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
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
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
THE FLORENTINE Historie WRITTEN IN THE ITALIAN TONGVE BY NICHOLO MACCHIAVELLI CITIZEN AND SECREtarie of Florence And translated into English By T. B. Esquire LONDON Printed by T. C. for VV. P. 1595. NON TIBI SPIRO S r. Richard Newdigate of Arbury in the County of Warwick Baronet 1709 TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE SYR CHRISTOPHER HATTON KNIGHT OF THE ORDER ONE OF HER MAIESTIES PRIVIE COVNCELL AND LORD CHANcellour of England MY VERIE GOOD LORD It hath bene and yet I thinke is an vse allowable to present those whom we honour or loue with such things as either for their value be profitable or for their noueltie pleasing Wanting power to performe the one I make bold to do the other and according to my promise send you this old Historie newly translated Which albeit your L. hath heretofore read in the Italian toong yet may it be that for varieties sake you will againe vouchsafe to peruse it in our English written by him that is all yours Sure I am and by reading hereof your L. shall be assured that neither I haue fully expressed the Authours conceit nor the writer well performed his dutie Notwithstanding sith both those wants may be supplied by your iudgement I aduenture the Booke into your L. hand whom I dare trust with any pardonable error For as I haue taken in hand this labour more to enterteine my selfe not otherwise occupied then thereby to merit your thanks or the commendation of others so doo I recommend the same to your L. rather to be looked on at leisure then as a thing of perfection worthie to be studied Yet do I thinke and so do others of more iudgement that this Historie doth equall or excell the most part that haue bin written not so much for the order and argument of the matter as the iuditiall discourses and obseruations of the Authour Wherein be discouered the causes of forraine and domesticall discords the commodities and discommodities of treaties and the secret humours of Princes with diuerse other things verie considerable chiefly of such as be called to consultation of publike affaires gouernment And as the end of all Histories ought be to mooue men vnto vertue and discourage them from vice so do I thinke there is not any that conteineth more examples to that purpose then this writer who leauing aside all partialitie and the custome of those that studie to flatter whom they fauour and misreport whom they loue not doth seeme greatly to follow the truth and setteth forth rather the causes and effects of euerie action then ouer-much extoll or disgrace the persons of whome the storie entreateth But as of all other things so hereof your L. can best iudge Wherefore most humbly reaccommending to your good fauour this poore Present and my faithfull seruice I take leaue At the Court this eight of Aprill 1588. Your L. most humble and assured to commaund Thomas Bedingfeld The Proeme of the Authour MY meaning was at such time as I determined to write the Actions of the Florentine people both within and without the Citie to begin my Narration from the yeare of the Christian Religion 1444. at which time the house of Medici through the merits of Cosimo and Giouanni his father aspired to more reputation then any other in Florence For I thought that Leonardo of Arezzo and Poggio two excellent Historiographers had particulerly set downe all things that till those dayes had hapned But hauing afterwards diligently read their writings to see with what order and meanes they proceeded to the end that following the same our Historie might be by the Readers better allowed I found that in their description of the warres made by the Florentines both against Princes and other forraine States they had vsed exceeding great diligence but of the ciuill discords and inward enimities of the effects by them brought forth they had vtterly omitted one part so brieflie described the other as the Readers could not thereby gather any profit or pleasure at all which I thinke they did either because they iudged those matters so meane as were not worthie the writing or else feared to offend the posteritie of some persons who should thereby haue bene euill reported VVhich two respects be it spoken without offence seeme to me vtterly vnworthie men of great reputation For if there be any thing in Histories that delighteth or teacheth it is that which maketh particuler description Or if any reading be profitable for men that gouerne in Common-weales it is that which sheweth the occasions of hate and faction to the end that being warned by harme of others they may become wise and continue themselues vnited Also if euery example of Common-weales do moue the mind those we read of our Country doo moue most and be most profitable Moreouer if the diuisions of any Common-weale haue euer bene notable the diuisions of Florence are of all others most notable For the most part of other Common-weales to vs knowne were content with one onely diuision ond thereby according to the accidents sometimes encreased and sometimes ruined their Cities But Florence not content with one had many diuisions In Rome as euery man knoweth after the Kings were expulsed diuision grew betweene the nobilitie and the multitude which continued till the ruine thereof the like hapned in Athens and all other Common-weales which in those dayes flourished But in Florence first the noble men became diuided among themselues Then the nobilitie and the people And at last the people and the multitude Yea many times it hapned that one of these being victorious diuided it selfe into two Of which diuisions followed so many murthers so many banishments and so many subuersions of Families as neuer chaunced within any Citie that can be remembred And surely it seemeth to mee there is nothing that witnesseth so well the greatnes of our Citie as that which dependeth vpon these diuisions being of force sufficient to subuert any Citie of what greatnes or power so euer Notwithstanding our state still encreased For so great was the vertue of those Citizens by their wisedome and courage to work the aduancement of themselues and their country as they that hapned to escape so manifold mischiefes could by their vertue procure more encrease to the Citie then the displeasure of those accidents which wrought the decaie could decrease it And withouc all doubc if Florence had bin so happie as it might vpon the deliuery thereof from the Empire haue taken some forme of gouernment which would haue holden the state vnited I know not what Common-weale either auncient or moderne that for vertue of Armes and industrie before it could haue bene preferred For most true it is that after the Ghibilini were banished in so great numbers that all Toscana and Lombardy was full of them the Guelfi with the rest that remayned at the warre against Arezzo one yeare before the iourney of Compaldino drew out of their owne Cittie of Cittizens onely 1200. men of Armes and 12000.
brother into Florence Of M. Corso with certaine banished men entereth the Citie How the Lucchesi setled the state in Florence Florence both by fire and sword tormented Of a place called le Stinche in the vale of Greue Vguccione cheefe of the faction Ghibilina and Bianca The Ghibilini banished and among them the Poet Dante Of great misery in Florence New reformation in Florence Castruccio of Lucca The order of casting Lots and how it begunne in Florence How the great Cittizens encreased their authority by two meanes Conspiracy against Giacopo de Agobio League betweene the Florentines and Venetians The Duke of Athene made Lord of Florence Proclamation of banishment made by that Duke and murther of some Citizens The Oration of certayn cheefe Citizens before the Duke The Dukes Pallace sacked Conspiracy against the Duke The Duke assaulted and vanquished The Duke dismissed out of Florence his lyfe and condition Andrea Strozzi entendeth to vsurpe the state of Florence At what time the great plague hapned in that City whereof Boccatio hath at large written In the third Booke HOw the discord which groweth of ambition are the occasion of deuision in Cities The partialities of the Albizi and Rizzi How M. di Riale of Prouenza came to Florence A law made against the Ghibilini How the word Ammoniti arose in Florence and what it meaneth An Oration of one Citizen to the Lords The occasion of the corruption of Italy The cheefe of the faction of Guelfi New tumults in Florence The Oration of Luigi Guicciardini Gonfaloniere New reformation of the City One Simone discouereth a conspiracy against the state Michiele di Lando an artificer by his courage aspired to be chosen Gonfaloniere di Giustitia New reformation in Florence A commendation of Michiele di Lando An accusation of many Cittizens for their returne being banished The insolency of Georgio Scali The death of that Georgio Exile and slaughter in Florence The speech of Benedetto Alberti to his cōpanions Of the maner of creation of the Balia in Florence Of Iohn Galeazzo Visconti The words of Veri di Medici What qualitie the Florentines required to be in him that occupied the place of Gonfaloniere Giacopo Acciaiuoli The death of certaine Cittizens In the fourth Booke FIlippo Visconti Duke of Milan intendeth to become Lord of Genoa Georgio Ordilaffi Lord of Furli The Duke of Milan maketh warre against the Florentines Giouanni de Medici New league betweene the Florentines and Venetians Of an Imposition among the Florentines called Catasto Carmignuolo Generall of the warre in Lombardy Peace taken with the Duke of Mylan and the League and what Citties remained to the Venetians The death of Giouanni de Medici and his commendation Of Cosimo his sonne Volterra rebelleth from the Florentines The enterprise of the Florentines against Lucca The violence offered to Sarauezesi and the speech of one man of that place to the Senate of Florēce Filippo Brunalesco an excellent Architector The defeate of the Florentine army by Nicholo Piccinino A consultation to expulse Cosimo di Medici out of Florence The answere of Nicholo Vzano Cosimo di Medici cited before the Senate was imprisoned Cosimo confined to Padoa Cosimo returneth to his Countrey In the fift Booke BRaccio and Sforza two great Captaynes in Italy Nicholo Piccinino Generall for the Duke of Mylan Gattamelata Generall for the Venetians Banishment of many Cittizens in Florence Alfonso of Aragon maketh warre for Naples The ordinances of the Cittie of Genoua The speech of Rinaldo delli Albizi to the Duke of Mylan Rebellion of Genoua from the Duke An Oration of an antient Cittizen of Lucca to the people Francesco Sforza Generall of the league of Florence and Venice Discord betweene Andrea Mauroceno and Francesco Sforza Cosimo di Medici Embassador to the Venetians The Duke of Mylan determineth to take Romagna from the Pope Sforza desiring to marrie the Duke of Mylan his daughter practiseth by diuerse indirect meanes Sforza refuseth to passe the Po with his army The speech of Neri Capponi to the Senate of Venice The diuerse waies from Pesaro to Verona and which of them the Earle Sforza made choise of The Nauy of the Venetians taken by Nicholo Piccinino The Earle remoueth to rescue Brescia The scite of Verona The Earle goeth to Venice Piccinino passeth to Casentino The Castle of San Nicholo The Earle breaketh the Dukes Nauy The ouerthrow of Piccinino Alberto de Albizi setleth himselfe to dwell at Ancona The taking of Poppi and what words the Earle owner of that place vsed In the sixt Booke A Description of certaine lawdable customes vsed in auncient Common-weales A proude request made by Piccinino to the Duke of Mylan The Duke marrieth Bianca his daughter to the Earle Francesco Sforza and giueth her the Cittie of Cremona Alfonso of Aragon beseegeth Naples Annibal Bentiuogli breaketh the forces of Piccinino Baldaccio de Anghiari Generall for the Florentines The Canneschi murdered Annibal Bentiuogli The people for that fact cut the Canneschi in pieces and killed Battista that slew Anniball Santo Bentiuogli appointed to gouerne Bologna vntill the sonne of Anniball came to full age Certaine Cities yeelded to the Venetians The Earle Sforza beseegeth Carauaggio The taking of one Venetian Proueditor whom the Earle set at libertie hauing first informed him of his pride The Venetians become bond to pay vnto the Earle a certaine number of Florins Embassadors sent from Mylan to the Earle and their Oration The Milanesi made choise of that Earle for their Duke The Embassadors of Venice denyed audience by the Florentines The Venetians begun warre agaynst the Duke Steffano Porcari determining to surprize Rome is discouered and put to death by the Pope King Rinato Pope Calisto 3. endeuoreth to make warre against the Infidels giuing crosses to the souldiers and therefore the enterprise was called la Crociata but it proceeded not Meruailous tempest about Florence and great harme proceeding thereby Giouan di Augio in the name of the French King taketh possession of Genoua Dissention betweene the Fregosi and Giouanni Giouanni vanquished In the seuenth Booke HOw hard it is to continue a Common-weale vnited The Cittizens of Florence desire Cosimo di Medici to reforme the Cittie Lucca Pitti Lucca Pitti builded magnificently The death of Cosimo di Medici The commendation of Cosimo A new enterprise against the infidels impeached A conspiracie of certaine Cittizens against Piere di Medici Piero armeth against his enemies The enemies of Piero banished Florence An Oration made by Piero in his house to the Senators The Duke of Milan goeth to Florence The Florentines against the Volterani Federigo Duke of Vrbino an excellent Captaine Bad condition of Galiazzo Duke of Milan Treason against that Duke The death of the Duke The death of the Conspirators In the eight Booke COnspiracie against Lorenzo and Giuliano di Medici The murder of Giuliano The death of the Archbishop and some other Conspirators The death of Francesco Pazzi The death of Giacopo di Pazzi The
their religion their tounge their apparrell and their names All which things nay any one of them considered vnseene would moue the hardest heart to cōpassion At that time many cities were ouerthrowen many begun many enlarged Among those that were ruined were Aquilegia Luni Chiusi Popolonia Fiesole and others Of those which were buylt new were Vinegia Siena Ferrara Aquila and other townes and castels which for breuitie I omit Those which of small Cities became great were Fiorenza Genoua Pisa Milan Napoli and Bologna to the which may be ioyned the ruine and repaire of Rome with diuerse others Citties in like sort defaced and after amended Among these ruines and these new people there grewe vp new languages since that time vsed in France Spaine and Italy which mixed with the ancient tongues of those Countries and the Romane speech haue framed languages neuer before time knowen The names also of those Prouinces riuers lakes seas and men were vtterly changed For France Italy and Spayne be full of new names from the olde farre differing as appeareth omitting many others The riuers of Po Garda and the Archipelago which are names diuers from those of auncient time vsed Men likewise commonly in those dayes called Caesari Pompei and such like are new baptized Peter Mathew and so forth But among so many variations the chaunge of Religion was not the least for those of the ancient faith contending with the miracles of the new wrought among men occasion of great discord but had the christian Religion bene vnited the disorders had not bene so great For the Greeke church the Romane church and the church of Rauenna contended one against the other Besides them many other differents arose among the christian people into many opinions diuided the world An example whereof was Affrica which suffered more affliction by reason of the opinion of Arius which the Vandoli beleeued then by any other cause either of their couetousnes or naturall crueltie During the multitudes of these miseries euerie man beare as it were in his face the markes of his discontented mind For besides the manifold mischiefes by them endured the greater number wanted the knowledge of God by whome all creatures hope to be comforted For the most of those people being ignorant of the true God wanting helpe and hope most miserably dyed Thus it appeareth that Theodorico deserued no small commendation being the first that appeased so many troubles For within these 28. yeares which he reigned in Italy he reduced it to so great order and honour as the markes of miserie were scantly perceiued But he being dead and leauing Atalarico for king who was the sonne of Amalasciunta his daughter Italy in short space returned to the former disorders For Attalarico shortly after his graundfather died left the gouernment to his mother and she making Theodato her minister in the gouernment was by him betraied Theodato by this meane made King became odious to the Ostrogotti and Iustiniano the Emperour hoped the rather to driue him from Italy To performe that enterprise he deputed Bellisario to be his Lieftenaunt who had alreadie conquered Affrica and chasing from thence the Vandoli reduced the same to obedience of the Empyre Bellisario also conquered Sicilia from thence passed into Italy where he surprized Napoli and Rome The Gotti receiuing these ouerthrowes killed their king Theodato as the cheife occasion of their misaduenture In his place was chosen Vitigete who after a few conflicts was by Bellisario besieged and in Rauenna takē Then was Bellisario before he had performed the whole victorie by Iustiniano reuoked to his charge were appointed Giouanni and Vitale men both for vertue and conuersation farre inferiour wherfore the Gotti tooke heart and created a king called Ildouado who was at that time Gouernour of Verona After him being within a few daies slaine Totila aspired to the kingdome and distressed the Emperours armie recouered Toscana and Napoli and brought vnder his obedience well neare all those states which Bellisario had gotten Wherfore Iustiniano thought good to send him again into Italy who being come thither with smal forces rather lost the reputation he had gotten before then encreased the same For Totila as it were before the face of Bellisario who was then with his armie at Hostia besieged Rome and tooke it Then considering with him selfe that he could neither hold it nor leaue it without daunger he razed the greatest part of the Citie driuing the people from thence and leading away the Senatours as prisoners which Bellisario little regarding marched with his armie vnto Calauria to meete there with souldiers sent in his aide from Greece Thus Bellisario seeing Rome abandoned determined with him selfe an honourable enterprise and entering into the ruines of Rome with what speed he possibly could repaired the walles of the citie called home the inhabitants But fortune as it seemeth enemie to so laudable an atempt apposed her selfe For Iustiniano the Emperour at the same time happened to be assaulted by the Parthi and for that cause called home Bellisario hee to obey his master lest Italy at the discretion of Tottila who anew possessed Rome but not with so great crueltie as he had before time there vsed For being entreated by S. Benedetto of whome in those daies there was holden a great opinion of holines he endeuoured him selfe rather to amend then marre that citie In this meane while Iustiniano had concluded a peace with the Parthi intending to send a new supply into Italy was empeached to performe that intent by a new people of the North called Sclaui who hauing passed Danubio assailed Illiria and Thracia so as by that meanes Tottila got into his hands all Italy But so soone as Iustiniano had suppressed the Sclaui he sent thither his armie conducted by Narsete an Eunuch who distressed the forces of Tottila slew him with the remaine of the Gotti After that ouerthrow retired to Pauia where they created Teia for their King Narsete on the other side after this victorie surprized Rome and at the last fought with Teia not farre from the cittie of Nocera slew him and vanquished his armie By meane of which victorie the name of Gotti in Italy was clearely extirped hauing there remained from the reigne of Theodorico vnto Teia their Kings threescore and ten yeares But so soone as Italy was deliuered from the Gotti Iustiniano died leauing Iustino his sonne to succeed him who through counsell of Sophia his mother reuoked Narsete from Italy in his place sent Longino his sonne thither This Longino following the order of his predecessors inhabited Rauenna setled in Italy a new fourme of gouernment appointing no Gouernours of Prouinces as did the Gotti but created in euerie cittie and towne of importance a Chieftaine whome he called Duke In which diuision he allotted no more honour to Rome then to other townes because he tooke from thence the Consuls and Senate which names till
but the nobilitie thereof would not consent to the pope resoluing to yeelde their obedience to Tancredi At that time Celestino tertio was pope who desirous to take the kingdome from Tancredi sought meanes that Enrico sonne of Federigo should be made Emperour and promised him the kingdome of Naples vpon condition that he should restore vnto the church all those townes thereunto belonging And to make that action the more easie hee tooke out of a monastery Gostanza an olde woman daughter of Gulielmo and married her vnto Federigo Thus passed the kingdome of Naples to the Germaines from the Normands who were the auncient founders thereof So soone as Enrico the Emperour had setled all thinges in Germany hee came into Italy accompanied with Gostanza his wife and his sonne but foure yeares old called Federigo Where with some difficultie because Tancredi was dead leauing onely a litle sonne called Rogeri he possessed the kingdom Within a small time after in Sicilia died Enrico to whome Federigo succeeded in the kingdome and to the Empire was elected Ottone Duke of Sassonia through fauour of pope Innocentio quarto But so soone as he was crowned Emperour contrary to all expectation hee became enemie to the pope surprised Romagna and prepared to assault the kingdome For which dooing the pope did excommunicate him all other men left him and the electors created Federigo king of Napoli Then came Federigo to Rome for the crowne but the pope fearing his greatnesse denied him and sought to remooue him out of Italy as hee had done before to Ottone Therewith Federigo offended went into Germany and made much vvarre against Ottone and at length ouerthrevv him In the meane vvhile died Innocentio vvho besides other his notable vvorkes builded the Hospitall of Santo spirito in Rome After him succeeded Honorio tertio in vvhose time beganne the orders of Santo Dominico and Francisco the yeare 1218. This pope crovvned Federigo vnto vvhome Giouanni descended of Bauldouino king of Ierusalem vvho vvith the remaine of the Christians in Asia still possessed that title gaue his kingdome to his daughter in marriage Hereof it commeth that vvho so euer is King of Napoli is also intituled king of Ierusalem Italy in those dayes vvas thus gouerned The Romaynes made no more Consuls in Rome but in steed of them they created with the same authoritie sometimes one sometime more Senators The league which the cities of Lombardy had made against Federigo Barbarossa still continued The Cities confedered against the Emperour were Milano Brescia Mantoua with the greater part of Romagna and with them Verona Vicenza Padoua and Treuigi On the Emperours part were Cremona Bargamo Parma Reggio Modena Trento The other Cities and Castles of Lombardy Romagna and La Marca Treuigiana according to their necessitie fauoured somtimes the one and sometimes the other part In the time of Ottone the third came into Italy a man called Ezelino of whom remained one sonne who likewise begot an other Ezelino he being rich mightie folowed Federigo the secōd who was as hath bene before said enemy to the Pope This Emperour brought into Italy by the fauour of Ezelino tooke Verona and Mantoua razed Vicenza surprized Padoua vanquished the army of the townes confederate in the end marched towards Toscana Ezelino in the meane time surprized La Marca Triuigiana but he could not take Ferrara being defended by Azone of Este other soldiers sent by the Pope frō Lombardy The siege then leuied the Pope gaue that citie in Feudo to Azone of Este of whome be descended all those princes that till this day haue there gouerned Federigo staied at Pisa being desirous to become Lord of Toscana the rather to possesse the same discouer those that fauoured him from the other that were his enemies practised diuision among the people of the country which was afterwards the ruine of all Italy Because then the factions of Guelfi Ghibellini encreased calling them Guelfi that followed the Pope and Ghibellini that followed the Emperour In Pistoia these names of faction were first begun Federigo leauing Pisa by many meanes assaulted spoiled the townes belonging to the church Insomuch that the Pope not hauing other remedie proclaimed his Crociata against him as did his predecessours against the Saraseni Federigo then fearing to be abandoned by his souldiers as Federigo Barbarossa and other Emperours had bene enterteined great numbers of Sarasins and to make them more willing to serue knowing that they feared not the Popes curses he gaue them the citie of Nocera in the kingdome perswading himselfe that they hauing that refuge might serue him with the more securitie Innocentio quarto became Pope and mistrusting Federigo went to Genoua and from thence into France and called a Councell at the citie of Lions Whereunto Federigo determined to goe but was withholden by the rebellion of Parma from which enterprise repulsed he went into Toscana and thence into Sicilia where he died leauing in Sucuia his eldest sonne Corrado and in Puglia his other sonne being base borne called Manfredi whome hee had made Duke of Beneuento Corrado beeing come for possession of the kingdome arriued at Napoli and there died leauing one litle sonne called Curradino who at that time remained in Germany Then Manfredi first as gouernour to Curradino and after reporting that Curradino was dead against the Popes will the Neapolitans also whom he forced to consent made himselfe king During these troubles in the kingdome happened many quarrels betweene the factions of Guelfi and Ghibilini the one being fauoured by the Popes Legate and the other by Ezelino who possessed welneare all Lombardy on the other side of the riuer Po. And because in this warre the citie of Padoua rebelled Ezelino put to death twelue thousand Cittizens thereof and he himselfe before the end of the warre being then thirtie yeares of age was slaine After his death all the townes by him possessed became free Manfredi king of Napoli according to the custome of his auncestors continued enemie to the church holding the Pope called Vrbano quarto in continuall distresse in so much as the Pope proclaymed the Crociata against him which done hee went vnto Perugia where hee remained aspecting his souldiers Who comming thither slowly and in small numbers thought that to vanquish Manfredi those forces were not sufficient He therefore praied aide in France of Carlo Duke of Angio brother to king Lodouico creating him king of Sicilia and Napoli desiring him to come into Italy take possession of those kingdomes But before Carlo could come to Rome that Pope died and Clemente quarto elected In whose time Carlo with thirtie gallies came to Ostia appointing the rest of his army to march thither by land During his aboad in Rome the Romanes to honour him made him a Senator of Rome and the Pope inuested him in the kingdome with condition he should paie yearely fiftie thousand florines to the
Pope distraught of his vvits died This Bonifacio vvas he that ordeined the Iubilie in the yeare 1300. and commanded that euery hundreth yeare the same should be so solemnized After that time happened many troubles betvveene the factions of Guelfi Ghibellini And by reason that Italy vvas abandoned by the Emperors many towns became free and many others by tyrants possessed Pope Benedetto restored the Hat to the Cardinals Colonesi and absolued Philippo the French King To him succeeded Clemente quinto vvho being a French man remoued his court into France in the year 1306. In the meane space Carlo the second King of Napoli died To that kingdom succeeded Robarto his sonne and to the Empire Arrigo of Lucemburgh who notwithstanding the absence of the Pope from Rome vvent thither to be crowned By meane of that iourney grevv many troubles in Lombardy because all those that had bene banished either Guelfi or Ghibellini vvere admitted to returne to their townes and there being made so great quarrels among themselues as the Emperour vvith all his power could not appease The Emperour then departed from Lombardy to Genoua and so to Pisa vvhere he practised to take Toscana from the king Robarto But hauing no successe vvent on to Rome where he remained not long being driuen out by the Orsini and the friends of king Robarto Then returned he to Pisa vvhere he deuised for his better proceeding in the vvars of Toscana and the rather also to remooue king Robarto from his gouernment that Frederigo king of Sicilia should assault those countries But at such time as hee hoped at one instant to performe both those enterprises he died and Lodouico of Bauiera was chosen Emperour In this meane space was created Giouanni 22. In whose dayes the Emperour ceased not to persecute the Guelfi and the church which vvas chiefly defended by king Robarto and the Florentines Wherof grew great vvarre in Lombardy by the Visconti against the Guelfi and in Toscana by Castruccio of Lucca against the Florentines And because the family of Visconti vvas that vvhich beganne the Dukedome of Milan one of the fiue principallities that gouerned Italy I thinke good more at large hereafter to intreate of them After that the league of the cities of Lombardy vvas concluded as hath bene beforesaid and they resolued to defend themselues from Federigo Barbarossa Milan also being repaired of the ruines conspired vvith those cities of the league to be reuenged of former iniuries Which league brideled Barbarossa and for a time gaue countenance to the faction of the church then in Lombardy During these vvarres the house of Torre grevv to great reputation so long as the Emperours had in that country small authoritie But vvhen Federigo the second vvas come into Italy and the Ghibellini through the helpe of Ezelino became strong the humour of Ghibilini sprung vp in euery citie and the house of Visconti taking part with that factiō chased out of Milan the family of Torre yet were they not long out but by meane of a peace concluded betwixt the Emperour and the Pope hee with his Court beeing in France and Arrigo of Lucimburg going to Rome for the Crowne was receiued into Milan by Maffeo Visconti and Guido della Torre who at that time were chiefe of those houses yet Maffeo intending by helpe of the Emperour to driue Guido out of the Citie and supposing that enterprise the more likely because Guido was in faction contrary to the Empire hee tooke occasion vpon the complaints of the people against the euil demeanor of the Germains slily perswading and encouraging euery man to take Armes and deliuer themselues from the seruitude of that barbarous nation And when all things were made ready he caused a secret minister of his to mooue a tumult Whereat all the people tooke Armes against the name of Germany and Maffeo with his sonnes and followers suddeinly armed went to Arrigo letting him vnderstand that this tumult proceeded frō those of the house of Torre who not contented to liue priuate in Milan tooke occasion to spoyle him gratifie the Guelfi of Italy and make themselues princes of that citie Notwithstanding hee perswaded the Emperour to be of good cheare for they and their followers would in euery respect saue and defend him Arrigo beleeued all that which Maffeo had spoken ioyning his forces with the Visconti assailed those Della Torre Who beeing dispersed in diuerse places of the Cittie to appease the tumult so many of them as could be found were slaine and the rest spoyled sent into Italy Maffeo Visconti thus made as it were prince of Milan had diuerse sonnes the chiefe of them were called Galiazzo and Azo and after them Luchino Giouanni Giouanni became Archbishop of that Citie and of Luchino who died before him remained Barnabo and Galiazzo called Conte de Vertu He after the death of the Archbishop killed Barnabo his vncle and so became onely prince of Milan and was the first that had the title of Duke Of him descended Philippo Giouan Mariangilo who being slaine by the people of Milan the state remained onely to Philippo and he hauing no heires male the Dukedome was translated from the house of Visconti to the Sforzi as shall be hereafter declared But to returne to our matter Lodouico the Emperour to giue reputation to his faction and take the Crowne came into Italy and being arriued at Milan to the end he might leauy mony of the Milanesi offred to make them free and for proofe thereof imprisoned the Visconti Afterwards by mediation of Castruccio of Lucca deliuered them and went to Rome Then the more easily to disturbe Italy he made Piero de la Coruara Antipope by whose authoritie and the force of Visconti he hoped to keepe downe the contrary faction both in Toscana and Lombardy But Castruccio then died which was the cause of his ruine for Pisa and Lucca presently rebelled And the Pisani sent the Antipope prisoner to the Pope thē remaining in France Whereupon the Emperour dispairing of his enterprise in Italy returned to Germany So soone as he was gone Giouanni king of Bohemia came into Italy called thither by the Ghibilini of Brescia and possessed that Citie with one other called Bergamo And forasmuch as the comming of this king was with consent of the Pope although hee fained the contrarie the Legate of Bologna fauoured him imagining for that cause the Emperour would no more returne into Italy by whose departure thence the country was greatly altered The Florentines and the king Robarto seeing that the Legate fauoured the enterprise of the Ghibilini became enemies to all those that the Legate and the king of Bohemia fauoured against whom without respect of Guelfi or Ghibilini many princes ioyned Among them were the Visconti the family of La Scala Filippino Gonzaga of Mantoua the house of Carrara and Este wherupon the Pope did excommunicate them all The king for feare of this league went home to
assemble more forces returned with thē into Italy had though hardly the victorie and then though with displeasure of the Legate returned to Bohemia leauing onely Reggio and Modena manned recommending Parma to Marsilio and Piero de Rossi who were in that citie of most power He being gone Bologna reuolted to the league and diuided among them foure Citties apperteining to the church allotting Parma to the house of Scala Reggio to Gonzaga Modena to Este and Lucca to the Florentines During the conquest of these Cities grew great warres but they were chiefly by the Venetians compounded It may perhaps be thought strange that among so many accidents of Italy I haue omitted to speake of the Venetians common weale being for the order and power thereof to be preferred before euerie other principallitie To satisfie that admiration the cause thereof being knowne I wil looke backward to time long since passed and declare what beginning that Cittie had King Attila at such time as he besieged Aquilegia the inhabitants of that towne hauing long defended themselues dispairing fled with their goods to the rocks within the point of Mare Adriatico The Padouani seeing the fire at hand and fearing that Aquilegia being wonne Attila would assault them carried all their moueables of most value into the same sea to a place there called Riuoalto whither they also sent their wiues children and aged men leauing the youth to defend the citie Aquilegia being taken Attila defaced Padoua Monselice Vicenza and Verona The Padouani and the chiefe of the others seated themselues in the marishes about Riuoalto Likewise all the people of that prouince which vvas aunciently called Venetia vvere driuen out by the same misfortune did also flie thither Thus constrained by necessitie they abandoned faire and fertile countries to inhabit these steril and paludious places void of all cōmoditie And yet because great numbers of people were at one instant come thither they made that place not onely habitable but also pleasant ordeining among themselues lawes and orders which amidst so great ruines of Italy they obserued and within short space encreased in force and reputation For besides the inhabitants aforesaid many of the cities of Lombardy chiefly those that feared the cruelty of their king Clefi fled thither which was no small encrease to that citie So that in the time of Pipino king of France when at the request of the Pope he came to driue the Lombardi out of Italy it was agreed in Capitulations betwixt him and the Emperour of Grecia that the Duke of Beneuento and the Venetians should be subiects neither to the one nor the other but among themselues enioy libertie Moreouer considering that as necessitie had driuen them to dwell within the water so it behoued them without helpe of the firme land to seeke meanes wherby they might procure their own liuelihood For which purpose they made ships gallies with them sailed throughout the world and filled their citie with sundry sorts of marchandise whereof other men hauing necessitie required free accesse vnto them At that time and many yeares after the Venetians thought not vppon other dominions then those where the traffique of their marchandise might safely arriue Then they wan diuers hauens in Grecia Soria and in the passages that the French men made in Asia because they oftentimes imploying the Venetian shippes appointed vnto them as a reward the Ile of Candia While in this estate and order they liued their name by sea was terrible and vpon the firme land of Italy venerable So that in all controuersies that happened they were for the most part arbitrators as in cōtrouersies which rose in the league by reason of those cities which they had diuided amongst them For that controuersie being recommended to the Venetians they ordered that Bargamo Brescia should appertaine to the Visconti But in processe of time hauing conquered Padoua Vicenza Triuigi Verona Bargamo Brescia with diuerse cities in the kingdom and Romagna entised with desire of gouernment they atteined so great an opinion of power and reputatiō that not only of the princes of Italy but also of the kings beyōd the mountaines they became feared Wherupon those princes conspiring togither tooke from them in one day all the states and countries vvhich they in many yeares and vvith infinite expences had gained And though in these late times they haue recouered part yet not recouering their forces and reputation do like all other princes of Italy remaine at the deuotion and discretion of others Now was Benedetto 12. come to the Papacy who seeing himselfe driuen out of Italy and fearing that the Emperour Lodouico should become Lord thereof determined to make all those his friends who had vsurped the townes which the Emperour possessed To the end that thereby they should haue cause to feare the Empire and ioyne with him in the defence of Italy For the more assurance of this attempt he made a decree that all tyrants of Lombardy should by iust title possesse the townes by them vsurped But the Pope presently vpon this grant died and Clemente sexto elected in his place The Emperour then seeing with what liberalitie the Pope had giuen the towns belōging to the Empire determined to be no lesse liberall of the Popes goods then the Pope had bene of his and therefore gaue freely all lands belonging to the church which any tyrant had vsurped and they to hold them by authoritie imperiall By meane whereof Galiotto Malatesti and his brethren became Lords of Rimino Pesaro Fano Anthonio di Montefeltro of la Marca and Vrbin Gentile da Varano of Camerino Guido di Polenta of Rauenna Sinibaldo Ordalaffi of Furli and Cesena Giouanni Manfredi of Faenza Lodouico Alidosi of Imola Besides these many others possessed towns belōging to the church so as fevv remained out of the hands of one Prince or other vvhich vvas the cause that the Church till the comming of Alissandro 6. vvas holden dovvne vveake but he vvith the ruine of these Lords or their posteritie restored the same At such time as the Emperor made this grant he remained at Trento seemed as thogh he vvould passe from thence into Italy wherby grevv many warres in Lombardy by that occasiō the Visconti became Lords of Parma Then died king Robarto of Napoli of vvhom remained only tvvo grand children vvomen begotten by Carlo his Son vvho long before vvas dead bequeathing his kingdom to the elder of them called Giouanna vvhom he vvilled to marrie vvith Andrea sonne to the K. of Vngaria his nephevv This Andrea continued not long her husband but vvas by her murdred she married anevv to a brother in lavv of his called Lodouico prince of Tarranto But K. Lodouico brother to Andrea to reuenge his death came vvith Forces into Italy draue the Q. Giouanna vvith her husband out of the kingdom About this time hapned in Rome a thing very memorable vvhich vvas that one called
in the Castle of Napoli Suspitions thus growing in the minds of the one and the other they came to fight and the Queene with the helpe of Sforza who was returned to her seruice vanquished Alfonso draue him out of Naples depriued him of his adoption and adopted Lodouico de Angio whereof grew a great warre betwixt Braccio who had folowed Alfonso Sforza that fauoured the Queen In the proceeding of these wars Sforza occasioned to passe the riuer of Pescara was there drowned wherby the Queene became again disarmed should haue bene driuen out of the kingdom if Philippo Visconti Duke of Milā had not enforced Alfonso proceeding on in his iourney against the Queen to be staied For hauing besieged Aquila the Pope supposing the greatnes of Braccio not to be good for the church enterteined Frācesco the sonne of Sforza against Braccio at Aquila slew him ouerthrew his army On the part of Braccio Oddo his son was saued frō whō the Pope tooke Perugia left to him Montone yet shortlie after fighting for the Florentines in Romagna was there slaine So then of all these that serued with Braccio Nicholo Piccinino remained of most reputation Now because we are come with our history neare to that time which I determined and that the rest which remaineth vnspoken importeth for the most part nothing else but the wars which the Florentines Venetians had with Philippo Duke of Milan which shall also be discoursed hereafter when particulerly we entreate of Florence I will not speak more therof but briefly reduce to memorie in what termes Italy with the Princes and the souldiers of those daies remained Among the principall states Queene Giouanni 2. held the kingdom of Napoli La Marca Patrimonio and Romagna Part of the townes to these belonging obeyed the church part of them were vsurped by tirants or their ministers as Farrara Modena Reggio by the house of Este. Faenza by Manfredi Imola by the Alidosi Furli by the Ordelaffi Rimino and Pesaro by the Malatesti and Camerino by the house of Varano The Prouinces of Lombardy were partly gouerned by Philippo Duke of Milan and partly by the Venetians For all those that had therin any particuler states were extirped except the house of Gonzaga which gouerned stil at Mantoua In Toscana the greatest princes that gouerned were the Florentines onely Lucca and Siena liued with their lawes Lucca vnder Guinici Siena as absolutely free The Genouesi sometimes in libertie and sometime in seruitude to the house of France or Visconti were without reputation and among the meaner Potentates accounted For all the principall Lords and Potentates were at that time of their owne subiectes vtterly disarmed The Duke Philippo liuing at home and not suffering himselfe to be seene his warres were altogither directed by ministers The Venetians so soone as they began to make warres by land lost all that glorie which before vpon the sea they had gotten And following the custome of other Italians by the direction of strangers gouerned their warres The Pope being a man of religion and the Queene Giouanna a woman did laie by their Armes doing that for necessitie which others had done by election The Florentines also to like necessitie yeelded for their sundry ciuil diuisions among themselues had clearly extirped the Nobilitie and left the Common weale to be gouerned by those that had bene brought vp in marchandise and were therby enforced to abide the fortune of others The discipline of warre then remained only in the poore Princes Gentlemen that wanted liuing and they not moued by any desire of glorie but rather to become rich and assured armed themselues They then being wel practised in the warres not hauing any other trade to liue sought by the wars to make themselues strong and honourable Among this number for their value most renowned were Carmignuola Frācesco Sforza Nicholo Piccinino brought vp by Braccio Agnolo della Pergola Lorenzo and Michelletto Attenduly Tartaglia Giacopaccio Cecolino da Parugia Nicholo di Tolentino Guido Torello Antonio dal Ponte ad Hera and others Besides them were those great Lordes of whom I haue alreadie spoken And with them may be numbred the Orsini and Calonnesi Barrons of Rome with some other Gentlemen of the kingdome and of Lombardy who making a misterie or art of the warre had among themselues a secret league and intelligence whereby they protracted the seruice for their profit And so the Princes for whom they serued were on both sides loosers In conclusion the warres became so cowardlie that anie ordinarie Captaine hauing in him but a shadow of the auncient vertue might to the admiration of all Italy haue vanquished those souldiers who through small wisedome and want of iudgement were much honoured Of these idle Princes and of these most base and cowardlie souldiers this my Historie shall at large entreate But first as in the beginning I promised it seemeth necessarie for me to returne backe and tell the originall of Florence letting euerie man to vnderstand fully what was the state of that Cittie in those dayes and by what meanes amongst so many troubles happened in Italy during the space of a thousand yeares the same hath still continued The ende of the first Booke ⧠THE SECOND BOOKE AMONG other great and maruellous orders of the auncient common weales principallities at this time decaied was that wherby new Townes and Citties were from time to time builded For there is nothing more worthie an excellent Prince or well gouerued common weale nor more profitable to any Country then the building vp of new Townes where men may with commoditie for defence and tilladge assemble themselues which thing those people might easily do hauing in custome to send dwellers into such Countries as were either vnpeopled or conquered which people were in those dayes called Collonies For besides that this order occasioned new Townes to be built the same also did make the Country conquered to be more assured to the Conquerers thereof It also replenished the voyd places and mainteined the people in such orders as they were planted which wrought this effect that men most commodiously inhabiting did most multiply They were also in the offence of others the more readie and in defence of themselues more assured That custome being through negligence of common weales and Princes of this time discontinued doth occasion the weakenesse and ruine of their Countries because that only maketh euery gouernment assured and euery Country as is beforesaid plentifully inhabited The assurance groweth because Collonies planted in any prouince newly conquered is as it were a castle and gard to hold the same in obedience Besides that no country wel inhabited can maintaine the inhabitants thereof nor continue them as they be planted without that rule and order for all places are not plentifull or wholesome which is the cause that the people in the one do abound and want in the other So as if no meane be to take away
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
it bee imagined how great authoritie and force that Cittie in short space atteined vnto So that it became not onely chiefe of Toscana but also was accounted amongst the best Cities of Italy and should haue so continued had not the often and new diuisions disturbed the same vnder this gouernment the Florentines liued tenne yeares within which time they enforced the Pistoiesi Aretini and Senesi to make league with them Returning from Sienna with their Army they surprized Volterra and demolished some castles leading the inhabitants of them to Florence All which enterprises were performed by counsell of the Guelfi who could do much more then the Ghibilini because they for their insolencie during the raigne of Federigo were hated of the people The faction of the church also much more loued then the faction of the Emperour because the Florentines hoped thereby to preserue their libertie but beeing vnder the Emperour they feared to loose it The Ghibilini then seeing themselues bereft of authoritie could not liue contented but still aspecting occasion to recouer the gouernment and seeing Manfredi sonne of Federigo possessed of the kingdome of Napoli who had also discomforted the forces of the church thought the time come to serue their purpose Secretly then they practised with him to take their authoritie vppon him but their practise was not so cunningly handled but that the same was discouered to the Antiani who presently sent for the Vbarti They not onely refused to appeare but also tooke Armes and fortified themselues in their houses wherwith the people offended likewise tooke Armes and ayding the Guelfi enforced them and all the rest of the Ghibilini to abandon Florence and go vnto Siena From whom they prayed aide of Manfredi king of Napoli and by the industry of Farrinata Vberti the Guelfi vpon the riuer Arbia receiued so great an ouerthrow and slaughter as those that were saued returned not to Florence but supposing their Cittie lost fled into Lucca The chiefe Captaine of those souldiers sent by Manfredi was Earle Giordano a man of war in that time greatly esteemed Hee after the victorie went with the Ghibilini to Florence reducing the citie wholly to the obedience of Manfredi deposing the magistrates and altering euerie other order whereby might appeare any forme of libertie Which iniurie with small wisdom committed was generally of the people taken in great disdaine and of friends to the Ghibilini they became mortal enemies wherof with time grew their vtter ruine The Earle Giordano hauing occasion to return to Napoli for the seruice of that kingdome left in Florence as deputie for the king the Earle Guido Nouella Lord of Casentino who at Empoli assembled a Councell of Ghibilini it was necessarie to raze Florence as apt by reason the people were Guelfi to recouer force for the aide of the church To this so cruell a sentence in preiudice of that noble citie there was no citizen nor friend Farinata Vbarti excepted that apposed himself He openly without respect spake in fauour therof laid that he had not laboured nor aduentured himselfe in so many perils but to the end he might inhabit his natiue country would not loose that he had so long sought nor shunne that which fortune had laid vpō him Yea being no lesse enemy to them that should so determine then he had bene to the Guelfi he wold not refuse to fauour his country hoping that his vertue which had chased out the Guelfi from Florence should also defend the same Farinata was a man of great courage excellent in the wars chief of the Ghibilini and greatly esteemed of Manfredi his opinion therefore preuailed and new means were thought vpō how to preserue the state The Guelfi before fled to Lucca for feare of the Earles threatning were sent away from thence and went to Bologna frō whence they were called by the Guelfi of Parma to go with them to an enterprise against the Ghibilini wherin by their vertue the enimies were vanquished and they recouered their owne possessions So that encreasing in riches honour knowing also that Pope Clemente had sent for Carlo of Angio to take the kingdome from Manfredi by Ambassaders they offered him their seruice and the Pope did not onely receiue them for his friendes but also gaue them his Ensigne which euer sithence the Guelfi haue carried in their warres and is that which at this day is vsed in Florence Then was Manfredi by Carlo dispossessed of his kingdome and slain In which enterprise the Guelfi of Florence happening to be present their faction gained reputation and the Ghibilini became the weaker Whereupon those that gouerned with the Earle Guido at Florence thought it meere by some benefit to winne the loue of the people which with many iniuries had before that time bene lost For those remedies which before this time of necessitie would haue preuailed vsing them now without order and out of time did not onely hurt but also hasten their ruine They then thought good to make the people friends and partakers of such honours and authoritie as had bene taken from them and elected thirtie sixe Citizens Commoners who with two Gentlemen called from Bologna should reforme the state of the Citie They thus assembled presently diuided the Citie into Arts or Misteries ouer euery one of which Misteries they appointed one Magistrate to do iustice to all those within his gouernment They ordeined also an Ensigne to euerie Misterie to the end that all men might repaire therunto armed whensoeuer occasion did serue These Misteries were in the beginning twelue seuen great and fiuelesse Afterwards the lesse Misteries encreased to fourteene so then the number was as at this present it is twenty one The thirtie six men appointed for reformation practised many things for the benefit of the people The Earle Guido for the paying of the souldiers imposed a Subsidie vppon the Citizens whom hee found so vnwilling therewith as hee durst not enforce them to paie those summes that were imposed And supposing to haue lost the state he ioyned himselfe with the chiefe of the Ghibilini which done determined to take that frō the people by force which they for want of iudgement had graunted For that purpose assembling the souldiers Armed and accompanied with the thirtie sixe Reformers hee made an Alarum and foorthwith the Reformers retired themselues to their houses and the Ensignes of the Misteries came foorth followed by many Armed men who vnderstanding that the Earle Cuido with his followers were at Saint Giouanni they made head at Saint Trinita and there elected Giouanni Sodarini theyr Captaine The Earle on the other side hearing where the people were marched towardes them who fled not but assoone as the Earle drew neare charged him neare vnto the place called Loggio delli Tornaquinci There they forced the Earle to retire with the slaughter and losse of many his souldiers The Earle fearing that his enemy seeing his souldiers maimed and weary would
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
without respect oppressed whereunto the Nobilitie at the beginning consented for they vnwilling to bee vnited with the people and desiring to haue all the state into their hands and the people hauing like desire became both loosers Then they appointed a pallace for their office where by auncient custome the Magistrates and Counsellours assembled who were in honourable fort by Serieants and other Ministers there attended albeit at the erection of this office the officers were called Priori yet afterwards for more magnificence was ioyned therunto the name of Signory The Florentines for a space among themselues remained quiet during which time they made warre vppon the Aretini because they had banished the Guelfi and in Campaldino most fortunately wonne the victory The cittie then encreasing in men and riches thought good to encrease also the wals therof and therefore inlarged the circuit of the same to that compasse which now wee see for before that time the Diametre thereof was onely that space which is from the old bridge to S. Lorenzo The wars abroad and peace at home had as it were worne out of Florence the factions of Guelfi and Ghibilini Then remained only those humors which naturally were wont to be in euerie cittie betwixt the Nobilitie and the people For the people desirous to liue according to law and the great men studying to command them becommeth a thing impossible they should accord togither This humour so long as the Ghibilini held the citie in awe was not discouered but so soone as they were vanquished it shewed the force thereof for euerie day some popular man was iniured and Magistrates knew not by what meanes to punish the same because euerie Gentleman with the force of his friends defended himselfe The Magistrates of the misterie studying to remedie so great a mischiefe prouided that euerie Senate in the beginning of their authoritie should create one Gonfaloniere di Giustitia a man elected in the number of Commoners vnto whom was appointed one thousand men vnder twentie Ensignes readie at all occasions to maintaine iustice whensoeuer they were by their Gonfalone or their Captaine commanded The first chosen was Vbaldo Ruffoli he drew forth the Gonfalone and razed the houses of the Galetti because one of that Family had in France slaine a popular man It was an easie thing for the misteries to make this order by reason of the great hatred among the Nobilitie who considered not of any prouision against them till such time as they felt the bitter execution thereof which at the first gaue them great terror neuerthelesse afterwards they returned to their wonted insolencie For alwaies some one of the Nobilitie being an Officer had therby meanes to hinder the Gonfaloniere in execution of his office Moreouer for that euerie accuser must produce his witnesse to proue the offence offered and no man for feare of the Nobilitie durst giue witnesse the citie in short space returned to the former discord and the people iniured in the same sort as they were wont to bee because iudgement was slow and execution thereof wanted The populer sort then not knowing what course to take Giano della Bella a Gentleman of auncient race yet therewith one that loued the libertie of his Country encouraged the chiefe of the misteries to reforme the disorders of the citie By this Councell it was ordeined that the Gonfaloniere should remaine with the Priori and haue foure thousand men at his commandement They likewise made all the Nobilitie vncapable of the Senate and euery man that was accessarie in anie offence to be as subiect to punishment as the principall They decreed moreouer that publique fame should suffice to receiue condemnation by the lawes which they called Ordinamenti della Giustitia By this mean the people gained great reputation and Giano della Bella much hated because thereby he became euill thought of by the Nobilitie and reputed one that oppressed their authoritie The rich Commoners did also enuie him for that they imagined his credit ouermuch which at the first occasion was so proued For it shortly after happened that in a fraie one of the people chanced to be slaine at which conflict diuerse Gentlemen were present and among the rest Corso Donati vnto whom as the most quarrelsome of the companie the fault was laid and by the Captaine of the people apprehended Howsoeuer it were either that Corso had not offended or that the Captaine feared to commit him he was presently set at libertie Which deliuerie so greatly offended the people that they tooke Armes and ranne to the house of Giano della Bella desiring him to be a meane that those lawes might be obserued whereof he had bene the inuentor Giano willing that Corso should be punished did not as many thought he would do cause the people to laie down their Armes but perswaded them to go vnto the Senate and praie them to looke vnto the matter The people in the meane while much moued and supposing the Captaine to haue offered iniurie and also that Giano had forsaken them went not to the Senat but vnto the Captaines pallace which they tooke and sacked That fact greatly displeased all the Citizens and those that desired the fall of Giano accused him laying all the fault to his charge Amongst the Lords of the Senate one of his enemies happened to be who accused him to the Captaine for hauing stirred the people to sedition During the time that this cause was in debating the people armed went againe to the house of Giano and offered him defence against the Senators his enemies But Giano would neither make proofe of this populer fauour nor yet commit his life to the Magistrates because he feared the lewdnesse of these and the inconstancie of those so as to take occasion from his foes to offend him and from his friendes to harme their countrey he determined to depart and so giuing place to enuie and to deliuer the Citizens from that feare they had of him went into voluntarie exile notwithstanding he had with his great perill deliuered the citie from seruitude of the Nobilitie After his departure the Nobilitie hoped greatly to recouer their dignities and iudging that all their euill was by his mean procured they assembled themselues togither and sent two of them to the Senate which they thought did fauour them much to entreate that by the same the seuere lawes made to their preiudice might in something be quallified which request being knowne troubled much the people fearing that the Senators would grant the same Insomuch as the desire of the Nobilitie the suspitiō of the people drew them to the sword The Nobilitie made head in three places at S. Giouanni in the new market place and in the Piazza di Mozzi Their Captaines were Forese Adimari Vanni di Mozzi and Geri Spini The people on the other side with their Ensigne in great numbers assembled at the Senators pallace who at that time dwelt neare vnto
because euerie peace presupposeth war sith no war was betweene them he knew not why any peace should be required Then Veri returned from Rome without other conclusion These humours so encreased that euery small accident as often it happeneth was like to bring great disturbance In the moneth of May at which time the youth of Florence on feastiuall dayes doo disport themselues publiquely in the streetes it happened certaine yoong men of the Donati with their friends to come on horsebacke to behold the women dauncing neare vnto S. Trinita where staying awhile thither chanced to come certaine Gentlemen of the house of Circhi they also bringing with them some of their friends They not knowing that the Donati were there who stood before them desirous to see the daunce pressed forward with their horses and shouldred them Wherewith the Donati finding themselues offended drew their swordes and the Circhi as brauely prepared themselues to answere the assault After many hurts giuen and taken euerie man departed his way This disorder happened in a very vnhappie houre because the whole Citie vpon that occasion was diuided as well the people as the great men and the parties tooke name of Bianchi and Neri The chiefe of the faction Bianchi were the Circhi and with them ioyned Adimari Abbati some of the Tosinghi Bardi Rossi Frescobaldi Nerli Mannelli all the Mozzi Scali Gherardini Caualcanti Malespini Bostechi Giandonati Vecchietti and Ariguzzi They were also followed by many populer families and all the Ghibilini that were in Florence So that through the great number that tooke part with them they had welneare all the sway of the Cittie The Donati on the other side were chiefe of the partie Nera and with them the rest of those families before named that ioyned not with the Bianchi and besides them all the Pazzi Spini Buondelmonti Gianfiliazzi and Brunelleschi This humour did not only infect the Cittie but also diuided the whole countrey Whereupon the Captaines of misteries with euerie other of the Guelfi that loued the Common weale did feare least the diuision should with time ruine the cittie and reuiue the Ghibilini Wherefore they sent againe to Pope Bonifacio to the end hee should deuise meane to saue that cittie which had bene alwaies a shield of the church and now likely either to be destroyed or become subiect to the Ghibilini The Pope sent then vnto Florence a Legate called Mattheo de Acqua Sparta a Cardinall of Portugall who finding difficultie in the Bianchi which part as hee thought was the greater feared the lesse and departing from Florence offended did excommunicate the cittie whereby it became in worse estate then before his comming Then the mindes of all men being full of offence it happened that manie of the Circhi and Donati meeting at a buriall fell to words and from words to swordes Whereof for that time followed nothing but tumult and disorder and so euerie man returned home The Circhi then determined to assault the Donati with great numbers of people went to seeke them But by the vertue of Corso they were put backe and manie of them also verie sore wounded All the Cittie was vp in Armes the Signori and the Lawes were trodden downe with furie of greate men The wisest and best Cittizens liued full of suspition The Donati and their partakers feared moste because they could doo least Thereuppon Corso and the other heades of the Neri togither with the Captaines of the misteries resolued to entreate the Pope to sende vnto Florence some one of the blood royall hoping by his meanes to oppresse the Bianchi This assembly and resolution was notified to the Priori and of the aduerse part complained vpon as a conspiracie against the libertie of the Cittie Both the factions being at that time in Armes the Senators of whome Dante happened to bee one by his counsaile and wisedome tooke courage and Armed the people with whome also ioyned manie of the Countrey And so inforcing the heades of the factions to laie downe their Armes banished Corso Donati with the others of the part Nera Moreouer the Senators seeming to be indifferent in this iudgement confined some of the Bianchi who shortly after vnder colour of honest occasions returned home Corso and his friends imagining themselues fauoured by the Pope went vnto Rome and with their presence perswaded the Pope vnto that which before they had written It happened at the same time that Carlo de Vallois the French Kings brother was in the Popes Court called into Italy by the King of Napoli to go into Sicilia The Pope thought good being desired thereunto by the banished men of Florence to sende him to remaine at Florence till such time as the season of the yeare better serued to passe the seas Then went Carlo to Florence and although the Bianchi who then gouerned had him in suspition yet because hee was chiefe of the Guelfi and sent by the Pope they durst not gainsay his comming but to make him their friend they gaue him authoritie to dispose of the Cittie according to his owne discretion Carlo hauing receiued this power armed all his friends and followers which gaue the people great suspition that hee intended to vsurpe the libertie For preuenting of which mischiefe order was giuen that euerie Cittizen should arme himselfe and stand with weapon at his owne doore to be readie if Carlo should at his entrie happen to enterprise any thing The Circhi and other heads of the faction Biancha hauing bene a while chiefe of the Common weale and borne themselues in their offices proudly were come into vniuersall hatred which encouraged Corso and others banished men of the faction Nera to come to Florence knowing that Carlo with the Captaines of companies would fauour them When the Citie through the mistrust of Carlo was armed Corso with the banished men and many others that followed him came vnto Florence and without let entered the Citie And though Veri de Circhi was perswaded to haue encountred him yet would he not saying that the people of Florence against whom he came and not he should punish him But the contrary came to passe for he was by the people receiued and not punished And it behoued Veri for his owne safetie to flie For Corso hauing entered the gate called Pinti made head at S. Pietro Maggiore neare to his owne house whither many friends and many people desirous of noueltie came And first deliuered all the prisoners that had bene either for publique or priuate cause committed Then they enforced the Senators to returne to their houses as priuate persons and elected in their places populer men of the faction Nera For fiue dayes also they sacked those that were the chiefe of the part of Biancha The Circhi and other Princes of that faction were gone out of the Citie and retired to their places of force And not seeing Carlo to entermedle the greater part of the people became their enemies Wherupon though they would not before
follow the Councell of the Pope now they were inforced to pray his aide letting him vnderstand that Carlo was come to disunite and not to vnite the Citie Then the Pope sent againe his Legate Mattheo d'Acqua Sparta who perswaded a peace betweene the Circhi and the Donati confirming the same with new alliances and marriages Hee also laboured that the Bianchi might bee partakers of the Offices in gouernment whereto the Neri mistrusting the state should receiue thereby some hinderance would not consent The Legate thereuppon grew offended and departed from thence as discontented as hee had bene the time before leauing the Cittie disobedient and cursed Thus remained the one and the other part euill satisfied The Neri seeing their aduersaries at hand feared least with their ruine they should recouer the authoritie by them lost And the Bianchi seeing themselues depriued of authoritie and honour therewith being had in disdaine and suspition were offered new iniuries Nicholo de Circhi accompanied with diuerse his friendes and going towards his possessions passing the bridge Affrico was there assaulted by Simone sonne of Corso Donati This conflict was great and of either side verie bloodie for Nicholo was slaine and Simone so hurt as the next night hee died This chaunce troubled all the Cittie anew and albeit the part Nera was therein most culpable yet by those that gouerned they were defended Also before iudgement giuen was discouered that the Bianchi had entered a conspiracie with Pietro Feranti a Barron belonging to Carlo In which treason they practised to place themselues againe in the gouernment This matter came to light by Letters which the Circhi had written to the Barron yet some men held opinion that those Letters were not true but forged by the Donati to shadowe the infamie that by the death of Nicholo they had incurred Thereuppon all the Circhi were confined with all their followers of the parte Biancha amongest whome was Dante the Poet. Their goods were solde and their houses razed These banished men ioyned with many Ghibilini disposed them selues into manie places and hoping with new trauailes and troubles to finde new fortune and Carlo hauing done that in Florence for which hee came departed and returned to the Pope to go on his enterprise of Sicilia wherein hee shewed himselfe no wiser nor better then hee was in Florence So that with the losse of many of his hee returned into Fraunce dishonoured After the departure of Carlo the Cittie continued quiet Corso onely was enclined to trouble because hee thought himselfe not in that authoritie that hee ought to bee but sawe the gouernment in the hands of populer men farre his inferiours Hee then mooued with these passions thought to performe a dishonest intent by an honest occasion slaundering manie Cittizens who had the custodie of the publique treasure saying that they had imployed the same to their priuate commodities and therefore it were well done to examine their dooings and punish them for the same This his euill opinion was allowed by manie that were men of the like disposition with whome also manie others through ignorance ioyned because they thought Corso had beene indeede mooued thereunto with the loue of his Country On the other side the Cittizens slaundered hauing loue borne them of the people defended themselues In so much as this diuersitie of opinions after ciuill disputation brought them to Armes On the one part was Corso Donati and Lottieri Bishoppe of Florence with manie great men and some Commoners On the other part was the Senate with the greater number of the people so that the moste part of the Cittizens did fight The Senators seeing the daunger wherein they were to bee great prayed aide of the Lucchesi and suddeinly all the people of Lucca were in Florence by whose authoritie for that time all thinges were composed These tumultes appeased and asswaged the people continued in their authoritie and the libertie preserued without any other punishment of him that mooued the slaunder The Pope vnderstanding the troubles of Florence to pacifie the same sent thither his Legate called Nicholao de Prato who beeing a man for degree learning and good behauiour greatlie reputed obteyned easily so much fauour as to haue authoritie to dispose of the state as himselfe thought good and for that hee was in faction a Ghibilin hee intended to call home those that were banished yet first thought good to win fauour of the people To that end he renued the auncient companies which greatly strengthened him and weakened the Nobilitie The Legate then perswaded that the people were become all his practised to call home those that had bene banished For the compassing whereof he proued many meanes which did not onely take euill successe but also made himselfe thereby so much suspected among those that gouerned as he was therby enforced to depart and returne home to the Pope leauing Florence full of confusion and excommunicate In the citie at that time remained not only one humour but many to the disturbance thereof being there in the displeasure betwixt the people and the Nobilitie the Ghibilini and the Guelfi the Bianchi and Neri All the citie tooke Armes because many Cittizens who desired the returne of the banished men were euill content with the Legates departure The chiefe of those that moued the quarrell were the Medici and Guigni who togither with the Legate were discouered to fauour the Rebels In sundrie parts of the citie the people fought To which disorder there happened a fire first in Orto Sante Michele at the houses of the Abati from whence it passed to the houses of the Caponsacci and burnt them with the houses of Mazzi Amieri Toschi Cipriani Lamberti and Caualcanti and all the new market From thence it passed to the gate of S. Maria and burnt all that returning about Ponte Vecchio and consumed the houses of Gherardini Pulci Amidei and Luccardesi with many others that the number amounted to 1700. or more Some were of opinion that this fire happened by chance in the fury of the conflict Others affirme that one Neri Abbati Prior of S. Pietro Scaragio a man dissolute and desirous of mischiefe kindled the same For seeing euerie man occupied in the conflict knew he might do that displeasure which no other could remedie And to the end it might the rather haue successe hee set fire in the houses of his owne companions It was the yeare 1304. in the moneth of Iuly when the citie of Florence was with fire and sword in this sort afflicted Corso Donati was hee that of all others in these tumults armed not himselfe because hee hoped the rather to be Iudge and Vmpire betwixt the parties when being weary of fight they should be content to be perswaded Notwithstanding weapons were laide downe rather for very wearinesse and necessitie then through any pacification or perswasion of peace For this onely followed thereof that the Rebels should not returne and the faction that fauoured them remained with
disaduantage The Legate returning to Rome and hearing the troubles that were begunne in Florence perswaded the Pope that for the vniting of that Cittie it was necessarie for him to send thither for twelue principall Cittizens whereby the roote of the mischiefe remoued it should be the more easie to quench the same This Councell was by the Pope allowed and the Citizens sent for appeared Amongst whom was Corso Donati When these Cittizens were absent the Legate wrote vnto the Rebels that the chiefe of the Cittizens were from home and therefore the time serued well for them to returne vnto Florence Which encouragement being receiued they assembled their forces and came to the Cittie entering where the walles were not fully finished and passed forward till they came to the Piazza di Saint Giouanni It was a thing notable to see how those cittizens who had lately fought for the Rebelles so long as disarmed they desired reuocation beeing now armed and forcing the citie became their enemies and tooke armes against them So much the common good was by those Cittizens esteemed and preferred before priuate friendship Wherefore they vniting themselues with all the people enforced the rebels to depart and returne from whence they came This enterprise had no successe both because the banished men had left part of their forces at Lastria and for not hauing tarried the comming of Tolosetto Vbarti who should haue come from Pistoia with three hundreth men But they imagined that expedition should haue preuailed more then force as often in like cases it so happeneth that delaies do hinder occasion and haste wanteth force The Rebels being gone back Florence returned to the wonted diuisions Then to take authoritie from the house of Caualcanti the people by force remoued them from possession of the Castle called Le Stinche seated in the vale of Greue aunciently belonging thereto And because the souldiers therein taken were the first that were put into that prison newly builded that prison euer after was called Le Stinche by the name of the Castle from whence the prisoners came Also those that were chiefe of the Common-weale renewed the companies of the people and gaue them Ensignes as had bene before ordered making Gonfalonieri of the misteries calling them Colleggio di Signori They ordeined also that the Senate should reforme all disorders in time of warre by Armes and in time of peace by Counsell They ioyned vnto the two old Rettori one Essecutore who togither with the Gonfalonieri should reforme the insolencie of the great men In the meane time died the Pope and Corso with other Cittizens was returned from Rome The Cittie should then haue continued quiet had it not bene with the vnquietnesse of Corso anew disturbed He to gaine himselfe reputation euer vsed to hold opinion contrarie to men of most authoritie and wherunto he found the people enclined to gaine their fauour that way he directed his authoritie Whereby he made himselfe head of all new opinions and to him resorted all those who sought to obteine any thing by extraordinary meane For that cause many great Citizens did hate him which hatred encreased so much as the faction of Neri came to open diuision because Corso imployed priuate forces and such as were enemies to the state Notwithstanding so great was the authoritie of his person and presence that euerie man feared him yet to winne from him the populer fauour as by such kinde of meanes might easily be done a brute was put foorth that he went about to tyrannize the citie which was easily beleeued because his maner of liuing did in troth surpasse the charge of ciuil expence That opiniō was encreased greatly after he tooke to wife the daughter of Vguccione della Faggiola chiefe of the faction Ghibilini Bianca in Toscana most mightie This alliance come to knowledge the aduerse part tooke Armes and the people for the same occasion refused to defend him the chiefest of them ioyning with his enemies The greatest of his aduersaries were Rosso della Tosa Pazzino de Pazzi Geri Spini and Berto Brunelleschi they with their followers and the greater part of the people assembled themselues armed at the foote of the Pallace of the Signori By whose order an accusation was preferred to Piero Brancha Captain of the people against Corso Donati for that he with the aide of Vguccione sought to make himselfe a tyrant Then was he cited to appeare and after for contumacie iudged a Rebell Betwixt his accusation the iudgement pronounced was not longer time then two houres This sentence giuen the companies of the people vnder their Ensignes marched towards him Corso on the other side was not dismaied though he were abandoned by many his friends nor for the sentence pronounced nor yet with the authoritie of the Senators nor the multitude of his enemies but fortified his house hoping there to defend himselfe till he were rescued by Vguccione for whom he had sent All his houses all the waies vnto them were fortified made close and within many of his faction to defend them So that the people though in great numbers come thither could not enter The conflict was great many slaine and many hurt of either side And the people seeing that by those wayes they could not preuaile brake the houses of his neighbours and by that deuise not mistrusted did enter Corso then seeing himselfe beset with enemies and no longer trusting to the helpe of Vguccione resolued to see what meane he could finde to saue himselfe sith of victorie hee vtterly dispaired Then with Gherardo Bondini and many others his most valiant and faithfull friends he charged his enemies with so great furie as he brake them and made way to passe through to the gate of the Citie where they got out Yet were they still pursued Gherardo vpon the bridge Affrico was by Bocaccio Cauicciuoli slaine Corso also was taken at Bouezano by certaine horsemen belonging to the Senate Notwithstanding beeing brought towardes Florence hating the sight of his enemies and the glorie of their victorie he fell from his horse and was by one of them which ledde him there murthered The bodie was after taken vp by the Monkes of S. Salui and without any honor by them buried This was the end of Corso Donati vnto whom his country the faction of Neri for many deeds both good and bad must acknowledge it selfe beholding But had his disposition mind bene more quiet the memorie of him had deserued great honour For indeed he was a Citizen so rare as had at any time before bene seene in our citie Yet true it is that his factious mind bereft him of that honour which by his country and confederates was due and in the end procured his owne death with many other misaduentures Vguccione comming to the rescue of his sonne in law arriued at Remoli heard there that Corso was by the people taken Wherupon knowing that he could by no means then
helpe him for not hurting himselfe returned backe Corso thus ending his life which happened in the yeare 1308. was the cause that all tumults ceased and the citie continued quiet till such time as intelligence was giuen that Arrigo the Emperour who fauoured by the Florentine Rebelles was come into Italy followed by them and intending to put them againe in possession of their country For preuenting of which mischiefe the Magistrates of the citie thought good to call home all those that had not bene by speciall name banished whereby the number of their enemies should be the lesse The greater number that remained in exile were Ghibilini and some fewe of the faction Bianca among whom were Dante Alighieri the sonnes of Veri de Cerchi and Giano della Bella. They sent also for aide to Roberto King of Napoli which not obteined at his hand as their friend they were enforced to giue him the citie for fiue yeares to the end he might defend them as his subiects Then the Emperour passed into Italy and by the way of Pisa went to Rome there to be crowned in the yeare 1312. Afterwards determining to reforme Florence hee returned thither by Perugia and Arezzo and lodged his Campe at the Monastery of S. Salui distant one myle from the citie where he remained fiftie dayes without any good done and therfore as desperate of successe remoued to Pisa where he agreed with Federigo King of Sicilia to assault the kingdom of Napoli Being with his Army there arriued in great hope of victorie and the King Roberto in great feare of his distruction at Buouconuento he died It happened shortly after that Vguccione di Faggiola became Prince of Pisa and not long after of Lucca brought thither by the faction of Ghibilini with whose aide he greatly iniured his neighbours Amongst whom the Florentines to be deliuered gaue vnto the brother of King Roberto the gouernment of their Army Vguccione on the other side for the encreasing of his power laboured continually till by force and subtiltie he had gotten many Castles in the vale of Arno and Nieuole Then marching towards Monte Catini with intent to besiege the same the Florentines thought it necessarie to rescue that place least the losse thereof might disturbe the whole countrey Then assembling a great Army they passed into the vale Nieuole where they fought with Vguccione and in the end of their battaile two thousand or more of their men were slaine with Piero the Kings brother their Generall whose bodie afterwards was neuer found neither was this victorie without losse to Vguccione whose sonne was also killed with many Captaines and Leaders of his Armie The Florentines after this ouerthrow fortified the townes about them and the King Roberto sent them a new Generall called Andrea Earle Nouello By whose gouernment or rather by the naturall inclination of the Florentines discontented with euerie state and diuided by euerie accident notwithstanding the warres they lately had with Vguccione fell to faction The one part whereof called themselues the Kings friends the other the Kings enemies The chiefe of the Kings enemies were Simon della Tosa the house of Magalotti with certaine other populer men in whom rested the chiefe of the gouernment These men found meanes to send into France and Germany to leauie Captaines and souldiers to remoue the Earle Andrea Gouernour for the King But their fortune was such as could not bring to passe that they desired yet did they not abandon the enterprise but beeing disappointed both by France and Germany they found out a Gouernour in Agobio and before his comming remoued Andrea Lando de Agobio being come was made their minister or rather their hangman hauing receiued absolute authoritie ouerall the citizens He being a man couetous and cruell accompanied with his souldiers all armed visited euerie streete murthering euerie man whom those that elected him would require Yea such was his insolencie that he caused false mony to be quoined with the stampe of Florence and no man durst gainsay the doing therof so great was the authoritie whereunto the discord of the citie had brought him Great and lamentable was the estate of this towne which neither the memorie of passed diuision neither the feare of Vguccione nor the authoritie of the King could reforme In most miserable plight it then remained when the country abroad was spoyled by Vguccione and the citie within by Lando of Agobio sacked The Kings friends were all contrary to Lando and his followers Likewise all Noble houses the chiefe of the people al the Guelfi Notwithstanding because the aduerse party had the gouernment they could not without perill to themselues be discouered Yet resoluing to be deliuered from so dishonest a tyrannie they wrote secretly vnto the King Roberto to make the Earle Guido Buttifolle his Lieftenant in Florence which the King presently did and the aduerse part notwithstanding that the Senators were contrarie to the King durst not for the respect they bare to the Earle finde fault But the Earle had not therby much authoritie because the Senators the Gonfaloniere were by Lando and his partie fauoured During the continuance of these troubles in Florence the daughter of King Alberto comming from Germany passed that way in her iourny towards Carlo the sonne of Roberto her husband She was greatly honoured by the Kings friends and they imparted vnto her the state of the citie and the tyrannie of Lando with his followers In so much as by the fauour of her before her departure the citie was pacified Lando remoued from his authoritie and with riches blood and spoile sent home to Agobio The gouernment also of the King ouer the citie for three yeares was continued And whereas there had bene before seuen Senators elected by Lando six more were chosen for the King so the Magistrates were for a time thirteene After they were reduced to the auncient number of seuen About this time Vguccione was depriued of his authoritie in Lucca Pisa and Castruccio Castracani from a priuate Cittizen aspired to be Lord of Lucca for hee being a yoong man of great courage in euerie enterprise fortunate became in short space the principall Leader of all the Chibilini in Toscana For which respect the Florentines setting aside priuate discord deuised with themselues by what meanes Castruccio might be kept downe and how his forces alreadie growne might be resisted And to the end that the Senators might with better counsell be aduised with more authoritie execute the same they elected twelue Cittizens whome they called Boni Homini without whose consent and counsell the Senators might not do any thing of importance In this mean while the gouernment of king Roberto was expired the citie became Prince ouer it selfe with the auncient Magistrates and gouernors therof Also the great feare they had of Castruccio did hold the same vnited hee hauing done many things against the Lords of Lunigiana and assembled Prato The
Florentines hearing those newes resolued and determining to rescue that towne shut vp their shops and went confusedly togither to the number of twentie thousand footmen and fifteene hundreth horse Also to diminish the strength of Castruccio and encrease their owne the Senators by proclamation gaue notice that whatsoeuer Rebell of the faction of Guelfi would come to the rescue of Prato should be after the enterprise restored to his country Vpon this proclamation more then foure thousand Rebels came presently thither This great Army in haste conducted to Prato so much terrified Castruccio that without triall of his fortune by fight he retired to Lucca Then grew great controuersie within the Campe of the Florentines betwixt the Nobilitie and the people for these would haue followed the enemie hoping by fight to haue ouerthrowne him and those would returne backe saying it sufficed that they had hazarded Florence to succour Prato Which was well done being constrained by necessitie but sith the cause was now remooued no wisedome would where litle was to be gotten and much to be lost that fortune should be further tempted This matter the people not agreeing was referred to the Senators who found among themselues the same diuersitie of opinions that was betweene the people and the Nobilitie which being knowne much company assembled in the Market place vsing great words of threatnings to the Nobilitie In so much that they for feare gaue place to the will of the people but all too late because in the meane while the enemy was with safetie retired to Lucca This disorder brought the people into so great indignation of the Nobilitie that the Senators would not performe the promise by their consent giuen to the Rebels which the Rebels vnderstanding and hoping to preuent the Senate before the Campe arriued at Florence offered to enter the gates But their intent being discouered by those in the Citie were repulsed Then they sought to compasse that by perswasion which by force they could not and sent eight Ambassadours to put the Senators in remembrance of their promise and the perill they had vnder the same aduentured hoping of that reward which was by them offered The Nobilitie thereby put in mind knowing themselues by promise bound laboured greatly in the fauour of the Rebels Notwithstāding by reason the people were offended for not following the enterprise of Castruccio nothing was obteined which afterward proued the great shame dishonour of the citie For many of the Nobilitie therewith displeased did assaie to win that by force which by entreatie they could not For which purpose they conspired with the rebelles to enter the Cittie armed and they would take armes also for their aide This appointment before the day of execution was discouered whereby the banished men at their comming found the cittie armed and order giuen to apprehend them abroad and keepe downe those that were within Thus this enterprise was in euerie respect without successe After the departure of the rebels the citizens desired to punish those by whose meanes they did come thither And albeit euerie man knew who were the offenders yet no man durst name them much lesse accuse them Therefore to vnderstand the troth without respect it was ordered that secretly the names of the offenders should bee written and priuilie deliuered to the Captaine In this accusation were named Amerigo Donati Teghiaio Frescobaldi Lotteringo Gerardini who hauing Iudges more fauourable then perhaps they deserued were onely condemned in pecuniall punishment The tumults which grew in Florence by comming of the Rebels to the gate made triall that one Chieftaine for all the companies of the people did not suffice and therefore they required after that to euerie company might be appointed three or foure Leaders and to euerie Gonfaloniere two or three others whom they would haue called Pennonieri To the end that in time of necessitie all the companie not assembling part of them vnder one head might be imployed Moreouer as it happeneth in all common weales after any accident some old lawes be disanulled some others are made new so the Senate before appointed from time to time the Senators with the Collegii which then were to the end their force might be the greater had authority giuen them and their successors to continue in office during the space of fortie moneths And because many Citizens feared their names not to be put into the bagge they procured a new Imborsation Of this beginning grew the election of Magistrates as well within as without the Citie which election was in those dayes called Imborsation Afterwards the same was called Squittini And for that euerie three or at the most fiue yeares this order was taken the occasion of tumults in the Citie at the choice of Magistrats was remooued yet were they ignorant of such discommodities as vnder this small commoditie was hidden The yeare 1315. being come and Castruccio hauing surprised Pistoia was growne to that greatnesse that the Florentines fearing the same determined before such time as he was setled in his Principallitie to assault him and bring him vnder their obedience For which purpose they leuied twentie thousand foote men and three thousand horse With these forces they besieged Altopassio in hope by hauing of that Towne to impeach the passage of those that would come to the succour of Pistoia The Florentines preuailed in this enterprise and hauing taken the place marched towards Lucca spoiling the country where they went Notwithstanding through the small wisedome of the Generall or rather his infidelitie little good ensued thereof This Captaine was called Ramondo de Cardona Hee seeing the Florentines to haue bene liberall of their libertie giuing the same somtimes to Kings and sometimes to the Legates of Popes and men of meane qualitie thought it possible to bring himselfe to be a Prince if first he could lead them into some great necessitie He gaue them therefore to vnderstand that for his better reputation it was meete for him to haue the same authoritie within the Citie that he had in the Army otherwise he should not haue that obedience of his souldiers which belonged vnto a Generall Whereto the Florentines not consenting the Army proceeded slowly or rather euerie day losing somewhat and Castruccio continually gained Because by that time were come vnto him diuerse supplies sent by the Visconti and other tirants of Lombardy Castruccio by this meane growne strong and Ramondo hauing neglected his seruice as for want of fidelitie he did not prosper at the first so he could not after saue himselfe for whilest he lingered with his Camp Castruccio did assault him and ouerthrew him neare vnto Altopassio In which conflict many Citizens were slaine and with them Ramondo himselfe who thereby found the punishment of fortune which his infidelitie and euill seruice to the Florentines deserued The displeasures which Castruccio did after the victorie by spoyling distroying burning imprisoning killing cannot be told Because without any resistance he
rode vp and down in the country where himselfe listed spoyling and committing what cruelties hee thought good The Florentines scantly able after so great an ouerthrow to defend the citie yet were they not so greatly dismayd but that they made much prouision both of men and money sending also to their friends to haue their aide All which sufficed not to bridle the furie of so mightie an enemie Wherefore as constrained they made choyse of Carlo Duke of Calauria son to King Roberto to be their Prince offering him not their friendship but their obedience and prayed him to defend their Citie But Carlo being occupied in the warres of Sicilia and therefore not at leisure to come in person sent thither Gualtieri by Nation a French man and Duke of Athene He as deputie for his maister tooke possession of the Citie and placed officers according to his owne discretion Notwithstanding his behauiour was so modest and contrary to his owne nature that euerie man loued him Carlo hauing ended the warres of Sicilia being followed with a thousand horse men came to Florence and made his entry in the yeare 1326. whose comming staied Castruccio from spoyling of the Florentines countrey But that reliefe which was found abroad was lost within and those displeasures which the enemies could not were by friendes performed Bicause the Senators did nothing without the Dukes consent who within the space of one yeare leuied in the Citie foure thousand Florins notwithstanding that by the capitulation with him taken it was agreed hee should haue but two thousand So great impositions were daily by him or his exacted To these displeasures new suspitions and new enemies were discouered For the Ghibilini of Lombardy suspected so much the comming of Carlo into Toscana that Galiazzo Visconti other tyrants of Lombardy by mony and promises procured Lodouico di Bauiera Emperour elected against the Popes wil to come into Italy who being arriued in Lombardy marched towardes Toscana where with the helpe of Castruccio hee became Lord of Pisa And being relieued with mony he went towards Rome which caused Carlo to leaue Florence and returne to the kingdome leauing Philippo de Sagginetto his Lieftenant Castruccio after the Emperours departure possessed Pisa and the Florentines tooke from him by practise Pistoia which Castruccio after besieged with so great vertue and resolution that although the Florentines many times assaied to rescue the Towne sometimes assailing the Army and sometimes disturbing the Country yet could they neuer either by force or industry remoue him from that enterprise So greatly he thirsted to chastise the Pistoiesi and offend the Florentines By meanes whereof the Pistoiesi were constrained to receiue him for their Prince which thing albeit were greatly to his glorie proued in the end his disaduantage For being returned to Lucca there he died And because that one good or euil hap commeth sildome vnaccompanied with the like also at the same time died Carlo Duke of Calauria Prince of Florence as it were to the end that the Florentines beyond all expectation might be deliuered from the gouernment of the one and the feare of the other They thus become free reformed the cittie disanulled all orders of the olde Councelles and created twoo newe Councelles the one hauing in it three hundreth Cittizens Commoners and the other two hundreth and fiftie Gentlemen and Commoners mixed The first of these was called the Councell of the people the other the common Councell The Emperour beeing arriued at Rome created an Antipope and ordered many things in preiudice of the church and many other things also hee attempted without effect And therefore with this honour he remoued from Rome to Pisa where either of melancholy or for want of mony to paie eight hundred Almaine horsemen who were rebelled and at Montechiaro had fortified themselues died They so soone as the Emperour departed from Pisa to go vnto Lombardy surprised Lucca and draue out of that cittie Francesco Castracani left there by the Emperour Then being possessed of that cittie and intending to make profit thereof offered to sell it to the Florentines for threescore thousand Florins was refused by the Councell of Simon della Tosa This refusal would haue bene to our cittie most profitable if the Florentines had euer continued in that minde but because shortly after they changed opinion it was greatly to our losse For if at that time for so small price they might so peaceably haue had it and would not afterward desiring it and offering much more then was required they could not obteine it which was the occasion that Florence many times with great preiudice hath changed the gouernment Lucca being thus by the Florentines refused was by Gerardino Spinola of Genoua for thirtie thousand Florins bought And because men be more slow to laie hold of that which they may come by then to desire that they cannot attaine vnto so soone as this bargaine made with Gerardino was knowne and how small a summe of mony he paid the people of Florence became greatly desirous to haue it repenting themselues and blaming those that were the cause that the bargaine proceeded not Then sought they to get that by force which for money was refused For obteining whereof they sent their souldiers to spoile the country belonging to Lucca In this meane time the Emperour was gone out of Italy and the Antipope by order of the Pisani sent prisoner into France The Florentines then from the death of Castruccio which happened in the yeare 1328. til the yeare 1340. continued quiet within attended their matters of state abroad They also made many wars in Lombardy for the comming thither of king Iohn of Bohemia in Toscana touching the state of Lucca They likewise ornefied their cittie with new buildings For in that time the Tower of S. Reparata according to the direction of Giotto an excellent Painter was builded And because in the yeare 1333. by meanes of a maruellous flood the Riuer of Arno into many places ouerflowed the cittie more then 12. cubits many bridges and buildings were thereby decaied which with great care and expence were now restored But the yeare 1340. being come new occasions of alteration were growne vp The cittizens of most power had two meanes to encrease and maintain their greatnesse The one by restraining the number of those that should be elected Magistrates whereby the offices of authoritie came either vnto them or their friends The other because themselues being chiefe at the election of the Rettori they were by them in their offices the more fauoured And this second cause they esteemed so much that to these two ordinarie Rettori they also ioyned a third whom they in those dayes brought in extraordinarie vnder the title of Captaine of the Guard and placed therein Iacamo Gabrieli de Agobio giuing him absolute authoritie ouer the citizens He day by day before the face of them that gouerned committed many iniuries among
and remooue the siege But after a long warre the Florentines were forced with losse of their money and honour to depart and the Pisani became Lords of the Citie The losse of this Towne as in like cases it euer happeneth made the people of Florence greatly offended with those that gouerned whome in euerie Market place they defamed accusing them of couetousnesse and vnaduised counsell At the beginning of this warre the authoritie thereof was giuen to twentie Citizens who elected Malatesta of Rimini for their Generall He gouerned the same with small courage and lesse wisedome They also praied aide of Roberto King of Napoli who sent vnto them Gualtieri Duke of Athene and as fortune would prepairing all things for future mischiefe arriued in Florence at the same instant when the enterprise of Lucca was vtterly lost Whereupon the twentie seeing the people displeased thought by chusing a new Captaine to bring them into new hope And to the end that the Duke of Athene might with more authoritie defende them they created him first their Defender and after gaue him the title of Captaine Generall ouer their men at Armes The great Cittizens who for the occasions beforesaid liued discontent and many of them hauing also acquaintance with Gualtieri at such time as they gouerned Florence in the name of Carlo Duke of Calauria thought the time was come to alter the state oppresse the people who had so long oppressed thē For the bringing of that to passe they thought good to reduce the gouernment vnder one Prince who knowing their vertue the insolencie of the people might reward the one and punish the other They might also hope the more of the Princes fauour if he by their meanes aspired to that dignitie To compasse this intention they manie times met in secret perswaded the Duke to take the gouernment offering to aide him to the vttermost of their powers With these Gentlemen ioyned some populer families as the Perussi Acciaiuoli Antellesi and Buonacorsi who being greatly indebted and not able to paie of their owne desired with the seruitude of their country and the goods of others to deliuer themselues from the daunger of their creditors Those perswasions mooued the ambitious minde of the Duke to great desire of gouernment and the rather to make himselfe beloued and accounted vpright therewith also to winne the fauoure of the people hee persecuted those that had gouerned the warres of Lucca and put to death Giouan de Medici Naddo Ruccellati and Guglielmo Altouiti many also were banished and manie in money condemned These executions amazed much those of the meane sort onelie the Gentlemen and basest people were therewith satisfied These because their nature is to reioyce at euill and those for that thereby their iniuries receiued of the people were reuenged When so euer the Duke passed the streetes his fauourers would publiquely speake to his honour and wish that the fraude of the Citizens might be by him examined and punished The office of the twentie thus became disesteemed the reputation of the Duke growne great and all men for feare or affection seemed to honour him And in token thereof set the Dukes Armes vpon their houses In so much as this Duke wanted nothing that belonged to absolute authoritie sauing the title of Prince Then he perswaded himselfe that whatsoeuer he attempted might be safely done and therefore sent vnto the Senators letting them vnderstand that for the better gouernment of the citie it behoued him to haue the full absolute authoritie gouernment and seeing that all the rest of the Citizens were therto consenting he desired that therwith they would be also pleased The Senators albeit that long before they had foreseene the ruine of their Countrey yet were they all with this request greatly troubled And though they knew also the perill yet not to omit the dutie to their Countrey they boldly denied the Duke This Duke to make himselfe be thought the more religious and well disposed did choose for his dwelling the Monasterie of Saint Croce and being desirous to execute his euill intent hee caused to be published by proclamation that his pleasure was the people should resort vnto him at the gate of the saide Monasterie This proclamation amazed the Senate much more then the message deliuered them by word Wherefore they thought good to ioyne with those Cittizens whome they knew to be louers of their Countrey Neither did they thinke knowing the Dukes forces that there was other remedie to diuert the Duke from the enterprise then to entreate him and so make proofe what effect faire words might worke to perswade him to vse himselfe in the gouernment more mildly Then went certaine of the Senators vnto the Duke and one of them spake as followeth My Lord we are come hither first moued by your Graces request and next by your commandement to assemble the people For it seemeth a thing certaine that you intend to obteine that extraordinarily whereunto by ordinarie meanes wee haue not consented Our meaning is not by force to hinder your designes but onely laie before you how greeuous a burthen you put vpon vs and how perillous an action you take in hand To the end you may hereafter remember our Councels and waigh the same with theirs who not for your profit but for the execution of their owne furie haue counselled you You labour to bring this citie in bondage which hath euer liued in libertie For that authoritie which we haue graunted to the Princes of Napoli was companie and not subiection Haue you considered of what importaunce and how ioyfull a thing the name of libertie is in euerie Cittie like vnto this The vertue whereof no force can subdue no time can consume nor no merite can deserue Consider my Lord how great forces it behoueth you to haue to hold so great a Citie in seruitude Those straungers whome you haue enterteined bee not of force sufficient and these that be within the walles are not to be trusted For such as be now your friends haue counselled you to this enterprise so soone as they haue with your authoritie beaten down their enemies wil seek also by what means they may to oppresse you make themselues Princes The base multitude also in whom you trust vpon euery accident be it neuer so litle do chaunge their opiniō So that in short time you may looke to find this citie your foe which shall be the ruine thereof and yours also Neither can you find remedie for such a mischief sith those Princes onely can gouern securely who haue few enemies because those few either by death or exile may easily be remoued But against vniuersall hatred no assurance can be found because you know not where the mischiefe groweth And who so feareth euery man cannot assure himselfe of any man Also if you seeke to be assured of others you enuiron your selfe with perils because those that remain do hate you the more and are the more readie to
reuenge A thing most certain it is that no time can weare out the desire of liberty For we know where the same hath bene in a citie reuiued by those who neuer tasted thereof saue onely by the memorie of this name libertie which their ancestors by traditiō did leaue them Therfore hauing recouered it with all obstinacie and resolution they wil defend it and if our ancestors had neuer left any signe of libertie yet should we be put in mind therof by these publike Pallaces by these places made for Magistrates these badges of freedom libertie which things be publikely knowne and with great desire euery citizen studieth to know them What can you do or what can by any meanes be done to counteruaile the sweetnesse of life in libertie or make the people forget the commodities therof Yea though you could ioyne all Toscana to the dominiō of this state or might euery day return to the citie triumphing ouer your enemies yet all should not suffice Because that glory should not be yours but ours And our citizens should cōquer no subiects but encrease companions in seruitude Albeit your maners were godly your behauiour curteous and your iudgements iust yet were they not of force inough to make you be loued If you would beleeue they did suffice you therin should deceiue your self For to men accustomed to a life in libertie the lightest clog seemeth heauie the losest bands do pinch A thing impossible it is for any state by violence gotten to be by a good Prince mainteined because of force he must become like vnto his gouernmēt otherwise the one the other wil perish You must therfore thinke either to hold the citie with extreame violence as castles garrisons of men forrein friends yet many times they suffice not or els be content with that authoritie which we haue giuen you We therefore perswade you and pray you to remember that such obedience is durable as is also voluntary And labor not being blinded with some ambition to set your self where you neither can stand nor clime higher without your great preiudice ours so be forced to fall These words moued not at all the hardened heart of the Duke saying his intention was not to take away but restore the liberty of the citie For cities disunited were not free but those that were vnited And if Florence by reason of factions ambition and enmitie had lost the libertie hee would restore it Saying moreouer that not his owne ambition but the sute of many Cittizens brought him to take this burthen and therefore they should do well to be content with that wherewith others were contented As touching those perils which hee might by this occasion incurre hee feared them not at all For it was the office of no good man to leaue the good for feare of euill and the propertie of a coward for feare of good successe to abandon a glorious enterprise Also hee hoped so to beare himselfe as they should haue cause in short space to confesse that they trusted him too little and feared him too much The Senate then seeing no more good to be done agreed that the next morning with their authoritie to giue the gouernment vnto the Duke for one yeare with the same conditions it was giuen to Carlo Duke of Calauria It was the eight day of September 1342. when the Duke accompanied by Giouan della Tosa with all his followers and many Cittizens came into the Market place and there in presence of the Senators ascended vp to the Ringiera for so they called that place of the staires belōging to the Pallace where the conditions between the Senate the Duke were read And when the Reader pronounced those words which gaue the Duke authoritie for one yeare the people cried for his life Then Francesco Rusticheli one of the Senate rose vp to speake and appease the tumult but his words were with shouting of the people interrupted So as by consent of the multitude he was created Prince not for one yeare only but for euer being carried by the multitude about the market place his name was proclaimed It is the custome that whosoeuer is appointed to the Guard of the Pallace shall in absence of the Senators be shut vp therein To which office at that time was Rinieri di Giotto appointed hee being corrupted by the Dukes friends without anie violence offered receiued the Duke into the Pallace And the Senators therewith amazed and dishonored went home to their owne houses Then was the Pallace by the Dukes seruants sacked The Gonfaloni del Populo thrust out and the Dukes Armes set vppon the Pallace to the great and inestimable griefe and sorrow of all good men and the great content of those who either for ignorance or wicked mind thereunto consented The Duke hauing gotten the gouernment intending to take all authoritie from those that were woont to defende the libertie of the Cittie did forbid the Senators to assemble anie more in the Pallace and appointed them a priuate house Hee tooke also the Ensignes from the Gonfalonieri of companies Hee remooued the order of iustice against the Nobilitie and deliuered the prisoners that had bene committed Hee called home the Bardi and Frescobaldi who had bene banished and gaue generall commandement that no man should weare weapon Also for his better defence within the Citie he wanne himselfe forraine friends and for that purpose pleasured the Aretini and all others vnder the Florentine gouernment Hee made peace with the Pisani notwithstanding hee were created Prince purposely to make warre with them Hee tooke the obligations from those merchants that in the warre of Lucca had lent mony to the state He encreased the old Imposts and erected new taking all authoritie from the Senators The Rettori by him appointed were Raglione da Perugia and Guglielmo da Scesi with whom he ioyned Cerrettieri Bisdomini and those three men were his onely Councell The taxes which he imposed vpon the Citizens were extreme his iudgements vniust that grauitie curtesie which he had before fained was conuerted into pride and crueltie For many citizens both wealthy and noble were condemned and diuerse also by new inuented tortures tormented Moreouer to shew his authoritie in like sort abroad as it was in the citie he authorized six Rettori for the country who oppressed and spoiled the rurall people He had the great men in suspition although by them hee had bene pleasured and that some of them by his meanes had bene restored to their Countrey For hee imagined that such Noble mindes as commonly are in Gentlemen could not be contented with his gouernment Hee sought therefore to winne the good will of the people hoping with their loue and the aide of straungers to defende his tyrannie Then the moneth of May being come at which time the people were accustomed to make sport and triumph he caused the companies of the Common people and basest sort to haue Ensignes
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
libertie of them as with their owne Then sent they Embassadors to Arezzo to renounce all their gouernment and interest in that citie make a league with the Citizens there To this end that sith they could not haue their aide as subiects yet they might haue it as friends with other townes they likewise practised to continue them in friendship This counsell wisely taken had happie successe because Arezzo after a fewe yeares returned vnder the gouernment of Florence the other townes within a fewe moneths came to their auncient obedience Whereof may be conceiued that many times things fled or not desired are with lesse perill and smaller charge obteined then if the same had bene by extreame trauell great force followed All things thus setled abroad they turned their studie to deale with matters within and after some disputations betweene the great and populer Citizens they agreed that the great men should haue a third part in the Senate in the ther offices the halfe The citie as hath bene beforesaid was diuided into six parts so that one of the Senators was appointed to euery sixt part vnlesse vpon some accident twelue or thirteene were created but shortly after they were reduced againe to the number of sixe It was therefore thought good to reforme the gouernment in this point as well for the euill distribution of the parts as because they intended to deliuer charge of the gates to the great Cittizens it was necessarie to encrease the number of the Senators Therfore the citie was againe diuided into quarters allotting to euerie quarter three Senators leauing out the Gonfaloniere Della Iustitia and the Gonfalonieri of companies And in lieu of the twelue Buoni Homini they created eight Councellours of either sort foure This gouernment with this order setled would haue continued quiet if the great citizens had bene content to liue with that modestie that to a ciuill life apperteined but they followed a course cleane contrarie For when they were priuate they would no companions and being in authoritie ruled as Lordes So as euerie day some proofe of their insolencie and pride was seene which thing greatly displeased the people supposing that in place of one tyrant sent away there was growne vp a thousand The insolencie of the one part and the offence of the other grew to that greatnesse that the heads of the people did expostulate vnto the Bishop the dishonestie of the great men who were not by anie meanes content to liue like companions and neighbours And therefore perswaded him to finde meanes that the great Cittizens might be contented with the meane offices and that the Magistracie of the Senate should be onely left to them The Bishoppe was naturally good but easily perswaded to alter opinion which was the cause that by perswasion of his companions he first fauoured the Duke of Athene and shortly after by the counsell of other Citizens conspired against him So now he seemed in reformation of the state first to fauour the great men and after to allow better of the people moued by those reasons which the populer Citizens had tolde him He therefore supposing to find as small constancie in others as in himselfe perswaded betwixt them a composition Then he assembled the foureteene who yet continued in their authoritie perswaded them to yeeld the office of Senate to the people alleadging that would be the quiet of the citie and the deniall the ruine thereof These words did greatly chaunge the mindes of the great men and Ridolpho de Bardi with bitter words reproued the Bishop calling him a man not to be trusted laying before him the friendship which he entered with the Duke vnaduisedly and how he banished him afterwardes traiterously And in conclusion he said that those honours which they with their perill had gotten with their perill should be defended Thus being diuided from the Bishop he his companie tooke leaue and went vnto others of their consort imparting the matter to all the Noble houses in the Cittie The people likewise brake their mindes to such as were men of their condition While the great men prepared themselues to the defence of their Senators the people thought good to be also readie and suddeinly ranne vnto the Pallace armed crying aloud and requiring that the great Citizens should renounce the Magistracie The rumour and tumult was great and the Senators found themselues abandoned because all the people beeing armed the great Cittizens durst not take armes but euerie one remained in his owne house By meane whereof the new Senators appointed by the people first appeased the tumult and then gaue knowledge thereof saying that their companions were modest and good men and that they were faine for auoyding a worse inconuenience to take this course so sent home the other Senators safe to their houses The great Citizens thus remooued from the Pallace the office was also taken away from the foure great Counsellours In whose place they appointed twelue of the people with the eight Senators that remained They created one Gonfaloniere de Iustitia sixteene Gonfalonieri of the people They also reformed the Councels so as all the gouernment remained at the discretion of the people At such time as these things happened there was great dearth in the citie by meanes whereof both great Citizens and the basest sort of people became discontented These for hunger and those for hauing lost their authoritie which occasion made Andrea Strozzi to imagine that it were possible for him to vsurpe the libertie of the citie He perswaded with that imagination solde his corne much better cheape then others by meanes whereof many people resorted vnto his house And one morning hee mounted on horsebacke being followed by some of them tooke courage to call the people to armes which done within lesse then one houre foure thousand people were assembled with whom he went to the Senate desiring the Pallace might be opened for him But the Senators with threatnings and force sent him from thence and after with proclamations so terrified him that by litle and litle euerie man returned to his house So as Andrea being left alone could scantly flie and saue himselfe from the Magistrates This attempt although it were vnaduised and had such successe as commonly all others like thereunto haue yet did the same giue hope vnto the Nobilitie that they might easily oppresse the people seeing the poorest sort misliked them For not loosing this opportunitie they determined to arme themselues with all sorts of aide and recouer that reasonably which vniustly and by force had bene taken from them The assured hope they had conceiued of successe in this enterprise grew so great that openly they prouided armes fortified their houses and sent to their friends in Lombardy The people on the other side togither with the Senate made their prouision and arming them sent to the Sanesi and Perugini for aide The assistaunce of the one and the other beeing
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
becommeth in it selfe diuided For by those priuate meanes which were made for preseruation therof it cannot be defended which to be true the ancient and moderne diuisions of our citie do make triall Euerie man thought that the Ghibilini extirped the Guelfi should euer haue continued in honour Notwithstanding within short time the Bianchi and Neri arose The Bianchi vanquished our citie continued not long without partes but was sometimes troubled with fauouring those that were banished and somtimes with the enmitie betwixt the people nobilitie Yea at length giuing that to others which by accord either we would not or could not possesse our selues sometimes to the King Roberto sometimes to his brother last of all to the Duke of Athene we yeelded our libertie And in troth we neuer setled our selues in any estate as men that could not consent to liue free nor be willing to obey neither feared we liuing vnder a King so greatly are our orders disposed to diuision to preferre before his maiestie a man of most base condition born in Agobio The Duke of Athene may not without shame of this citie be remembred whose bitter and cruel mind might make vs wise and instruct vs how to liue But he being sent away we suddeinly tooke armes in hand and with more malice and fury fought among our selues til all our auncient nobilitie were oppressed and left at the peoples discretion Then was it thought by many that neuer for any occasiō it were possible to stir vp new troubles or factions in Florence they being cast down whose pride vnsupportable ambition was the cause thereof Yet is it now seene by experience how easily the opinion of men is deceiued For the ambition and pride of the nobilitie was not quenched but remoued into the people who now according to the custome of ambitious men hope to aspire to the most soueraigne offices And not wanting other meane to vsurpe the same they moued new discords new diuisions in the citie raising vp the name of Guelfi Ghibilini which had they neuer bene knowne should haue made our country the more happie Besides that to the end in this world should be nothing in continuance or quietnes Fortune hath prouided that in euery state there should be certaine fatall families borne and destined to the destruction thereof Of these our Common weale hath bene more then anie other replenished For not one but many of them haue disturbed the quiet therof As first of all the Buondelmonti and Vberti then the Donati and Circhi And euen now a shamefull and ridiculous matter the Ricci and Albizi do trouble and diuide our Citie We haue not remembred you of those corrupt customes and our continuall diuision to dismay you but call to your minds the occasions of them and enforme you that the example of those should not make you to dispaire the reformation of these Because the power of these auncient houses was so great and the fauour that Princes did beare towards them so much that the lawes and ciuill ordinances were not of force sufficient to hold them in quiet and due obedience But now the Empire hauing no force the Pope not feared and that all Italy this Citie also is reduced to so great equalitie as may by it self be gouerned the difficultie cannot be much And this our common weale notwithstanding the ancient examples to the cōtrary may not only be brought to vniō but also in good customs ciuil orders be reformed if your lordships be disposed to do it Wherunto we moued with the loue of our coūtry no priuate passiō do persuade you And albeit the corruptiō thereof be great yet allaie that disease which infecteth that furie which consumeth that poyson that killeth and impute the auncient disorders not to the nature of men but the time which being changed it may hope that by meane of new orders new fortune will follow whose frowardnesse may be by wisedome gouerned in putting a bridle vpon the ambitious disanulling such ordinances as were nourishers of factions and vsing those that to a ciuill life and libertie are agreeable Be ye also pleased to do this by vertue of lawe rather now then deferre the same till such time as by armes you shall be enforced thereunto The Senators moued with these reasons which themselues had before considered and thereunto adding the authoritie and comfort of the men gaue commission to fiftie sixe Citizens to prouide for the safetie of the Common weale True it is that the counsell of many is more fit to conserue a good order then to inuent it These Citizens then studied rather to extirpate the present factions then take away the occasion of future diuision In so much as neither the one or the other was brought to passe because not remouing the occasions of new diuision and the one part of those sects which were present being of greater force then the other became the more perillous to the state Wherefore out of euerie office excepting those that were in the handes of the Guelfi for three yeares they depriued three men of the families of Albizi and three of the house of Ricci amongst whom were Piero delli Albizi Vguccione dei Ricci They prohibited all Citizens to come into the Pallace sauing at such times as the Magistrates sate there They prouided that who euer was striken or letted to possesse his owne might call his aduersarie to the Counsels protest him for one of the Nobilitie These ordinances discouraged the Ricci and incouraged the Albizi For although they were equally noted yet the Ricci were the more iniured And albeit the Pallace of the Senate was forbidden to Piero yet the counsell house of the Guelfi where he had great authoritie was open for him Therefore if he and his followers were at the first earnest in admonishing now after this iniurie they became much more earnest and to that euil disposition new occasions were ioyned At this time Gregorio 11. was aspired to the Papacie who liuing at Auignion did as his predecessors gouerne Italy by Legates They being men inclined to pride and couetousnesse had thereby greatly afflicted many Cities One of these Legates being in Bologna taking occasion of the dearth which happened that yeare in Florence determined to make himselfe Lord of Toscana And therefore he not onely withheld from the Florentines present reliefe but also to remoue all hope of future prouision at the beginning of the next spring with a great Army entered their Countrey imagining the people disarmed and famished might be easily conquered And happily the enterprise had taken effect if the souldiers that serued him had bene faithfull and not corruptible For the Florentines not hauing other remedie gaue vnto them 130. thousand Florins and for that mony the souldiers abandoned the enterprise To begin a warre is in the power of euerie man but to end a warre no man can when himselfe so liketh This warre by the ambition of the Legate begun
was by the offence of the Florentines followed For the better execution thereof they made league with Barnabo and with all the cities enemies to the church and elected eight Citizens to gouern the said war vnto whom authoritie was giuen to proceed without appeale and spend without account This warre begun against the Pope notwithstanding the death of Vgucciono encouraged those that followed the faction of Ricci and had against the Albizi alwaies fauoured Barnabo and disfauoured the church and the more for that the eight were all foes to the faction of Guelfi which was the reason that Piero delli Albizi Lapo di Castiglionichio Carlo Strozzi and the rest diuerse times ioyned to the offence of the aduersarie And while the eight made warre and they admonished the warre continued three yeares and by death of the Pope was ended This warre was with so vniuersall satisfaction and so great vertue gouerned that the office of the eight was from yeare to yeare continued in those men and they were called Santi notwithstanding they litle regarded the Popes curses spoiled churches and forced the Clergie Thus without respect they preferred the seruice of their country before the Popes indignation And thereby taught the church that as being friend thereunto they had defended it so being enemie they were able to annoy it hauing procured all Romagna La Marca and Perugia to rebell But notwithstanding all these warres made by the Florentines against the Pope yet could they not defende themselues from the Captaines of their owne factions and their followers For the enuie which the Guelfi bare vnto the eight made them to become insolent and though they spared the rest of the Nobilitie yet rested they not to iniure the eight Also the Captaines of factions were growne vp to so great arrogancie as they were more fauoured then the Senators and men with more reuerence resorted to their houses then to the Pallace In so much as euerie Embassadour that came to Florence brought with him some commission or instruction to entreate with these Captaines Then died Pope Gregorio whereby the citie being deliuered of forreine warre presently begun great confusion at home For on the one side the insolencie of the Guelfi was insupportable and on the other side no meane could be deuised to oppresse them Onely this hope was left that euerie man should take armes and so make triall whether partie should preuaile On the part of the Guelfi were all the old Nobilitie with the greater number of the mightiest people of whom as hath bene declared Lapo Piero and Carlo were the chiefe On the other side were all the people of least reputation who had for Leaders the eight Gouernours of warre Georgio Scali Tomazo Strozzi and with them the Ricci Alberti and Medici The rest of the multitude as in like cases it euer happeneth ioyned to the partie discontented It seemed then to the Guelfi that the forces of their aduersaries were great and therefore themselues in much daunger whensoeuer any vnfriendly Senate should happen to be chosen Therefore thought good for the preuenting of that mischiefe to assemble themselues in some place conuenient where they might consult of the state of that Citie For it seemed that the Citizens admonished being in number growne great the most part of the Citie were their foes Whereto they could not deuise other remedie but as they had taken from them the honours so also to banish them the Citie take the Pallace by force and reduce all the state to the order wherunto it was by the auncient Guelfi reduced who liued not secure for any other reason but onely because they had driuen out all their aduersaries To this plot euerie man consented but of the time of execution they discented The yeare 1378. being come in the moneth of Aprill Lapo thought good not to deferre the time saying there was nothing that hindred time so much as time and then specially because in the next Senate Saluestro de Medici was likely to be chosen Gonfaloniere whom to their factiō they knew most contrary Piero delli Albizi thought otherwise for his opinion was it should be deserred because the execution of their intent required forces which without publishing of the matter could not beleuied if the matter were discouered they should therby incurre manifest daunger His opinion therefore was it should be delaied till the feast of S. Iohn then at hand at which time many people would resort to the towne among whome they might conuey in vnknowne as many friendes as they thought good Moreouer to finde meanes how to preuent the election of Saluestro it was thought fit to admonish him and if that deuise seemed not good then to put into the election an other also of the same quarter So as it might fall out that insteed of him some other of his companions should be chosen This cause was set downe as a resolution notwithstanding that Lapo vnwillingly thereunto consented iudging delaie was dangerous and that no time can be in euerie respect fit for execution For whosoeuer tarrieth all opportunities either he shall neuer performe anything or if he doth the same for the most part falleth out to his disaduantage The Colledge was warned and Saluestro not repulsed but chosen Gonfaloniere for the eight hauing discouered the practise found meanes to preuent that which was looked for Thus Saluestro sonne of Alemanno di Medici who being of a verie noble populer house could not endure that the people should be by a few great men oppressed And hauing deuised how to end their insolencie seeing the people fauoured that enterprise he did communicate his intent to Benedetto Alberti Tomazo Strezzi and Georgio Scali and they promised to bring him all the aide they possibly could Thē was there a law secretly established wherby the ordināces of iustice against the great men were renewed the authoritie of Captains was diminished The same also restored power to the admonished to haue restitution of their dignities And because as it were at one instant they intended both to propound and obteine hauing first to passe the Colledge after to determine in the Councels finding Saluestro President which place in those dayes for the time being made him be placed as Prince of the Citie they caused the Colledge Councell in one selfe morning to be assembled And first to the Colledge onely they propounded the lawe made which as a new thing was by that small number reiected Whereby Saluestro seeing his wings clipped wherewith he hoped to ascend to his desire fained for his necessitie to depart the place and contrarie to expectation went to the Councell and standing vp where he might be both seen and heard of euerie man said He thought himselfe made Gonfaloniere not to determine of priuate causes which haue their ordinary Iudges but to attend the state correct the insolencie of the great men and qualifie the rigor of those lawes which were found by proofe to hinder the
Common weale And albeit he had with diligence trauelled in these matters and to his power preuented all inconueniences yet the sinister disposition of men so greatly opposed it selfe to his iust indeuour that the way of well doing was stopped and their intent was altered not onely from determining well but also from hearing thereof Wherefore seeing that he could not do aniething more for the state or the common commoditie he knew not to what end he should continue longer in that office which either he deserued not or as it was thought of others he would not hereafter deserue For these respects he intended to retire home to the end the people might put in his roome some other of more vertue or greater fortune This speech ended he departed from the Councell towards his house such as were in the Councell his friends with some others also desirous of Innouation began to murmure Then the Senators and Colledges drew neare and finding their Gonfalone departing by entreatie and authoritie staied him and into the Councell being full of tumult perswaded him to returne where many noble Citizens were with words most iniurious threatned Among whom Carlo Strozzi was by an Artificer taken by the bozome and had bene slaine if the standers by had not saued him But that which stirred the greatest tumult and put the citie in armes was the motion of Benedetto Alberti who from the window of the Pallace cried aloude to the people to take armes Wherupon sodeinly all the Court was full of armed men By that mean the Colledges were forced by threatnings and feare to do that which being desired they would not In the meane time the Captaines of the factions had assembled many Citizens and consulted how to defend them against the order of the Senators But so soone as they heard the rumour appeased and vnderstood what was by the Councell resolued euerie man fled to his owne house For there is no man that moueth any alteration in a Citie that knoweth how either to worke it at his owne wil or suppresse it at his pleasure It was the intent of Saluestro to create a law appease the Citie but the matter fell out contrarie For the humours moued had chaunged euerie man so much that the shoppes were shut vp Citizens were assailed at their houses many conueyed their goods to Monasteries and hid them in Churches as though euerie one looked for some miserie at hand The companies of misteries assembled and euerie misterie elected a Sindaco Then the Priori called their Colledges and the Sindachi consulted with them how the Citie might be made quiet but their opinions being diuerse nothing was determined The next day following the misteries drew forth their Ensignes which the Senators knowing doubting that which happened called the Councels to put order but ere they were all assembled a tumult was begun and presently the Ensignes were come out followed by armed men to the Pallace Thereupon the Councell to giue hope of contentation to the misteries and the people and take from them the occasion of suspition gaue generall authoritie to the Senate the Colledges the Eight the Captaines of parts and the Sindachi to reforme the Cittie for common commoditie thereof While these matters were in hand certaine of the Ensignes of misteries with others of lesse qualitie thereby moued by some that desired reuenge of the last iniuries receiued of the Guelfi shrunke away from the rest and went vnto the house of Lapo di Castiglionichio sacking and burning the same He hearing that the Senate had done an enterprise contrarie to order taken by the Guelfi and seeing the people in armes hauing no other remedie but either hide himselfe or flie first hid him in Santa Croce after in the habit of a Frier fled into Casentino where he was heard complaine of himselfe for consenting to Piero delli Albizi and of Piero for that he would needs deferre to assure the state till the feast of S. Giouanni But Piero and Carlo Strozzi at the beginning of the vprore hid themselues thinking that the brunt past their friends and kinsfolkes were of force sufficient to continue them secure in Florence The house of Lapo being sacked because mischiefes are hardly begunne and easily encreased many other houses some for hate vniuersall and others by priuate displeasure were also spoiled and burned And the ministers of these mischiefes to make their companie the more forcible for the spoyling of other mens goods brake the Gayles let forth the prisoners They also sacked the Monasterie of Agnoli and S. Spirito where many Citizens had bestowed their goods Neither had the publique chamber of Florence escaped the hands of these disordered spoylers if one of the Senators had not taken vpon him the defence thereof who on horsebacke followed with some armed men resisted the furie of the multitude This populer madnesse partly by mediation of the Senate and partly for that the night drew on was appeased The next day the Balia restored fauour to the Citizens admonished with condition that within the next three yeares they should not be capable to exercise any office They also disanulled the lawes made by the Guelfi in preiudice of the Citizens They proclaimed Lapo di Castiglionichio and his companions Rebels and with them diuerse others hated of the multitude After these resolutions they published new Senators among whom Luigi Guicciardini was Gonfaloniere whereby hope was conceiued that all tumults wold cease because they were holden quiet men and louers of peace Notwithstanding the shops were kept shut the Citizens still armed and great watches throughout the citie charged For which cause the Senators receiued not their office without the Pallace with the pompe accustomed but within not vsing any ceremonie at all These Senators thought nothing so necessarie to be done at their entry into office as to procure a peace in the citie and therfore caused al armes to be laide downe the shops to be opened and the people of the countrey called thither in the fauour of Citizens to be dispatched away They ordeined Guards in many places of the citie so as if the Citizens admonished could haue liued content the people had bene quiet But they not willing to abide three yeares from honour did finde meane that for their satisfaction the misteries againe assembled and demanded of the Senate that for the good of the citie and quiet thereof no Cittizen might any more be admonished as a Ghibilino either by the Senators the Colledge Captaine or Consull Moreouer they required new Imborsation to be made of the Guelfi and the old to be burned These demands were presently accepted both by the Senate and all other Councels because thereupon it was supposed all newe tumults would cease But mans nature doth not onely content it selfe with his owne but will also couet other mens and be reuenged Those that hoped in the disorder declared to the misteries that they should neuer be assured vnlesse many of their enemies were
driuen out and oppressed Which request being presented the Senators called before them the officers of misteries the Sindachi to whom Luigi Guicciardini Gonfaloniere spake in manner following If these Lordes and I also had not knowne the fortune of this cittie the custome whereof is that so soone as it hath made peace abroad the warre within beginneth we would haue more maruelled at the tumuls passed and therewith haue bene more greeued But because things accustomed do bring with them lesse sorrow we haue endured these troubles with great patience and the rather for that they were begun without any our default and shall we hope end as all others before haue done sith we haue alreadie in so many and so great demands satisfied you Neuerthelesse perceiuing that you neuer rest contented but still with new iniuries seeke to disturbe your Citizens and condemne them to newe banishments of your dishonest dealings our greeuous sorrow groweth And truly if we had thought that within the tearme of our gouernment this citie should haue bene so troubled we would either by voluntary or violent exile haue shunned these honors But hoping to deale with men in whom remained curtesie and loue to their country we willingly receiued these offices beleeuing our clemencie should haue suppressed your ambition But we now see by experience that the more mildly we beare our selues towards you the more proud ye are and the more dishonest requests ye demand at our hands This plainnesse of speech we vse not to offend you but to remember you for our meaning is that others shall speake that which pleaseth you and we that which is best for you Tell vs we pray you what is that you can honestly more require at our hands You required that the authoritie should be taken from the captains of factions so it was You desired the Imborsations should be burnt new reformation made to that we cōsented You demanded the restitutiō of the admonished Citizens to their honors and they were restored We haue also at your entreatie pardoned those that burned houses robbed the churches Yea for your satisfactiō we haue sent into exile many honourable and mightie Citizens The great men also by your meanes are with new lawes brideled What end will those your demands haue Or how long will you abuse your libertie See ye not that we with more patience did endure to be victored then you to be victorious Whither will these misdemeanours drawe this your citie Do ye not remember that by like disunion Castruccio a poore Citizen of Lucca did oppresse it And the Duke of Athene a priuate Captaine of your owne did conquere it So long as it liued in vnion the power of an Archbishop of Milan and a Pope could not preuaile against it but after a warre continued diuerse yeares abandoned the enterprise with shame Why would ye then that your own discord should in peace bring this citie in bondage which so many mightie enemies haue notwithstanding their warre left free What profit shall you looke for by your diuision other then seruitude Or what commoditie will rise of the goods you haue robbed other then pouertie For they are those that by our industry haue fed the citie wherof being spoiled it can no longer be nourished And they that shall vsurpe them wil as of things euil gottē not know how to keep them Wherof shal follow famine and pouertie I and these Lords commaund yee and if without indignitie we so may earnestly praie you to staie your minds and rest contented with those things which by vs are ordeined And whensoeuer you desire anie new sute at our hands seek the same ciuilly and striue not with tumult armes to obtaine it For whatsoeuer you reasonably aske will be graunted and men euill disposed shal want occasion to oppresse our citie to your shame and the ruine therof These words because they were true greatly moued the citizens and much they thanked the Gonfaloniere for hauing performed the office of a good Lord citizen offering to obey wherin so euer it should please him to command them The Senators also to giue the occasion did authorize two citizens of euery principal office togither with the Sindachi to practise a reformation to the common quiet and report their doings to the Senate While these matters were in hand an other tumult arose which troubled the state more then the former For the greater part of the burning spoyling in times past were done by the basest sort of people who notwithstanding that being altogither they were audatious yet they euer feared that the furie once past and appeased they should receiue punishment for their defaults or as it often happened be abandoned by those that encouraged them to the performance of the disorder Whereunto was ioyned a hatred of the base people towards the rich Cittizens and heads of the mysteries iudging themselues not so well paide for their labours as they had deserued Because at such time as the cittie was first by Carlo diuided into mysteries and euerie mysterie a head thereunto appointed it was enacted that the subiects of euerie mysterie should be in all ciuill matters iudged by the head thereof These mysteries as we said before were at the beginning twelue afterwards encreased to 21. and they became of so great power as in fewe yeares they had all the gouernment of the Cittie Also to the end there should be difference betwixt those that were more or lesse honourable they were diuided and seuen of them were called great mysteries and foureteene named the lesse mysteries By these diuisions and some other occasions before recited grew the insolencie of the Captaines of factions Because those Cittizens which aunciently were Guelfi vnder whose gouernment that office continued did euer fauour the people of the great mysteries and persecuted the lesse mysteries with their protectors Whereuppon followed all the tumults that we haue rehearsed And for that in ordering the bodies of the mysteries many occupations exercised by diuerse of the base people and common multitude had no place of their owne in the bodie of the mysteries they were referred put vnder some other mysteries like vnto theirs Whereof followed that they either were not satisfied for their labours or by their maisters oppressed and so forced to complaine to the Magistrates of those mysteries who gouerned them at whose handes as they thought they receiued not that iustice that to them belonged Also that mysterie which had in it the greatest number was the mysterie of wooll which being of most force and authoritie did nourish and entertaine the greatest part of the multitude and base people The multitude then as well of the mysterie of wooll as others for the cause before saide was full of offence therewith remembring the burning and spoiles by them committed diuerse times assembled in the night and reasoning of matters past euerie man tolde other the daunger wherein they stoode The one of them a man
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
which had in the late tumult shewed themselues most seditious and violent And to the end that the Gonfaloniere de Giustitia might haue more reputation dignitie it was ordered and thought necessary that whosoeuer did exercise that office shuld be of 45. yeres For confirmation of the state many other prouisions were deuised These ordinances made the Senators were insupportable and to the good Citizens euen of their own faction they became odious For they could not iudge any state good or secure which had need with so great violence to be defended So that this maner of proceeding did not onely offend those of the familie of Alberti which yet remained in the citie and the Medici who thought them to haue abused the people but many others also were with so great violence displeased But the first that opposed himselfe was Donato sonne to Giacopo Acciaiuoli He being in the citie great and rather superiour then equall to Masso degli Alberti who for the great seruice done when he gouerned as Gonfaloniere was accounted as head of the Commonaltie could not among so many discontentations liue contented nor as the most men do preferre priuate profit before common commoditie And therefore thought he would assaie to restore those that had bene banished or at the least set the admonished into their offices For compassing whereof he whispered hâ—â— intent in the eare of this and that Citizen shewing that otherwise he could not please the people nor staie their offence And concluding said hee onely staied to be of the Senate and then to put the matter in execution Yet because in the actions of men delaie bringeth wearinesse and haste is accompanied with perill to shunne wearinesse hee resolued to aduenture with perill Amongst the Senators Michele Acciaiuoli his companion and Nicholo Riconori his friend were elected whereby Donato imagined a fit opportunitie to be offered and desired them to propound a lawe to the Councels wherein should be conteined the restoration of the Cittizens They being by him perswaded commoned with their fellows who answered that they would attempt no new matters sith the obteining of them was doubtfull and the perill certaine Then Donato hauing in vaine made proofe of euerie mean in great choller let them vnderstand that seeing vpon good occasion offered they did not reforme the citie he would with force of armes do it Which words being greatly offensiue and the matter debated among the chiefe Gouernours Donato was cited and appearing was by witnesse of him to whom he committed the message conuinced and in the end confined to Barletta Also Antonio de Medici with all the rest descended of Alamanno togither with many base Artizans yet such as had credit with the people were banished which things happened after two yeares that Masso had taken in hand the gouernment The citie thus standing many were discontented within and many without banished Of which number remained at Bologna Picchio Cauicciulli Tomazo de Ricci Antonio de Medici Benedetto degli Spini Antonio Girolami Christofano di Carlone with two others of vile condition but all yoong men aduenturours and disposed to hazard any fortune for their country To these men secret intelligence was giuen by Piggiello and Baroccio Cauicciulli who as men admonished liued in Florence that if they did come to the citie disguised they wold receiue them into their houses From whence they might go and kill Masso degli Albizi and call the people to armes who being discontent would easily moue and the rather because they should be followed by the Ricci Adimari Medici Manegli and many other families They then encouraged with this hope the fourth of August 1397. came to Florence and entring secretly as they were appointed sent to know where Masso was intending with his death to raise the tumult At that time Masso was come from his house staied in an Appothecaries shop neare San Pietro Maggiore The messenger sent to await him ran to tell the conspirators therof who taking armes and comming to the place found him gone yet not dismaid that this appointmeÌ„t sped not returned towards the old Market there killed one of the coÌ„trary factioÌ„ Then the larum began the people cried armes libertie kill these tyrants which done they returned towards the new Market at the end of Calimara they slew an other And with like showte following their way no man taking armes at the Loggia Nighitiosa they staied Then they climed vp to a high place and a great multitude drew neare rather to behold them then helpe them and with a loud voice they perswaded men to take armes acquite themselues of that seruitude which they so greatly hated alledging that the lamentation of the euill contented persons in the cittie more then their owne iniuries moued them to seeke meane to be deliuered And that they knew many did pray God to grant them occasion to be reuenged which they wold performe whensoeuer they might find a head to lead them And now occasion being come Captains ready to lead them euery man looked one vpon an other and stood as men amazed So that their resolution was in vaine and the Citizens stil with bondage burthened Also they much maruelled that they who for euery small iniurie were wont to take armes would not now be moued but suffer so many their Citizens to be banished and admonished yet was it in their power to restore the banished to their countrey and the admonished to their offices Which words though true moued not the multitude at all either for feare or els because the death of those two had made the murtherers odious So that the mouers of the tumult seeing that neither words nor deeds had force to encourage any man too late aware how dangerous a thing it is to labour the libertie of a people that will in any wise be subiect dispairing of the enterprise into the temple of Santa Reparata retired themselues and there not to saue their liues but delaie their death they shut themselues vp The Senators at the beginning of the tumult were armed and shut the Pallace gate till after the case was vnderstood the men knowne that moued the rumour being before locked vp tooke courage commanded the Captaine to call his souldiers to apprehend the offenders In so much that with small force the doores of the Temple were broken part of them within were slain in defence of the place the rest take They being examined confessed none to be culpable but Barocco and Piggiello Cauicciulli with others that were slaine After this accident there happened one other of more importance At this time as hath bene beforesaid the cittie had warre with the Duke of Milan who finding that to oppresse it his forces sufficed not determined to worke with wiles and by aid of the banished Florentines of whom Lombardy was full practised that enterprise whereto also many within the towne were made priuie Concluding that vpon a
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
could not be vtterly quenched True it is that the often contentions persecutions of the chief captains frō the 1381. til the 1400. brought the factions wel near to nothing The families most persecuted were the Albizi Ricci and Medici Those houses were diuerse times spoyled both of their men and substance and if any of them remained in the citie their honours and offices were taken from them Which oppression made that part base minded and as it were vtterly trodden downe Notwithstanding there remained in many men a certaine memorie of iniuries receiued and a desire to reuenge them Yet wanting power to performe their will they kept that desire within their breasts secretly hidden Those of the populer Nobilitie who peaceably gouerned the citie committed two errors which were the causes of their ruine The one through their insolency which grew by continuall authoritie and being in office The other through enuie among themselues the long holding the state in their hands they did not preuent those that might offend them but daily renuing the vniuersall hatred by their sinister proceedings not remoouing the matter that might hurt and was to be feared were the causes that the house of Medici recouered authoritie The first of them that begun to stand vp was Giouanni the sonne of Bicci He become exceeding rich and being of nature curteous affable was with the allowance of those that gouerned ascended to the highest office Whereat the multitude so greatly reioyced supposing to haue gotten a protector that the wiser sort conceiued some iust cause of suspition because thereby they found all the old humors begun to arise And Nicholo di Vsano failed not to aduertise the other Citizens how daungerous a thing it was to aduance one who had among the multitude so much reputation saying it was easie to oppresse any inconuenience at the first but letting it growe the remedie was hardly found For hee knew well that in Giouanni there were many more excellent partes then in Saluestro Nicholo could not be heard of his companions because they enuied his reputation and sought for assistance to oppresse him Men thus liuing in Florence beset with contrary humours which secretly began to boyle within their breasts Philippo Visconti second sonne of Giouan Galiazzo being by the death of his brother become Lord of all Lombardy and deuising vpon some enterprise desired greatly to be againe owner of Genoua which at that present vnder Tomazo Frogolo liued in libertie Yet feared he could neither compasse that nor any other thing vnlesse first hee published a new accord with the Florentines the reputation whereof as hee thought might bring him to satisfaction For which purpose hee sent Embassadours to Florence who beeing there and perswading the league it was by many Cittizens thought vnfit to ioyne with him and yet they wished that the peace which had many yeares continued should still endure For they knewe what fauoure and reputation the league would doo him and how small profit the citie should receiue thereof To others it was thought good that the league should be made thereby to procure the Duke to enter conditions and bondes which if he passed euery man might discouer his euill intent and should if he brake the peace the more iustly make warre vpon him Thus the matter being throughly debated the peace was concluded Wherein Philippo promised that hee would not entermedle with anie thing on this side the Riuers of Magra and Panaro After this conclusion Philippo surprized Brescia and shortly after Genoua contrary to the opinion of those that had perswaded the peace For they beleeued that Brescia had bene defended by the Venetians and Genoua could haue defended it selfe And because in the league which Philippo had made with the Doge of Genoua he had reserued Serezana and other Townes on this sides Magra with condition that if he solde them hee then to sell them to the Genouesi the league was broken Besides this hee made peace with the Legate of Bologna Which things altered the mindes of our Citizens and made them doubting newe mischiefes to looke for newe remedies These suspitions come to the eare of Filippo either to gratifie or feele the disposition of the Florentines or else to abuse them sent Ambassadours vnto Florence and by them signified how he maruelled much at the suspition conceiued and therewith offered to renounce euerie thing by him done whereof anie mistrust might grow which Ambassadours wrought none other effect then diuision of the citie For the one part and those that were most reputed in the gouernment thought good to arme and preuent the enemie Notwithstanding if Filippo stood quiet there should be no war at all and in the meane time that prouision was an occasion of peace Many others either enuying those that gouerned or fearing the warre iudged that it was no wisedome lightly to become suspitious neither were things by Philippo done worthie to be suspected But they knew wel that to elect the Ten and to hire souldiers promised warre which being taken in hand against so great a Prince should be the ruine of the citie without hope of any profit For of his victories hauing Romagna in the midst we could not receiue good nor become Princes of that country And of Romagna it self by reason of the neernesse of the church they could not think to become owners Notwithstanding the authoritie of those that would make preparation for war preuailed before the other that desired peace And therefore they created the Ten hired souldiers imposed Subsidies Which proceedings because they burthened more the lesse then greater Cittizens filled the cittie with sorrow and euery man blamed the ambition authoritie of the great men accusing them that to fulfill their appetites and oppresse the people they would make a warre not necessary Yet was not the Duke come to manifest breach but euery thing was full of suspition For Philippo at the request of the Legate of Bologna who feared Antonio Bentiuogli banished and remaining at the Castle Bolognese had sent men to that citie which beeing neare the dominion of Florence held the state in mistrust But that which most amazed euerie man and gaue much cause to discouer the warre was the enterprise of the Duke at Furli Georgio Ordilaffi was Lord of Furli who dying left Tibaldo his sonne vnder protection of Philippo And albeit the mother supposing the Duke to be a Tutor vnfit and therefore sent her childe to Lodouico Alidossi her father Lord of Imola yet was she forced by the people to obserue her husbands testament and commit him to the Dukes hands Then Philippo to make himselfe the lesse suspected and the rather also to couer his intent deuised that the Marquesse of Farrara should send Guido Torello with some forces to be his deputie and take the gouernment of Furli Thus came that towne into the possession of Philippo which being knowne in Florence togither with the newes of the souldiers come to
Bologna made the resolutiō for the war the more speedie notwithstanding it had before great contradiction Giouan de Medici publikely spake against it saying that although he were certaine of the Dukes euil disposition yet were it better that hee should march first thē they go towards him for so the war shuld be iustifiable in the iudgement of other princes neither could we so boldly aske aid as we might after that his ambitiō was discouered Also mē wold with an other mind defend their own thē assault the goods of others To the cōtrary was said it were not good to tarry for the enemy at home but rather go seeke him And fortune was more friend to him that assaulteth thē to him that defendeth Moreouer with lesse losse though with more charge the war is made far frō home then neare at hand In the end this opiniō preuailed And resolutiō was set down that the Ten should deuise some means how the city of Furli might be recouered frō the Duke Philippo seeing that the Florentines went about to surprize those things which he had taken in hand to defend set respects apart sent Agnolodella Pargola with great forces to Imola to the end that prince hauing occasion to defend his own should not think vpō his grandchild Agnolo arriued neare Imola the forces of the Florentines being also at Magdigliana the weather frostie and the towne diches frozen in the night by stealth surprized the towne and sent Lodouico prisoner to Milan The Florentines seeing Imola lost and the warre discouered commaunded their men to go vnto Furli and on euerie side besieged that citie Also to the end that all the Dukes forces should not come to rescue it they hired the Earle Alberigo who from his towne Zagonara issued out spoyling the country euen to the gates of Imola Agnola della Pergola finding he could not with securitie succour Furli by reason of the strength where our Campe laie thought good to besiege Zagonara thinking that the Florentines would not lose that place and if they did relieue it then of force they must abandon Furli and fight with disaduantage The Dukes forces then enforced Alberigo to demaund composition which was graunted he promising to yeeld the towne at any time if within fifteene daies it were not rescued by the Florentines This disorder knowne in the Florentines Campe and in the Citie and euerie man desirous to preuent the enemie of that victorie occasioned them to haue a greater For their Campe being departed from Furli to succour Zagonara and entercountring the enemie was ouerthrowne not so much through vertue of the aduersarie as the vnhappinesse of the weather For our men hauing diuerse houres marched in the deepe myre and raine found the enemies fresh and for that reason by them were vanquished Notwithstanding in so great an ouerthrow published through all Italy there died no more then Lodouico degli Obizi with two others who fallen from their horse were myred to death All the citie of Florence at this ouerthrow became sad and chiefly the great Citizens who had counselled the warre For they sawe the enemie braue their selues disarmed without friends and the people against them who murmured and with iniurious words complained of the great Impositions and Subsidies they had paide to the maintenance of the warre taken in hand without any cause or occasion Saying moreouer now they hauing created the Ten to terrifie the enemie haue succoured Furli and taken it from the Duke Thus do they bewraie their Councels to what end they are not to defend the libertie but encrease their own power which God iustly hath diminished Neither haue they only burthened the citie with this enterprise but with many others for like to this was that against King Ladislao To whome will they now resort for aide To Pope Martine who hath bene in their sight trodden vpon by Braccio To the Queene Giouanna she was by them abandoned and forced to put her selfe vpon the King of Aragon Besides these contumelies they repeated all such iniurious reproues as a people offended could imagine It was therefore thought good to the Senators to assemble a good number of Citizens and with curteous speech appease the humours mooued in the multitude Then Rinaldo degli Albizi eldest sonne of Masso who with his owne vertue the memorie of his father aspired to the chief honour of the citie declared at large that it was no wisedome to iudge enterprises by their successe Because many things well deuised haue had no good end others euil deuised haue good Also if euil counsels hauing good successe should be commended the same wold encourage men to commit errors which would proue to great disaduantage of the Common weale for it euer falleth out that euill counsels be vnfortunate In like maner they erred to blame a wise counsell that hath no desired end for thereby they discouradge the Citizens to counsell the citie saie frankly what they knew or vnderstood Then he shewed the necessitie of that war and how if it had not bene begun in Romagna it should haue bene in Toscana But sith it pleased God that their forces be ouerthrowne the losse should be the lesse if the enterprise were not abandoned For if they would still shewe their faces to Fortune and endeuour themselues to recouer that was lost neither should they finde any losse nor the Duke any victorie They ought also not to repine at the charge or Impositions that should be laid vpon them because those paiments which they had made were reasonable and the rest that should after be imposed would not bee so great For lesse preparation is required for them that defend then those that will offend In the end he perswaded them to imitate their auncestors who by being in euerie aduersitie couragious did defend themselues against all Princes whatsoeuer The Citizens encouraged with the authoritie of this man enterteined the Earle Oddo sonne of Braccio with whom they ioyned Nicholo Piccinino brought vp vnder Braccio a man most esteemed of all those that serued vnder his Ensigne and vnder them they appointed other leaders Also of their owne forces lately broken some Captaines of horse men remained Moreouer they elected twentie Citizens to impose new Subsidies who being encouraged with seeing the greatest Citizens oppressed by the late ouerthrow imposed vpon them without respect This imposition much greeued the great Cittizens yet not to declare themselues vnwilling at the first shewed no priuate offence but generally blamed the matter giuing their aduise that the Impositions might cease which being knowne to many tooke no effect in the Councels and thereupon to occasion these repiners feele the smart of their counsell and make the matter more odious they ordered that the Imposers should proceed with all seueritie and haue authoritie to kill any man that should withstand the publique officers Whereof followed many foule accidents by murthering and hurting of the Citizens In so
much as the factions came to bloud and euerie wise man feared future mischiefes Because the great men who were vsed to respect could not endure to be laide hand vppon and others were not content that euerie man should equally be burthened Many of the chiefe Citizens therefore assembled themselues and concluded that it behoued them to take the gouernment into their hands because their small diligence had giuen head and suffered the publique proceedings to be reproued allowing ouermuch boldnesse in those that were wont to be heads of the multitude Hauing to this effect consulted they determined manie times to meete all togither and in the church of S. Steffano assembled more then 70. Citizens with the lycence and allowance of Lorenzo Ridolfi and Francesco Gianfi gliazzi who at that time were of the Senate To this conuention Giouanni de Medici came not either because he was as a suspect vncalled or that hee would not being of contrary opinion appeare But Rinaldo delli Albizi as mouth of that companie discoursed the estate of the citie how by their negligence it was come to the hand of the multitude from whome in the yeare 1381. by their auncestors it was taken putting them in minde of the iniquitie that raigned in that state from the yeare 77. till 81. And how sith that time till this present some had their fathers slaine some their grandfathers now were returned to the selfesame perils the citie fallen to the like disorders because the multitude had alreadie at their pleasure imposed Subsidies wold ere lōg if the same were not by a greater force or better order withstood appoint the Magistrates Which being brought to passe the multitude would vsurpe their places and ruine that state which had bene with much glorie of the cittie fortie and two yeares continued and Florence should be gouerned either casually vnder the will of the multitude so as one part should liue lycentiously the other daungerously or vnder the commandement of some one that shall make him selfe Prince of all Wherefore he assured them that euerie man that loued his country and his owne honour was constrained to beware and put them in minde of the vertue of Bardo Mancini who with the ruine of the Alberti saued the citie from those perils wherein it then was and that occasion of boldnesse in the multitude proceeded of the large Squittini which were by their negligence made which was the cause also that the Pallace was filled with new men and people of base condition He therefore concluded that the only remedie was to yeeld the gouernment to the great Citizens and remoue the lesse Artificers from their authoritie reducing them from 14. to 7. companies Which should be a meane that the multitude could haue in the Councels lesse authoritie as well in respect that the number of them were diminished as that the great men should haue most power who for the old enmity did disfauour the multitude affirming likewise that to know how to imploy men according to the time was great wisedom For as their ancestors vsed the multitude to oppresse the insolency of the great men who thereby became humble and the multitude insolent so it were now fit to bridle the insolencie thereof with the aide of the great men And for compassing of these matters they might resort either to subtiltie or force For some of them beeing of the Tenne by that colour might bring men secretly into the citie This counsell giuen by Rinaldo was by euery man allowed And Nicholo of Vzano among other said that all things alledged by Rinaldo were true and the remedies good and certaine if the same might be done without manifest diuision of the citie which would come to passe if Giouan de Medici were not perswaded from them For hee being on our side the multitude without head and force could not offend But if he wold not consent without armes it could not be And with armes it were daungerous for either they should not preuaile or not enioy the victory Also modestly he reduced to their memories his former admonitions how they refused to preuent these difficulties when they might But now the time serued not to do it without hazarding a greater mischiefe and therefore as the vttermost refuge it behoued to gaine his fauour Commissiō therfore was granted for Rinaldo to goe vnto Giouanni and perswade him to be of their minde This Gentleman performed his Commission and with the best reasons he was able perswaded him to enter with them into this action and that he would not for the loue of the multitude become insolent to the ruine of the state citie Wherto Giouanni answered that he thought it the office of a wise and good Citizen not to alter the accustomed orders of the citie because there was nothing that so much offended men as alteration sith thereby many be offended where many liue discontented some euill accident is daily to be looked for Also hee thought that this their resolution might worke two effects verie dangerous The one by giuing the honours to those who neuer before hauing them would not much esteeme them and should haue the lesse occasion to complaine if they neuer had them The other by taking the honours from those that were vsed to haue them should make them vnquiet till they were restored And so shall the iniurie done to the one part be greater then the benefit which the other part could thereby receiue Thus shall the authour of this change win few friends many enemies and these will be more ready to offend him thē the others to defend him For mē are more naturally inclined to reuēge an iniury thē be thankful for a good turne because this bringeth losse but that promiseth profit and pleasure Then turning his face towards Rinaldo saide And you sir if you remember matters passed with what subtilties men walk within this citie your self would be more lowe in these resolutions For the giuer of that counsell so soone as with your forces he hath taken away the authoritie of the people would againe take the same from you by the aide of those who by this meane of iniurie will become your foes And it will befall to you as it did to Benedetto Alberti who through the perswasions of him that loued him not cōsented to the ruine of Georgio Scali and Tomazo Strozzi and shortly after by the selfesame men that perswaded him was sent into exile Hee therefore wished him more naturally to thinke vpon matters be willing to follow his father who hauing loue of the multitude cared not to offend a fewe men euill disposed It was then ordained that whosoeuer had to paie halfe a Florine for Subsidie should paie it or not as himselfe pleased And besides all men indebted should for the day of the councell goe free with out molestation of his creditors In the end he concluded that for his owne part he would leaue the cittie in that
order and estate it presently remained These matters thus handled were vnderstood abroad and the same gaue great reputation to Giouanni and hatred to the other cittizens Neuerthelesse hee discontinued all affaires the rather to discourage those that vnder his fauour intended new practises Also in all his comunication hee let euerie man to vnderstand that hee would not nourish but extinguish factions And for himselfe he desired nothing but the vnion of the citie yet were manie that followed him therewith discontented For diuers of them did perswade him to be in those matters more quick of which number was Alamanno de medici who being fierce of nature ceased not to sollicite him to persecute their enemies fauour friends blaming his coldnesse slow maner of proceding Which was as he alledged occasion that their foes without respect practised against him Which one daie would take effect with the ruine of his house and friends To the same effect was hee encouraged by Cosimo his sonne Yet notwithstanding all these reasons to him reuealed or prognosticated hee stood firme in his intent and by that meanes the faction became discouered and the cittie in manifest diuision At that time were in the Pallace two Chauncellors one called Ser Martino and the other Ser Pagolo This fauoured the parte of Vzano that of Medici Rinaldo seeing that Giouanni refused to concurre with them thought fit to depriue Ser Martino of his office hoping afterwards to finde the Pallace more fuourable That practise foreseene by the aduersaries Martino was defended and Pagalo with sorrow and iniury of his friends remooued which had presently wrought bad effects if the present warre had not bene the citie by the ouerthrow receiued at Zagonara terrified During the time that these matters were managed in Florence Agnola della Pergola had with the Dukes forces taken all the townes which the Florentines possessed in Romagna Castaro and Modigliana excepted some of them beeing lost by the weakenesse of the place and others by the default of those that had them in guarde In the surprizing of these townes two notable things appeared The first how much the vertue of men euen to their enemies is acceptable The other how greatly cowardice and fainte heart is contemned Biagio of Milan was Captaine of the fortresse called Montepetroso He being enuironed with fire and enemies not finding any meanes how to defend his charge or escape with life cast ouer the wall where no fire yet burned certaine cloathes and strawe and vpon the same his owne two children and said to his enemies Take you here those goods which fortune hath giuen me and you haue power to bereaue me of but my riches of minde wherein glorie and my honour lieth neither will I giue them nor you can take them from me The enemies ran to saue the poore children and offered him roapes and ladders to conuey himselfe downe safe But he refused all succours chusing rather to die in fire then receiue a life from the enemies of his country An example truly like to those of the auncient time so highly commended And is the more notable that such resolutions are but rare The children were by the enemies restored to all thinges that were theirs and could be found and with great care conueyed to their friends to whom their countrey also was no lesse kinde For during their liues they were publikely releeued and mainteined The contrary happened in Galeata where Zanobi di Pino was Podesta For he without any defence yeelded his charge to the enemie and besides perswaded Agnolo to abandon the Alpes of Romagna and come into the hilles of Toscana where he might make warre with lesse perill and more profit But Agnolo could not endure the cowardice and base mind of that man and therfore gaue him prisoner to his seruants who in contempt and disdaine allowed him no more foode but painted cards saying by that means they would make him of a Guelfo to become a Ghibellino But within a fewe daies Pino pined to death In this meane time the Earle Oddo togither with Nicholo Piccinino was entred into the vale of Lamona to reduce the Lord of Faenza to the friendship of the Florentines or at the least to empeach Agnola della Pergola in the spoile of Romagna Yet by reason that vale is strong and the country people warlike it chaunced that Oddo was slaine and Nicholo Piccinino ledde prisoner to Faenza But fortune would that the Florentines obteined that by this losse which if they had woon the victorie should percase neuer haue bene compassed For Nicholo being prisoner wrought so with the Lord of Faenza his mother that they by his perswasion became friendes to the Florentines By this league Nicholo Piccinino was deliuered but folowed not that councel he gaue to others For whiles he cōmoned with the cities that enterteined him either for that the conditions he had made seemed ouer meane or that he hoped of better elsewhere suddeinly without leaue taking departed from Arezzo where hee lodged and went into Lombardy and there tooke paie of the Duke The Florentines by this accident became fearefull and being dismayd with their charges lost thought they could not alone maintaine the warre and therfore sent Embassadours to the Venetians desiring them while the enterprise was easie to ioyne against one who being suffered to grow might become as dangerous to them as to the Florentines To the same enterprise also Francesco Carmignuola did perswade them who was in those dayes accounted a man of warre most excellent and had bene sometimes a souldier vnder the Duke yet at that time rebelled against him The Venetians stood doubtfull not knowing how much they might trust Carmignuola fearing that the enmitie betwixt the Duke him was but fained They thus standing doubtfull it happened that the Duke procured one of the seruants of Carmignuola to poyson his maister which poyson not being strong inough killed him not but brought him to extremitie This being knowne to the Venetians cleared all suspition and the Florentines following their request the league was made betwixt them either partie binding himselfe to make warre at their common charge and that whatsoeuer were gotten in Lombardy should be the Venetians and whatsoeuer were possessed in Romagna should be the Florentines and Carmignuola to continue General of the league Then was the war by mean of this league brought into Lombardy and by Carmignuola gouerned with so great vertue that in fewe moneths he had taken many townes from the Duke togither with the Citie of Brescia the winning whereof in those dayes and in those warres was accounted maruellous This warre was continued fiue yeares and the Citizens become wearie of the Impositions alreadie past agreed to renew them and prouided the same might be imposed according to the value of euerie mans wealth In this Imposition it fell out that many mightie Cittizens were sore charged And therefore before the lawe passed it became of them
neuer desired offices yet had he them all he went not at any time to the Pallace vncalled he loued peace and shunned warre he relieued men in aduersitie and furthered them in prosperitie He medled not with publique extortion but encreased the common profit He was in office curteous of no great eloquence but singuler wise His complexion seemed melancholy yet was he in cōuersation pleasant and merrie He died rich in treasure but more rich of loue and good report which inheritance aswell in goods of fortune as of mind was by Cosimo not only preserued but also enlarged The Volterani being wearie of imprisonment promised to condiscend to that which was demaunded They then being deliuered and returned to Volterra found the time come for the election of new Priori Among whom was chosen one iust man a base fellow yet of credit among the multitude and was in the number of those that had ben prisoners in Florence He being moued with the iniurie offred both in publique and priuate by the Florentines was encouraged by one Giouanni a noble man who also sate in office with him to stirre the people with the authority of the Priori and his owne credit to take the towne from the Florentines and make himselfe Prince thereof By whose perswasion this Giusto for so he was called tooke armes ransacked the towne imprisoned the Captayne of the Florentines and made him selfe by consent of the people Lord thereof This new matter happened in Volterra greatly displeased the Florentines Yet hauing lately made peace with the Duke they imagined a time was come to recouer it And not omitting oportunitie they sodeinly sent thither Rinaldo de gli Albizi and Palla Strozzi as their Comissaries Giusto in the meane space supposing the Florentines would assault him prayed ayd of the Sanesi and Lucchesi The Sanesi denyed him saying they were in league with the Florentines And Pagolo Guinigi Lord of Lucca to recouer the fauoure of the Florentine people which in the Dukes warres he feared to haue lost did not onely refuse to ayde Giusto but also sent his messenger prisoner to Florence These commissaries in the meane space to come vnlooked for of the Volterani assembled all their men of Armes and in the neather Valderno and the Prouince of Pisa leauyed many footemen from whence they marched to Volterra Neyther did Giusto for being abandoned of his neighbours nor the assault of the Florentines abandon himselfe but trusting to the strength of the Scite and the greatnes of the Towne prepared for defence There was at that time in Volterra one called Arcolano brother to Giouanni who had perswaded Giusto to take the gouernment a man among the Nobilitie of good reputation He assembling his friends declared how God by this accident had supplied the necessitie of their Cittie For now if they were pleased to take armes remoue Giusto from the Senate and restore the Cittie to the Florentines they should thereby become chiefe of their Cittie and continue their auncient priuiledges These men consenting to the enterprise went to the Pallace where this Lord Giusto remayned some of them also being left belowe Arcolano with three others went vp and finding him with some other Cittizens drew him aside as though he had to speake with him in some earnest matter so enterteyning him from chamber to chamber till he came to the place where the rest of the companie remayned Yet were they not so suddein but that Giusto drew his sword and before himselfe was slayne hurt two of them Notwithstanding in the end vnable to resist so manie was murthered and cast out of the Pallace Then all the rest of the conspiracie with Arcolano tooke Armes and gaue the Towne to the Commissaries for the Florentines who were with Souldiers neere at hand They without other capitulation entered the Towne whereby the Volterani made their condition worse then before For among other things they dismembred the greater part of the Countrey and was reduced to Vicariato Thus Volterra as it were at one instant lost and recouered no occasion of new warre remayned had not the ambition of men bene cause thereof There serued long time the Florentines in their warres against the Duke of Milan one called Nicholo Fortibraccio sonne to one of the sisters of Braccio di Perugia He after the peace made was by the Florentines discharged and at such time as this chance happened at Volterra was lodged at Fucecchio whereby the Commissaries in that enterprise employed him and his Souldiers It was supposed that at such time as Rinaldo trauelled with him in that warre he perswaded Nicholo vnder some fayned quarrell to assault the Lucchesi saying that if he would goe against Lucca he should be made Generall of the iourney Volterra thus surprized and Nicholo returned home to Fucecchio either by perswasion of Rinaldo or of his owne will in Nouember the yeare 1429. with 300. horse and 300. footemen surprized Ruoti and Compito Castles belonging to the Lucchesi and after came into the Countrey and there made great spoyle The newes of this enterprise published at Florence many people assembled in diuers places of the Cittie and the greater number wished that Lucca might be assaulted The great Cittizens that fauoured the enterprise were those of the faction of Medici and with them ioyned Rinaldo thereto perswaded either because he thought the enterprise profitable to the common-weale or else for his owne ambition hoping to haue the honor of the victorie Those that disfauoured the attempt were Nicholo de Vzano and his followers And it seemeth a thing incredible that so great contrarietie should be in one Cittie touching the making of a warre For those Cittizens and that people who after tenne yeeres of peace blamed the warre against the Duke Philippo for defence of their libertie now after so great expences and so much affliction of the Cittie withall earnestly desired to make a new warre against Lucca and to vsurpe the libertie of others On the other side those that desired the first warre found fault with this motion so greatly did the opinions of men alter with time for the multitude seemeth more readie to take from others then keepe their owne Also men are more moued with hope of winning then feare of losing For this feare is not beleeued till it be neere at hand but that hope is hoped for although farre off The people of Florence was full of hope both by the victories they had obteyned and by letters sent vnto Fortebraccio from the Rettori neere to Lucca For the Deputies of Pescia and of Vico did write that if they might haue leaue to receiue those Castles they would be deliuered to them and by that meanes all the Countrey of Lucca should be gayned Besides these good newes the Lord of Lucca sent his Embassador to Florence to complayne of the spoyles committed by Nicholo desiring the Senate not to moue warre against their neighbours and a Citie that had euer
been friend to the Florentines This Embassador was called Iacopo Viuiani He not long before had been kept prisoner with Pagolo for a conspiracie against him whereof although he were guiltie yet was his life saued And Pagolo supposing that Iacopo had likewise forgotten the iniurie put him in trust But Iacopo remembring more the perill he had passed then the benefite he receiued being arriued in Florence secretly encouraged the Cittizens to proceed in the enterprise which encouragement ioyned to other hope was the cause that the Senate assembled a Councell wherein were foure hundred ninetie eight Cittizens before whome by the principall men of the Cittie the matter was debated Among the chiefe that perswaded the iourney as is before sayd was Rinaldo who alleadged the profite that might ensue of victorie Hee also declared the occasion of the enterprise and how the Lucchesi were abandoned by the Venetians and the Duke And that the Pope being busied in the affayres of the Kingdome could not succour them Thereto he remembred how easie it was to winne the Cittie being in subiection to one Cittizen whereby it had lost that naturall strength and auntient care to defend the libertie So that either by meane of the people who studied to driue out the Tyrant or the Tyrants feare of them the successe was not to be doubted Hee likewise layd before them the iniuries which that Lord had done to our Common-wealth and his euill disposition towards the same And how dangerous a thing it were if the Pope or the Duke should make warre concluding that no enterprise attempted by the people of Florence was euer more easie or more iust Against this perswasion Nicholo de Vzano sayde that Florence did neuer take in hand any thing more vniust nor more perilous nor whereof more daunger might followe First they should goe about to offend a Cittie affectionate to the Guelfi and such a one as had euer bene friend to the people of Florence and had with perill to it selfe many times receiued the Guelfi when they durst not abide in their owne Countrey And by the memoriall of our proceedings it cannot be found that Lucca being free did euer offend Florence but the offence at any time done was committed by those that vsurped as heretofore by Castruccio and now by this man which defaults cannot be imputed to the Cittie but the Tyrants And therefore if the warre might be made vppon the Tyrant and not the Cittie the displeasure should be the lesse But because that could not be he might not consent that a Cittie beforetime a friend should be spoyled of her substance Yet sith at this day men liue as though of right or wrong none account is to be made hee would leaue to speake thereof and thinke onely vpon the profit of the Cittie His opinion therefore was that those things might be called profitable which would not lightlie procure losse Wherefore he knewe not how any man could call that enterprise profitable where the losse was certaine and the gayne doubtfull The certeine losses were the charges it carried with it which seemed so great as would terrifie any peaceable Cittie much more ours hauing bene by long warres wearied The profit of the enterprise was the possession of Lucca which hee confessed to be great Yet were they to consider the lets thereof and they seemed to him so great as hee thought the successe impossible Neither could hee beleeue that the Venetians and Philippo were therewith pleased Because the Venetians consent was onely to seeme thankefull hauing lately with the Florentines woon a great Dominion The other would be glad that in a new warre wee shoulde spende more treasure so as worne and wearyed on euerie side wee might after be the more easily annoyed Also there would not want meanes for him euen in the best hope of victorie to succour the Lucchesi eyther couertly with money or with cassing of bands and sending souldiers as aduenturers to ayde them Hee therefore perswaded that the enterprise might stay and suffer them liue with the Tyrant whereby they shoulde haue the more enemyes For there was no way so apt to subdue the Cittie as to suffer it continue vnder a Tyrant and be by him assaulted or weakened This matter wisely handled the Cittie would be brought in termes that the Tyrant not able to hold it nor knowing how to gouerne it selfe should of force fall in our bozome Neuerthelesse seeing his words were not heard hee would prognosticate that they would make a warre wherein much should be spent many hazards made and in stead of surprizing Lucca deliuer it from the Tyrant and procure that Cittie which before was subiect and weake to become a towne free and full of displeasure yea with time an obstacle to the honour of the Florentine common-weale This enterprise thus perswaded and disswaded they begun as the custome is to practise with men secretly for the winning of their good wills so as onely 98. persons did speake against it Then the resolution set downe and the Tenne elected for gouernment of the warre they enterteyned souldiers both on horsebacke and foote Astore Gianni and Rinaldo de gli Albizi were appointed Generalls and they agreed that Nicholo Fortibraccio should haue the gouernment of the Townes if the enterprise tooke successe The Generalls with the Armyes beeing arriued within the territorie of Lucca diuided their forces Astore went into the playne towards Ca Maggiore and Pietrasanta And Rinaldo towardes the Mountaynes thinking that the Countrey being spoyled the Cittie would be easily taken The attempt of these men prooued vnfortunate not because they surprized no Townes but for the dishonor committed by one of them in the seruice For true it is that Astore Gianni gaue great occasions of his owne dishonour Neere vnto Pietrasanta there is a Vale called Serauezeza rich and full of inhabitants who hearing the Generall was come presented them selues desiring him to receiue them for faithfull seruants to the people of Florence Astore seemed to accept the offer and after caused his Souldiers to possesse all the passages and strong places of the Vale then commaunding all the inhabitants to assemble in the principall Church and there willed his men to take them prisoners sack them and spoyle all the Countrey most cruelly not sparing the sacred places but without respecte abusing aswell Virgins as married women The manner of these proceedings being knowne in Florence offended not onely the Magistrates but the whole Cittie also Some fewe of the Sarauezesi who escaped the hands of the Generall ran to Florence telling in euery streete and to euery man their miseries and were by many Citizens encouraged either because they desired to haue the Generall punished thinking him indeed an euill man or else for that they knewe him not to fauour their faction So that the Sarauezesi were brought before the tenne where one of them stepped foorth and spake to this effect Sure we are my good Lords that our
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
towards his friends then was by his father vsed In so much as those that reioyced at the death of Giouanni seeing the vertue of Cosimo became sorie This Cosimo was a man of excellent wisdom of presence graue and gratious greatly liberall curteous and such a one as neuer attempted any thing either against any faction or the state but sought by all meanes to pleasure euerie man and with his liberalitie to gaine the good wil of many Citizens So that his good deserts defaced those that gouerned brought himself to beleeue that he might by that meanes liue at Florence in sufficient strength and securitie And if the ambition of his aduersaries should moue any extraordinarie occasion to the contrarie hee hoped both by armes and fauoure of friendes to oppresse them The greatest instruments to worke his greatnesse were Auerardo de Medici Puccio Pucci Of them Auerardo with courage and Puccio with wisedome procured him great reputation For the counsell and wisedome of Puccio was so well knowne to euerie man that the faction of Cosimo was called not by his owne name but by the name of Puccio The citie notwithstanding thus diuided the enterprise of Lucca proceeded whereby the humours of the factions were rather encreased then extinguished And although the faction of Cosimo chiefly counfelled the warre yet many of the contrarie part were appointed officers therein as mē most reputed in the state which Auerardo and others not being able to remedie sought by all industrie and practise to slaunder them and if any losse happened as many did they imputed the same not to fortune or force of the enemie but want of wisedome in the officers This was the cause that the offences of Astor Gianni were esteemed so great This made Rinaldo delli Albizi offended and without lycence to depart from his charge This was the occasion that the deliuerie of Giouanni Guicciardini was required at the hand of the Captaine of the people And heereof proceeded all blames that had bene imputed to the Magistrates and ministers of the warre For the true slaunders were encreased and the vntrue were inuented and both the true and not true were of the people that loued them not beleeued These matters and manner of proceeding extraordinarie was well knowne to Nicholo di Vzano and others of his faction who had many times thought vpon remedie but found no meanes how to deale therein Because it seemed to them that the suffering thereof was dangerous and forcibly to helpe it was not easie Nicholo di Vzano was the first vnto whom this extraordinary way displeased Thus the warres continuing without the citie and these disorders within Nicholo Barbadori desirous to bring Nicholo di Vzano to consent to the oppression of Cosimo went vnto his house where he found him sadly set in his Closet and there with the best reasons he could perswaded him to ioyne with Rinaldo to driue Cosimo out of the Citie Vnto whome Nicholo di Vzano answered as followeth I thinke it were better for thy house and our Commonweale that all the rest whose opiniō thou herein followest had their beards as men saie rather of siluer then gold as thou hast For then their counsels proceeding from heads graie groūded in experiēce would be more aduised more profitable It seemeth to me that those which desire to banish Cosimo frō Florence had neede first of all to measure their forces with his This our side you haue called by the name of Nobilitie and the contrarie part you haue termed the plebeial partie If the truth answered to these names in euerie accident the victorie would proue doubtfull and we haue more cause to feare then to hope moued with the example of the auncient Nobilitie of this citie which hath ben by this plebeiall sort heretofore oppressed But the greatest cause of our feare is that our side is dismembred our aduersaries continue whole and entyre First you must consider that Neri di Gino and Nerone de Nigi two of our principall Citizens be not as you know more friends to vs then to them There be also many families among themselues diuided For diuerse through enuie of their brethrē or their kinsmen do disfauor vs fauor thē I wil resite vnto you the names of some few the rest you may the more easily remember with your self Of the house of Guicciardini and amōg the sonnes of Luigi Piero is enemy to Giouanni fauoureth our aduersaries Tomazo Nicholo Soderini for the hate they haue to Francesco their vncle are openly protested our enimies So that if we consider well what they are what we our selues be I know not for what reasō we shuld cal our or their partie more noble And if it be that we cal their part plebeial bicause they are by the multitude most followed their state therin is the better ours the worse For whēsoeuer we shal come to arms we cānot resist thē Also if we stād on our dignities they haue bin giuē to vs by the state by vertue therof we haue cōtinued thē these 50. veres Yet whēsoeuer we shal come to proofe our weaknes wil appear we shal lose our authority If you haply say that the iust occasiō which moueth vs to this enterprise shall encrease our credit and diminish theirs Thereto I answere that it behooueth this iust quarrel of ours to be knowne beleeued of others as wel as of our selues which falleth out cleane contrarie for the occasion alledged is altogither builded vpon the suspition we haue that he goeth about to make himselfe Prince of this cittie This is the mistrust we haue which others haue not but they rather accuse vs of that we accuse him The matters which make Cosimo suspected are that he imployeth his mony to serue euerie occasion not onely to priuate vses but also to the publike affaires and that as well to the Florentines as the Captaines and Leaders The cause why he doth fauoure this and that Cittizen hauing need of authoritie is for that his credit with the multitude hath aduaunced this and that friend to great honours Therefore it behoueth you to alledge the reasons why hee should be expulsed Because he is charitable friendly liberall and loued of all men And now tel me I pray you what lawe inhibiteth blameth or condemneth men for their charitie their liberalitie and their loue And albeit these be meanes for him to aspire yet are they not so taken neither are wee of credite inough to make them so to bee thought For our proceedings haue wrought our discredit and our cittie naturally disposed to diuision and liuing alwaies in corruption cannot giue eare to such accusations But admit you could expulse him which hauing a Senate for the purpose may easily come to passe yet how can ye deuise that he hauing in the citie so many friends studying for his reurne should not be reuoked This I think impossible because his friends being many and he hauing loue
vniuersal you cannot assure him The more of his chiefe friends you labour to banish the more enemies you winne to your selues So that within short space he shall be returned and you haue gained thus much that a good man he was banished and returned an euil man because his nature shall be corrupted by those that will labour his reuocation To whom being made beholding he may not oppose himselfe and if you would put him to death by order of Magistrates you could neuer procure it because his riches and our corruptible nature would assuredly saue him Yet admit he were dead or banished neuer to returne I see not what is gotten to our Common weale for though it be thereby deliuered of Cosimo it becommeth subiect to Rinaldo and I am one of those who wish that no Citizen should surpasse an other in power and authoritie But if any of these two should preuaile I know not for what cause I ought to loue Rinaldo more then Cosimo Neither will I say more then I pray God to defend that any Citizen should aspire to be Prince of this citie And though our sinnes haue merited such a plague yet God forbid we should obey him Do not therefore perswade an enterprise which in euerie respect is dangerous nor thinke that you accompanied with a fewe can withstand the will of many For all these Citizens partly through ignorance and partly of their lewdnesse be prepared to make sale of the Common weale and fortune is so friendly vnto them as they haue alreadie founde a chapman Be therefore pleased to follow my counsell liue modestly and so shall you find cause as well to suspect some of our side for enemies to the libertie as those of the contrarie and when any troubles happen being neutrall you shall be to both acceptable So shall you helpe your selfe and not hinder your country These words did somewhat appease the minde of Barbadoro and the citie continued quiet during the war of Lucca But the peace made and Nicholo da Vzano dead the cittie remained both without warre and order By meane whereof euill humours grew and Rinaldo thinking himselfe to be onely Prince ceased not to entreate and perswade all those Citizens whom he thought likely to be Genfalonieri to arme themselues for the defence of their country against that man who through the lewdnesse of a few the ignorance of many should of necessitie bring the same to seruitude This course holden by Rinaldo and the contrarie laboured by the aduerse part filled the citie with suspition and at the election of euerie Magistrate the one against the other partie publikely murmured at the election of the Senators all the citie was in open vproare Euerie matter brought before the Magistrates how litle soeuer it were occasioned a mutinie All secret matters were laide open good and euill were fauoured disfauoured good men and euill men equally molested and no Magistrate could execute his office Florence remaining in this confusion and Rinaldo labouring to oppresse the greatnesse of Cosimo knowing that Barnardo Guadagni was likely to be elected Gonfaloniere paide his debts to the end that such mony as he owed to the state should not be a meane to keepe him from that dignitie The Senators being chosen and fortune fauouring our discords it came to passe that Barnardo was chosen Gonfaloniere to sit in that office during the two moneths of September and October Him presently Rinaldo visited and told him how greatly the Nobilitie reioyced for his being aspired to that honour which for his vertue he deserued and therfore required him so to behaue himselfe in the office that their reioycing should not be in vaine Then he laid before him the perils which proceeded of faction that there was no other remedie to vnite the citie but the oppression of Cosimo because hee with the loue which his exceeding riches had gained him held others downe and aspired to make himselfe Prince It were therfore conuenient for remedie of so great a mischiefe that the people should be assembled in the Market place And by vertue of the Gonfaloniere the citie restored to libertie He moreouer declared how Saluestro de Medici could without iustice bridle the greatnesse of the Guelfi vnto whome by the bloud of their auncestors lost in that quarrell the gouernment to them apperteined And if he iniustly could do that against so many then might Barnardo with iustice do the same against one alone Then he perswaded him not to feare any man because his friends would be readie armed to assist him Of the multitude which so greatly honoured Cosimo none account was to be made for Cosimo should haue by their fauours none other good then had Georgio Scali Neither should he feare his riches for they being come to the hands of the Senators should be theirs And in conclusion said that this action should make the state vnited and him famous To these perswasions Barnardo briefly answered how he thought necessary to do according to that counsel And bicause the time was to be imploied rather in actiō then words he would presently prepare forces to be readie so soone as his companions could be perswaded to the enterprise Barnardo being placed in office and hauing woon his companions counselled with Rinaldo sent for Cosimo who albeit he were otherwise aduised did appeare trusting rather to his owne innocencie then the mercie of the Senators So soone as Cosimo was entered the Pallace Rinaldo with many others armed came to the Market place and there met with the rest of that faction Then the Senators caused the people to be called and made a Balia of two hundreth men to reforme the state of the citie which Balia with such speed as possibly they could consulted vpon the reformation and also of the life and death of Cosimo Many perswaded he should be banished others would haue him put to death and many also said nothing either for the compassion they tooke of the man or for the fear of them selues This diuersitie of opinions did procure that nothing was cōcluded In a Tower of the Pallace called Albergettino Cosimo was kept prisoner vnder the guard of Federigo Malauolti From which place Cosimo hearing them talke and perceiuing the noyse of armed men in the Market place togither with the often ringing of the Bell to the Balia he stood in great suspition of his life and feared also least his particuler enemies would extraordinaly murther him For these respects during the space of foure dayes he would eate nothing but one litle peece of bread which Federigo perceiuing saide vnto him Cosimo I see thou fearest to be poysoned and therefore would first famish thy selfe But thou doest me great dishonor to thinke that I wold put my hand to so wicked a deede I surely beleeue that thou art not to die for this matter hauing so good friends both within without the Pallace But if it be ment that thy life shall be taken from thee
be sure they should finde other ministers then me to performe that deed For I will not imbrew my hands in the bloud of any man and chiefly in thine who neuer offended me Be therefore of good cheare eate thy meate and preserue thy life to the comfort of thy friends and country and because thou shalt mistrust the lesse I my selfe will eate part of those meates which be set before thee These words comforted Cosimo exceedingly and with teares in his eyes he embraced and kissed Federigo thanking him most heartily for his friendly and pitious dealing offering to be thankfull whensoeuer occasion should be presented Thus Cosimo somewhat comforted and his cause disputed among the Citizens It happened that Federigo brought with him to supper a friend of the Gonfalonieries called Farganaccio a man verie wittie and pleasantly disposed The supper being almost ended Cosimo hoping to helpe himselfe by this mans presence for he was with him well acquainted made signes to Federigo to go aside who knowing the occasion fained to go for something that wanted And leauing them alone Cosimo after a fewe friendly words spoken to Farganaccio gaue him a token and sent him to the Hospital of Santa Maria Nuoua for a thousand and one hundreth crownes wherof one hundreth to be kept to his owne vse the other to beliuered to the Gonfaloniere Farganaccio performed his Commission the mony was paide and by vertue thereof Barnardo became more fauourable So as then it was ordered that Cosimo should be onely confined to Padoa contrary to the expectation of Rinaldo that desired his life Auerardo many others of the house of Medici were also banished and with them Puccio and Giouanni Pucci Also to terrifie others that were offended with the exile of Cosimo they gaue Commission of Balia to the Eight of the Guard and the Captaine of the people After which order taken Cosimo vpon the third of October in the yeare 1433. came before the Senators who pronounced his banishment and perswaded him to obey the same Or if he would refuse more seueritie would be vsed both vnto his person and goods Cosimo with chearfull countenance receiued his confinement protesting that whither so euer the Senate should please to send him hee was most willing to obey Humbly desiring that as they had preserued his life so it might please them to defend him for he was giuen to vnderstand of many that watched in the Market place to haue his bloud He said moreouer that himselfe and his substance should be euer at the commandement of the citie the people and their Lordships The Gonfaloniere did comfort him and kept him in the Pallace till night was come There he supped after brought him to his house which done caused him to be accompanied with many armed men by them was cōducted to the cōfines Wheresoeuer Cosimo passed he was honourably receiued and by the Venetians publikely visited not as banished but as a man in great authoritie Florence thus depriued of so worthie a Citizen so vniuersally loued euerie man was dismaid and as wel they that had the victorie as those that were victored did feare Rinaldo mistrusting future misaduenture to serue his owne turne and his friends assembled many Citizens and said to them that he now saw their ruine at hand because they were with faire words teares the enemies mony vanquished forgetting that shortly themselues should be forced to entreate and weepe when their sutes shall not be heard and of their teares no man would take compassion Also touching the monies receiued the same must be repaid with torments death exile instead of vsurie Moreouer that it had bin better for themselues to be dead then suffer Cosimo to passe with life and leaue his friends in Florence Because great personages should either not be touched or being must be made sure from taking reuenge No other remedie therefore remained but to fortifie themselues within the citie to the end that the enemies taking knowledge thereof as easily they will we may resist them with armes sith by order and lawe we could not auoyd them The remedie of all this was that which long before had bene remembred to recouer the great men restoring giuing to them all the honors of the citie making our selues strong with that faction because the aduersaries were strengthned by the multitude By this means their partie should be knowne of how great force vertue courage and credite it were Alledging also that if this last and truest refuge were not put in proofe he sawe not by what other meane the state might be among so many enemies preserued And therefore he beheld at hand a destruction of them and their Citie To answer this speech Mariotto Baldouineti one of the company opposed himselfe and said that the pride and insupportable nature of the Nobilitie was such that it were no wisedome to submit themselues to a tyrannie certain to eschue the doubtfull perils of the multitude Rinaldo seeing his counsell not heard lamented the misfortune of himselfe and his friends imputing euerie thing rather to the heauens that so would haue it then to the ignorance and blindnesse of men The matter thus depending without any necessarie prouision made a letter was found written by Agnolo Acciaiuoli to Cosimo wherein he aduertised the disposition of the citie towards him and wished him to moue some warre making Nero di Gino his friend For hee thought the Cittie had much need of mony and no way knowne that would supplie that want By occasion wherof the desire of his return would be greatly reuiued in the Citizens minds And if Neri should fall from Rinaldo then that side would become so weak as could not defend it selfe This letter come to the handes of the Magistrates was the cause that Agnolo was taken and sent to exile By this example some part of that humour which fauoured Cosimo was cooled The yeare of Cosimo his banishment expired the end of August at hand in the yere 1430. Nicholo di Cocco was chosen Gonfaloniere for the two moneths next following and with him eight Senators all friends to Cosimo So as that Senate terrified Rinaldo all his followers Also because the custome was that the Senators elected should three dayes before they enter their office remaine as priuate men at home within that time Rinaldo conferred with the chiefe of his faction and shewed them their certaine and approching perill the remedie whereof was to take armes and by force procure that Donato Velluti who was yet Gonfaloniere should assemble the people in the Market place call a new Balia depriue the new Senators of their office creating a new Senate for their purpose exchaunging the old Squittini put in new with the names of their friends This deuise was by many thought secure and necessarie Of others it was holden ouer violent and dangerous Among those that disallowed thereof was Palla Strozzi who being a man indeed quietly disposed gentle curteous
gaue great reputation to the faction of Cosimo and much terror to the enemy that so mightie a Common weale refused not to sell their libertie to the Florentines Which was thought to be done not so much to gratifie Cosimo as to exasperate the factions in Florence make by meanes of bloud the diuision of our citie the more daungerous Because the Venetians found that there was nothing that so much hindred their greatnes as the vniting thereof Thus the citie being acquite both of the enemies persons suspected to the state the gouernours studying to pleasure other people make their own part the stronger restored the house of Alberti with all other Rebels All the great Citizens a few except were brought into the order of the people the possessions of the rebels at smal prices among them sold Moreouer with new lawes and orders they strengthened themselues making new Squittini taking out the names of their enemies putting in the names of their friends Also being warned by the ruine of their enemies and iudging that it sufficed not for the holding of the state to haue the Squittini full of their friends they also thought good that the Magistrates of life and death should be chosen of the chiefe of their faction It was therfore required that the makers of the new Squittini togither with the old Senate should haue authoritie to create the new They gaue vnto the Eight authoritie ouer life and death and prouided that those that were banished should not though their time were expired return vnlesse of the Senat and the Colledges being in number 37. were thereunto consenting or at the least thirtie foure of them To write vnto those that were confined or receiue any letters from them was forbidden Also euery word euery signe euery action that offended the Gouernours was greeuously punished And if in Florence remained any suspitiō it was the Impositions lately imposed so hauing driuē out their aduersaries or brought thē to great pouerty assured themselues of the state Also not to want forrein aid but preuent such as thereby determined to offend them they did confederate and make league with the Pope the Venetians and the Duke of Milan The state of Florence resting in these tearmes Giouanna Queene of Naples dyed making by her testament Rinieri de Angio heyre of her Kingdome At that time Alfonso King of Aragon happened to be in Sicilia and hauing the friendship of many Barrons there prepared himselfe to possesse that Kingdome The Napolitanes and many of the Lords fauoured Rinieri The Pope on the other side would neither that Rinieri nor Alfonso might possesse it but desired that himselfe should gouerne it by a Deputy of his owne Yet Alfonso being arriued in the Kingdome was by the Duke of Sessa receiued and there enterteined some other Princes hoping to surprize Capoua which the Prince of Tarranto in the name of Alfonso possessed and by that meane to constraine the Napolitanes to yeeld to his will For that purpose he sent his Nauie to assault Gaietta which was holden for the Neapolitanes The Napolitanes then prayed ayde of Philippo who perswaded the Genouesi to take that enterprise in hand They not onely to satisfie the Duke their Prince but also to saue the merchandize they had in Naples and Gaietta armed a mightie Nauie Alfonso on the contrary side vnderstanding thereof encreased his forces and went in person to encounter the Genouesi with whom he fought neere vnto the Island of Pontio and there his Nauie was vanquished himselfe with diuerse other Princes taken and sent by the Genouesi to Philippo This victorie dismayd all the Princes of Italy because thereby they thought he might become owner of all But he so diuerse are the opinions of men tooke a course cleane contrary to expectation This Alfonso being a man verie wise so soone as he could come to the speech of Philippo tolde how greatly he deceiued himselfe to fauour Rinieri and disfauour him because if Rinieri were King of Naples he would labour with all his force to bring the Dukedome of Milan to the hands of the French King by reason his ayde was at hand his furniture of all things necessarie and the way open for his reliefe Neither could he looke for better then his owne ruine if he made that state to become French But the contrarie would follow if himselfe might be Prince For he not fearing any other enemy then the French should be enforced to loue honour and obey him who had the onely power to open the way to his enemies So that although the Kingdome should rest with Alfonso yet the authoritie and power thereof would remaine in the hands of Philippo Wherefore it would much more import him then himselfe to consider the perill of the one and the profit of the other vnlesse he desired more to satisfie his fantesie then assure the state Because in doing the one he should be Prince and free by the other in the middest of two mightie enemies either sure to lose the state vtterly liue alwayes in suspition or as a subiect obey them These words wrought so deepe in the Dukes mind that changing his intent he deliuered Alfonso honorably returned him to Genoua and from thence to the Kingdome There he imbarked againe and being arriued at Gaietta his deliuery was knowne and that Countrey sodeinly surprized by certaine Lords his followers The Genouesi seeing that without respect to them the Duke had deliuered the King and that he whome they with their charge and perill had honoured did not make them aswell partakers of the honor in the Kings inlargement as of the iniurie to him done and his ouerthrow grew greatly offended In the Cittie of Genoua when it liueth in libertie there is created one head whome they call Doge not to be a Prince absolute nor to determine alone but as chiefe to propound those matters whereof the Magistrates and Councels should consult Within that Towne be many noble Families which are so mightie that with difficultie they yeeld to the authoritie of Magistrates And of them the houses of Fregosa and Adorna be of greatest force From these the diuisions of that Cittie and the causes of ciuill disorders did proceed For they many times contending for gouernment not onely ciuilly but also by armes it falleth out that euer the one faction is afflicted and the other gouerneth It also happeneth many times that those who are deposed from authoritie do pray ayde of forreine armes and yeeld that gouernment to others which they themselues could not enioy Hereof it proceedeth that those who gouerned in Lombardy do for the most part commaund in Genoua as it happened at such time as Alfonso was taken Among the chiefe of the Genouesi that caused the Cittie to be giuen into the hands of Philippo was Francesco Spinola who not long after he had brought his countrey in bondage as in like cases it euer happeneth became suspected to
the Duke Wherewith he being discontent voluntarily exiled himselfe to Gaietta and there chanced to be at such time as the fight by sea was performed against Alfonso In which exploit he serued so valiantly that he perswaded himselfe to haue deserued so well of the Duke as in respect of his seruice he might at the least liue in Genoua with securitie Yet perceiuing the Duke to continue in his suspition and fearing least he beleeued that a man who had not loued the liberty of his countrey could not loue him determined to try a new fortune and at one instant both to deliuer his countrey and win himselfe fame with securitie Being perswaded that by no meanes he might recouer the good will of the Cittizens better then to performe such an acte with his owne hand So as the same hand which had offended and hurt his countrey should also minister the medicine and heale it Then knowing the vniuersall hatred borne to the Duke by the deliuerie of the King thought the time to serue well for the execution of his intent Wherefore he imparted his mind to some whome he knew of his owne opinion Them he perswaded and prepared to followe him The feast of S. Iohn Baptist being come Arismino the new Gouernor sent by the Duke entred into Genoua accompanied with Opicino the old Gouernor and many other Cittizens Francesco Spinola thought then good no longer to deferre the matter but came out of his house with diuerse others all armed and priuie to his determination So soone as hee came to the market place where himselfe dwelled he proclaymed the name of libertie And it was a thing very maruellous to see with how great speed the people and Cittizens to that name assembled So as no man that loued the Duke either for his owne profit or other occasion had leisure to take armes or thinke how to saue himselfe Arismino with some other Genouesi fled into the Castle which he kept for the Duke Opicino presuming that if he fled to the Pallace hauing there two thousand Souldiers at his commaundement he should either saue himselfe or giue courage to his friends to defend him went thitherwards but before he came to the market place was slaine cut in pieces and drawne through euery streete of the Cittie The Genouesi hauing thus reduced the Cittie vnder their owne Magistrates and libertie within few dayes also surprized the Castle with the other places of strength possessed by the Duke and so clearely cast off the yoke of Philippo These matters thus handled as at the beginning the Princes of Italy was dismayd fearing that the Duke should become ouermightie so this gaue them hope seeing what end they had to be able to bridle him And notwithstanding the league lately made the Florentines and the Venetians made peace with the Genouesi whereupon Rinaldo delli Albizi and other leaders of the Florentines banished seeing things out of order and the world changed did hope to perswade the Duke to make open warre against the Florentines For which purpose they went to Milan and Rinaldo being come to the Dukes presence spake as followeth If we sometimes your enemies do now confidently desire ayde of you for the recouerie of our countrey neither you nor any other that consider worldly matters how they proceed and how variable fortune is ought to meruaile albeit neither of our passed or present actions nor of that we haue long since done either to you or to our countrey or that which now is in doing we can render a good and reasonable excuse There is no good man reprooueth another for defending his Countrey in what sort soeuer the same is defended Neither was it euer our meaning to iniure you but to defend our owne frō being iniured which was sufficiētly proued in the greatest victories of our league For so soone as we knew you inclined to a true peace we were thereof more desirous then you your selfe so that we need not feare to obteine any fauour at your hands Neither can our Countrey find fault although we now perswade you to take armes against it whome with so great resolution we haue withstood For that countrey deserueth to be loued of all men which indifferētly loueth them and not that countrey which disdaining the greatest number aduanceth a few There is no man also that ought to condemne men although for some causes they take armes a-against their countrey For albeit the Cities be bodies mixed yet haue they of bodies simple some resemblance And as in these many infirmities grow which without fire force cannot be cured so in the other many mischiefes arise which a godly and good Citizen should offend to leaue vncured notwithstanding that in the cure he doth as it behoueth him apply both fire force What sicknes in the bodie of a common-weale can be greater then seruitude And what medicine is more needfull then this in the cure of that disease Those warres be only iust which be necessarie and those armes most mercifull where other hope cannot be had then by thē I know not what necessitie is greater then ours or what compassion can be more then to deliuer a Countrey frō seruitude Most certainly we know our cause is to be pittied and iust which ought to be both by vs and you cōsidered For your part faile not to affoord this iustice sith the Florentines haue not bene ashamed after a peace with so great solemnitie concluded to make league with the Genouesi your rebels so that though our cause moue you not to cōpassion yet this dishonor offered vnto your selfe ought to perswade you and the rather that you see the enterprise easie Let not exampls passed discourage you hauing seen the power of that people and their obstinate defence of themselues Which two things might yet reasonably be feared were they of the same vertue which in those daies they haue bene But now you shall finde all contrarie For what force can you looke for in any Cittie which hath spoiled the greatest part of the riches and industrie thereof What resolution can be hoped of in a people by so diuers and new quarrels disunited Which disunion is cause that those riches there remaining in such sort as they were wont be imploied because mē do willingly spend their patrimony whē they see the same for their owne glory their owne honor and their owne Countrey imployed euer hoping to recouer that in peace which the warre hath consumed and not whē they see themselues both in war peace oppressed hauing in the one to suspect the iniurie of enemies and in the other the insolencie of them that command Also the people are more harmed by couetousnes of our own Citizens then the spoile of our enemies for of this some end may be hoped of but of that none at all In the warres passed you made warre to the whole Citie but now you are only to contend with a few Then you came to take the state from
more their owne priuate perill then the libertie of others and so enforce some dishonorable and dangerous composition Wherefore to perswade them to take courage and be resolute in defence of the Cittie one of the most auntient and wisest Cittizens assembled the people in the market place and said vnto them as followeth You ought alwaies to remember that things done by necessitie deserue neither commendation nor blame If therefore you haue found fault with these warres which the Florentines do make vpon you and that we haue gained in receiuing souldiers from the Duke and suffered them to assault vs you greatlâ— iniure your selues Also the auncient enimitie of the Florentines towards you is well knowne whereof neither your iniuries nor their owne feare but our weakenesse and their ambition hath bene the cause for that the one giueth them hope to oppresse you and the other incouragement to performe the oppression Do not beleeue that any merit of yours can remoue that desire in them neither any iniurie by you done can more increase the desire they haue to offend you Wherefore as they do studie to take your libertie from you so must you labour to defend the same And for those things which both they and we do to that end euery man may be sorie but no man can meruaile Let vs then be sorie that we are assaulted that our townes are besieged our houses burned and our countrey spoiled Notwithstanding which of vs is so vnwise as to meruaile thereat For if we were able we ourselues would do the like or worse to them If they haue moued this warre by the comming of Nicholo had he not come they would haue done the like vpon some other occasion If this mischiefe had bene deferred the same perhaps would haue prooued greater so that this his comming ought not so much to be blamed as our euill fortune and their ambitious nature For sith we could not refuse to receiue the Dukes souldiers they being come could not refraine to make the warre You know well that without the aide of some mightie Prince we could not be defended neither was there any of power sufficient nor more likely to defend vs both with fidelitie and force then the Duke Hee hath restored our libertie and therefore reason would hee should defend it He hath bene also enemy to all those that were our auntient enemies If then by not offending the Florentines we had incurred the Dukes displeasure we should thereby haue lost our friend and made the enemy more mightie and more apt to offend vs. So as it is much better to haue this warre with the Dukes loue then peace with his displeasure And we may hope well he will deliuer vs from those dangers whereunto he hath drawne vs so that we do not forsake him You know with how great furie the Florentines haue diuerse times assailed vs and with how great glorie we haue often defended our selues against them euen when we had none other hope but of God and time the one and the other of them preserued vs. And therefore why should we now dispaire to defend our selues At that time all Italy had abandoned vs but now the Duke is on our side and we may also hope that the Venetians will not be hastie to offend vs as men that desire not to increase the Florentines greatnes Heretofore the Florentines haue bene more free they had also more hope to be aided of themselues they were more mightie and we in euery respect weaker then we now are For at that time we defended a Tyrant but now we defend our selues Then the honour of our defence was an other mans now it is our owne At that time when they assaulted vs they were vnited but now they assaile vs disunited all Italy being full of their Rebels But if all these hopes were not yet extreame necessitie ought to make vs resolute in our owne defence Euery enemy ought to be by vs iustly feared for euery of them do seeke their owne glorie and our destruction But of all others we ought most to abhorre the Florentines because our obedience our tribute and the subiection of this Cittie do not suffice to content them but they would also haue our bodies and wealth to the end they might feed their crueltie with our bloud and fill their couetous desire with our riches Euery man therefore of what sort soeuer ought to detest them Be not therefore dismayed to behold the fields spoiled the Villages burned and the Townes sacked Yet if this Cittie be saued of necessitie they will be recouered But if this Cittie be lost without any our profit they should be saued Because we continuing our libertie the enemy shall with difficultie possesse them but losing our libertie in vaine we shall possesse them Take your weapons therefore in hand and when you fight beleeue that the renowne of your victorie shall be not onely the safetie of our common countrey but also of your priuate houses and children The last wordes of his speech were with so great comfort of the people receiued that with one voyce they promised to dye rather then yeeld or consent to any composition in preiudice of their libertie and therefore prepared all things necessarie for defence of the Cittie In the meane space the Florentine army lost no time but after much hurt done to the Countrey by treatie tooke Monte Carlo and after remoued to Vzano to the end that the Lucchesi enuironed on euery side should looke for no rescue and so by famine force that Cittie to yeeld The Castle was verie strong and fully manned whereby the winning thereof was not so easie as the others The Lucchesi seeing their Cittie on euery side besieged did as reason would resort to the Duke To whome by all manner of perswasions both sweete and sowre they recommended themselues And in their speech sometimes they made mention of their owne merits and sometimes they laied before him the iniurie done by the Florentines and what incouragement other his friends would take if they were defended or not what feare might be conceiued thereby But if they should lose their libertie and liues he should thereby lose his friends and honour togither with the loue of all those that would at euery daunger aduenture for him These words were accompanied with teares to the end that if his owne obligation moued him not yet the compassion of their miserie might perswade him So that the Duke adding to his auntient hate towards the Florentines the new desert of the Lucchesi and aboue all desiring that the Florentines should not grow great by this victorie resolued to send mightie forces into Toscana or else with much furie assault the Venetians so as the Florentines should be forced to leaue their enterprise and succour them This resolution made was speedely aduertised to Florence that the Duke intended to send men into Toscana which moued the Florentines to hope the lesse of victorie And to the end the Duke
cause that the Earle setting aside all respectes for feare of himselfe made peace with the Duke And among other conditions it was agreed that in the matters of Romagna and Toscana the Earle shoulde not intermeddle further After this peace made the Earle instantlie perswaded the Florentines to agree with the Lucchesi and in a sort constrayned them They therefore seeing none other remedie yeelded to composition in the moneth of Aprill 1438. In which agreement the Lucchesi remayned in their libertie and Monte Carlo with some other Castles continued in possession of the Florentines Afterwards they lamented throughout all Italy that the Lucchesi could not be brought vnder their gouernment And seldome it happeneth that any man hath bene so greatly greeued with losing his owne as the Florentines were for not hauing gotten that which belonged to others Although then the Florentines were occupied in so great an enterprise yet were they not forgetfull of their neighbours nor fayled to furnish their owne Cittie At that time as is before sayd Nicholo Fortibraccio who had married the daughter of the Earle of Poppi was dead The Earle at the death of Nicholo had in his possession Borgo A san Sepulcro with the fortresse of that Towne which in the name of his sonne in lawe during his life hee gouerned After his death as the dowrie of his daughter hee held the same and refused to yeeld that Castle vnto the Pope who claymed it as lande belonging to the Church In so much as the Pope sente the Patriarke thither with Souldiers to recouer it The Earle finding himselfe vnable to resist that force offered the Towne to the Florentines and they refused it Yet so soone as the Pope returned to Florence they trauelled betwixt him and the Earle to make an agreement Wherein finding some difficultie the Patriarke assaulted Casentino and surprized Prato Vecchio and Ramena offering the same likewise to the Florentines But they would not accept it vnlesse the Pope did firste consent that they might restore it to the Earle Wherewith the Pope after much disputation was contented Yet so that the Florentines should promise to perswade that the Earle of Poppi should restore vnto him Borgo The Popes minde by this meanes satisfied the Florentines thought good the Cathedrall Church of their Cittie called Santa Reparata being long before begun and now come to such perfection as diuine Ceremonies might therein be celebrate to desire his holinesse that personally he would consecrate the same Whereunto the Pope willingly consented and for more magnificence of the Cittie the Temple and the Pope a Tarrace was made from Santa Maria Nouella where the Pope lay vnto the Church which he should consecrate the same being inbredth foure yards and in height three and of both sides it was couered with exceeding rich cloth Vpon this Tarrace only the Pope with his Court and the Cittizens especially appointed to attend him did go All the rest of the Cittizens and people stood in the streets in their houses and in the Temple to behold the same When all ceremonies belonging to so great a consecration were finished the Pope in token of more loue honored Guiliano de Auanzati with Knighthood being at that present Gonfaloniere de Iustitia and in al times accounted a noble notable Cittizen whereunto the Senate to seeme no lesse desirous then the Pope of his aduancement gaue vnto him the Captaineship of Pisa for one yeare About this time some difference grew betwixt the Churches of Rome and Greece touching the diuine Seruice And forasmuch as in the last Councell holden at Basile much had bene sayd in that matter by the Prelates of the West Church it was determined by the Emperours that great diligence should be vsed to vnite them and was concluded in the Councell of Basile that proofe should be made whether the Gretian Church might be brought to concurre with that of Rome Albeit this resolution was contrarie to the maiestie of the Gretian Emperour and the pride of his Prelates to yeeld vnto the Bishop of Rome yet the Emperour being oppressed by the Turkes and fearing that the Gretians could not be defended by themselues the rather also to liue in securitie and be ayded of others determined to giue place Then the Emperour accompanied with the Patriarke the Prelates and Barons of Greece according to the order taken by the Councell of Basile came vnto Venice Which Cittie being infected with the plague it was determined that the matter should be tried in the Cittie of Florence After many dayes of disputation betwixt the Prelates of the Romane and Gretian Churches the Gretians submitted themselues to the Bishop of Rome Then was the peace concluded betwixt the Lucchesi and the Florentines And was also hoped that the warres betwixt the Duke and the Earle chiefely in Lombardy and Toscana might easily be pacified because that warre which was begunne in the Kingdome of Naples betwixt Rinato de Angio and Alfonso of Arragon should of force take end by the ruine of those two And although the Pope was euill contented for the losse of many his Townes and that therewithall the great ambition of the Duke and the Venetians was apparant yet euery man supposed that the Pope for necessitie and the others for wearinesse would lay downe their armes But the matter came otherwise to passe for neither the Duke nor the Venetians would be quiet By reason whereof it fell out that they tooke Armes anew and made warre in the most places of Lombardy and Toscana The great minde of the Duke could not endure that the Venetians should possesse Bergamo and Brescia And the rather seeing them prepared for the warres and euery day molesting and disquieting his Countrey He therefore thought that if they might be abandoned by the Florentines and the Earle he should not onely bridle them but also recouer his owne To compasse that conceipt he intended to take Romagna from the Church iudging that afterwards the Pope could not offend him And the Florentines seeing the fire at hand either they would not stirre for feare or if they did they could not conueniently assault him The Duke also knewe the displeasure betwixt the Florentines and the Venetians for the matters of Lucca and for that cause supposed the Florentines were the lesse willing to take Armes for them As for the Earle Francesco he thought that the newe friendship and hope of the marriage should suffice to hold him assured Also to flie all offence and giue the lesse occasion to all others to take Armes and chiefely for that he was bound by the Capitulations with the Earle not to assault Romagna he caused Nicholo Piccinino as thereto moued by his owne ambition to take that enterprise in hand At such time as the recōciliation was cōcluded betwixt the Duke and the Earle Nicholo remained in Romagna and seemed much discontent with that new friendship made between the sayd Duke and the Earle his perpetuall enemy He therefore
with his souldiers retired to Camurata a place betwixt Furli and Rauenna where he fortified himselfe to remaine till such time as some other resolution were taken The fame of his anger being blowne about euery where Nicholo gaue the Pope to vnderstand of his well deseruing of the Duke and with what ingratitude he was requited He also alleaged that the Duke through the helpe of principall Captaines had wonne all the souldiers of Italy to be at his commaundement Notwithstanding if his holinesse were so pleased he could procure that of these two Captaines the one should prooue enemy to the Duke and the other improfitable For accomplishment whereof if money were prepared and the warres continued he would so assault the Earle who had surprized the townes belonging to the Church as he should haue ynough to defend his owne and not be able to follow the ambition of Philippo The Pope gaue credit to these words seeming to him reasonable and sent vnto Nicholo fiue thousand Duckets with many faire promises offering to giue lands to him and his sonnes And although the Pope were diuerse wayes aduertised of this deceipt yet he beleeued well and was not content to heare any thing to the contrarie The Cittie of Rauenna was then gouerned for the Pope by Octacio de Polenta Nicholo thinking good not to deferre his enterprise because his sonne had alreadie with the ignomie of the Pope sacked Spoletto determined to assault Rauenna either because he iudged the enterprise easie or that he had some secret intelligence with Octacio within few dayes he tooke the Towne by composition and shortly after Bologna Imola and Furli were by him surprized Also as a thing more meruailous of twentie Castles which were in those countries holden for the Pope there was not one that refused to yeeld vnto Nicholo Neither did it suffice him with this iniurie to offend the Pope but he would also to these deeds mock and deride him in words Writing vnto the Pope that vpon iust cause his Townes were surprized because he had broken the friendship betwixt the Duke and him and written letters to many places of Italy signifying that he the Earle had abandoned the Duke and ioyned with the Venetians Nicholo thus possessing Romagna left the same in charge to his sonne Francesco and himselfe with the greater part of his army went into Lombardy Where ioyning with the remaine of the Dukes forces he assayled the Countrey of Brescia which in short space he tooke and besieged the Cittie The Duke who desired that the Venetians should be left for him as a pray excused himselfe to the Pope to the Florentines and to the Earle declaring that those things which had bene done in Romagna by Nicholo if they were contrarie to the Capitulations they were likewise contrarie to his will Moreouer by secret messengers he gaue them to vnderstand that for his disobedience as occasion and time should suffer he would finde meanes to haue him punished The Florentines and the Earle gaue no credit thereunto but beleeued as in deede the truth was that these warres were made to hold them occupied till such time as he might oppresse the Venetians who being full of pride and beleeuing they could by themselues resist the Dukes forces did not vouchsafe to demaund aid of any man but with Gatamelata their Captaine made warre alone The Earle Francesco with the fauour of the Florentines intended to haue gone to the aide of King Rinato if the accidents of Romagna and Lombardy had not withholden him And the Florentines would also willingly haue fauoured that enterprise for the auncient friendship betweene them and the house of Fraunce But the one and the other of those being occupied in the warres neere at hand refrained to attempt any enterprise further off The Florentines then seeing Romagna surprized by the Dukes forces and the Venetians assaulted as those that by the ruine of others did feare their owne desired the Earle to come into Toscana there to consider what was to be done to encounter the forces of the Duke which were greater then euer they had bene Affirming that if his insolencie were not by some meanes bridled euery man that gouerned any part of Italy should within short space be oppressed The Earle knew well that the Florentines had reason to feare Notwithstanding the desire he had to proceed in the marriage with the Dukes daughter did make him suspected And the Duke knowing his desire gaue him great hope thereof if he would refuse to take armes against him And because the Dukes daughter was alreadie marriageable the matter was brought to this ripenesse that all things for the purpose were prepared Notwithstanding with diuerse cauillations the marriage day was delayed yet by words to hold the Earle in hope some deeds were performed and to that end thirtie thousand Florins according to the Articles agreed vpon for the marriage were sent vnto him notwithstanding the warre of Lombardy increased and the Venetians euery day lost some Towne or other Also all the vessels for the warres which they sent into the Riuers were by the Dukes Souldiers taken The Countries of Verona and Brescia were all spoiled and both those Citties so straightly besieged as in the common opinion it was hard for them to be many dayes defended The Marquesse of Mantoua who had bene many yeares Generall for that State beyond all expectation had abandoned them and was ioyned with the Duke so as that which in the beginning of the warres their pride suffered not afterwards feare inforced them to do For knowing none other remedie but the friendship of the Florentines and the Earle they began to speake them faire though shamefully and with suspition bicause they feared least the Florentines would make them the same answere which they at the enterprise of Lucca and in the Earles cause had receiued at their hands Neuerthelesse they found the Florentines more easily intreated then either they hoped or their deserts did merit For greater was the Florentines hate to a friend become a foe then the displeasure they bare to an old and auncient enemy They hauing long before knowne the necessitie whereunto the Venetians would fall declared to the Earle that their ruine woulde be also his and that hee deceiued himselfe if hee beleeued the Duke Philippo woulde esteeme him so much in his good as his euill fortune For the occasion why the Duke offered his daughter vnto him was the feare wherein he stood and sith things promised by necessitie are neuer performed without necessitie it behoued him still to hold the Duke distressed which without the greatnesse of the Venetians could not be done Therefore hee ought to thinke that if the Venetians were forced to abandon their Countrey vppon the firme land he should not onely want those commodities which he receiued by them but also all others which of other men for feare of them he might attaine vnto And if hee considered well the other states of
recouered souldiers determined with them some new victorie to blot out the dishonour of the late losse and take from the Venetians the meane whereby they should rescue Brescia He hauing intelligence from some prisoners taken in that war that the Cittadell of Verona was weakely manned and guarded so as easily it might be surprized thought that Fortune thereby had offered an occasion to recouer his honour and that the new ioy of his enemie for the late victorie should now for a later losse be conuerted into sorrow The Citie of Verona is in Lombardy seated at the foote of those mountaines which diuide Italy from Germany and is so builded as it partaketh both of the mountaines and the plaine The Riuer of Adice springeth out of the Vale of Trento and in the course thereof to Italy it descendeth not straight into the plaine but turneth on the left hand and passeth by the midst of that Cittie Yet the one part of the Citie towards the plaine is greater then the other part towardes the mountaines Vpon these be built two Fortresses the one called S. Piero and the other S. Felice which seeme more strong by nature of the seate then the thicknesse of the wall For being set high they commaund the whole Citie In the plain on this side the Adice are ioyning to the wall of the towne two other Fortresses the one distant from the other a thousand paces one of them is named the newe Cittadella and the other the old Cittadella From the one of these within there passeth a wall to the other and is in respect of the compasse as it were a string to a bowe All this space betwixt the one wall and the other is inhabited and called Borgo di San Zeno. These Fortresses and this Borgo Nicholo Piccinino intended to surprize thinking the same easie as well for the negligence of the guard therin as the small care had thereof by meanes of the late victory For he knew well that in the warre there is no enterprise so easily performed as is that which the enemie feareth not Hee therefore making choyse of his men being acquainted with the Marquesse of Mantoua in the night marched to Verona and not being there looked for scaled the walles and wanne the new Cittadell From thence he sent his men into the towne who brake the gate of S. Antonio and thereby all his horsemen entred Those that for the Venetians kept the old Cittadell hearing first a noyse when the guard of the first Cittadell was slaine and after when the gates were broken open knew well that enemies were come made Alarum rung Belles and stirred vp the people Whereof the Citizens taking knowledge came out in a confused sort those that were of most courage tooke Armes and went vnto the Pallace of the Rettore In the meane while Nicholo had sacked Borgo of S. Zeno. Then going forward the Citizens knowing that the Dukes souldiers were within the towne and seeing no way to resist them perswaded the Venetians Rettore to flee to the Fortresse thereby to saue their persons and the towne saying it was better to preserue their liues and the riches of the citie till a time more fortunate then for the encountring of the present furie to die themselues and vtterly impouerish the citie Then the Rettore and all other Venetians whatsoeuer fled into the Fortresse of S. Felice Which done many of the chiefe Citizens came to Nicholo and to the Marquesse of Mantoua beseeching that it would please them to take that citie with honour as it was rich rather then with their shame to suffer it to be made poore and spoyled And the rather because they had neither deserued well of their chiefe Lords nor in defence of the town merited any mallice of Nicholo or the Marquesse Then were they both by Nicholo the Marquesse comforted and as much as in furie of the warre might possibly be defended from the spoyle Nicholo thinking assuredly that the Earle would come to recouer the Towne laboured by euerie meane to get into his hands all the strong places and those which hee could not get with trenches and ditches were diuided from the Towne to the end that the enemie should passe in with more difficultie The Earle Francesco was with his men at Tenna and hearing those newes at the first thought the same vntrue but after being better aduertised of the troth thought good by speedie proceeding to amend his former negligence And albeit his chiefe Captaines of the Campe did counsell him to leaue the enterprise of Verona and Brescia and go to Vicenza for not being besieged of the enemie during his aboad there yet would hee not be perswaded by them but in any wise trie his fortune to recouer that cittie and in the midst of these doubtfull imaginations promised the Proueditore of Venice and Barnardo de Medici the Florentine Generall certeinly to recouer the citie if any of the Fortresses did remaine vntaken till he came thither Then giuing order for his iourney he with his souldiers in great haste marched towards Verona Whom Nicholo seeing thought good as he had bene counselled by his Captaines to go to Vicenza Yet finding that the enemies marched towards the Towne directing their course to S. Felice he determined to defend that Fort but all too late because the trenches about the Castle were not finished and the souldiers for couetousnesse of the spoyle were diuided among themselues so that he could not come thither soone inough For the Earles souldiers had before approached the Fortresse and from thence with good successe and dishonour of Nicholo recouered the citie Who togither with the Marquesse of Mantoua fled first to the Cittadell and from thence to Mantoua Where assembling the remaine of their saued souldiers they ioyned with the others that besieged Brescia Thus was Verona in foure daies by the Dukes Army both wonne and lost The Earle after this victorie being at that time winter and the cold great had with much difficultie victualled Brescia and went to remain in Verona giuing order that certaine Gallies should tarry that winter at Torbali to the end that at the spring of the next yeare he might be strong both by sea and land for the rescue of Brescia The Duke seeing the warre for that time staied and his hope to surprise Verona Brescia remooued wherof the Councell and the money of the Florentines was the occasion and that they could not be altered from the loue of the Venetians for any iniurie they had receiued of them nor for any promise he could make them determined to the end they should shortly reape fruite of those seedes they had sowne to assault Toscana being therto encouraged by the banished men of Florence and by Nicholo Nicholo was thereto moued with the desire he had to winne the possessions of Braccio and driue the Earle out of La Marca And the Florentines desired to returne to their Country So either of these with
thereby in such sort offended the state of Florence as his fault ioyned with the conditions of the present time must of necessitie take from him all his wealth and be inforced to abandon that countrey as enemy to the Florentines which as their friend he would not possesse For he had made so euill a triall of himselfe as he might not in any wise be suffered to remaine there where at euery change of fortune he might be readie to offend the Florentine common wealth for it was not him but his countrey whome they feared But if he were pleased to repaire into Germany he might there remaine a Prince sith those Citties did desire him and the Florentines for the loue of those his auncestors whom he alledged would be also therewith contented Hereto the Earle in great collor replied saying that he would see the Florentines a great way further from him So leauing all friendly communication the poore Earle despairing of other remedie yeelded his Towne to the Florentines That done taking his goods his wife and children departed weeping and lamenting for the losse of that Countrey which his auncestors by the space of 900. yeares had possessed These victories being known in Florence were by the Gouernours of that State and the people with meruailous ioy receiued and bicause that Barnardo de Medici knewe that Nicholo was to no purpose marched towards La Marca or Rome he and his souldiers returned to Neri and frō thence they went togither to Florence where they were welcomed with all the greatest honors that by order of that Cittie might be giuen to victorious Cittizens And were in triumphant wise saluted by the Senators the Captaines and the whole Cittie The end of the fift Booke THE SIXT BOOKE IT hath bene and by good reason ought to be the intent of all those that make warre to inrich themselues and impouerish their enemie Neither is victorie for other occasion sought nor the possessions of the enemy to other end desired then thereby to make thy selfe mightie and thy aduersarie weake It followeth therefore that so oft as thy victorie doth impouerish thee or thy gaines do weaken thee either thou passe or come short of the marke whereunto the warre is directed That Prince and that State is by the victories of warre inriched which extirpeth the enemies and becommeth Lord of the spoiles and ransomes And that Prince or Common-weale is impouerished who cannot though he be victorious extirpate the enemy or hath not to his owne vse the spoiles and ransomes but leaueth them to his souldiers Such a Prince in his losses is vnhappie and in his victories most infortunate bicause in losing he suffereth all iniuries which the enemy can do him and in winning must abide the offences of friends which as they are lesse reasonable so are they also lesse tollerable seeing that by impositions and new exactions he is againe to burden his owne subiects That Prince then in whome is any generositie of minde cannot reioyce at such a victorie whereat all his subiects be constrained to lament The auncient and well ordered Common weales were wont by conquests to fill their Treasuries with gold and siluer to giue rewards to the people to forgiue tributes and to make triumphs and publique feastings But the States of whome we write first emptied their treasure houses and after impouerished the people without assuring themselues of their enemies All which grew by their disorderly proceeding in the warres For when they tooke any prisoners not holding them nor slaying them the reuenge was no longer deferred then the leaders of the enemy were furnished anew with horse and weapon Besides that the spoyles and raunsoms being giuen to the souldiers the Princes victorious could not imploy the same in the next warre but were forced to draw their prouision from the bowels of their owne people Neither did that victorie bring foorth other benefite then make the Prince greedie and with lesse respect to burthen them For the souldiers had brought the warre to such a passe as both the victorious and the victored if they would commaund their owne men had like need of money bicause the one was to arme them a new the other to reward them And as they vnmounted could not fight so these without new rewards would not Whereby it followed that the one inioyed not much of the victorie the other felt little of the losse seeing the victored was speedily repaired and the victorious could not in time pursue the victorie This disorder and this peruerse proceeding in warre caused that Nicholo Piccinino was againe set on horseback before his ouerthrow was knowne through all Italy and made after greater warre then before he had done This was the cause that after the discomfit at Tenna he could surprize Verona This was the cause that after the slaughter of his souldiers at Verona he could recouer a greater Army and come into Toscana This was the cause that being ouerthrowne at Anghiari before he arriued in Romagna he was more mightie in the field then before he had bene and might thereby put the Duke of Milan in hope to defend Lombardy which by his absence was supposed to be welneare lost For when Nicholo had filled Lombardy with troubles the Duke was brought to such passe as he began to doubt of his owne estate And fearing his ruine might follow before the comming of Nicholo for whome he had sent to bridle the Earles furie and with industrie to temper fortune which with force he could not he resorted to those remedies which in like cases had before time helped him He therefore sent Nicholo da Este Prince of Farrara vnto Pischiera where the Earle was to practice a peace and perswade that warre not to be for his aduantage Bicause if the Duke were brought to that weakenesse that he could not mainteine his owne reputation he should be the rather esteemed And for more assurance that indeed he desired peace he offered him conclusion of the marriage and would send his daughter to Farrara she promising the peace made to yeeld her selfe into his hands The Earle answered that if the Duke did faithfullie desire peace with ease he might finde it as a thing both by the Florentines and Venetians wished for Yet did he mistrust the same much knowing that before time he had neuer made peace but for necessitie which being passed he would alwaies returne to his old minde and make warre Neither could he beleeue that the Duke intended the marriage hauing bene before at his hand so many times mocked Notwithstanding if the peace were concluded he would after deale in the marriage as by friends he should be aduised The Venetians who without reason were suspitious of their owne souldiers of those entertainements reasonablie conceiued mistrust Which the Earle being carefull to remoue followed the warre with greater furie Notwithstanding his mind was stil so tempered with ambition and the Venetians were so infected with suspition as the rest of that sommer
his Countreys thereabouts for he thought the same without perill might be done by the Earles absence and his imployment in the warres of Lombardy This enterprise was by Alfonso easily performed and with small trauell he surprized all those Townes But the newes of the peace in Lombardy being come Alfonso feared that the Earle the rather for that his townes were taken from him would ioyne with Rinato and Rinato hoped for the same occasion that he would so do Rinato then sent vnto the Earle desiring him to come to the aide of his friend and the reuenge of his enemy On the other side Alfonso intreated Philippo that for the good will betwixt them he would cause the Earle to be so much set a worke as to attend greater matters he might be inforded to let this alone Philippo graunted this request not thinking what disturbed that peace which he not long since had made to his disaduantage Then he gaue the Pope Eugenio to vnderstand that the time was now come to recouer those Townes which the Earle had taken from the Church And for performance of that enterprise he offered him Nicholo Piccinino paid so long as the warres continued For the peace now made he remained with his souldiers in Romagna Eugenio greedily entertained this counsell aswell for the displeasure he bare to the Earle as the desire he had to recouer his owne And though before time he had bene with the same hope by Nicholo deceiued yet now the Duke vndertaking the action he mistrusted no more deceipt but presently ioyned his forces with Nicholo and assaulted La Marca The Earle being so sodeinly set vpon ordered his souldiers and marched towards the enemy In this meane while the King Alfonso wonne Naples whereby all that Kingdome excepting Castle Nuouo was at his deuotion Then Rinato leauing that Castle well guarded went from thence to Florence where he was most honourably receiued and there remaining a few dayes finding he could not make warre any longer went vnto Marsilia Alfonso in the meane while had taken the Castle Nuouo and the Earle remained in La Marca in strength inferiour to the Pope and Nicholo and therefore prayed the Venetians and Florentines to aide him with men and money Letting them to vnderstand it was necessarie to bridle the Pope and the King during the time he was able for otherwise they were to looke for little good seeing the Pope and King would ioyne themselues with Philippo and diuide all Italy betwixt them The Florentines and Venetians for a time stood doubtfull what to do aswell bicause they knew not whether it were their best to be enemies to the Pope and King as for that they were occupied with the matters of Bologna Anibale Bentiuogli had driuen out of that Cittie Francesco Piccinino And the rather to defend the same from the Duke who fauoured Francesco he sent for aide to the Florentines and Venetians and they did not denie him so as being occupied in these matters they could not resolue to assist the Earle But Annibale hauing ouerthrowne Francesco Piccinino and those matters setled the Florentines determined to aide the Earle yet first to be assured of the Duke they renewed the league with him which the Duke refused not hauing consented that the warre should be made vpon the Earle so long as the King Rinato was in Armes But seeing him vanquished and vtterly depriued of his Kingdome he was not pleased that the Earle should then be bereft of his Countrey And therefore he not onely consented to aide the Earle but also wrote vnto Alfonso desiring him to be pleased to returne to the Kingdome and make no longer warre Whereunto albeit Alfonso was vnwilling yet being beholding to the Duke determined to content him and retired himselfe with his Army to the other side of Tronto While matters were thus handled in Romagna the Florentines within themselues became disquiet Among the Cittizens of most reputation and authoritie in Florence was Neri the sonne of Gino Capponi whose greatnesse Cosimo de Medici aboue all others feared For besides his great credit in the Cittie he was also greatly honored of the souldiers hauing bene many times Generall of the Florentine Armies and with his victorie vertue and well deseruing had gained their loue Besides that the memorie of victories wonne by him and Gino his father the one hauing surprized Pisa and the other ouerthrowne Nicholo Piccinino at Anghiari made him beloued of many and feared of those who desired no companie in the gouernment Among many other of the chiefe Captaines in the Florentine Army was Baldaccio of Anghiari a man of warre most excellēt For in those daies there was not any in Italy that for vertue person courage could excell him and had among the footemen for of those he was euer a leader so much reputation as all that sort of souldiers in euery enterprise and whensoeuer he pleased would willingly follow him This Baldaccio loued Neri exceeding much as a man whose vertue wherof he was a witnesse so deserued which bred in the other Cittizens great suspition And they iudging to suffer him was perillous to restraine him was most danger of all determined to dispatch him vtterly which intent fortune greatly fauoured Bartholomeo Orlandini was Gonfaloniere de Giuslitia He being as is before said Captaine of Marradi at such time as Ni. Piccinino passed into Toscana cowardly fled abādoned that passage which by nature almost defended it selfe This cowardice at that time greatly offended Baldaccio who with words of reproofe letters made the same euerywhere knowne Whereat Bartholomeo ashamed offended did greatly study to be reuenged hoping by the death of the accusor to cancell the fame of his infamie This desire of Bartholomeo being known to other cittizens with small labour he perswaded them to the oppression of Baldaccio whereby in one act he might reuenge his priuat iniurie and deliuer the state frō that man whom they must of force enterteine with peril or discharge with disaduantage Therefore Bartholomeo being fully determined to kil him conueied into his chamber many yong men armed Then the Gonfalone seeing Baldaccio come into the market place whither he resorted daily to confer with the Magistrates of his charge sent for him and he obeied Being come the Gonfaloniere met him enterteining him with speech touching his businesse from chamber to chamber till he came neare to that place where the armed men were hidden and when he thought good called them foorth Baldaccio being disarmed was presently slaine and throwne out of the windowe From thence hee was carried to the market place had his head cut off and made a spectacle for the people all that day Of him there remained one sonne by his wife called Annalena who within fewe yeares after died This Annalena hauing buried hir sonne and husband determined no more to marrie but making hir house a Monasterie shut hir selfe vp therein with many other noble women where they
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
that choise whereto thine own mind is inclined If thou be the sonne of Hercole Bentiuogli thou wilt dispose thy selfe to such actions as be worthie of thy father and his house but if thou art the sonne of Agnolo Cascese thou shalt remaine in Florence and imploy thy life basely in the art of clothmaking These words much incouraged the yong man for where he had before refused to take the matter vpō him he said now that he would be directed in all by Cosimo and Neri Then they resolued with the messengers of Bologna to apparrell him horse him and man him and so in honorable wise conuey him to the Cittie there to take the gouernment where he after gouerned with so great wisedome that notwithstāding the greater part of his predecessors had ben by their enemies slaine yet he peaceably and honorably liued died After the death of Nicholo Piccinino the peace made in La Marca Philippo desired to entertaine a Captaine to gouerne his Army and secretly practised with Ciarpellone one of the Earles chiefe Leaders and grew with him to composition Ciarpellone prayed leaue of the Earle to goe to Milan to take possession of certaine Castles which in the late warre were by Philippo giuen him The Earle mistrusting that which was and to the end the Duke should not be serued to his disaduantage first stayed him and shortly after put him to death alleaging he had bene by him abused Therewith Philippo was exceedingly angrie and the Florentines and Venetians much pleased as they that feared least the Earles forces and the Dukes power ioyned in friendship This anger was occasion to resuscitate new warre in La Marca In Rimini Gismondo Malatesti was Lord who being son in law to the Earle hoped to haue possession of Pesaro notwithstanding the Earle hauing surprized it gaue it to Alessandro his brother Wherewith Gismondo grew greatly offended and the more bicause Federigo di Montefeltro his enemy by the Earles fauour had vsurped Vrbino This was the cause that Gismondo ioyned with the Duke and sollicited the Pope King to make warre vpon the Earle Who to the end Gismondo should feele the first fruits of that warre which he desired thought to preuent him and sodeinly assailed him Whereupon Rome La Marca were on the soden brought into tumult bicause Philippo the king and the Pope sent great aide to Gismondo and the Venetians and Florentines furnished the Earle though with no men yet with plentie of money Neither was Philippo content to make warre in Romagna but he also determined to take from the Earle Cremona and Pontremoli yet was Pontremoli by the Florentines and Cremona by the Venetians defended So that by these meanes the warre in Lombardy was renewed and therein somewhat done in Cremonese Francesco Piccinino Generall for the Duke was by Micheletto and the Venetian forces at Casale defeated By which victorie the Venetians hoped to take the Dukes state from him and sent their Commissarie to Cremona assailing Ghiraadada and possessed all sauing Cremona Afterwards they passed Adda spoiling the countrey hard to the gates of Milan Thereupon the Duke desired aide of Alfonso declaring what perill would ensue to the kingdome if Lombardy were in the Venetians hand Alfonso promised to send him souldiers who without consent of the Earle could with difficultie passe Then Philippo intreated the Earle not to abandon his father in law being aged and blind The Earle sound himself offended with the Duke for hauing moued the warre against him On the other side he misliked the greatnesse of the Venetians his money grew low and the same was scarcely supplied by the Lords of the League For the Florentines feared no more the Duke which was the cause they esteemed the Earle and the Venetians desired his ruine iudging that the state of Lombardy could not be taken from them but by the Earle Notwithstanding while Philippo sought to draw him into his pay offering him the commaundement of all his souldiers so that he would forsake the Venetians and restore La Marca to the Pope They also sent Embassadors vnto him promising him the possession of Milan if they could win it and the perpetuitie in the gouernment of their men of warre if he would still follow the warre in La Marca and impeach the comming of aide from Alfonso into Lombardy Thus were the promises of the Venetians great and their deserts of him greater hauing begun that warre to saue Cremona for the Earle On the other part the iniuries done by the Duke were fresh his promises not faithfull nor great Yet did the Earle much doubt what resolution to make For of the one side the obligation of the league their well deseruing of him and their promises of pleasures to come did moue him On the other the intreatie of his Father in lawe and chiefely the poison which hee feared to be hidden vnder the great promises of the Venetians did stay him suspecting least their promise of that state if hee should hap to win it might not be performed hauing none other hold but their bare promise whereunto no wise Prince vnlesse it were for great necessitie had euer trusted These difficulties of the Earles resolution were remoued by the ambition of the Venetians who hoping to surprize Cremona by meanes of some intelligence they had within the Cittie vnder another pretence caused their souldiers to marche neere vnto it But that enterprise was discouered by those that guarded the towne for the Earle whereby the treason tooke no effect and they thereby wan not Cremona but vtterly lost the loue of the Earle who presently thereupon laying all respects apart ioyned himselfe with the Duke Now was Pope Eugenio dead and in his place succeeded Nicholao quinto The Earle had his whole Army at Cotigniola readie to passe into Lombardy Thither came newes aduertising the death of Philippo which was the last of August in the yeare 1447. These newes grieued the Earle exceedingly bicause he thought his army not fully paid would be vnreadie feared least the Venetians being in armes would become his enemies For hauing abandoned them ioyned with the Duke he feared Alfonso his continuall enemy not trusting either the Pope or the Florentines These bicause they were in league with the Venetians and the other for that he did possesse some townes belonging to the Church Notwithstanding he determined to shew his face to fortune and according to the chances therof to proceed For many times by doing somewhat secrets are discouered which by standing stil could not be knowne Great hope he conceiued in thinking that if the Milanesi would be defended frō the ambition of the Venetians that of force they must imploy him and his souldiers Therof taking courage he marched into the countrey of Bologna and from thence to Modena and Regio staying with his forces at Lenza from whence he sent vnto Milan to offer his seruice Some of the Milanesi hauing buried their Duke desired to liue in
he would allow the peace and sent Embassadors to Venice with a large Commission to ratifie the same yet secretly he commanded them not to conclude but with delaies and cauillations to deferre the conclusion And to make the Venetians the rather beleeue that which hee spake hee made truce with the Milanesi for one moneth retyring his Campe farre from the Citie and diuiding his forces into other places neare hand which he had lately wonne This practise was occasion of his victorie for the Venetians trusting to the peace were more slow in preparation to the warre and the Milanesi seeing the truce made the enemie farre off and the Venetians their friends beleeued assuredly that the Earle would abandon the enterprise Which determination by two means hindred them The first was because they neglected to prepare for their own defence The other for that they laid the countrey open to the enemie For the time then being fit to till the earth they sowed great store of corne by meane whereof the Earle might the more easily famish them To the Earle on the other side all those thinges helped which hindered the enemie and besides the delaie gaue him commoditie to take breath and prouide for aide In all this warre of Lombardy the Florentines were not discouered to be of any side nor to haue fauoured the Earle either when he defended the Milanesi nor after For the Earle hauing had no need did not verie earnestlie seeke it Onely after the ouerthrow of Carrauaggio by vertue of their Obligation in the League they sent aide to the Venetians But the Earle Francesco being alone and wanting other refuge was enforced instantly to praie aide of the Florentines both of the state publikely of his friends priuately chiefly of Cosimo de Medici with whom he had euer bene in great familiaritie and was by him in all his actions faithfully counselled and liberally supplied Neither did Cosimo in this so great a necessitie forsake him for as a priuate man he bountifully releeued him and to follow the enterprise encouraged him Hee also entreated the Cittie publikely to assist him where need required At that time liued in Florence Neri the sonne of Gino Capponi a Citizen of great power who thought it not good for the Citie that the Earle should possesse Milan supposing it more profitable for Italy that hee should ratifie the peace then prosecute the warre First he doubted least the Milanesi for the displeasure they bare to the Earle would yeeld wholly to the Venetians which would be the ruine of euerie man Then he iudged if the Earle should happen to surprize Milan that so great forces and countries ioyned togither were to be feared And if he were insupportable being an Earle aspired to the title of Duke no man should endure his pride Wherefore he thought better both for the Common-weale of Florence and all Italy that the Earle should continue with his reputation in Armes and Lombardy to be diuided into two common-weales which would neuer ioyne in the offence of an other and one of them alone could not offend and for bringing this to passe he saw no better meane then not to aide the Earle and maintain the old league with the Venetians These reasons were not of the friends of Cosimo accepted because they thought that Neri did make them not because he thought them good for the common-weale but for that he would not that the Earle being friend to Cosimo should aspire to be Duke Fearing least by that means Cosimo should become ouer mighty Cosimo contrariwise proued that aiding of the Earle was both for Italy that common-weale most profitable And that it was no wise conceit to thinke that the Milanesi could cōtinue free because the qualitie of their citie their maner of life the factions inueterated there were contrary to the forme of all ciuil gouernment so as it behoued that the Earle should become Duke or els the Venetians wold possesse it And in that choyse there was no man so witlesse that knew not whether it were better to haue at hand a mightie neighbour or a more mightie enemie Neither could he thinke it to be doubted that the Milanesi for hauing warre with the Earle would yeeld their obedience to the Venetians For the Earle hauing a factiō in Milan not they whēsoeuer they could not defend themselues as free they wold rather yeeld to the Earle then to the Venetians These diuersities of opinions held the citie doubtful what to determine Neuerthelesse in the end was cōcluded that Embassadors should be sent to the Earle to entertein a peace if they found him strong or likely to haue the victory then to conclude or not to vse cauillations delaies These Embassadours were at Reggio before they vnderstood that the Earle was become Lord of Milā For the Earle so soone as the time of truce was ended enuironed the citie with souldiers hoping within short space in despight of the Venetiās to surprize it because they were not able to succour it sauing on that side towards Adda which passage might easily be impeached and it was not feared the winter being come that the Venetians would encamp there Also the Earle hoped before the winter should passe to haue the victory and the rather by the death of Francesco Piccinino who had only left Giacopo his brother to gouerne the Milanesi The Venetians had sent an Embassador to Milan to encourage those Citizens to stand to their own defence promising them great and speedie supplie During that winter some light skirmishes happened betwixt the Venetians and the Earle But so soone as the season suffered the Venetians vnder the conduct of Pandolfo Malatesta brought their Army to Adda where they consulted whether it was best to assault the Earle and thereby trie their fortune Pandolfo their Capteine thought not good to make that triall in respect of the Earles vertue and the sufficiencie of his armie but hoped it was possible without fighting more safely to oppresse him because the Earle at that present was with the lacke of corne greatly distressed His aduise therefore was that the campe should not dislodge wherby the Milanesi might stil hope of ayd and not by dispair yeeld them to the Earle This opiniō was by the Venetians allowed as wel in respect of securitie as that they thought the Milanesi being in so great necessitie should be enforced to yeeld to their dominion persuaded that they wold neuer giue thēselues to the Earle by whō they had bin many waies iniured In this meane space the Milanesi were broght almost into extreme misery in that citie naturally aboūding with poore people many died of famin wherat the inhabitants murmured and cōplained The magistrats therby grew afraid carefully prouided that the people shuld not gather togither For although the multitude doth not hastily dispose it self to mischief yet whē it happē to be fully bēt euery litle accidēt doth moue it It hapned that 2.
means in the night to enter the towne They were no sooner within the walles but themselues made an Alarum Whereat Santi Bentiuogli suddeinly start vp and knowing that the Citie was surprized by Rebels although hee were by many friendes counselled by fleeing to saue his life yet would he in any wise shew his face to Fortune take armes and encourage others to do the like He therefore with some others made head assaulted part of the Rebels and brake them sleying many and forcing the rest to flee the Citie Whereuppon euery man iudged that hee had made good proofe to be of the right race of Bentiuogli These actions brought vnto Florence a firme beliefe of the future warre Therefore the Florentines resorting to their auncient orders created the ten Magistrates for the war entertained new Captaines sent Embassadors to Rome to Naples to Venice and to Siena procure aid of their friends discouer suspects gaine the good will of those that were neutrall and sounde the determination of enemies Of the Pope they could get nothing but general words curtesie and perswasion to peace Of the King they vnderstood only his vaine excuses for discharging the Florentines and offered to giue safe conduct to euerie man that desired it And albeit he went about by all meanes to conceale the intention of the new warre yet the Embassadours knewe well his euill meaning and detected manie dealinges of his to the disaduauntage of their Common-weale With the Duke they renewed the League fortifying the same with sundrie Obligations and by his meanes gained the good will of the Genouesi cancelling all former quarrels Notwithstanding that the Venetians had laboured manie wayes to impeach that composition and intreated the Emperour of Constantinople to banish from his countries all the Florentine Nation So greatly they grew into hate by this war and so great force had their desire of gouernment as without respect they sought to oppresse those who were the cause of their greatnesse Neuerthelesse by that Emperour they were not hearkened vnto The Embassadours for the Florentines were by the Venetian Senate forbidden to enter into their Countrey alleaging that they being in league with the King might not without his priuitie giue them audience The Sanesi enterteined the Embassadours with curteous words fearing to be surprized before the league could defende them and therefore thought good not to stirre those Armes which they were not able to resist The Venetians and the King as was then coniectured would haue sent Embassadors to Florence to iustifie the warre But the Embassadour for the Venetians would not enter into the Florentines dominion and the Kings Embassador durst not alone execute that message Whereby the Embassage was not performed And the Venetians by meanes thereof knew that they were litle esteemed of the Florentines they a few months past esteemed not much During the feare of these motiōs whō the Emperour Federigo the third came into Italy to be crowned the thirtie day of Ianuary in the yeare 1451. And entring into Florence with a thousand fiue hundred horses was by that Cittie most honourably receiued and enterteined till the sixt of February At which time hee tooke his iourney from thence towards his Coronation at Rome where he was solemnely Crowned and married to the Empresse being come thither by sea These ceremonies performed the Emperour returned towards Germany and came againe to Florence in the moneth of May where he was vsed with the same honours he had there before receiued Also in his returne hauing bene pleasured by the Marquesse of Farrara for recompence the Emperour granted vnto him the Cities of Modina Reggio During all these doings the Florentines omitted not their preparation for the war giuing themselues reputation and the enemie terror They and the Duke ioyned league with the French King for defence of all their countries in generall Which league with great magnificence and reioycing they published throughout all Italy By this time was come the yere 1452. when in May the Venetians thought good no longer to deferre the warre against the Duke Wherefore with sixteene thousand horse and sixe thousand footemen they assaulted him towards Lodi and at the same time the Marquesse of Monferato either prouoked by his owne ambition or by the Venetians request assaulted him on the other side towards Alessandria The Duke on the contrary part had assembled eighteene thousand horse and three thousand footemen And hauing furnished Alessandria and Lodi he likewise fortified all those places which the enemie might offend Then with his souldiers he assaulted the country of Brescia where he greatly damaged the Venetians spoiling that countrey and sacking those townes which were not strong But the Marquesse of Monferato being broken by the Dukes forces at Alessandria the Duke might with the more strength encounter the Venetians assault their country Thus the war of Lombardy proceeding therin sundry accidents not worthie memorie hapning it came to passe that the like war begun in Toscana betwixt the King Alfonso the Florentines which was performed with no more vertue nor more peril thē that of Lōbardy Ferrādo the bastard son of Alfonso came into Italy wth 12000. souldiers conducted by Federigo Lord of Vrbino Their first enterprise was to assault Foiano in the vale of Chiana for hauing frendship of the Sanesi they might that way enter into the territorie of Florence That Castle was weakly walled and of smal receipt therefore with no great number defended yet those few in the Castle were accounted at that time valiant and loyall souldiers The number sent by the Senate to guard that Castle were 200. This Castle in that sort prepared was by Ferrando besieged and the vertue of those within so great and so litle the value of them without that till the end of 36. dayes it was not wonne The protract of which time gaue the Cittie commoditie to prouide to defend other places of more moment to assemble their forces put them in readinesse The enemy hauing takē this Castle passed into Chianti where they set vpon two small towns belonging to priuate men could not win them but marched from thence and besieged Castellina a fortresse seated vpon the confines of Chianti within ten myles of Siena which place both by Art and Nature is exceeding weake notwithstanding so base was the courage of this Campe as it could not conquere that Castle of no force at all For after they had besieged it 44. dayes they departed thence with shame So smal terror was in those armies and so litle peril in those wars as those townes which at this day are abandoned as impossible to be kept at that time as places impregnable were defended During that Ferrando remained with his Camp in Chianti he made many roades into the Florentines country spoiling that Prouince within sixe miles of the Cittie to the great losse and terror of the Florentine subiects Who hauing by that time prepared forces to the
Moreouer betwixt the Florentines the Duke and the Venetians a peace was concluded for fifteene yeares Onely the King Alfonso among all the Italian Princes seemed therewith discontented bicause he thought it was contrary to his reputation to be named in the contract of peace not as a principall but as an adherent For which consideration he pawsed long before he would lay downe his resolution But being sollicited by sundrie solemne Embassages of other Princes he was at length content and chiefely by the Pope to be perswaded and with his sonne entred this league for thirtie yeares confirming the same with alliances and crosse marriages betwixt the Duke and the King their sonnes marrying one the others daughters Notwithstanding to the end that some seeds of the warre might remaine in Italy he consented not to make the peace before such time as those of the League would giue him leaue without their iniurie to make warres vpon the Genouesi Gismondo Malatesti and Astor Prince of Faenza This conclusion made Ferrando his sonne then being at Siena returned to the Kingdome hauing sithence his arriuall in Toscana not gained any dominion but lost great numbers of souldiers This vniuersall peace being concluded it was onely feared least King Alfonso for the displeasure he bare to the Genouesi would disturbe the common quiet but the matter came otherwise to passe for the King did not openly moue any disturbance but as it hath alwaies happened by the ambition of mercinarie souldiers the peace was by them interrupted The Venetians had as their manner is the warres being ended discharged their Generall Giacopo Piccinino who taking vnto him certaine other Captaines likewise discharged went into Romagna and from thence to the countrey of Siena where Giacopo staying begun the warre and surprized certaine Townes belonging to the Sanesi At the beginning of these troubles in the yeare 1455. died Pope Nicholo and to him succeeded Calisto tertio This Pope to represse the new warre assembled all the forces he was able making Giouanni Ventimiglia his Generall who with certaine Florentines and other souldiers sent from the Duke for that purpose went against Giacopo and fought with him neare vnto Bolcena where notwithstanding that Ventimiglia was taken prisoner yet Giacopo had the worst and was forced to retire to Castalione della Piscaia and had he not bene by Alfonso relieued with money he should then vtterly haue bene ouerthrowne which reliefe discouered that Giacopo had taken that enterprise in hand with the priuitie and direction of that King Alfonso finding himselfe discouered to be reconciled to the other Princes consenting to the peace whose fauour by meanes of this weake warre he had almost lost procured that Giacopo should restore to the Sanesi all the townes he had taken from them and they to giue him twentie thousand Florins And this agreement made the King receiued Giacopo with his souldiers into the Kingdome In those dayes notwithstanding that the Pope intended to bridle Giacopo Piccinino yet was he mindfull also of the defence of Christendome likely to be oppressed by the Turks For which purpose he sent into all Christian Countries Embassadors and Preachers to perswade with Princes and people to arme themselues for the aide of Religion and to giue money and personall seruice to this enterprise against the common enemy He caused also solemne processions to be made declaring both publiquely and priuately that he himselfe would be among the first of the Christians that should assist that action with counsell money and men But the heate of this Crociata was cooled with aduertisements that the Turke and his army being at Bellgrado a Castle of Hungary vpon the riuer of Danubio was by the Hungarians hurt in his person and his Camp broken so that the Popes and Christians feare conceiued by the losse of Constantinople was thereby ceased and the preparation they made for the warre proceeded coldly In Hungary likewise by the death of Giouanni Vaiuoda Captaine of that victorie the warre was discontinued But returning to the matters of Italy I say that in the yeare 1456. the tumults moued by Giacopo Piccinino were ended so that euery man hauing laid aside armes it seemed as though God had taken them in hand For there happened in Toscana most tempestuous windes such as neuer before had bene heard of nor shall be which wrought most meruailous and memorable effects Vpon the 24. of August one houre before day there arose from the Sea towards Ancona a great and darke clowd crossing Italy and entering the Sea towards Pisa stretching two miles in compasse This storme was furiously carried and whither by naturall or supernaturall force diuided into many parts as it were fighting amongst themselues And of those broken clowds some were hoised vp towards heauen some violently cast downe and some with wonderfull speed were turned round but alwaies before them came a winde with lightnings and flashing of fire so terrible as cannot be expressed Of these broken and confused clowds and of those furious winds and great flames there grew so strange a noise as moued the people to greater feare then any Earthquake or thunder euer had done in so much as euery man thought the world was ended and that the earth the water and the heauen should haue returned to the old Chaos This fearefull storme wheresoeuer it passed wrought meruailous and wonderfull effects But the most notable of all happened about the Castle of S. Cassiano This Castle is builded vpon the hill which parteth the Vales of Pisa and Grieue eight miles distant from Florence Betwixt that said Castle and the towne of S. Andrea builded vpon the same hill this furious tempest passed not comming to S. Andrea but at S. Cassiano threw downe certaine turrets and chimneys and neare thereunto subuerted whole houses euen to the ground and carried away whole roofes of the Churches of S. Martino a Bagnolo and S. Maria della pace bearing them from thence vnbroken the space of more then one mile One man also a Carrier was taken vp and in the valley next vnto the way both he and his Moyles found dead Moreouer all the greatest okes and strongest trees which would not bend at the furie of the tempest were not onely broken but also with violence borne farre from the place where they grew Whereat the next day when the tempest was ceased and men returned to those places they were greatly astonied for they found the Countrey desolate and spoiled the houses and the temples ouerthrowne the people lamenting and beholding their houses cast downe and vnder them their goods their cattle and their parents slaine Which thing both in the beholders and hearers thereof moued a maruellous compassion By this meane it pleased God rather to threaten then punish Toscana For if so great a tempest had fallen vpon any Citie full of houses and inhabitants as it fell vpon these oakes trees and small houses one farre from the other without all doubt the destruction would
haue bene greater then the mind of man could haue conceiued But it pleased God by that small example to reuiue in mens mindes the memory of his power But now to returne to our matter The King Alfonso as is before said discontented with the peace and seeing that the warre which he caused Giacopo Piccinino to make vpon the Sanesi without any reasonable occasion had wrought no effect he thought to moue an other with the allowance of the league And in the yeare 1456. he assaulted the Genouesi both by sea and land as desirous to giue that state to the Adorni and depriue the Frigosi who then gouerned Besides that he caused Giacopo Piccinino to passe Tronto and assault Gismondo Malatesti who hauing well manned his townes regarded not much the assault of Giacopo so as the enterprise of the King on this side tooke no effect at all But that warre of Genoua occasioned more warre to him and his Kingdome then himselfe looked for At that time Pietro Fregoso was Duke of Genoua he fearing himselfe to be of force vnable to withstand the Kings assault determined to giue that to an other which himselfe could not hold and yeeld it into the hands of such a one that would at the least in that respect defend him so might he also hope in time to come to be reacquited Then sent he Embassadors to Carlo the seauenth King of France and offered him the dominion of Genoua Carlo accepted this offer and to take possession of that Cittie sent thither Giouanni de Angio sonne to King Rinato who not long before was departed from Florence and returned into Fraunce For Carlo was perswaded that Giouanni hauing bene before imployed in Italy knew how to gouerne that Cittie better then any other hoping also that being there he might deuise vpon the enterprise of Naples of which Kingdome Alfonso had dispossessed his father Rinato Then went Giouanni to Genoua and being there was receiued as Prince All the fortresses belonging to the Cittie with the whole gouernment were deliuered to his hand This accident displeased Alfonso thinking he had drawne in an enemy ouer mightie yet not dismayed therewith couragiously followed his enterprise and sayled on with his Nauie till he came vnder Villa Marina at Ponto Fino where taken with a sodeine disease he died By death of this King Giouanni and the Genouesi were deliuered of the warre and Ferrando who succeeded his father Alfonso in the Kingdome grew suspitious least an enemy of so great reputation in Italy might happily win the fauour of many his Barons whose fidelitie he doubted and whose mindes he knew desirous of Innouation for which respects they might percase be perswaded to ioyne with the French He also instructed the Pope whose ambitious mind as he thought aspired to take from him this new Kingdome His onely trust was in the Duke of Milan he being indeed no lesse carefull of the Kingdome then was Ferrando for he mistrusted that if the French did preuaile they would also labour to surprize his state which they had some colour to claime as to them apperteining That Duke therfore presently vpon the death of Alfonso determined to giue that Kingdome vnto Pietro Lodouico Borgia his nephew Also to make that enterprise seeme more honest and acceptable to the rest of the Italian Princes he published that his intent was to reduce that Kingdom vnder the Church of Rome perswading the Duke in that respect not to fauour Ferrando offering him those townes which of auncient time he possessed in the Kingdome But in the middest of these imaginations and new troubles Pope Calisto died and in his place was created Pio secundo borne in Siena and of the family of Piccolhuomini This Pope minding onely to benefite the Christians and honor the Church setting aside all priuate passion at the Duke of Milans request crowned the King Ferrando thinking he should better appease the warres by mainteining of him in possession then by fauouring the French to giue them the Kingdome or if he should as Calisto did challenge it for himselfe For this benefite Ferrando gaue vnto Antonio the Popes nephew the principallitie of Malfi and married him vnto his owne base daughter He restored also Beneuento and Terracina to the Church Then all men supposing that the armes of Italy were laid downe the Pope tooke order to mooue the Christians to make warre vpon the Turks as it was before deuised by Pope Calisto At which time there rose great dissention betwixt the Fregosi and Giouanni de Angio Lord of Genoua which dissention reuiued a warre of more importance then was the other alreadie passed At that time Pietrino Fregoso happened to be at a Castle of his in Riuiera He not holding himselfe according to his merits rewarded by Giouanni de Angio who by help of him and others of his house was made Prince became open enemy to Giouanni This discord pleased Ferrando as that which might onely be the meanes of his good speed Then sent he men and money to Pietrino hoping by his aide to driue Giouanni from that state Which he knowing sent into Fraunce to encounter Pietrino There finding much fauour he receiued a great supply and went against Pietrino who was become strong also so as Giouanni retired into the Cittie where also in the night Pietrino entred and possessed some places thereof but the next morning was by the souldiers of Giouanni assaulted and slaine and all his men likewise either slaine or taken This victorie encouraged Giouanni to set vpon the Kingdome and in October 1459. with a mightie nauie he departed from Genoua And landing at Baia marched from thence to Sessa where he was by the Duke of that countrey receiued Then came vnto Giouanni the Prince of Tarranto the Cittizens of Aquila with many other townes and Princes in so much as that Kingdome was almost ruined Ferrando seeing that desired aide of the Pope and the Duke Also to haue the fewer foes made peace with Gismondo Malatesti wherewith Giacopo Piccinino being naturall enemy to Gismondo became so much displeased as he discharged himselfe from the seruice of Ferrando and ioyned with Giouanni Ferrando also sent money to enterteine Federigo Lord of Vrbino and within short space he assembled according vnto that time a great army Then marched he to the riuer of Sarni where he found the enemy and fought with him in which conflict the forces of King Ferrando were ouerthrowne and many of his principall Captaines taken But notwithstanding this ouerthrow the Cittie of Naples with a fewe other townes and some Princes continued faithfull to Ferrando though all the rest of the Realme and Nobilitie yeelded their obedience to Giouanni Giacopo Piccinino perswaded Giouanni to follow the victorie and presently to marche to Naples thereby to possesse himselfe of the chiefe Cittie of the Kingdome which Giouanni refused to do saying he would first spoile all the countrey and then it would be more easie to surprize
the Cittie which was the cause he failed to performe that enterprise for he knew not that the parts do more willingly follow the head then the head doth follow them After this ouerthrow the King Ferrando being fled into Naples thither resorted vnto him diuerse of his subiects who were driuen from their countreys then by all curteous meanes he leuied men and money to make a new Camp sending againe for aide to the Pope and Duke From the one and the other of whome he was aided more speedily and abundantly then before time he had bene bicause they greatly feared he should otherwise lose his Kingdome King Ferrando in this sort growne strong marched out of Naples and hauing gotten some reputation recouered also part of his lost townes During these warres in the Kingdome a chance happened that vtterly depriued Giouanni de Angio of reputation and meane to haue victorie in that enterprise The Genouesi being wearie of the French insolent and couetous gouernment tooke armes against the Kings Gouernour there and forced him to flee to the little Castle of Genoua The Fregosi and the Adorni were content to ioyne in that action and by the Duke of Milan they became furnished of money and men both for the winning and keeping the Cittie So that the King Rinato with his nauie came to the succour of his sonne and hoping to recouer Genoua by meane of the small Castle in landing his souldiers was ouerthrowne and forced with shame to returne vnto Prouenza These newes being carried to the Kingdome of Naples greatly dismaied Giouanni de Angio notwithstanding he still followed his enterprise and continued the warre being serued by those Barons who were rebelled and could not looke for fauour of Ferrando In the end after many accidents those two royall armies ioyned battell wherein neare vnto the Cittie of Troia Giouanni was vanquished the yeare 1463. This ouerthrow did not so much hinder the successe of the King Giouanni as did the reuolt of Giacopo Piccinino who left him and ioyned with King Ferrando whereby being spoiled of his forces he retired into Histria and from thence to Fraunce This warre continued foure yeares and was in the end lost by his owne negligence for it was many times in good way of victorie by the vertue of his souldiers Therein the Florentines intermedled not apparantly yet were they desired by Embassadors of the King Giouanni of Arragon newly come to that Kingdome by the death of Alfonso to assist the enterprise of Ferrando his nephew as they had bound themselues by the league lately made with Alfonso his father To whome by the Florentines it was answered that they were not by any obligation bound to aide the sonne in that warre which was begun by the father for as the same had bene without their counsell or knowledge taken in hand so without their assistance it should be performed and ended The Embassadors being thus to the request of their King answered protested the execution of their band and the Kings preiudice so in great displeasure with that Cittie departed The Florentines during these warres continued in peace abroad but within they rested not as in the next Booke shall be particulerly declared The ende of the sixt Booke THE SEVENTH BOOKE TO those that haue read the former Booke it may seeme in writing of Florence and the proceedings of the Florentines we haue ouermuch spoken of such accidents as hapned in Lombardy and the Kingdome Neuerthelesse as heretofore I haue so am I hereafter to continue with the like discourses For albeit I did not promise to write of matters concerning Italy yet haue I thought good to speake of those that were in that countrey most notable For if I should not make mention of them our historie would be with more difficultie vnderstood and to the Readers lesse pleasing Chiefely bicause the actions of other people and Princes of Italy did occasion the warres wherein the Florentines were forced to intermeddle as of the warre of Giouanni de Angio and King Ferrando great enimitie grew which was after betwixt Ferrando and the Florentines and particulerly with the house of Medici continued For the King complained that the Florentines did not onely leaue him in that warre vnaided but also that his enemies were by them fauoured which anger was the occasion of exceeding many inconuenients as shall be hereafter declared And for as much as I haue written at large those matters which happened without the Cittie till the yeare 1463. it behoueth me for the declaration of such troubles as happened in those daies within to looke back many yeares passed Yet first by way of discourse as is my custome I say that whosoeuer doth thinke that any Common-weale can continue vnited he greatlie deceiueth himselfe But true it is that some diuisions be preiudiciall to Common-weales and some others be profitable Those be preiudiciall which are with factions and followers accompanied And those are profitable which without factions and followers bee mainteined Seeing then it is a thing impossible for that man who frameth a Common-weale to prouide that no enimitie shall therein arise he ought at the least foresee that no factions be permitted It is then to be considered that the Citizens in euerie state do win reputation either by publike or priuate meanes Publike reputation is gotten by victorie in the field by surprizing of townes by wise and discreet performing of Embassages or by counsailing the State grauely and fortunately By priuate meanes men attain to reputatiō by pleasuring particuler citizēs by sauing them frō punishments by relieuing them with money by aduancing thē vnworthily to honors and offices and by enterteining the common people with sports publike gifts From these causes faction following and partaking do proceed And as reputation thus gotten is hurtful so the other not being intermedled with faction is the occasion of great good bicause it is grounded vpon no priuate but common commoditie And albeit among such Citizens so great displeasures wil grow as the wisdome of man is not able to preuēt yet wāting partakers to follow thē for proper profit they cannot by any way hinder the common-weale but shal rather help it for in aspiring to that they would come vnto it behoueth them to indeuor the aduancement of the state and particularly one to respect the other so much as the lawes ciuil orders be not infringed The enimities of Florēce were alwaies followed with factions and therfore hurtfull to the state neither was any victorious faction longer vnited then the contrary part continued in force for so soone as the enemies were extinguished the faction remaining no more in awe of the enemy nor hauing order to bridle it selfe became diuided The faction of Cosimo de Medici in the yeare 1434. remained with victorie Neuerthelesse bicause the partie oppressed was stil great and full of mightie men it continued vnited and tollerable so long as among those of the factiō no error was cōmitted and the people
was supposed that the summe of his presents amounted vnto twentie thousand duckets In conclusion he aspired to such greatnesse of reputation as Lucca and not Cosimo seemed to gouerne the Cittie Thereupon he conceiued so great confidence that he began to build two houses the one in Florence the other in Rucciano a mile distant from the Cittie both stately and kingly buildings But that in Florence was much larger then by any priuate Cittizen had euer bene builded For performance thereof he spared not to vse all extraordinarie meanes For not onely priuate Cittizens and particuler men did present him and help him with things necessarie for his building but the whole comminaltie and people did put their hands to his works Moreouer all banished men and euerie other person hauing committed murther theft or other offence whereof he feared publique punishment if he were abled to his seruice any way might without all danger resort thither The other Cittizens although they builded not like vnto him yet were they no lesse violent and inclined to oppression so as albeit Florence had no warre abroad to hinder it yet was it by the Cittizens within oppressed In those dayes as is before sayd happened the warre in the Kingdome and some warres were also made against the house of Malatesti by the Pope being desirous to take from them Rimino and Cesena so that in this enterprise and his studie to moue the warre against the Turke Pope Pio consumed his Papacie But Florence continued still in diuisions and troubles For then began the faction of Cosimo to be diuided within it selfe the yeare 1455. which happened by the occasions before said Yet were they for that time by his wisedome appeased But the yeare 64. being come Cosimo fell againe sick and dyed At his death both friends and foes lamented for they who in respect of the State loued him not seeing what extortion was vsed by the Cittizens in his life doubted least Cosimo being dead whome all men reuerenced they should be vtterly ruined and of his sonne Piero they hoped not much For albeit he were of disposition a good man yet being sickly and new in the gouernmēt they thought he should be forced to respect others who without any bridle would become strong and incorrigible Euerie man therefore feared to find great want of Cosimo This Cosimo was the most esteemed and most famous Cittizen being no man of warre that euer had bene in the memorie of man either in Florence or any other Cittie bicause he did not onely excell all others of his time in authoritie and riches but also in liberalitie and wisedome For amongst other qualities which aduanced him to be chiefe of his Countrey he was more then other men liberall and magnificent Which liberalitie appeared much more after his death then before For his sonne Piero found by his fathers Records that there was not any Cittizen of estimation to whome Cosimo had not lent great summes of money and many times also vnrequired he did lend to those Gentlemen whome he knewe to haue need His magnificence likewise appeared by diuerse his buildings For within Florence he builded the Abbaies and Temples of S. Marco S. Lorenzo and the Monasterie of S. Verdiana And in the Mountaines of Fiesole S. Gerolano with the Abbey thereunto belonging Also in Mugello he did not onely repaire the Church for the Friers but tooke it downe and builded it a new Besides those magnificent buildings in S. Croce in S. Agnoli and S. Miniato he made Altars and sumptuous Chappels All which Temples and Chappels besides the buildings of them were by him paued and throughlie furnished with all things necessarie With these publique buildings we may number his priuate houses whereof one within the Cittie meete for so great a personage and foure other without at Carriaggi at Fiesole at Cafaggiuolo and at Trebio all Pallaces fitter for Princes then priuate persons And bicause his magnificent houses in Italy did not in his opinion make him famous ynough he builded in Ierusalem an Hospitall to reciue poore and diseased Pilgrims In which worke he consumed great summes of money And albeit these buildings and euery other his actions were princely and that in Florence he liued like a Prince yet so gouerned by wisedome as he neuer exceeded the bounds of ciuill modestie For in his conuersation in riding in marrying his children and kinsfolks he was like vnto all other discreet and modest Citizens bicause he well knew that extraordinarie things which are of all men with admiration beholded do win more enuie then those which without ostentatiō be honestlie couered Whensoeuer therefore he married his sonnes he neuer sought to match them with the daughters of Princes but wedded his sonne Giouanni to Cornelia Alessandri and Piero to Lucretia Tornabuoni Also of his graund children begotten of Piero he married Bianca to Guglielmo de Pazi and Nannina to Barnardo Russellai These his proceedings caused that in so great change of fortune and in so variable a Cittie among so inconstant Cittizens he continued a Magistrate 31. yeares For being a wise man he discouered all inconuenients a farre and therefore might in time preuent them or if they did grow be so prepared as they could not offend him Whereby he did not onely suppresse all domesticall and ciuill ambition but also bridled the insolencie of many Princes with so great happinesse and wisedome that whosoeuer ioyned in league with him and his countrey became either equall or superior to his enemies And whosoeuer opposed themselues against them either they lost time money or state Whereof the Venetians can beare witnesse who being ioyned with him against the Duke Philippo were alwayes victorious and being disioyned were first by Philippo and after by Francesco victored and oppressed Also when they ioyned with Alfonso against the state of Florence Cosimo with his credit made both Naples and Venice so scarce of money as they were constrayned to take what peace himselfe was pleased with Whatsoeuer difficultie or contradiction was moued against Cosimo either within or without the Cittie the end thereof was to his glorie and the disaduantage of his enemies Therefore all ciuill discords increased his authoritie in Florence and forraine warres augmented his power abroad He annexed to the dominion of his Countrey Borgo at S. Sepolcro Monteuoglio Casentino and the Vale of Bagno Thus his vertue and fortune oppressed all enemies and aduanced his friends He was borne in the yeare 1389. on the feast day of S. Cosimo and Damiano The first part of his life was full of troubles as appeareth by his exile his imprisonment and his dangers of death Also at the Councell of Constanza whither he went with the Pope Giouanni after the Popes oppression he was forced to disguise himselfe and flee But hauing passed the fortie yeare of his age hee liued most happily in so much as not onely they which ioyned with him in publique actions but all other men also that maneged
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
being ended it were best to finde meanes that the same might not be reuiued for if the Councels and Magistrates did gouerne the Cittie the authoritie of Piero would be in short space extinguished and with losse of his reputation in the state he should also lose his credit in merchandize For being no more in place where he might imploy the publique treasure he should of necessitie grow weake which being brought to passe there would not be after any cause to feare him and all this practise might bee performed without banishment of anie man and the libertie without bloud recouered which euery good Cittizen ought to desire But if they proceeded by force many perils might be incurred for whosoeuer is readie to fall alone if he be forced by others will labour to staie himself vp Moreouer when nothing is done extraordinarily against him he shall not haue any occasion to Arme himselfe or seeke friends or if he should the same would turne to his great reproach and breede suspition in euerie man so as his ouerthrow shall be the more easie and others take occasion the rather to oppresse him Many others of that assembly liked not this delaie affirming the time fauoured him not them For if they were contented with ordinary proceedings Piero was in no danger at all and they in great perill Because the Magistrates notwithstanding they were his enemies would suffer him in the Citie and his friends with their ruine as it happened in the yeare 58. would make him Prince and as the former counsell proceeded from good men so this was the opinion of wise men It was therefore necessary that while men be displeased to make him sure The meane to bring the same to effect was to be armed both within and without and also to enterteine the Marquesse of Farrara to be the better defended Which done when a Senate happened to be for the purpose then to make all assured In this resolution they staied till the next Senate and proceeded according to the quallitie thereof Among the conspirators was Nicholo Fedini whom they imployed as Chauncellor he perswaded with a hope more certaine reuealed to Piero all the practise agreed vpon by his enemies and deliuered him a note of all their names which Piero perused and seeing the number and quallitie of the Citizens who had conspired against him tooke counsell of his friends and made a note likewise of them Then he committed this rolle of friends to be made by one whom he most trusted who considering therof found so great varietie and instabilitie in the mindes of the Citizens that many who had bene written for his enemies were also inrolled among the rest who were accounted his friends During the space that these matters with these alteratiōs were handled the time was come to chuse two supreame Officers and Nicholo Soderini was elected Gonfaloniere de Giustitia It was a maruellous thing to see with what concourse not onely of honourable Citizens but of all sorts of people he was accompanied to the Pallace and passing vppon the waie they set on his head a garland of Oliffe to shewe that of him depended the welfare and libertie of the Countrey By this and many like experiences it is proued that men should not take vppon them any Office or principallitie with extraordinarie opinion For not being able to performe such expectation men desiring more then can be doth in time breed his own dishonour and infamie Thomaso and Nicholo Soderini were brethren Nicholo was the bolder and more couragious but Thomaso the wiser and friend to Piero. Who knowing his brothers humour that he desired onely the libertie of the Cittie and that the state might be setled without harme of any perswaded Nicholo to make new Squittini whereby the Borsi might be filled with such Cittizens as loued to liue in libertie By doing whereof the state should be at his will setled without tumult or iniury to anie Nicholo gaue credit to the counsell of his brother and in these vaine imaginations consumed the time of his office till by the chiefe of the conspirators his friends he was suffered to sincke as they that would not for enuie that the gouernment should be with the authoritie of Nicholo renued and hoping euer they might in time vnder some other Gonfaloniere worke the same effect The end of the magistracie of Nicholo come and many things by him begun but nothing ended he yeelded vp his authoritie with more dishonour then with honour he had entered the same This matter made the faction of Piero glad and confirmed his friendes in the hope they had of his good successe And those that before stood neutrall ioyned with Piero and matters being thus in a readinesse for diuerse months without other tumult they temporized Notwithstāding the part of Piero stil encreased in strength wherof the enemies tooke knowledge and ioyned themselues togither to performe that by force which by meane of the Magistrates they might easily haue done before and so concluded to kill Piero lying sicke at Careggi for which purpose they sent to the Marquesse of Farrara to come vnto the Citie with his forces and Piero being slaine they determined to march armed into the Market place and cause the Senate to settle the gouernment according to their will For albeit all the Citizens were not their friends yet they that were their enemies would for feare giue place Diotisalui the rather to cloake his intent oftentimes visited Piero and reasoned with him of the vniting of the Citie All these practises had bene reuealed to Piero and Domenico Martegli also gaue him intelligence that Francesco Neroni brother to Diotisalui had perswaded him to be of his conspiracie alleaging the victorie was certain and assured Thereupon Piero determined to be the first that should take armes and fained an occasion vppon the practises of his enemies with the Marquesse of Farrara He pretended therefore to haue receiued a Letter from Giouanni Bentiuogli Prince in Bologna whereby he was aduertised that the Marquesse of Farrara was with his forces marched to the Riuer of Albo and as was commonly thought intended to come to Florence Vpon these aduertisements Piero tooke armes and with a great multitude of men armed came to Florence where all others that followed him armed themselues The contrary partie did the like but Piero his followers were the better prepared because the others had not so great warning therof Diotisalui dwelling neare vnto Piero thought not himselfe assured at home but sometimes he went to the Pallace to perswade the Senate to cause Piero to laie downe his armes sometimes he resorted to Lucca to intreate him to stand firme to his faction But of all others Nicholo Soderini shewed himself of most courage for he presently tooke arms and being followed of all the common people of his quarter went vnto the house of Lucca desiring him to mount on horsebacke and come to the Market place in fauour of the Senate which
esteemed more his safetie then their state or proper commoditie they thought not fit he should remaine long from Milan being newly come to his gouernment and hauing there diuerse strong enemies to be suspected so that if any of them should practise against him they might easily in his absence do it For which respects they perswaded him to returne home and leaue part of his forces for their defence This counsell contented Galiazzo and without further consideration returned to Milan The Florentine Captaines disburthened of this let to declare the same was the true occasion of their slow proceeding drew so neare to the enemie that they ioyned battle which continued one half day neither partie yeelding to other Notwithstanding there was not anie man therein slaine but some horses hurt and a fewe prisoners on either part taken The winter now being come and the season of the yeare no longer seruing for the fielde they retired to their lodgings Bartolomeo went to Rauenna the Florentines into Toscana the Kings souldiers and the Dukes resorted home to their maisters Countries But so soone as this assault beganne to be forgotten and no disorder made in Florence as the Florentine Rebels promised and the other souldiers wanting paie were content to entreate of peace which with small difficultie was concluded The Rebels then dispairing of all hope to diuerse places dispersed themselues Diotisalui went to Farrara where he was by the Marquesse Borso receiued and relieued Nicholo Soderini fledde to Rauenna where liuing long vppon a poore pencion giuen him by the Venetians in the ende there died This Nicholo was accounted a man iust and couragious yet vncertaine and slowe of his resolution which was the cause that the Gonfaloniere lost that opportunitie which being out of office hee would haue taken but could not The peace concluded the Citizens who remained in Florence with victorie thinking themselues not assured vnlesse they did as well oppresse those they suspected as their apparant enemies perswaded Bardo Altouiti then Gonfaloniere d'Giustitia to remoue more Cittizens from their offices and to banish many others Which thing greatly encreased the power of that faction and terrified the contrarie part which power they vsed without respect and proceeded so much at their pleasure as it seemed that God and fortune had consented to giue that Cittie into their hands Of which doings Piero knew little and that litle he could not being afflicted with sicknesse remedie For his diseases were so great as he could not vse any member saue only his tongue wherwith he exhorted them and praied them to liue ciuilly and enioy their natiue country rather entire thē broken And for the comfort of the Citie he determined with magnificence to celebrate the marriage of Lorenzo his sonne who was alreadie contracted to Clarice discended of the house of Orsini which marriage was performed with great pompe as to so magnificent a feast apperteined For performance of these triumphs diuers daies were consumed in feasting dancing publike shews Wherunto was also ioined for more apparāce of greatnes of the Medici 2. marshal exercises the one represented a battle fought in the field the other of a towne besieged which things were deuised in good order performed with so much vertue as might be While these matters were doing in Florēce the rest of Italy liued quiet but yet in great suspitiō of the Turke who proceeded still in his enterprise against the Christians and had wonne Negroponti to the great infamie and dishonour of the Christian name Then died Borso Marquesse of Farrara to whom succeeded his brother Hercule Euen then died also Gismondo da Rimino a perpetuall enemie to the Church who left to inherit that state Roberto his naturall sonne afterwards accounted the most excellent Captaine of Italy Then likewise died the Pope Pagolo in whose place was created Sisto quarto called before his creation Francesco da Sauona a man of base and vile condition yet for his vertue made Generall of the order of S. Francesco and afterwardes Cardinall This Pope was the first that beganne to shewe of what great force the Papacie was and that manie things before time accounted faults might be by Papall authoritie couered This Pope had amongst many others in his house two men the one called Piero and the other Gerolamo who as euerie man thought were his vnlawfull sonnes notwithstanding men called them by other names more honest Piero being made a Frier was preferred to the dignitie of Cardinall and called Cardinall of S. Sisto To Gerolamo he gaue the Cittie of Furli and tooke it by force from Antonio Ordelaffi whose auncestors had bene long time Princes there This ambitious manner of proceeding made him the more esteemed by the Princes of Italy and euery of them sought which way to be accounted his friend The Duke of Milan gaue his daughter Catterina in marriage to Gerolamo and with her the Citie of Imola which by force he had taken frō Taddeo Alidossi Betwixt this Duke and the King Ferrando was also made new alliance For Eliza-bella daughter to Alfonso eldest sonne of the King was married to Giouan Galiazzo eldest sonne to the Duke Thus Italy continued quiet and the greatest care of the Princes was one to honor the other and with new alliances friendships leagues one to assure himselfe of the other But notwithstanding so great a peace Florence was by the Citizens thereof greatly afflicted And Piero being troubled with ambition of the Citizens and his own diseases could not procure remedie yet to discharge his conscience and laie before them their misdemeanor he called to his presence the chiefe Florentines and said vnto them as followeth I neuer thought that anie time could come when the maner behauior of friends would proue such as to make me loue desire my enemies or that I might wish victory to be conuerted to losse Because I thought my selfe accompanied with men whose appetites were confined to measure that it sufficed them to liue in their country assured honoured and that which is more vpon their enemies reuenged But now I know my self far deceiued as he that knew little the ambition of men and least of all yours For it contenteth you not to be Princes of so great a Cittie and among you a few to haue the honors offices and commodities wherewith many Citizens were wont to be honored It contented you not to haue the goods of your enemies among you diuided It contenteth you not to burthen others with publike charges you free from all paiments to take the publike profit but you wil also with euery kind of iniury molest them You cease not to rob your neighbors you feare not to sell iustice you flie ciuill iudgement you oppresse peaceable men and aduance those that be insolent Neither do I beleeue that there is in all Italy so many examples of violence couetousnes as be in this cittie But sith it hath giuen you life
The other following Barnardo surprized the Pallace and committed the Podesta with all his familie to the custodie of one of his companie Which done they walked the streets proclaiming the name of libertie By that time it was day and many people by meane of the noise came to the market place where vnderstanding that the Cittadell and Pallace were taken the Gouernor also with his familie imprisoned they meruailed much The eight Cittizens chiefe Officers of the towne assembled in their Pallace to consult what was to be done But Barnardo and his men hauing awhile walked the towne and finding himselfe not well followed hearing where the eight were went vnto them declaring that the occasion of his enterprise was to deliuer them and their countrey from bondage and that they should gaine great glorie to take armes and accompanie him in that glorious action whereby they should win perpetuall quiet and eternall fame He also laid before them the memorie of their auncient libertie comparing it with their present condition He likewise told them what aide they should be assured to haue of others if they would but for a fewe daies defend themselues from the Florentine forces He informed them moreouer that he had intelligence in Florence whereby he was aduertised that Cittie would wholie follow him The eight not moued with these perswasions answered that they knew not whether Florence liued in libertie or bondage as a thing they desired not to vnderstand But well they knew their owne desire was not to enioy other libertie then to obey those Magistrates that gouerned in Florence of whome they had not receiued any such iniurie as might moue to take armes against them Wherefore they perswaded him to restore the Podesta to his libertie send his men out of the towne and saue himselfe speedily from that danger whereinto he was vnaduisedly fallen These speeches dismaied not Barnardo for he intēded to see if feare might moue the Pratesi to that which with intreaty could not Therefore to terrifie the Cittizens and determining to put the Podesta to death he tooke him out of prison and commanded him to be hanged at the Pallace window The Podesta being brought to the window the halter vpon his neck and seeing Barnardo to sollicit his death turned himselfe towards him and said Barnardo thou puttest me to death hoping the rather to be followed of the Pratesi but the contrarie will come to passe For the reuerence which this people doth beare to the Gouernors sent by the Florentines is so great that so soone as they shall see this iniurie done to me they will hate thee so much as the same will prooue thy ruine wherefore not my death but my life may be the occasion of thy victorie For if I commaund them that which thou wouldst haue done they will more willinglie obey me then thee Thus I following thy direction thou mayst become owner of thy desire This counsell seemed to Barnardo being a man irresolute verie reasonable and therefore willed him at a window to commaund the people to yeeld their obedience to Barnardo Which being done the Podesta was lead back to prison By this time the weakenesse of the conspirators was discouered and many Florentines inhabiting that towne were assembled among whome was Georgio Ginori a Knight of Ierusalem He being the first that tooke armes against the Rebels assaulted Barnardo in the streets sometimes intreating and sometimes threatning the people to follow him till at length by Georgio and many others who tooke armes Barnardo was hurt and taken Which done it was no hard matter to deliuer the Podesta and vanquish the rest For they being fewe and diuided into sundrie parts of the towne were welneare all taken or slaine In the meane space the fame of this accident was come to Florence and reported to be much greater then it was For the aduertisements were that Prato was surprized the Podesta with his houshold put to death Pistoia in armes and many of the Cittizens of the conspiracie in so much as many Cittizens sodeinly came to the Pallace to consult with the Senate At that time Roberto Sanseuerino happened to be in Florence who being a man of great experience in warre was sent with certaine forces to Prato commaunded that he should approach the towne and send back particuler aduertisements in what state the same stood and do there what by his wisedome should be thought good Roberto marching on his way and passing the Castle of Campi a messenger came vnto him from Cesare Petrucci declaring that Barnardo was taken his companions fled or slaine and all the tumult pacified Whereupon Roberto returned to Florence and shortly after Barnardo being brought thither a prisoner and demaunded why he tooke that enterprise in hand aunswered bicause he determined rather to die in Florence then liue in exile and thought good to accompanie his death with some memorable action This tumult begun and ended as it were in one instant the Cittizens of Florence returned to their wonted order of life thinking to enioy that state without suspition which they had lately established and setled whereof insued those inconueniences which many times be ingendred by peace for the youth became more prodigall then they were wont spending their money in apparrell feasting and other like vanities and being idle consumed their substance in play and women Their whole studie was to be brauely apparrelled and to seeme wittie or subtile for he that could most cunninglie mock and deride others was holden the wisest and most esteemed These and such like disorders were by the Courtiers of Milan increased For at that time thither came the Duke with his wife and Court to performe as he said a certaine vowe and was there receiued with pompe meete for so great a Prince and friend to the Florentines In that time also was seene a thing in Florence neuer before vsed which was that the Courtiers of Milan notwithstanding the time of Lent did without respect of the Ecclesiasticall order eate almost none other meate but flesh Albeit the Duke found the Cittie of Florence full of courtlie delicacie and customes contrarie to all well ordered ciuilitie yet his comming increased the same Wherefore the good Cittizens thought fit and necessarie to bridle the excesse with new lawes for apparrell for funerals and feastings In the midst of this great peace there happened in Toscana a new and vnlooked for tumult In the Prouince of Volterra certaine Cittizens happened to finde a Mine of Allum whereof knowing the commoditie to be helped with money and defended with authoritie they ioyned with them some Cittizens of Florence making them partakers of such profit as should thereof arise This matter at the beginning as it happeneth for the most part in all new actions was by the people of Volterra little esteemed But the commoditie thereof afterwards knowne they desired too late and without effect that which at the first they might easilie haue obteined Then began they to propound
factions for daily betwixt these two leagues there grew displeasure as it happened touching the Ile of Cipres which the King Ferrando challenged and the Venetians vsurped whereupon the Pope and the King became more willing one of the others friendship In those daies Federigo Prince of Vrbino was accounted the most excellent Captaine of Italy and had long serued for the Florentines The King and the Pope to the end our league should not haue the seruice of such a leader determined to win the good will of Federigo To that end both the Pope and the King desired him to come vnto Naples Federigo performed their desire to the great admiration and displeasure of the Florentines beleeuing it would become of him as it did to Giacopo Piccinino Yet the contrarie came to passe for Federigo returned from Naples and Romagna with great honor and still Generall for their league Neuerthelesse the King and Pope ceased not to sound the disposition of the Lords in Romagna and the Sanesi hoping to make them his friends and by their meanes be able to offend the Florentines whome they perceiued by all conuenient waies armed to incounter their ambition and hauing lost Federigo of Vrbino they enterteined Roberto of Rimini They also renewed the league with the Perugini and drew thereunto the Lord of Faenza The Pope and King alleaged that their displeasure to the Florentines was bicause they sought to drawe the Venetians from them and the Pope thought that the Church could not mainteine the reputation thereof nor the Earle Girolamo his state in Romagna if the Florentines and Venetians were vnited On the other side the Florentines feared they would be enemies to the Venetians not to win their friendship but the rather thereby to iniurie them so as Italy liued two yeares in these suspitions and diuersities of humors before any tumults were moued But the first although but small happened in Toscana Braccio of Perugia a man as hath heretofore bene often said of great reputation in the warre had two sonnes called Oddo and Carlo This Carlo was a child and Oddo was by the inhabitants of the Vale of Lamona slaine as hath bene declared Carlo being atteined to age and able for armes was for the memorie of his father and the good hope of himselfe enterteined by the Venetians and made among others a leader for that state The time of his conduct ended he refused to serue longer determining to make proofe if with his owne fame and the reputation of his father he could recouer his owne countrey of Perugia Whereto the Venetians easily consented as they that were wont in alterations to increase their dominion Carlo then came into Toscana and found the enterprise of Perugia hard by reason that the Perugini were in league with the Florentines yet desirous that this motion might take some effect worthie memorie he assaulted the Sanesi alleaging they were debtors of money due to his father for seruice done to that state whereof he required satisfaction and vpon that demaund assaulted them with so great furie as that dominion became disordered The Cittizens of Siena seeing themselues so furiously charged being readie to suspect the worst of the Florentines thought all was done by their consent They also complained much to the Pope and the King and sent Embassadors vnto Florence to expostulate the iniurie and couertlie alleaged that without assistance Carlo could not with so great securitie haue offended them The Florentines excused themselues promising in what sort the Embassadors thought good they would commaund Carlo no more to offend the Sanesi Whereof Carlo complained that they by not aiding him should lose a great conquest and he misse the meane to aspire to much glorie For in short space he promised them possession of that Cittie where he found so great cowardice and disorder as with possibilitie it could not be defended Then Carlo departed from thence and returned to his old enterteinement of the Venetians Albeit the Sanesi were by the Florentines deliuered from so great danger yet remained they towards them offended and iudged their obligacion not to be any thing hauing saued them from an euill whereof they had bene the occasion During that these matters betwixt the King and Pope were handled in Toscana there happened in Lombardy an accident of much more moment and did prognosticate greater euils There was in Milan a Scholemaister called Cola of Mantoua a man well learned but ambitious and such a one as instructed the chiefe children of the Cittie This Cola either bicause he hated the life and manners of the Duke or for some other occasion in all his speeches seemed to disdaine those men that liued vnder an euill prince calling others glorious and happie whome nature and fortune graunted to be borne and liue in common-weales Declaring how all famous men had bene brought vp in common-weales and not vnder Princes For the common-weales said he did nourish vertuous men but Princes did oppresse them for the one doth cherish vertue the other doth feare it The yong men with whome he had gained most familiaritie were Giouandrea Lampugnano Carlo Visconti and Girolamo Olgeato with them he oftentimes reasoned of the euill nature of the Duke and their owne misfortune being gouerned vnder such a one and at length hee began to be in so great confidence of these yong men that hee brought them to sweare that so soone as they atteined to mans estate they would deliuer their countrey from the tirannie of that Prince These youths perswaded to performe what they had promised waying therewith all the Dukes behauiour and the particuler iniuries he had done did hasten their intent to put the matter in execution The Duke Galiazzo was in his disposition lasciuious and cruell which two things had made him odious for it sufficed him not to entice Ladies to dishonor but he would also take pleasure in publishing the same Neither was he content to put men to death but he would also execute them with some cruell manner of torment He was moreouer slandered or truely suspected to haue murthered his owne mother for hee perswading himselfe not to be Prince she being present found meanes to remoue her to Cremona which was the place of her dowrie and in that iourney she became sodeinly sick and died and many men iudged her sonne was cause of her death This Duke had in matter touching women dishonored Carlo and Gerolamo and denied Giouandrea to haue the possession of the Abbey of Miramondo being graunted vnto him of the Pope vpon resignation of a kinsman of his These priuate iniuries increased the desire of the yong men by reuenge to deliuer their countrey of so great mischiefes hoping that if they might murther the Duke they should be not onely esteemed of the nobilitie but also of the people followed Thus determined of the enterprise they oftentimes met together and by reason of their auncient familiaritie no meruaile made of their meeting Being togithers to make their
resolutely executed The cause of their destruction was that they were not followed and defended of them to whome they trusted Let Princes therefore learne to make themselues so much honored and loued as no man can hope to hurt them and saue himselfe And let all priuate persons know how vaine it is to thinke that the multitude notwithstanding it be discontented will in their perils follow or accompanie them This accident amazed all Italy but much more trouble proceeded of other chances that shortly after happened in Florence For thereby the peace which had continued in Italy the space of twelue yeares was broken as in the Booke following shall be declared Which Booke as it beginneth with bloud and terror so doth it end with sorrow and miserie The ende of the seuenth Booke THE EIGHT BOOKE THE beginning of this Booke placed amidst two conspiracies the one in Milan alreadie declared the other happened in Florence and to be spoken of it may be thought fit that according to my custome I should somewhat saie touching the quallitie of conspiracies and of what importance they are Which willingly I would do had I not in other places discoursed thereof or that such a matter might be briefelie passed ouer But seeing it requireth great consideration and is alreadie spoken of we will proceed and tell how the Medici hauing ouercome all enemies that openly opposed themselues being desirous their house alone might haue authoritie in the Cittie it behoued them to oppresse all others that secretly practised against them For so long as they contended against other families but with equall authoritie the Cittizens enuying their greatnesse might openly and without feare affront them Bicause the Magistrates being free neither partie before losse of victorie had any occasion to feare it selfe But after the victorie in the yeare 66. the State became so much in the hand and power of the Medici as all men discontented were inforced either patiētly to abide the condition wherein they liued or else by way of conspiracie and secret practise to amend their fortune But sith cōspiracies are with difficultie performed for the most part they procure the ruine of the conspirators and the greatnes of him against whome they be conspired So that a Prince by conspiracie assaulted if he be not therein slaine as was the Duke of Milan which seldome hapneth becommeth thereby the stronger and being before good becommeth euill Bicause conspiracies do giue him occasion to feare feare counsaileth him to seeke assurance and in seeking assurance he doth iniure others whereby he gaineth hatred and many times procureth his own destruction So as in cōclusion treasons do sodeinly ouerthrow those who attempt them and trouble him many times against whome they be attempted Italy was as hath bene before declared diuided into two factions the Pope and the King on the one side and the Venetians the Duke and Florentines on the other side And albeit there was not betwixt them any warre moued yet was there dailie occasion giuen thereof and the Pope chiefelie in all his actions studied to offend the state of Florence Philippo de Medici Archbishop of Pisa then dying the Pope contrarie to the will of the Senate of Florence gaue that Bishopprick to Francesco Saluiati whome hee knewe to bee enemie to the house of Medici But the Senate denying to deliuer possession thereof there followed great displeasure betwixt the Pope and the Medici Besides that the Pope did great fauours in Rome to the familie of Pazzi and in euerie acte disfauoured the house of Medici In those daies the house of Pazzi liued aboue other the Florentine families in most riches and glorie The chiefe of them was called Giacopo who for his riches and Nobilitie was made Knight He hauing no children but one onely daughter had for heires diuerse nephews sonnes of Piero and Antonio his brethren The chiefe of whom were Guglielmo Francesco Rinato and Giouanni After them Andrea Nicholo and Galeotto Cosimo de Medici seeing their riches and nobilitie gaue his neece Biancha in marriage to Guglielmo hoping that alliance would make those houses more vnited and remoue all occasion of displeasures and suspitions which many times hapned betwixt them Notwithstāding so incertaine and fallible are the expectatiōs of men the matter came otherwise to passe for those that counselled Lorenzo told him it was perilous and contrary to his authoritie to suffer the Citizens to increase their riches and state which was the cause that those degrees of honor were not graunted to Giacopo and his nephews which as other Citizens thought they deserued Hereof grew the first displeasure of the Pazzi and the first feare of the Medici The increasing of the one was cause that the other also increased in so much as the Pazzi in all actions whereat other Citizens did meete were not to the Magistrates welcome Also the officers of eight men vpon a like occasion without such respect as was wont to be borne towards the great Citizens constrained Francesco de Pazzi being at Rome to returne to Florence Whereupon the Pazzi in all places with iniurious words and full of offence complained which doings caused others to suspect think thēselues to be iniured Giouanni de Pazzi had married the daughter of Giouanni Barromei a man of great riches which riches after his death for want of sonnes should come vnto her Neuertheles Carlo his nephew toke possession of part of those goods and therby the matter being brought to triall and sute an order was made by vertue wherof the wife of Giouanni de Pazzi was disinherited and the possessions giuen to Carlo which iniurie the Pazzi did altogither impute to the Medici Of this matter Giuliano de Medici did many times lament and complaine to his brother Lorenzo saying he feared least they desiring too much should lose all But Lorenzo being full of youth and authoritie would needs take all vpon him and make euery man know that all things were done by him The Pazzi being noble and rich could not indure so great iniuries but deuised by what means they might procure reuenge The first that moued speech against the Medici was Francesco He being of more courage and life then the others determined to get that which he wanted or lose that which he had And bicause the gouernment of Florence was hatefull vnto him he liued for the most part in Rome and there according to the custome of Florentine Merchants occupied great summes of money Being also of familier acquaintance with the Earle Girolamo one of them often complained to the other of the Medici In so much as after many consultations they concluded that to make the one of them assured of his lands and the other of his Cittie it was necessarie to alter the gouernment of Florence which they thought could not be done without the death of Giuliano and Lorenzo They also supposed that the Pope and the King would easily thereto consent if the facilitie of the enterprise
actions of this Pope were to him displeasing and would be content that men iniured not hauing any other refuge might resort vnto him Wherefore the Florentines did not onely refuse to obey this excommunication but also the same notwithstanding inforce their Priests to celebrate diuine seruice They also assembled a Councell in Florence wherunto all the Prelates of Toscana repaired and appealed from the Pope to the next Councell On the other side the Pope wanted not reasons to iustifie his cause and therefore alleaged it was the office of a chief Bishop to remoue tyrants oppresse the wicked and aduaunce the good All which things it behoued him by all waies to procure For it was not the office of seculer Princes to imprison Cardinals hang vp Bishops to kill cut in peeces and drawe the Priests through the streets murthering both guiltie and vnguiltie people without respect Notwithstanding all these quarrels and accusations the Cardinall whom the Florentines kept prisoner was released and sent home to the Pope which was the cause that the Pope without respect with all his and the Kings forces assailed them And those two armies conducted by Alfonso eldest sonne of Ferrando Duke of Calauria and by Federigo Earle of Vrbino entred Chianti by leaue of the Sanesi who fauoured the enemie and surprized Radda with diuerse other Castles and spoyled the countrey which done they encamped at Castellina The Florentines seeing these assaults were much afraid being without men and slowly aided by friends For albeit the Duke had sent a supplie yet the Venetians denied they were bound to helpe them in priuate causes And the warre being against priuate men they were not to aide them because priuate quarrels are not publiquely to be defended Wherefore the Florentines thought good by Embassadors to perswade the Venetians to a better opinion and sent Tomaso Soderini vnto the Senate In the meane space souldiers were enterteined and Hercole Marquesse of Farrara appointed Generall While this preparation was in making the enemy distressed Castellina and the people there dispairing of rescue after fortie daies defence yeelded From thence the enemie marched towards Arezzo and laid siege to Monte S. Souino By this time the Florentine armie was readie and being come within three miles the enemie seemed therewith perplexed For Federigo de Vrbino desired truce for a fewe daies which was graunted with so great disaduauntage to the Florentines that they who desired it did much meruaile For if that request had not bene obteined they had bene forced to depart with shame But hauing those daies to repaire them in the ende of the truce they tooke that Castle before the faces of our men Yet the winter at hand the enemy to lodge himselfe with more commoditie retired into the countrey of Siena The Florentines likewise bestowed themselues where with most commoditie they could And the Marquesse of Farrara hauing litle profitted himselfe and done lesse good to others returned to his owne In those daies Genoua rebelled from the Duke vppon these considerations After the death Galeazzo hauing left his sonne yoong and vnfit to gouerne their grew discention betwixt Lodouico Octauiano and Ascanio his vncles and the Ladie Bona his mother for euerie of them desired the tuition of the litle Duke In which contentions the Ladie Bona Duchesse by counsell of Tomaso Soderini Embassador there for the Florentines and Cecco Simonetti who had bene Secretarie to Galeazzo gat the vpper hand Whereupon the Sforzi fled from Milan Octauiano flying was drowned in the Riuer Adda and the others togither with Roberto of Sanseuerino were to sundrie places confined for Roberto in those troubles had abandoned the Duches and ioyned with them After happened some tumults in Toscana by which new accidents those Princes hoping of new fortune euerie of them attempted somewhat whereby to returne to his country The King Ferrando who saw that the Florentines were in their necessitie succoured onely by the state of Milan to take also from them that aide found meanes that the Duchesse should so be set a worke in her country as of her they could not be aided And by Prospero Adorno and the Lord Roberto who were rebelled found meanes to make Genoua reuolt from the Duke Neuerthelesse the small Castle stood firme wherunto the Duchesse sent great forces to recouer the Citie but they were ouerthrowne Then she seeing the daunger of her sonne and her selfe by the continuance of that warre Toscana disordered and the Florentines in whom she onely hoped afflicted determined that sith she could not hold Genoua as subiect she would recouer it as a friend And agreed with Battistino Fregoso enemie to Prospero Adorno to giue him the little Castle and make him Prince of Genoua vpon condition that he would driue out Prospero and disfauour the Sforzi According to this agreement Battistino with the helpe of the Castle and his faction surprized Genoua and according to the custome made himselfe Doge The Sforzi then and the Lord Roberto being driuen out of Genoua went with their followers to Lunigiana Thereupon the Pope and King seeing the troubles of Lombardy pacified tooke occasion by those that were driuen from Genoua to disturbe that part of Toscana which is towards Pisa To the ende that the Florentines diuiding their forces should become weake and tooke order that the winter now past Roberto should goe with his forces from Lunigiana to assault the countrey of Pisa This Roberto then moued exceeding great tumult surprizing and sacking many castles in that country spoiling hard to the wals of Pisa At that time arriued in Florence Embassadors from the Emperor the French King and the King of Hungary sent by those Princes to the Pope They perswaded the Florentines also to send vnto him promising to make some end of the war and procure a good peace The Florentines refused not to make this trial and the rather that therby they should let the world know they were desirous of peace These Embassadors dispatched returned again without any thing done Wherupō the Florētines to honor themselues by the reputation of the French King being by the Italians partly offended partly abandoned sent vnto him Donato Acciaiuoli a man well learned in the Greek Latin toongs one whose ancestors had alwaies born office in the citie but being on his way at Milan he died Then the state to reward his heires and honor the memory of him being dead with publike expence honorably buried his bodie aduancing his sons and giuing portions of mony to his daughters marriages In his place they sent Embassador to the King Guidantonio Vespucci a man also learned in the Emperial and Papall lawes The assault of Roberto vpon the country of Pisa troubled much the Florentines for being alreadie occupied in a great war towards Siena they saw not how to make prouisiō for Pisa But to hold the Lucchesi faithfull and that they should not releeue the enemie with mony or victual sent Embassador vnto
them Piero Capponi who was by reason of the auncient hate which that citie beareth to the Florentines receiued with so great suspition as hee feared many times to haue bene populerly slaine Insomuch as this iourney did rather breede occasion of new displeasure then new friendship The Florentines then reuoked the Marquesse of Farrara enterteined the Marquesse of Mantoua and with great sute required of the Venetians to haue the Earle Carlo sonne of Braccio and Deifebo sonne of the Earle Giacopo Which request after many cauillations was by the Venetians graunted For they hauing made truce with the Turke had no colour to deny them and were ashamed to break their promise made to the League The Earles Carlo Deifebo came with a good number of men at armes ioyning to them all other the men of armes they could spare frō the army which serued vnder the Marques of Farrara against the Duke of Calauria went towards Pisa to encounter Roberto who with his men was neare to the riuer of Serchio And albeit he made shew to tarry for our mē yet did he not but retired into Lunigiana to those lodgings from whence he came when he entred into the country of Pisa After his departure all those towns were recouered by the Earle Carlo which the enimies had before taken in the country of Pisa The Florentines deliuered of the enemy towards Pisa caused all their forces to be brought betwixt Colle S. Gimiano But by reason of the Earle Carlo his cōming there were in that camp both the folowers Sforza Braccio which was the occasiō that moued with old enuy they begā to mutiny was feared that if they had bin long togither they would haue come to blows It was therfore thought fit for eschuing a worse mischief to diuide the soldiers send one part of thē into the country of Perugia vnder the Earle Carlo the other to stay at Piggibonzi there to entrench themselues strong procure that the enimy shuld not enter the Florentines land By this actiō they also hoped to cōstrain the enimies to diuide their forces for they thought either that the Earle Carlo shuld surprize Perugia where they supposed he had many partakers or that the Pope shuld be inforced to send great forces to defēd it They practised moreouer to bring the pope in more necessity that Nicolo Vitelli being come frō the city of Castello where Lorēzo his enimy was chief shuld with his mē approch the town remoue his aduersary take it frō the pope At the beginning it seemed as thogh fortune wold haue fauored the Florētine attempts bicause Earle Carlo proceded wel in the coūtry of Perugia Nicholo Vitelli also although he entred into Castello yet he and his were strongest in the field and without any resistance spoiled about the Citie at his pleasure Likewise the forces left at Poggibonzi went euery day to the walles of Siena Notwithstanding all these hopes became vaine First died the Earle Carlo in the chiefe hope of his victorie whose death had bettered the estate of the Florentines if the victorie which grew thereof had bene well vsed For so soone as the Earles death was knowne sodeinly the Popes souldiers who were altogither at Perugia hoped to ouerthrow the Florentines and comming forth into the field lodged themselues vpon the lage distant three miles from the enemie On the other side Giacopo Guicciardini who was Commissary of that camp with the counsel of Roberto da Rimino Chieftain after the death of the Earle Carlo knowing the occasion of the enemies pride determined to staie for them So as ioyning battle vppon that lage where in old time Anniball gaue that memorable ouerthrow to the Romanes the Popes forces were broken Which victory was in Florence receiued with commendation of the captaines comfort of all others And the same had proued the honor profit of the enterprise if the disorders which grew in the army at Poggibonzi had not vndone all And thus the good successe of the one camp was vtterly marred by the other For the souldiers of that army hauing gottē a bootie in the country of Siena in the diuisiō therof the Marques of Farrara Mantoua fell in debate Insomuch as they came to armes either iniuring the other by all meanes they could Whereby the Florentines finding they could no more imploy them togither were pleased that the Marques of Farrara with his men should be discharged That army thus weakned left without a gouernor proceeding in euery thing disorderly the Duke of Calauria who was with his camp near to Siena tooke courage to approach so did The Florentins seeing thēselues likely to be assailed neither trusted to their force nor their number which was greater then the enemies nor in their place where they were being of great force but without respect euē at sight of the enemy the dust fled leauing the munitiō the cariages artillary So beastly cowardly were those camps whē the charge or retire of one horse might make the losse or winning of an enterprise This discōfit filled the kings souldiers with spoile the Florentines with feare For their citie was not onely afflicted with war but also with pestilence which was so great that all the Cittizens to shun death were retired to their country houses This ouerthrow was the more terrible because those Cittizens who had land in the vales of Pisa Delsa being come thither the ouerthrow performed with all possible speed returned to Florence leading with them not only their children goods but also their labourers For euerie houre it was feared the enemy would present himself before the citie The officers for the war seeing this disorder commanded those forces which were victorious in the country of Perugia to surcease their enterprise against the Perugini come to the vale of Delsa to encounter the enemy there who after the victory did without resistance spoile the country And albeit they had so greatly distressed the citie of Perugia as they might euerie houre looke for victorie yet the Florentines resolued rather to defend their own thē take from others Thus that army remoued from the place of happy successe was brought to S. Cassiano a Castle distant frō Florence 8. miles thinking they could not staie in any other place till such time as the broken Camp were supplied The enemies on the other side at Perugia being free by the departure of the Florentine souldiers become audacious did daily take great booties in the countries of Arezzo Cortona and the others who had victory vnder Alfonso Duke of Calauria at Poggibonzi got the possessiō first of Poggibonzi then of Vico sacked Certaldo Hauing won these towns cōmitted these spoils they incamped before the castle of Colle which in those daies was accounted a place of great strength and the people of that country being faithfull to the Florentines were of force sufficient to hold the enemie off till 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
rather for his mercie then their merits To which excuses the Pope answered with great pride and anger reprouing them of all things done against the church notwithstāding for Gods sake he was pleased to grant them the pardō they desired yet therwith affirming they were to obey him if they shal faile of obedience their libertie which now should haue bin lost shall then be iustly taken from thē For they deserue libertie who take in hand good actions not they that in euil enterprises employ themselues Because libertie abused offendeth it self and others Also to esteem God litle the church lesse is not the office of good mē but of vain persons enclined to euil The correction of whō apperteineth not onely to Princes but to euery christian so as they were for matters passed to blame their own euil doings which was the first occasion of war by their worse doings it was norished But all anger was now extinguished rather by the goodnes of others thē their own deserts After publication of the peace the Popes blessing was read Whereunto his holinesse by word of mouth added that if they would enioy the benifit of his benediction they should during the Turks war in the kingdom maintein at their charge 15. gallies wel paid The Embassadors complained much of this burdē imposed ouer and aboue the contract Yet by no meanes they could make or by any lamentation they vsed the Pope would diminish any part of that penance But the Embassadors being returned to Florence the Senate for confirmation of this peace sent Embassador to the Pope Guidantonio Vespucci who was lately ariued frō France He by his wisdom brought all matters vnto reasonable termes obteined many fauours of the Pope which was a token of greater reconciliatiō The Florentines hauing ended their busines with the Pope and Siena with themselues being deliuered from feare of the King by the departure of the Duke of Calauria and the Turkes warre continuing constrained the King to restore all the Castles which the Duke of Calauria at his departure left in the handes of the Sanesi Wherby that King hoped that the Florentines in so great necessitie would not shrincke from him or by moouing of warre against the Sanesi impeach the aide which hee hoped of from the Pope and other Italian Princes And therefore was content that the Castles should bee restored and bound the Florentines by a new obligation So as thereby we see that force and necessitie but not writings or obligations do make Princes to obserue their faith The Castles thus receiued and the new confederacie made Lorenzo di Medici recouered that reputation which the warre first and after the peace when the King was feared had taken from him For there wanted not those that openly slaundered him and said that for sauing himselfe he had sould his countrey and that by the warre they lost their townes and by the peace they should lose their libertie But the townes recouered an honorable peace made with the King and the Cittie returned to the auncient reputation For in Florence a Cittie free of speech and therein matters iudged by their successe and not by counsell the case was altered and Lorenzo commended to the skies euerie man saying that he with his wisedome had found meanes to recouer that by peace which euill fortune had taken from them in warre and that his counsell and iudgement had preuailed more then the enemies armes or their money The assault of the Turks had deferred that warre which by offence of the Pope and Venetians would haue bene moued But as the beginning of that assault was vnlooked for and occasion of much good so was the end thereof vnlooked for and the cause of much euill for Mahumetto great Turke beyond all expectation died and discord growing betwixt his sonnes those Turks that were in Puglia being abandoned of their Lord by composition yeelded Ottranto to the King This feare remoued which held the Pope and Venetians firme euery man doubted new tumults On the one side the Pope and the Venetians were in league and with them the Genouesi Sanesi and other lesse Potentates On the other were the Florentines the King and the Duke with whome the Bolognesi and many other Lords ioyned The Venetians desired to become Lords of Farrara supposing they had reasonable occasion to begin that enterprise and certaine hope to performe it The occasion was bicause the Marquesse affirmed he was no longer bound to receiue the Visdomine and their salte bicause the contract was that after seauentie yeares the Cittie should be disburthened of those charges The Venetians to the contrarie answered that so long as he did hold the Polesine so long he ought to receiue the Visdomine and the salte But the Marquesse not consenting thereto the Venetians thought they had iust occasion to take armes and time fit for the same seeing the Pope much offended with the Florentines and the King whose fauour they hoped the rather to haue bicause the Earle Girolamo being at Venice was there receiued most honorablie and the Venetians bestowed on him the title of a Gentleman of that state which is the greatest token of honor which they will or can giue They had also for preparation of the warres imposed a new Subsidie and chosen Roberto de Sanseuerino for their Generall who being offended with Lodouico Gouernour of Milan was fled to Tortona and there hauing made some tumults went to Genoua from thence he was called by the Venetians and made Chiefetaine of their armie These preparations and new motions being knowne to those of the contrarie league was the cause that they also prepared for the warre The Duke of Milan made Federigo Lord of Vrbino his Generall and the Florentines Costanzo de Pesaro Also to sound the disposition of the Pope and to discouer whether the Venetians with his consent did make the warre against Farrara the King Ferrando sent Alfonso Duke of Calauria with his armie to the riuer of Tronto and there desired leaue of the Pope to passe into Lombardy to aide the Marquesse which was by the Pope vtterly denied Whereupon the King and the Florentines being resolued thought to constraine him by force so as thereby he should either become their friend or at the least they would so trouble him as he could not be able to aide the Venetians for they were in the field and had alreadie begun the warre with the Marquesse spoyled his countreys and besieged Figarolo a Castle of much importance for the countrey of that Prince Thus the King and the Florentines determined to assaile the Pope Alfonso Duke of Calauria spoiled the countrey towards Rome and with aide of the Colonni who were on his side bicause the Orsini were ioyned with the Pope did great dammage to that countrey on the other side of Rome The Florentines on the other side vnder Nicholo Vitelli assaulted the Cittie of Castello surprized it and draue out Lorenzo who kept that
being perswaded it was shame and dishonor that a priuate Gentleman had taken from them the Castle of Serezana And bicause the capitulations were that it was lawfull to demaund all things taken and if they were not restored to make warre against the withholder they resolued speedily to prepare money and men to performe that enterprise Then Agostino Fregoso who had surprized Serezana being perswaded that at his priuate charge he could not mainteine so great a warre gaue that towne to S. George And sithens we are to make mention diuerse times of S. George and the Genouesi it seemeth not amisse to declare the orders and customes of that Cittie being one of the principall states of Italy The peace made betwixt the Genouesi and Venetians after the greatest warre that was seene in many yeares past the State not being able to pay those Cittizens who had lent great summes of money appointed their reuenues of the Dogana to be paid vnto them till such time as the principall debts were discharged And for their meeting togithers they appointed the Pallace ouer the Dogana These creditors among themselues ordeined a forme of gouernment appointing a Councell of a hundred and a Senate of eight Citizens which officers as heads of the Cittie might dispatch all affaires The debts were diuided into parts which they called Luoghi and intituled the whole corporation of S. Georgeo This gouernment thus established euer hapned new necessities whereupon they resorted to S. George for new aide who being riche and well ordered could easily serue their turnes And the communaltie on the other side hauing graūted the Dogana began for pawne of the moneys to giue their lands yea the matter went so farre by reason of the common necessities and seruices of S. George that vnder gouernment thereof the greater part of the Townes Citties and Lands of Genoua doe now belong to S. George who doth gouerne and defend them Also euery yeare by publique suffrage officers be appointed without any intermedling of the Communaltie Hereof it proceedeth that those Citizens haue no regard of the common profit as a thing tirannized and set their whole care vpon S. George as well and equally gouerned whereof do arise the easie and often alterations of the State and that the people do otherwhiles yeeld their obedience to some of their owne Citizens and sometimes to a Stranger for not S. George but the Communaltie doth alter in gouernment which was the cause that whē the Adorni Fregosi contending for the principallitie did fight the communaltie only and the greater part of the citizēs stood neutrall and yeelded to the victorious Neither doth the office of S. George other then whensoeuer any man hath taken the gouernment it sweareth him to obserue the lawes thereof which to this day are not changed For S. George hauing in possession the armes the money and the gouernment cannot without the danger of a certaine rebellion be altered A rare order surely and not found by the Philosophers amōg their imagined or visible Cōmon-weales to see within one circle and among one number of Citizens libertie and tirannie ciuill life and corruption iustice and licentiousnes which order onely mainteineth that towne full of auncient and venerable customes And if it should happen which in time will assuredly come to passe that S. George shall be owner of all the Citie that State will be more notable then the Venetian Common-weale To this S. George Agostino Fregoso gaue Serezana who receiued it willingly and taking in hand the defence thereof presently prepared a nauie by sea and sent certaine forces to Pietrasanta to impeach all those that resorted to the Florentine Camp then neare vnto Serezana On the other side the Florentines desired to take Pietrasanta as a towne needfull to be had for the winning of Serezana for being betwixt it and Pisa they could not besiege it so long as by the Pietrasantesi or others therein they were impeached in the siege of Serezana To bring this enterprise to passe they sent from Pisa to the Camp a great quantitie of munition and victuall slenderly garded to the end that they of Pietrasanta should feare the lesse and in hope of a good bootie to assault them The matter was then followed according to expectation For the souldiers in Pietrasanta seeing before their eyes so great a bootie tooke it which gaue the Florentines iust occasion to execute the enterprise wherefore leauing Serezana they besieged Pietrasanta which was well manned and brauely defended The Florentines hauing their artillerie in the plaine made a bulwarke vpon the mountaine hoping from thence to batter it Giacopo Guicciardino was Commissarie of the Florentine forces And while they besieged Pietrasanta the nauie of Genoua tooke and burnt the fortresse of Vada and setting some of their souldiers a land spoiled the countrey thereabout Against whome Buongianni Gianfiliazzi was sent with certaine footmen who partly stayed their pride so as they durst no longer spoile at their pleasures Yet the nauie continuing to molest the Florentines went vnto Liuorno and with certaine instruments approched Torre Nuoua battering it diuerse dayes with artillerie but seeing nothing done to their aduantage returned back with shame In the meane space Pietrasanta was coldly assaulted whereupon the enemies tooke hart assaulted the Bulwarke and tooke it which was so greatly to their reputation and the Florentines feare as they were readie to breake vp the Campe. In so much as they retired foure miles from the towne and the officers of the Camp thought good that the moneth of October being come it was time to lodge the army and deferre that siege till the next Spring This disorder being knowne in Florence made the Magistrates much offended and therefore to repaire the Camp in force and reputation made choise of new Commissaries Antonio Pucci and Bernardo del Nero who with great summes of money went vnto the Camp and declared to the Captaines the indignation of the Senate and the people and how great a shame it should be vnlesse the army did againe returne to the siege for it were an infamie so great a Camp to be repulsed by so small a guard and so weake a towne They also shewed the present and future commoditie that would insue of that victorie Which perswasion moued the souldiers to returne to the walls and first of all to recouer the Bulwarke For the performance whereof they knowing how much curtesie affabilitie and good vsage might do to incourage the minds of men Antonio Pucci by comforting promising and imbracing the souldiers procured the Bulwarke to be assaulted so furiously as euen in a sodeine it was taken yet not without losse for in that assault the Earle Antonio de Marciano with a peece of artillerie was slaine This victorie terrified those of the towne so much as they began to offer composition whereupon to the end the conclusion might be made with the more reputation Lorenzo di Medici thought good to come to the Camp
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
her the murtherers came foorth and without anie mercie there presentlie slew him So soone as the murther was knowne great tumults arose His wife with one little sonne called Astore fled to the Castle The people tooke armes and Giouan Bentiuogli togither with a Captaine of Milan called Bergamino prepared for the purpose with many armed men entred into Faenza where was also Antonio Bascoli a Florentine Commissarie All these leaders assembled and reasoning of the gouernment of that towne The men of the Vale of Lamona who were come populerly to the rumor assaulted Giouanni and Bergamino sleying the one and taking the other prisoner Then they proclaymed the name of Astore and the Florentines reacommending the Cittie to the Florentine Commisaries This chance knowne at Florence grieued euery man much notwithstanding they caused Giouanni and his daughter to be set at libertie and the tuition of Astore by consent of the people was giuen vnto them Besides these diuerse other tumults happened in Romagna la Marca and Siena after the warres were compounded betwixt the greater Princes which being of lesse importance I iudge superfluous to report True it is that the troubles of Siena after the departure of the Duke of Calauria in the yeare 88. were more in number and after many alterations sometimes the people gouerned and sometimes the nobilitie but in the end the nobilitie was victorious Among whom Pandolfo and Giacopo Petruccio were of most authoritie The one for his wisedom the other for courage became as Lords of that Citie But the Florentines after the warre of Serezana till the yeare 1492. at which time Lorenzo de Medici died did liue in great felicitie For Lorenzo hauing by his wisdome appeased the armes of Italy endeuoured to make himselfe and his Citie great and married his eldest sonne Piero to Alfonsina the daughter of Cauallier Orsino and Giouanni his second sonne was aduanced to the dignitie of Cardinall Which honor was the more notable because at the time of his calling to that honour he passed not the age of foureteene yeares which was the way to make his house as after it came to passe to be exalted to the skies For Giuliano his third sonne by reason of his yong age and the small time Lorenzo liued he could not prouide anie extraordinarie fortune Of his daughters he married one to Giacopo Saluiati an other to Francesco Cibo the third to Piero Ridolfi the fourth whom he bestowed to hold his house vnited was wedded to Giouan di Medici but she died In his other priuate affaires and chiefly in marchandize he was verie infortunate For by the disorder of his ministers who liued liker Princes then priuate men a great part of his substance in sundrie places was consumed enforced thereby to borrow great summes of his countrey Afterwards not to runne in daunger of like fortune leauing marchandize he employed himselfe in the purchase of lands as riches of more assurance In the countries of Pisa Prato and in the vale of Pesa he compassed possessions both for profit and magnificence of houses more fit for a King then a priuate person After that time he enlarged and bewtified his owne Cittie to the end he might liue therein with the more quiet and securitie And therefore in many voide places hee built newe houses and streetes whereby the Citie became more bewtifull and large Also to the end hee might rest the more assured at home and encounter his enemies farre of towards Bologna in the midsts of the Alpes he fortified the Castle of Firenzuola Towards Siena he began to reedifie Poggio Imperiale and make it exceeding strong Towardes Genoua by winning of Pietrasanta and Serezana hee shut that passage vp against the enemies Moreouer by giuing pentions and prouisions he made friends the Baglioni in Perugia the Vitelli in the Citie of Castello and in Faenza he had particuler gouernment All which things were as Bulwarkes to defend Florence In times of peace he feasted the Citie making many times triumphs Iusts and publike shewes For his intent was to keepe the Citie plentifull the people vnited and the nobilitie in honour He greatly esteemed men that excelled in any Art He also fauoured learned men as Agnolo da Montepulciano Christofero Landini and Demetrio Greco can beare witnesse Insomuch as the Earle Giouanni de Mirandola a man accounted almost diuine forsaking all other parts of Europe which hee had traueiled moued by the magnificence of Lorenzo setled his habitation in Florence He maruellously delighted in Musick Architecture and Poetry as many of his owne verses and Commentaries yet extant do testifie Also to the end that the Florentine youth might be exercised in learning he erected an Vniuersitie in Pisa whither he brought the most excellent men of all Italy He likewise builded a Monastery neare vnto Florence chiefly for Friar Mariano da Chinazano of the order of S. Austen being accounted an excellent Preacher He was greatly loued both of God and fortune All his enterprises had good successe and his enemies misaduenture for besides the Pazzi Battista Frescobaldi and Baldinotto practized to sley him but either of them with others guiltie of the treason were rewarded with the paines of their merit This his manner of life this his wisedome and fortune caused the Princes not onely of Italy but others further of to know him and with admiration to esteeme him Mathia King of Hungary made many testimonies of the loue he bare him The Soldan by his Embassadors and presents did visit him The great Turke deliuered to his hand Barnardo Bandini that murthered his brother Which things made him highly honoured in Italy And that reputation was daily by his owne wisedome encreased For in discourse he was eloquent in councell wise in execution quicke and couragious neither was there in him any vices to blemish those vertues although he were greatly delighted with loue of women and tooke pleasure in iesting and taunting and would also plaie at childrens games vnseemly in so great a personage For so much he pleasured in children that he was often seene to plaie with his sonnes and litle daughters But whosoeuer would consider his lightnesse with his grauitie should thinke there were in him two persons of diuerse composition as it were by impossible coniunction coupled In the last end of his life he liued ful of sorrow caused by extreme sicknes for he was troubled with intollerable paines of the stomacke and died in Aprill the yeare 1492. and the three and fortie yeare of his age neither was there anie man that died either in Florence or elsewhere in Italy so famous for his wisedome or so much lamented of his countrey In so much as the heauens made euident signes of great misaduentures that should follow Amongst others the Temple of Santa Reparata was with so much furie striken by thunder that the greater part of the steeple was throwne downe to the admiration and terrour of all men All