than the Conquest for what opposition could two such powerfull Princes meet with from Frederick whom his Subjects hated and contemned But Naples was too narrow to satisfie both the French and the Spaniards and Gonsalvo was a man of such unlimited ambition that a Controversie began about a small parcel of Ground to which both parties pretended and which nothing but Arms could decide In this the French had so ill success that they were suddenly beat out of all Gonsalvo with the Spaniards becoming then sole Masters of the Kingdom of Naples which they have kept ever since About this time died Hercules Duke of Ferrara whose life doth represent to us Fortune in all her different aspects he was born the undoubted Heir of one of the richest Princes of Italy was left young by his Father which made him come the later to his Estate after the death of two Brothers Many storms did he weather both in the Court and Wars of Naples his own Courage and the Kings Malice exposing him to every danger till at length he changed parties At his return from thence he lived for some time a Subject in his own Principality being glad to be a Governour of one of his Cities under his Brother But the latter part of his life made a fair reparation for the former no Prince of Italy being more valued or courted than Hercules that very King of Naples who hated him so much sent to proffer him his Daughter in marriage by whom he left a hopefull Issue the Kings of Castile and Hungary when he was in danger by his War with Venice gave testimony how much they were concerned to support him Henry the seventh of England complemented him with the Order of the Garter and three several Kings of France sought his Friendship as necessary for the advancement of their interest upon the other side of the Alpes CHAP. XII The Life of Alphonsus the first the third Duke of Ferrara HErcules had four Sons Alphonsus who succeeded him Hippolytus the former of the two famous Cardinals of Esté of that name Ferdinand and Sigismund Alphonsus was twice married in his Fathers time first to the Daughter of Iohn Galeazo Duke of Milan when he was very young and when she died a Match by Lewis the twelfth's means was made up betwixt him and Lucretia Borgia Pope Alexander the sixth's Daughter the King designing by this to unite the Duke with Caesar Borgia and both to himself The first remarkable action we meet with in Alphonsus after his Fathers death Caesar Borgia being then ruined was his defending Bologna for Iulius the second and his defeating Bentivoglio from whom the Pope had lately taken that City and recommended it to the Duke Not long after was the League of Cambray concluded where Alphonsus joyned with the Emperour the Pope the Kings of France and Spain to take the terra firma from the Venetians The King of France began the War and gave the Venetian Army which was commanded or rather divided by two Generals of quite different tempers so great an overthrow that the other Confederates did thereupon make the more hast The Venetians seeing themselves in no condition to defend their Subjects wisely made a virtue of necessity and allowed them the liberty to make the best terms they could with the Enemy and so prevent their ruine for they presumed and upon good grounds that this instance of their tenderness would invite them home to their ancient Masters as soon as the storm was over being attacqued then on all hands nothing except Treviso was left them in a short time and the Duke of Ferrara for his share was once in possession of Rovigo la Badia with Monfelice Esté and other places which formerly belonged to his Family Besides the places he had taken the Pope declared him the General of the Church which made the Venetians discharge their whole fury upon him both by Sea and Land but such was their ill success in every enterprize that their very Navy became a prey to him that had no ships for having chained them up by night within the mouth of the River where they thought themselves secure he burnt some took others and returned to Ferrara in a sort of Naval Triumph upon one of their Chief Gallies Anno Christi 1510 The sole hope now left the Venetians was to break a League in which so many Princes of different or rather incompatible Interests were united and this they found no hard matter Julius being willing not only to take off his censures but also to fall out with France and to help to chase Lewis out of Italy if they would give him the places in Romagna which by the League were designed for him It was not now time for the Venetians to stand at any thing and therefore they readily acquiesced to the Popes proposals and he sent to the Duke of Ferrara to acquaint him with what he had done and to desire him to forbear any further acts of hostility against the Republick but the Duke excused himself saying that he could not in honour nor in conscience abandon those with whom he was in Confederacy Julius taking this excuse for a direct upbraiding himself with what he had done excommunicated the Duke immediately sent Orders to Romagna to seize upon what places he possessed there and exhorted the Venetians to fall upon him to revenge his and their quarrel the Duke in a short time lost Rovigo all the Polecine Monfelice and Esté on the one hand and upon the other hand all the places of Romagna and which grieved him most Modena and Sassuolo with several Castles near him his only comfort was he knew that if he had pleased to make honour and conscience truckle to Interest he might have been a saver But never resolving to stear by this compass nor to follow the precedent given him by P. Iulius he waited for better times till he could fairly recover what he had unjustly lost Never was Pope freer of his thunders than Iulius who seeing his success against Alphonsus took his aim a little higher at Lewis the twelfth deprived him of his Title of the most Christian King and of his Crown and exposed his Territoris as a prey to those that could take them but though his lightning did shine it was not felt in France otherwise than in provoking the good King to Vow and to publish his Vow also in his coin That he would destroy Babylon meaning Rome The King of Castile sent an Army to assist the Pope and the Venetians which made Lewis likewise re-inforce his Troops under a new General Gaston de Foix Duke of Nemours to him he particularly recommended the concerns of the Duke of Ferrara whom of all the Italians he had found the most trusty Confederate and the French Army then lying in Romagna the Duke recovered his places from Iulius Gaston was impatient till he gave the Enemy battle which he did near Ravenna the Duke commanded that part where
in France did soon engage him in a War against his Unkle Upon the News of Bernard's March towards France the Emperour who was jealous of most about him gave the Command of his Army to Berengarius Count of Esté who without hazarding a Battel being afraid of the treachery of his under Officers who either were or easily could be corrupted did so manage the business that King Bernard disappointed of the French that were to join him and abandoned by most of those he brought from Italy was perswaded by Berengarius to come in person to the Emperours Court there to owne his rashness and to humble himself to his Unkle But the barbarous usage he had did much lessen the Glory of Berengarius's action For the poor Prince when he expected only a gentle rebuke and leave to return home was cast into a loathsom Prison after Anno Christi 818 many indignities had his eyes put out and died in three days partly through pain partly through anguish Indeed his Fate was deplorable being inconsiderately hurried upon his own ruine when he had scarce compleated the 19 th year of his Age and though the Emperour thought this instance of his severity upon his Nephew and his Followers who were all treated after the same manner did secure his Crown yet he found by woful experience that it irrecoverably lost him the affections of his people Upon King Bernard's death the Emperours Son Lotharius was sent into Italy and because he was young and not acquainted with the customs of the Countrey Berengarius by his Fathers Order did accompany him thither to advise him in all affairs of moment Berengarius proving more useful to the Emperour in Italy than he could be elsewhere continued there several years and by his credit ordered things as he pleased Some sparks of jealousie afterwards appearing betwixt the Emperour and his Children were industriously blown up into a Civil War by those who could never forgive King Bernard's death Berengarius ever true to the Emperours interest upon the first report of his danger made what haste he could towards him yet came too late for the Emperour was already strip'd of his power and confin'd to a Monastery where they intended he should have past the rest of his time in expiating by a rigid penance the Anno Christi 583 crimes he stood accused of If they had dealt more gently with him it is likely he had never been able to weather so violent a storm but however strange it may seem his being brought so very low was the occasion of his speedy re-establishment For that popular fury which at first he could not withstand was presently turned to compassion and the Emperour again put in a condition to call his Sons to an account while they were at variance among themselves We have reason to believe this unexpected change was not wrought without Berengarius For we find he had no inclination to return again into Italy where Lotharius governed but spent the rest of his life at Court had his share in those troubles which came thick upon the Emperour in his latter days and died at Paris with the repute of one of the wisest and greatest Captains of his Anno Christi 840 Age. It was indeed his misfortune to be the chief Instrument in King Bernard's ruine which if he had foreseen no doubt he would have declined the employment He left his Son Otho so young that he never appeared at the Court of Lotharius who besides had no kindness for his Family but when his Son Anno Christi 856 Lewis the Second came to the Empire Otho got as much into his favour as Berengarius had done into that of Charles the Great or of Lewis his Son He had been trained up in Military Discipline under his Father for which the Emperour made him General of the Horse and this charge requiring his constant attendance at Court the management of his affairs in Italy was left to his friends He had the City and Territory of Commachio given him as a reward of his and his fathers services done to the Imperial Crown which is evident by the Grant from the Emperour yet to be seen among the antient records of Esté Nor doth this a little aggravate the injustice of Clement the 8 th to the family of Esté who seizing upon the Dutchy of Ferrara in the Year 1598. upon a pretended devolution took from them at the same time the City of Commachio with its Territory which they only ow'd to the Emperours bounty and to which the Pope or Church could not pretend any Title but truly the carriage of Clement in this whole business was most illegal and tyrannical as I question not before I conclude this History to make appear to all who are not highly partial The Venetians who were ever jealous of their growing Neighbours did what they could to keep Otho's Son Marinus from taking possession of Commachio and failing in this employed fresh arts to thrust him out Marinus heard of their practices and had secret information that the Doge's Brother was to pass within a few miles of Commachio in his way to Rome to treat with the Pope about it Marinus to prevent this took a rash and injustifiable course for having laid wait for the Ambassadour he brought him to the City and made him there swear that neither he nor his Brother should ever attempt any thing in prejudice of Commachio or of what belong'd to his Father The Venetians highly resenting the affront they here received in the person of the Ambassadour sent immediately their Navy against Commachio which being ill provided could not long hold out Marinus retir'd first to Ferrara then into France where having given an account to his Father of what had happen'd he soon after fell sick and died But the Emperour concern'd to make good to Otho Anno Christi 874 what he had given him did by his Authority compose the difference with the Venetians saw him possest of Commachio and renewed the antient friendship betwixt the Republick and the family of Esté Whether Otho continued in the same station at Court after the death of Lewis the second we cannot certainly learn but it is plain he lived to the latter end of the Reign of Carolus Crassus He was married to Anno Christi 887 the Duke of Friuli's Daughter by whom he had four Sons two of which were Vbertus and Sigifred the Saracens had long infested Italy and never wanted encouragement from such as preferred the revenge of their private quarrels to the weal of their Country Most of the Cities put themselves under the protection of some person of courage and interest which made Parma and Luca chuse Sigifred they of Luca had suffered much of late by those Infidels whom Albericus Marquess of Toscany had call'd in out of Malice to the Pope upon condition they would not meddle with any of his Subjects but as soon as Sigifred was engaged both Luca and Parma found
Italy called a Councel at Rome where Benedict the ninth Sylvester the third and Gregory the sixth being convicted of several Crimes were all laid aside and Clement the second chosen Pope and for preventing such abuses it was Decreed That none should be admitted for the future except such as the Emperour approved of all that were present at the Council confirmed it by Oath and during the rest of the Reign of Henry the third this method of Election was observed But Henry the fourth being left young under the Government of his Mother the Romans when there was nothing to apprehend forgot their Oath and made choice of Stephen the ninth without consulting the Emperour Soon after they openly declared he was not to meddle either in the nomination or approbation of Popes and this Doctrine never openly taught before in a short time by the Empresses connivence and the countenance it had from Matildis and her Mother was so universally received that Henry when he came of age found his challenging it as a right the source of all his calamities Matildis gave early proof of her blind attachment to the Pope which her Husband either to secure a party upon occasion against the Emperour or to comply with Matildis's inclinations did much encourage at first and grew sensible of his folly in it too late when he saw her forget not only her duty to her Soveraign the Emperour but likewise to himself who was her husband The person that bewitched Matildis was Hildibrand afterwards Gregory the seventh to whose Councils she gave her self up so entirely that her Forces her Money and her Interests were all at his disposal Hildibrand was of mean extraction the Son as Cranzius an accurate writer sayes of a Smith and designed for a Monk but being more enclined to business than devotion or a retired life he abandon'd the Cloister and went to Rome where his natural subtilty and ambition masked with an appearance of virtue and a publick spirit raised him in a few years to such a pitch that whatsoever Pope they chose without his consent was soon dispatch'd and even those whom he advanced if they prov'd not for his purpose had no better luck as Benno and other of their Writers inform us By the means of one Brazutus his old acquaintance in the Magick School no less than six Popes were poison'd in thirteen years Every one could easily discern how well Matildis was like to thrive in such hands The Pope that immediately preceded Hildibrand was Alexander the second formerly Bishop of Luca whom he had set up in opposition to the Emperour but eas'd him of the trouble of governing the Bishops therefore of Lombardy not longer able to see Henries Authority thus contemned the decree of their Council slighted and their oath broken perswaded the Emperour to call a Council at Basil where Alexander was declared an Usurper and Cadolus Bishop of Parma chosen Pope by the name of Honorius the second most of the Prelates and Nobility of Lombardy accompanied Honorius in his journey to Rome but Matildis at the head of an Army opposed him and the Emperour in behalf of Alexander and Hildibrand After many contests both parties agreeing to hold a Anno Christi 1063 Council at Mantoua the Emperour though there present was betrayed for Matildis by Hildibrands direction corrupting one part of the Council and over-awing another in her own City had Honorius cast and Alexander confirmed And Hildibrand not satisfied with the Popes Authority and his Revenue procured a dose to be given Alexander to make way for himself From one raised by such steps they could not but expect extraordinary things at first he seemed to apprehend the Emperours resentment of his illegal election but Matildis offering to sacrifice Life and Fortune in his Cause quickly removed his fears and Anno Christi 1073 encouraged him to write to the Emperour in a style not used by his predecessors nor was this all he summoned him by his New Authority to appear personally at Rome there to answer in a Synod to such Articles as were brought against him threatning that if he refused to come he would pass to the sentence of Excommunication The divisions of Germany made the Emperour unwilling to come to a breach with the Pope who he knew had made sure of Matildis yet no reasonable condescension being able to satisfie Gregory they advised the Emperour to take the start of him and to assemble a Council at Wormes to look first into Gregories actions At the opening of this Assembly strange were the accusations brought in against Gregory and none plainer than those of Hugo one of his Cardinals who presented Letters from Rome signed by many persons of unsuspected integrity shewing at large his Crimes both before and after his coming to the Papacy and how the Election was carried for him by Matildis and her Guards whose acclamations served him to better purpose than the Votes of those who were to chuse All which being impartially examined and considered Gregory as the Abbot of Vrspergh relates was declared an Usurper an introducer of dangerous Novelties and a person of a scandalous life that had no right to his dignity and was no longer to be obeyed The news being brought into Italy several of the Lombard Bishops at Pavia confirmed what had past at Wormes Matildis and Gregory all this while were very hard at work she in raising Forces to defend the Pope if any should attempt to dispossess him and he in laying out her treasure among the Bishops that things might pass against Henry according to their minds in the Synod appointed at Rome Little did they think that any durst have proclaimed the Decree of Wormes in an Assembly composed of Gregories own Creatures and where he in person did preside guarded by Matildis's troops but one Roland a Priest of Parma coming boldly up without paying him any respect required him in the name of the most Religious Emperour and of the most Reverend Bishops of Italy France and Germany to resign the Sacred Charge into which by craft simony and other evil arts he had thrust himself declaring that he was no true Shepherd Father nor Pope but a Thief a Wolf and a Tyrant and while all were in a consternation to hear such words Roland happily made his escape Matildis was now become a widow by the death of the Duke of Lorain and had indeed liv'd as such for several years past her jealousie of the Dukes being no friend to Gregory made her afraid to be advised by him or to allow him leave to meddle in her affairs and her Husband upon the other hand seeing himself neglected and no gainer at all by his great Match retired into his own Countrey full of trouble and survived his Father but a few years Gregory judging it against his interest to have Matildis married to any foreign Prince in whom he could have no confidence proposed to her Azo Marquess of Esté who was the only person
them little reflecting that Gregory the sevenths dying outed of his dignity and in a most forlorn condition several years before gave no less advantage to the Emperours party Others therefore who were not byassed made no such inference from thence knowing if there were no surer arguments to direct men in their judgments than the undertakers success the best causes might oftentimes suffer and the most palpable usurpations be vindicated The Pope and Matildis after they had compassed what they long designed thought it now an easie matter to manage not only Italy but Germany also and the young Prince as they pleased All the grievances of their Party were to be redressed and the pretended corruptions of the Clergy of Germany to be reformed in a Synod at Ausburgh where the Pope the better to confirm his Authority among them was to be present but they were much disappointed in Henry the fifth who as soon as he was setled in his Throne began to discover a strong dislike to their proceedings with his Father and as he heartily wished he had no wayes been accessary to them so to atone his guilt his whole thoughts were employed on maintaining the Dignity Prerogatives of his Crown which had been so much violated by the late Rebellion There was little encouragement then for the Pope to appear at Ausburgh where he was sure to be crossed in whatsoever he proposed besides Henry had an Army in readiness to go into Italy there to receive the Imperial Crown It frighted Matildis to hear of his coming in this posture yet dissembling her fears she was the first when he past the Alpes who sent to welcome him The Pope likewise with great expressions of confidence invited him to Rome because he knew he could not hinder his coming thither Upon the day appointed for his Coronation the Arch-bishop of Milan by whom according to the custom he had first been crowned King of Lombardy presented him to the Pope who before he proceeded any further in the Ceremony required him publickly to renounce all pretension to the collation or investiture of Ecclesiastical Dignities this Henry flatly refused to do telling him he would not be tied to any such conditions and that he expected his Crown after the same manner that Charles the Great and Lewis his Son had received it the contest lasted several dayes not without great heats and threatnings on both hands the Pope declaring upon Henries refusal to comply that he must come to his spiritual Arms and Henry letting him understand that his Army was ready at a call so that nothing could perswade Henry to depart from this generous resolution not valuing the Popes Arms so much as the Troops he had brought with him from Germany at length the Pope was forced to yield that as a Right to the Son which had been denied his Father and which Matildis and the former Popes had made the ground of all their wars The Emperour prouder of retrieving this lost Prerogative than of the Imperial Crown returned to Germany where the first thing he did was to see his Fathers body enterr'd a favour his enemies malice had not thought fit to allow it No wonder if it pierced Matildis to the heart to see all her encroachments upon the Emperours power for so many years brought to nought in a moment and the Papal Authority which with so much cost pains and danger she had highly advanced now reduc'd to what she had found it in the beginning of Henry the fourths reign and all this by one whom Pascalis and she had helped to set up upon his Fathers ruines grief then and old age cast her into a languishing distemper which in the end proved mortal She had all along designed that not only the Popes in whose times she lived but their Successours also should reap the fruits of her bounty which made her easily hearken to those who judged it the securest way to put the Church in possession of the best part of her territories and that it must be a particular satisfaction to see her own will executed to prevent the trouble it might occasion after her death and to hear the frequent Panegyricks of those who extolled her munificence and whose interest it was so to do By these insinuations they had already got into their hands that which is called the Patrimony of S t Peter with several Cities in Tuscany And now lest upon Anno Christi 1115 her death-bed she should seem to abate of her wonted zeal she confirmed what was formerly granted adding thereunto all the rest I cannot find she was ever Canonized but the best of their Pens have been employed to celebrate her Virtues and her memory is still more precious among them than that of most of their Saints of this Vrban the eighth in our own time has given testimony by having her body or what at least past for it translated from a Church near Mantoua to Rome where it lies buried in S t Peters under a stately Monument erected 1635. at his charge with an Inscription which expresses both his value for her Piety and Virtue and his gratitude for her protection and bounty and if oftentimes both in speaking and writing of her they call her a Saint it is no strange thing if one consider the stile of the Countrey according to what Philip de Comines observed in his passage through Milan where wondering to read the name of one of their worst Dukes with this glorious Epithet of Saint upon the front of a Convent a Priest ingenuously told him it was their custom to call all those Saints to whom they were much obliged In this respect then envy it self must allow never any could lay juster claim to this title than Matildis who deserved better of the Popes than any that went before her or that hath been since her time for let them amuse men as much as they list with pretended donations from Constantine or from Charles the Great it is plain the Countess Matildis first set them up and it is her whom Rome must chiefly thank and others blame for the Popes bearing such a figure since among the Temporal Princes of Italy The event did verifie what was apprehended before that Matildis actions would be called in question afterwards for Henry the fifth declared he would not agree to what she had done because she could not dispose of what came to her by her Mother Beatrix but that by her death it return'd to the Crown and in truth there seem'd to be a great deal of reason in what the Emperour alledged seeing it was too much that she had abused while she lived the power derived from his Ancestors without entailing it for ever upon his enemies the Pope on the other hand thought he had good right to what was left him chiefly when it was strengthen'd with possession and betwixt these two powerfull Competitors the Family of Esté whose Title certainly was best had the least share CHAP. VI. An account of
prisons freeing fifteen hundred from their chains in one place six hundred in another besides many Women of quality who had not seen the light nor their friends nor known how things went in the world for several years Upon the surrender of the Castle the whole City run to see that place of which next to hell they were most afraid it having been of a long time the infamous Theatre of Actiolins cruelty Upon search in the Dungeons above four hundred and sixty persons were found so pined away with hunger and covered with filth that none present could know them either by their voices or countenances though afterwards most of them proved to be Padouans The great number and variety of Instruments of torment with the heaps of dead bodies that filled the corners of those loathsom apartments did strike the beholders with amazement And indeed as other great Men delight in stately Palaces and fine Gardens Actiolin's whole study was employed in those hellish Inventions his prison was a Laberinth in which he commanded the person who presented him the Model to be shut first up to see if it were so ingeniously contrived as he pretended and it is certain as many thousands ended their dayes in it so neither the unhappy contriver nor any other ever found the way out to come and give the world an account of it till the Marquess and the Legate got thither While Padoua was expressing its joy for so unexpected a deliverance it went ill with the poor Padouans at Verona Actiolin happened to arrive from the siege of Mantoua at the same time with this unwelcom news and the poor Messenger who innocently reported it was by his order immediately put to death but it being in a few hours confirmed by many of his Officers who had made their escape Actiolin commanded his Army to be lodged within the City and the Gates to be shut up and all the Padouans who were there either under confinement or soldiers in the Army or Officers of his House to be apprehended and killed and so punctually was he obeyed by his Guards and the other Ministers of his Cruelty that in a weeks time of eleven thousand only twenty eight remained alive Having offered up such a bloody sacrifice to his wrath as hardly any History can parallel he marched towards Padoua but finding it was not to be recovered at his return to Verona those twenty eight whom in regard of the singular services done him he had formerly exempted from the common butchery were all hanged in the Market place Then joyning with Pallavicino and some other Gibellins he beat the Legates Army took himself prisoner and got into Brescia almost upon as easie terms as the Marquess and the Legate had Padoua But his allowing no share in the Conquest to those who assisted him made Pallavicino go over to the Marquess for whom the honour of ruining Actiolin was reserved for while he was attempting no less than the Conquest of Milan the Marquess and Pallavicino gave him battle and having the advantage they so pursued it that Actiolin with five horse only endeavouring to recover Bergamo was over-taken before he got thither and so fell into their hands alive When the Soldiers heard Actiolin was taken they crowded to behold the Monster whom they fancied not to be shaped like other men it being a constant tradition among the Common People that a Devil cloathed with a body supplied his pretended Fathers place when he was begotten many of them calling to mind how much he had made them suffer in their persons in their estates or in their friends could scarce by the Generals Authority be contained from offering him violence but he being recommended to Pallavicino's care he was convey'd first to his tent afterwards to Soncino where giving little sign of sorrow for the rivers of innocent blood he had split and obstinately refusing to have his wounds searched or to eat or drink enough to keep him alive he thus helped to dispatch himself nor could his greatest enemies have wished him to fall by a more polluted hand The joy for Actiolin's death was soon allay'd by the actions of Albericus his Brother in whom he seemed still to live His cruelties at Treviso and other parts of the Mark called for a new Croisado of which the Marquess was again declared General Albericus had strongly fortified the Castle of S t Zeno and provided it with all necessaries resolving to make it his last refuge and thither he now retired with his Treasure his Family and a few of his most trusty Friends who helped him to keep it out so long beyond expectation that the besiegers engaged that all in the place should be set at liberty except Albericus and his Family who were to be given up which being accordingly done the vengeance of such as he had injured he was brought with his Wife his six Sons and his two Daughters into the middle of the Camp where first the Sons in his and their Mothers presence had their legs and arms cut off and thrown at their Parents their bodies were hewed in pieces and carried as relicks to the poor disconsolate Widows whom Albericus had deprived of their Husbands much after the same manner before he left Treviso His Wife and his two Daughters whose innocence and beauty deserved a better fate were fasten'd to stakes and burnt alive and Albericus in the last place being tyed to a Horse tayle was dragged about the Camp and all that would had leave with hot pincers to tear out his flesh and what remained of his Carcass became a prey to the Wolves of the next wood After this dreadfull manner was the Family of Onara extirpated which had for several Ages aimed at an Absolute Dominion over that part of Italy but the insupportable tyranny of the two Actiolin's and Albericus drew the wrath of Heaven and Earth upon them and has made their memory odious to all posterity CHAP. VIII A continuation of the differences betwixt the Guelphs and Gibellins untill the death of Rinaldus the second THe loss of Actiolin to the Gibellins was repaired in Mastinus Scaliger who coming to be Created Podestá of Verona declared himself head of that Party Most of the Italian Writers make Mastinus of a very mean extraction raised to great riches under Actiolin and now to the chief trust in the City which was so managed by him that he and his Off-spring continued Absolute Princes there for above a hundred years till their Ambition and Insolence provoked their Neighbours to arm to their ruine The first thing Mastinus undertook was to chase away Count Boniface and the Guelphs but they going to Ferrara made known the danger their Party was in from such a growing enemy and Actiolin's creature and easily engaged the Marquess to assist them but Mastinus upon their approach not thinking himself able yet to deal with him who had so lately ruined Actiolin and his Family agreed to restore the Count and those he
force as well as by poison and other wicked practices attempt the death of Nicolaus till happily he was taken and kept prisoner notwithstanding the endeavours used by those of Milan for his enlargement The obligation of being Anno Christi 1396 alwayes in Arms upon Azo's account put the Government to so great charge that a considerable summ was borrowed of the Venetians and Rovigo given them in pledge for it By this Republicks means a match was concluded betwixt Nicolaus and the Daughter of Francis Carrara who now next to Visconti was the most powerfull Prince of those parts he being then absolute Master of Verona Vicenza Bellimo Feltry and Padoua most of which came to his Family first by the depression and afterwards by the ruine of the Scaligers The Plague about this time breaking out in Ferrara many of the Nobility retired to their Countrey-houses Carrara who had no liking to the Government setled there by Albertus coming thither with a Train that might rather have past for an Army he turned out the Nobility and put the Prince and the City into the hands of his Subjects and Favourites Nicolaus fell ill soon after and if he had died no doubt Carrara had kept that City but upon his recovery being jealous of his Father in Law 's ill intentions he dismist the Padouans and made use of those who had formerly served him The designs of John Galleazo lately Created Duke of Milan by Wensislaus the Emperour tended plainly to the subversion of Lombardy Bologna by the slaughter of the Bentivoglio's was fallen to him he had likewise Perugia and several other places upon that hand and if he had lived a few months longer Florence could not have saved it self His death encouraged the Pope and others to enter into a War with his Son a Legate being sent to Ferrara to declare Nicolaus General of the Church but the Dutchess Dowager of Milan afraid of what might follow upon such a Combination made earnest sute for Peace which she bought with the loss of Bologna Perugia and Asizi The friendship betwixt the Venetians and Carrara ending in a bloody War both Parties courted Nicolaus who at first was perswaded to declare for his Father in Law but foreseeing his ill management of Affairs and his obstinacy in refusing to yield up a little to secure the rest must at length ruine him he made Peace with the Venetians and Carrara having lost Verona Vicenza Feltry and Bellimo and being besieged at Padoua was betrayed and delivered into the hands of his Enemies who carrying him prisoner to Venice with his two Sons put him there to death His Off-spring are yet at Padoua and of late have been glad to be admitted among the Gentlemen of that Republick which put their Ancestors out of the Rank of Princes in Anno Christi 1406 which they had lived almost ninety years It was the fall of Carrara which made the Venetians first considerable upon the Terra firma Regio was now in the hands of Ottobon of Parma who resolved never to be at Peace with the House of Esté till he had likewise Modena but Nicolaus joyning with the Duke of Milan and other Princes procured Ottobon to be declared a disturber of the Peace of Lombardy and his Countrey to be exposed to all that bore him any malice For an Insurrection at Parma Ottobon hanged sixty five of the Chief Citizens and dangers threatning him both at home and from abroad he seemed willing to give satisfaction to Nicolaus whom he had most injured and appointed a Conference with him hoping by this means to have an opportunity to kill Nicolaus Advice being brought to Nicolaus of Ottobon's design he came to the place well guarded and leaving his men at some distance as Ottobon also did his both with a few trusty friends came together to discourse the business Franciscus Forza afterwards Duke of Milan being there with Nicolaus and observing some of Ottobons followers cast themselves into a certain figure which they were to do before they fell on prevented them by laying hold upon Ottobon and seconded by others killed him out-right all his party deserting him besides his Brother and one other Officer Since Actiolins time there had not been a more cruel Tyrant than Ottobon yet they advised Nicolaus to satisfie the world by a publick Declaration that what he did was in his own defence nothing but this being able to vindicate the killing any man after such a manner While the Marquess lay before Regio an Ambassadour from Venice arrived in the Camp to give him notice that the rest of Ottobons Family being fled thither as to the sanctuary of the oppressed they sent to offer their mediation expecting he would proceed no further Nicolaus thought it a little hard to be required not to meddle with what belonged to his Family yet not being willing to come to a rupture suddenly with Venice he endeavoured to gain time in returning a smooth and ambiguous answer and in a few dayes had both Regio and Parma delivered him When the Venetians understood this they wisely declined medling any further in so desperate a business withdrawing their protection from Ottobon's friends and owning the Marquess for their Confederate this Nicolaus took so kindly that he never ceased till by his mediation the Peace was made up betwixt the Emperour Sigismund and the Republick and the Articles signed at Ferrara Anno Christi 1416 The Emperour was troubled to see the Church rent by so many Popes at one time and thereupon assembled the Council of Constance where Benedict the thirteenth Gregory the twelfth and John the twenty fourth were deposed and Martin the fifth chosen and the new Pope in his return from Germany to Rome passing by Ferrara was with all his train sumptuously treated by the Marquess whom in the name of the Princes of Italy he thanked for the Peace concluded by his means betwixt the Emperour and the Venetians and for his constant forwardness in promoting the publick good Parma growing troublesome to him he sold it to the Duke of Milan who at the same time renounced all his pretensions to Regio It was thought that Lombardy was then sufficiently purged from all seeds of discord when Philip Duke of Milan's seizing upon Genoua and threatning Florence gave a fresh alarm the Venetians offered the Florentins their assistance but Nicolaus though jealous of the Dukes greatness could not be engaged till they declared him General and by their Ambassador sent him S t Mark 's Banner with an unlimited Commission after several battles the Duke having already lost Brescia and being in a fair way to lose more Nicolaus at the Popes request proposed a Peace Anno Christi 1427 which all parties by their Ambassadors agreed to at Ferrara The Duke of Milan not being able to bear the loss of Brescia without ever dismissing his Army fell more hotly upon the Venetians than before yet with no better success for after much treasure spent to no
the Troops dispatched thither by Borsius soon recovered them and he was going in person to besiege Luca when the Florentins at the request of that City made up the business giving full reparation to the Marquess for all the damages received This success discouraged others from giving Borsius any further trouble and he seeing the occasion his Brother had of getting more by the Duke of Milans death now lost resolved to enjoy what he possest and in his way of living to tread his Fathers foot-steps Frederick the third in his passage to Rome was invited by Borsius to Ferrara and treated there for a week most magnificently with all his Train consisting of above two thousand persons he presented the Emperour at his departure with forty of the finest Horses of Italy besides other rarities the German Princes also and Nobility every one according to his Quality carried away some token of the Marquesses generosity Anno Christi 1452 The Emperour wonderfully taken with the Noble Nature of Borsius resolved to advance him to the Dignity of a Duke which was done at his return in this manner a large Theatre being erected in the middle of the Piaza before the Palace and upon it a Throne of Cloth of Gold the Emperour in his Imperial Robes with the Crown which the Pope had set upon his head some days before came thither and being placed in his Throne the King of Hungary sitting upon his right hand and the Count of Tirol his Cousin or as some Writers say the Duke of Austria upon his left besides many Italian and German Princes placed according to their Quality Borsius being richly apparell'd and attended by four hundred Gentlemen dressed all in the same manner began his Cavalcade at the old Castle and rid from thence towards the Piaza three of the Chief Officers of his Court carrying large Banners before him the first of which had the Imperial Eagle with the Arms of the House of Esté in a field verd and immediately after them a Gentleman with a naked Sword when they came near the Theatre and saw the Throne all lighted and Borsius advancing towards the Throne kneeled before it and had his Ducal Robes put on by the Emperour who delivered him the first Banner for the Earldom of Rovigo the second for the Dutchy of Modena and Regio the third with the naked Sword as a Badge of his Absolute Authority and then declared him Duke of Modena and Regio and Earl of Rovigo making him take his place by the King of Hungary whereupon all the Princes and Ambassadors came to the Duke to Complement him The Emperour in his Patent expresly mentions his doing now the same Honour to the House of Esté which Frederick the second had done about two hundred years before to that branch of it that setled in Germany meaning the Dukes of Lunenburgh and Brunswick he gave the Family a new Coat of Arms and leave to seal with white wax a punctilio much observed among the Princes of Italy The Ceremony being over they returned to the Palace where the Emperour was treated according to the Solemnity of the occasion and having stay'd some dayes longer went for Germany Frederick and all his Court being fully satisfied that this great honour was well placed upon Borsius Forza was now more considerable than ever the late Duke of Milan had been for though he had not enlarged his Dominions yet being the greatest Captain of his age and one who had raised himself to this heighth meerly by his virtue he made all Italy sensible of the Power of Milan under such a Duke Some as the Florentins were glad at any rate to buy his friendship others who could not be threatned as the King of Naples and the Venetians entered into a Confederacy against him and the lesser Powers according to their inclinations sided with either and so divided Italy only Borsius having no prospect of advantage by declaring resolved to continue in peace well armed and to give or refuse passage to their Troops as he should judge most convenient It is plain Forza and the Venetians fought for no less prize than the Soveraignty of Lombardy the ruine of either party as the case then stood making it sure for the other And it was remarked to the great scandal of Christianity how that very day in which Mahomet seized upon the Imperial City of Constantinople their armies were hotly engaged being both of one Religion and of one Nation If instead of sheathing their Swords in one anothers sides the common interest of Christendome had happily united them under such a General as Forza they might have saved that City and Greece from bondage and so far at least have checked the insolence of this young Tyrant that he durst never have landed Forces in Italy to take Otranto as afterwards he did Upon the news of the loss of Constantinople the Pope dispatched Legates to Naples Venice and Milan conjuring those Princes to take pity on the dangerous state of Italy that so composing all differences they might make Head against the Common Enemy and joyn with Scanderbeg the King of Epirus whom all allowed to be the best General against the Turks that any age had produced Borsius was thought the most proper person to promote so good a work and to him the King of Naples immediately sent the terms he was willing to treat on the Venetians likewise being apprehensive of the Turks above all others gave him encouragement to go on in it Borsius's Interest in the Duke of Milan made him not fear any stop there and so warmly did he follow the business that the peace was soon concluded all expected in the next place a Confederacy against the Turk which the death of Nicolaus the fifth retarded His successor Callistus indeed appeared very earnest in it at first but having got into his hands what money he could the design was let fall Pius the second formerly Aeneas Silvius set the same design again a Anno Christi 1459 foot but could bring it to nothing till the heat of the War of Naples invaded by the French was a little over and then going towards Mantoua where he had called a Council he visited Borsius and stayed with him twelve dayes consulting about so great an undertaking for the Pope knew his Prudence and Interest could much advance it and so well was he satisfied in discoursing the matter with Borsius that he declared he would Create him Duke of Ferrara as the Emperour had done of Modena some years before At Mantoua mighty projects were laid and afterwards some Forces raised but all vanished with the Popes death and the Dukes additional Title was reserved for Paul the second to bestow The Dukes Brothers whom Leonel had sent to Naples were grown weary of that Court Ferdinand by joyning a Spaniard in Commission with Hercules in the Government of Apulia and by not treating him upon other occasions suitably to his birth and merits
had so highly disobliged him that he and the Prince of Taranto with several discontented Barons took part with the French wherefore Borsius seeing Hercules in danger and Sigismund discountenanced sent for them home and that it might appear he had not the least jealousie of either the one was made Governour of Modena the other of Regio The Emperour Frederick coming again into Italy could not pass that way without visiting Borsius as he likewise did in his return and to say no more was both times treated at a rate peculiar to Borsius The French afterwards sent to Anno Christi 1470 Borsius to make known their resolution of invading Naples again being encouraged in it by Paul the second but the Duke though he had no kindness for Ferdinand yet instead of giving any assurances to France sent to the Pope to represent to him the unreasonableness of the thing how little he could expect from the French how much he would disturb the quiet of Italy by calling them in and disoblige all the Princes and that it would much better become him to consult the common safety of Christendom and the quiet of Italy by employing such restless Princes against the Turk The Pope being taken with the Dukes freedom invited him after some time to Rome and made good what Pius had promised by Creating Borsius Duke of Ferrara This new Title he did not long enjoy for falling sick in a few dayes after his return he died Borsius was a just a splendid and a bountifull Prince every day he used to walk in the Outer Court of his Palace there to hear whatsoever complaints were brought him if he observed any that had not the confidence to come he called to them and by his affable carriage encouraged them to speak oftentimes both parties appearing he presently came to a determination and where the business was difficult he would be sure first to ask the Opinion of those about him and in this he took such a particular pleasure that he often said it was the chief work of Princes to be ready to examine and redress the grievances of the meanest of their Subjects the rest of his time he spent in hunting in hawking and in Horse-matches his Stables being the best furnished of any in Italy His constant habit was rich Brocade and the same he allowed to all his Buffoons of whom his Court according to the humour of that age was full one of them called Gonella of Ferrara had so great a Name that every witty saying and brisk repartee was father'd upon him and he was talked of in all the Courts of Italy The hospitality and bounty of Borsius was yet beyond all the rest whoever came within the Court might eat or drink what they pleased Officers still being in readiness to treat them according to their quality the names of all the poor in the City were written down their wants plentifully relieved and portions given by the Duke with their Daughters in marriage such persons were likewise desired to give notice of their condition and had Physick and other necessaries accordingly sent them Every Christmas day the Treasury being opened Borsius came thither in person and called all to whom he or his Officers owed any thing to receive their money which being done as seldom it was then to do what remained he divided with his own hands among the Gentlemen of his Court In one word such was the bounty of his Nature that there could scarce be given an instance of his ever having refused what any asked him These Princely Virtues made his Subjects heartily love him and the love of his Subjects was of all things most proper to recommend him to strangers the Duke of Milan and the Venetians who differed in most things agreed in their good Opinion of Borsius His Family after him bore the honourable badge of the value the Emperour and Pope had for him and as if all this had been too little or as somewhat of partiality had been in it because proceeding from those of his own Countrey or of his own Religion a great Mahumetan Prince the Sultan of Aegypt by an Embassy and rich Presents sent to Borsius a little before his death did demonstrate that his reputation was too large to be confined within Italy or indeed within Europe CHAP. XI The Life of Hercules the first the second Duke of Ferrara c. THe Mother of Hercules upon her Husbands death and Leonels advancement retired to the Marquess of Saluzzo's with a vow that she would never see Ferrara till her Son were in possession of his Right Many melancholy years had she spent while her Son lived in an honourable sort of banishment at the Court of Naples his returning home safe which she scarce expected and his Brothers treating him with much kindness did a little raise her languishing spirits but now hearing that Borsius was dead and the injury done Hercules in some measure repaired by the accession of a higher Title she with unexpressible joy made hast towards Ferrara where being scarce well arrived she had the comfort to see her other Son Sigismund return from Naples with the Kings Daughter for a Dutchess to Hercules and to Crown her with all worldly happiness the next year brought her a Grand-child Alphonsus Heir to the Dutchies of Ferrara and Modena After all the troubles Hercules met with and his late establishment in what was undoubtedly his at his Fathers death Nicolaus Leonels Son who never durst mutter while Borsius lived had now the impudence to disturb his quiet He was a Grand-child of the House of Mantoua and wanted not those at Ferrara who upon the least success were ready to declare for him this encouraged him with what Forces he could make to come by water from Mantoua when the Duke seemed most secure and being brought safe by night with his men into the chief street of Ferrara he beat the Drums early in the morning for those of his party to take Arms but seeing none offering to joyn with him the Guns playing from the Castle upon his Souldiers and men beginning to appear in arms about the Palace Gate he made hast to get away and was taken in his retreat the Duke enclined to save him but those who knew his temper being of another mind he was formally condemned and beheaded with the Chief of his Followers the rest of the Prisoners were to be set at liberty only a true-hearted German who had lived long with Nicolaus and deserved a more fortunate Master when he saw his dead body refusing the benefit of the Dukes pardon died the most gloriously of any in that quarrel Two dayes after a Gentleman brought the Duke the names of all in Ferrara that were privy to the late design but Hercules without ever opening the paper burnt it in the Gentlemans presence telling him he intended to punish no more upon that account that he would gladly have pardon'd his Cousin Nicolaus if it could
esteem of Henry the second The Dukes refusal while his Son accepted the Command signified nothing to Philip who laboured hard to make a breach betwixt him and the Venetians but they not being disposed then to enter into a War in the Spanish Quarrel excused themselves pretending that the Dukes being a Gentleman of Venice and a member of their great Council he must first forfeit that priviledge before they could so far disown him as to come to a War The great overthrow the French received at S t Quintin put the Duke and all that party in Italy in some apprehensions but the Victory not being pursued a Peace was some time after concluded betwixt the two Crowns and then died Hercules the fourth Duke of Ferrara in the fiftieth year of his age In his youth he had been the most hopefull Prince of Italy for all manner of accomplishments After his Fathers death he lived in peace govern'd his Subjects with great gentleness no Prince ever was readier to pardon injuries or to oblige every person about him the expence of his Court being great and his Subjects slow in granting new Subsidies he did much anticipate his Revenue by borrowing money upon several branches of it in which his Subjects did not think fit to concern themselves seeing it only emptied his Exchequer and made the Government uneasie for his Successor CHAP. XIV The Life of Alphonsus the second the fifth and last Duke of Ferrara AN Express was immediately dispatched by the Dutchess to her Son Alphonsus then at the Court of France who making what hast he could to Marseilles took ship and had a quick passage to Legorn where Cosmus Duke of Florence with many of the Toscan Nobility were ready to welcome him and saw him safe in his own Territories Near Modena his Uncle Alphonsus and the whole Gentry of that Countrey received him and at Ferrara he made a publick entry passing through five triumphal Arches erected at the Cities charge Next morning was the death of Hercules the second published Alphonsus by sound of Trumpet was proclaimed Duke the Scepter and Sword delivered to him by the Chief Magistrate upon his knees and an Oath of Allegiance taken by him to the new Duke in the name of all the people the Duke also according to the usual form swearing he would be a Just Prince and consult the Common Interest of his Subjects Which solemnity being over Alphonsus made his Fathers Funeral Rites be performed with great decency and then he sent Francis one of the Princes of Esté to Florence to bring home his Dutchess that Dukes Daughter According Anno Christi 1560 to the account I have seen nothing could be more magnificent than the train she brought along with her and the manner of her reception at Ferrara The Dutchess Dowager having no comfort in her stay in Italy after her Husbands death returned to her Native Countrey from which she had been so many years absent and left all Ferrara except the Jesuits in tears for the loss of so incomparable a Princess The Gentry when she first came thither considering her as Lewis the twelfth's Daughter bred up in the most glorious Court of Christendom where Princes of the blood especially the Kings Children could not have too much respect payed them expected to be kept at a greater distance now than they had been under the former Dutchesses but on the contrary access to her was so easie her conversation so free and her whole deportment so modest that had she been the Daughter of a little Duke of Saluzzo or an Eustochia Laura raised by her virtue she could not have taken less state upon her All the Learned found the good efeffects of her Patronage and were as liberal in setting out her Virtues as she could be towards their support The Poor and the Sick were sure of relief and Orphans of care and protection So that in the whole City of Ferrara there was scarce a person that could not shew some instance of that unlimited goodness which had so long time diffused it self upon all her subjects without missing rich or poor Prince Lewis after his return from France whither he went to accompany the Dutchess his Mother was created Cardinal and while the joy of his promotion filled the Court with Balls and Banquets the death of the Dutchess Lucretia changed the scene she had lived but fourteen months with her Husband and had left him childless yet this was in some measure repaired by the birth of Caesar the Son of Alphonsus and Julia of Vrbin in whom the Duke could not want a Successor Cardinal Hippolytus had been Legate in France and returning thence with the Cardinal of Lorrain and many French and Italian Noblemen they were all treated at his Nephews Court where at the same time there happened to be several other Princes and then it was that Hippolytus playing at Cards with a vast summ at stake and all the good Cards in his hand made a hard shift to lose whispering to one of his Confidents who seeing his hand seemed surprized that he was more a Gentleman than to win so much money of strangers at the Court of Ferrara but if he had such luck in France or at Rome he knew how to make the best of it The Duke was easily reconciled to a second marriage when the Emperour Maximilian proffered him the Princess Barbara his Daughter the Cardinal Lewis went to meet her at Trent and brought her to Ferrara with all the state that either the Princes of Esté or that City could shew upon so solemn an occasion The War in Hungary growing hot with the Turk Maximilian invited the Christian Princes to his assistance and thither went the Duke of Ferrara with fifteen hundred Horse having sent the Officers of his Household before with the Baggage soon after their arrival in the Imperial Army Solymans death put an end to the War This Expedition was very chargeable to the Duke for besides the length of the march he had three hundred Gentlemen cloathed in Velvet richly embroidered with Servants all in the same Livery the rest also were so finely accoutered that they seemed rather designed for a Cavalcade than an Army his zeal however and his magnificence in this great appearance was so much taken notice of that some years after they named him in Poland among the Princes who were Candidates for that Crown and it was thought if Maximilian had not in vain designed it for himself he might have carried it for his Son in Law the Duke of Ferrara The Duke having no concerns at Rome for three or four reigns which therefore I pass in silence spent his time in entertaining all the Princes that came that way and in diverting himself Great complaints were brought him of the Countrey peoples Anno Christi 1570 spoiling his Game at a distance from the Court which made all the penal Laws against such abuses be renewed but they continuing still to transgress trusting either that