remaining without a Prince the Romanes were enforced to yeeld their obedience to the Pope Yet did not his authoritie thereby greatly encrease because he could not procure to him selfe more preheminence then that the Church of Rome should haue precedence before the Church of Rauenna But the Longobardi being come and Italy diuided into diuerse parts occasioned the Pope to take the more vppon him for he then beeing as it were chiefe of Rome the Emperour of Conctantinople and the Longobardi did respect him so much as the Romanes by his meanes not as subiects but as companions with the Longobardi and with Longino ioyned Thus the Popes sometimes by the fauour of the Longobardi and sometime with the countenance of the Grecians encreased their dignitie But after the destruction of the Empyre in the East which happened in the time of the Emperour Eracleo because the people called Sclaui assaulted conquered againe Iliria calling the same by their owne name Sclauonia the other partes of the Empyre were assailed first by the Persians and after by the Sarasins who came from Arabia conducted by Mahomet and last of all by the Turkes These people amongst them possessed Soria Affrica and Egipt So that the Empyre weakened the Pope dispaired to haue succour there in time of his necessitie On the other side the power of the Longobardi encreasing it behooued him to seeke some new friendship and for the same resorted to the Kinges of France So as after that time all the warres made vppon Italy by forraine people were by the Bishops of Rome occasioned and all the barbarous nations who repaired in so great multitudes to Italy were for the moste part by them called thither which manner of proceeding continueth in our dayes and hath heretofore kept and yet dooth keepe Italy weake and impotent Therefore in discourse of such thinges as haue happened since those to these our daies more shall not be said of the distruction of the Empyre which is altogither cast downe and ruined But wee will heerafter discourse by what meanes the Popes and those other Potentates which till the comming of Carlo the eight gouerned Italy haue atteined to their greatnes whereby we shal conceiue how the Popes first by their censures after with them and their armes mixed with indulgences became terrible venerable and how by euill vsing the one the other they haue altogither lost the vse of their armes in the other they stand at discretion But returning to the order of our matter I say that Gregorio the third beeing atteined to the Papacy Aistulpho to the kingdome of Lombardy contrarie to the agreement afore made surprized Rauenna and made warre against the Pope Gregorio who for the occasions aforesaid not trusting any more to the Emperour of Constantinople beeing then weake neither reposing trust in the Longobardi who had diuerse times distressed him fled for ayde to Pipino the second who from beeing Lord of Austracia and Brabancia was become King of France not so much for his owne vertue as his fathers Carlo Martello and his graundfathers Pipino because Carlo Martello beeing Gouernour of that Kingdome wonne that memorable victorie against the Sarasins neare vnto Torsci vpon the riuer of Era wherein were slaine two hundred thousand Sarasins For which cause Pipino his sonne for the reputation of his father and his owne vertue became after king in that kingdome vnto whome Pope Gregorio as is beforesaid sent for ayde against the Longobardi Pipino answered that hee was very willing to performe his request but first desired to see him and in his presence to honour him For which purpose Gregorio trauailed into France and without any let passed the townes of the Longobardi his enemies so great reuerence was then borne to that Religion Gregorio arriued in France was there greatly honoured by the King and sent back accompanied with the Kings forces who in Pauia besieged the Longobardi wherby Aistulpho was enforced to make peace with the Frenchmen which hee did at the request of the Pope who desired not the death of his enemie but that hee should conuert and liue In which peace Aistulpho promised to render vnto the Church all those townes thereto belonging and by him vsurped But the French souldiers returned home Aistulpho obserued not the conditions of the peace which beeing knowen to the Pope hee prayed ayde a new of Pipino who sent againe into Italy where hee ouerthrew the Lombardy tooke Rauenna and contrarie to the will of the Grecian Emperour gaue the same vnto the Pope with all other townes vnder his Esarcato adding also to them the countrie of Vrbino and La Marca during the time that these townes were in bestowing Aistulpho died and Desiderio a Lombard and Duke of Tuscan tooke armes to vsurpe the kingdome and praied ayde of the Pope to whome hee promised his friendship which request was graunted and the other Princes gaue place Desiderio at the beginning kept his promise and according to the conditions made with Pipino rendred the townes allotted vnto the Pope neither did the Esarco of Constantinople after that time come any more in Rauenna but all things were gouerned according to the pleasure and direction of the Pope Then died the King Pipino to whome succeeded his sonne called Carlo who for the great and memorable exploites by him done was called Magno To the Papacy was at that time aspired Theodoro Primo He falling into contention with Disiderio was by Disiderio besieged in Rome and constrained to craue ayde of Carlo who speedily passed the mountaines besieged Desiderio in Pauia and tooke him with all his Children And hauing sent them prisoners into France went in person to visit the Pope at Rome where hee pronounced this sentence That the Pope beeing Vicar of God could not be iudged of men For the which the Pope with the people of Rome created him Emperour In this manner Rome beganne to haue an Emperour againe in the West And where the Popes were woont to take their instaulation from the Emperours after this time the Emperours in their election would needes take their authoritie from the Pope wherby the reputation of the Empire decreased and the Church gained the same By these meanes the Popes grew great and kept downe the authoritie of temporall Princes The Longobardi hauing then bene in Italy 232. yeares there was of them none other marke of straungers then the name and Carlo being desirous to reforme that Countrey in the time of Pope Leo the third was pleased they should inhabit those places where they were borne and called that prouince of their name Lombardia But forasmuch as they had the name of Rome in great reuerence hee commaunded that all the next Countrey to it adioyning then in the obedience of the Esarcato of Rauenna should bee called Romagna Moreouer he created Pipino his sonne King of Italy the iurisdiction whereof extended to Beneuento the rest remained to the Emperour in Greece with
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
Attila being arriued in Italy besieged Aquilegia where without resistance hee continued two yeares and during the siege spoyled the country thereabouts and dispersed the inhabitants of the same which as hereafter shalbe declared was the beginning of the citie of Vinegia After the taking ruine of Aquilegia and many other cities he marched towards Rome from the spoyle whereof at the request of the Bishop he refrained The reuerence respect which Attila did bear towards this Bishop was such as perswaded him to leaue Italy and retire himselfe to Austria where he died After his death Velamer king of the Ostrogotti and other the leaders of forraine nations tooke Armes against Tenrico and Eurie his sonnes the one of them they slew and constrained the other with the Vnni to returne ouer Danubio into their owne countrey The Ostrogotti and the Tepedi were setled in Pannonia the Eruli and Turingi vpon the shoare on the other side of Danubio King Attila thus departed from Italy Valentiniano the Emperour in the West imagining to repaire the countrey and hoping with more commoditie to defend the same from the barbarous people abandoned Rome and setled himselfe in Rauenna These aduersities happened to the Empyre in the West occasioned the Emperours who then dwelt at Constantinople many times to graunt the possession thereof to others as a thing full of perils and expence And the Romanes otherwhiles seeing themselues abandoned without leaue created an other Emperour or some deputie to performe that office as did Massimo the Romane after the death of Valentiniano who constrained Eudossa lately wife to the Emperour to take him to her husband This woman beeing borne of Emperiall blood desirous to reuenge so great an iniurie and disdaining to bee married with a priuate Citizen secretly perswaded Genserico King of the Vandali and Lord of Affrica to come into Italy shewing him the facilitie and profit of that enterprise Hee enticed with hope of so great a spoyle came speedily thither and finding Rome abandoned sacked the Towne and there remained foureteene dayes Hee also tooke and spoyled diuerse other Townes in Italy and fraughting himselfe and his Army with spoyle returned into Affrica The Romanes came home to Rome and finding Massimo dead elected Auito a Romane for Emperour After the death of diuerse other Emperours the Empire of Constantinople came to the hands of Zenone and that of Rome to Oreste and his sonne Augustolo who through subtiltie had vsurped that Empyre While these men thus possessed and determined to holde the Empyre by force the Eruli and Turingi who as is aforesayd after the death of Attila remained vppon the shoare on the other side of Danubio conspired togither vnder the conduct of their Captaine Odoacre came into Italy and possessed such places as were by them left voyd Then the Longobardi people also toward the North entered Italy ledde thither by Godolio their King who were as heereafter shall be declared the greatest plague of that countrey Odoacre arriued in Italy conquered the same and neare vnto Pauia slew Oreste forcing Augustolo to flie away After which victorie to the ende that Rome varying in gouernment the gouernour might receiue a new title Odoacre leauing the name of the Empire caused himselfe to be called King of Rome and was the first Captaine of all the forraine people that inuaded Italy to inhabit there Because all the others either for feare not to enioy that they had gotten or else doubting to be driuen out by the Emperour in the East either else for some other hidden occasion onely spoyled the country and that done sought to plant their habitation elsewhere Thus we see that in those dayes the ancient Romane Empire was reduced to the gouernment of these Princes Zenone remaining in Constantinople commaunded all the Empire in the East The Ostrogotti gouerned Mesia and Pannonia The Visigotti Sueui and Alani possessed Guascognia and Spaine The Vandoli ruled Affrica The Franchi and Burgundi liued in France The Eruli and Turingi remained in Italy The kingdome of Ostrogotti came to the handes of Theodorico Nephewe of Velamer beeing in league with Zenone Emperour in the East wrote vnto him that it seemed a thing vniust to his people the Ostrogotti that they beeing in vertue superiours to all others should be inferiours in Empyre And therfore he could not by any meanes hold them within the consines of Pannonia It seemed therefore necessarie to suffer them to take armes and seeke new Countries But first hee thought good to let him vnderstand thereof to the intent hee might graunt them some country where with his good fauour and their greater commoditie they might inhabite The Emperour Zenone partly for feare and partly for the desire hee had to haue Odoacre driuen out of Italy graunted that Theodorico might come against Odoacre and take the possession thereof Then Theodorico departed from Pannonia leauing there the Zepedi his friends and being arriued in Italy slew Odoacre and his sonne by whose example hee tooke vnto him the title of King of Italy making Rauenna his royall seate moued by the same reasōs that induced Valentiniano there to dwell Theodorico was a man both for warre and peace moste excellent for in the one hee was alwaies victorious and in the other generally profited the cities and people to him subiect Hee diuided the Ostrogotti with their Captaines into sundry townes to the end that in the warre hee might commaund them and in the peace correct them hee enlarged the Citie of Rauenna and restored Rome in all thinges the discipline of warre except giuing to the Romanes euerie other honour with his only authoritie kept in awe all the barbarous Kings vsurpers of the Empyre Hee built townes and sortresses betweene the Alpes and the point of the sea Adriatico the rather to empeach the passage of other barbarous people that should assaile Italy And had not his great vertue bene in the end of his life blotted with some cruelties committed vppon suspition of his kingdome as the death of Simmaco and Boetio men of most godly life he had bene in all respects worthy of honour and memorie For the vertue and bountie of him did not only repaire Rome and Italy of the afliction committed by the barbarous nations but also reduced them into an order and gouernment moste fortunate And surely if any times were euer in Italy and the other Prouinces there-abouts by reason of barbarous oppression miserable they were those which happened from the time of Arcadio and Onorio till his dayes For who so shall consider the great mischiefs which happen to cōmon weales by the variatiō of gouernment or change of the Prince without any dissention and diuision shall finde the same alone of force inough to ruine any state or kingdome how mightie soeuer It may therefore be imagined how great miseries the Romane Prouinces endured for they did not only alter their gouernment but also their lawes their customes their maner of life
in the Castle of Napoli Suspitions thus growing in the minds of the one and the other they came to fight and the Queene with the helpe of Sforza who was returned to her seruice vanquished Alfonso draue him out of Naples depriued him of his adoption and adopted Lodouico de Angio whereof grew a great warre betwixt Braccio who had folowed Alfonso Sforza that fauoured the Queen In the proceeding of these wars Sforza occasioned to passe the riuer of Pescara was there drowned wherby the Queene became again disarmed should haue bene driuen out of the kingdom if Philippo Visconti Duke of Milā had not enforced Alfonso proceeding on in his iourney against the Queen to be staied For hauing besieged Aquila the Pope supposing the greatnes of Braccio not to be good for the church enterteined Frācesco the sonne of Sforza against Braccio at Aquila slew him ouerthrew his army On the part of Braccio Oddo his son was saued frō whō the Pope tooke Perugia left to him Montone yet shortlie after fighting for the Florentines in Romagna was there slaine So then of all these that serued with Braccio Nicholo Piccinino remained of most reputation Now because we are come with our history neare to that time which I determined and that the rest which remaineth vnspoken importeth for the most part nothing else but the wars which the Florentines Venetians had with Philippo Duke of Milan which shall also be discoursed hereafter when particulerly we entreate of Florence I will not speak more therof but briefly reduce to memorie in what termes Italy with the Princes and the souldiers of those daies remained Among the principall states Queene Giouanni 2. held the kingdom of Napoli La Marca Patrimonio and Romagna Part of the townes to these belonging obeyed the church part of them were vsurped by tirants or their ministers as Farrara Modena Reggio by the house of Este. Faenza by Manfredi Imola by the Alidosi Furli by the Ordelaffi Rimino and Pesaro by the Malatesti and Camerino by the house of Varano The Prouinces of Lombardy were partly gouerned by Philippo Duke of Milan and partly by the Venetians For all those that had therin any particuler states were extirped except the house of Gonzaga which gouerned stil at Mantoua In Toscana the greatest princes that gouerned were the Florentines onely Lucca and Siena liued with their lawes Lucca vnder Guinici Siena as absolutely free The Genouesi sometimes in libertie and sometime in seruitude to the house of France or Visconti were without reputation and among the meaner Potentates accounted For all the principall Lords and Potentates were at that time of their owne subiectes vtterly disarmed The Duke Philippo liuing at home and not suffering himselfe to be seene his warres were altogither directed by ministers The Venetians so soone as they began to make warres by land lost all that glorie which before vpon the sea they had gotten And following the custome of other Italians by the direction of strangers gouerned their warres The Pope being a man of religion and the Queene Giouanna a woman did laie by their Armes doing that for necessitie which others had done by election The Florentines also to like necessitie yeelded for their sundry ciuil diuisions among themselues had clearly extirped the Nobilitie and left the Common weale to be gouerned by those that had bene brought vp in marchandise and were therby enforced to abide the fortune of others The discipline of warre then remained only in the poore Princes Gentlemen that wanted liuing and they not moued by any desire of glorie but rather to become rich and assured armed themselues They then being wel practised in the warres not hauing any other trade to liue sought by the wars to make themselues strong and honourable Among this number for their value most renowned were Carmignuola Frācesco Sforza Nicholo Piccinino brought vp by Braccio Agnolo della Pergola Lorenzo and Michelletto Attenduly Tartaglia Giacopaccio Cecolino da Parugia Nicholo di Tolentino Guido Torello Antonio dal Ponte ad Hera and others Besides them were those great Lordes of whom I haue alreadie spoken And with them may be numbred the Orsini and Calonnesi Barrons of Rome with some other Gentlemen of the kingdome and of Lombardy who making a misterie or art of the warre had among themselues a secret league and intelligence whereby they protracted the seruice for their profit And so the Princes for whom they serued were on both sides loosers In conclusion the warres became so cowardlie that anie ordinarie Captaine hauing in him but a shadow of the auncient vertue might to the admiration of all Italy haue vanquished those souldiers who through small wisedome and want of iudgement were much honoured Of these idle Princes and of these most base and cowardlie souldiers this my Historie shall at large entreate But first as in the beginning I promised it seemeth necessarie for me to returne backe and tell the originall of Florence letting euerie man to vnderstand fully what was the state of that Cittie in those dayes and by what meanes amongst so many troubles happened in Italy during the space of a thousand yeares the same hath still continued The ende of the first Booke ⧠THE SECOND BOOKE AMONG other great and maruellous orders of the auncient common weales principallities at this time decaied was that wherby new Townes and Citties were from time to time builded For there is nothing more worthie an excellent Prince or well gouerued common weale nor more profitable to any Country then the building vp of new Townes where men may with commoditie for defence and tilladge assemble themselues which thing those people might easily do hauing in custome to send dwellers into such Countries as were either vnpeopled or conquered which people were in those dayes called Collonies For besides that this order occasioned new Townes to be built the same also did make the Country conquered to be more assured to the Conquerers thereof It also replenished the voyd places and mainteined the people in such orders as they were planted which wrought this effect that men most commodiously inhabiting did most multiply They were also in the offence of others the more readie and in defence of themselues more assured That custome being through negligence of common weales and Princes of this time discontinued doth occasion the weakenesse and ruine of their Countries because that only maketh euery gouernment assured and euery Country as is beforesaid plentifully inhabited The assurance groweth because Collonies planted in any prouince newly conquered is as it were a castle and gard to hold the same in obedience Besides that no country wel inhabited can maintaine the inhabitants thereof nor continue them as they be planted without that rule and order for all places are not plentifull or wholesome which is the cause that the people in the one do abound and want in the other So as if no meane be to take away
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
Pope and King make war vpō the Florētines The death of Lorenzo di Medici 1492. FINIS AA ⧠THE FIRST BOOKE OF the Florentine Historie THE people inhabiting the North beyond the Riuers of Reyne and Danubio being borne in a cold Region yet wholesome apt to generation do many times encrease and become so populous that part of them are cōstrained to abandon their natiue countries and seeke new places where to remaine The order which those people hold in dispersing the inhabitants is to diuide themselues into three parts yet so as in euerie one may be some of the nobilitie and some of the people some of the rich and some of the poore equallie diuided which done the one part whose lot falleth so out leaueth that country and seeketh fortune elsewhere to abide The other two parts of the people there remaining doo possesse and enioy the landes of them that are departed These people were those which destroyed the Romane Empire whereunto the Emperours themselues gaue some occasion by forsaking Rome the antient Emperiall seate and setling themselues at Constantinople For thereby the West part of the Empire became weake lesse regarded more easie to be harmed both of their owne ministers and others their enemies Surely the destruction of so great an Empire builded vpon the blood of so many vertuous men could not be lost without the sloath of Princes infidelitie of ministers great forces and much obstinacie in them who assaulted the same for not onely one sort of people but many multitudes in that action conspired The first enemies which came to the destruction of the Roman Empire after the Cimbri vanquished by Marius the Romane were the Visigotti which name in our language may bee called Gotti of the West These people after some conflicts in the Empire and through the sufferance of the Emperours long time continued their dwellings vpon the Riuer of Danubio And although at sundrie occasions and sundrie times they assaulted the prouinces belonging to the Empire yet were they by the power of the Emperours from time to time impeached and at last by Theodotio gloriously vanquished So that thereby being brought vnder his obedience they could not againe make any King ouer them but contented with the Emperours paie vnder his gouernment and ensigne they liued and serued But Theodotio being dead and leauing Arcadio and Honorio his sonnes heires of the Empire but not of his vertue and fortune the time with the Prince clearly altered and chaunged Theodotio authorized vnto three parts of the Empire three gouernours In the East Ruffino in the West Stillicone and in Affrica Gildonio Euerie one of these determined after the death of their Prince not to gouerne as ministers but to possesse the countries as Princes Of these three Gildonio and Ruffino were at their beginnings oppressed but Stillicone better dissembling his intent sought to winne himselfe credit with the new Emperours neuerthelesse disturbe the quietnesse of their state Then to the end he might the rather atteine the possession thereof and procure the Visigotti to become enemies to the Empire he counselled the Emperour no more to paie them Besides that Stillicone imagining these enemies were not of force sufficient to disturbe the Empire found meanes that the Burgundi Fraunchi Vandali and Alani all people of the North and appointed to seeke themselues a new habitation assailed the Romane countries The Visigotti then being discharged from their paie determined as of an iniury to be reuenged creating Alarico their King assaulted the Empire destroyed Italy and sacked Rome After which victory Alarico died and to him succeeded Ataulfo who tooke to wife Placidia sister to the Emperours and through that alliance agreed with them to succour France and Spaine which countries wereby the Vandali Burgundi Alani and Fraunchi thereto moued by the occasions aforesayd assailed Whereof ensued that the Vandali who had alreadie conquered that part of Spaine which is called Betica were sore molested by the Visigotti and not hauing other helpe were forced to accept the offer of Bonifacio at that time gouerning Affrica for the Emperour who required them to take in hand the conquest thereof being by his meane in Rebellion and he fearing least his fault should be to the Emperour detected For these reasons aforesaid the Vandali most willingly tooke the enterprise in hand vnder Genserico their King possessed Affrica By this time Theodotio sonne to Archadio was become Emperour who litle regarding the affaires of the Empire in the West gaue great hope to these forrein people to enioy those things they had conquered So that the Vandali possessed Affrica the Alani and Visigotti gouerned Spaine the Fraunchi and Burgundi did not onely conquere Gallia but also vnto the parts thereof by them conquered gaue their owne names calling the one Francia the other Burgogna The happie successe of those encouraged new people to the destructiō of the Empire For at that time the people called Vnni assailed and possessed Pannonia a prouince adioyning to the Riuer Danubio which at this day hauing taken the name of these Vnni is called Vngheria Vpon consideration of these disorders the Emperour seeing himselfe on euerie side assailed to the end he might haue the fewer foes beganne to take truce sometimes with the Vandali and sometimes with the Franchi which did greatly encrease the reputatiō and power of the barbarous people disgracing and diminishing the credit of the Empire Neither was in those dayes the Iland of Bretagna at this day called England assured from such inuasion for the Bertoni fearing these people which had possessed France and not finding how the Emperour could defend them called to aide them the Angli a people of Germany so named These Angli vnder Votigerio their King tooke the enterprise in hand ouerthrew the enemy and in the end draue them out of the Iland themselues there remaining inhabiting By the name of which Angli that country was and yet is called Anglia The inhabitants whereof being thus spoiled and driuen from their country became desperate perswading themselues that although they could not defend their own country yet was it possible for them to conquere an other Whereupon they with their families passed the seas and planted them on the other side neare the shoare and called that country by their owne name Bretagna The people called Vnni who as is aforesaid had conquered Pannonia assembling themselues with other people called Zepedi Eruli Turinghi and Ostrogotti which word signifieth in that language Gotti of the East prepared themselues to seeke new countries but not being of force sufficient to enter France being defended by other barbarous forces they came vnto Italy conducted by Attila their king who not long before to gouerne alone in his kingdome had slaine Bleda his brother Thus Attila became mightie Andarico king of Zebedi and Velamer king of the Ostrogotti were made as it were his subiects
that day had bene euer there mainteined reducing all vnder one Duke who was yearely sent thither from Rauenna and his gouernment called the Romane Dukedome but the generall Gouernour who continually remained at Rauenna by the Emperours commaundement and gouerned all Italy vnder him was called Esarco This diuision made the ruine of Italy to be more easie and gaue opportunitie to the Longobardi to vsurpe the same The gouernment of that country gotten by the vertue and blood of Narsete thus taken from him he being also by Sophia iniured reuiled threatned to be called home and spinne with women moued him so greatly to chollor and offence that he perswaded Alboino King of the Lombardi who at that time reigned in Pannonia to come into Italy conquere it The Longobardi beeing as is aforesaid entered into those countries neare Danubio who had lately bene abandoned by the Heruli and Turingi when by their King Odoacre they were led into Italy for a time they there remained But the kingdome being come to Alboino a man couragious cruel they passed the riuer Danubio and fought with Comundo King of the Zepedi and ouerthrew him in Pannonia which hee then possessed Alboino in this victorie amongst others happened to take prisoner the daughter of Comundo called Rosmundo married her and thereby became Lord of Pannonia Then mooued by the crueltie of his nature hee made a cup of her fathers hed whereof in memorie of the victorie he vsed to drinke But then called into Italy by Narsete with whome in the warres of the Gotti hee had acquaintance and friendship left Pannonia to the Vuni who after the death of Attila as is aforesaid were returned into their countrey Then he came againe into Italy where finding the same into many partes diuided sodenly wan Pania Millan Verona Vicenza all Toscana and the more part of Flamminia now called Romagna So that perswading himselfe through so many and so speedie successes to haue already as it were gotten the victorie of all Italy hee celebrated a solemne feast in Verona whereat being by drinking much become very merry and seeing the skull of Comundo full of wine hee caused the same to be presented to the Queene Rosmunda who sat ouer against him at the table saying vnto her with so loude a voice that euerie one might heare him that she should now at this feast drinke with her father which speech pearced the Lady to the heart and she forthwith determined to reuenge the same Then knowing that Almachilde a valiant young gentleman of Lombardi loued a maiden of hers of whome hee obtained to lie with her and the Queene beeing priuy to that consent did her selfe tarry in the place of their meeting which beeing without light Almachilde came thither and supposing to haue lien with the mayden enioyed the Queene her mistresse which done the Queene discouered her selfe and said vnto him that it was in his power to kill Alboino and possesse her with her kingdome foreuer but if hee refused so to do shee would procure that Alboino should kill him as one that had abused his wife To this motion and murther of Alboino Almachilde consented After the murther performed finding that he could not according to his expectation enioy the kingdome and fearing to be slaine of the Lombardes for the loue they bare to Alboino the Queene and hee taking their princely treasure and iewels fled to Longino at Rauenna who honorably there receiued them During these troubles Iustiniano the Emperour died and in his place was elected Tiberio who beeing occupied in the warres against the Parthi could not go to the reliefe of Italy Whereby Longino hoped that time would well serue him with the countenance of Rosmunda and helpe of her treasure to become King of Lombardy and all Italy And conferring his intent with the Queene perswaded her to kill Almachilde and take him for her husband shee accepted and agreed vnto that which hee perswaded preparing a cup of wine poisoned and with her owne hand shee offered the same to Almachilde comming from a bath hote and thriftie hee hauing drunke halfe the wine and finding his bodie thereby greatly mooued mistrusting the poison enforced Rosmunda to drinke the rest whereof both the one and the other within fewe houres died and Longino bereft of his expectation to become King The Longobardi in the meane while assembling themselues in Pauia which was the chiefe Cittie of their kingdome elected there Clefi their King who reedified Imola which had bene ruinated by Narsete hee wan Rimino and almost euerie place from thence to Rome but in the midst of these his victories hee died This Clefi was so cruell not onely to strangers but also to his owne subiects the Longobardi as they were so terrified with his kingly authoritie that after his daies they determined no more to make anie King but elected amongst them selues thirtie persons whome they called Dukes giuing them iurisdiction ouer the rest which was the cause that the Longobardi did not proceed in the conquest of all Italy and that their kingdome did not extend further then Beneuento and that Rome Rauenna Cremona Mantoua Padoua Monselice Parma Bologna Faenza Furli and Cesena some of them defended them selues a time and some other were neuer taken Because the Lombardi wanting a King their warres proceeded the more slowlie and after the election of a new King by reason of their libertie were lesse obedient and more apt to mutinie among them selues which thing first hindered the victorie and in the end draue them out of Italy The Longobardi being come to this estate the Romanes and Longino made with them an agreement The effect thereof was that euerie one of them should lay downe their armes and enioy so much as they possessed In that time the Bishops of Rome began to aspire vnto more authoritie then they had in times past for by meane of the holy life of S. Peter and some other Bishops with their godly examples and the miracles by them done they became much reuerenced amongst men and greatly encreased the christian Religion In so much as Princes were occasioned the more easily thereby to appease the great disorder and confusion of the world to obey them The Emperour then being become a Christian and remooued from Rome to Constantinople it came to passe as is aforesaid that the Romane Empyre decaied and the Church of Rome the rather thereby encreased notwithstanding till the comming of the Longobardi Italy being subiect either to Emperours or Kings the Empyre still prospered and the Bishops of Rome had no greater authoritie then their learning and good life did deserue For in all other thinges either by the Kings or by the Emperours they were commaunded and as their ministers imploied and sometimes put to death But he that made the Bishops to become of greatest authoritie in Italy was Theodorico King of the Gotti when he remoued his royall seate to Rauenna For thereby Rome
whom Carlo had concluded a league About this time Pascale the first was become Pope and the priestes of the parishes in Rome by reason of their nearenesse to the Popes person and their presence at his election to honour their authoritie with a more venorable title beganne to bee called Cardinals taking vnto them great reputation chiefly after they had excluded the Romanes from the election of the Pope who almost euer before that time was some Citizen of Rome Pascale beeing dead Eugenio secundo of the order of Santa Sabina was elected Pope And Italy beeing then in the handes of French men did partly alter the order of gouernment and the more for that the Popes had in the temporalities thereof gained greater authoritie and made Earles and Marqueses as before time Longino Esarco of Rauenna had created Dukes After a fewe other Bishops Osporco a Romane aspired to the Papacy who for the homelinesse of his name caused himselfe to be called Sergio which was the beginning why the names of Popes was chaunged at their elections By this time Carlo the Emperour was dead to whome succeded Lodouico his sonne After his death there grew so great contention amongst his sonnes that in the time of his graund-children the Empire was taken from the house of France and brought into Germany where the first Emperour of that nation was called Ainolfo and by meanes of these disorders the family of Carlo did loose not onely the Empire but also the kingdome of Italy because the Lombardi recouered their strength and offended the Pope and Romanes so much as the Pope not knowing how to bee helped for necessitie gaue the Kingdome of Italy to Berengario Duke of Erieoli These accidents encouraged the Vnni who then remained in Pannonia to assault Italy But beeing come to triall of battle with Berengario they were vanquished and forced to returne into Pannonia now called Vngaria which countrey hath euer since reteyned their name At that time Romano Chieftaine of the Emperiall Armie deposed his maister Constantino and made himselfe Emperour in Greece By reason whereof Puglia and Calauria rebelled from the obedience of the Empire and suffered the Sarasins to come thither who beeing there and possessing the Countries attempted to besiege Rome But the Romaines because Beringario was occupied in the warres against the Vnni made Albarigo Duke of Tuscan their Captaine by whose vertue Rome was saued from the Sarasins They beeing departed from the siege builded a Castle vppon the mountaine called Gargano and from thence they commaunded Puglia and Calauria and disturbed the rest of Italy Thus in those dayes Italy was maruellously afflicted towardes the Alpes assaulted by the Vnni and towards Naples by the Sarasins In these miseries Italy many yeares remained vnder three Kings of the Beringarii one succeeding an other In which time the Pope and the Church were continually molested and by meanes of diuision of the princes in the West and the weakenesse of the Emperour in the Easte knewe not where to bee succoured The Cittie of Genoua with all the Riuers thereto belonging werein those dayes by the Sarasins destroyed whereof came the greatnesse of the Cittie of Pisa for thither manie people fled for refuge This happened in the yeare of the Christian religion nine hundreth thirtie and one But Ottone sonne of Enrico and Matilda Duke of Saxony a man exceeding wise of great reputation being become Emperour Agabito then Pope praied him to come into Italy and saue him from the tyrannie of the Berengarii The states of Italy were in those daies thus disposed Lombardy was vnder Berengario the third and his sonne Alberto Toscana and Romagna were gouerned by the deputies of the Emperour in the West Puglia Calauria partly to the Emperour in Greece and partly to the Sarasins obeyed In Rome were elected yearly of the nobilitie two Consuls who according to the auncient custome ruled that Citie Vnder them was appointed a Iudge to minister iustice to the people There was also a councell of twelue men which gaue gouernours to the townes subiect vnto Rome The Pope had in Rome more or lesse authoritie according to the fauour hee found with the Emperours or others that were there most mightie Then came the Emperour Ottone into Italy and tooke the kingdome thereof from the Berengarii who therein had raigned fiftie fiue yeares and therewith had restored the Pope to his dignitie This Emperour had one sonne and one nephew both also named Ottoni the one and the other of them succeeded in the Empire In the raigne of Ottone the third Pope Gregorio quinto was by the Romanes driuen out and Ottone came into Italy to put him again into the possession of Rome The Pope then to be reuenged of the Romans tooke frō them the authoritie of creatiō of the Emperour gaue the same to the Germaines appointing three Bishops of Maguntia Treueri Colonia three secular Princes the Marques of Brandenburge the Earle Palatine of the Rhein the Duke of Sassonia to be electors which constitution was made in the yeare 1002. After the death of Ottone the third Enrico Duke of Bauiera was by these electors made Emperour and after twelue yeares by Pope Stephano the eight crowned This Enrico and Simionda his wife were persons of most godly life as appeareth by diuerse churches by them builded and endowed Amongst which number was the temple of S. Miniato neare to the Citie of Florence Enrico died in the yeare 1023. After whom raigned Currado of Sueuia and after him Enrico the secōd who came into Italy the church thē being in schisme foūd there three Popes all whom he deposed caused Clemente secundo to be elected of him was he crowned Emperour In those dayes Italy was gouerned partly by the people partly by the Princes partly by the ministers of the Emperour of whō the chiefe was called Chancelor Amōg the Princes Gotfredi the Countesse Matilda his wife borne of Beatrice sister to Enrico the second were most potent for she and her husband possessed Lucca Parma Reggio and Mantoua with all that countrey at this day called Patrimonio The ambition of the people of Rome did at that time make much warre with the Popes for they hauing helped the Pope to driue out the Emperors and reformed the Cittie as to them seemed good sodeinly became enemies to him And the Popes receiued more iniuries at their hands thē at any other Christian Princes And euen in those dayes when the censure of the Popes made all the West of the world to tremble yet euen then the people of Rome rebelled And both the Popes and the people studied for nothing so much as how one of them might ouerthrow the authoritie and estimation of the other Nicholao secundo being aspired to the Papacy tooke from the Romanes the creation of the Pope as his predecessour Gregorio quinto had before taken from them the
election of the Emperour hee made also a constitution that the election of the Popes should from thencefoorth appertaine to the Cardinals Neither was he so contented but compounding with some Princes that then gouerned Calauria and Puglia for such reasons as shall be hereafter declared constrained all the officers appointed by the Romanes to yeeld their obedience to the Popes and remooued some of them from their offices After the death of Nicholao there happened a schisme in the church because the Clergie of Lombardy would not obey Alexander the second elected at Rome but created Gadalo of Parma Antipope Enrico hating the greatnesse of these Bishops sent vnto the Pope Alessandro requiring him to resigne the Papacy command the Cardinals to go into Germany there to elect a new Pope This Enrico was the first Prince that felt the force of spirituall displeasure For the Pope called a new counsaile in Rome whereat he depriued him from the empire and kingdome After that time some people of Italy followed the Pope and some the Emperour which was the beginning of the factions who called themselues Guelfi and Gibellini Thus Italy deliuered from forreine inuasion by ciuill discord began to be tormented Enrico being excommunicate was by his owne people constrained to come to Rome on barefoote and kneele to the Pope for pardon Which happened in the yeare 1080. Notwithstanding shortly after there happened a new discord betwixt the Pope Enrico Wherupon the Pope again did excommunicate the Emperour who sent forthwith his son also called Enrico with an army to Rome He with the helpe of the Romanes who hated the Pope besieged him in his castle till Roberto Guiscardo came from Puglia to the rescue Enrico tarried not his comming but returned alone into Germany The Romanes persisted in their obstinacie so that Rome was againe by Roberto sacked and brought vnto the former ruine notwithstanding it had bene lately by diuerse Popes repaired And because of this Roberto the kings of Naples be descended it seemeth not superfluous particulerly to set downe his actions and discent After the disunion happened among the heires of Carlo Magno as haue bene before declared the same occasioned a new people of the North called Normandi to assaile France and conquered that country which is called of them Normandia of those people some part came into Italy in the time that the Berengarii Saraseni and Vnni troubled the same They also tooke some townes in Romagna which warres they vertuously performed Of those Normaine princes one called Tancredi begot diuerse sonnes amongst whom was Guglielmo surnamed Terabar and Roberto called Guiscardo The principalitie being come to Guglielmo and the tumults of Italy somewhat ceased the Saraseni did notwithstanding still hold Sicilia and continually made rodes vpō the land of Italy For which cause Guglielmo agreed with the prince of Capoua and Salerno and with Melorco the Greeke who gouerned Puglia and Calauria for the Emperour of Greece to assault Sicilia and after victorie it was condescended amongst them to diuide the places victored by foure parts This enterprise had fortunate successe and the Saraseni driuen out they possessed Sicilia After which victorie Melorco secretly caused men to come from Grecia and for the Emperour tooke possession of the whole Iland not diuiding the spoyle but tooke all to his owne share wherewith Guglielmo became discontented yet hiding his offence till a time more conuenient departed from Sicilia with the princes of Salerno and Capoua who being departed vpon the way homewards Guglielmo returned not to Romagna but with his souldiers marched towards Puglia where he wonne Melfi And shortly after notwithstanding the forces of the Grecian Emperour he possessed well neare all Puglia and Calauria In which prouinces he gouerned in the time of Nicholao secundo Roberto Guiscardo his brother hauing many differents with his nephewes for the inheritance of land vsed the authoritie of the Pope to compound them And the Pope did willingly fauour him being desirous to haue the friendship of Roberto to the end that against the Emperours of Germany and the people of Rome he might be defended as in effect it fell after out and hath bene alreadie declared how at the request of Gregorio septimo he draue Enrico from the siege of Rome subdued the people therein To Roberto succeeded Ruggeri and Guglielmo his sonnes To their possessions he annexed Napoli and all those lands which lie betweene Napoli and Rome He gaue also Sicilia vnto Ruggero But Guglielmo going afterwards to Constantinople to marry the Emperours daughter was by Ruggero depriued of his Country Ruggero after this victorie became insolent and called himselfe king of Italy yet after contented with the title of King of Puglia and Sicilia was the first that gaue name and lawe to that kingdome which to this day within the auncient boundes thereof is mainteined Notwithstanding it hath many times exchaunged both blood and Nation Because the race of Normandie beeing worne out the Kingdome came to the handes of the Germaines from them to the French men from the French to the Aragonesi and at this day it is possessed by the Flemmings Now was Vrbano the second become Pope who being hated in Rome and fearing through the disuniting of Italy he could not in securitie there remaine determined a glorious enterprise First hee went into France accompanied with all his Clergie and in the citie of Anuersa he assembled many people to whom he made a solemne Oration wherin he persuaded an enterprise against the Saraseni which tooke so great effect as the people were desirous to performe the same which enterprise with all others to that purpose were called Crociata For all those men that went in that iourney weare vppon their Armours and garments a redde Crosse The princes and chiefe leaders of that enterprise were Gotfredi Eustachio and Alduino di Bulgo Earle of Bologna with one Pietro an Hermit who for his godlie life and wisedome was greatly respected To this iourney manie Kinges contributed treasure and manie priuate men without paie therein personally serued So great effectes did the religion worke in those dayes to perswade the mindes of men moued with the example of such as were their heads This enterprise had in the beginning glorious successe for all Asia minor Soria and part of Egipt were therein conquered by the Christians At which time beganne the order of Knighthood of Ierusalem which to this day continueth and is the chiefe obstacle to the Turkes About that time also grew the order of the Knights Templarii which for their euil life was shortly after suppressed In diuerse times following diuerse accidents happened wherin many nations and many particuler men were aduaunced For the furnishing of this enterprise the Kinges of Fraunce and England the Pisani Venetians and Genouesi passed the sea and gained great reputation fighting in fortune variable till the time of Saladino the Sarasine whose vertue the rather through discord of the
church The Pope also decreed that neither Carlo nor none of his successours in that kingdome should euer be elected Emperours Carlo then went on in his iourny against Manfredi whom he vanquished and slew neare to Beneuento whereby hee possessed Sicilia and the kingdome Notwithstanding Curradino to whome by testament of his father that kingdome apperteined assembling great forces in Germany came into Italy against Carlo and fought with him at Tagliacozzo where he was ouerthrowne and being disguised fled yet afterwards was taken and slaine Italy then continued quiet till the raigne of Adriano quinto at which time Carlo dwelling in Rome and gouerning there by the office of Senatour the Pope could not endure his authoritie and therefore vvent to inhabit at Viterbo from thence he sent vnto Ridolpho the Emperour desiring him to come into Italy against Carlo Thus the Popes sometimes for loue of religion and sometimes for their owne ambition ceased not to call into Italy newe men and stirre vp newe warres For so soone as any prince was by them made mightie repenting the same they practised his ouerthrow Neither would they suffer that anie should possesse that Countrey which themselues through their weakenesse could not Yet did the Princes alwaies feare them because either by fighting or flying they preuailed if they were not by some practise oppressed as was Bonifacio octauo and some others who were taken by colour of friendship which the Emperours to them pretended Ridolpho came not into Italy beeing withholden with his warres against the King of Bohemia In the meane time died Adriano and in his place was created Nicholao tertio descended of the house of Orsini a man verie bolde and ambitious Hee by all meanes possible sought to diminish the authoritie of Carlo and deuised that Ridolpho the Emperour should complaine that Carlo mainteined a gouernour in Toscana in fauour of the Guelfi Carlo gaue credite vnto the Emperour and reuoked thence his gouernour And the Pope forthwith sent thither one of his nephewes a Cardinall to be gouernour for the Empire So that the Emperour for this honor done vnto him by the Pope restored Romagna vnto the Church which by his auncestors had bene taken away The Pope then created Bertoldo Orsino Duke of Romagna And imagining himselfe mightie inough to shewe his face to Carlo tooke from him the office of Senatour and made a decree that no man descended of royall race should after possesse that dignitie He had also deuised to take Sicilia from Carlo and practised with Piero king of Aragon which practise in the time of his successour tooke effect He intended moreouer to make two new kings of his owne house the one in Lombardy the other in Tuscan whose powers might defend the church both from the Germaines that would attempt to come into Italy and from the French men who were alreadie in Napoli But with this determination he died And was the first Pope that openly manifested his own ambition practising vnder colour to make the church great to honour and enrich his owne kindred For as before this time no mention was made of the aduancement of Popes kinsfolkes or posteritie so afterwards euery historie doth shew that the Popes haue studied for nothing more then how to aduance their owne blood And as heretofore they haue laboured to make them princes so if it were in their power they would now procure the Papacy to be heritable Yet true it is that hitherto all principalities by them erected haue had no long being for so soone as that Pope who ordeined their aduancement did faile the honour of the person aduanced decaied with him Then Martino tertio became Pope who being a French man fauoured Carlo and in his aide sent souldiers vnto Romagna which then rebelled And his campe being before Furly Guido Bonati a man learned in Astrologie perswaded the people that so soone as hee gaue them a token they should presently assault their enemies which they did in that victory al the French mē were takē slain About this time the practise of Nicolao tertio with Piero King of Aragon was put in execution By meanes whereof the people of Sicilia murthered all the French men that could be found in that Iland which done King Piero tooke possession alledging that hauing married Gostanza daughter of Manfredi that country to him apperteined Carlo preparing for a new war to recouer his losse died leauing one sonne called Carlo the second Who being taken prisoner in the war of Sicilia and desirous of libertie promised to returne to prison if within three yeares he could not obteine of the Pope that the house of Aragon should be inuested to the kingdome of Sicilia Ridolpho the Emperour intending to haue come into Italy and recouered the reputation of the Empire came not but sent thither an Embassador with authoritie to giue freedome to all those cities which would buy the same at his hands as many did with their libertie chaunged also their maner of liuing Then succeeded to the Empire Adulpho of Sassonia to the Papacy Pietro Murone named Pope Celestino who being an Hermit and full of deuotion within seuen moneths resigned the Papacy and Bonifacio Octauo was elected The heauens knowing a time would come when Italy should be deliuered both from the French men and Almaines that the country might be recouered wholy in possession of Italians to the end the Pope failing of straungers might not be able to hold his reputation caused two mightie families to arise in Rome The one called Orsini the other Colonni whose power and nearenesse might keep downe the Popes from aspiring The Pope Bonifacio aware therof practised to extirpate the Colonni did for that purpose not onely excommunicate them but also against them published the Crociata Which proceeding although it somewhat offended them yet did it much more offend the church because those swords which in defence of the faith had vertuously preuailed being employed for priuate ambition against the Christians became blunt and so the Popes desire to enforce the minds of others wrought a contrary effect and by litle litle disarmed themselues This Pope did also depose two Cardinals of that house of Colonna and the chiefe of them called Sciarra disguised himselfe and fled Afterwards being taken by Pirates was made a slaue in a galley til arriued at Marsilia was there by fortune knowne redeemed and sent into France to King Philippo who had bene excommunicate depriued of his kingdom by Bonifacio Philippo considering with himselfe that to make warres with the Pope either he was not strong inough or should therin aduenture great dangers determined to worke by practise pretending to procure peace with the Pope sent secretly Sciarra into Italy who being come to Anagnia where the Pope then was with the aide of friends in the night tooke him And albeit the people of that towne did shortly after deliuer him yet of verie melancholly and sorrovv the
Pope distraught of his vvits died This Bonifacio vvas he that ordeined the Iubilie in the yeare 1300. and commanded that euery hundreth yeare the same should be so solemnized After that time happened many troubles betvveene the factions of Guelfi Ghibellini And by reason that Italy vvas abandoned by the Emperors many towns became free and many others by tyrants possessed Pope Benedetto restored the Hat to the Cardinals Colonesi and absolued Philippo the French King To him succeeded Clemente quinto vvho being a French man remoued his court into France in the year 1306. In the meane space Carlo the second King of Napoli died To that kingdom succeeded Robarto his sonne and to the Empire Arrigo of Lucemburgh who notwithstanding the absence of the Pope from Rome vvent thither to be crowned By meane of that iourney grevv many troubles in Lombardy because all those that had bene banished either Guelfi or Ghibellini vvere admitted to returne to their townes and there being made so great quarrels among themselues as the Emperour vvith all his power could not appease The Emperour then departed from Lombardy to Genoua and so to Pisa vvhere he practised to take Toscana from the king Robarto But hauing no successe vvent on to Rome where he remained not long being driuen out by the Orsini and the friends of king Robarto Then returned he to Pisa vvhere he deuised for his better proceeding in the vvars of Toscana and the rather also to remooue king Robarto from his gouernment that Frederigo king of Sicilia should assault those countries But at such time as hee hoped at one instant to performe both those enterprises he died and Lodouico of Bauiera was chosen Emperour In this meane space was created Giouanni 22. In whose dayes the Emperour ceased not to persecute the Guelfi and the church which vvas chiefly defended by king Robarto and the Florentines Wherof grew great vvarre in Lombardy by the Visconti against the Guelfi and in Toscana by Castruccio of Lucca against the Florentines And because the family of Visconti vvas that vvhich beganne the Dukedome of Milan one of the fiue principallities that gouerned Italy I thinke good more at large hereafter to intreate of them After that the league of the cities of Lombardy vvas concluded as hath bene beforesaid and they resolued to defend themselues from Federigo Barbarossa Milan also being repaired of the ruines conspired vvith those cities of the league to be reuenged of former iniuries Which league brideled Barbarossa and for a time gaue countenance to the faction of the church then in Lombardy During these vvarres the house of Torre grevv to great reputation so long as the Emperours had in that country small authoritie But vvhen Federigo the second vvas come into Italy and the Ghibellini through the helpe of Ezelino became strong the humour of Ghibilini sprung vp in euery citie and the house of Visconti taking part with that factiō chased out of Milan the family of Torre yet were they not long out but by meane of a peace concluded betwixt the Emperour and the Pope hee with his Court beeing in France and Arrigo of Lucimburg going to Rome for the Crowne was receiued into Milan by Maffeo Visconti and Guido della Torre who at that time were chiefe of those houses yet Maffeo intending by helpe of the Emperour to driue Guido out of the Citie and supposing that enterprise the more likely because Guido was in faction contrary to the Empire hee tooke occasion vpon the complaints of the people against the euil demeanor of the Germains slily perswading and encouraging euery man to take Armes and deliuer themselues from the seruitude of that barbarous nation And when all things were made ready he caused a secret minister of his to mooue a tumult Whereat all the people tooke Armes against the name of Germany and Maffeo with his sonnes and followers suddeinly armed went to Arrigo letting him vnderstand that this tumult proceeded frō those of the house of Torre who not contented to liue priuate in Milan tooke occasion to spoyle him gratifie the Guelfi of Italy and make themselues princes of that citie Notwithstanding hee perswaded the Emperour to be of good cheare for they and their followers would in euery respect saue and defend him Arrigo beleeued all that which Maffeo had spoken ioyning his forces with the Visconti assailed those Della Torre Who beeing dispersed in diuerse places of the Cittie to appease the tumult so many of them as could be found were slaine and the rest spoyled sent into Italy Maffeo Visconti thus made as it were prince of Milan had diuerse sonnes the chiefe of them were called Galiazzo and Azo and after them Luchino Giouanni Giouanni became Archbishop of that Citie and of Luchino who died before him remained Barnabo and Galiazzo called Conte de Vertu He after the death of the Archbishop killed Barnabo his vncle and so became onely prince of Milan and was the first that had the title of Duke Of him descended Philippo Giouan Mariangilo who being slaine by the people of Milan the state remained onely to Philippo and he hauing no heires male the Dukedome was translated from the house of Visconti to the Sforzi as shall be hereafter declared But to returne to our matter Lodouico the Emperour to giue reputation to his faction and take the Crowne came into Italy and being arriued at Milan to the end he might leauy mony of the Milanesi offred to make them free and for proofe thereof imprisoned the Visconti Afterwards by mediation of Castruccio of Lucca deliuered them and went to Rome Then the more easily to disturbe Italy he made Piero de la Coruara Antipope by whose authoritie and the force of Visconti he hoped to keepe downe the contrary faction both in Toscana and Lombardy But Castruccio then died which was the cause of his ruine for Pisa and Lucca presently rebelled And the Pisani sent the Antipope prisoner to the Pope thē remaining in France Whereupon the Emperour dispairing of his enterprise in Italy returned to Germany So soone as he was gone Giouanni king of Bohemia came into Italy called thither by the Ghibilini of Brescia and possessed that Citie with one other called Bergamo And forasmuch as the comming of this king was with consent of the Pope although hee fained the contrarie the Legate of Bologna fauoured him imagining for that cause the Emperour would no more returne into Italy by whose departure thence the country was greatly altered The Florentines and the king Robarto seeing that the Legate fauoured the enterprise of the Ghibilini became enemies to all those that the Legate and the king of Bohemia fauoured against whom without respect of Guelfi or Ghibilini many princes ioyned Among them were the Visconti the family of La Scala Filippino Gonzaga of Mantoua the house of Carrara and Este wherupon the Pope did excommunicate them all The king for feare of this league went home to
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
where is abundance supply where want is that Country in short space must of force be ruined because the one part thereof through the small number of inhabitants becommeth desolate and the other being ouercharged oppressed with pouertie And for that nature could not reforme this disorder it is necessarie that industry should do it For vnwholesome Countries planted full of people comming thither all togither do make the same healthful by reason that the tilling of the earth doth alter the soyle and the fiers do greatly purge the aire which things nature by her selfe could not The experience thereof is seene by the Cittie of Venice seated in a place paludious and vnwholesome Notwithstanding the assemblie of many inhabitants come thither at one instant did make the same healthy inough Pisa likewise through the contagion of the aire was neuer replenished but when Genoua and the riuers thereto belonging were by the Sarasins destroyed it enforced the people driuen from their natiue countrey to flye thither and make that place well inhabited and strong This custome of sending Collonies being discontinued is the occasion that countreyes conquered are holden with more difficultie those that be emptie are not supplied and countreyes ouer full are not disburthened whereby manie parts of the world and chiefly Italy in respect of the ancient times are become desarts The reason thereof is that there hath not bene nor is not in Princes anie desire of true glorie nor in Common-weales anie ordinance that meriteth commendation In the old time we see that through vertue of these Collonies Citties were often made new and some others alreadie begun encreased of which number was the Cittie of Florence begunne by the people of Fiesole and inlarged by Collonies A thing most true it is as Dante and Iohn Villano haue written that the Cittie of Fiesole being set on the top of a mountaine to occasion their markets to bee the more frequented and giue commoditie to those that with their merchandize would resort thither did giue order that they should not clime vp the hill but stay in the plaine betwixt the foote of the mountaine the riuer Arno. These markets as I iudge were occasion of the first building in that place The merchants also being desirous to haue storehouses commodious for the receiuing of wares made buildings there which in time became houses of habitation Afterwards when the Romanes hauing vanquished the Carthaginesi had made Italy from forreine warres secure in great numbers there they multiplied for me◠doo neuer seeke the defence of themselues if by necessitie they are not incouraged and as feare of warre doth constraine them willingly to inhabit barren places and strong so that feare remooued allured with commoditie more willingly they couet to dwell in Countryes pleasant and profitable The securitie which grew in Italy by reputation of the Roman common-weale might occasion the number of the inhabitants to bee so great as made this place to become as it were in forme of a Towne and was at the beginning called Arnina After that time ciuill warres happened in Rome first betweene Mario and Silla then betwixt Cesare and Pompeio and at last betweene the murtherers of Caesar and those which sought to reuenge his death It seemeth therefore that first by Silla and next by those three Citizens of Rome that after the reuenge made for Caesar diuided the Empire Collonies were sent to Fiesole who either all or part did plant their dwellings in the plaine neare vnto the Towne alreadie begun insomuch as the same was much enlarged and so well replenished with buildings men and other things necessarie for ciuill life as it became to be numbred among the Citties of Italy Yet whence this name Firenze should be deriued diuers men do diuersly hold opinion Some suppose it so called of Florino one of the chiefe of the Colloni Others would not consent that it was called Florentia at the beginning but Fluentia because it was neare the riuer of Arno which floweth And they alledge the authoritie of Plinny where he saith that the people Fluentini be neare vnto Arno which may be false because Plinny maketh demōstration where the Florentines were seated not how they were called And that word Fluentini must needes be corrupted because Frontino and Cornelio Tacito who wrote almost in the time of Plinny do call the Towne Florentia and the people Florentini for that long since in the time of Tiberio they were gouerned according to the custome of other Cities in Italy Cornelio reporteth also that the Florentines had sent Embassadors to the Emperor praying that the waters of Chiane might not discend vppon their Countrie neither is it reasonable that the Citie should haue in one time two names I beleeue therefore it was alwaies called Florentia For what cause soeuer it was so named or for what cause soeuer it had the beginning most sure it is that vnder the Empire of Rome it had the foundation in the reigne of the first Emperours Writers did make mention thereof Moreouer at such time as the barbarous people did persecute the Empire Florence was by Tottila King of the Ostragotti defaced and after 250. yeares by Carlo Magno reedified from which time till the yeares after Christ 1215. it continued vnder that fortune which others did who then commanded in Italy In which time first gouerned there the posteritie of Carlo then Barengarii and last of all the Emperours of Germanie as hath bene in our vniuersall discourse before declared The Florentines could not in those times increase or do anie thing worthie memorie for the authoritie of them vnto whom it was subiect notwithstanding in the yeare 1010. and the day of S. Romolo a solemne Feast with the Fiesolane they surprized Fiesole and demolished the same which they did either with consent of the Emperours or else at such times as one Emperor being dead the other was not elected whereby euerie man for the present remained at libertie But since the Popes tooke vnto themselues more authoritie in Italy and the Germane Emperours grew weake euerie Towne in that Prouince with lesse reuerence to their Prince was gouerned Insomuch as in the yere 1080. in the time of Arrigo the third Italy was openly diuided into faction betwixt him and the Church notwithstanding the Florentines maintained themselues vnited all the yere 1215. yelding to the victorious without aspiring farther thā to saue themselues But as to the bodies of men the longer they bee healthie the more dangerous and mortall are the sicknesses when they happen so Florence the more slowlie it followed the factions the more speedily and greeuously it was by them afterwards afflicted The first occasion of diuision in that Citie is most publiquely knowen because it hath bene written by Dante and diuers others neuertheles I thinke good briefely to speake thereof There was in Fiorence among others of the mightie Families Buondelmonti and Vberti next vnto them were the Amidei and Donati In
the house of Donati was a Gentlewoman a widow and rich who hauing one onely daughter a maiden of much beautie whom within her selfe shee determined to marrie vnto Buondelmonti a yong Gentleman and the chiefe of his house This her intent eyther through negligence or delay of time none beeing made priuie thereof was deferred so long that Buondelmonti was contracted to the daughter of Amidei wherwith she greatly discontented supposing it were possible with the beautie of her daughter to stay the marriage before the same should be solemnized one day seeing Buondelmonti comming towards her house came downe her daughter following and meeting him at the gate said I am very glad that you are now become maried yet was it my meaning you should haue had this my daughter and with those words she opened the gate and shewed her vnto him The Gentleman beholding the beautie of the maiden which indeed was rare and therewith considering that her parentage and portion was not inferiour to hers whom he had alreadie taken became exceedingly desirous to haue her Then not respecting his faith alreadie giuen nor the iniurie he did in breaking the same nor yet the inconuenience that might ensue thereof said Sith it hath pleased you to reserue your daughter for me I should bee vnthankfull beeing yet all in time to refuse her After the speaking of these words without farther delay hee married her This marriage beeing knowen highly offended all the Familie of Amidei and Vbarti who were by his first marriage allied Then assembling themselues and consulting together in the ende concluded that such an iniurie might not bee borne without shame nor the reuenge thereunto due could bee other than the death of Buondelmonti And albeit some did fore-cast the inconueniences that might followe such an Action yet Moscha Lamberti sayde that who so euer casteth all doubts should neuer resolue anie thing alleadging the auncient Prouerbe A thing once done is past remedie Then gaue they the charge of this murther to bee performed by Moscha Stiatta Vberti Lambertuccio Amidei Odorigo Fifanti These men in the morning of Easter day at the houre of Resurrection assembled themselues in the houses of the Amidei by which streete Buondelmonti passed the bridge vpon a white horse and supposing as it seemeth that it had bene a thing as easie to forget an iniurie as renounce a marriage was at the foote of the bridge vnder an Image of Mars which there is standing assaulted and slaine This murther diuided the whole Citie the one halfe tooke part with Buondelmonti the other with Vberti These Families by reason they were strong in houses towers and men fought manie yeares before the one could chase the other out of the Cittie till at length without anie firme peace made a truce was taken which according vnto occasion was sometimes kept and sometimes broken Florence continued in these troubles till the time of Federigo the second who being also King of Napoli was perswaded hee might encrease his dominion against the Church And to make his authoritie more assured in Toscana he fauoured the Vberti and their followers who thereby draue out the Buondelmonti and so our Cittie like vnto all other Townes of Italy became diuided into Guelfi and Ghibilini And it seemeth not superfluous to make mention of the Families that depended of the one and the other Those that followed the faction of Guelfi were Buondelmonti Narli Rossi Frescobaldi Mozzi Baldi Pulci Gherardini Faraboschi Bagnesi Guidalotti Sachetti Manieri Lucardesi Chiaramonti Compiobbesi Caualcanti Giandonati Gianfigliazzi Scali Gualerotti Importuni Bostichi Tornaquinci Vecchietti Tosinghi Arregucci Agli Sitii Adimari Visdomini Donati Pazzi della Bella Ardinghi Tebaldi Cherchi For the Ghibilini were Vberti Mannelli Vbriachi Fifanti Amidei Infanganti Malespini Scolari Guidi Galli Capardi Lamberti Soldanieri Capriani Toschi Ameri Palermini Migliorelli Pigli Baruchi Cattani Agollanti Brunelleschi Caponsachi Elisei Abbati Tedaldini Giuochi Caligai Besides these noble houses manie popular families ioyned in that action so that welneare all the Cittie became corrupted with this diuision But the Guelfi being driuen out retyred themselues into Townes of the Vale of Arno where their chiefe places of strength were and the best they could against the furie of their enemies defended themselues Federigo then dying such as remained in Florence and were men neuterall hauing also credite with the people thought better to reunite the Cittie than holding it in diuision vtterly to ouerthrow it They therefore found meanes that the Guelfi setting all iniurie aside should returne and the Ghibilini without suspition receaue them They thus vnited it seemed to them that the time would well serue to frame an order for the libertie of the Cittie before the new Emperour should grow strong For which purpose they diuided the Cittie into sixe parts and chose twelue Cittizens for euerie part to gouerne the same whom they called Antiani and were changed euerie yeare Also to remoue all offences that might arise by Iudges they elected two Straungers to that office calling the one Captaine of the people and the other Podesta who were authorised to iudge all causes that happened in the Cittie either ciuill or criminall Also because no order is assured without defenders thereof they appointed in the Citie twentie Ensignes and threescore and sixteene in the Countrey vnder which all the youth was mustred and commanded they should bee readie armed euerie man vnder the ensigne whereto he belonged whensoeuer he were either by the Captain or the Antiani called And as the ensignes which those soldiers were appointed vnto were diuers so were the weapons diuersly diuided for the crosbowes had their priuate ensigne the holberdiers theirs Also at euerie feast of Penticost with great pompe they erected new ensignes and appointed new Captaines trained the souldiers to such perfection as euerie man knew in what order hee should march retire and charge the enemy Then they caused a great chariot couered with redde and drawne by two Oxen to carry their chiefe ensigne of colour white and redde Whensoeuer they intended to assemble all their forces they commanded this Chariot to be brought into the market place and with great ceremony giue charge thereof to the chiefe Captaines of the people They had also for the magnificence of their enterprise a greatbell called Martinella which was rung continually one whole moneth before their Army was brought into the field to the end that the enemie might prepare for his defence So great was the vertue of men in those dayes and so honourably they proceeded in their actions where at this present to assaile the enemy sodeinly and without warning is thought to be a wise and honourable thing in those dayes the same was holden cowardly and dishonourably This Bell was also carried with the Army and by the sound thereof the watches and other orders of the Campe were commanded Vpon these martiall ordinances and ciuill rules the Florentines laide the foundation of their libertie Neither can
assault him and in the night kill him determined forthwith to flie and so saue himselfe So as contrarie to the counsell of the gouernours and others of his faction he presently fled with his men to the Citie of Prato So soone as hee came thither finding himselfe out of feare being in a place of securitie remembred how great an errour he had committed and desirous to amend the same the next morning earely marched with his men towards Florence offering to enter the Citie by force which by cowardise hee had abandoned but that attempt tooke no successe for the people which with difficultie might haue driuen him away with facilitie could hold him out So that with great sorow and shame he went vnto Casentino and the Ghibilini to their vilages Thus the people remained with victorie and for the comfort of those which loued the common wealth determined to reunite the citie and call home all citizens as well Ghibilini as Guelfi by meanes whereof the Guelfi after sixe yeares absence from the citie were returned And the Ghibilini notwithstanding the memorie of their late iniurie were pardoned and put in their country yet much hated both of the people and the Guelfi for these could not forget their exile and those remembred too much the tyrannie which was vsed during their authoritie which things caused that neither the one nor the other were contented While in this forme the Florentines liued it was reported that Corradino nephew to Manfredi should come with forces from Germany to the conquest of Napoli Whereupon the Ghibilini tooke heart and hope thereby to recouer their authoritie And the Guelfi began to thinke how they might assure themselues of their enemies for which purpose they praied king Carlo to defend them in the time of Corradino his passage The souldiers of Carlo being in march made the Guelfi insolent and amazed the Ghibilini so much that two dayes before they arriued without any violence offered they fled The Ghibilini thus departed the Florentines reordeined the state of their citie elected twelue chiefe men to be magistrates and gouerne their citie for two moneths whom they called not Antiani but Buoni Homini Next vnto them they appointed a Councell of fourescore Citizens which they called La Credenza After them were an hundreth and fourescore Commoners who with the Credenza and the twelue Buoni Homini were called the Councell generall They ordeined moreouer one other Councell of a hundreth and twentie Citizens of the Comonaltie and Nobilitie mixed which should giue perfection confirmation to al things determined in the other Councels This gouernment thus setled the faction of the Guelfi togither with the Magistrates fortified the citie to the end they might the better defend themselues from the Ghibilini whose goods they diuided into three parts the one they imployed to publike vses the second was giuen to the Captaines the third diuided amongst the Guelfi in recompence of their losses The pope also to maintain the Guelfi in Toscana ordeined the King Carlo to bee Lieftenant Emperiall of that countrey The Florentines thus holding themselues in reputation by vertue of these new orders gouerned all things well with their lawes at home and with their armes abroad Then died the Pope and after long disputation in the end of two yeares Gregorio decimo was elected who hauing bene long time in Soria and was at the time of his election did not make so great account of the factions as his predecessors had done But returning home towards France being arriued at Florence to performe the office of a good Pastor sought to vnite that citie wherein he preuailed so farre with the Florentines as they were content that Commissioners for the Ghibilini might be receiued into Florence to solicit the return of their faction which was concluded Notwithstanding the Ghibilini were so terrified as they durst not come home The Pope laid the fault thereof to the citie and being offended did excommunicate the same In which displeasure the Florentines continued all the life of that Pope but after his death the citie was absolued by Pope Innocentio quinto to whom succeeded Nicholao tertio descended of the house of Orsini And because the Popes had alwaies in suspition those that aspired to greatnes in Italy although by the fauour of the church they were thereunto atteined sought alwaies to put them backe Therof grew many tumults and often variations for the feare of him that was become strong occasioned the aduancement of an other that was weake who beeing likewise growne vp was forthwith feared and being feared cast downe This was the cause that ocsioned the kingdome to be taken from Manfredi and giuen to Carlo This was also that which caused the Pope to mistrust Carlo and seek his distruction Nicholao tertio then for the reasons beforesaid sound meanes through the helpe of the Emperour that the gouernment of Toscana was taken from Carlo and in his place hee sent thither Latino his Legate At that time Florence remained in verie hard estate because the Nobilitie of the Guelfi were become insolent and feared not the Magistrates so as euerie of them committed murthers and other violences without any iustice or punishment of those that committed the same because they were alwaies by one or other great person fauoured To bridle this great insolencie it was by the chiefe of the people thought good to reuoke such as were banished which gaue opportunitie to the Legate to reunite the citie and the Ghibilini returned home In the place of twelue gouernours there were foureteene made for euerie part seuen to gouerne the cittie during one yeare and they to be elected by the Pope Florence continued in this order of gouernment two yeares Then Pope Martino aspired to the Papacie who being a French man restored vnto king Carlo all that authoritie which the Pope Nicholao had taken from him wherby the factions in Toscana were suddeinly reuiued For the Florentines tooke Armes against the Emperours Gouernour to depriue the Ghibilini of the gouernment therewith also to hold the great men in awe they ordeined a new forme of gouernment The yeare 1282. beeing come the companies of the Misteries hauing receiued their Magistrates Ensigns became greatly esteemed They among themselues elected in the place of the fourteene three Citizens to remaine two moneths gouernours of the common-weale and called them Priori who might be either Commoners or Gentlemen so that they were Merchants of some Misterie Afterwards the chiefe Magistracie was reduced to sixe men so as in euery part of the citie there might be one which order continued till the yeare 1342. At which time the cittie was diuided into quarters and the number of Priori encreased to nine and diuerse times in that meane while by reason of some accident they were in number twelue This Office was the meane as shall hereafter appeare that the Nobilitie was ruined for then by many occasions they were excluded and afterwards
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
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
words should find beliefe and compassion if your Lordships did know in what sort your Generall hath vsed our Countrey and how we haue bene by him handled Our Vale as we hope your memorials do make mention did alwayes loue the faction Guelfa and hath bene many times a faithfull receptacle for your Citizens when flying persecution of the Ghibilini they came thither Our auncestors and we also haue euer adored the name of this noble common weale being the head and chiefe of that secte So long as the Lucchesi were Guelfi we willingly obeyed their gouernment but since they submitted themselues to a Tyrant who hath abandoned his old friends and followed the Ghibilini rather by compulsion then voluntarily we haue obeyed him And God knoweth how often we haue prayed for occasion whereby to shewe our zeale to the auncient faction But alas how blind are men in their desires that which we wished for our helpe is now become our harme For so soone as we heard your Generall marched towards vs we went not as enemyes to encounter him but as our auncestors were wont to yeeld into his hand our Countrey and fortunes hoping that in him although there were not the mind of a Florentine yet should we find him a man We beseech your Lordships to pardon vs for our extremitie is so much as more may not be indured which is the cause we make bold to speake thus plainely This your Generall hath not of a man more then his presence nor of a Florentine any thing saue the name but may be called a mortall plague a cruell beast and as horrible a monster as by any wrighter can be described For he hauing assembled vs in our Temple vnder pretence to talke with vs hath made vs his prisoners spoyling the whole countrey burning the houses robbing the inhabitants sacking their goods beating and murthering the men forcing the Virgins yea pulling them from the hands of their Mothers made them the pleasures of his souldiers If for any iniury done to the people of Florence or him we had deserued so great a punishment or if we had armed our selues against him and bene taken then should we haue had lesse cause to complayne yea we would rather haue accused our selues confessing that eyther for iniurie or pride we had so merited to be handled But being disarmed and freely offering ourselues then to rob vs and with so great despight and ignomie to spoyle vs we thinke it strange and are inforced before your Lordships to lay downe our griefe And albeit we might fill all Lombardy with offence and with reproch of this Citie publish our iniuries through all Italy yet would we not lest thereby to blemish so honest so honorable and so compassionate a common weale with the dishonestie and crueltie of one wicked Citizen whose auarice before our ruine was partly knowne vnto vs. And wee intended to strayne our selues to satisfie his greedie mind which hath neither measure nor bottom But sith our gifts come too late we thinke good to resort to your Lordships beseeching the same to relieue the misfortune of your subiects to the end that other men may not be afraid to yeeld them selues to your deuotion If our infinite miseries cannot moue you yet let the feare of Gods ire perswade you who hath seene the Churches sacked and burnt and our people betrayed in them These words pronounced they presently fell downe prostrate vpon the ground weeping and desiring their Lordships that their goods and countrey might be restored and that though the womens honors could not be recouered yet the Wiues might be deliuered to their Husbands and the Children to their Fathers This heauie case being before reported and now by the liuely voyce of those afflicted men confirmed did much moue the Magistrates and without delay they reuoked Astore who after was condemned and admonished Then was there Inquisition made for the goods of the Serauezesi and so much as could be found was restored For the rest they were in time diuers wayes satisfied Rinaldo de gli Albizi was likewise defamed for hauing made the warre not for the profit of the people of Florence but his owne Hee was also charged that so soone as hee became Generall the desire of surprizing Lucca was forgotten because hee sought no further then to spoyle the countrey fill his pastures with cattle and furnish his houses with the goods of others Moreouer that his owne share of the bootie contented him not but hee also bought the priuate spoyles of his souldiers So that of a Generall hee was become a Merchaunt These slaunders come to his owne hearing moued his honest and honorable mind more then they ought to haue done In so much as hee became therewith so amazed that taking offence against the Magistrates and Citizens without delay or leaue taken hee returned to Florence and presenting himselfe to the Tenne sayd He knew well how great difficultie and perill there was in seruing a loose people and a Cittie diuided For the one is credulous of euery rumor the other punisheth no euill doings rewardeth not the good and blameth the indifferent so that no man commendeth him that is victorious For as much as his fellowes for enuie and his foes for hatred will persecute him Notwithstanding himselfe had neuer for feare of vndeserued blame omitted to performe an action that promised a certaine good to his countrey But true it was that the dishonestie of the present slaunders had oppressed his patience and made him chaunge nature Wherefore hee besought the Magistrates to be from thence-foorth more readie to defend their Citizens to the end they might be likewise more readie to labour for their countrey And although that in Florence no triumph was graunted yet might they at the leaste defende them from ignominious reproche and remember that they them selues were also Citizens of the same towne and that to them selues euerie houre the like might happen whereby they shoulde vnderstand howe great griefe false slaunders might breede in the mindes of men of integritie The Tenne as time would serue laboured to appease him and committed the care thereof to Neri di Gino and to Alamanno Saluiati who leauing to spoyle the countrey of Lucca with their Campe approched the Towne And because the season was colde they stayed at Campanuole Where it seemed to the Generall that time was lost and desirous to besiege the Towne by reason of the euill weather the Souldiers woulde not thereto consent Notwithstanding that the Tenne did sollicite them to the siege and would accept none excuse at all At that time there was in Florence an Architector called Filippo Brunellesco of whose handie-worke our Cittie is full In so much that after death hee deserued to haue his Image of Marble erected in the chiefe Church of Florence with Letters to testifie hys greate vertue This man declared howe Lucca considering the scite of the Cittie and the passage of the Riuer Serchio mighte bee drowned And
there a new Balia which at the first assembly determined the reuocation of Cosimo with all others that were banished And of the contrary faction they confined Rinaldo delli Albizi Ridolfo Peruzzi Nicholo Barbadori Palla Strozzi and many other Cittizens that the number of them was such as that fewe Townes of Italy and many other places also but were full of them By this accident the Citie of Florence became depriued not onely of honest men but also of riches and industry The Pope seeing the ruine of those men who at his request had laide downe Armes became greatly discōtented lamenting with Rinaldo for the iniury to him done vnder his credit perswading him to patience and hope of better fortune To whome Rinaldo answered the small credit which they gaue me who ought to haue beleeued me and the ouermuch credite which I haue giuen to you hath vtterly vndone me and my Countrey But I complaine more of my selfe then anie others for beleeuing that you being banished your Countrey could maintaine mee in mine Of Fortunes dalliances I haue had experience inough and sith I little trusted to prosperitie mine aduersitie shall the lesse offend mee for I knowe well that Fortune beeing so pleased can againe fauoure mee But if shee neuer so do I shall euer care little to liue in that Cittie where the lawes are of lesse authoritie then men Because that Countrey is to be defired where the wealth and friends of men may be with securitie enioyed and not that where mens goods may bee taken from them and their friendes for feare to loose theyr owne in greatest necessitie forsake them It was also euer lesse greeuous to good and wise men to heare the miseries of their Countrey then with their owne eyes to see them And it is also thought a thing more glorious to be reputed an honourable Rebel then a slauish Citizen After this speech made being much troubled in mind he tooke leaue of the Pope finding great fault with his Councels and the coldnesse of his friends and so went towards his exile Cosimo on the other side hauing receiued knowledge of his restitution returned to Florence and was there receiued with no lesse pompe then is vsed to other Citizens who after victorie came home in tryumph So great was the Concourse of people so great the demonstration of their beneuolence towards him at this his returne from banishment as the Cittizens willingly saluted him by name of the peoples Benefactor and Father of the Country The ende of the fourth Booke THE FIFT BOOKE ALL Countries in their alterations doo most commonly chaunge from order to disorder and from disorder to order againe For nature hauing made all worldly thinges variable so soone as they haue atteined their vttermost perfection and height doo of force descend and being come downe so low as lower they cannot of necessitie must ascend So that from good they descended to euill and from euill ascend to good Warre begetteth quiet quiet occasioneth idlenesse Idlenesse breedeth disorder Disorder maketh ruine Likewise of ruine groweth order of order vertue and of vertue glorie with good fortune It hath bene therefore by wise men obserued that learning followeth Armes and in all Cities and Countries Captaines were before Philosophers For good and well gouerned Armes hauing wonne victorie of that victorie followeth quiet And surely the courage of warlike mindes cannot with a more honest idlenesse then the studie of Letters be corrupted nor idlenesse by anie greater or more perillous craft enter Cities well gouerned which Cato at such time as Diogenes and Carneades Philosophers were sent Embassadours from Athens to the Senate did well obserue For hee seeing with what admiration the youth beganne to follow them and knowing the inconueniences which might of that honest idlenesse ensue prouided that no Philosopher might after be receiued into Rome Euery country therefore by these meanes doth come to decaie Wherewith men being beaten and weary of troubles returne as is beforesaid to order if by extraordinarie force they be not vtterly ruined These occasions by vertue of the auncient Toscani and Romanes did make Italy sometimes happie and sometimes miserable And albeit since that time nothing hath bene builded vppon the Romane ruines comparable to the olde as might with great glorie haue bene vnder the gouernment of a vertuous Prince Yet in some newe Citties so much vertue is growne vp among the Romane spoyles that although no one hath atteined such power as to commaund the rest yet became they so well ordered and lincked togither as they deliuered and defended themselues from the barbarous people Of this number was the Florentines gouernment although of lesse Empire yet in authoritie and power not inferiour to anie but rather by inhabiting the middest of Italy being rich and readie to offend either happily they answered the warres made against them or else gaue the victorie to those in whose fauoure they imployed their forces By the vertue of these principallities although no times of quiet and long peace were yet were they not by terrour of warre much perillous For we cannot account that peace where one state oftentimes with Armes assayleth the other Neither can that be called warre where men be not slaine Citties not sacked nor principallities destroyed For the warres of that time became so cold as they were begunne without feare continued without perill and ended without losse Insomuch as that vertue which in other Countries was wont by long peace to be extinguished was in Italy by their owne cowardice quenched as will plainly appeare by that we will hereafter declare from the 1434. till the 94. Whereby we may see how at length a way was againe opened for the entrie of straungers and Italy became to them subiect And albeit the actions of our Princes both abroad and at home are not as those of auncient time were to be read and maruelled at for their vertue and greatnesse yet for some other quallities to be with no lesse admiration considered seeing so many Noble people were by so fewe and euill trained souldiers kept in awe And if in declaration of things happened in this badde world we shall not set downe the courage of anie souldier the vertue of anie Captaine or the loue of anie Cittizen towards his Countrey yet shall you finde what cunning and Art the Princes the Souldiers and chiefe Gouernours in Common weales to maintaine the reputation they did not deserue haue vsed which percase will prooue not lesse worthie and profitable to be knowne then those of most auncient time For as those do stirre vp Noble mindes to follow them So these to eschue their lewdnesse and lacke of vertue wil prouoke vs. In those dayes Italy was brought to such condition by them that there commaunded that whensoeuer through reconciliation of the Princes a peace was made shortly after by such as had weapons in hand it was againe disturbed So that neither by the warres ended was gotten glorie nor by the
verie holily liued and died Her house in memorie of her was after made a Monasterie by the name of S. Annalena as at this present it is and euer shall be This action somewhat decreased the power of Neri and tooke from him reputation and friends Neither did that onely content the Cittizens in authoritie For the tenne yeares of their office being passed and their authoritie in the Balia ended diuerse men both by word and deedes tooke courage to complaine against the continuance of those officers and therfore the Gouernors thought for the holding of their authoritie it was necessarie to haue their offices prolonged giuing new commission to friends oppressing their foes For which consideration in the yeare 1444. by their councels a new Balia was created which reestablished officers giuing authoritie to a few to create the Senate reuiuing the Chancelorship of reformation remouing Ser. Philippo Peruzzi and in his place appointing one other to gouerne according to the pleasure of the great men putting in prison Giouan the sonne of Simone Vespucci The gouernment thus setled the offices of state taken anew they turned their minds to matters abroad Nicholo Piccinino being as hath bene beforesaid abandoned by the King Alfonso and the Earle with the helpe he had of the Florētines became strong assailed Nicholo neare vnto Fermo and there gaue him so great an ouerthrow that Nicholo lost wel-neare all his souldiers and with a fewe fled into Montecchio Nicholo tarried there all the winter to increase his army and therein was helped by the Pope king Alfonso In so much as the spring time being come and the other Captaines returned to the field Nicholo was the strōger and the Earle brought to extreame necessitie and had bene vtterly defeated if the intent of Nicholo had not bene by the Duke altered Philippo sent for Nicholo pretēding to haue occasion by mouth to impart vnto him matters of great importance Which Nicholo being desirous to heare abandoned a certaine victorie for an incertaine pleasure and leauing Francesco his sonne to gouerne the army went vnto Milan The Earle vnderstāding of his departure frō the Camp would not lose the opportunitie to fight in the absence of Nicholo and assaulting the army of Nicholo neare vnto the Castle of Monte Loro ouerthrew it and tooke Francesco prisoner Nicholo at his arriuall in Milan seeing himself abused by Philippo vnderstāding his camp to be brokē his son prisoner with sorow died the yere 1445. being of the age of 64. yeares hauing bene a Captaine more vertuous then happie Of him there remained two sonnes Francesco and Giacopo who as they were of lesse vertue then the father so had they worse fortune By which meane the souldiers bred by Braccio were almost worne out and the discipline of Sforza alwaies holpen by fortune became more glorious The Pope seeing the army of Nicholo suppressed and him dead nor much hoping in the aide of Arragon sought to make peace with the Earle which by mediation of the Florentines was concluded The peace made in La Marca all Italy had liued in quiet if the Bolognesi had not disturbed the same There was in Bologna two mightie Families Channeschi and Bentiuogli of the one Annibale and of the other Battista was chiefe These to be the rather assured one of the others friendship contracted a marriage But betweene men which aspire to one greatnesse though alliance may easily be made yet friendship cannot Bolognia was in league with the Florentines and Venetians which league had bene concluded by meane of Annibale Bentiuogli after they had driuen out Francesco Piccinino Battista knowing that the Duke desired greatly to haue the fauour of that Cittie practised with him to kill Annibale and bring that Cittie vnder his ensigne The order of this murther agreed vpon the 24 of Iune 1445. Battista with his men assaulted Annibale slew him which done he proclaimed the Dukes name throughout the towne At that time the Commissaries for the Venetians and the Florentines were in Bologna and at the first rumor retired vnto their houses but afterwards perceiuing that the murtherers were not fauoured by the people who were in great numbers armed and assembled lamenting the death of Annibale they tooke courage went towards them assailed the Canneschi whom in lesse then one houre they ouerthrew slaying some and forcing the rest to flie the Cittie Battista not fleeing in time nor slaine remained at his house and hid himself in a vessell made for the keeping of corne His enemies hauing all the day sought him and assured he was not gone out of the towne threatned his seruants so much as one of them at length discouered where he was From thence he was taken out and slaine then drawne through the streets and at last burned so as the victorie of the Duke was of force sufficient to perswade Annibale to the enterprise but not of power ynough to saue him from death Thus by the death of Battista and the fleeing of the Canneschi these tumuls were appeased The Bolognesi remained in great confusion bicause there was not left of the house of Bentiuogli any man fit for gouernmēt And for that there remained one sonne onely of Annibale but six yeares old who was called Giouanni the Bolognesi feared least among the friends of the Bentiuogli some diuision would grow which might perhaps occasion the returne of the Canneschi with the ruine of their countrey and faction While the Bolognesi continued in this doubtfull imagination Francesco late Earle of Poppi being in Bologna informed the chiefe Cittizens that if they had desire to be gouerned by one descended of the bloud of Annibale he could informe them of such a one Declaring that about 20. yeares past Hercole the Cosen of Annibale happened to be at Poppi and had there carnall knowledge of a yong woman in that Castle who was after deliuered of a sonne called Santi whom Hercole diuerse times affirmed to be his And it seemed to be a thing likely for that the child so much resembled Hercole as liker it could not be His words were belieued by those Cittizens and they deserred no time to send vnto Florence to find out the yong man and perswade with Cosimo di Medici and Neri Capponi that they might haue him The supposed father of this Santi was dead and the yong man liued vnder the tuition of an Vncle of his called Antonio Cascese This Antonio was rich without children and friend to Neri The matter being vnderstood Neri thought fit neither to reiect the motion nor imbrace it but commaunded that Santi in the presence of Cosimo and those that were sent frō Bologna should speake with him Then order being taken for their meeting Santi was by the Bolognesi not only honored but also as it were adored Then Cosimo calling Santi aside said vnto him there is none that in this matter can better counsell thee then thy selfe for thou art to take