore he would neither keepe touch with Cosimo nor any other neither would he after he was Duke make anie more warres then those that for his owne defence hee was enforced vnto Which grieued Cosimo greatly finding that he had endured great paines and spent much to aduance a man vnthankfull and perfidious Moreouer by the weaknesse of his bodie he found himselfe vnfit to follow either priuate or publique affaires whereby the one and the other miscarried Because the Citie was destroyed by the Citizens and his owne substance by his confidents and children consumed All these things in the later end of his age did greatly disquiet his minde Notwithstanding he died with glorie And all the principall Citizens and all the Christian Princes did condole his death with Pietro his sonne and accompanied his coarse to the Temple of S. Lorenzo where with great pompe it was buried and by publique consent was written vpon his Tombe Pater Patriae If in this discourse of Cosimo I haue imitated those which haue written the liues of Princes and not those which write vniuersall histories let no man marueile thereat For hee being a rare man in our Citie deserued I should affoard him extraordinary commendation In those dayes that Florence and Italy stood in the conditions aforesaide Lewes King of France was with greeuous warres assaulted For the Lords of his owne Countrey assisted by the Dukes of Bretagne and Burgogne made the war so great vpon the King that he had no meane to aide the Duke Giouanni de Angio in his enterprise of Genoua and the kingdome But iudging that he had neede of ayd whatsoeuer he gaue the Citie of Sauona then in his hand and kept by French men to Francesco Duke of Milan letting him vnderstand that if he so pleased he might also with his fauour assault Genoua Which offer was accepted by Francesco and either through the reputation of the Kings friendship or the fauour of the Adorni he became Lord of Genoua Then to declare himselfe thankfull for the benefit receiued of the King he sent into France to the Kings aide a thousand fiue hundreth horse conducted by Galiazzo his eldest sonne Thus Ferrando of Aragon and Francesco Sforza were become the one Duke of Lombardy and Prince of Genoua the other King of all the kingdome of Naples And hauing married their children the one to the other they deuised by what meanes they might during their liues maintaine their countries with securitie and after their deaths so leaue the same to their heires For which purpose they thought it necessarie that the King should assure himselfe of those Barons which in the war of Giouanni de Angio had disobeyed him and that the Duke should endeuour himselfe to extinguish those that had bene brought vp in the warres by
the Bracci naturall enemies to his house and growne vp in great reputation vnder Giacopo Piccinino who was the chiefest Captaine in all Italy and such a one as euerie Prince ought to beware of chiefly the Duke who could not account his dominion assured nor leaue the same to his sonnes if Giacopo did still liue The King therfore by all meanes sought to make peace with his Barons handling the matter cunningly to assure him selfe of them which fell out very happily Because the Barons did thinke that in continuing the warre against their King the same would be in the end their vndoubted ruine and yeelding to the peace they should stand at the kings discretion But because men do most willingly eschue that euill which is most certaine it commeth to passe that Princes may easily deceiue others of lesse power and so these Lords gaue credit to the King For they seeing the manifest danger of the warre yeelded themselues into his hands and were vppon sundrie occasions by him oppressed which greatly dismaied Giacopo Piccinino at that time remaining with his forces at Salmona And to remoue occasion whereby the King might oppresse him he practised by his friends to be reconciled to the Duke Francesco who hauing made him great and honourable offers Giacopo resolued to put himselfe into his hands and being accompanied with one hundreth horse went to Milan to present himselfe vnto the Duke Giacapo had long serued his father and with his brother first for the Duke Philippo and after for the people of Milan Whereby he gained great acquaintance in that Citie and the good will of the multitude which was encreased by the present condition of the Citie For the good fortune and great power of the house of Sforza had kindled great enuie And Giacopo for his aduersitie and long absence was greatly by the people pitied who desired much to see him All which things appeared at his comming For welneare all the Nobilitie went to meet him and the streets were full of those which desired to see him Besides that great honour was spoken of him and his souldiers All which things did hasten his destruction because they encreased suspition and the Dukes desire to oppresse him For the more couert performance thereof the Duke deuised that the marriage with his daughter Drusiana who had bene long before contracted vnto him should now be solemnized Then he practised with Ferrando to entertaine him for Generall of his Army and promised him a hundreth thousand Florins in prest After this conclusion Giacopo accompanied with the Dukes Embassador and Drusiana his wife went vnto Naples where he was ioyfully and honourably receiued and for diuerse dayes enterteined with all sorts of triumph and feasting But at length desiring to go vnto his Campe which he left at Salmona he was by the King conuited to dinner in the Castle The dinner being ended both he and his sonne were imprisoned and shortly after put to death Whereby may be perceiued that our Italian Princes haue feared that vertue in others which was not to be found in themselues and did smother the same so long as no vertue at all being left our country became shortly after afflicted and ruined In these dayes the Pope Pio hauing setled all things in Romagna thought the time serued well in respect of the vniuersall peace to moue the Christians to make warre against the Turke according to the plot set downe by his predecessors To the performance of this exployt all Princes did contribute mony or men And in particuler Mathia King of Hungary and Carlo Duke of Borgogna promising to go in person were by the Pope made Captaines generall of that iourney The Pope had so great hope of proceeding in this enterprise that he went from Rome to Ancona where all the Armie were appointed to assemble and the Venetians did promise to send vessels to passe the souldiers into Schiauonia After the Popes arriual in that Citie the concourse of people there was so great that within fewe dayes all the victuall of that citie and that could be brought thither from other places thereabouts did not suffice In so much as euerie man began to taste of famine Moreouer there wanted mony to furnish the souldiers of things needfull and arme those that were disarmed Mathia and Carlo appeared not and the Venetians sent thither one onely Captaine with a fewe Gallies rather to shewe their pompe and seeme to haue kept promise then to passe the Armie So as the Pope being old and sicke in the middest of these businesses and disorders died After whose death euerie man returned home This Pope being dead the yeare 1465. Paulo secundo borne in the Cittie of Venice aspired to the Papacie About that time many other states of Italy chaunged their gouernment For the same yeare following died Francesco Sforza Duke of Milan hauing vsurped that Dukedome sixteene yeares And Galiazzo his sonne was proclaimed Duke The death of this Prince was the occasion that the diuisions of Florence became of more force and wrought their effects with the more speed After the death of Cosimo di Medici Piero his sonne being left in possession of the goods and lands of his father called vnto him Diotisalui Neroni a man of great authoritie amōg the other citizens of most reputation and one in whom Cosimo reposed so great trust as at his death he willed Piero both in his substance state to be by his counsel gouerned Piero accordingly declared vnto Diotisalui the trust which Cosimo had in him And because he would shewe himselfe as obedient to his father after death as he was in his life he desired Diotisalui to assist him with his counsell both for the order of his patrimonie and the gouernment of the Citie and to begin with his own priuate businesse he commaunded all his Officers to resort vnto him with their accounts and leaue the same with Diotisalui to the end that he might finde out the order and disorder of their doings and so counsell him what was best afterwards to be done Diotisalui promised to vse diligence and performe the trust in him reposed The Officers being come and examined were found to haue committed many disorders And thereupon as a man that more respected his owne ambition then the loue he bare to Piero or the benefits he had receiued of Cosimo imagined it was easie to deceiue Piero of the reputation and liuings left him by his father Diotisalui came vnto Piero offering him counsaile which seemed verie honest and reasonable yet vnder the same laie hidden the destruction of Piero. Hee told him what disorder he found in his affaires and how it behoued him to prouide great summes of mony for the holding of his credit and reputation in the state and therfore said he could not more honestly repaire his disorders and losses then by calling in those debtes which many straungers and Citizens did owe vnto his father For Cosimo to gaine
why do you take life from it If it hath made you victorious why should we destroy it If it hath honored vs why haue we disdained it I promise you by that faith which ought to be giuē and receiued amōg good mē that if you behaue your selues so as I shal repent me of my victory I wil so do as you shal also repēt that you haue abused it Those citizens according to the time answered resonably Notwitstāding they continued still in their insolēt doings Inso much as Piero sent secretly to Agnolo Acciaiuoli who came vnto him at Cafaggiuolo and there they reasoned at length touching the estate of the Cittie And surely had he not bene by death preuented he would haue called home all the banished men to bridle the insolencie and oppression of those that liued in the Citie But death suffered him not to performe so honest an intent for diseases of bodie and trouble of minde so greeuously handled him that hee died the fiftie and three yeare of his age His vertue and bountie could not be to his Countrey so well knowne as they deserued partly because his father liued welneare as long and partly for that those fewe yeares hee ouerliued him were in ciuill contentions and sicknesse consumed This Piero was buried in the Church of S. Lorenzo neare vnto his father and his funerall performed with honour and pompe worthie so great a Cittizen Of him there remained two sonnes Lorenzo and Giuliano of whome there was good hope that they would prooue men fit for the state yet their youth was such as made all men doubt thereof Amongst other chiefe Cittizens in the gouernment of Florence there was one farre excelling the rest called Tomaso Soderini whose wisedome and authoritie not onely to Florence but also to all the Princes in Italy was knowne Hee after the death of Piero was of all the Cittie reuerenced and manie Cittizens did dailie visite him as chiefe man of the state Also diuerse Princes did write vnto him Neuerthelesse being wise and knowing what fortune followed him and his house hee would neuer answere the Princes Letters and perswaded the Citizens they should not resort to his house but to the houses of the Medici Also to shewe in deedes that which by words was by him perswaded hee assembled all the chiefe Gentlemen of euerie family at the Monastery of S. Antonio whither hee procured that Lorenzo and Giuliano di Medici should come and there after a long and graue Oration by him made they disputed the estate both of that Cittie of all Italy and of the humours of the Princes Therein concluding that to continue Florence vnited in peace assured from diuision within and from warre without it behooued them to honor those two yoong men and mainteine the reputation of their house Because men do not repine to do such things as they haue bene accustomed vnto but new houses as they are easily honored so are they quickly abandoned For it hath bene euer more easie to maintaine that reputation where length of time hath extingnished enuy then to raise a new estimation which by many occasiōs may be oppressed After him spake Lorenzo who notwithstanding his youth vttered words with so great grauitie modestie as gaue euery man hope he would become such a one as indeed afterwards he proued And before they departed that place the Citizens praied the brethren to receiue them as children they offring to honor them as fathers This conclusion set downe Giuliano and Lorenzo were honoured as Princes of the Citie and those that were of counsell with Tomaso did not intermeddle Thus the Florentines liued both within without so peaceably as nothing disturbed the Common quiet till a trouble not looked for arose which did prognosticate future mischiefe Among other families which Lucca Pitti ruined was that of Nardi For Saluestro and his brethren being heads of that house were first sent into exile and after by the warre which Bartolomeo Coglione moued made Rebels Of these Barnardo brother of Saluestro was a yoong man of great spirit and courage Hee being poore could not endure banishment and finding that the peace made had not prouided for his returne determined to make proofe of somewhat whereby might grow occasion of warre For many times of a small beginning great effects doe followe Because men bee more willing to prosecute then beginne anie enterprise This Barnardo had much acquaintance in Prato and muche more in the Countrey about Pistoia chiefely with the the house of Palandra who albeit they were but countrey people yet was their number great and the men according to the manner of that countrey practised in armes and much vsed to bloud He knew likewise they liued discontented and by reason that some of their enemies were Magistrates in Florence they had bene euill handled He knew moreouer the humor of the Pratesi who accounted themselues proudly and hardly gouerned and had particuler knowledge of the euill disposition of some towards the State All which things brought him in hope to kindle fire in Toscana by making Prato to rebell whereto so many would put hands as they that would quench it should not be able Then he imparted this matter to Diotisalui Neroni and asked of him what aide might be by his meanes procured among the Princes if he should happen to surprize Prato Diotisalui thought the enterprise dangerous and as impossible to take effect notwithstanding considering he might thereby with the perill of others make new proofe of fortune perswaded him to proceed and promised to bring him assured aide from Bologna and Farrara so that he were able to defend Prato at the least fifteene dayes Barnardo then incouraged with this promise and conceiuing great hope of happie proceeding went to Prato and there communicating the matter to diuerse found them verie willing The like disposition he perceiued in the familie of Palandra and hauing agreed togithers of the time and manner of the enterprise Barnardo imparted all to Diotisalui At that time was Cesare Petrucci Podesta of Prato for the Florentines The custome was that the Podesta should haue the keies of the towne brought vnto him And whensoeuer any of the towne chiefely in times of no suspition desired to goe out or come in by night that fauour was graunted Barnardo knowing this custome being accompanied with those of the house of Palandra and 100. others armed men in the morning when the gate towards Pistoia should open presented himselfe and those whome he had made priuie within did likewise arme One of them went to the Podesta saying a friend of his desired to come into the towne The Podesta not doubting any such accident sent with him a seruant of his to carrie the keies from whome being a little on the way the keies were taken the gates opened and Barnardo with his followers came in Then they diuided themselues in two parts The one led by Saluestro of Prato tooke possession of the Cittadell
would not faile to be They ordered that Giouanbattista should take in hand to kill Lorenzo and Francesco de Pazzi with Barnardo Bandini should sley Giuliano Giouanbattista refused to performe his charge either bicause the curteous vsage of Lorenzo had mollified his mind or else for some other occasion which moued him said he durst not commit so great a sinne in the Church as to execute treason with sacrilege Which conceit of Giouanbattista was the first ruine of their enterprise for the time drawing on they were forced to commit that charge to Antonio of Volterra and Steffano the Priest two men both for experiēce and nature farre vnfit for that purpose bicause there is no action which requireth more resolution and constancie of mind then this And it behoueth him that should take such a matter in hand to be a man accustomed to be present at the death of others For it hath oft bene seene that some men vsed to armes and bloud haue notwithstanding in like cases let fall their courage This determination set downe they agreed that the time of the execution should be at the sacring time of Masse and in the same instant the Archbishop Saluiati with Giacopo should take possession of the publique Pallace to the end that the Senators either by consent or force so soone as the yong men were slaine should fauour the conspirators This course being agreed of they went to the Temple where they found the Cardinall and Lorenzo de Medici The Church was full of people and the seruice begun but Giuliano not come Wherfore Francesco de Pazzi with Barnardo who had the charge of his death went vnto his house and there by intreatie and cunning perswaded him to come to the Church And truly it is a thing worthy memorie to know how so great hatred would be so couertly kept secret in the minds of Francesco Barnardo For both by the way going to the Church and in the church they enterteined Giuliano with pleasant speech and youthful daliance Also Francesco vnder colour of familier and friendly curtesie tooke Giuliano in his armes to feele whether he had on anie armour or garment of defence Giuliano and Lorenzo knew well inough they were not beloued of the Pazzi and that they desired to remoue them from their authoritie in the state yet feared they not their own liues supposing that whensoeuer the Pazzi would attempt anie enterprise against them they would do it ciuilly and not by violence Therefore not mistrusting anie such measure they likewise feined themselues to be their friends The murtherers thus prepared those that were appointed for slaughter of Lorenzo thrust in among the multitude where they might stand without suspition The others togithers with Giuliano being come to the Church at the time appointed Barnardo Bandini with a short dagger made for the purpose stabbed Giuliano to the heart who moouing a step or two fell to the ground and vpon him went Francesco de Pazzi wounding his bodie in many places so furiously that he strake himselfe also a great wound in one of his owne legs Antonio and Steffano assaulted Lorenzo at whom they strake diuerse times but hurt him onely a litle in the throate For either their negligence his resistance or the helpe of those that stood by saued him from further harme So that the conspirators fled and hid themselues But being afterwards founde they were shamefully put to death and their bodies drawne through all the streetes of the Citie Lorenzo ioyning with those friends he had about him retired himselfe into the vesterie of the Temple and there shut vp the doores Barnardo Bandini seeing Giuliano dead slew also Francesco Nori a great friend to the Medici either because hee hated him before or because Francesco had gone about to saue Giuliano Also not content with these two murthers he went towards Lorenzo hoping by his courage and quicknesse to supplie that which others for their sloth and cowardice had left vndone But Lorenzo being in the vestry he could not performe his intent In the midst of this great and terrible accident which was such as made all men to feare that the Church would haue fallen downe the Cardinall retired to the altar where he was with great difficultie by the Priests saued till such time as the tumult ceased the Senate could conuey him to his Pallace and there till his deliuerie with great feare he remained At that time there were in Florence certaine Citizens of Perugia who by the factions enemies to their houses had bene banished These Perugini being promised by the Pazzi to be restored to their country were also of this conspiracie Whereupon the Archbishop Saluiati who was gone to surprise the Pallace accompanied with Giacopo the two other Saluiati and other his friends and followers being come thither left certaine of them below charging them that so soone as they should heare anie noyse to take possession of the gate and he with the greater part of the Perugini went vp where he found the Senate at dinner and was presently let in by Cesare Petrucci Gonfaloniere di Giustitia The Archbishop thus entred with a fewe leauing the rest without they of their owne accord went into the Chancery where they shut themselues in For the locke of that doore was by such deuise made as neither within nor without could be but with the key opened The Archbishop in the meane space being with the Gonfaloniere pretending to speake with him of matters by the Popes commandement began to vtter some speech fearefully and as though he were amazed In so much as the alteration of his countenance words wrought so great suspition in the Gonfaloniere that sodeinly he thrust him out of the chamber and seeing Giacopo there also tooke him by the haire of the head and deliuered him to the hands of the Serieants The rest of the Senators perceiuing these tumults with those weapons which were next hand assaulted the others which were come vp with the Archbishop Part of them being shut vp the rest were dismaid all whom they sodeinly slew or caused aliue to be cast out of the Pallace window Of this number the Archbishop with the other two Saluiati and Giacopo de Poggio were hanged The other conspirators which were left below had wonne the gate from the guard and gotten possession of all the lower roomes so that the Citizens who resorted vnto the Pallace vpon this rumor could neither with their counsell nor their force assist the Senators In the meane space Francesco de Pazzi and Barnardo Bandini seeing Lorenzo escaped and one of them in whom the chiefe hope of the enterprise depended to be sore hurt were therewith dismaied Wherupon Barnardo hoping with that courage to escape wherewith he had iniured the Medici seeing the enterprise failed fled away and saued himselfe Francesco being come home to his house hurt offered to mount on horsebacke for the order was that certaine armed men should be placed about the towne and the
for these matters lately happened For when I consider with what fraud and despight I was assaulted and my brother slaine I cannot but bee sorrie and with all my heart and soule lament Yet when I remember with what readinesse what loue and vniuersall consent of all this Citie my brothers death was reuenged and I defended I must of force be glad and greatly esteeme my selfe For as experience hath now taught me to know that I haue more enemies in the Cittie then I thought so hath it enformed mee that I had also more earnest and affectionate friends then I looked for I am then to condole with you for the iniurie of others and reioyce with you for your owne merits yet must my sorrow be the more because the iniuries were rare neuer seene and not of vs deserued Consider right noble Cittizens to what point frowarde fortune had brought our house that among our friends our kinsfolks and in the Church it was not assured Such as stand in feare of their liues were wont to resort to their friends for aide and flee to their kinsfolk for succour both whom we found readie armed to our destruction Such as either mistrusted priuate or publique persecution haue found refuge in Churches but the same hauing saued others hath bin made a place for our murder For where murderers theeues haue found refuge the Medici haue met with ministers of their death But God who hitherto did neuer abandon our house hath saued vs and taken vpon him the defence of our iust cause For what iniurie haue we done that might of any man merit so great desire of reuenge Truly we neuer offended priuately any of these who haue prooued themselues so much our enemies For if we had offended them they should not haue had so great meane to offend vs. Or if they attribute to vs the publique iniuries whereof I am not priuie they offend rather you then vs rather this Pallace and maiestie of gouernment then our house seeming that for our cause you do vndeseruedly iniure them and the rest of your Citizens which is farre from all troth For we though we could and you though we would did neuer consent they should be done Whosoeuer doth looke well into the truth shall finde that our house hath bene by you with so vniuersall consent aduaunced for nothing more then for that it hath studied to excell others in curtesie liberallitie and well dooing If then we haue honoured straungers how haue we iniured our kinsfolke If this motion proceeded of desire to gouerne as it seemeth to do by taking the Pallace and leading armed men to the Market place thereby appeareth how euill ambitious and reprooueable it is If it be done for the mallice and enuie they beare to our authoritie therein they offend you not vs to whom you haue giuen it For surely those authorities deserue hate which men vsurpe not those which with curtesie liberallitie and magnificence be gained You know also that our house neuer ascended to any degree of greatnesse but by order of this Pallace and your vniuersall graunt Cosimo my graundfather returned not from exile by force of armes or violence but by your allowance and consent My father being aged and sicke could not defend his authoritie against so many enemies but you with your authoritie did it I my selfe after my fathers death being as it were a childe haue not mainteined the estimation of my house but by your counsels and fauour Neither could our house haue gouerned this common-weale had you not ioyned and doo ioyne in the gouernment thereof I cannot therefore imagine what cause of mallice they haue against vs or what iust occasion to enuie vs. For sith their owne auncestors with their pride and couetise haue lost those honours why should they enuie vs if by contrarie desert we haue gained them But admit the iniuries done them by vs be great and that they iustly desired our ruine yet why should they offend this Pallace Why make they league with the Pope and King against the libertie of this state Or why do they disturbe the long peace of Italy Hereof they haue no excuse at all for they ought to offend those who offended them and not mixe priuate displeasures with publique iniuries which is the reason that they being extirped our miserie is the more For by their meanes the Pope and King are comming towardes vs in armes and that warre they say to be made onely against me and my house Which would God were true because then the remedie is readie and certain For I am not so bad a Citizen as to preferre my priuate welfare before your publique weldooing but would willingly quench your fire with my own destruction Yet sith the iniuries which great men do be alwaies couered with some pretence lesse dishonest they haue chosen this quarell to cloake their shamefull enterprise But if it so be that you beleeue the contrarie I am in your hands to be holden or let loose as your selues shall thinke best You are my fathers you are my defenders whatsoeuer you commaund I obey and will performe Neither will I euer refuse if it shall please you to end this warre with my bloud which by the bloud of my brother hath bene begun While Lorenzo thus spake the Cittizens could not refraine weeping and with such compassion as they heard him he was by one of them answered saying The Cittie did acknowledge to haue receiued so much good of him and his as hee might assure himselfe they would be no lesse readie to preserue his reputation and authoritie then they had bene willing to reuenge his brothers death and saue his life And before he should lose either the one or the other they would hazard the losse of their countrey And to the end their deeds might be answerable to those words they appointed a certain number of men to guard his person from domesticall treasons and after tooke order for the warre leuying both men and money by all meanes conuenient Then by vertue of the league they sent for aide to the Duke of Milan and the Venetians And sith the Pope had shewed himselfe a wolfe and no shepheard fearing to be deuoured by all possible meanes they iustified their cause letting all Italy know the treason practised against their state declaring the wickednesse of the Pope and his iniustice who being by indirect meanes aspired to the Papacie would also with mallice exercise the same For he had not onely first sent a Prelate of his to accompanie traytors and cut-throates to commit murther in the Temple euen in the time of diuine seruice and at the instant of celebration of the Sacrament and so by the death of the Citizens to chaunge the gouernment and sacke the Cittie at his pleasure but had also excommunicated them and with his papall curses threatned and offended them Notwithstanding if God were iust and that the iniuries of men were to him offensiue it could not be but that the
and beganne to deuise rather how hee might winne him for a friend then continue him an enemie Notwithstanding for diuerse causes hee enterteined him from December till Marche not onelie to make the more triall of him but also of his Cittie For Lorenzo wanted not enemies in Florence who desired that the King would haue holden him and enterteined Giacopo Piccinino and vnder colour of lamenting they speake their mindes Also in publique Councelles they opposed their opinions against Lorenzo By these deuises It was bruted that if the King woulde keepe Lorenzo long at Naples the gouernment in Florence should be chaunged Whiche was the onely cause that the King deferred his dispatch so long hoping there might some tumult arise in Florence But seeing that all thinges passed quietly on the sixt day of March in the yeare 1479. he had leaue to depart and before his departure was by the King so bountifully presented louingly vsed that betwixt Lorenzo the King their grew a perpetual amity preseruation of both their states Thus Lorenzo returned to Florence with greater reputation honor then he went thence was with so great ioy of the citie receiued as his great vertues new merits deserued hauing put his own life in hazard to recouer peace to his country For within two daies after his arriuall the treaty betwixt the common weale of Florence the King was proclaimed wherby they were both both bound to defend one the others country that the townes taken frō the Florentines in the war shuld be by the King restored And that the Pazzi imprisoned in the town of Volterra shuld be deliuered And that mony should be for a certaine time paide vnto the Duke of Calauria This peace being published did much offend the Pope the Venetians because the Pope thought he was litle esteemed of the King the Venetians as litle regarded of the Florentines who being their companions in the war thought themselues il vsed not to be partakers of the peace This indignation vnderstood and beleeued at Florence did sodeinly breed suspition in euerie man that of the peace wold arise a greater war Wherupon the Magistrates of the state determined to restraine the gouernment and that the affaires of most importance should be reduced into the hands of a lesse number and so ordeined a Councell of 70. Citizens with authoritie that they might proceed in matters of most importance This new ordinance staied the minds of those that desired innouation and to giue thereto countenance first of all they accepted the peace which Lorenzo had made with the King and sent vnto the Pope Antonio Ridolphi and Piero Nasi Neuertheles Alfonso Duke of Calauria did not remoue his army from Siena saying he was staied by the discord of the citizens there which was so great that he being lodged without the citie was called in and made iudge of their differents The Duke taking these occasions punished many of those citizens in mony imprisoning banishing others and some also were iudged to death In so much as by this meanes he became suspected not only to the Sanesi but the Florentines also mistrusted he would make himself Prince of that citie Wherof they knew no remedy cōsidering the new friendship of Florence with the King the enmitie of the Pope King Which suspition not only in the people of Florence generally who mistrustfully cōsider of all things but in the chief gouernors of the state appeared euery man imagining that our citie had neuer bin in so great danger to lose the liberty therof But God who had euer a particuler care therof caused an accident to happē vnlooked for which made the King the Pope the Venetians to think of greater matters thē these of Toscana Mahumetto great Turk was with a mighty army gone to the Isle of Rodi had many months assaulted it But notwithstanding his forces were great and his resolution to win the town greater yet was the vertue of those that defended the same greatest of all For Mahumetto notwithstanding his furious assaults was forced to depart with shame Thus the Turk being departed frō Rodi part of his army cōducted by Saccometto Bascia went towards Velona by the way either for that he saw the enterprise easie or because the Turk had so commanded passed by the coast of Italy sodeinly set 4000. men on land who assaulted the citie of Ottranto tooke it sacked it slew all the inhabitants therof which done by all the best means he could fortified both the citie the hauen Thē sent he for horsmen with them he forraged spoiled the coūtry round about The king seeing this assault knowing how great a prince had takē that enterprise in hād sent vnto al places to signify the same desired aid of thē al against the cōmon enimy Also speedily reuoked the Duke of Calauria with his forces frō Siena This assault thogh it grieued the duke the rest of Italy yet did the same cōfort Florēce Siena One hoping therby to recouer liberty th'other trusting the rather to shun those perils which made them to feare the losse of their libertie Which opinion was encreased by the vnwilling departure and lamentation of the Duke at his going from Siena accusing fortune that she by an vnlooked for and vnreasonable accident had taken frō him the dominion of Toscana The selfsame chance did alter the Popes mind for where before he refused to giue audience to all Florentines he was now become so curteous as he refused not to hear any that wold speak vnto him of the vniuersal peace Whereupon the Florentines were aduertised that if they would desire pardon of the Pope they might obteine it It was then thought good not to omit this occasion and 12. Embassadors were sent to the Pope who being arriued at Rome were by his holinesse before they had audience enterteined with diuers practises In the end it was betweene the parties concluded how either of them should afterwards liue in what sort either of them both in peace and war were to make contribution After this conclusion the Embassadors were admitted to present themselues at the Popes feete and he sitting in the midst of his Cardinals with exceeding great pomp receiued them These Embassadors excused all matters passed sometimes blaming necessitie sometimes the euil disposition of others sometimes the populer furie and the iust offence thereof saying they were most vnhappie being forced either to fight or die And because all things are endured to eschue death they had suffred war excommunicatiōs all other troubles which the matters passed had brought with thē And all to the end that their common weale might auoyd bondage which is the death of all free Cities Neuertheles if any error or enforced fault were committed they were ready to make satisfaction euer hoping in his goodnes who following the examples of the almightie Redeemer he would receiue them
forces at Pisa vnder Virginio Orsino They also complained vnto the Pope that whilest he practised the peace the Genouesi had begunne this warre They sent likewise Piero Corcini to Lucca to continue the amitie with that Citie and Pagolantonio Soderini was sent vnto Venice to feele the disposition of that state They praied aide also of the King and of the Lord Lodouico Sforza but failed thereof at both their handes For the King saide hee feared the Turkes Nauie and Lodouico vnder other cauillations deferred to send anie Thus the Florentines being for the most part left alone in their warres did not finde anie so readie to helpe them as they were readie to aide others Neither were they dismaied being now abandoned by their confederates which was no new thing but assembling a great armie vnder Giacopo Guicciardini and Piero Vittori sent them against the enemie who lodged one night vppon the Riuer Magra In the meane time Serezanello was straightly distressed by the enemie who by vndermining and euerie other meanes besieged it In so much as our Commissaries marched towardes the reliefe thereof Yet the enemie refused not to fight but ioyning battle with the Commissaries the Genouesi were ouerthrowne and Lodouico Fiesco with many other Captaines of the enemies were taken prisoners This victory discouraged not so much the Serezanesi that they would therefore yeeld but with more obstinacie they prepared for defence and the Florentine Commissaries still continued to offend them In so much as that towne was both manfully assaulted and stoutly defended This siege continuing long caused Lorenzo di Medici to go himselfe into the field He being come thither greatly encouraged our souldiers and discouraged the Serezanesi For they seeing the resolution of the Florentines to distresse them and the coldnesse of the Genouesi to relieue them freely and without conditions yeelded themselues to the Florentines hands And were all receiued to mercie excepting a fewe who had bin the authors of the rebellion Lodouico during this siege had sent his men of armes to Pontremoli seeming to haue aided vs. But hauing intelligence with some in Genoua that faction tooke armes against those that gouerned and with the aide of these forces deliuered that Cittie to the Duke of Milan At that time the Almanes had mooued a war against the Venetians and Boccolino de Osimo in La Marca caused the towne of Osimo to rebell against the Pope and made himselfe Prince thereof He after many accidents at the perswasion of Lorenzo di Medici was contented to deliuer that Citie againe vnto the Pope and went himselfe to Florence where vnder the protection of Lorenzo he liued long in great honour After he went from thence to Milan where not finding the like fidelitie was by Lodouico put to death The Venetians assaulted by the Almanes were neare vnto the Citie of Trento broken and Roberto da Sanseuerino their Generall slaine After which losse the Venetians according to the order of their fortune made peace with the Almanes not as victored but as victorious so honourable was the conclusion for their state In those dayes also there happened in Romagna tumults of great importance Francesco de Orso of Furli was a man of great authoritie in that Citie He being suspected to the Earle Girolamo was many times by the Earle threatned Whereupon Francesco liuing in great feare was perswaded by his friends and kinsmen to preuent the mischief And sith he feared to be slaine by the Earle was aduised to sley him first and so by the death of an other escape his owne daunger This resolution made hee appointed the time for performing the enterprise the Market day at Furli for many of his country friends comming then thither he thought to haue their aide without sending for them This conspiracie hapned in the moneth of May in which time and all the sommer the Italians do vse to sup by day-light The conspirators thought the fittest instant to commit this murther should be immediatly after supper when all his familie were at meate and he left almost alone in his chamber Thus determined and that houre appointed Francesco went vnto the Earles house and leauing his companions in the Hall himselfe went vp to the Chamber where the Earle was and said to one of his men that he desired to speake with the Earle Francesco being called in enterteined the Earle awhile with some feined speech and so sodeinly slew him Then he called vnto him his companions and slew also the Earles man By chance the Captaine of the towne also came in the meane time to speake with the Earle and being arriued in the Hall followed with a fewe was likewise slaine by those that came to murther the Earle These murthers executed the Earles bodie was cast out of the window and the murtherers proclayming the Church and libertie caused all the people to arme who hated greatly the couetise and crueltie of the Earle The conspirators hauing sacked the Earles houses tooke the Countesse Caterina his wife with all her children Then remained onely the Castle which being surprized should happilie finish the enterprise But thereunto the Captaine would not consent Neuerthelesse this Countesse promised to deliuer it if she were let loose to goe into the Castle and for hostages of her promise she left with the enemyes her children The conspirators belieued her words and gaue her leaue to depart But so soone as she was within the Castle she looked ouer the walls and threatned the enemyes to be reuenged of her husbands death Then they threatning to sley all her children answered that she had meane to beget others The conspirators dismaied seeing they were not aided by the Pope and hearing that the Lord Lodouico Vnkle to the Countesse did send men in her aide taking vp all the goods they could carrie awaie went vnto the Cittie of Castello whereby the Countesse recouered her state and reuenged her husbands death by all manner of cruelties The Florentines vnderstanding the Earles death tooke occasion to repossesse the fortresse of Piancaldoli which the Earle had before taken from them for sending thither their forces they surprized it and slew therein Ciecco the famous Architetture To this tumult of Romagna followed one other of no lesse moment Galeotto Lord of Faenza tooke to wife the daughter of Giouan Bentiuogli Prince of Bologna She either for ielousie or bicause her husband vsed her not well either else through her owne euil nature hated him so much as she determined to take from him his principallitie and life Then dissembling a sicknesse laid her selfe in bed and when Galeotto should come to visit her she determined he should be by certaine men hidden in the Chamber slaine Of this intent she had made her father priuie who hoped by the death of his sonne in lawe to become Lord of Faenza The time destined for this murther being come Galeotto repaired to his wiues Chamber as he was woont and hauing a little talked with