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
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
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
footmen After that time in the warre against Filippo Visconti Duke of Milan hauing rather to proue industrie then their owne proper Armes for at that time they were decayed we see in fiue yeares which that warre continued the Florentines spent three Milions and fiue hundreth thousand Florins And that warre being ended as not pleased with peace to shew more of their greatnesse they besieged the Cittie of Lucca I cannot therefore conceiue any cause why these diuisions should not be particulerly written And if those notable writers before named were withholden by feare to offend the posteritie of such as they should haue made mention of they greatly deceiued themselues and seeme to know little the ambition of men with the desire they haue to make the names of their Ancestors and themselues to continue perpetuall Neyther do they remember that many men wanting occasion to win themselues fame by some laudable deede by some impious acte haue laboured to aspire thereunto And they considered not that the actions of men which haue in them greatnesse as gouernments and authorities howsoeuer they be handled or what end soeuer they haue do seeme alwayes to giue men more honor then blame VVhich I hauing thought vpon did determine to change my meaning and resolued to begin my Historie at the beginning of our Cittie And sith my intent is not to vsurp the place of others I will particulerly set downe what chanced onely within the Cittie till the yeare 1334. and of such things as hapned without I will not say more then that which for the vnderstanding of the other shall be necessarie The yeare 1434. being passed I will particulerly write the one and the other Moreouer to the end this Historie may be the better vnderstood before I intreate of Florence I shall discourse by what meanes Italy became subiect to such Potentates as in those dayes there gouerned The first Booke shall briefly recite all accidents hapned in Italy from the declination of the Romayne Empire till the yeare 1434. The second will shew what things hapned from the beginning of Florence till the warre which the Florentines made against the Pope after expulcion of the Duke of Athene The third doth end with the death of King Ladislao of Naples Anno 1434. In the fourth Booke we wil intreate what other things chanced till the yeare abouesaid And from thencefoorth discourse particulerly of such accidents as befell within Florence till this our time To the Reader NOT by my suite though by my consent this Historie is now become publike The translation thereof was diuerse yeares past desired by an honorable personage not now liuing yet for loyaltie to his Prince loue to his Countrey and vertuous deseruing of all men worthie a longer life had not God in his diuine prouidence otherwise ordeyned Loth I was to medle with matter of so much waight in regard of mine owne insufficiencie being neither learned nor making profession of learning and lother it should be published for that the Author in some other his works hath not as is thought written with due respect to pietie Howsoeuer that be in this Booke being a meere relation of the Florentines fortune when they were gouerned Aristocraticallie appeareth not any thing vnfit to be knowne or that may receiue euill construction The first part sheweth the occasions of ruyne in the Romaine Empire and how the Prouinces of Italy became diuided into diuerse gouernments with their often variations Secondly by what meanes the Pope the Venetians the King of Naples and the Duke of Milan possessed the greatest parts of Italy Lastly how that the Florentines abandoning obedience to the Emperour liued almost continually in faction and ciuill partialitie vntill the house of Medici by the great vertue of Giouanni Cosimo Piero and Lorenzo atteyned to a singuler reputation in that State where now and some yeares past they gouerne as Princes with great honor iustice and integritie which happinesse they could not finde in their Aristocraticall pollicie Yet diuerse notable Polititians and wise law-makers haue not onely allowed but also highlie commended it aboue others Affirming that as mediocritie is in all things most praiseable and extremities reproueable so the Aristocracie being the meane betweene the multitude and one Prince is speciallie to be preferred Also for that the authoritie to commaund is due to the most worthie and worthinesse consisteth either in honor in vertue in riches or in them altogither the state Aristocraticall must needs be most allowed bicause the noble the riche and vertuous men are in all places the fewest number and they onely in that kinde of gouernment haue authoritie They alleage also how the rich men onely as they that haue most interest in the State do bestowe most in publike seruices and therefore to them the Gouernment ought be allotted so was it in Rome after the Kings were deposed likewise in Athens in Carthage and at this day in Venice Genoua and Lucca For answere of these reasons in fauour of Aristocracie wherein mediocritie seemeth to be speciallie sought for who so shall duely examine thereof may finde that to diuide things in the midst and thereby to marke out the vertue which consisteth in reason were impossible as all Philosophers haue determined True it is that the meane betweene all and one is perfit yet no where to be found sith in some Cities there are not one thousand Citizens and in some other more then an hundreth thousand which maketh the Aristocracie alwayes incertaine by the incertaintie of the numbers And where the Gouernors be many there are also factions many the resolutions slowe and the secrets of State often discouered For by experience is seene how those Aristocracies which haue in them fewest Gouernors are most durable As that of the Lacedemonians gouerned by thirtie persons and that of the Pharsalians by twentie It is not therefore the meane betweene one and all which causeth mediocritie Now for bestowing Soueraigntie vpon the most worthie true it is so it ought be yet that argument maketh more for the Monarchie For among the noble rich and wise some one doth euer excell the rest and to him by that reason the authoritie ought be giuen seeing it is not possible to find all those things equally in all men If it be alleaged that among the greatest number are found most vertuous and good men that reason serueth not either in that state or the Democracie seeing in them both as in all Corporations the most voices are preferred before the wise and better To conclude I say that in all States wherein are most Gouernors there are fewest resolutions and most disputations The Venetians therefore to meete with those inconuenients do commit the mannaging of their ordinarie affaires to the Senate which consisteth of seuen persons onely as knowing that the fewer be made priuie the more secretly they shall be handled and no Aristocracie haue had so long continuance Thus much touching Aristocraticall gouernment of which
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
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
Romanes went vnto Scesi where he remained till the Iubileo in the yeare 1400. At which time the Romanes for their profit were content he should returne to Rome and also place there one Senator at his election and therewith also to fortifie the Castle of S. Angelo With these conditions the Pope returned and the rather to enrich the Church he ordained that euerie Benefice falling void should pay the first frutes into the treasure house After the death of Gicuan Galiazzo Duke of Milan albeit he left two sonnes called Giouanniariangelo and Philippo yet his Countrey became diuided into manie parts And in the troubles which thereby happened Giouanniariangelo was slaine and Philippo for a time remained prisoner in the Castle of Pauia yet by good fortune and fauour of the Captaine was set at libertie Among others that vsurped the possessions of this Duke was Gulielmo Della Scalla who being a banished man remained in the hands of Francesco de Carrara Lord of Padoua through whom he recouered the State of Verona which hee enioyed not long because Francesco procured him to be poisoned and surprized the Cittie Thereuppon the Vicentini hauing liued quietly vnder the ensigne of the Visconti and fearing the greatnes of Francesco yeelded their obedience to the Venetians who presently tooke armes against the Lord of Padoua and first depriued him of Verona and afterwards wan the Cittie of Padoua In the meane space died Bonifacio and Innocentio septimo was elected Pope to whom the people of Rome presented an humble request desiring it might please his Holines to deliuer into theyr hands the Fortresses and restore them to their libertie which sute the Pope denied The people then praied aid of Ladislao King of Napoli yet afterwards falling to agreement the Pope returned to Rome being fled from thence for feare of the people and remained at Viterbo where he had created a nephew of his to bee Earle of La Marca which done hee shortly after died and Gregorio duodecimo was created Pope with condition that hee should resigne the Papacie whensoeuer the Antipope did the like By perswasion of the Cardinals intending to make proofe whether the Church could bee reunited or not Benedetto Antipope came to Porto Venere and Gregorio to Luca where they practised manie matters but nothing tooke effect so that the Cardinals both of the one and the other Pope did forsake them Pope Benedetto went into Spaine and Gregorio to Rimini The Cardinals on the other part with the fauour of Baldasarre Cossa Cardinall and Legate of Bologna ordained a Councell at Pisa where they created Alissandro quinto who did excommunicate Ladislao giuing that Kingdome to Luigi de Angio and then with the aide of the Florentines Genouesi and Venetians togither with Baldaser Cossa Legate assaulted Ladislao and tooke from him Rome But in the heate of this warre died Alissandro and Baldaser Cossa was elected calling himselfe Giouanni vicessimo tertio He departing from Bologna beeing there made Pope went from thence to Rome and there met Luigi deâ— Angio come thither with a Nauie from Prouenza Then presently they assaulted Ladislao and ouerthrew him yet through the default of their Leaders the victorie was not followed by meanes whereof within short space after the King recouered an Armie and againe surprized Rome The Pope then fled to Bologna and Luigi to the prouince The Pope imagining how he might diminish the greatnes of Ladislao found meanes that Sigismondo King of Vngaria should be chosen Emperour perswading him to come into Italy which he did and met with the Pope at Mantoua There they agreed to call a Councell generall and therein to reunite the Church the rather to become able to withstand the force of their enemies At that time were three Popes Gregorio Benedetto and Giouanni who made the Church exceeding weake and without reputation The place elected for this Councell was Costanza a Citie of Germanie But contrarie to the expectation of Giouanni the death of Ladislao remoued the occasion of Councell notwithstanding being alreadie bound by promise hee could not refuse to goe thither Being arriued at Costanza ouerlate knowing this errour he practised to flie thence but was there staied put in prison and constrained to resigne the Papacie Gregorio also the other Antipope by his messenger resigned Benedetto the third Antipope refusing to resigne was condemned for an heriticke and being abandoned by his Cardinals was in the end enforced to resigne The Councell then created Oddo Colonna who was called Pope Martino quarto And so the Church after fortie yeares of diuision was vnited hauing bene all that time in the hands of diuerse Popes In those dayes as hath bene beforesaid Philippo Visconti remained in the Castle of Pauia But Fantino Cane who during the troubles of Lombardy possessed himselfe of Vercelli Allisandria Nouara Tortona and had also gathered great riches then died And not hauing anie heire bequeathed his possessions to Beatrice his wife desiring his friendes to procure she might be married to Philippo By which marriage Philippo became potent and recouered Milan with all the state of Lombardy Afterwards to declare himselfe thankfull for so great a benefit he accused Beatrice of adulterie and put her to death Thus atteined to be a Prince most mightie he beganne to thinke vpon the warres of Toscana before entended by his father Giouan Galiazzo Ladislao King of Napoli at his death left vnto his sister Giouanna not onely the kingdome but also a a great Armie gouerned by the principall Leaders of all Italy Among the chiefe of whom was Sforza di Contignuola in those dayes a man of warre of singular reputation The Queene the rather to eschue a slaunder by one Pandolfello a man brought vp by her selfe tooke to husband Iacobo Della Marchia who was descended from the French Kings vpon condition that hee would content himselfe to be called Prince of Tarranto and suffer her to enioy the kingdome with the gouernment thereof Notwithstanding so soone as he arriued at Naples the souldiers called him King whereof great warres followed betwixt the wife and the husband and sometimes the one sometimes the other had the vpper hand But in the end the Queene remained gouernour of the state and afterwards became enemie to the Pope Thereupon Sforza intending to driue her to a disaduantage and inforce her to be glad of him contrarie to all expectation gaue vp his enterteinment by which meanes she remained vtterly disarmed and not hauing other fled for aide to Alfonso King of Arragon and Sicilia adopting him her sonne and enterteined Braccio di Montone who was in Armes no lesse esteemed then was Sforza therwithall enemy to the Pope for hauing surprized Perugia with some other townes belonging to the church Afterwards a peace was taken betweene her and the Pope Then the King Alfonso doubting least she wold entreat him as she had intreated her husband sought secretly to possesse the Fortresses But she being subtil fortified her self
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
S. Bruocolo and because the people had that Senate in suspition they ioyned with them six Citizens for the gouernment While the one and the other part prepared themselues to fight some of the people and some of the Nobilitie togither with certaine religious men of good fame came betweene them and perswaded a peace Letting the Nobilitie vnderstand that the cause why the honours from them was taken and the lawes against them made proceeded of their owne pride and euil gouernment And because they had before that time taken Armes to recouer that which through their owne diuision and euil behauiour had bene taken from them it would not do other then occasion the ruine of their country and hinder themselues It was moreouer said vnto them that the people in number riches and mallice was much their superiour and that these noble men by whom they thought to oppresse others would not fight but went their waies so soone as the fight began It was therefore a folly for them against so great a multitude to contend They perswaded the people on the other side that it was no wisedome to seeke their will by way of extremitie and that it was no part of iudgement to driue men into desperation for whosoeuer hopeth of no good feareth no euill They ought also to remember that the Noble men were those which in the warres had honored the citie therfore it was no reason nor iust occasion why they should be so greatly hated And moreouer although the Nobilitie could be content not to possesse the supreame offices yet would they not endure to be driuen out of their Country It were therefore well done to laie Armes aside and grow to agreement not trusting to the multitude of the people for it hath bene often seene that the greater number haue by the lesse bene vanquished Vpon these speeches grew diuers opinions among the people many wold haue fought as a thing that of force at one time or other must be and therefore was better to do the same now then afterwards when their enemies were become stronger And though it were beleeued that by mittigation of the lawes the Nobilitie wold become contented yet the pride of them was such as without enforcement would neuer rest Others of the people wiser better aduised and of more quiet disposition thought that the mitigation of the lawes was no great matter but to fight one part against the other was a thing of great importance So in the end this opinion preuailed and it was prouided that no accusation against any of the Nobilitie should bee receiued without witnesses The Armes of the one and the other side thus laide aside either of them continued full of suspition fortifying themselues in their houses and preparing weapons anew Then the people reordeined the gouernment restraining the same into a smal number mooued thereto because that Signoria had bene fauoured of the Nobilitie of whom the chiefe were Mancini Magalotti Altouiti Peruzzi and Gerrettani The state thus setled for more magnificence and securitie of the Senate in the yeare 1298. they builded their Pallace and made a Court before it of that place where the houses of the Vberti sometimes were At this verie time were also the common prisons begunne and within few yeares after finished For in those daies our cittie was in as great and happie estate as at anie time it hath bene being full of men and reputation The number of Cittizens fit for the warres were numbred at thirtie thousand and the people of the Countrey able for that purpose amounted to threescore and tenne thousand All Toscana either as subiects or friends obeyed vs. And albeit betwixt the Nobilitie and people some indignation and suspitiō were yet no euil effect thereof followed but euery man neighborly peaceably liued And had not this peace bene by new enimitie within the cittie disturbed no forreine disorder could haue molested the state because the cittie stood in such tearmes that it neither feared the Empire nor those that were banished And against all the states of Italy it was of force sufficient to defend it selfe That iniury therfore which external forces could not do by inward discord was performed There were in Florence two families one called Circhi the other Donati in riches Nobilitie and men mightie Betweene them being both in Florence and the Country neare neighbors there grew displeasure yet not so great as to occasion the vse of armes neither would there perhaps thereof haue growne any great matter had not the same bene by some new occasions encreased Among the chiefe houses of Pistoia is that of Cancellieri It happened that Lore sonne of Guglielmo and Geri sonne of Bertaccio both of that familie playing togither fell into quarrell and Geri of Lore was lightly hurt This chance greeued Guglielmo much and thinking with curtesie to amend the matter made the same much worse For he commanded his sonne to go vnto the house where the father of the hurt man dwelled and there aske pardon The yoong man obeyed his father Notwithstanding that humble act did no whit decrease the bitter disposition of Bertaccio who caused Lore to be taken and holden by his seruants till his hand were cut off saying vnto him return home vnto thy father and tel him that wounds be cured with steele and not with words The crueltie of this fact so greatly offended Guglielmo that he armed his friends to reuenge it Bertaccio on the other side armed to defend himselfe Whereby not onely these families but all the cittie of Pistoia was diuided And because these Cancellieri were descended frō one of that name who had two wiues the one named Biancha the one party being descēded of that woman called their faction Biancha the other partie to take a name contrarie was called Nera Betwixt them at diuerse times diuerse conflicts and slaughters of men followed At length both parties growing wearie and yet not knowing how to be reconciled did desire either to make an end of their discord or else to draw others into quarrels with them and so encrease their faction For which purpose they come to Florence And the Neri hauing familiar acquaintance with the Donati were by Corso chiefe of that house fauoured which the Bianchi vnderstanding to make themselues strong and able to resist the Donati resorted to Veri dei Circhi a man in euerie condition no whit inferiour to Corso This humour come from Pistoia encreased the olde hate betweene the Circhi and Donati and was alreadie so apparant that the Priori and other good Cittizens feared euerie houre least some slaughter would therof ensue and the whole citie be diuided For preuenting whereof they resorted vnto the Pope desiring him that with his authoritie he would take order for these quarrels which they themselues could not The Pope sent for Veri and pressed him to make peace with the Donati whereat Veri seemed to maruell said he had no quarrell vnto them
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
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
those that were iniured was Piero de Bardi and Bardo Frescobaldi They being gent. and naturally proud could not endure that a stranger wrongfully and in the presence of some Magistrates had done them iniurie which both against him and those that gouerned they conspired to reuenge Into that conspiracie entered many Noble families and some of the people whom the tyrannie of him that gouerned did offend The order of execution agreed vpon was that euery man shuld assemble into his house as many armed men as he could and in the morning of All Saints day when euerie bodie was in the church to take armes and kill the Captaine Which done they determined to place new Senators and with new orders to reforme the state But because enterprises of perill the more they be thought vpon the more vnwillingly be performed It alwaies happeneth that cōspiracies not suddenly executed are for the most part discouered There was among the conspirators one called Andrea de Bardi in whom the consideration of punishment could do more then the hope of reuenge reuealed all to Iacamo Alberti his brother in law Then Iacamo enformed the Priori and the Priori enformed the Gouernours And because the day of danger grew neare which was the feast of All Saints manie citizens consulted in the Pallace and thinking it dangerous to deferre the time iudged it best that the Senators should cause the bell to be rung and thereby call the people to armes Taldo Valori was Gonfaloniere and Francesco Saluiati one of the Senate They being to the Bardi kinsmen would not haue the Bell rung saying it were not well done vpon euerie light occasion to arme the people For authority being giuē to a loose multitude could worke no good effect It was also easie to moue tumults but to appease them hard It were therfore much better first to examin the troth of the cause punish the same by law thē correct it disorderly with ruine of the citie which words were not willingly heard For the Senators with many iniurious and presumptuous speeches were enforced to ring the Bell vpon hearing wherof all the people ran sodeinly into the market place armed On the other side the Bardi Frescobaldi seeing themselues discouered intending to winne their purpose with glory or die without shame tooke armes hoping to defend that part of the citie where their own houses were and on the other side of the riuer fortified the bridges trusting to be succoured by the nobility of the country other their friends Which purpose was disappointed by the people that inhabited where their houses were who tooke armes in fauour of the Senat so that finding themselues disapointed they abādoned the bridges retired to the street where the Bardi dwelt as a place of more strength then any other that very valiantly they defēded Iacobo de Agobio knowing all this conspiracy to be against him fearful of death amazed at the pallace of the Senators in the midst of the armed men placed himself But there was more courage in the Rettori who had lesse offended and most of all in the Podesta called Maffeo de Maradi For he presented himself to those that fought as a mā senceles without al feare passing the bridge Rubaconte entred in amōg the swords of the Bardi making signes to speak with thē Wherupon they cōsidering the reueuerence of the man his vertue other his good great qualities staied their weapons quietly heard him He then with modest graue words blamed their cōspiracy laying before them the perils wherto they were subiect if they gaue not ouer this populer enterprise giuing thē also hope that they should be fauourably heard and mercifully iudged And promised moreouer to be the mean wherby their reasonable offences should find compassion Then he returned back to the Senators and persuaded thē not to be victorious with the bloud of their own citizens neither to iudge before the cause were heard And his persuasion preuailed so much as by cōsent of the Senate the Bardi Frescobaldi with their friends were suffered to abandō the citie return to their castles They being gone and the people disarmed the Senators proceeded onely against the families of Bardi and Frescobaldi who had taken armes And to spoile them of some part of their power they bought of the Bardi the Castle of Mangona and the Castle of Varina and made a lawe that no Cittizen might possesse a Castle within twentie miles of Florence Within fewe monethes after Stiatta Frescobaldi was beheaded and many others of that familie proclaimed Rebelles It sufficed not the Gouernours to haue oppressed the Bardi and Frescobaldi but they did as men commonly doo the more authoritie they haue the worse they vse it and the more insolent they become so where was before one Captaine of the Guard who oppressed the Cittizens within Florence they also chose an other in the Countrey to the ende that men to them suspected should neither within the Cittie nor without haue anie dwelling So earnestly were they bent against the Nobilitie that they forced not to sell the Cittie to be reuenged aspecting onely occasion which came well and they better vsed the same By meanes of many troubles which hapned in Lombardy Toscana the possession of the citie of Lucca was come into the hāds of Mastino della Scalla Lord of Verona who notwithstanding hee was bounde to deliuer the same to the Florentines did not because he thought himselfe able to hold it the rather by being Lord of Parma and therefore of his promise he made none account at all which moued the Florentines to offence For reuenge whereof they ioyned against him with the Venetians and made so hotte warres vpon him as thereby he was inforced almost to abandon his country Notwithstanding therof followed nothing but some satisfaction of mind to haue oppressed Mastino For the Venetians as all other doe that ioyne in league with such as be weaker then themselues after they had surprised Triuigi and Vuensa without respect of the Florentines made peace with Mastino Shortly after the Visconti Princes of Milan hauing taken Parma from Mastino and hee fearing for that cause that Lucca could not be kept determined to sell it Those that desired to buy that citie were the Florentines and the Pisani In beating the bargaine the Pisani perceiued that the Florentines richer then they would obteine it Therefore they sought to winne it by force and with the aide of Visconti besieged it The Florentines notwithstanding proceeded and bargained with Mastino paying part of the money in hand and for payment of the rest deliuered hostages Naldo Ruccelai Giouanni the sonne of Barnardino de Medici and Rosso de Rici and then by order of Mastino the possession of the Citie was deliuered The Pisani notwithstanding pursued their enterprise and by all meanes possible laboured to get the Cittie by force yet went the Florentines to rescue the Cittie
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
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
of opinion doubled the dispaire of the Senate and the peoples offence In so much as the Gonfaloniere desiring rather to end his office with shame then perill resigned the same to Tomazo Strozzi wholed him from the Pallace and conducted him to his house The other Senators in like maner one after an other went home Then Alamanno Nicholo to shew no more courage thē wisdome seeing themselues left alone departed also whereby the Pallace remained in the hand of the multitude and the eight gouernours for the warre who had not giuen vp their offices At such time as the people entred the Pallace one Michele di Lando a Carder of wooll bare the Ensigne of the Gonfaloniere Giustitia hee being bare legged and raggedly apparrelled followed with the multitude went vp the staires and being come to the presence of the Senators staied and turned himselfe to the multitude saying Doo you not see that this Pallace and this cittie is yours and in your hands what doo you now thinke good to doo Whereto euerie man aunswered that hee should be Gonfaloniere and Lorde to dispose and gouerne the cittie as himselfe thought good Michele accepted his authoritie for hee was indeede a man verie wittie and more bounde to Nature then Fortune Then hee determined to appease the cittie and staie the tumults also to hold the people occupied and winne himselfe time to giue order commaunded one Sir Nuto to be searched out who had bene by Lapo Castiglionichio appointed a Serieant To the execution of which seruice the greater number of those that were present did goe Then to begin that gouernment with iustice which by fauoure of the multitude was giuen him he commanded by proclamation that no man should steale or take iniustly from another And the rather to terrifie all men hee erected a Gibbet in the Market place he displaced the Sindachi of mysteries and made new he depriued the Senate and Colledges burned the Borsi In the mean time Sir Nuto was by the multitude brought into the market place and there hanged by one soote Euery mā with his sword cut him in pieces til at lēgth there remained not any thing but his foote On the other side the eight gouernours for the war supposing themselues by the departure of the Senators to be only Lords of the citie appointed new Senators which Michele knowing sent one to tell them they should presently depart the Pallace because hee would let all men vnderstand that hee alone without their counsell could gouerne Florence That done he caused the Sindachi of mysteries to assemble and created foure Senators of the base multitude two of the great mysteries and two of the lesse Moreouer he made new Squittini diuiding the state into three parts commaunding that the one should belong to the new mysteries the second to the lesser and the third to the great mysteries Hee gaue vnto Saluestro de Medici the rentes of the houses vppon the olde bridge To himselfe the Podesteria of Empoli and on many other his friends of the multitude he bestowed benefits many others at his hand receiued pleasure and were restored to their owne not so much for their good as that he might the rather be by them from the enuie of time defended Then it seemed to the poore multitude that in this reformation of the state the better sorte of people were too much partakers thereof and they not to haue therein so much authoritie as to defend themselues if neede should require Wherefore set on with their accustomed boldnesse they tooke armes againe and vniting themselues vnder their Ensignes came anew into the Market demaunding of the Senators to come downe to the Ringhiera and consult of new matters concerning their securitie and good Michele seeing their arrogancie yet not to moue them to more offence without asking what they would blamed the maner of their demaunding and perswaded them to laie downe armes saying that should be graunted vnto them which with the grauitie of the Senate through force might not be graunted The multitude with that offended assembled neare the Pallace of S. Maria Nouella where among themselues they appointed eight heades with their ministers and orders which gaue them reuerence and reputation So as the citie had two places of state and was by two diuerse officers gouerned These heads determined among them that euer eight named by the bodie of the Mysteries should dwell in the Pallace with the Senate and whatsoeuer the Senators should determine must be by them confirmed They tooke from Saluestro de Medici and Michele all that which in their former Councels was giuen them They appointed many new officers allowances for their degrees These appointments taken to make them the more assured they sent two of them to the Senate to require their consent intending that if that were not graunted that then by force they would haue it Those messengers with great audacitie and more presumption declared their Commission to the Senate and told the Gonfalone what honour and authoritie they had giuen him and with what ingratitude and small respect at his hand they were reacquited At length falling from words to threatnings Michele could no longer endure such arrogancy But remembring more the place hee occupied then the basenesse of his late estate thought meete by extraordinary meane to bridle an extraordinary insolency and drawing forth the sword he ware hurt one of these messengers and after caused him to be bound and imprisoned This being knowne greatly offended the multitude and hoping to winne that by force which vnarmed they could not presently tooke armes with great furie and marched towards the Senators with intent to compell them Michele on the other side doubting that which followed determined to preuent them and imagining it more for his glorie to assault others then tarry within and be assaulted and so like to his predecessors be forced with shame of the Pallace to flie away did assemble a great number of Cittizens who hauing well aduised themselues of their errours mounted on horsebacke and being followed by many armed men went to Santa Maria Nouella to fight with the enemy The people hauing as wee before declared made the like determination almoste at the same time marched to the Marketplace but it happened that the one passed by one streete and the other by an other so as by the way they met not Michele being returned backe founde the Market place taken and the Pallace assaulted hee therefore suddeinly charged the enemies and ouerthrew them Some were forced to flie others cast downe their weapons and others hid themselues This victorie gotten the tumult was appeased onely through the vertue of the Gonfaloniere who for courage wisdome integritie excelled all the Citizens of that time and is to be numbred among those few that haue profitted their country For had he bene of euil disposition or ambitious the common weale had vtterly lost the libertie therof should haue fallen into a
iniury had bene by him oppressed These suspitions encreasing encreased also the iniuries which did not decrease but multiply them By meanes whereof the greater number of them liued much discontented which discontent grew the greater by the insolency of Georgio Scali and Tomazo Strozzi whose authoritie preuailed more then the Magistrates and euerie man feared least they beeing followed with the people would oppresse them In so much as that not onely the good men but also the seditious sort accounted that gouernment tyrannicall violent But to the end that the insolencie of Georgio should at length take end it fortuned that hee became accused of one Giouanii Cambio his companion hauing as he said practised diuerse waies against the state yet vpon examination was found guiltlesse by the Captaine So as thē the Iudge went about to punish the accuser with that punishment which the partie accused should haue suffered had he bene found faultie And Georgio neither with sute nor authoritie able to saue him went with Tomazo Strozzi and the multitude armed to deliuer him by force At which time they sacked the Captaines Pallace and forced him for safetie of his person to hide himselfe which action filled the citie with so much hatred towards him that thereby his enemies hoped to ouerthrow him and take the citie both from him the plebeyall people also who through presumption had vsurped the same three yeares Thereof also the Captaine gaue great occasion for he the tumult ceased went to the Senate said that as he had willingly taken vpon him that whereto their Lordships had elected him because therein he hoped to serue iust men readie to take armes in the fauoure not in the preiudice of iustice so seeing he had seene and knew the gouernment of the citie and the maner of life therein that office which he willingly tooke in hand for his profit and honour as willingly there he would yeeld the same vp to shunne the perill and losse that might thereof follow The Captaine was by the Senators comforted and promised reparation of former losses and future securitie Then certaine of them togither with some Cittizens who were holden louers of the Common weale and men least suspected concluded that a good opportunitie was offered to take the citie from Georgio and the multitude By reason that through that his late insolencie the Citizens were greatly alienated from him and was therefore good to execute that intent before the offended mindes of the multitude were reconciled For well they knew that the fauoure of the multitude vpon euery trifling accident is gotten and lost Iudging moreouer that for the bringing this enterprise to effect it behoued them to winne the good will of Benedetto Alberti without whose consent the action seemed dangerous This Benedetto was a man exceeding rich curteous graue a louer of the libertie of his country and such a one as much misliked the tyrannous proceedings of the time By meane whereof it was easie both to appease him and also perswade him to the destruction of Georgio For the occasions which made him enemy to the populer Nobilitie and Guelfi and friend to the multitude was their insolencie and their tyrannous maner of gouernment And seeing that the heads of the multitude were become of like insolencie he would likewise leaue them as one that would not consent to the iniuries by them done to many Citizens So in conclusion those reasons which induced him to take part with the people did also perswade him to leaue them Benedetto and the heads of the Arts thus drawne to fauoure the populer Nobilitie tooke armes apprehended Georgio Tomazo fled away The next day after Georgio was beheaded to so great terror of his partie as no man moued in his fauour though euery man went to behold his ruine He being brought to die complained of those people that lately had adored him and lamented his own hard fortune and the malignitie of the Citizens who hauing wrongfully iniured him were forced to fauoure and honour the multitude wherin was neither trust nor grautuitie And knowing Benedetto Alberti among the rest of the armed men said vnto him And thou Benedetto doest consent to see me here so iniured as if I were where thou art I would not suffer thee but I do prognosticate that as this day is the end of my miserie so is the same the beginning of thy destruction He complained moreouer of himselfe for hauing too much trusted to the people whom euerie voice euerie action and euerie supition moueth and corrupteth With these lamentations he ended his life amidst his enemies armed and reioycing at his death Shortly after certaine other his nearest friends were slaine and drawne in the streetes by the people The death of this Citizen troubled all the citie for at the execution thereof many tooke armes in fauoure of the Senate and Captaine of the people Many other either for their owne ambition or suspition did the like Also the citie being full of diuerse humors euerie man had his diuerse intent which hee desired to execute before armes were layd downe The olde Nobilitie called great men could not endure to see themselues depriued of the publique honours and therefore with all studie laboured to recouer them liking well that authoritie should be restored to the Captaines of factions To the populer Nobilitie and the greater mysteries it was offensiue that the state was participated with the lesse mysteries and base people On the other side the lesse mysteries desired rather to encrease then diminish their dignities And the poore people feared to forgo their Colledges Which diuersitie of mindes made continually in Florence tumults to arise for the space of one yeare Sometimes the great men sometimes the chiefe mysteries sometimes the lesse togither with the multitude and sometimes altogithers at one instant in diuerse places were armed Whereof ensued among themselues and with the souldiers of the Pallace diuerse conflicts The Senate sometimes by giuing place and sometimes by fighting sought all they could to remedie that mischiefe Insomuch as in the end and after two consultations and two Balie for reformation of the citie and after many harmes many trauels and many great perils a gouernment was setled whereby were reuoked all those that before and sith Saluestro de Medici was Gonfaloniere had bene confined All priuiledges and prouisions were taken away from those to whome they had bene giuen by the Balia of 78. All honours were restored to the Guelfi The two new mysteries were discorporated and euerie of those remitted vnder the auncient mysteries The Gonfaloniere di Guistitia was taken away from the lesse mysteries and they reduced to be partakers of halfe the third part of the honours and of those the best were taken from them So that the faction of populer Nobilitie Guelfi recouered the gouernment the multitude lost their authoritie which they had holden from the yeare 1378. til 81. at which time this alteration happened
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
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
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
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
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
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
it easie to passe by the other which Bartholomeo kept perswaded thereto by the cowardice of that Captaine Marradi is a Castle built at the foote of those Alpes which diuide Toscana from Romagna But on that side which is towardes Romagna in the beginning of the Vale of Lamona although it bee without walles yet the Riuer the Mountaine and the inhabitaunts of the countrey doo make it strong For the men be warlike and faithfull The Riuer hath also worne into the lande and made so deepe caues and places as it is impossible to approach it by that Vale so long as one little Bridge bee defended And on that side towardes the Mountaines the shoare is so steepe as maketh it most assured Notwithstanding the cowardice of Bartholomeo was such as made those people become base minded and the seate to seeme of no force at all For so soone as the noyse of the enemie was heard hee abandoned his charge and with his souldiers fledde away neuer staying till hee came to Borgo S. Lorenzo Nicholo entered into the places abandoned much maruelling that they were not better defended And being glad of that hee had gotten came downe into Mugello where hee surprized some Castles and at Puliciano hee lodged his Campe. From thence hee spoyled all the Countrey to the Mountaines of Fiesole Hee was also so bolde as hee doubted not to passe the Riuer of Arno forraging and spoyling euerie place within three myles of the Cittie of Florence The Florentines on the other side were not dismayed but before all other thinges setled the gouernment Whereof they could not much doubt as well for the good will the people bare vnto Cosimo as because the chiefe Offices were reduced into the handes of a fewe mightie Cittizens who with their seueritie handled the matter so that they assured themselues of euerie man that shewed themselues discontented or desirous of Innouasion They knewe also by the contract made in Lombardy with what Forces Neri returned and they looked also for other souldiers to come from the Pope which till the comming of Neri made them hope well But Neri finding the Cittie in these disorders and feares determined to goe into the field somewhat to bridle the furie of Nicholo that hee should not so much at his pleasure spoyle the countrey Then making a band of certaine footemen the people with all the horses they had went out and recouered Remole which the enemies had taken There they encamped themselues empeaching Nicholo to proceed in his spoyle and gaue hope to the Cittizens to vanquish the enemie Nicholo seeing that the enemies hauing lost their souldiers mooued not and vnderstanding also with what securitie they liued in that citie determined not to lose time but enterprise some other thinges To the ende that the Florentines might haue occasion to sende out their Forces and fight with him And if the victorie prooued his then hee hoped that all other matters should prosperously follow In the Campe of Nicholo Francesco Earle of Poppi happened to be He in that time that the enemies were in Mugello rebelled from the Florentines with whom he had bene before in League And albeit the Florentines before mistrusted that hee would so doo yet thought they to haue bounde him with benefites and to that ende encreased his entertainment and made him Gouernour ouer all their Townes neare vnto him All which notwithstanding so great strength had the loue which hee bare to the contrarie faction that no benefite nor no feare could force him to forget the affection hee bare to Rinaldo and the others that gouerned in times past In so much as when hee vnderstood that Nicholo drewe neare suddeinly hee ioyned with him and perswaded him with all earnestie to goe from the Cittie and passe into Casentino shewing him the strength of that countrey and with what securitie he might from thence distresse the enemie Nicholo was well content to be aduised by his counsell and come into Casentino surprized Romana and Bibiena and after lodged his Campe at the Castle S. Nicholo This Castle is seated at the foote of those mountaines which diuide Casentino from the Vale of Arno and by reason the seate thereof is high and the place well manned the taking thereof prooued hard notwithstanding that Nicholo did with his Artillarie continually make the batterie This siege had continued more then twentie dayes In which time the Florentines assembled their Forces at Figghini to the number of foure thousande horse vnder the conduct of Pietro Giampagolo the Generall Neri Caponi and Barnardo de Medici Commissaries To them foure Messengers were sent from the Castle of Saint Nicholo to desire their aide Those Commissaries hauing considered the seate of that place founde they could not rescue it anie other way then by the Alpes which come from the Vale of Arno and the tops of them might be possessed by the enemie before they could come thither as well for that they were nearer as that they could not goe vnknowne So as they should attempt a thing to no purpose and hazard the ruine of their souldiers Thereuppon the Captaines commending their fidelitie commaunded them that if they were not able anie longer to defende themselues that then they should yeelde Thus Nicholo preuailed in that enterprise and possessed this Castle in the ende of thirtie two dayes after hee and his Campe had besieged it And for so great a losse of time obteyned this small victorie which was the greatest occasion whereby a greater enterprise was not performed For if hee had still continued with his Campe before Florence he had forced those that gouerned to leuie money amongst the Cittizens prepare Forces and make euerie other prouision with more difficultie the enemie being so neare at hand manie of the Cittizens would also haue bene desirous of peace to assure themselues from Nicholo seeing the warre likely to continue But the desire which the Earle of Poppi had to bee reuenged of some Captaines of Castles who had beene long his enemies did leade him to giue that counsaile And Nicholo for his satisfaction followed the same which was the destruction both of the one and the other Whereof may be conceiued that for the moste part the particuler passions of men doo hinder the publique commoditie Nicholo following the victorie surprized Rassina and Chiusi In these places the Earle of Poppi perswaded him to tarrie declaring that hee might disperse his Forces into Chiusi Caprese Pieue by that meanes to become Lord of the mountaines and at his pleasure descende from thence into Casentino into the Vale of Arno to the Vale of Chiana and the Vale of Teueri and bee also readie so aunswere to anye motion whatsoeuer that the Enemie coulde make But Nicholo considering the barreinnesse of those places aunswered that his Horses did not eate stones and so went to the Borgo of S. Sepulchro where he was friendly receiued From thence hee practised to winne the fauoure of the inhabitants of the
Cittie called Castello who being friendes to the Florentines refused him Also desiring to haue the Perugini at his deuotion hee went with fortie horse vnto Perugia and was receiued being there a Cittizen borne verie louingly yet within fewe dayes after hee became suspected For albeit both with the Gouernour and the Cittizens hee practised manie things yet nothing was brought to passe But receiuing of them eight thousand Duckets he returned to the Camp Then hee deuised how to take Cortona from the Florentines which beeing discouered before the time of execution that deuise came not to effect Among the chiefe Cittizens of that Towne was Bartholomeo di Senso who one euening going by commaundement of the Captaine to take the Guard of one of the gates was by a Countrey man his friende aduised not to goe thither vnlesse hee were content there to be slaine Bartholomeo desirous to vnderstand the bottome of that matter founde there were some practise made with Nicholo which Bartholomeo by authoritie of the Captaine reuealed and made sure the chiefe of the conspiracie Then doubling the Guarde of the Gate tarried there till Nicholo did come Who at his arriuall vnderstanding the matter was discouered returned to his Camp During that thinges were in Toscana thus handled and that the Dukes souldiers had gained little Lombardy grewe vnquiet with losse and disaduanntage of the Duke Because the Earle Francesco so soone as the season of the yeare suffered came foorth with his Armie to the field and for that the Venetians had supplied their Forces vppon the Lake the Earle thought good first to make himselfe Lorde of the Water and then driue the Duke from the Lake which done all other thinges would be easily brought to passe Then with the Nauie of the Venetians he assaulted the Dukes Gallies and had the victorie Hee also tooke those Castles which were holden of the Duke In so much as the Dukes other souldiers who besieged Brescia by lande vnderstanding this ouerthrowe retyred In this sorte was Brescia after three yeares siege deliuered This victorie had the Earle marched towardes his enemies who were come to Soncino a Castle vppon the Riuer of Ogglio where hee dislodged them and forced them remooue to Cremona There the Duke made head and on that side defended his Countries But the Earle day by day drawing nearer and the Duke fearing to lose either all or part of his Countrey founde how vnaduisedly hee had done to sende Nicholo into Toscana And to amende that errour hee wrote vnto Nicholo in what tearmes hee stood praying him with what speed he possiblie might to leaue Toscana and returne into Lombardy The Florentines in this meane space by order of their Generalles had ioyned their souldiers with the Popes Forces and made head at Anghiari a Castle at the foote of the mountains which diuided the Vale of Teuere from the Vale of Chiana foure myles from S. Sepulchro where the fieldes be large to receiue Horse men and fit for all actions of warre And because they had intelligence of the Earles victorie and the reuocation of Nicholo they thought that without the sword or more labour the warre was ended Therefore wrote vnto their Generals not to fight for that Nicholo could not manie dayes remaine in Toscana This Commission became knowne to Nicholo who seeing that of necessitie hee must depart to leaue nothing vnattempted hee determined to fight supposing to finde the enemie altogither vnprouided and not looking for anye Battayle at all Whereunto hee was also animated and encouraged by Rinaldo the Earle of Poppi and diuerse other banished men of Florence who knewe theyr owne destruction to be certaine if Nicholo did remoue thence but by fighting they hoped either to winne the victorie or lose it with honor This resolution made the Army marched from the place where it was till it came betweene the Cities of Castello and Borgo and being come to Borgo before that the enemies knew thereof leuied from the Towne two thousand men who trusting to the vertue of the Captaine and his promises being desirous of spoyle followed him Then Nicholo with his Army marched in Battle-wise towards Anghiari was within two miles of the enemie or lesse when by Micheletto Attendulo was seene a great dust who knowing the enemies to be there warned euerie man to prepare himselfe The noyse in the Florentine Campe was great because that Army encamped for the most part without Discipline and supposed the enemie to be far off so all the Florentines were more readie to flie then fight For euery man was far from his own lodging and disarmed either to refresh himselfe in that hotte season or to take some other delight Yet so great was the diligence of the Gouernours and the Captaine that before the enemies approached they were on horsebacke and prepared to resist the charge And as Micheletto was the first to discouer the enemies so was he also the first that charged them and with his souldiers made speede to winne the Bridge which crosseth the way not farre from Anghiari And because before the comming of the enemie Pietro Giampagolo had caused the ditches to be cast downe which are on either side the waie Micheletto standing against the Bridge Simoncino the Popes Coronell togither with the Legate staied on the right hand and on the left hand stood the Commissaries for Florence and the foote men placed along the Riuer Then had the enemie no other way open whereby hee might charge but by the Bridge Neither had the Florentines to fight but onely vppon the Bridge sauing that they commaunded their footemen that if the footemen of the enemie did goe towardes the men of Armes that then they with their Crossebowes should charge them to the ende that the Florentine horsemen in passing the Bridge should not bee hurt on the side So that they that gaue the first charge were by Micheletto brauely resisted but afterwardes Astore and Francesco Piccinino with their choyse bandes so furiously charged Micheletto as they tooke from him the Bridge and draue him to the foote of the hill which leadeth vp to Anghiari After that they were put backe by him and forced to retyre beyonde the Bridge and hee also charged them vppon the side This fight continued two houres for sometime Nicholo and sometimes the Florentines were Lordes of the Bridge And although vppon the Bridge they were of equall force yet both on that and this side of the Bridge Nicholo fought with great disaduantage Because when the souldiers of Nicholo had passed the Bridge they founde the enemies strong vppon that straight and could not with like aduantage be charged and those that were wearie might easily be by fresh men supplied But when the Florentines happened to passe Nicholo could not so commodiously releeue his wearied men beeing straightned and holden in with ditches and trenches So as though manie times Nicholo had wonne the Bridge yet by the supplie of fresh enemies hee was euer
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
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
why do you take life from it If it hath made you victorious why should we destroy it If it hath honored vs why haue we disdained it I promise you by that faith which ought to be giuē and receiued amōg good mē that if you behaue your selues so as I shal repent me of my victory I wil so do as you shal also repēt that you haue abused it Those citizens according to the time answered resonably Notwitstāding they continued still in their insolēt doings Inso much as Piero sent secretly to Agnolo Acciaiuoli who came vnto him at Cafaggiuolo and there they reasoned at length touching the estate of the Cittie And surely had he not bene by death preuented he would haue called home all the banished men to bridle the insolencie and oppression of those that liued in the Citie But death suffered him not to performe so honest an intent for diseases of bodie and trouble of minde so greeuously handled him that hee died the fiftie and three yeare of his age His vertue and bountie could not be to his Countrey so well knowne as they deserued partly because his father liued welneare as long and partly for that those fewe yeares hee ouerliued him were in ciuill contentions and sicknesse consumed This Piero was buried in the Church of S. Lorenzo neare vnto his father and his funerall performed with honour and pompe worthie so great a Cittizen Of him there remained two sonnes Lorenzo and Giuliano of whome there was good hope that they would prooue men fit for the state yet their youth was such as made all men doubt thereof Amongst other chiefe Cittizens in the gouernment of Florence there was one farre excelling the rest called Tomaso Soderini whose wisedome and authoritie not onely to Florence but also to all the Princes in Italy was knowne Hee after the death of Piero was of all the Cittie reuerenced and manie Cittizens did dailie visite him as chiefe man of the state Also diuerse Princes did write vnto him Neuerthelesse being wise and knowing what fortune followed him and his house hee would neuer answere the Princes Letters and perswaded the Citizens they should not resort to his house but to the houses of the Medici Also to shewe in deedes that which by words was by him perswaded hee assembled all the chiefe Gentlemen of euerie family at the Monastery of S. Antonio whither hee procured that Lorenzo and Giuliano di Medici should come and there after a long and graue Oration by him made they disputed the estate both of that Cittie of all Italy and of the humours of the Princes Therein concluding that to continue Florence vnited in peace assured from diuision within and from warre without it behooued them to honor those two yoong men and mainteine the reputation of their house Because men do not repine to do such things as they haue bene accustomed vnto but new houses as they are easily honored so are they quickly abandoned For it hath bene euer more easie to maintaine that reputation where length of time hath extingnished enuy then to raise a new estimation which by many occasiōs may be oppressed After him spake Lorenzo who notwithstanding his youth vttered words with so great grauitie modestie as gaue euery man hope he would become such a one as indeed afterwards he proued And before they departed that place the Citizens praied the brethren to receiue them as children they offring to honor them as fathers This conclusion set downe Giuliano and Lorenzo were honoured as Princes of the Citie and those that were of counsell with Tomaso did not intermeddle Thus the Florentines liued both within without so peaceably as nothing disturbed the Common quiet till a trouble not looked for arose which did prognosticate future mischiefe Among other families which Lucca Pitti ruined was that of Nardi For Saluestro and his brethren being heads of that house were first sent into exile and after by the warre which Bartolomeo Coglione moued made Rebels Of these Barnardo brother of Saluestro was a yoong man of great spirit and courage Hee being poore could not endure banishment and finding that the peace made had not prouided for his returne determined to make proofe of somewhat whereby might grow occasion of warre For many times of a small beginning great effects doe followe Because men bee more willing to prosecute then beginne anie enterprise This Barnardo had much acquaintance in Prato and muche more in the Countrey about Pistoia chiefely with the the house of Palandra who albeit they were but countrey people yet was their number great and the men according to the manner of that countrey practised in armes and much vsed to bloud He knew likewise they liued discontented and by reason that some of their enemies were Magistrates in Florence they had bene euill handled He knew moreouer the humor of the Pratesi who accounted themselues proudly and hardly gouerned and had particuler knowledge of the euill disposition of some towards the State All which things brought him in hope to kindle fire in Toscana by making Prato to rebell whereto so many would put hands as they that would quench it should not be able Then he imparted this matter to Diotisalui Neroni and asked of him what aide might be by his meanes procured among the Princes if he should happen to surprize Prato Diotisalui thought the enterprise dangerous and as impossible to take effect notwithstanding considering he might thereby with the perill of others make new proofe of fortune perswaded him to proceed and promised to bring him assured aide from Bologna and Farrara so that he were able to defend Prato at the least fifteene dayes Barnardo then incouraged with this promise and conceiuing great hope of happie proceeding went to Prato and there communicating the matter to diuerse found them verie willing The like disposition he perceiued in the familie of Palandra and hauing agreed togithers of the time and manner of the enterprise Barnardo imparted all to Diotisalui At that time was Cesare Petrucci Podesta of Prato for the Florentines The custome was that the Podesta should haue the keies of the towne brought vnto him And whensoeuer any of the towne chiefely in times of no suspition desired to goe out or come in by night that fauour was graunted Barnardo knowing this custome being accompanied with those of the house of Palandra and 100. others armed men in the morning when the gate towards Pistoia should open presented himselfe and those whome he had made priuie within did likewise arme One of them went to the Podesta saying a friend of his desired to come into the towne The Podesta not doubting any such accident sent with him a seruant of his to carrie the keies from whome being a little on the way the keies were taken the gates opened and Barnardo with his followers came in Then they diuided themselues in two parts The one led by Saluestro of Prato tooke possession of the Cittadell
the matter in their councels saying it was not conuenient that a commoditie found in the common lands should be conuerted to a priuate vse Thereupon they sent vnto Florence certaine Embassadors The cause was committed to a few Cittizens who either bicause they were corrupted or for that they so thought best gaue sentence that the request of the people of Volterra was not reasonable bicause they desired to depriue the Cittizens of their labour and industrie and therefore iudged that those Alums apperteined to priuate men and not to the Citie Yet was it conuenient that those priuate persons should giue yearly vnto the people certaine money in signe they acknowledged them for superiors This answere did nothing diminish but augment the tumults and displeasures in Volterra so that nothing was spoken of so much in their councels and in euerie other place in the Cittie as the request of the multitude which was to recouer that which they thought lost The priuate men on the other side still laboured to continue that which they had gotten and had bene confirmed by iudgement of the Florentines This matter remained so long in disputation that one Cittizen a man of estimation in that Cittie called Pecorino with diuerse others that tooke part with him was slaine their houses spoiled and burnt In that furie also the Rettori for the Florentines with difficultie escaped This first tumult being passed they determined in all haste to send Embassadors to Florence who informed the Senators that if they would obserue their auncient conditions they would also continue in their auncient obedience The answere of these messengers was long disputed Tomaso Soderini was of opinion that it behoued to receiue the Volterani with what condition so euer thinking the time serued not to kindle a fire so neare hand that might burne their owne house for he feared the disposition of the Pope the power of the King and mistrusted the Venetians friendship and the Dukes not knowing what fidelitie was in the one nor what vertue in the other alleaging that prouerb which saith Better a leane peace then a fat victorie Of a contrarie minde was Lorenzo de Medici thinking he had now occasion to make shew of his wisedome and counsell and the rather being thereto perswaded by those that enuied the authoritie of Tomaso And therefore determined by armes to punish the insolencie of the Volterani affirming that if they were not corrected as a memorable example all others vpon euerie light occasion without reuerence or respect would dare to do the like This resolution made the Volterani were answered that they could not require the keeping of those conditions which they themselues had broken and therefore either they should referre themselues to the discretion of the Senate or presently looke for warre The Volterani returned with this answere prepared for the defence of their towne and sent to all Princes of Italy for aide but were aided by fewe for onely the Sanesi and the Lord of Piombino did promise to helpe them The Florentines on the other side iudging that the victorie would be gotten by making of speed assembled tenne thousand footemen and two thousand horse whome vnder the conduct of Federigo Lord of Vrbino they sent into the countrey of Volterra all which they easily possessed Then they brought their Camp before the Cittie which being builded vpon an hill could not be assaulted but on that side where the Church of S. Alisandro standeth The Volterani had for their defence enterteined a thousand souldiers or thereabouts who seeing how brauely the Florentines assailed them fearing they could not defend the towne were in the seruice slowe but in doing iniurie to the Volterani readie ynough so that those poore Cittizens were by the enemies assaulted without and by friends oppressed within In so much as dispairing to be saued thought good to make peace and forwant of better meane yeelded themselues to the Florentines Commissaries who caused them to open the gates and the greater part of the armie being entred they went vnto the Pallace where the Priori were whome they commanded to returne to their houses and by the way one of them was by a souldier reuiled and robbed Of this beginning for men be more readie to euill then good grew the destruction and sack of this Cittie which continued one whole day The houses were robbed and the people spoiled neither did the women and Churches escape but all souldiers aswell they that had cowardlie defended the towne as the others that fought were partakers of the spoiles The newes of this victorie was with much reioycing receiued at Florence for the same was wholie the enterprise of Lorenzo who thereby gained great reputation And thereupon one of his dearest friends reprooued Tomaso Soderini for his counsell saying vnto him What say you now that Volterra is taken To whome Tomaso answered me thinks it is lost for if you had taken it by composition you might haue made profit and suretie thereof but hauing it by force in time of warre it will weaken and trouble you and in time of peace charge and hinder you In those dayes the Pope desiring to hold in obedience the townes belonging to the Church caused Spoleto to be sacked which by meane of inward faction had rebelled After for the like offence he besieged the Cittie of Castello In that towne Nicholo Vitelli was Prince He being in great friendship with Lorenzo de Medici refused not in that necessitie to aide him yet was that aide not sufficient to defend Nicholo but ynough to sowe the first seeds of enimitie betwixt Sisto and the Medici which afterwards brought forth fruite of much mischiefe and the same should quickly haue shewed it selfe had not the death of Frier Piero Cardinall of Sisto happened For this Cardinall hauing trauelled about all Italy went also to Venice and Milan pretending to honor the marriage of Hercole Marquesse of Farrara to practise with the Princes and sound their disposition towards the Florentines But being returned to Rome he died not without suspition to haue bene poisoned by the Venetians who feared the greatnesse of Sisto so long as he might be counselled and incouraged by Frier Piero. For albeit nature had made this Frier of base bloud and was also bred vp basely in a Monasterie yet so soone as he had aspired to be Cardinall there appeared in him so great pride and ambition as might not onely become a Cardinall but also seeme fit ynough for any Pope For he feared not to make a feast in Rome with so great charge as seemed superfluous for any King for therein he spent more then twentie thousand Florins Pope Sisto bereft of this agent prosecuted his enterprises more coldly Notwithstanding the league being renewed betweene the Florentines the Duke and Venetians and place left for Pope Sisto and the King who made an other contract therein also leauing places for other Princes to enter if they would By this meane Italy became diuided in two
minds more prepared for that action they alwaies talked thereof and with the sheathes of daggers made for that purpose one of them in the breast and belly strake the other Then they deuised of the time and place In the Castle they thought it not fit to be performed In hunting they feared it would proue incerteine perilous When the Duke walked in the streets for pleasure they imagined it would be hard and vnlikely to be done And at feasts they doubted the places would not serue Wherefore they resolued at some publique pompe and triumph where they were certaine of his being to kill him for thither they might vnder diuerse coulours assemble their friends They concluded also that if any of them vpon occasion were by the officers apprehended the rest should with their swords in the middest of his enemies sley him This happened in the yeare 1476. The feast of Christmas then being at hand at which time on S. Stephens day the Duke was woont with great pomp to visit the Church of that holie Martir they resolued that place and time would best serue for the execution of their intent The morning of S. Stephens day being come they caused certaine of their most assured friends and seruants to arme themselues saying they would go to aide Giouandrea who contrarie to the mind of some his euill willers would make a conduct for water in a certaine ground of his They being thus armed went to the Church pretending that they would before their departure take leaue of the Prince They procured also diuerse other their friends and kinsfolks for sundrie considerations to come thither hoping that the deed being done euery one would follow them to performe the rest of the enterprise And their intent was the Duke being slaine to ioyne with those armed and goe to that place of the Cittie where they might more easily raise the people and perswade them to arme themselues against the Duchesse and Princes of the State supposing the people by meanes of the famine wherewith they were then grieued would easily fauour the enterprise and vnto the people they determined to giue leaue to spoile the houses of Ceco Simonetta Giouanni Botti and Francesco Lucani all Magistrates of the gouernment whereby they should be assured of them and gaue the people libertie This resolution was set downe and the execution thereof firmely agreed vpon in their minds Giouandrea with the rest met earely in the Church and there altogithers heard Masse which being ended Giouandrea turning towards the image of S. Ambrose sayd O Ambrose Lord of our Cittie thou knowest our intention and the end wherefore we will aduenture our selues to so many perils Be fauourable to this our enterprise and by fauouring of iustice shew how greatly iniustice doth displease thee To the Duke on the other side before he came to the Church many signes happened to prognosticate his death at hand For the day being come he put on his priuie armour as euerie other day for the most part he did yet sodeinly before he went from his house either bicause he thought it not sightly or that it did hurt his bodie he tooke it off Then thought he to haue heard Masse in the Castle but his Chapleine was gone to S. Steffano Then commaunded hee that the Bishop of Como should say the Masse but he alleaged certaine reasonable lets so the Duke was as it were by necessitie occasioned to goe to the Church But first he called for his two sonnes Giouangaliazzo and Hermes whome he embraced and kissed often as though he had no power to depart from them yet in the end he determined to goe and comming out of the Castle betwixt the Embassadors of Farrara and Mantoua rode to the Temple The conspirators in the meane while to giue the lesse suspition and keepe them from the cold were retired into a chamber belonging to the chiefe Priest of the Church their friend and vnderstanding that the Duke did come they came from the chamber into the Church Giouandrea and Girolamo placed themselues on the right hand of the Church doore and Carlo on the left hand Then those that went before the Duke entered the Churche doore and after the Duke himselfe inuironed with a greate multitude of people as it alwaies happeneth in time of such a princelie pompe The firste of the Conspirators that went towardes him were Lampugnano and Girolamo They pretending to make place and roome for the Prince came hard vnto his person and assaulted him with short and sharpe daggers which they had hidden in their sleeues Lampugnano gaue him two woundes the one in the bellie the other in the throate Girolamo likewise in the throate and in the brest strake him Carlo Visconti standing neare vnto the doore and the Duke past him at such time as his companions gaue the assault could not hurt him before but gaue him two other wounds one on the shoulder the other in the back and these sixe wounds were all so sodeinly and speedily giuen that the Duke was fallen to the ground before any man knewe what the matter meaned Neither could he do or say any thing that was knowne but in falling one onely time he cried O Ladie helpe me The Duke thus laid on the ground the rumor grew great many swords were drawne out and as it hapned in like cases vnlooked for some fled out of the Church and some ranne thither without any certaine knowledge or occasion of the matter But those who were next vnto the Duke seeing him slaine and knowing the murtherers pursued them Of the conspirators Giouandrea intending to get out of the Church went amongst the women who being many and according to their custome set on the ground was so troubled and staied with their garments that he was by a Moore one of the Dukes footmen ouertaken and slaine Carlo was likewise by those that were present killed But Girolamo Olgiato escaped out of the Church seeing his companions slaine and not knowing whither to flee went home where he could be neither by his father nor brothers receiued But his mother onely hauing compassion of her sonne did recommend him to a Priest an auncient friend of that house who put him in Priestlike garments and remooued him to his house where he remained two daies hoping that some tumult in Milan would arise and thereby he might be saued But that not comming to passe and fearing to be found there he assaied to flee disguised yet being knowne was brought before the Magistrates and there he confessed all the order of the conspiracie This Girolamo was twentie three yeares of age and died with no lesse courage then he had executed the enterprise For being brought to his death stript naked and prepared for the hangman who with his knife in hand stood readie to cut him in pieces he spake these Laten words Mors acerba fama perpetua stabit vetus memoria facti This enterprise was by these vnhappie yoong men secretly practised and
resolutely executed The cause of their destruction was that they were not followed and defended of them to whome they trusted Let Princes therefore learne to make themselues so much honored and loued as no man can hope to hurt them and saue himselfe And let all priuate persons know how vaine it is to thinke that the multitude notwithstanding it be discontented will in their perils follow or accompanie them This accident amazed all Italy but much more trouble proceeded of other chances that shortly after happened in Florence For thereby the peace which had continued in Italy the space of twelue yeares was broken as in the Booke following shall be declared Which Booke as it beginneth with bloud and terror so doth it end with sorrow and miserie The ende of the seuenth Booke THE EIGHT BOOKE THE beginning of this Booke placed amidst two conspiracies the one in Milan alreadie declared the other happened in Florence and to be spoken of it may be thought fit that according to my custome I should somewhat saie touching the quallitie of conspiracies and of what importance they are Which willingly I would do had I not in other places discoursed thereof or that such a matter might be briefelie passed ouer But seeing it requireth great consideration and is alreadie spoken of we will proceed and tell how the Medici hauing ouercome all enemies that openly opposed themselues being desirous their house alone might haue authoritie in the Cittie it behoued them to oppresse all others that secretly practised against them For so long as they contended against other families but with equall authoritie the Cittizens enuying their greatnesse might openly and without feare affront them Bicause the Magistrates being free neither partie before losse of victorie had any occasion to feare it selfe But after the victorie in the yeare 66. the State became so much in the hand and power of the Medici as all men discontented were inforced either patiētly to abide the condition wherein they liued or else by way of conspiracie and secret practise to amend their fortune But sith cōspiracies are with difficultie performed for the most part they procure the ruine of the conspirators and the greatnes of him against whome they be conspired So that a Prince by conspiracie assaulted if he be not therein slaine as was the Duke of Milan which seldome hapneth becommeth thereby the stronger and being before good becommeth euill Bicause conspiracies do giue him occasion to feare feare counsaileth him to seeke assurance and in seeking assurance he doth iniure others whereby he gaineth hatred and many times procureth his own destruction So as in cōclusion treasons do sodeinly ouerthrow those who attempt them and trouble him many times against whome they be attempted Italy was as hath bene before declared diuided into two factions the Pope and the King on the one side and the Venetians the Duke and Florentines on the other side And albeit there was not betwixt them any warre moued yet was there dailie occasion giuen thereof and the Pope chiefelie in all his actions studied to offend the state of Florence Philippo de Medici Archbishop of Pisa then dying the Pope contrarie to the will of the Senate of Florence gaue that Bishopprick to Francesco Saluiati whome hee knewe to bee enemie to the house of Medici But the Senate denying to deliuer possession thereof there followed great displeasure betwixt the Pope and the Medici Besides that the Pope did great fauours in Rome to the familie of Pazzi and in euerie acte disfauoured the house of Medici In those daies the house of Pazzi liued aboue other the Florentine families in most riches and glorie The chiefe of them was called Giacopo who for his riches and Nobilitie was made Knight He hauing no children but one onely daughter had for heires diuerse nephews sonnes of Piero and Antonio his brethren The chiefe of whom were Guglielmo Francesco Rinato and Giouanni After them Andrea Nicholo and Galeotto Cosimo de Medici seeing their riches and nobilitie gaue his neece Biancha in marriage to Guglielmo hoping that alliance would make those houses more vnited and remoue all occasion of displeasures and suspitions which many times hapned betwixt them Notwithstāding so incertaine and fallible are the expectatiōs of men the matter came otherwise to passe for those that counselled Lorenzo told him it was perilous and contrary to his authoritie to suffer the Citizens to increase their riches and state which was the cause that those degrees of honor were not graunted to Giacopo and his nephews which as other Citizens thought they deserued Hereof grew the first displeasure of the Pazzi and the first feare of the Medici The increasing of the one was cause that the other also increased in so much as the Pazzi in all actions whereat other Citizens did meete were not to the Magistrates welcome Also the officers of eight men vpon a like occasion without such respect as was wont to be borne towards the great Citizens constrained Francesco de Pazzi being at Rome to returne to Florence Whereupon the Pazzi in all places with iniurious words and full of offence complained which doings caused others to suspect think thēselues to be iniured Giouanni de Pazzi had married the daughter of Giouanni Barromei a man of great riches which riches after his death for want of sonnes should come vnto her Neuertheles Carlo his nephew toke possession of part of those goods and therby the matter being brought to triall and sute an order was made by vertue wherof the wife of Giouanni de Pazzi was disinherited and the possessions giuen to Carlo which iniurie the Pazzi did altogither impute to the Medici Of this matter Giuliano de Medici did many times lament and complaine to his brother Lorenzo saying he feared least they desiring too much should lose all But Lorenzo being full of youth and authoritie would needs take all vpon him and make euery man know that all things were done by him The Pazzi being noble and rich could not indure so great iniuries but deuised by what means they might procure reuenge The first that moued speech against the Medici was Francesco He being of more courage and life then the others determined to get that which he wanted or lose that which he had And bicause the gouernment of Florence was hatefull vnto him he liued for the most part in Rome and there according to the custome of Florentine Merchants occupied great summes of money Being also of familier acquaintance with the Earle Girolamo one of them often complained to the other of the Medici In so much as after many consultations they concluded that to make the one of them assured of his lands and the other of his Cittie it was necessarie to alter the gouernment of Florence which they thought could not be done without the death of Giuliano and Lorenzo They also supposed that the Pope and the King would easily thereto consent if the facilitie of the enterprise
people called to libertie and armes but he could not So deep was the wound and so much bloud had he lost Wherefore he put off all his cloathes and laide himselfe naked in bed desiring Giacopo that he would performe that which himselfe could not albeit Giacopo were old and vnpractised in such tumults yet to make the last proofe of fortune mounted on horsebacke followed with a hundreth horsemen or thereabouts who were laid readie for the like enterprise and with those he went to the Market place of the Pallace calling the people to aide him and recouer their libertie But the people by the fortune and liberallitie of the Medici made deaffe gaue no eare to helpe him and the Florentines had so much forgotten their libertie as he receiued no aunswere at all Onely the Senators who commaunded the highest place in the Pallace saluted them with throwing downe of stones and with threatenings by all wayes they could deuise terrified them Giacopo standing then doubtfull what to doo was met by Giouanni Saristori his brother in lawe who first reprooued him and the rest for the troubles they had begun and then perswaded him to returne to his house saying that the welfare of the people and the libertie touched other Citizens aswel as him Thus Giacopo voyd of all hope seeing the Senators his enemies Lorenzo aliue Francesco hurt and himselfe not followed of anie determined to flee and saue his life if possibly he could For which purpose with that companie which was with him in the Market place he went out of Florence towards Romagna In the meane time all the Citie were in armes and Lorenzo di Medici accompanied with many armed men returned home to his house The Pallace was recouered by the people and all the conspirators taken and slaine Also throughout the Citie the name of Medici was proclaimed and the members of the dead men either carried vppon the pointes of swordes and launces or drawne through the streets moreouer euerie man both by wordes and deeds irefully and cruelly persecuted the Pazzi Their houses were by the people taken and Francesco naked as he laie in bed drawne out and brought to the Pallace where he was hanged fast by the Archbishop and others his companions But he would not in any wise for any iniurie done vnto him by the way or after speak any word at all but looked euery man earnestly in the face and so without other lamentation tooke leaue of life Guglielmo di Pazzi brother in lawe to Lorenzo by his owne innocencie and the help of his wife Bianca saued himselfe in his house There was no Citizen either armed or disarmed but in that necessitie went vnto Lorenzo offering him their seruice and substance So great was the fortune and fauour which that house by his wisedom and liberallitie had gained Rinato de Pazzi when this chaunce happened retired to his house in the countrey where vnderstanding therof he disguised himselfe and fled Notwithstanding being knowne by the way hee was taken and brought to Florence Giacopo in passing the Alpes was also taken For those mountaine people hearing what had happened in Florence and seeing him fleeing staied him and brought him back to Florence Neither could he intreat them to kill him by the way although he earnestly desired them so to do Giacopo and Rinato were brought to their death foure daies after this accident happened among so many murthers and executions done all those foure daies by meanes whereof the streets were filled with dead men yet was there no compassion taken of any but onely of this Rinato because he was accounted a wise man honest and free from that pride whereof the rest of that house were noted And to the end that this action might proceed for an extraordinarie example Giacopo being buried among his auncestors was as a man excommunicate taken vp and by the haulter wherewith he was hanged drawne naked throughout the Citie and those that drew him not voucthsauing him a graue threw his bodie into the riuer of Arno. A rare example of fortune to see a man of so great riches and happie estate to fall into so great infelicitie and be ruined with so much crueltie Some haue reported him to be delighted in vices and that he tooke great pleasure in gaiming and swearing as one that was carelesse and desperate These vices he couered with liberallitie and almes for he largely releeued many poore men and gaue mony to places of deuotion This good also may be said of him that the night before the Sunday appointed for the murther to the end no friend should be partaker of his misfortune hee paide all his debts and deliuered all the merchandise he had of other mens to the propper owners with marueilous care and diligence Giouanbattista de Montesecco after many examinations was beheaded Nappolione the Frenchman scaped away and by that meanes saued himselfe Guglielmo de Pazzi was banished and his brother in lawes left aliue were put in prison in the bottome of the Castle at Volterra The tumults thus pacified and the conspirators punished the funerall of Giuliano was celebrated with much lamentation of all Citizens because there was in him so great liberallitie and curtesie as might be wished in any man borne to like fortune Of Giuliano there remained one sonne who was borne a fewe moneths after his death and was called Giulio who became of that vertue and fortune which at this present all the world knoweth and I will when occasion shall be offered if God graunt me life speake of him at large Those souldiers which were conducted by Lorenzo da Castella in the vale of Teuere and those which serued vnder Giouanfrancesco da Tolentino in Romagna were ioyned togither to aide the Pazzi and were comming towards Florence But hearing the enterprise was miscarried they returned backe And the alteration of the state not being brought to passe as the Pope and King desired they determined to do that by open warre which by secret conspiracie they could not Then both the one and the other of them with all possible speede assembled their forces to assault the state of Florence publishing that they required nothing of that Citie but that it would remoue Lorenzo de Medici whom among all the Florentines they accounted their onely enemie The King his souldiers were alreadie passed Tronto and the Popes forces arriued in the countrey of Perugia The Pope also intending to make the Florentines to taste of spirituall affliction did excommunicate and curse them The Florentines seeing so great forces comming against them with great care prepared for defence And Lorenzo de Medici because the warre was said to be made onely against him desired before all other things to assemble in the Pallace with the Senate all the principall Cittizens to the number of three hundreth or more vnto whom he spake as followeth I know not right noble Lords and magnificent Cittizens whether I ought lament or reioyce with you
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
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
of most audacitie and experience to animate the rest spake to this effect If we were now to consult whether it be best to take armes robbe the Cittizens and spoile the churches my selfe would thinke it a matter considerable happily should preferre a quiet pouertie before a perillous profit But sith armes be alreadie taken and many displeasures done mee thinkes it behoueth vs not to let goe the aduantage but seeke meane how to assure our selues I certainly thinke that if no man would therein aduise vs yet necessitie alone might counsell vs. You see all this citie full of displeasure and hatred against vs. The Citizens do often assemble and the Senate is alwaies accompanied with officers You see they laie snares to entrap vs and prepare new forces to oppresse vs. Therefore it standeth vs vpon to procure two things and in our Councels to haue two endes The one that for your late doings we may not be punished the other that we may liue with more libertie and satisfaction then heretofore we haue done It behoueth therefore as I thinke that to obtaine pardon of all former faults our best meane is to commit some new doubling all our misdeeds by burning robbing and spoiling and therein to make many companions For where many offend none are punished and small faults are chastised but great and greeuous offences be rewarded Also where many are iniured fewe do seeke reuenge Because vniuersal displeasures are with more patience then particuler wrongs endured Therefore the multiplying of mischiefes is the readiest way to forgiuenesse and the best meane to obtaine those things which for our libertie are desired Surely it seemeth we go now to a certaine victorie for as much as those that should impeach vs be disunited and rich Their disunion shall giue vs victorie and their riches being made ours shall maintaine it Let not the antiquitie of their bloud wherof they so much boast dismaie you for all men hauing one beginning be equally auncient and are by nature made all after one maner Behold them naked you shall finde them like to vs and let vs be clad with their garments and they with ours we shall assuredly seeme noble and they of base condition because only pouertie and riches are those things which make the disequalitie It greeueth me to thinke that many of you do in conscience repent things done and intend to refraine doing the like Surely it is true that you are not those men I thought you to be for indeed conscience nor infamie ought to feare you sith hee that winneth victorie in what maner so euer it be doth neuer receiue shame thereof As for conscience none account is thereof to be made For who so standeth in feare of famine and prison as you do should not be daunted with dread of death and hell And if we consider the maner of mens proceedings we shall find that all those who haue gained great riches or glorie either by fraude or force are aspired And those thinges which they haue either by craft or violence obteined to cloake the infamie of their theft and make it seeme honest do call the same purchase Yea whosoeuer for want of wit or rather plaine folly doth not follow this course either sinketh in seruitude or perisheth in pouertie For in troth faithfull subiects are slaues and good men be still plagued with want Such as escape bondage be the most faithlesse and audatious and they that shunne lacke be onely couetous persons or craftie For God and nature haue laide fortune before all men of whom we see more enclined to robberie then industry and more to the bad then to good actions disposed Hereof it commeth that one man eateth an other and he that can do least must suffer most You ought therfore to vse force when occasion is offered which can be at no time more then now The Citizens are diuided the Senate fearefull and the Magistrates dismayed So that before they can be vnited and resolued it is most easie for vs to oppresse them By which oppression we shall either become wholly Princes of the citie or at the least owners of so much as we shall thereby not onely haue pardon of passed errors but also authoritie to threaten new I cōfesse this resolution is bold and daungerous but where necessitie pincheth desperation is iudged wisedome And in great enterprises valiant men account not of perill because those attempts which begin with daunger do end with glorie Also from one daunger men do not escape but by hazarding an other I likewise thinke that sith we see the prisons torments and death prepared for vs we ought rather feare to stand still then seeke to assure our selues for by the one the mischiefe is certaine by the other doubtfull How often haue I heard you complaine vpon the couetousnesse of your superiors and the iniustice of your Magistrates Now is the time not onely to be deliuered from them but also to become so much their superiors as they shall haue more occasion to feare you then you them The opportunitie which this occasion offereth doth passe and being past cannot be called againe You see the prepare of your aduersaries let vs preuent their intention For which so euer of vs do first take armes shall no doubt be victorious with ruine of the enemie and aduancement of himselfe Thus may many of vs gaine glorie and euerie man enioy securitie These perswasions greatly kindled their minds alreadie warmed with desire of mischief In so much as they resolued to take armes and the rather hauing drawne vnto them more companions of their disposition whome by oath they bound to helpe them when any should happen by the Magistrates to be oppressed While these men prepared to surprise the state their intent was discouered to the Senators who had in hand one called Simone of whom they vnderstood all the conspiracy that the next day they ment to make a tumult which perill perceiued the Colledges did assemble with the Sindachi practised to vnite the citie but before euerie man was come the night drew on Then were the Senators aduised to send for the Consuls of mysteries who being togither agreed that all men of warre within Florence should be warned to appeare and the Gonfaloniere the morning following with their companies to be armed in the Market place At such time as Simone was tormented and the Cittizens assembling one called Nicholo da San Friano kept the clocke of the Pallace who being aware of that businesse in hand beganne to spread rumours among his neighbours so as suddeinly in the Market place of Santo Spirito more then a thousand armed men were assembled These newes came to the eares of the other conspirators and San Piero Maggiore and San Lorenzo places by them appointed were full of men armed By that time day appeared which was the twentie one of Iuly At which houre came not to the Market place in fauoure of the Senate aboue eightie men of armes
and of the Gonfaloniere not one for they hearing the Cittie was all in Armes feared to leaue their houses The first of the multitude that came to the Market place were those that assembled at San Piero Maggiore for whose comming the men of Armes remooued not Then the rest of the multitude came and finding no resistance with a terrible crie demaunded of the Senate to enlarge the prisoners and not seeing them deliuered vpon that threatning sought by force to haue them and set fire on the house of Luigi Guicciardini Whereupon the Senate for auoyding a worse inconuenience deliuered the prisoners Hauing obteined this demaund they remooued the Gonfalone della Giustitia from the Esecutore and vnder him burned the houses of many Citizens persecuting those that either for publique or priuate occasion was hated Also manie Cittizens to reuenge priuate iniuries brought them to the houses of their enemies For it sufficed that anie one man cried let vs goe to such a place or holding the Gonfalone by the hande looked that way They likewise burned all the writings belonging to the mysterie of wooll Thus hauing committed manie euilles to accompanie them with some lawdable deede they made Saluestro de Medici and diuerse other Knightes to the number of three score and foure Among whom were Benedetto and Antonio degli Alberti Tomazo Strozz and such others their trustie friends yet were some of them enforced thereto In which accident more thē any other thing it is to be noted that some of them whose houses they burned were in the same day so neare was the benefit to the iniurie made knightes which experience was seene in Luigi Gonfaloniere della Giustitia The Senators amidst these tumults finding themselues abandoned by the men of armes grew doubtful of the heads of the mysteries and their Gonfalonieri for none of them according to order giuen came to the rescue And of sixteene Gonfaloni onely the Ensigne of the golden Lyon and that of the Cowe and Calfe with Giouanni Cambini appeared And they also tarried not long in the Market place because they were not followed by the rest On the other side the Citizens seeing the furie of the vnbrideled multitude and the Pallace abandoned some remained in their houses others followed the troupes of armed men hoping the rather to saue their owne houses and defend their friends By meane whereof the power of the people encreased and the forces of the Senate diminished This tumult continued all that day and the night being come at the Pallace of Stephano behinde the Church of S. Barnabo it staied The number of these men passed sixe thousand And before the day appeared the next morning they caused by threatning the mysteries to send for their Ensignes Then came foorth the Gonfalone della Giustitia and accompanied with the Ensignes of the mysteries went to the Pallace of the Podesta who denying to yeelde the possession of that house they fought with him and at length wanne that place The Senate desirous to make composition with them sith by force they could not appease them called three of their Colledges and sent them to the Pallace of the Podesta to vnderstand the intent of the people who founde that the heades of the multitude with the Sindachi of the mysteries and some other Citizens had determined what should be required of the Senate So as they accompanied with foure of the people specially appointed returned with these demaundes First that the mysterie of wooll might not from that time foorth haue anie straunger for their Iudge That three new corporations of mysteries should be erected one to conteine the Carders and Diars the second to conteine the Barbars Hosiers and some other mechanicall Artes and the third for the poore people Also that of these three newe mysteries there should be two of the Senate and of the foureteene lesse mysteries three That the Senate should prouide houses for the meetings and assemblies of these newe corporations That no man within these bodies corporate should within two yeares be constrained to paie anie debt of lesse summe then two duckets That the banckes should take no preiudice but the principall onely to be restored That all men banished or condemned should be called home That all the Cittizens admonished should be admitted to their honours Many other things in the fauour of their priuate friends they demanded and likewise the contrarie that many their enemies might be confined and admonished All which demaundes notwithstanding they were dishonest and vnfit for the state yet for feare of worse were by the Senators Colledges people graunted Also to the end they might receiue full perfection it behoued to haue them allowed by the common Councell And because in one day two Councels could not be assembled that cōsultation of force was deferred til the next day In the meane time it was thought good that the mysteries people shuld rest content satisfied they promising that so soon as the law were in perfectiō all tumults shuld cease The next morning while the cōmō coūcel debated the matter the multitude impatiēt voluble vnder their ensigns wēt to the market place shouting crying so terribly that all the Councel the Senat were dismaid Wherupon Gueriante Marignuolo one of the Senators mooued rather with feare then any other priuate passion vnder colour to keepe the gate went downe and fled to his house yet could he not so secretly passe but was by the multitude knowne Otherwise they did him no iniurie then crie out saying that the Senate would all abandon the Pallace vnlesse their children were slaine and their houses burnt In the meane space the lawe was made and the Senators returned to their chambers Also the Councell came downe and staied in the Galleries and Courts without going further as men dispairing of the citie either because they perceiued so great dishonestie and frowardnesse in the multitude or so great cowardice in others who had power to oppresse or at the least to allaie the rage of these tumults The Senators were also amazed and dispairing of their countrey beheld one of their company fled and no other Cittizen that would either assist them with force or counsell Therefore they resolued of that they could being incertaine what else they should do Tomazo Strozzi and Benedetto Alberti either mooued with priuate ambition desiring to be onely Lords of the Pallace or else because they so thought best perswaded the others to giue place to this populer furie and as priuate men returne home to their houses This counsell giuen by those that were heads of the tumult notwithstanding that the rest gaue place made Alamanno Acciaiuoli and Nicholo del Bene two of the Senate to become offended Yet after being come to themselues they said that if other men would depart they could not let them but for themselues they would not go till their time appointed vnlesse that with their authoritie they did also loose their liues These contrarieties