was supposed that the summe of his presents amounted vnto twentie thousand duckets In conclusion he aspired to such greatnesse of reputation as Lucca and not Cosimo seemed to gouerne the Cittie Thereupon he conceiued so great confidence that he began to build two houses the one in Florence the other in Rucciano a mile distant from the Cittie both stately and kingly buildings But that in Florence was much larger then by any priuate Cittizen had euer bene builded For performance thereof he spared not to vse all extraordinarie meanes For not onely priuate Cittizens and particuler men did present him and help him with things necessarie for his building but the whole comminaltie and people did put their hands to his works Moreouer all banished men and euerie other person hauing committed murther theft or other offence whereof he feared publique punishment if he were abled to his seruice any way might without all danger resort thither The other Cittizens although they builded not like vnto him yet were they no lesse violent and inclined to oppression so as albeit Florence had no warre abroad to hinder it yet was it by the Cittizens within oppressed In those dayes as is before sayd happened the warre in the Kingdome and some warres were also made against the house of Malatesti by the Pope being desirous to take from them Rimino and Cesena so that in this enterprise and his studie to moue the warre against the Turke Pope Pio consumed his Papacie But Florence continued still in diuisions and troubles For then began the faction of Cosimo to be diuided within it selfe the yeare 1455. which happened by the occasions before said Yet were they for that time by his wisedome appeased But the yeare 64. being come Cosimo fell againe sick and dyed At his death both friends and foes lamented for they who in respect of the State loued him not seeing what extortion was vsed by the Cittizens in his life doubted least Cosimo being dead whome all men reuerenced they should be vtterly ruined and of his sonne Piero they hoped not much For albeit he were of disposition a good man yet being sickly and new in the gouernmēt they thought he should be forced to respect others who without any bridle would become strong and incorrigible Euerie man therefore feared to find great want of Cosimo This Cosimo was the most esteemed and most famous Cittizen being no man of warre that euer had bene in the memorie of man either in Florence or any other Cittie bicause he did not onely excell all others of his time in authoritie and riches but also in liberalitie and wisedome For amongst other qualities which aduanced him to be chiefe of his Countrey he was more then other men liberall and magnificent Which liberalitie appeared much more after his death then before For his sonne Piero found by his fathers Records that there was not any Cittizen of estimation to whome Cosimo had not lent great summes of money and many times also vnrequired he did lend to those Gentlemen whome he knewe to haue need His magnificence likewise appeared by diuerse his buildings For within Florence he builded the Abbaies and Temples of S. Marco S. Lorenzo and the Monasterie of S. Verdiana And in the Mountaines of Fiesole S. Gerolano with the Abbey thereunto belonging Also in Mugello he did not onely repaire the Church for the Friers but tooke it downe and builded it a new Besides those magnificent buildings in S. Croce in S. Agnoli and S. Miniato he made Altars and sumptuous Chappels All which Temples and Chappels besides the buildings of them were by him paued and throughlie furnished with all things necessarie With these publique buildings we may number his priuate houses whereof one within the Cittie meete for so great a personage and foure other without at Carriaggi at Fiesole at Cafaggiuolo and at Trebio all Pallaces fitter for Princes then priuate persons And bicause his magnificent houses in Italy did not in his opinion make him famous ynough he builded in Ierusalem an Hospitall to reciue poore and diseased Pilgrims In which worke he consumed great summes of money And albeit these buildings and euery other his actions were princely and that in Florence he liued like a Prince yet so gouerned by wisedome as he neuer exceeded the bounds of ciuill modestie For in his conuersation in riding in marrying his children and kinsfolks he was like vnto all other discreet and modest Citizens bicause he well knew that extraordinarie things which are of all men with admiration beholded do win more enuie then those which without ostentatiō be honestlie couered Whensoeuer therefore he married his sonnes he neuer sought to match them with the daughters of Princes but wedded his sonne Giouanni to Cornelia Alessandri and Piero to Lucretia Tornabuoni Also of his graund children begotten of Piero he married Bianca to Guglielmo de Pazi and Nannina to Barnardo Russellai These his proceedings caused that in so great change of fortune and in so variable a Cittie among so inconstant Cittizens he continued a Magistrate 31. yeares For being a wise man he discouered all inconuenients a farre and therefore might in time preuent them or if they did grow be so prepared as they could not offend him Whereby he did not onely suppresse all domesticall and ciuill ambition but also bridled the insolencie of many Princes with so great happinesse and wisedome that whosoeuer ioyned in league with him and his countrey became either equall or superior to his enemies And whosoeuer opposed themselues against them either they lost time money or state Whereof the Venetians can beare witnesse who being ioyned with him against the Duke Philippo were alwayes victorious and being disioyned were first by Philippo and after by Francesco victored and oppressed Also when they ioyned with Alfonso against the state of Florence Cosimo with his credit made both Naples and Venice so scarce of money as they were constrayned to take what peace himselfe was pleased with Whatsoeuer difficultie or contradiction was moued against Cosimo either within or without the Cittie the end thereof was to his glorie and the disaduantage of his enemies Therefore all ciuill discords increased his authoritie in Florence and forraine warres augmented his power abroad He annexed to the dominion of his Countrey Borgo at S. Sepolcro Monteuoglio Casentino and the Vale of Bagno Thus his vertue and fortune oppressed all enemies and aduanced his friends He was borne in the yeare 1389. on the feast day of S. Cosimo and Damiano The first part of his life was full of troubles as appeareth by his exile his imprisonment and his dangers of death Also at the Councell of Constanza whither he went with the Pope Giouanni after the Popes oppression he was forced to disguise himselfe and flee But hauing passed the fortie yeare of his age hee liued most happily in so much as not onely they which ioyned with him in publique actions but all other men also that maneged
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
gaue great reputation to the faction of Cosimo and much terror to the enemy that so mightie a Common weale refused not to sell their libertie to the Florentines Which was thought to be done not so much to gratifie Cosimo as to exasperate the factions in Florence make by meanes of bloud the diuision of our citie the more daungerous Because the Venetians found that there was nothing that so much hindred their greatnes as the vniting thereof Thus the citie being acquite both of the enemies persons suspected to the state the gouernours studying to pleasure other people make their own part the stronger restored the house of Alberti with all other Rebels All the great Citizens a few except were brought into the order of the people the possessions of the rebels at smal prices among them sold Moreouer with new lawes and orders they strengthened themselues making new Squittini taking out the names of their enemies putting in the names of their friends Also being warned by the ruine of their enemies and iudging that it sufficed not for the holding of the state to haue the Squittini full of their friends they also thought good that the Magistrates of life and death should be chosen of the chiefe of their faction It was therfore required that the makers of the new Squittini togither with the old Senate should haue authoritie to create the new They gaue vnto the Eight authoritie ouer life and death and prouided that those that were banished should not though their time were expired return vnlesse of the Senat and the Colledges being in number 37. were thereunto consenting or at the least thirtie foure of them To write vnto those that were confined or receiue any letters from them was forbidden Also euery word euery signe euery action that offended the Gouernours was greeuously punished And if in Florence remained any suspitiō it was the Impositions lately imposed so hauing driuē out their aduersaries or brought thē to great pouerty assured themselues of the state Also not to want forrein aid but preuent such as thereby determined to offend them they did confederate and make league with the Pope the Venetians and the Duke of Milan The state of Florence resting in these tearmes Giouanna Queene of Naples dyed making by her testament Rinieri de Angio heyre of her Kingdome At that time Alfonso King of Aragon happened to be in Sicilia and hauing the friendship of many Barrons there prepared himselfe to possesse that Kingdome The Napolitanes and many of the Lords fauoured Rinieri The Pope on the other side would neither that Rinieri nor Alfonso might possesse it but desired that himselfe should gouerne it by a Deputy of his owne Yet Alfonso being arriued in the Kingdome was by the Duke of Sessa receiued and there enterteined some other Princes hoping to surprize Capoua which the Prince of Tarranto in the name of Alfonso possessed and by that meane to constraine the Napolitanes to yeeld to his will For that purpose he sent his Nauie to assault Gaietta which was holden for the Neapolitanes The Napolitanes then prayed ayde of Philippo who perswaded the Genouesi to take that enterprise in hand They not onely to satisfie the Duke their Prince but also to saue the merchandize they had in Naples and Gaietta armed a mightie Nauie Alfonso on the contrary side vnderstanding thereof encreased his forces and went in person to encounter the Genouesi with whom he fought neere vnto the Island of Pontio and there his Nauie was vanquished himselfe with diuerse other Princes taken and sent by the Genouesi to Philippo This victorie dismayd all the Princes of Italy because thereby they thought he might become owner of all But he so diuerse are the opinions of men tooke a course cleane contrary to expectation This Alfonso being a man verie wise so soone as he could come to the speech of Philippo tolde how greatly he deceiued himselfe to fauour Rinieri and disfauour him because if Rinieri were King of Naples he would labour with all his force to bring the Dukedome of Milan to the hands of the French King by reason his ayde was at hand his furniture of all things necessarie and the way open for his reliefe Neither could he looke for better then his owne ruine if he made that state to become French But the contrarie would follow if himselfe might be Prince For he not fearing any other enemy then the French should be enforced to loue honour and obey him who had the onely power to open the way to his enemies So that although the Kingdome should rest with Alfonso yet the authoritie and power thereof would remaine in the hands of Philippo Wherefore it would much more import him then himselfe to consider the perill of the one and the profit of the other vnlesse he desired more to satisfie his fantesie then assure the state Because in doing the one he should be Prince and free by the other in the middest of two mightie enemies either sure to lose the state vtterly liue alwayes in suspition or as a subiect obey them These words wrought so deepe in the Dukes mind that changing his intent he deliuered Alfonso honorably returned him to Genoua and from thence to the Kingdome There he imbarked againe and being arriued at Gaietta his deliuery was knowne and that Countrey sodeinly surprized by certaine Lords his followers The Genouesi seeing that without respect to them the Duke had deliuered the King and that he whome they with their charge and perill had honoured did not make them aswell partakers of the honor in the Kings inlargement as of the iniurie to him done and his ouerthrow grew greatly offended In the Cittie of Genoua when it liueth in libertie there is created one head whome they call Doge not to be a Prince absolute nor to determine alone but as chiefe to propound those matters whereof the Magistrates and Councels should consult Within that Towne be many noble Families which are so mightie that with difficultie they yeeld to the authoritie of Magistrates And of them the houses of Fregosa and Adorna be of greatest force From these the diuisions of that Cittie and the causes of ciuill disorders did proceed For they many times contending for gouernment not onely ciuilly but also by armes it falleth out that euer the one faction is afflicted and the other gouerneth It also happeneth many times that those who are deposed from authoritie do pray ayde of forreine armes and yeeld that gouernment to others which they themselues could not enioy Hereof it proceedeth that those who gouerned in Lombardy do for the most part commaund in Genoua as it happened at such time as Alfonso was taken Among the chiefe of the Genouesi that caused the Cittie to be giuen into the hands of Philippo was Francesco Spinola who not long after he had brought his countrey in bondage as in like cases it euer happeneth became suspected to
armie was assembled The Florentines then hauing gathered all their forces at S. Cassiano and the enemies furiously besieging Colle determined to draw neare vnto them to encourage their friendes to defend themselues supposing also that the enimy wold offend with more respect for hauing his aduersary at hād This resolution set downe they remoued the Campe from S. Casciano and brought it to S. Giminiano within fiue myles of Colle from whence with light horses and other suddeine meanes they daily molested the Dukes Camp Notwithstanding this supplie sufficed not those of Colle for wanting necessarie prouision on the thirteenth day of Nouember they yeelded to the great griefe of the Florentines and the ioy of the enemies and chiefly of the Sanesi who besides their hate to the Florentines beare also priuate grudge to the Collegiani By this time the winter was great and the season vnfit for warre so that the Pope and King either because they would giue hope of peace or that they desired to enioy the passed victorie quietly offered to the Florentines truce for three moneths and gaue them ten dayes respite to make answere which was presently accepted But as a wounde when the bloud therein groweth colde grieueth the bodie more then when it was receiued so this small rest caused the Florentines to knowe the trauailes they had endured and the Cittizens without respect accused one an other of the errors committed in the last warre for the charges in vaine spent and the Impositions vniustly put vppon them Which matters were not only spoken of among priuate men but the same was also boldly propounded in the Councels And one of them tooke courage turning his face towards Lorenzo de Medici sayd vnto him This Citie is wearied and refuseth to haue longer warre It behoueth therefore that we deuise which way to make peace Then Lorenzo knowing the necessitie consulted with those friends whom he knew most faithfull and wise and concluded first perceiuing the Venetians coldnesse and inconstancie the Dukes infancy and trouble of ciuill warres that it was necessarie with new friends to seeke new fortune Yet stood they doubtfull whether they were best trust vnto the Pope or the King The matter being well examined they preferred the Kings friendship as most stable and sure Because the shortnesse of the Popes liues the chaunge of their succession the small feare which the Church hath of Pinces and the fewe respects which it vseth in resolution are the causes why a seculer Prince cannot assuredly trust vnto a Pope nor safely passe one fortune with him For whosoeuer is friend vnto the Pope in warres and daungers shall be by him accompanied in the victorie but in aduersities left alone because the Pope is by spirituall power and reputation supported and defended This resolution made that to gaine the Kings friendship was best they thought the same by no meane better procured nor with more assurance then by the presence of Lorenzo For the more liberallitie were vsed to him the more they thought he would forget former displeasures Lorenzo determined vppon this iourney reaccommended the Citie and state vnto Tomaso Soderini then Gonfaloniere di Giustitia and in the beginning of December he departed from Florence and being arriued at Pisa wrote vnto the Senate the occasion of his departure and the Senate to honor him and that he might with more reputation conclude the peace with the King made him Embassador for the people of Florence with full authoritie to proceed as by his discretion should be thought good In the meane time Roberto da San Seuerino togither with Lodouico and Ascanio for their third brother Octaniano Sforza was dead assaulted againe the State of Milan desirous to winne the gouernment thereof And hauing surprized Tortona Milan also with the whole countrey was in armes Then the Duchesse Bona was counselled to admit the Sforzi into the State and by that meane appease the ciuill discention The chief of those Counsellors was Antonio Tassino of Farrara who being bacely born came to Milan and was by the Duke Gale 〈…〉 o and the Duchesse receiued to serue in their chamber He either for the bewtie of his person or for some other secret vertue after the death of the Duke aspired to so great fauour with the Duchesse as almost alone hee gouerned the state which greatly displeased Cecco being a man both for learning and long experience excellent So as he both to the Duchesse and others laboured to decrease the credit of Tassino Wherof Tassino being aware to be reuenged haue ayd at hand to defend him from Cecco perswaded the Duchesse to receiue home the Sforzi which she did without making Cecco priuie But Cecco after knowing thereof saide vnto her Madame you haue made a resolution which will take my life from mee and the state from you As shortly after came to passe For Cecco was by the Lodouico put to death and Tassino within a short space being driuen out of the Duchie the Duchesse tooke therat so great offence that she went from Milan and renounced the gouernment of her sonne vnto Lodouico Thus Lodouico become onely gouernour of Milan was as shall be declared the occasion of the ruine of Italy Lorenzo de Medici was now on his way towardes Naples and the peace betwixt the enemies in communication when beyond all expectation Lodouico Fregoso hauing practised with some Serezanaesi by stealth entered with armed men into Serezana taking possession of that Towne and imprisoned those that gouerned then for the Florentines This accident greatly offended the princes of the Florentine state who thought the matter was brought to passe by direction of the king Ferrando And complained to the Duke of Calauria who was at the Campe before Siena saying they were notwithstanding the truce assaulted with newe warre He both by Letters Embassages and euerie other way declared the same was done without the consent of his father The Florentines neuenhelesse thought themselues in hard estate wanting money the chiefe of their Common-weale in the Kings hand A new warre mooued by the Genouesi and without friendes For in the Venetians they trusted not and feared leaste the gouernement of Milan was vnassured Their onely hope was vppon that which Lorenzo de Medici was to conclude with the King Lorenzo arriued at Naples by sea was there both by the King and all that Cittie honourablie and with great expectation receiued Because so great a warre being made onely to oppresse him his enemies thereby did make him more great For being come to the Kings presence hee debated with him the estate of Italy the humors of princes and people thereof and what might be hoped of the peace and feared by the warre Which the King hearing grew into more admiration to finde in him so noble a minde so readie a wit and so great a iudgement then that he could endure so long a warre In so much as the King doubled the honours before done vnto him
brother into Florence Of M. Corso with certaine banished men entereth the Citie How the Lucchesi setled the state in Florence Florence both by fire and sword tormented Of a place called le Stinche in the vale of Greue Vguccione cheefe of the faction Ghibilina and Bianca The Ghibilini banished and among them the Poet Dante Of great misery in Florence New reformation in Florence Castruccio of Lucca The order of casting Lots and how it begunne in Florence How the great Cittizens encreased their authority by two meanes Conspiracy against Giacopo de Agobio League betweene the Florentines and Venetians The Duke of Athene made Lord of Florence Proclamation of banishment made by that Duke and murther of some Citizens The Oration of certayn cheefe Citizens before the Duke The Dukes Pallace sacked Conspiracy against the Duke The Duke assaulted and vanquished The Duke dismissed out of Florence his lyfe and condition Andrea Strozzi entendeth to vsurpe the state of Florence At what time the great plague hapned in that City whereof Boccatio hath at large written In the third Booke HOw the discord which groweth of ambition are the occasion of deuision in Cities The partialities of the Albizi and Rizzi How M. di Riale of Prouenza came to Florence A law made against the Ghibilini How the word Ammoniti arose in Florence and what it meaneth An Oration of one Citizen to the Lords The occasion of the corruption of Italy The cheefe of the faction of Guelfi New tumults in Florence The Oration of Luigi Guicciardini Gonfaloniere New reformation of the City One Simone discouereth a conspiracy against the state Michiele di Lando an artificer by his courage aspired to be chosen Gonfaloniere di Giustitia New reformation in Florence A commendation of Michiele di Lando An accusation of many Cittizens for their returne being banished The insolency of Georgio Scali The death of that Georgio Exile and slaughter in Florence The speech of Benedetto Alberti to his cōpanions Of the maner of creation of the Balia in Florence Of Iohn Galeazzo Visconti The words of Veri di Medici What qualitie the Florentines required to be in him that occupied the place of Gonfaloniere Giacopo Acciaiuoli The death of certaine Cittizens In the fourth Booke FIlippo Visconti Duke of Milan intendeth to become Lord of Genoa Georgio Ordilaffi Lord of Furli The Duke of Milan maketh warre against the Florentines Giouanni de Medici New league betweene the Florentines and Venetians Of an Imposition among the Florentines called Catasto Carmignuolo Generall of the warre in Lombardy Peace taken with the Duke of Mylan and the League and what Citties remained to the Venetians The death of Giouanni de Medici and his commendation Of Cosimo his sonne Volterra rebelleth from the Florentines The enterprise of the Florentines against Lucca The violence offered to Sarauezesi and the speech of one man of that place to the Senate of Florēce Filippo Brunalesco an excellent Architector The defeate of the Florentine army by Nicholo Piccinino A consultation to expulse Cosimo di Medici out of Florence The answere of Nicholo Vzano Cosimo di Medici cited before the Senate was imprisoned Cosimo confined to Padoa Cosimo returneth to his Countrey In the fift Booke BRaccio and Sforza two great Captaynes in Italy Nicholo Piccinino Generall for the Duke of Mylan Gattamelata Generall for the Venetians Banishment of many Cittizens in Florence Alfonso of Aragon maketh warre for Naples The ordinances of the Cittie of Genoua The speech of Rinaldo delli Albizi to the Duke of Mylan Rebellion of Genoua from the Duke An Oration of an antient Cittizen of Lucca to the people Francesco Sforza Generall of the league of Florence and Venice Discord betweene Andrea Mauroceno and Francesco Sforza Cosimo di Medici Embassador to the Venetians The Duke of Mylan determineth to take Romagna from the Pope Sforza desiring to marrie the Duke of Mylan his daughter practiseth by diuerse indirect meanes Sforza refuseth to passe the Po with his army The speech of Neri Capponi to the Senate of Venice The diuerse waies from Pesaro to Verona and which of them the Earle Sforza made choise of The Nauy of the Venetians taken by Nicholo Piccinino The Earle remoueth to rescue Brescia The scite of Verona The Earle goeth to Venice Piccinino passeth to Casentino The Castle of San Nicholo The Earle breaketh the Dukes Nauy The ouerthrow of Piccinino Alberto de Albizi setleth himselfe to dwell at Ancona The taking of Poppi and what words the Earle owner of that place vsed In the sixt Booke A Description of certaine lawdable customes vsed in auncient Common-weales A proude request made by Piccinino to the Duke of Mylan The Duke marrieth Bianca his daughter to the Earle Francesco Sforza and giueth her the Cittie of Cremona Alfonso of Aragon beseegeth Naples Annibal Bentiuogli breaketh the forces of Piccinino Baldaccio de Anghiari Generall for the Florentines The Canneschi murdered Annibal Bentiuogli The people for that fact cut the Canneschi in pieces and killed Battista that slew Anniball Santo Bentiuogli appointed to gouerne Bologna vntill the sonne of Anniball came to full age Certaine Cities yeelded to the Venetians The Earle Sforza beseegeth Carauaggio The taking of one Venetian Proueditor whom the Earle set at libertie hauing first informed him of his pride The Venetians become bond to pay vnto the Earle a certaine number of Florins Embassadors sent from Mylan to the Earle and their Oration The Milanesi made choise of that Earle for their Duke The Embassadors of Venice denyed audience by the Florentines The Venetians begun warre agaynst the Duke Steffano Porcari determining to surprize Rome is discouered and put to death by the Pope King Rinato Pope Calisto 3. endeuoreth to make warre against the Infidels giuing crosses to the souldiers and therefore the enterprise was called la Crociata but it proceeded not Meruailous tempest about Florence and great harme proceeding thereby Giouan di Augio in the name of the French King taketh possession of Genoua Dissention betweene the Fregosi and Giouanni Giouanni vanquished In the seuenth Booke HOw hard it is to continue a Common-weale vnited The Cittizens of Florence desire Cosimo di Medici to reforme the Cittie Lucca Pitti Lucca Pitti builded magnificently The death of Cosimo di Medici The commendation of Cosimo A new enterprise against the infidels impeached A conspiracie of certaine Cittizens against Piere di Medici Piero armeth against his enemies The enemies of Piero banished Florence An Oration made by Piero in his house to the Senators The Duke of Milan goeth to Florence The Florentines against the Volterani Federigo Duke of Vrbino an excellent Captaine Bad condition of Galiazzo Duke of Milan Treason against that Duke The death of the Duke The death of the Conspirators In the eight Booke COnspiracie against Lorenzo and Giuliano di Medici The murder of Giuliano The death of the Archbishop and some other Conspirators The death of Francesco Pazzi The death of Giacopo di Pazzi The
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
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
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
and money with honourable titles to bee giuen them Wherupon the one part of them went from place to place feasting and triumphing and the other part with great pompe receiued the triumphers When fame had dispersed abroad the new principallitie of the Duke many of the French Nation came vnto him And hee to euerie one of them as men most to be trusted gaue countenance and enterteinment So that Florence within short space was not onely subiect to the French men but also to their factions and apparrell Because both men and women without respect of shame did followe them But aboue all things that displeased was the violence which he and his without respect vsed to the women The Citizens liued then with great indignation seeing the maiestie of their state ruined their ordinances broken their lawes disanulled honest life corrupted and all ciuill modestie extinguished For the Citizens not accustomed to see any regall pompe could not without sorrow behold the Duke amidst his guardes of armed men both on foote and horsebacke for so with their owne shame they were forced to honour him whome they most hated Whereunto might be ioyned the feare and death of many Citizens and the continuall exactions wherewith he impouerished and consumed the citie All which indignations and feares were well inough knowne to the Duke yet would he not be thought to mistrust any thing but shew himselfe as though he were beloued of all men For it happened that Matteo di Moroso either to gratifie him or acquite himselfe of danger reuealed a conspiracie practised by the house of Medici and some others The Duke enformed therof did not onely not examine the cause but also caused Matteo most miserably to be put to death By which doing he tooke courage from all those that would tell him anie thing for his good and encouraged others that went about his ruine He caused also with great crueltie the tongue of Bettone Cini to be cut off who after therof died And this punishment was done because Bettone had found fault with the exactions laid vpon the Cittizens These cruelties encreased offence in the people with their hatred to the Duke because that citie which was accustomed freely to do and speake all things could not endure to haue their hands tied and their mouthes closed These offences and this hatred grew to that ripenesse as mooued not onely the Florentines who could neither maintaine their freedome nor suffer seruitude but euen the most seruile people of the world to recouer libertie And therupoÌ„ many citizens of all estates resolued with the losse of their liues to recouer their libertie lost Then practised they three sorts of conspiracies the one among the Nobilitie the second among the people the third among the artificers These conspiracies besides the general respect were for particuler reasons willingly taken in hand The great men desired to recouer authoritie The people were sorrowfull for hauing lost the gouernment And the Artificers found their trades and earning of money to be decaied At that time Agnolo Acciaiuoli was Archbishop of Florence who in his Sermons and otherwise had extolled the actions of the Duke and done him great fauour among the people But afterwards seeing him Prince and knowing his tyrannous proceedings knew how much he had deceiued his country and therefore to make amendes of that faulte determined that the hande which had made the wound should also cure it Wherefore he became head of the first and greatest conspiracie wherein were the Bardi Rossi Frescobaldi Scali Altouiti Malagotti Strozzi and Mancini The chiefe of the second conspiracie were Manno and Corso Donati and with them the Pazzi Cauicciulli Cherchi and Albici The principall of the third conspiracie was Antonio Adimari and with him the Medici Bordini Ruccelai Aldobrandini whose intent was to haue slaine the Duke in the house of Albezi whither as they thought he intended to go vpon Midsomer day to behold the running of horses But thither he went not and therfore that enterprise became frustrate Then they ment to assault him walking in the citie but that seemed haâ—d to do because he was well accompanied and alwaies armed therewith also euerie day changed his walke so as they knew not in what place certaine to wait for him It was likewise the opinion of some that the best were to kill him in the Councell and yet that were hazardous for though he were slaine the conspirators should be at the discretion of his forces During that the conspirators communed of these matters Anthonio Adimari discouered the matter to some of his friends of Siena whose aide hee hoped of and tolde them the names of some conspirators saying that the whole Citie was bent to recouer libertie Then one of them imparted his knowledge to Francesco Brunelleschi not with intent the practise should be laid open but supposing that hee also had bene of the same conspiracie Francesco either for feare of himselfe or for the hatred he bare towards some other reuealed all to the Duke and presently Pagolo del Mazecchia and Simon da Mantezappoli were apprehended Who detecting the qualitie and quantitie of the conspirators did thereby much amaze the Duke and was therefore counselled rather to send for them then arrest them For if they fled then he might without his owne dishonour by their banishment assure himselfe The Duke therefore caused Antonio Adimari to be called who trusting to his companions presently appeared Adimari being staied the Duke was aduised by Francescho Brunelleschi and Vguccione Buondelmonti to search the Citie and kill so many as could be taken But that the Duke thought not good supposing his forces not sufficient to encounter so many enemies and therefore proceeded an other way which hauing taken effect should both haue assured him of the enemies and also gained him strength The Duke was accustomed at occasions to assemble the Citizens and to take their counsell Hauing therefore sent out to assemble the people he made a bill of three hundreth Citizens names and caused his Serieants vnder colour of councelling with them to warne them to appeare and being appeared he intended either to kill them or imprison them The apprehension of Antonio Adimari and the sending for other Citizens which could not be secretly done did greatly dismay euery man but most of all those that knew themselues guiltie Insomuch as men of greatest courage would not obey him And because manie had read the bill wherin one saw an others name the one encouraged the other to take armes and chose rather to die like men then as Calues to be led to the butchery By this means within an houre all the three conspiracies became knowne one vnto the other and determined the day following which was the twentie sixt of Iuly in the yeare 1343. to raise a tumult in the olde Market place there to arme themselues and call the people to libertie The next day about high noone according to appointment euerie man tooke armes
and all the people hearing the name of libertie armed themselues and euerie man in his quarter prepared him vnder the Ensigne of the peoples armes which the conspirators had secretly caused to be made And the chiefe as well of the Noble houses as of the populer families came forth and sware both their owne defence and the Dukes death excepting some of the Buondelmonti and Caualcanti with those foure families of the people which procured him to be made Prince They togither with the Butchers people of basest condition came armed to the Market place in defence of the Duke At this vproare the Duke armed all his Court and his seruants in sundrie places lodged mounted on horsebacke to come to the Market place But in many streetes they were beaten downe and slaine and onely three hundred horses came vnto him The Duke in the mean while stood doubtfull whether he were better to come out and fight with his enemies or defend himselfe within the Pallace On the other side the Medici Cauicculi Ruccellai and other families most iniured did feare that if the Duke would come out manie that had taken armes against him might happily become his friends And therefore to remoue the occasion of his comming forth and encreasing his forces made head and went vp to the market place At whose arriual those populer families that stood there for the Duke seeing the Cittizens couragiously to charge them chaunged their mindes After the Duke had thus altered his fortune and euerie man reuolted to the Citizens sauing Vguccione Buondelmonti who went into the Pallace and Giannozzo Caualcanti with part of his men retired vnto the new Market and there stood vp desiring the people to arme themselues to defend the Duke Also the rather to terrifie the people he threatned them that if obstinately they followed the enterprise against the Prince they should be all slaine But finding no man to follow him nor yet any that pursued him and seeing himselfe to haue laboured in vain tempting fortune no further retired vnto his owne house The conflict in the meane while betwixt the people and the Dukes souldiers was great and though the Dukes forces defended the Pallace yet were they in the end vanquished some of them yeelded to their enemies and some leauing their horses folowed into the Pallace While in the Market place the fight continued Corso and Amerigo Donati with part of the people brake the prisons burnt the Records of the Podesta of the publique chamber sacked the Rettori and their houses and slew all the officers of the Duke that they could laie hand vpon The Duke on the other side seeing the Market place lost and all the citie against him not hoping of any helpe made proofe whether by any curtuous act the people might be appeased Therfore he called vnto him the prisoners with gentle words deliuered thē made Antonio Adimari though nothing to his owne contentment a Knight Hee caused also his owne armes to be rased out of the Pallace set the peoples armes in the same place Which things being done too late and out of time by enforcement and without order helped litle Thus as a man discontented besieged he remained in the Pallace and found by experience that by coueting too much he lost all and therefore looked within fewe dayes either to die by famine or sword The Citizens intending some forme of gouernment assembled themselues in Santa Reparata and created there foureteene Citizens halfe of them great and the other halfe populer who with the Bishop should haue full authoritie to reforme the state of Florence They chused also sixe to haue the authoritie of the Podesta till hee were come There were in Florence at that time diuerse straungers come thither to aide the people amongst whom were some Sanesi sent from Siena with sixe Embassadours men in their country much honoured They betwixt the people and the Duke practised reconsiliation but the people refused to common of any agreement vntill Guglielmo da Scesi and his sonne with Cirretieri Bisdomini were deliuered into their hands The Duke would not thereunto consent till being threatned by those that were shut in with him suffered himselfe to be inforced Certainly the furie is greater and the harmes more when libertie is in recouering then when the same is recouered This Guglielmo and his sonne being brought among thousands of enemies the yoong man not being eighteene yeares of age could neither by his youth nor innocencie be saued from the furie of the multitude And those that could not strike him aliue would needs wound him being dead Yea not being satisfied by cutting him in peeces with swords with their nailes and teeth they also tare his flesh And to the end al their sences might haue part in the reuenge hauing alreadie heard him lament seene his wounds and touched their torne flesh would also that their taste should take part so that all sences both without within might be pleased This terrible furie though it were greeuous to Guglielmo and his sonne yet was it profitable to Cirretieri Because the multitude being weary with the crueltie executed vpon those two did clearly forget him remaining still within the Pallace not called for Then the night following by certaine of his friends hee was conueyed away and saued The multitude being appeased with blood of these two A conclusion was made wherin was let downe that the Duke and his should safely depart with bagge and baggage and renounce all his authoritie ouer Florence And afterwards so soone as he should come to Casentino vpon the confines ratifie the same After this composition the sixt day of August he departed from Florence accompanied with many Citizens And arriued in Casentino he ratified though vnwillingly the resignation of his authoritie for had he not bene by the Earle Simone threatened to be brought backe to Florence he would not haue performed his promise This Duke as his proceedings do shew was couetous and cruell no willing hearer of complaints and in his answeres haughtie hee looked for seruice of all men and esteemed the loue of no man yet desired he to be beloued more then feared His person and presence did deserue to be hated no lesse then his conditions his bodie was small his face blacke and hard fauoured his beard long and thin so as both in appearance and being hee merited the loue of no man Thus within the tearme of ten moneths his euill behauiour lost him that gouernment which foolish Councell of others had giuen him These accidents being happened within the citie gaue encouragement to all the townes which had bene subiect to the Florentines to returne also to their libertie whereby Arezzo Castiglione Pistoia Volterra Colle and S. Gimignano rebelled After the Duke was thus driuen away the foureteene Cittizens togither with the Bishop thought better to please their subiects with peace then make them enemies by warre And therfore seemed as much content with the
come all the Cittie was in Armes and the Nobilitie made head on this side Arno in three places At the houses of Cauicciulli neare to S. Giouanni at the houses of the Pazzi and Donati in S. Piero Maggiore and at the houses of the Caualcanti in the newe Market The others beyonde Arno fortified the bridges and streetes next to their houses The Nerli at the bridge Caraia The Frescobaldi and Mannelli at S. Trinita The Rossi and Bardi at the olde bridge and the bridge Rubaconte defended themselues The people on the other part vnder the Gonfaloniere della Iustitia the Ensignes of companies assembled themselues Being thus prepared the people thought good no longer to delaie the fight The first that gaue the charge were the Medici and the Rondinegli who assaulted the Cauicciulli in that way which leadeth from the Court before S. Giouanni to their houses There the conflict was great by reason that from the Towers stones were cast downe to the harme of many below others with Crosse-bowes were sore hurt This fight continued three houres and still the people encreased Then the Cauicciulli seeing themselues by the multitude ouermatched and wanting aide yeelded to the people who saued their houses and their goods and tooke from them onely their weapons commanding them to diuide themselues and remaine in the houses of such Commoners as were their kinsfolks and friends This first troupe vanquished the Donati the Pazzi who being of lesse force were easily subdued Then remained only on this side Arno the Caualcanti who by men and the seat of the place were strong Neuerthelesse seeing all the Gonfalonieri against them and knowing the others to haue bene by three Gonfaloni vanquished without any great resistance yeelded Thus were three parts of the Cittie in the hands of the people one part more remained to the Nobilitie which was hard to be wonne by reason of the strength of them which defended it and the seat of the place it being so fortified with the riuer of Arno that the bridges must first of force be surprised which were defended in that sort as is beforesaid The people then knowing that there they laboured in vaine assaied to passe the bridge Rubaconte where finding the like difficultie they left for guard of those two bridges foure Gonfaloni and with the rest assaulted the bridge Caraia Where albeit the Nerli manfully defended themselues yet could they not withstand the furie of the people Both because the bridge wanting towers of defence was weak the Capponi with other populer families also assailed them In so much as being on euery side distressed they retired and gaue place to the people who forthwith likewise vanquished the Rosci by reason that all the people on the farre side of Arno ioyned with the victorious Then the Bardi were onely left whom neither the ouerthrow of others nor the vniting of the people against them nor the small hope they had of rescue could any whit amaze for they did choose rather to die fighting see their houses burnt and their goods spoyled then voluntarily submit themselues to the mercie of their enemies They therefore defended themselues with so great resolution that the people many times in vaine assaulted them both vpon the old bridge and vpon Rubaconte and were with death of many and the hurting of more repulsed There was in times past a lane whereby men passed from the way that leadeth towardes Rome by the house of the Pitti to go vnto S. Giorgio By this way the people sent six Gonfalonieri with commandement to assault the back side of the house of Bardi That assault made the Bardi to loose their hope and occasioned the people to assure themselues of victorie for so soone as those who defended the streetes knew their houses were assaulted they abandoned the fight and ranne to saue them This was the cause that the chaine of the old bridge was lost and that the Bardi on euerie side fled who were by the Quaratesi Panzanesi and Mozzi encountred The people in the meane while chiefly those of basest qualitie being greedie of spoyle sacked their houses razed their Towers and burned them with so great furie that euen he that is most foe to the Florentine name would haue bene ashamed to behold so great a crueltie The Nobilitie thus oppressed the people ordeined a gouernment And because the Cittizens were diuided into three sorts that is to say great men meane men and base men It was ordered that of the great men there should be two Senators of the meane men three and of the basest men three Also the Gonfalonieri should sometime be of the one and sometime of the other sort Moreouer the ordinances of Iustice against the Nobilitie were confirmed And to make the Nobilitie weaker they tooke some of that number and mixed them with the populer multitude This ruine of the Nobilitie was great and so much weakened their faction as after that time they durst neuer take armes against the people but continually remained poore and abiect of minde which was the occasion that Florence became spoyled not onely of armes but also of all generositie After this ruine the citie continued quiet till the yeare 1353. In which time happened that memorable plague whereof Giouan Boccacio with great eloquence hath written Of which died in Florence 96. thousand persons The Florentines made then the first warre with the Visconti occasioned by the ambition of the Archbishop then Prince of Milan That warre being ended beganne suddeinly new factions within the Citie And albeit the Nobilitie was destroyed yet fortune found meanes to raise vp new diuisions and new troubles The ende of the second Booke THE THIRD BOOKE THE greeuous and naturall enimities betwixt the people and Nobilitie through desire of the one to commaund and the other not to obey are causes of all euils which happen in euerie citie For of the diuersitie of these humours all other things which disturbe Common weales doo take their nutriment This was that which held Rome disunited And this if we may compare small matters to great was that which continued Florence diuided Notwithstanding in those two cities the diuisions did bring forth two sundrie effects For the enimitie of the people and Nobilitie in Rome was at the beginning ended by disputation but the diuision of the people and Nobilitie of Florence was with sword and slaughter determined That of Rome by lawe but that of Florence by exile and death of many Citizens was ended That of Rome did alwaies encrease the vertue militarie but that of Florence vtterly extinguished the same That of Rome from an equalitie of the Citizens to a great disequalitie reduced the citie but that of Florence frō disequalitie to a maruellous equalitie was changed Which diuersitie of effects must of force be occasioned by the diuerse ends which these two people had For the people of Rome desired not more then to participate the soueraigne honours with the Nobilitie
was by the offence of the Florentines followed For the better execution thereof they made league with Barnabo and with all the cities enemies to the church and elected eight Citizens to gouern the said war vnto whom authoritie was giuen to proceed without appeale and spend without account This warre begun against the Pope notwithstanding the death of Vgucciono encouraged those that followed the faction of Ricci and had against the Albizi alwaies fauoured Barnabo and disfauoured the church and the more for that the eight were all foes to the faction of Guelfi which was the reason that Piero delli Albizi Lapo di Castiglionichio Carlo Strozzi and the rest diuerse times ioyned to the offence of the aduersarie And while the eight made warre and they admonished the warre continued three yeares and by death of the Pope was ended This warre was with so vniuersall satisfaction and so great vertue gouerned that the office of the eight was from yeare to yeare continued in those men and they were called Santi notwithstanding they litle regarded the Popes curses spoiled churches and forced the Clergie Thus without respect they preferred the seruice of their country before the Popes indignation And thereby taught the church that as being friend thereunto they had defended it so being enemie they were able to annoy it hauing procured all Romagna La Marca and Perugia to rebell But notwithstanding all these warres made by the Florentines against the Pope yet could they not defende themselues from the Captaines of their owne factions and their followers For the enuie which the Guelfi bare vnto the eight made them to become insolent and though they spared the rest of the Nobilitie yet rested they not to iniure the eight Also the Captaines of factions were growne vp to so great arrogancie as they were more fauoured then the Senators and men with more reuerence resorted to their houses then to the Pallace In so much as euerie Embassadour that came to Florence brought with him some commission or instruction to entreate with these Captaines Then died Pope Gregorio whereby the citie being deliuered of forreine warre presently begun great confusion at home For on the one side the insolencie of the Guelfi was insupportable and on the other side no meane could be deuised to oppresse them Onely this hope was left that euerie man should take armes and so make triall whether partie should preuaile On the part of the Guelfi were all the old Nobilitie with the greater number of the mightiest people of whom as hath bene declared Lapo Piero and Carlo were the chiefe On the other side were all the people of least reputation who had for Leaders the eight Gouernours of warre Georgio Scali Tomazo Strozzi and with them the Ricci Alberti and Medici The rest of the multitude as in like cases it euer happeneth ioyned to the partie discontented It seemed then to the Guelfi that the forces of their aduersaries were great and therefore themselues in much daunger whensoeuer any vnfriendly Senate should happen to be chosen Therefore thought good for the preuenting of that mischiefe to assemble themselues in some place conuenient where they might consult of the state of that Citie For it seemed that the Citizens admonished being in number growne great the most part of the Citie were their foes Whereto they could not deuise other remedie but as they had taken from them the honours so also to banish them the Citie take the Pallace by force and reduce all the state to the order wherunto it was by the auncient Guelfi reduced who liued not secure for any other reason but onely because they had driuen out all their aduersaries To this plot euerie man consented but of the time of execution they discented The yeare 1378. being come in the moneth of Aprill Lapo thought good not to deferre the time saying there was nothing that hindred time so much as time and then specially because in the next Senate Saluestro de Medici was likely to be chosen Gonfaloniere whom to their factiō they knew most contrary Piero delli Albizi thought otherwise for his opinion was it should be deserred because the execution of their intent required forces which without publishing of the matter could not beleuied if the matter were discouered they should therby incurre manifest daunger His opinion therefore was it should be delaied till the feast of S. Iohn then at hand at which time many people would resort to the towne among whome they might conuey in vnknowne as many friendes as they thought good Moreouer to finde meanes how to preuent the election of Saluestro it was thought fit to admonish him and if that deuise seemed not good then to put into the election an other also of the same quarter So as it might fall out that insteed of him some other of his companions should be chosen This cause was set downe as a resolution notwithstanding that Lapo vnwillingly thereunto consented iudging delaie was dangerous and that no time can be in euerie respect fit for execution For whosoeuer tarrieth all opportunities either he shall neuer performe anything or if he doth the same for the most part falleth out to his disaduantage The Colledge was warned and Saluestro not repulsed but chosen Gonfaloniere for the eight hauing discouered the practise found meanes to preuent that which was looked for Thus Saluestro sonne of Alemanno di Medici who being of a verie noble populer house could not endure that the people should be by a few great men oppressed And hauing deuised how to end their insolencie seeing the people fauoured that enterprise he did communicate his intent to Benedetto Alberti Tomazo Strezzi and Georgio Scali and they promised to bring him all the aide they possibly could Thē was there a law secretly established wherby the ordināces of iustice against the great men were renewed the authoritie of Captains was diminished The same also restored power to the admonished to haue restitution of their dignities And because as it were at one instant they intended both to propound and obteine hauing first to passe the Colledge after to determine in the Councels finding Saluestro President which place in those dayes for the time being made him be placed as Prince of the Citie they caused the Colledge Councell in one selfe morning to be assembled And first to the Colledge onely they propounded the lawe made which as a new thing was by that small number reiected Whereby Saluestro seeing his wings clipped wherewith he hoped to ascend to his desire fained for his necessitie to depart the place and contrarie to expectation went to the Councell and standing vp where he might be both seen and heard of euerie man said He thought himselfe made Gonfaloniere not to determine of priuate causes which haue their ordinary Iudges but to attend the state correct the insolencie of the great men and qualifie the rigor of those lawes which were found by proofe to hinder the
of most audacitie and experience to animate the rest spake to this effect If we were now to consult whether it be best to take armes robbe the Cittizens and spoile the churches my selfe would thinke it a matter considerable happily should preferre a quiet pouertie before a perillous profit But sith armes be alreadie taken and many displeasures done mee thinkes it behoueth vs not to let goe the aduantage but seeke meane how to assure our selues I certainly thinke that if no man would therein aduise vs yet necessitie alone might counsell vs. You see all this citie full of displeasure and hatred against vs. The Citizens do often assemble and the Senate is alwaies accompanied with officers You see they laie snares to entrap vs and prepare new forces to oppresse vs. Therefore it standeth vs vpon to procure two things and in our Councels to haue two endes The one that for your late doings we may not be punished the other that we may liue with more libertie and satisfaction then heretofore we haue done It behoueth therefore as I thinke that to obtaine pardon of all former faults our best meane is to commit some new doubling all our misdeeds by burning robbing and spoiling and therein to make many companions For where many offend none are punished and small faults are chastised but great and greeuous offences be rewarded Also where many are iniured fewe do seeke reuenge Because vniuersal displeasures are with more patience then particuler wrongs endured Therefore the multiplying of mischiefes is the readiest way to forgiuenesse and the best meane to obtaine those things which for our libertie are desired Surely it seemeth we go now to a certaine victorie for as much as those that should impeach vs be disunited and rich Their disunion shall giue vs victorie and their riches being made ours shall maintaine it Let not the antiquitie of their bloud wherof they so much boast dismaie you for all men hauing one beginning be equally auncient and are by nature made all after one maner Behold them naked you shall finde them like to vs and let vs be clad with their garments and they with ours we shall assuredly seeme noble and they of base condition because only pouertie and riches are those things which make the disequalitie It greeueth me to thinke that many of you do in conscience repent things done and intend to refraine doing the like Surely it is true that you are not those men I thought you to be for indeed conscience nor infamie ought to feare you sith hee that winneth victorie in what maner so euer it be doth neuer receiue shame thereof As for conscience none account is thereof to be made For who so standeth in feare of famine and prison as you do should not be daunted with dread of death and hell And if we consider the maner of mens proceedings we shall find that all those who haue gained great riches or glorie either by fraude or force are aspired And those thinges which they haue either by craft or violence obteined to cloake the infamie of their theft and make it seeme honest do call the same purchase Yea whosoeuer for want of wit or rather plaine folly doth not follow this course either sinketh in seruitude or perisheth in pouertie For in troth faithfull subiects are slaues and good men be still plagued with want Such as escape bondage be the most faithlesse and audatious and they that shunne lacke be onely couetous persons or craftie For God and nature haue laide fortune before all men of whom we see more enclined to robberie then industry and more to the bad then to good actions disposed Hereof it commeth that one man eateth an other and he that can do least must suffer most You ought therfore to vse force when occasion is offered which can be at no time more then now The Citizens are diuided the Senate fearefull and the Magistrates dismayed So that before they can be vnited and resolued it is most easie for vs to oppresse them By which oppression we shall either become wholly Princes of the citie or at the least owners of so much as we shall thereby not onely haue pardon of passed errors but also authoritie to threaten new I cōfesse this resolution is bold and daungerous but where necessitie pincheth desperation is iudged wisedome And in great enterprises valiant men account not of perill because those attempts which begin with daunger do end with glorie Also from one daunger men do not escape but by hazarding an other I likewise thinke that sith we see the prisons torments and death prepared for vs we ought rather feare to stand still then seeke to assure our selues for by the one the mischiefe is certaine by the other doubtfull How often haue I heard you complaine vpon the couetousnesse of your superiors and the iniustice of your Magistrates Now is the time not onely to be deliuered from them but also to become so much their superiors as they shall haue more occasion to feare you then you them The opportunitie which this occasion offereth doth passe and being past cannot be called againe You see the prepare of your aduersaries let vs preuent their intention For which so euer of vs do first take armes shall no doubt be victorious with ruine of the enemie and aduancement of himselfe Thus may many of vs gaine glorie and euerie man enioy securitie These perswasions greatly kindled their minds alreadie warmed with desire of mischief In so much as they resolued to take armes and the rather hauing drawne vnto them more companions of their disposition whome by oath they bound to helpe them when any should happen by the Magistrates to be oppressed While these men prepared to surprise the state their intent was discouered to the Senators who had in hand one called Simone of whom they vnderstood all the conspiracy that the next day they ment to make a tumult which perill perceiued the Colledges did assemble with the Sindachi practised to vnite the citie but before euerie man was come the night drew on Then were the Senators aduised to send for the Consuls of mysteries who being togither agreed that all men of warre within Florence should be warned to appeare and the Gonfaloniere the morning following with their companies to be armed in the Market place At such time as Simone was tormented and the Cittizens assembling one called Nicholo da San Friano kept the clocke of the Pallace who being aware of that businesse in hand beganne to spread rumours among his neighbours so as suddeinly in the Market place of Santo Spirito more then a thousand armed men were assembled These newes came to the eares of the other conspirators and San Piero Maggiore and San Lorenzo places by them appointed were full of men armed By that time day appeared which was the twentie one of Iuly At which houre came not to the Market place in fauoure of the Senate aboue eightie men of armes
neither was this gouernment lesse iniurious towards the Citizens nor more mild then was that of the multitude For so many of the populer Nobilitie were confined as had bene noted to be defenders thereof togither with a great number of the principall men of the multitude And among them Michele Lando whose former authoritie and good deserts could not in this time of populer furie saue him His country therfore for many good merits was to him vnthankfull Into which errour because many Princes and Common weales do fall is the cause that men vppon like examples terrified before they feele the smart of their gournours ingratitude do first offend them These exilements these slaughters did displease and euer had displeased Benedetto Alberti and he both publiquely and priuately blamed them For which cause the Lords of the state feared him as chiefe friend to the multitude and thought him consenting to the death of Georgio Scali not because his doings did offend him but to be alone in the gouernment Besides that his words and workes did encrease the suspition which made that side which gouerned to keepe eye vpon him and watch opportunitie to oppresse him The citie liuing in these tearmes the actions abroad were of no great importance For if any thing were done it proceeded of feare by reason that Lodouico di Angio came then into Italy to restore the kingdome of Napoli to the Quene Giouanna and remooue Carlo Durazzo The passage of this Prince greatly amazed the Florentines for Carlo according to the custome of old friends demaunded of them aide Lodouico like vnto him that seeketh new friends desired them to stand neutrall Whereupon the Florentines to seeme willing to content Lodouico and aide Carlo discharged Giouanni Aguto and procured Pope Vrbano to entertaine him which subtiltie was easily by Lodouico discouered and for the same held himselfe much iniured by the Florentines During the warre betwixt Lodouico and Carlo in Puglia new forces came from France in the fauoure of Lodouico who arriued in Toscana were by the banished men of Arezzo brought into that citie where they remoued the faction which gouerned for Carlo intending also to haue chaunged the state of Florence as they had altered Arezzo Then died Lodouico wherby the affaires of Puglia Toscana varied Fortune For Carlo assured himselfe on the kingdome which was well neare lost And the Florentines mistrusting the defence of Florence recouered Arezzo and bought it of those souldiers which kept it for Lodouico Carlo then being assured of Puglia went to take possession of Hungheria which was by inheritance descended vnto him leauing his wife in Puglia with Ladislao and Giouanna his children being but babes as hereafter shall be declared Carlo possessed Hungheria but shortly after there died For this conquest much tryumph was made in Florence and the magnificence thereof was no lesse both for publique and priuate expence then if the occasion therof had bene their owne For many families kept open feasts and the house of Alberti for pompe and magnificence exceeded the rest The expences charge of Armour that the Alberti vsed were not onely fit for priuate persons of the best degree but for the greatest Princes which gained them no small enuie Whereto adding the suspition which the state had of Benedetto was the cause of his ruine because those that gouerned could not endure him fearing euerie houre it might come to passe that through fauoure of his faction hee might recouer reputation and driue them from the citie These doubts remaining it happened that he being Gonfaloniere of companies Philippo Malagotti his sonne in lawe was chosen Gonfaloniere di Giustitia which doubled the mistrust of the Gouernours imagining that Benedetto encreased ouer fast in force and the state thereby in much perill For preuention of which inconueniences without tumult they encouraged Bese Magalotti his companion to signifie to the Senate that Philippo hauing passed his turne could not nor ought not exercise that office The cause was by the Senate examined some of them for hate some to take away occasion of slander iudged Philippo not capable of that dignitie and elected in his place Bardo Mancini a man to the plebeyan faction contrarie and mortall enemie to Benedetto In so much as hee beeing placed in office called a Balia for reformation of the state and therein confined Benedetto Alberti and admonished the rest of that family onely Antonio Alberti excepted Benedetto being readie to depart called vnto him all his friendes and seeing them sad said you see my good fathers and Lords in what sort Fortune hath oppressed me and threatned you whereof I maruell not neither ought you to maruell Because it euer commeth to passe that who so euer will be good among many euil or doth seek to hold vp that which many labour to pull downe must of force perish The loue of my Countrey made me to ioyne with Saluestro di Medici and after to depart from Georgio Scali The same did likewise perswade me to hate the maners of those that now gouerne who as they haue not had any to punish them so do they desire that none should finde fault with them For my part I am content with my banishment to acquite them of that feare which they had not of me onely but of euerie other man that knoweth their tyrannous and wicked dealings My punishment therefore doth threaten others of my selfe I take no pitie for those honors which my country being free hath giuen me now brought vnto seruitude cannot take from mee And the memorie of my passed life shall alwaies more comfort mee then mine hard fortune which brought mine exile shall discourage me It greeueth me much that my country should become a spoile for a fewe and be subiect to their pride and couetousnesse I am also right sorie to thinke that those euils which now ende in me will begin in you And I feare least those miseries wil persecute you with more hinderance then they haue persecuted me I would therefore counsell you to prepare your mindes against all misfortunes and beare your selues so as what aduersitie so euer happen for many will happen euery man may know you are faultlesse that without your guilt they be hapned After this leaue taken to giue as great a testimonie of his bountie abroad as hee had done in Florence he trauelled to the Sepulchre of Christ from whence returning in the Ile of Roda hee died His boanes were brought to Florence and therewith great honour buried by those who in his life with all slaunder and iniurie did molest him During these troubles the house of Alberti was not onely oppressed but many other Citizens also admonished and confined Among whom were Piero Benini Mattheo Alderotti Giouanni and Francesco del Bene Giouanni Benci Andrea Adimari and with them a great number of the lesse mysteries Among the admonished were the Couoni the Benini the Rinucci the Formiconi the Corbozi the
Manegli and the Alderotti It was the custome to create the Balia for time certaine but those Citizens hauing it in their hands being placed by honest meane notwithstanding their time were not expired did yeelde vp their offices which being knowne many ranne armed to the Pallace desiring that before the officers departed more Citizens might be confined and admonished Which request greatly offēded the Senat who with faire promises enterteined them til forces were made readie then wrought so as feare enforced them to laie downe those armes which furie caused them to take in hand Yet somewhat to feed so fierce an humor and notwithstanding take away more authoritie from the plebeyall Artizans it was ordered that where they had the third of the offices they should now haue onely the fourth part Also to the ende that two of the most trustie Citizens might be alwaies of the Senate they gaue authoritie to the Gonfaloniere di Giustitia and foure other Citizens to make a Borza of chosen men out of which number at euerie Senate should be elected two The state thus setled after six yeares which was in the yeare 1381. the citie liued quiet within till the yeare 1393. In which time Giouan Galiazza Visconti called Conte di Vertu tooke prisoner his vncle Barnabo by that mean became Prince of all Lombardy This Giouan Galiazzo hoped by force to be made king of Italy as by craft he was atteined to be Lord of Milan And in the yeare 1390. hee began a braue warre against the Florentines wherein Fortune became so variable as many times the Duke was in no lesse daunger to lose all then the Florentines who indeed had lost all if the Duke had longer liued Yet the resistance by them made was so couragious and maruellous as might be by any Common weale and the end no lesse perillous then the warre had bene terrible For when the Duke had taken Bologna Pisa Perugia and Siena and prepared a Crowne to be set on his head in Florence as king of Italy he died Which death suffered him not to taste the sweete of his passed victories nor the Florentines to feele the perils at hand While this warre with the Duke continued Masso de gli Albizi was made Confaloniere di Giustitia whom the death of Piero had made enemie to the Alberti And for that the humour of the factions continued Maso notwithstanding that Benedetto was dead in exile did hope before that Senate ended to be reuenged vpon the rest of that family and tooke occasion by one that was vpon certaine practises with the Rebelles examined who named Alberto and Andrea delli Alberti Whereupon both they were apprehended and the citie wholly chaunged In so much as the Senate tooke armes assembled the people created a new Balia and by vertue thereof many Cittizens were confined and new Imborsations of officers made Among those that were confined were almost all the Alberti many Citizens also admonished and some put to death Vpon occasion of so great iniuries the mysteries and the base people tooke armes thinking their honour and liues were in hazard One part of them came into the Market place an other ranne to the house of Veri di Medici who after the death of Saluestro remained as chiefe of that family To deceiue those that came into the Market place the Senate appointed Captaines and gaue the Ensigne of the faction Guelfa deliuering the same into the hands of Rinaldo Gianfigliazzi and Donato Acciaiuioli as men of the populer number more then any other acceptable to the multitude Those that went to the house of Veri desired him to take the gouernment and deliuer them from such as were enemies to good men and good orders All such writers as haue left memorie of the proceedings of that time do affirme that if Veri had not bene more honest then ambitious hee might without any let haue aspired to the principallitie of that citie Because the exceeding great iniuries done to the mysteries some iustly and some vniustly had so kindled their mindes to reuenge as nothing wanted for the performance of their desires but a Captaine to lead them Neither wanted those that would put Veri in remembrance what he might do For Antonio di Medici who had before time bene long for priuate respects his enemy did perswade him to take in hand the gouernment of the state To whom he answered as thy threatnings being mine enemie made me not to feare thee so thy Councell being my friend shall not abuse me Hauing vttered these words he turned himselfe to the multitude and perswading them to be of good courage promised to be their defender so that they would be content to be by him directed Then in the midst of them he went to the Market place and from thence vp to the Pallace and being come to the presence of the Senate said That he was not sorie to haue so liued that the people of Florence did loue him but yet sorie hee was that they had not such opinion of him as his passed life did deserue For sith he had not shewed any signe of seditiō or ambition he could not conceiue why he was thought a mainteiner of sedition or as ambitious a man that studied to vsurpe his country Therefore hee humbly besought their Lordships that the ignorance of the multitude might not be imputed his fault because so much as in him was hee submitted himselfe vnto them He moreouer put them in minde to vse their fortune modestly and be content to take rather halfe a victorie with sauing the citie then a whole conquest with the ruine thereof The Senators greatly commended Veri and required him to persuade that armes might be laide downe and then they would not faile to do that which he and other Citizens should counsell them After these speeches Veri returned to the Market place and ioyning his followers to those that were conducted by Rinaldo and Donato said vnto them all that hee had found in the Senators a verie good disposition towards them to whom he had also said much albeit by means of the short time and absence of the officers nothing was concluded Wherfore he praied them to laie their weapons downe and obey the Senate thereby to declare that curtesie rather then pride entreatie more then threatning might moue them and that they should not lacke meanes and securitie so long as they were by him gouerned Thus vpon his word euery man was content to return to his owne house The multitude hauing vpon this perswasion disarmed themselues the Senate first caused a guard to be set in the Market place then they mustered two thousand Cittizens men assured to the state equally diuiding them vnder Gonfaloni whom they commaunded to be readie whensoeuer that they were called Also commandement was giuen that no man whose name was not taken nor warned should for anie cause be armed This preparation made they confined slew many of those Artificers
Bologna made the resolutiō for the war the more speedie notwithstanding it had before great contradiction Giouan de Medici publikely spake against it saying that although he were certaine of the Dukes euil disposition yet were it better that hee should march first thē they go towards him for so the war shuld be iustifiable in the iudgement of other princes neither could we so boldly aske aid as we might after that his ambitiō was discouered Also mē wold with an other mind defend their own thē assault the goods of others To the cōtrary was said it were not good to tarry for the enemy at home but rather go seeke him And fortune was more friend to him that assaulteth thē to him that defendeth Moreouer with lesse losse though with more charge the war is made far frō home then neare at hand In the end this opiniō preuailed And resolutiō was set down that the Ten should deuise some means how the city of Furli might be recouered frō the Duke Philippo seeing that the Florentines went about to surprize those things which he had taken in hand to defend set respects apart sent Agnolodella Pargola with great forces to Imola to the end that prince hauing occasion to defend his own should not think vpō his grandchild Agnolo arriued neare Imola the forces of the Florentines being also at Magdigliana the weather frostie and the towne diches frozen in the night by stealth surprized the towne and sent Lodouico prisoner to Milan The Florentines seeing Imola lost and the warre discouered commaunded their men to go vnto Furli and on euerie side besieged that citie Also to the end that all the Dukes forces should not come to rescue it they hired the Earle Alberigo who from his towne Zagonara issued out spoyling the country euen to the gates of Imola Agnola della Pergola finding he could not with securitie succour Furli by reason of the strength where our Campe laie thought good to besiege Zagonara thinking that the Florentines would not lose that place and if they did relieue it then of force they must abandon Furli and fight with disaduantage The Dukes forces then enforced Alberigo to demaund composition which was graunted he promising to yeeld the towne at any time if within fifteene daies it were not rescued by the Florentines This disorder knowne in the Florentines Campe and in the Citie and euerie man desirous to preuent the enemie of that victorie occasioned them to haue a greater For their Campe being departed from Furli to succour Zagonara and entercountring the enemie was ouerthrowne not so much through vertue of the aduersarie as the vnhappinesse of the weather For our men hauing diuerse houres marched in the deepe myre and raine found the enemies fresh and for that reason by them were vanquished Notwithstanding in so great an ouerthrow published through all Italy there died no more then Lodouico degli Obizi with two others who fallen from their horse were myred to death All the citie of Florence at this ouerthrow became sad and chiefly the great Citizens who had counselled the warre For they sawe the enemie braue their selues disarmed without friends and the people against them who murmured and with iniurious words complained of the great Impositions and Subsidies they had paide to the maintenance of the warre taken in hand without any cause or occasion Saying moreouer now they hauing created the Ten to terrifie the enemie haue succoured Furli and taken it from the Duke Thus do they bewraie their Councels to what end they are not to defend the libertie but encrease their own power which God iustly hath diminished Neither haue they only burthened the citie with this enterprise but with many others for like to this was that against King Ladislao To whome will they now resort for aide To Pope Martine who hath bene in their sight trodden vpon by Braccio To the Queene Giouanna she was by them abandoned and forced to put her selfe vpon the King of Aragon Besides these contumelies they repeated all such iniurious reproues as a people offended could imagine It was therefore thought good to the Senators to assemble a good number of Citizens and with curteous speech appease the humours mooued in the multitude Then Rinaldo degli Albizi eldest sonne of Masso who with his owne vertue the memorie of his father aspired to the chief honour of the citie declared at large that it was no wisedome to iudge enterprises by their successe Because many things well deuised haue had no good end others euil deuised haue good Also if euil counsels hauing good successe should be commended the same wold encourage men to commit errors which would proue to great disaduantage of the Common weale for it euer falleth out that euill counsels be vnfortunate In like maner they erred to blame a wise counsell that hath no desired end for thereby they discouradge the Citizens to counsell the citie saie frankly what they knew or vnderstood Then he shewed the necessitie of that war and how if it had not bene begun in Romagna it should haue bene in Toscana But sith it pleased God that their forces be ouerthrowne the losse should be the lesse if the enterprise were not abandoned For if they would still shewe their faces to Fortune and endeuour themselues to recouer that was lost neither should they finde any losse nor the Duke any victorie They ought also not to repine at the charge or Impositions that should be laid vpon them because those paiments which they had made were reasonable and the rest that should after be imposed would not bee so great For lesse preparation is required for them that defend then those that will offend In the end he perswaded them to imitate their auncestors who by being in euerie aduersitie couragious did defend themselues against all Princes whatsoeuer The Citizens encouraged with the authoritie of this man enterteined the Earle Oddo sonne of Braccio with whom they ioyned Nicholo Piccinino brought vp vnder Braccio a man most esteemed of all those that serued vnder his Ensigne and vnder them they appointed other leaders Also of their owne forces lately broken some Captaines of horse men remained Moreouer they elected twentie Citizens to impose new Subsidies who being encouraged with seeing the greatest Citizens oppressed by the late ouerthrow imposed vpon them without respect This imposition much greeued the great Cittizens yet not to declare themselues vnwilling at the first shewed no priuate offence but generally blamed the matter giuing their aduise that the Impositions might cease which being knowne to many tooke no effect in the Councels and thereupon to occasion these repiners feele the smart of their counsell and make the matter more odious they ordered that the Imposers should proceed with all seueritie and haue authoritie to kill any man that should withstand the publique officers Whereof followed many foule accidents by murthering and hurting of the Citizens In so
words should find beliefe and compassion if your Lordships did know in what sort your Generall hath vsed our Countrey and how we haue bene by him handled Our Vale as we hope your memorials do make mention did alwayes loue the faction Guelfa and hath bene many times a faithfull receptacle for your Citizens when flying persecution of the Ghibilini they came thither Our auncestors and we also haue euer adored the name of this noble common weale being the head and chiefe of that secte So long as the Lucchesi were Guelfi we willingly obeyed their gouernment but since they submitted themselues to a Tyrant who hath abandoned his old friends and followed the Ghibilini rather by compulsion then voluntarily we haue obeyed him And God knoweth how often we haue prayed for occasion whereby to shewe our zeale to the auncient faction But alas how blind are men in their desires that which we wished for our helpe is now become our harme For so soone as we heard your Generall marched towards vs we went not as enemyes to encounter him but as our auncestors were wont to yeeld into his hand our Countrey and fortunes hoping that in him although there were not the mind of a Florentine yet should we find him a man We beseech your Lordships to pardon vs for our extremitie is so much as more may not be indured which is the cause we make bold to speake thus plainely This your Generall hath not of a man more then his presence nor of a Florentine any thing saue the name but may be called a mortall plague a cruell beast and as horrible a monster as by any wrighter can be described For he hauing assembled vs in our Temple vnder pretence to talke with vs hath made vs his prisoners spoyling the whole countrey burning the houses robbing the inhabitants sacking their goods beating and murthering the men forcing the Virgins yea pulling them from the hands of their Mothers made them the pleasures of his souldiers If for any iniury done to the people of Florence or him we had deserued so great a punishment or if we had armed our selues against him and bene taken then should we haue had lesse cause to complayne yea we would rather haue accused our selues confessing that eyther for iniurie or pride we had so merited to be handled But being disarmed and freely offering ourselues then to rob vs and with so great despight and ignomie to spoyle vs we thinke it strange and are inforced before your Lordships to lay downe our griefe And albeit we might fill all Lombardy with offence and with reproch of this Citie publish our iniuries through all Italy yet would we not lest thereby to blemish so honest so honorable and so compassionate a common weale with the dishonestie and crueltie of one wicked Citizen whose auarice before our ruine was partly knowne vnto vs. And wee intended to strayne our selues to satisfie his greedie mind which hath neither measure nor bottom But sith our gifts come too late we thinke good to resort to your Lordships beseeching the same to relieue the misfortune of your subiects to the end that other men may not be afraid to yeeld them selues to your deuotion If our infinite miseries cannot moue you yet let the feare of Gods ire perswade you who hath seene the Churches sacked and burnt and our people betrayed in them These words pronounced they presently fell downe prostrate vpon the ground weeping and desiring their Lordships that their goods and countrey might be restored and that though the womens honors could not be recouered yet the Wiues might be deliuered to their Husbands and the Children to their Fathers This heauie case being before reported and now by the liuely voyce of those afflicted men confirmed did much moue the Magistrates and without delay they reuoked Astore who after was condemned and admonished Then was there Inquisition made for the goods of the Serauezesi and so much as could be found was restored For the rest they were in time diuers wayes satisfied Rinaldo de gli Albizi was likewise defamed for hauing made the warre not for the profit of the people of Florence but his owne Hee was also charged that so soone as hee became Generall the desire of surprizing Lucca was forgotten because hee sought no further then to spoyle the countrey fill his pastures with cattle and furnish his houses with the goods of others Moreouer that his owne share of the bootie contented him not but hee also bought the priuate spoyles of his souldiers So that of a Generall hee was become a Merchaunt These slaunders come to his owne hearing moued his honest and honorable mind more then they ought to haue done In so much as hee became therewith so amazed that taking offence against the Magistrates and Citizens without delay or leaue taken hee returned to Florence and presenting himselfe to the Tenne sayd He knew well how great difficultie and perill there was in seruing a loose people and a Cittie diuided For the one is credulous of euery rumor the other punisheth no euill doings rewardeth not the good and blameth the indifferent so that no man commendeth him that is victorious For as much as his fellowes for enuie and his foes for hatred will persecute him Notwithstanding himselfe had neuer for feare of vndeserued blame omitted to performe an action that promised a certaine good to his countrey But true it was that the dishonestie of the present slaunders had oppressed his patience and made him chaunge nature Wherefore hee besought the Magistrates to be from thence-foorth more readie to defend their Citizens to the end they might be likewise more readie to labour for their countrey And although that in Florence no triumph was graunted yet might they at the leaste defende them from ignominious reproche and remember that they them selues were also Citizens of the same towne and that to them selues euerie houre the like might happen whereby they shoulde vnderstand howe great griefe false slaunders might breede in the mindes of men of integritie The Tenne as time would serue laboured to appease him and committed the care thereof to Neri di Gino and to Alamanno Saluiati who leauing to spoyle the countrey of Lucca with their Campe approched the Towne And because the season was colde they stayed at Campanuole Where it seemed to the Generall that time was lost and desirous to besiege the Towne by reason of the euill weather the Souldiers woulde not thereto consent Notwithstanding that the Tenne did sollicite them to the siege and would accept none excuse at all At that time there was in Florence an Architector called Filippo Brunellesco of whose handie-worke our Cittie is full In so much that after death hee deserued to haue his Image of Marble erected in the chiefe Church of Florence with Letters to testifie hys greate vertue This man declared howe Lucca considering the scite of the Cittie and the passage of the Riuer Serchio mighte bee drowned And
be sure they should finde other ministers then me to performe that deed For I will not imbrew my hands in the bloud of any man and chiefly in thine who neuer offended me Be therefore of good cheare eate thy meate and preserue thy life to the comfort of thy friends and country and because thou shalt mistrust the lesse I my selfe will eate part of those meates which be set before thee These words comforted Cosimo exceedingly and with teares in his eyes he embraced and kissed Federigo thanking him most heartily for his friendly and pitious dealing offering to be thankfull whensoeuer occasion should be presented Thus Cosimo somewhat comforted and his cause disputed among the Citizens It happened that Federigo brought with him to supper a friend of the Gonfalonieries called Farganaccio a man verie wittie and pleasantly disposed The supper being almost ended Cosimo hoping to helpe himselfe by this mans presence for he was with him well acquainted made signes to Federigo to go aside who knowing the occasion fained to go for something that wanted And leauing them alone Cosimo after a fewe friendly words spoken to Farganaccio gaue him a token and sent him to the Hospital of Santa Maria Nuoua for a thousand and one hundreth crownes wherof one hundreth to be kept to his owne vse the other to beliuered to the Gonfaloniere Farganaccio performed his Commission the mony was paide and by vertue thereof Barnardo became more fauourable So as then it was ordered that Cosimo should be onely confined to Padoa contrary to the expectation of Rinaldo that desired his life Auerardo many others of the house of Medici were also banished and with them Puccio and Giouanni Pucci Also to terrifie others that were offended with the exile of Cosimo they gaue Commission of Balia to the Eight of the Guard and the Captaine of the people After which order taken Cosimo vpon the third of October in the yeare 1433. came before the Senators who pronounced his banishment and perswaded him to obey the same Or if he would refuse more seueritie would be vsed both vnto his person and goods Cosimo with chearfull countenance receiued his confinement protesting that whither so euer the Senate should please to send him hee was most willing to obey Humbly desiring that as they had preserued his life so it might please them to defend him for he was giuen to vnderstand of many that watched in the Market place to haue his bloud He said moreouer that himselfe and his substance should be euer at the commandement of the citie the people and their Lordships The Gonfaloniere did comfort him and kept him in the Pallace till night was come There he supped after brought him to his house which done caused him to be accompanied with many armed men by them was cōducted to the cōfines Wheresoeuer Cosimo passed he was honourably receiued and by the Venetians publikely visited not as banished but as a man in great authoritie Florence thus depriued of so worthie a Citizen so vniuersally loued euerie man was dismaid and as wel they that had the victorie as those that were victored did feare Rinaldo mistrusting future misaduenture to serue his owne turne and his friends assembled many Citizens and said to them that he now saw their ruine at hand because they were with faire words teares the enemies mony vanquished forgetting that shortly themselues should be forced to entreate and weepe when their sutes shall not be heard and of their teares no man would take compassion Also touching the monies receiued the same must be repaid with torments death exile instead of vsurie Moreouer that it had bin better for themselues to be dead then suffer Cosimo to passe with life and leaue his friends in Florence Because great personages should either not be touched or being must be made sure from taking reuenge No other remedie therefore remained but to fortifie themselues within the citie to the end that the enemies taking knowledge thereof as easily they will we may resist them with armes sith by order and lawe we could not auoyd them The remedie of all this was that which long before had bene remembred to recouer the great men restoring giuing to them all the honors of the citie making our selues strong with that faction because the aduersaries were strengthned by the multitude By this means their partie should be knowne of how great force vertue courage and credite it were Alledging also that if this last and truest refuge were not put in proofe he sawe not by what other meane the state might be among so many enemies preserued And therefore he beheld at hand a destruction of them and their Citie To answer this speech Mariotto Baldouineti one of the company opposed himselfe and said that the pride and insupportable nature of the Nobilitie was such that it were no wisedome to submit themselues to a tyrannie certain to eschue the doubtfull perils of the multitude Rinaldo seeing his counsell not heard lamented the misfortune of himselfe and his friends imputing euerie thing rather to the heauens that so would haue it then to the ignorance and blindnesse of men The matter thus depending without any necessarie prouision made a letter was found written by Agnolo Acciaiuoli to Cosimo wherein he aduertised the disposition of the citie towards him and wished him to moue some warre making Nero di Gino his friend For hee thought the Cittie had much need of mony and no way knowne that would supplie that want By occasion wherof the desire of his return would be greatly reuiued in the Citizens minds And if Neri should fall from Rinaldo then that side would become so weak as could not defend it selfe This letter come to the handes of the Magistrates was the cause that Agnolo was taken and sent to exile By this example some part of that humour which fauoured Cosimo was cooled The yeare of Cosimo his banishment expired the end of August at hand in the yere 1430. Nicholo di Cocco was chosen Gonfaloniere for the two moneths next following and with him eight Senators all friends to Cosimo So as that Senate terrified Rinaldo all his followers Also because the custome was that the Senators elected should three dayes before they enter their office remaine as priuate men at home within that time Rinaldo conferred with the chiefe of his faction and shewed them their certaine and approching perill the remedie whereof was to take armes and by force procure that Donato Velluti who was yet Gonfaloniere should assemble the people in the Market place call a new Balia depriue the new Senators of their office creating a new Senate for their purpose exchaunging the old Squittini put in new with the names of their friends This deuise was by many thought secure and necessarie Of others it was holden ouer violent and dangerous Among those that disallowed thereof was Palla Strozzi who being a man indeed quietly disposed gentle curteous
driuen backe But when the Bridge was by the Florentines assuredly wonne and that their forces were entered into the waie Nicholo wanted time through the furie of the enemie and the incommoditie of the place to supplie his souldiers For they of the Vangarde were forced to mixt themselues with the Rearewarde and so the one disordering the other all the whole Armye was forced to flie and euerie man without anie respect ranne towardes the Towne Then the Florentine souldiers beganne to spoyle which spoyle of prisoners armour and horses was great For with Nicholo there was not saued aboue one thousand horses They of the Borgo who in hope of spoyle had followed Nicholo were of spoilers become a spoyle bicause they were all taken and put to ransome Their ensignes and carriages were lost and the victorie was much more profitable for Toscana then preiudiciall for the Duke For if the Florentines had lost the battell Toscana had bene his but he losing the battell lost no other thing but the armour and horses of his Army which with plentie of money might be recouered Neither could any warre be made in the countrey of another lesse dangerous then was the warre of those dayes For in so great an ouerthrow and so long a fight which continued from twentie to foure and twentie of the clock more were not slaine then one man and he also not hurt by the vertue of any other but being falne from his horse was trodden vpon with horses and so died with so great securitie men fought in that age The reason thereof is that for the most part the souldiers fought on horseback and couered with armour they were defended from death till they yeelded And therefore finding thēselues able to fight they so did and being not longer able they yeelded This conflict for matters which happened both in and after the fight was a signe of the great vnhappines of those warres bicause the enemies being vanquished and Nicholo returned into Borgo the Gouernours of the Florentines would haue followed and besieged him there to haue the victorie sullie But some souldiers and some Captaines also refused to obey them saying they would first carrie away the spoile and cure the hurt men Also a thing more notable the next day at high noone without leaue or respect either of the Gouernours or of the Generall the souldiers went vnto Arezzo and there bestowed their spoile which done they returned to Anghiari A thing so much against all order Militarie and Discipline of warre that the remaine of any Army well ordered might and would easily and deseruingly haue recouered that victorie which the Florentines vndeseruedly had gotten Besides this the Gouernours commaunding that all souldiers taken should be stayed to the end that the enemy might not grow and sodeinly recouer strength yet were they presently deliuered All which things are greatly to be meruailed at First how in such an Army there should be vertue sufficient to win victorie And then how there could be in any enemy so little value as would be of so disordered a people oppressed But while the Florentines went and returned from Arezzo Nicholo gained time to go with his souldiers from Borgo and marched towards Romagna with whome also fled the Florentine Rebels who seeing all hope failed for their returne to Florence they deuided themselues and euery man tooke his owne way some remaining in Italy and some without as they could find meane to bestow themselues Of which number was Rinaldo who made his habitation at Ancona from whence the rather to gaine himselfe a celestiall countrey hauing lost his dwelling vpon earth he went vnto the Sepulchre of Christ and being returned home at the marriage of one of his daughters sitting at the table sodeinly died wherein fortune did fauour him that in the day of his last sorrow she called him away A man in euery fortune honourable and would haue bene much more honourable had he bene borne in a Cittie vndeuided Bicause many times those his vertues which in a factious Cittie did hinder him in a Cittie vnited would haue aduanced him The Commissaries then seeing the souldiers returned from Arezzo and Nicholo departed presented themselues before Borgo The Borghesi offered to yeeld to the Florentines but they refused to receiue them And in compounding this agreement the Popes Legat grew suspitious of the Commissaries fearing they intended to take that Towne from the Church in so much as they grew to words of offence and some disorder would haue followed betwixt the Florentine and the Popes souldiers if the matter had bene more spoken of But bicause euery thing passed according to the Legats desire all anger was pacified While this assault of Borgo continued aduertisements were giuen that Nicholo Piccinino was gone towards Rome and as others said towards La Marca Whereupon the Legat and the rest thought good to marche towards Perugia to succour La Marca or Rome if Nicholo directed his course to any of them Barnardo de Medici followed and Neri with the Florentines marched to surprize Casentino This resolution made Neri incamped before Russina and surprized it with the like furie that he had taken Bihiena Prato Vecchio and Romena From thence he went to Poppi and there lodged the Army deuiding it into two parts the one vpon the plaine of Certomondo the other vpon the hill that reacheth to Fronzoli The Earle seeing himselfe both of God and men abandoned shut himselfe vp in Poppi not hoping of any aide but the rather to procure a composition least to his disaduantage Neri there besieging him was desired to accept composition The conditions whereof were such as thereby he might hope to saue himselfe his children and goods portable yeelding the Towne and his state to the Florentines When these capitulations were in making the Earle came downe to the bridge of Arno which passeth by the towne and there with great sorrow spake thus If I had well measured my fortune with your power I should now haue come as a friend to reioyce at your victorie and not as an enemy intreate you that my miserie might be pittied This present chance as it is to you honorable and pleasant so is the same to me lamentable and grieuous I was owner of weapon horses subiects and riches who can therefore meruaile though with griefe of mind I leaue them If you will and can command all Toscana of necessitie we must all obey you and if I had not committed this errour neither should my fortune haue bene knowne nor your liberalitie appeared For if at this time you fauour me you shall thereby giue to the world a testimonie of your mercie Let therefore the vertue of your compassion exceed the greatnes of mine offence and be pleased that at the least this onely house may descend to those of whome your auncestors haue receiued benefits To whome Neri answered that as he had hoped ouermuch in those that could do little so had he
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
he would allow the peace and sent Embassadors to Venice with a large Commission to ratifie the same yet secretly he commanded them not to conclude but with delaies and cauillations to deferre the conclusion And to make the Venetians the rather beleeue that which hee spake hee made truce with the Milanesi for one moneth retyring his Campe farre from the Citie and diuiding his forces into other places neare hand which he had lately wonne This practise was occasion of his victorie for the Venetians trusting to the peace were more slow in preparation to the warre and the Milanesi seeing the truce made the enemie farre off and the Venetians their friends beleeued assuredly that the Earle would abandon the enterprise Which determination by two means hindred them The first was because they neglected to prepare for their own defence The other for that they laid the countrey open to the enemie For the time then being fit to till the earth they sowed great store of corne by meane whereof the Earle might the more easily famish them To the Earle on the other side all those thinges helped which hindered the enemie and besides the delaie gaue him commoditie to take breath and prouide for aide In all this warre of Lombardy the Florentines were not discouered to be of any side nor to haue fauoured the Earle either when he defended the Milanesi nor after For the Earle hauing had no need did not verie earnestlie seeke it Onely after the ouerthrow of Carrauaggio by vertue of their Obligation in the League they sent aide to the Venetians But the Earle Francesco being alone and wanting other refuge was enforced instantly to praie aide of the Florentines both of the state publikely of his friends priuately chiefly of Cosimo de Medici with whom he had euer bene in great familiaritie and was by him in all his actions faithfully counselled and liberally supplied Neither did Cosimo in this so great a necessitie forsake him for as a priuate man he bountifully releeued him and to follow the enterprise encouraged him Hee also entreated the Cittie publikely to assist him where need required At that time liued in Florence Neri the sonne of Gino Capponi a Citizen of great power who thought it not good for the Citie that the Earle should possesse Milan supposing it more profitable for Italy that hee should ratifie the peace then prosecute the warre First he doubted least the Milanesi for the displeasure they bare to the Earle would yeeld wholly to the Venetians which would be the ruine of euerie man Then he iudged if the Earle should happen to surprize Milan that so great forces and countries ioyned togither were to be feared And if he were insupportable being an Earle aspired to the title of Duke no man should endure his pride Wherefore he thought better both for the Common-weale of Florence and all Italy that the Earle should continue with his reputation in Armes and Lombardy to be diuided into two common-weales which would neuer ioyne in the offence of an other and one of them alone could not offend and for bringing this to passe he saw no better meane then not to aide the Earle and maintain the old league with the Venetians These reasons were not of the friends of Cosimo accepted because they thought that Neri did make them not because he thought them good for the common-weale but for that he would not that the Earle being friend to Cosimo should aspire to be Duke Fearing least by that means Cosimo should become ouer mighty Cosimo contrariwise proued that aiding of the Earle was both for Italy that common-weale most profitable And that it was no wise conceit to thinke that the Milanesi could cōtinue free because the qualitie of their citie their maner of life the factions inueterated there were contrary to the forme of all ciuil gouernment so as it behoued that the Earle should become Duke or els the Venetians wold possesse it And in that choyse there was no man so witlesse that knew not whether it were better to haue at hand a mightie neighbour or a more mightie enemie Neither could he thinke it to be doubted that the Milanesi for hauing warre with the Earle would yeeld their obedience to the Venetians For the Earle hauing a factiō in Milan not they whēsoeuer they could not defend themselues as free they wold rather yeeld to the Earle then to the Venetians These diuersities of opinions held the citie doubtful what to determine Neuerthelesse in the end was cōcluded that Embassadors should be sent to the Earle to entertein a peace if they found him strong or likely to haue the victory then to conclude or not to vse cauillations delaies These Embassadours were at Reggio before they vnderstood that the Earle was become Lord of Milā For the Earle so soone as the time of truce was ended enuironed the citie with souldiers hoping within short space in despight of the Venetiās to surprize it because they were not able to succour it sauing on that side towards Adda which passage might easily be impeached and it was not feared the winter being come that the Venetians would encamp there Also the Earle hoped before the winter should passe to haue the victory and the rather by the death of Francesco Piccinino who had only left Giacopo his brother to gouerne the Milanesi The Venetians had sent an Embassador to Milan to encourage those Citizens to stand to their own defence promising them great and speedie supplie During that winter some light skirmishes happened betwixt the Venetians and the Earle But so soone as the season suffered the Venetians vnder the conduct of Pandolfo Malatesta brought their Army to Adda where they consulted whether it was best to assault the Earle and thereby trie their fortune Pandolfo their Capteine thought not good to make that triall in respect of the Earles vertue and the sufficiencie of his armie but hoped it was possible without fighting more safely to oppresse him because the Earle at that present was with the lacke of corne greatly distressed His aduise therefore was that the campe should not dislodge wherby the Milanesi might stil hope of ayd and not by dispair yeeld them to the Earle This opiniō was by the Venetians allowed as wel in respect of securitie as that they thought the Milanesi being in so great necessitie should be enforced to yeeld to their dominion persuaded that they wold neuer giue thēselues to the Earle by whō they had bin many waies iniured In this meane space the Milanesi were broght almost into extreme misery in that citie naturally aboūding with poore people many died of famin wherat the inhabitants murmured and cōplained The magistrats therby grew afraid carefully prouided that the people shuld not gather togither For although the multitude doth not hastily dispose it self to mischief yet whē it happē to be fully bēt euery litle accidēt doth moue it It hapned that 2.
haue bene greater then the mind of man could haue conceiued But it pleased God by that small example to reuiue in mens mindes the memory of his power But now to returne to our matter The King Alfonso as is before said discontented with the peace and seeing that the warre which he caused Giacopo Piccinino to make vpon the Sanesi without any reasonable occasion had wrought no effect he thought to moue an other with the allowance of the league And in the yeare 1456. he assaulted the Genouesi both by sea and land as desirous to giue that state to the Adorni and depriue the Frigosi who then gouerned Besides that he caused Giacopo Piccinino to passe Tronto and assault Gismondo Malatesti who hauing well manned his townes regarded not much the assault of Giacopo so as the enterprise of the King on this side tooke no effect at all But that warre of Genoua occasioned more warre to him and his Kingdome then himselfe looked for At that time Pietro Fregoso was Duke of Genoua he fearing himselfe to be of force vnable to withstand the Kings assault determined to giue that to an other which himselfe could not hold and yeeld it into the hands of such a one that would at the least in that respect defend him so might he also hope in time to come to be reacquited Then sent he Embassadors to Carlo the seauenth King of France and offered him the dominion of Genoua Carlo accepted this offer and to take possession of that Cittie sent thither Giouanni de Angio sonne to King Rinato who not long before was departed from Florence and returned into Fraunce For Carlo was perswaded that Giouanni hauing bene before imployed in Italy knew how to gouerne that Cittie better then any other hoping also that being there he might deuise vpon the enterprise of Naples of which Kingdome Alfonso had dispossessed his father Rinato Then went Giouanni to Genoua and being there was receiued as Prince All the fortresses belonging to the Cittie with the whole gouernment were deliuered to his hand This accident displeased Alfonso thinking he had drawne in an enemy ouer mightie yet not dismayed therewith couragiously followed his enterprise and sayled on with his Nauie till he came vnder Villa Marina at Ponto Fino where taken with a sodeine disease he died By death of this King Giouanni and the Genouesi were deliuered of the warre and Ferrando who succeeded his father Alfonso in the Kingdome grew suspitious least an enemy of so great reputation in Italy might happily win the fauour of many his Barons whose fidelitie he doubted and whose mindes he knew desirous of Innouation for which respects they might percase be perswaded to ioyne with the French He also instructed the Pope whose ambitious mind as he thought aspired to take from him this new Kingdome His onely trust was in the Duke of Milan he being indeed no lesse carefull of the Kingdome then was Ferrando for he mistrusted that if the French did preuaile they would also labour to surprize his state which they had some colour to claime as to them apperteining That Duke therfore presently vpon the death of Alfonso determined to giue that Kingdome vnto Pietro Lodouico Borgia his nephew Also to make that enterprise seeme more honest and acceptable to the rest of the Italian Princes he published that his intent was to reduce that Kingdom vnder the Church of Rome perswading the Duke in that respect not to fauour Ferrando offering him those townes which of auncient time he possessed in the Kingdome But in the middest of these imaginations and new troubles Pope Calisto died and in his place was created Pio secundo borne in Siena and of the family of Piccolhuomini This Pope minding onely to benefite the Christians and honor the Church setting aside all priuate passion at the Duke of Milans request crowned the King Ferrando thinking he should better appease the warres by mainteining of him in possession then by fauouring the French to giue them the Kingdome or if he should as Calisto did challenge it for himselfe For this benefite Ferrando gaue vnto Antonio the Popes nephew the principallitie of Malfi and married him vnto his owne base daughter He restored also Beneuento and Terracina to the Church Then all men supposing that the armes of Italy were laid downe the Pope tooke order to mooue the Christians to make warre vpon the Turks as it was before deuised by Pope Calisto At which time there rose great dissention betwixt the Fregosi and Giouanni de Angio Lord of Genoua which dissention reuiued a warre of more importance then was the other alreadie passed At that time Pietrino Fregoso happened to be at a Castle of his in Riuiera He not holding himselfe according to his merits rewarded by Giouanni de Angio who by help of him and others of his house was made Prince became open enemy to Giouanni This discord pleased Ferrando as that which might onely be the meanes of his good speed Then sent he men and money to Pietrino hoping by his aide to driue Giouanni from that state Which he knowing sent into Fraunce to encounter Pietrino There finding much fauour he receiued a great supply and went against Pietrino who was become strong also so as Giouanni retired into the Cittie where also in the night Pietrino entred and possessed some places thereof but the next morning was by the souldiers of Giouanni assaulted and slaine and all his men likewise either slaine or taken This victorie encouraged Giouanni to set vpon the Kingdome and in October 1459. with a mightie nauie he departed from Genoua And landing at Baia marched from thence to Sessa where he was by the Duke of that countrey receiued Then came vnto Giouanni the Prince of Tarranto the Cittizens of Aquila with many other townes and Princes in so much as that Kingdome was almost ruined Ferrando seeing that desired aide of the Pope and the Duke Also to haue the fewer foes made peace with Gismondo Malatesti wherewith Giacopo Piccinino being naturall enemy to Gismondo became so much displeased as he discharged himselfe from the seruice of Ferrando and ioyned with Giouanni Ferrando also sent money to enterteine Federigo Lord of Vrbino and within short space he assembled according vnto that time a great army Then marched he to the riuer of Sarni where he found the enemy and fought with him in which conflict the forces of King Ferrando were ouerthrowne and many of his principall Captaines taken But notwithstanding this ouerthrow the Cittie of Naples with a fewe other townes and some Princes continued faithfull to Ferrando though all the rest of the Realme and Nobilitie yeelded their obedience to Giouanni Giacopo Piccinino perswaded Giouanni to follow the victorie and presently to marche to Naples thereby to possesse himselfe of the chiefe Cittie of the Kingdome which Giouanni refused to do saying he would first spoile all the countrey and then it would be more easie to surprize
his treasure in euerie place of Europe did perticipate of his felicitie Also many excessiue rich houses in Florence had their beginning from him as Tornabuoni Benchi Portinari and Sassetti Besides all these euerie man depending vppon his counsell and fortune became wealthie And albeit that his building of Temples and giuing of almes was knowne throughout the world yet would he to his friends many times lament that he had not spent and bestowed so much to the honor of God but that he found himselfe still in his booke a debtor He was of meane stature in complexion browne and of presence venerable vnlearned yet eloquent and full of naturall wisedome friendlie to his friends and pittifull to the poore In conuersation he was frugall in counsell aduised in execution speedie in speech and answering wittie and graue Rinaldo de gli Albizi in the beginning of his exile sent him a message saying that the hen did sit whereunto Cosimo answered that she could neuer hatch being farre from her nest To other Rebels who sent him word they slept not he answered that he beleeued the same bicause there sleepe was taken from them Vnto the Pope Pio perswading Princes to take Armes against the Turke Cosimo said An old man taketh in hand a yong enterprise To the Embassadors of Venice who came with the messengers of Alfonso to complaine of the Florentines he shewed his head bare and asked of what colour it was they answered white Then he replying said that ere it belong your Senators will also haue white heads like vnto mine His wife a few houres before his death seeing him shut his eyes asked him for what cause he so did He answered to bring them in vse Some Citizens saying vnto him after his returne from exile that he hindered the Cittie and offended God in banishing so many honest men To them hee answered It was better to haue a Cittie hindered then lost and that the State was not defended with beades in mens hands Which words gaue his enemyes matter to speake euill of him as a man that loued himselfe more then his Countrey and that esteemed more this world then the world to come Many other sayings as things not necessarie I omit Cosimo was also a louer and preferrer of learned men for he brought vnto Florence Argiropolo a Grecian borne and in that time of singuler learning to the end that the youth of Florence might be by him instructed in the Greeke toong and other his good learnings He enterteyned in his house Marsilio Ficino a second father of the Philosophie of Plato and him he entirely loued Also to the end he might with commoditie exercise the studie of learning and more aptly vse his help therein he gaue him certaine land neare vnto his house of Careggi This his wisedome these his riches this manner of life and this fortune were the causes that in Florence he was both feared and loued and of the Princes not onely of Italy but also of all Europe esteemed so as he left vnto his posteritie such a foundation as they might with vertue equall him and in fortune farre excell him Whatsoeuer authoritie Cosimo had either in Florence or elsewhere in Christendome he deserued the same notwithstanding in the end of his life he had great sorrowes For of two onely sonnes Pietro and Giouanni the one of whome he had most hope dyed the other was continually sick and therefore vnable either for publique or priuate function In so much as his sonne being dead he caused him to be carried about the house and he following the Coarse sighed and saide this house is ouer great for so small a familie It also offended the greatnesse of his minde that he had not in his owne opinion inlarged the Florentine dominion with some honorable conquest And it grieued him the more knowing that Francesco Sforza had deceiued him who being but Earle promised that so soone as hee was possessed of Milan hee would winne the Cittie of Lucca for the Florentines Which was not performed bicause the Earle with his fortune changed his minde and being become Duke determined to enioy that state with peace which he had gotten by warre Therefore he would neither keepe touch with Cosimo nor any other neither would he after he was Duke make anie more warres then those that for his owne defence hee was enforced vnto Which grieued Cosimo greatly finding that he had endured great paines and spent much to aduance a man vnthankfull and perfidious Moreouer by the weaknesse of his bodie he found himselfe vnfit to follow either priuate or publique affaires whereby the one and the other miscarried Because the Citie was destroyed by the Citizens and his owne substance by his confidents and children consumed All these things in the later end of his age did greatly disquiet his minde Notwithstanding he died with glorie And all the principall Citizens and all the Christian Princes did condole his death with Pietro his sonne and accompanied his coarse to the Temple of S. Lorenzo where with great pompe it was buried and by publique consent was written vpon his Tombe Pater Patriae If in this discourse of Cosimo I haue imitated those which haue written the liues of Princes and not those which write vniuersall histories let no man marueile thereat For hee being a rare man in our Citie deserued I should affoard him extraordinary commendation In those dayes that Florence and Italy stood in the conditions aforesaide Lewes King of France was with greeuous warres assaulted For the Lords of his owne Countrey assisted by the Dukes of Bretagne and Burgogne made the war so great vpon the King that he had no meane to aide the Duke Giouanni de Angio in his enterprise of Genoua and the kingdome But iudging that he had neede of ayd whatsoeuer he gaue the Citie of Sauona then in his hand and kept by French men to Francesco Duke of Milan letting him vnderstand that if he so pleased he might also with his fauour assault Genoua Which offer was accepted by Francesco and either through the reputation of the Kings friendship or the fauour of the Adorni he became Lord of Genoua Then to declare himselfe thankfull for the benefit receiued of the King he sent into France to the Kings aide a thousand fiue hundreth horse conducted by Galiazzo his eldest sonne Thus Ferrando of Aragon and Francesco Sforza were become the one Duke of Lombardy and Prince of Genoua the other King of all the kingdome of Naples And hauing married their children the one to the other they deuised by what meanes they might during their liues maintaine their countries with securitie and after their deaths so leaue the same to their heires For which purpose they thought it necessarie that the King should assure himselfe of those Barons which in the war of Giouanni de Angio had disobeyed him and that the Duke should endeuour himselfe to extinguish those that had bene brought vp in the warres by
the Bracci naturall enemies to his house and growne vp in great reputation vnder Giacopo Piccinino who was the chiefest Captaine in all Italy and such a one as euerie Prince ought to beware of chiefly the Duke who could not account his dominion assured nor leaue the same to his sonnes if Giacopo did still liue The King therfore by all meanes sought to make peace with his Barons handling the matter cunningly to assure him selfe of them which fell out very happily Because the Barons did thinke that in continuing the warre against their King the same would be in the end their vndoubted ruine and yeelding to the peace they should stand at the kings discretion But because men do most willingly eschue that euill which is most certaine it commeth to passe that Princes may easily deceiue others of lesse power and so these Lords gaue credit to the King For they seeing the manifest danger of the warre yeelded themselues into his hands and were vppon sundrie occasions by him oppressed which greatly dismaied Giacopo Piccinino at that time remaining with his forces at Salmona And to remoue occasion whereby the King might oppresse him he practised by his friends to be reconciled to the Duke Francesco who hauing made him great and honourable offers Giacopo resolued to put himselfe into his hands and being accompanied with one hundreth horse went to Milan to present himselfe vnto the Duke Giacapo had long serued his father and with his brother first for the Duke Philippo and after for the people of Milan Whereby he gained great acquaintance in that Citie and the good will of the multitude which was encreased by the present condition of the Citie For the good fortune and great power of the house of Sforza had kindled great enuie And Giacopo for his aduersitie and long absence was greatly by the people pitied who desired much to see him All which things appeared at his comming For welneare all the Nobilitie went to meet him and the streets were full of those which desired to see him Besides that great honour was spoken of him and his souldiers All which things did hasten his destruction because they encreased suspition and the Dukes desire to oppresse him For the more couert performance thereof the Duke deuised that the marriage with his daughter Drusiana who had bene long before contracted vnto him should now be solemnized Then he practised with Ferrando to entertaine him for Generall of his Army and promised him a hundreth thousand Florins in prest After this conclusion Giacopo accompanied with the Dukes Embassador and Drusiana his wife went vnto Naples where he was ioyfully and honourably receiued and for diuerse dayes enterteined with all sorts of triumph and feasting But at length desiring to go vnto his Campe which he left at Salmona he was by the King conuited to dinner in the Castle The dinner being ended both he and his sonne were imprisoned and shortly after put to death Whereby may be perceiued that our Italian Princes haue feared that vertue in others which was not to be found in themselues and did smother the same so long as no vertue at all being left our country became shortly after afflicted and ruined In these dayes the Pope Pio hauing setled all things in Romagna thought the time serued well in respect of the vniuersall peace to moue the Christians to make warre against the Turke according to the plot set downe by his predecessors To the performance of this exployt all Princes did contribute mony or men And in particuler Mathia King of Hungary and Carlo Duke of Borgogna promising to go in person were by the Pope made Captaines generall of that iourney The Pope had so great hope of proceeding in this enterprise that he went from Rome to Ancona where all the Armie were appointed to assemble and the Venetians did promise to send vessels to passe the souldiers into Schiauonia After the Popes arriual in that Citie the concourse of people there was so great that within fewe dayes all the victuall of that citie and that could be brought thither from other places thereabouts did not suffice In so much as euerie man began to taste of famine Moreouer there wanted mony to furnish the souldiers of things needfull and arme those that were disarmed Mathia and Carlo appeared not and the Venetians sent thither one onely Captaine with a fewe Gallies rather to shewe their pompe and seeme to haue kept promise then to passe the Armie So as the Pope being old and sicke in the middest of these businesses and disorders died After whose death euerie man returned home This Pope being dead the yeare 1465. Paulo secundo borne in the Cittie of Venice aspired to the Papacie About that time many other states of Italy chaunged their gouernment For the same yeare following died Francesco Sforza Duke of Milan hauing vsurped that Dukedome sixteene yeares And Galiazzo his sonne was proclaimed Duke The death of this Prince was the occasion that the diuisions of Florence became of more force and wrought their effects with the more speed After the death of Cosimo di Medici Piero his sonne being left in possession of the goods and lands of his father called vnto him Diotisalui Neroni a man of great authoritie amōg the other citizens of most reputation and one in whom Cosimo reposed so great trust as at his death he willed Piero both in his substance state to be by his counsel gouerned Piero accordingly declared vnto Diotisalui the trust which Cosimo had in him And because he would shewe himselfe as obedient to his father after death as he was in his life he desired Diotisalui to assist him with his counsell both for the order of his patrimonie and the gouernment of the Citie and to begin with his own priuate businesse he commaunded all his Officers to resort vnto him with their accounts and leaue the same with Diotisalui to the end that he might finde out the order and disorder of their doings and so counsell him what was best afterwards to be done Diotisalui promised to vse diligence and performe the trust in him reposed The Officers being come and examined were found to haue committed many disorders And thereupon as a man that more respected his owne ambition then the loue he bare to Piero or the benefits he had receiued of Cosimo imagined it was easie to deceiue Piero of the reputation and liuings left him by his father Diotisalui came vnto Piero offering him counsaile which seemed verie honest and reasonable yet vnder the same laie hidden the destruction of Piero. Hee told him what disorder he found in his affaires and how it behoued him to prouide great summes of mony for the holding of his credit and reputation in the state and therfore said he could not more honestly repaire his disorders and losses then by calling in those debtes which many straungers and Citizens did owe vnto his father For Cosimo to gaine
himselfe followers in Florence and friends abroad was exceeding liberall of his substance and had for that occasion lent out summes of great importance This counsaile to Piero seemed good and honest supposing he should by execution thereof without perill repaire himselfe with his owne Notwithstanding so soone as hee called for these debts the Citizens grew no lesse offended then if hee should haue desired their owne goods and without respect they spake euill of him slaundering him to be a man vnthankfull and couetous Diotisalui seeing this common and populer disgrace which Piero had gotten by his counsaile ioyned himselfe with Lucca Pitti Agnolo Acciaiuoli and Nicholo Soderini determining to take from Piero reputation and gouernment These men were moued thereunto for diuerse respects Lucca desired to succeed in the place of Cosimo for hee was aspired to such greatnesse as he disdained to await vpon Piero. Diotisalui knowing that Lucca was not fit to be chiefe of the gouernment thought if Piero had lost his reputation it would in short time fall vpon himselfe Nicholo Soderini desired that the Cittie might liue more at libertie and that the Magistrates might gouerne at their discretion Also betwixt Agnolo and the house of Medici remained particuler displeasures The occasion whereof was this Rafaello his sonne had long before taken to wife Alessandra de Bardi and receiued with her a great dowrie She either through her owne default or the mallice of others was by her father in lawe and her husband euill handled Whereupon Brenzo de Illarione her kinsman being moued with compassion went in the night accompanied with many armed men and tooke her out of the house of Agnolo Agnolo and the rest of the Acciaiuoli complained of this iniurie done them by the Bardi The matter was committed to the hearing of Cosimo who iudged that the Acciaiuoli should restore the marriage money receiued with Alessandra and shee after to return to her husband or not as her selfe was disposed Agnolo thought himselfe in this iudgement not friendly handled by Cosimo of whom because hee could not be reuenged he thought to execute the reuenge vpon his sonne These conspirators notwithstanding the diuersitie of their humors pretended all one occasion saying they would haue the Citie gouerned by the magistrates and not by the counsaile of a fewe The displeasure towards Piero and the euill speech of him was encreased by many marchants who at that time became bankerout and laide the fault thereof vpon Piero for that he calling home his money hastily had hindered their credit and forced them with the preiudice of the Citie to be vndone Besides that they did surmise that he practised to marry his sonne with Clarise Orsini Whereof the Citizens conceiued that he did disdaine to make alliance with any Citizen therfore prepared to vsurpe the state and make himselfe Prince For whosoeuer disdaineth his owne Citizens to be of his kindred desireth to haue them his subiects In these respects they had no reason to be his friends The leaders of this sedition persuaded themselues to haue the victorie in their own hands because the greater number of the Citizens deceiued with the name of libertie whereby they vsed to make their enterprises seeme more honest followed them These humours then boyling in the breasts of the Cittizens it was thought good to them whome ciuill disorder displeased to assaie if by some new found mirth or feast the mindes of men might be setled For most commonly the idle people be instruments for those that desire alteration Then to remoue this idlenesse and giue some occasion to alienate the minds of men from consideration of the state the yeare of Cosimo his death being passed they tooke occasion to make the Citie some mirth ordeining two tryumphs more solemne then was the custome The one made representation how the three Magi came from the East following the starre that ledde them to the place where Christ was borne which was performed with so great solemnitie as enterteined the Citie diuerse moneths The other was a torniament wherein the principall yoong Gentlemen of the Citie exercised Armes against all the chiefe men of Armes in Italy And of the Florentine youth Lorenzo the eldest sonne of Piero gained most honor for not by fauour but in deed by his owne valour he wanne the best prize These triumphs being ended the Citizens returned to thinke of the state and euerie man with more care then before studied to maintaine his owne opinion whereof great diuersitie of conceits and troubles ensued The one was that the authoritie of Balia tooke no effect The other by the death of Francesco Duke of Milan Whereuppon the newe Duke Galiazzo sent Embassadors to Florence to confirme the capitulations made by Francesco his father wherein among other things it was concluded that yearely the Duke should receiue from them certaine summes of money Vpon this Article the Gouernours of the state tooke occasion to hold opinion contrarie to the House of Medici publiquely in these Councels inueying against that payment alleaging that pencion to be promised not to Galiazzo but vnto Francesco For Francesco being dead there was no cause to cōtinue it Because in Galiazzo there was not that vertue which was in Francesco and so consequently that good was not nor could not be looked for at his hand which was found at his fathers And although of Francesco they receiued not much yet were they to looke for lesse of Galiazzo and if any Cititzen would entertaine him to mainteine his owne priuate power that were a thing contrarie to ciuill life and the libertie of the Citie Piero on the contrary alleaged that it were not well done through couetousnesse to lose a friendship so necessarie and that there was nothing so meete for the Common-weale and all Italy as to continue in league with the Duke To the ende that the Venetians seeing them vnited might not hope either by fained friendship or by open warre to oppresse the Dukedome For if they should perceiue the Florentines to haue forsaken the Duke they would presently take Armes and the rather knowing he was yoong newly come to the gouernment and without friends Wherof they might hope either by fraud or force to win his countrey which would be also the vtter ruine of the Florentine Common-weale These reasons were not allowed and secret hatred began openly to shewe it selfe For the same night either partie in diuerse companies assembled The friends of the Medici met at Crocetta and their aduersaries in La Pieta who studying to oppresse Piero had gotten their enterprise subscribed with the hands of many Citizens Also being among many other times one night assembled they held a particuler Councell for the maner of their proceeding when euerie man consented to diminish the power of the Medici yet in the order how to bring the matter to passe they concurred not Some that were of most modest nature thought that the authoritie of the Balia
fauoured them and therefore might hope of victorie certaine But if he remained in his house hee should be either by the armed men oppressed or by those that were disarmed shamefully deceiued Or if he should after repent that he did not take armes that repentance were too late But if he wold with the warre oppresse Piero he might easily do it and after if he liked to make peace it was better for him to giue then to receiue the conditions therof These words moued not Lucca hauing alreadie setled his mind and promised to Piero new alliances and new conditions For he had alreadie married vnto Giouanni Tornabuoni one of his neeces and therefore perswaded Nicholo to laie downe armes and returne to his house For it ought to suffice him that the Cittie should be gouerned by the Magistrates and it would come to passe that euerie man would laie downe armes and the Senators being the stronger partie should be Iudge of the controuersie Nicholo then seeing he could not otherwise perswade him returned home But first said vnto Lucca I cannot alone worke the well doing of our Citie but I alone can prognosticate the euil whereinto it is falling This resolution you haue made will breed losse of libertie to our country your depriuation of gouernment and wealth and my banishment The Senate in this tumult shut vp the Pallace and the Magistrates kept themselues therin not seeming to sauour any part The Citizens and chiefly those who had followed Lucca seeing Piero armed and his aduersaries disarmed began to deuise not how to offend Piero but how to become his frends Wherupon the chief citizens leaders of the factions went to the Pallace in the presence of the Senate debated many things touching the state of the Cittie and pacification thereof And for that Piero by reason of his infirmitie could not come thither they determined by consent to go all vnto him Nicholo Soderini except who hauing first recommended his children familie to Tomaso went to his owne house in the country aspecting there the euent of these matters accounting himselfe vnhappie and for his countrey infortunate The other Cittizens being come to the presence of Piero one of them appointed to speake complained of the tumults in the Cittie declaring that they who first tooke armes were most too blame they not knowing what Piero who indeed did first take armes would doo They were come therefore to vnderstand what was his intent which being for good of the Cittie they would follow the same Whereunto Piero answered that hee who taketh armes first is not euer the cause of disorder but he that giueth first occasion and if they would consider what their behauiours had bene towards him they should maruaile lesse at that he had done for his own safetie For therby they should see that their assemblies in the night their subscriptions their practises to take from him his gouernment life were the occasions why he tooke armes which not vsed but in the defence of his owne house and not the offence of them sufficiently proued his intent was to defend himselfe and not to harme others Neither would he any thing or desired more then his own securitie quiet nor had giuē cause that they shuld think he sought for other For the authoritie of Balia discontinued he neuer laboured by extraordinarie meane to reuiue it and was well content that the Magistrates should gouern the citie if they so pleased assuring them that Cosimo and his children could liue in Florence honorably both with and without the Balia and that the yeare 58. the same had bene not by his house but by them renued and if now they wold not haue it more he should also be so contented But this sufficed not for them for he found that his aduersaries beleeued they could not dwell in Florence if he also there dwelled A thing which he neuer thought that the friends of his father him wold feare to liue in Florence with him hauing euer born himselfe among them as a quiet and peaceable man Then turning his speech to Diotisalui his brethren there present he reproued them with words of much grauitie offence putting thē in mind what benifits they had receiued of Cosimo how much he had trusted thē how vnthankfully they had vsed him Which words wrought such effect in some that were present that if Piero had not staied them they sodenly wold haue striken Diotisalui In conclusion Piero said he wold maintein euery thing that they the Senat had determined And that he desired nothing but to liue quiet assured After this speech was ended many matters were cōmoned of yet nothing don but in general was cōcluded that it was necessary to reunite the citie reform the state At that time Barnardo Lotti was Gonfaloniere d'Giustitia a man not trusted by Piero wherefore thought not good to attempt any thing during his Magistracy but the end of his authority drawing neare election was made by the Senators of a Gonfaloniere to sit in September and October 1466. And they elected Roberto Lioni who was no sooner in office all other thinges beeing prepared but hee assembled the people in the Market place and made a new Balia all of the faction of Piero which shortly created the Magistrates according to the will of the new gouernment which terrified the heads of the enemies and Agnolo Acciaiuoli fled to Naples Diotisalui Neroni and Nicholo Soderini to Venice and Lucca Pitti remained in Florence trusting to the promises of Piero and the newe alliance with his house All the fugitiues were proclaimed Rebels and all the familie of Neroni dispersed Also Giouanni Neroni then Bishop of Florence to auoide a worse mischiefe voluntarily confined himselfe to Rome Many other likewise banished themselues to diuers places neither did this suffice but a publike procession was ordeined to giue God thanks for the preseruation and vniting the state In the solemnization wherof some citizens were apprehended tormented Afterwards part of them put to death the rest confined In this variation of fortune there was nothing so notable as the example of Lucca Pitti who sodeinly saw the difference of victorie and losse of honor and dishonor For his house whereunto was wont be great repaire became vnfrequented himself that had bin accustomed to passe the streets folowed with many friends kinsfolks could neither be accompanied nor scarcely saluted because some of them had lost their offices some their goods al the rest threatned His stately houses in building were by the workmen abandoned Those that were wont to present him did now offer him iniury despite Some who had giuē him presents of great value did now demand them again as things lent Others that were wont with praises to extoll him to the skies did as a person vngratefull and violent blame him So that ouerlate he repented his not giuing credit to Nicholo Soderini and that
why do you take life from it If it hath made you victorious why should we destroy it If it hath honored vs why haue we disdained it I promise you by that faith which ought to be giuē and receiued amōg good mē that if you behaue your selues so as I shal repent me of my victory I wil so do as you shal also repēt that you haue abused it Those citizens according to the time answered resonably Notwitstāding they continued still in their insolēt doings Inso much as Piero sent secretly to Agnolo Acciaiuoli who came vnto him at Cafaggiuolo and there they reasoned at length touching the estate of the Cittie And surely had he not bene by death preuented he would haue called home all the banished men to bridle the insolencie and oppression of those that liued in the Citie But death suffered him not to performe so honest an intent for diseases of bodie and trouble of minde so greeuously handled him that hee died the fiftie and three yeare of his age His vertue and bountie could not be to his Countrey so well knowne as they deserued partly because his father liued welneare as long and partly for that those fewe yeares hee ouerliued him were in ciuill contentions and sicknesse consumed This Piero was buried in the Church of S. Lorenzo neare vnto his father and his funerall performed with honour and pompe worthie so great a Cittizen Of him there remained two sonnes Lorenzo and Giuliano of whome there was good hope that they would prooue men fit for the state yet their youth was such as made all men doubt thereof Amongst other chiefe Cittizens in the gouernment of Florence there was one farre excelling the rest called Tomaso Soderini whose wisedome and authoritie not onely to Florence but also to all the Princes in Italy was knowne Hee after the death of Piero was of all the Cittie reuerenced and manie Cittizens did dailie visite him as chiefe man of the state Also diuerse Princes did write vnto him Neuerthelesse being wise and knowing what fortune followed him and his house hee would neuer answere the Princes Letters and perswaded the Citizens they should not resort to his house but to the houses of the Medici Also to shewe in deedes that which by words was by him perswaded hee assembled all the chiefe Gentlemen of euerie family at the Monastery of S. Antonio whither hee procured that Lorenzo and Giuliano di Medici should come and there after a long and graue Oration by him made they disputed the estate both of that Cittie of all Italy and of the humours of the Princes Therein concluding that to continue Florence vnited in peace assured from diuision within and from warre without it behooued them to honor those two yoong men and mainteine the reputation of their house Because men do not repine to do such things as they haue bene accustomed vnto but new houses as they are easily honored so are they quickly abandoned For it hath bene euer more easie to maintaine that reputation where length of time hath extingnished enuy then to raise a new estimation which by many occasiōs may be oppressed After him spake Lorenzo who notwithstanding his youth vttered words with so great grauitie modestie as gaue euery man hope he would become such a one as indeed afterwards he proued And before they departed that place the Citizens praied the brethren to receiue them as children they offring to honor them as fathers This conclusion set downe Giuliano and Lorenzo were honoured as Princes of the Citie and those that were of counsell with Tomaso did not intermeddle Thus the Florentines liued both within without so peaceably as nothing disturbed the Common quiet till a trouble not looked for arose which did prognosticate future mischiefe Among other families which Lucca Pitti ruined was that of Nardi For Saluestro and his brethren being heads of that house were first sent into exile and after by the warre which Bartolomeo Coglione moued made Rebels Of these Barnardo brother of Saluestro was a yoong man of great spirit and courage Hee being poore could not endure banishment and finding that the peace made had not prouided for his returne determined to make proofe of somewhat whereby might grow occasion of warre For many times of a small beginning great effects doe followe Because men bee more willing to prosecute then beginne anie enterprise This Barnardo had much acquaintance in Prato and muche more in the Countrey about Pistoia chiefely with the the house of Palandra who albeit they were but countrey people yet was their number great and the men according to the manner of that countrey practised in armes and much vsed to bloud He knew likewise they liued discontented and by reason that some of their enemies were Magistrates in Florence they had bene euill handled He knew moreouer the humor of the Pratesi who accounted themselues proudly and hardly gouerned and had particuler knowledge of the euill disposition of some towards the State All which things brought him in hope to kindle fire in Toscana by making Prato to rebell whereto so many would put hands as they that would quench it should not be able Then he imparted this matter to Diotisalui Neroni and asked of him what aide might be by his meanes procured among the Princes if he should happen to surprize Prato Diotisalui thought the enterprise dangerous and as impossible to take effect notwithstanding considering he might thereby with the perill of others make new proofe of fortune perswaded him to proceed and promised to bring him assured aide from Bologna and Farrara so that he were able to defend Prato at the least fifteene dayes Barnardo then incouraged with this promise and conceiuing great hope of happie proceeding went to Prato and there communicating the matter to diuerse found them verie willing The like disposition he perceiued in the familie of Palandra and hauing agreed togithers of the time and manner of the enterprise Barnardo imparted all to Diotisalui At that time was Cesare Petrucci Podesta of Prato for the Florentines The custome was that the Podesta should haue the keies of the towne brought vnto him And whensoeuer any of the towne chiefely in times of no suspition desired to goe out or come in by night that fauour was graunted Barnardo knowing this custome being accompanied with those of the house of Palandra and 100. others armed men in the morning when the gate towards Pistoia should open presented himselfe and those whome he had made priuie within did likewise arme One of them went to the Podesta saying a friend of his desired to come into the towne The Podesta not doubting any such accident sent with him a seruant of his to carrie the keies from whome being a little on the way the keies were taken the gates opened and Barnardo with his followers came in Then they diuided themselues in two parts The one led by Saluestro of Prato tooke possession of the Cittadell
The other following Barnardo surprized the Pallace and committed the Podesta with all his familie to the custodie of one of his companie Which done they walked the streets proclaiming the name of libertie By that time it was day and many people by meane of the noise came to the market place where vnderstanding that the Cittadell and Pallace were taken the Gouernor also with his familie imprisoned they meruailed much The eight Cittizens chiefe Officers of the towne assembled in their Pallace to consult what was to be done But Barnardo and his men hauing awhile walked the towne and finding himselfe not well followed hearing where the eight were went vnto them declaring that the occasion of his enterprise was to deliuer them and their countrey from bondage and that they should gaine great glorie to take armes and accompanie him in that glorious action whereby they should win perpetuall quiet and eternall fame He also laid before them the memorie of their auncient libertie comparing it with their present condition He likewise told them what aide they should be assured to haue of others if they would but for a fewe daies defend themselues from the Florentine forces He informed them moreouer that he had intelligence in Florence whereby he was aduertised that Cittie would wholie follow him The eight not moued with these perswasions answered that they knew not whether Florence liued in libertie or bondage as a thing they desired not to vnderstand But well they knew their owne desire was not to enioy other libertie then to obey those Magistrates that gouerned in Florence of whome they had not receiued any such iniurie as might moue to take armes against them Wherefore they perswaded him to restore the Podesta to his libertie send his men out of the towne and saue himselfe speedily from that danger whereinto he was vnaduisedly fallen These speeches dismaied not Barnardo for he intēded to see if feare might moue the Pratesi to that which with intreaty could not Therefore to terrifie the Cittizens and determining to put the Podesta to death he tooke him out of prison and commanded him to be hanged at the Pallace window The Podesta being brought to the window the halter vpon his neck and seeing Barnardo to sollicit his death turned himselfe towards him and said Barnardo thou puttest me to death hoping the rather to be followed of the Pratesi but the contrarie will come to passe For the reuerence which this people doth beare to the Gouernors sent by the Florentines is so great that so soone as they shall see this iniurie done to me they will hate thee so much as the same will prooue thy ruine wherefore not my death but my life may be the occasion of thy victorie For if I commaund them that which thou wouldst haue done they will more willinglie obey me then thee Thus I following thy direction thou mayst become owner of thy desire This counsell seemed to Barnardo being a man irresolute verie reasonable and therefore willed him at a window to commaund the people to yeeld their obedience to Barnardo Which being done the Podesta was lead back to prison By this time the weakenesse of the conspirators was discouered and many Florentines inhabiting that towne were assembled among whome was Georgio Ginori a Knight of Ierusalem He being the first that tooke armes against the Rebels assaulted Barnardo in the streets sometimes intreating and sometimes threatning the people to follow him till at length by Georgio and many others who tooke armes Barnardo was hurt and taken Which done it was no hard matter to deliuer the Podesta and vanquish the rest For they being fewe and diuided into sundrie parts of the towne were welneare all taken or slaine In the meane space the fame of this accident was come to Florence and reported to be much greater then it was For the aduertisements were that Prato was surprized the Podesta with his houshold put to death Pistoia in armes and many of the Cittizens of the conspiracie in so much as many Cittizens sodeinly came to the Pallace to consult with the Senate At that time Roberto Sanseuerino happened to be in Florence who being a man of great experience in warre was sent with certaine forces to Prato commaunded that he should approach the towne and send back particuler aduertisements in what state the same stood and do there what by his wisedome should be thought good Roberto marching on his way and passing the Castle of Campi a messenger came vnto him from Cesare Petrucci declaring that Barnardo was taken his companions fled or slaine and all the tumult pacified Whereupon Roberto returned to Florence and shortly after Barnardo being brought thither a prisoner and demaunded why he tooke that enterprise in hand aunswered bicause he determined rather to die in Florence then liue in exile and thought good to accompanie his death with some memorable action This tumult begun and ended as it were in one instant the Cittizens of Florence returned to their wonted order of life thinking to enioy that state without suspition which they had lately established and setled whereof insued those inconueniences which many times be ingendred by peace for the youth became more prodigall then they were wont spending their money in apparrell feasting and other like vanities and being idle consumed their substance in play and women Their whole studie was to be brauely apparrelled and to seeme wittie or subtile for he that could most cunninglie mock and deride others was holden the wisest and most esteemed These and such like disorders were by the Courtiers of Milan increased For at that time thither came the Duke with his wife and Court to performe as he said a certaine vowe and was there receiued with pompe meete for so great a Prince and friend to the Florentines In that time also was seene a thing in Florence neuer before vsed which was that the Courtiers of Milan notwithstanding the time of Lent did without respect of the Ecclesiasticall order eate almost none other meate but flesh Albeit the Duke found the Cittie of Florence full of courtlie delicacie and customes contrarie to all well ordered ciuilitie yet his comming increased the same Wherefore the good Cittizens thought fit and necessarie to bridle the excesse with new lawes for apparrell for funerals and feastings In the midst of this great peace there happened in Toscana a new and vnlooked for tumult In the Prouince of Volterra certaine Cittizens happened to finde a Mine of Allum whereof knowing the commoditie to be helped with money and defended with authoritie they ioyned with them some Cittizens of Florence making them partakers of such profit as should thereof arise This matter at the beginning as it happeneth for the most part in all new actions was by the people of Volterra little esteemed But the commoditie thereof afterwards knowne they desired too late and without effect that which at the first they might easilie haue obteined Then began they to propound
would not faile to be They ordered that Giouanbattista should take in hand to kill Lorenzo and Francesco de Pazzi with Barnardo Bandini should sley Giuliano Giouanbattista refused to performe his charge either bicause the curteous vsage of Lorenzo had mollified his mind or else for some other occasion which moued him said he durst not commit so great a sinne in the Church as to execute treason with sacrilege Which conceit of Giouanbattista was the first ruine of their enterprise for the time drawing on they were forced to commit that charge to Antonio of Volterra and Steffano the Priest two men both for experiēce and nature farre vnfit for that purpose bicause there is no action which requireth more resolution and constancie of mind then this And it behoueth him that should take such a matter in hand to be a man accustomed to be present at the death of others For it hath oft bene seene that some men vsed to armes and bloud haue notwithstanding in like cases let fall their courage This determination set downe they agreed that the time of the execution should be at the sacring time of Masse and in the same instant the Archbishop Saluiati with Giacopo should take possession of the publique Pallace to the end that the Senators either by consent or force so soone as the yong men were slaine should fauour the conspirators This course being agreed of they went to the Temple where they found the Cardinall and Lorenzo de Medici The Church was full of people and the seruice begun but Giuliano not come Wherfore Francesco de Pazzi with Barnardo who had the charge of his death went vnto his house and there by intreatie and cunning perswaded him to come to the Church And truly it is a thing worthy memorie to know how so great hatred would be so couertly kept secret in the minds of Francesco Barnardo For both by the way going to the Church and in the church they enterteined Giuliano with pleasant speech and youthful daliance Also Francesco vnder colour of familier and friendly curtesie tooke Giuliano in his armes to feele whether he had on anie armour or garment of defence Giuliano and Lorenzo knew well inough they were not beloued of the Pazzi and that they desired to remoue them from their authoritie in the state yet feared they not their own liues supposing that whensoeuer the Pazzi would attempt anie enterprise against them they would do it ciuilly and not by violence Therefore not mistrusting anie such measure they likewise feined themselues to be their friends The murtherers thus prepared those that were appointed for slaughter of Lorenzo thrust in among the multitude where they might stand without suspition The others togithers with Giuliano being come to the Church at the time appointed Barnardo Bandini with a short dagger made for the purpose stabbed Giuliano to the heart who moouing a step or two fell to the ground and vpon him went Francesco de Pazzi wounding his bodie in many places so furiously that he strake himselfe also a great wound in one of his owne legs Antonio and Steffano assaulted Lorenzo at whom they strake diuerse times but hurt him onely a litle in the throate For either their negligence his resistance or the helpe of those that stood by saued him from further harme So that the conspirators fled and hid themselues But being afterwards founde they were shamefully put to death and their bodies drawne through all the streetes of the Citie Lorenzo ioyning with those friends he had about him retired himselfe into the vesterie of the Temple and there shut vp the doores Barnardo Bandini seeing Giuliano dead slew also Francesco Nori a great friend to the Medici either because hee hated him before or because Francesco had gone about to saue Giuliano Also not content with these two murthers he went towards Lorenzo hoping by his courage and quicknesse to supplie that which others for their sloth and cowardice had left vndone But Lorenzo being in the vestry he could not performe his intent In the midst of this great and terrible accident which was such as made all men to feare that the Church would haue fallen downe the Cardinall retired to the altar where he was with great difficultie by the Priests saued till such time as the tumult ceased the Senate could conuey him to his Pallace and there till his deliuerie with great feare he remained At that time there were in Florence certaine Citizens of Perugia who by the factions enemies to their houses had bene banished These Perugini being promised by the Pazzi to be restored to their country were also of this conspiracie Whereupon the Archbishop Saluiati who was gone to surprise the Pallace accompanied with Giacopo the two other Saluiati and other his friends and followers being come thither left certaine of them below charging them that so soone as they should heare anie noyse to take possession of the gate and he with the greater part of the Perugini went vp where he found the Senate at dinner and was presently let in by Cesare Petrucci Gonfaloniere di Giustitia The Archbishop thus entred with a fewe leauing the rest without they of their owne accord went into the Chancery where they shut themselues in For the locke of that doore was by such deuise made as neither within nor without could be but with the key opened The Archbishop in the meane space being with the Gonfaloniere pretending to speake with him of matters by the Popes commandement began to vtter some speech fearefully and as though he were amazed In so much as the alteration of his countenance words wrought so great suspition in the Gonfaloniere that sodeinly he thrust him out of the chamber and seeing Giacopo there also tooke him by the haire of the head and deliuered him to the hands of the Serieants The rest of the Senators perceiuing these tumults with those weapons which were next hand assaulted the others which were come vp with the Archbishop Part of them being shut vp the rest were dismaid all whom they sodeinly slew or caused aliue to be cast out of the Pallace window Of this number the Archbishop with the other two Saluiati and Giacopo de Poggio were hanged The other conspirators which were left below had wonne the gate from the guard and gotten possession of all the lower roomes so that the Citizens who resorted vnto the Pallace vpon this rumor could neither with their counsell nor their force assist the Senators In the meane space Francesco de Pazzi and Barnardo Bandini seeing Lorenzo escaped and one of them in whom the chiefe hope of the enterprise depended to be sore hurt were therewith dismaied Wherupon Barnardo hoping with that courage to escape wherewith he had iniured the Medici seeing the enterprise failed fled away and saued himselfe Francesco being come home to his house hurt offered to mount on horsebacke for the order was that certaine armed men should be placed about the towne and the
for these matters lately happened For when I consider with what fraud and despight I was assaulted and my brother slaine I cannot but bee sorrie and with all my heart and soule lament Yet when I remember with what readinesse what loue and vniuersall consent of all this Citie my brothers death was reuenged and I defended I must of force be glad and greatly esteeme my selfe For as experience hath now taught me to know that I haue more enemies in the Cittie then I thought so hath it enformed mee that I had also more earnest and affectionate friends then I looked for I am then to condole with you for the iniurie of others and reioyce with you for your owne merits yet must my sorrow be the more because the iniuries were rare neuer seene and not of vs deserued Consider right noble Cittizens to what point frowarde fortune had brought our house that among our friends our kinsfolks and in the Church it was not assured Such as stand in feare of their liues were wont to resort to their friends for aide and flee to their kinsfolk for succour both whom we found readie armed to our destruction Such as either mistrusted priuate or publique persecution haue found refuge in Churches but the same hauing saued others hath bin made a place for our murder For where murderers theeues haue found refuge the Medici haue met with ministers of their death But God who hitherto did neuer abandon our house hath saued vs and taken vpon him the defence of our iust cause For what iniurie haue we done that might of any man merit so great desire of reuenge Truly we neuer offended priuately any of these who haue prooued themselues so much our enemies For if we had offended them they should not haue had so great meane to offend vs. Or if they attribute to vs the publique iniuries whereof I am not priuie they offend rather you then vs rather this Pallace and maiestie of gouernment then our house seeming that for our cause you do vndeseruedly iniure them and the rest of your Citizens which is farre from all troth For we though we could and you though we would did neuer consent they should be done Whosoeuer doth looke well into the truth shall finde that our house hath bene by you with so vniuersall consent aduaunced for nothing more then for that it hath studied to excell others in curtesie liberallitie and well dooing If then we haue honoured straungers how haue we iniured our kinsfolke If this motion proceeded of desire to gouerne as it seemeth to do by taking the Pallace and leading armed men to the Market place thereby appeareth how euill ambitious and reprooueable it is If it be done for the mallice and enuie they beare to our authoritie therein they offend you not vs to whom you haue giuen it For surely those authorities deserue hate which men vsurpe not those which with curtesie liberallitie and magnificence be gained You know also that our house neuer ascended to any degree of greatnesse but by order of this Pallace and your vniuersall graunt Cosimo my graundfather returned not from exile by force of armes or violence but by your allowance and consent My father being aged and sicke could not defend his authoritie against so many enemies but you with your authoritie did it I my selfe after my fathers death being as it were a childe haue not mainteined the estimation of my house but by your counsels and fauour Neither could our house haue gouerned this common-weale had you not ioyned and doo ioyne in the gouernment thereof I cannot therefore imagine what cause of mallice they haue against vs or what iust occasion to enuie vs. For sith their owne auncestors with their pride and couetise haue lost those honours why should they enuie vs if by contrarie desert we haue gained them But admit the iniuries done them by vs be great and that they iustly desired our ruine yet why should they offend this Pallace Why make they league with the Pope and King against the libertie of this state Or why do they disturbe the long peace of Italy Hereof they haue no excuse at all for they ought to offend those who offended them and not mixe priuate displeasures with publique iniuries which is the reason that they being extirped our miserie is the more For by their meanes the Pope and King are comming towardes vs in armes and that warre they say to be made onely against me and my house Which would God were true because then the remedie is readie and certain For I am not so bad a Citizen as to preferre my priuate welfare before your publique weldooing but would willingly quench your fire with my own destruction Yet sith the iniuries which great men do be alwaies couered with some pretence lesse dishonest they haue chosen this quarell to cloake their shamefull enterprise But if it so be that you beleeue the contrarie I am in your hands to be holden or let loose as your selues shall thinke best You are my fathers you are my defenders whatsoeuer you commaund I obey and will performe Neither will I euer refuse if it shall please you to end this warre with my bloud which by the bloud of my brother hath bene begun While Lorenzo thus spake the Cittizens could not refraine weeping and with such compassion as they heard him he was by one of them answered saying The Cittie did acknowledge to haue receiued so much good of him and his as hee might assure himselfe they would be no lesse readie to preserue his reputation and authoritie then they had bene willing to reuenge his brothers death and saue his life And before he should lose either the one or the other they would hazard the losse of their countrey And to the end their deeds might be answerable to those words they appointed a certain number of men to guard his person from domesticall treasons and after tooke order for the warre leuying both men and money by all meanes conuenient Then by vertue of the league they sent for aide to the Duke of Milan and the Venetians And sith the Pope had shewed himselfe a wolfe and no shepheard fearing to be deuoured by all possible meanes they iustified their cause letting all Italy know the treason practised against their state declaring the wickednesse of the Pope and his iniustice who being by indirect meanes aspired to the Papacie would also with mallice exercise the same For he had not onely first sent a Prelate of his to accompanie traytors and cut-throates to commit murther in the Temple euen in the time of diuine seruice and at the instant of celebration of the Sacrament and so by the death of the Citizens to chaunge the gouernment and sacke the Cittie at his pleasure but had also excommunicated them and with his papall curses threatned and offended them Notwithstanding if God were iust and that the iniuries of men were to him offensiue it could not be but that the
them Piero Capponi who was by reason of the auncient hate which that citie beareth to the Florentines receiued with so great suspition as hee feared many times to haue bene populerly slaine Insomuch as this iourney did rather breede occasion of new displeasure then new friendship The Florentines then reuoked the Marquesse of Farrara enterteined the Marquesse of Mantoua and with great sute required of the Venetians to haue the Earle Carlo sonne of Braccio and Deifebo sonne of the Earle Giacopo Which request after many cauillations was by the Venetians graunted For they hauing made truce with the Turke had no colour to deny them and were ashamed to break their promise made to the League The Earles Carlo Deifebo came with a good number of men at armes ioyning to them all other the men of armes they could spare frō the army which serued vnder the Marques of Farrara against the Duke of Calauria went towards Pisa to encounter Roberto who with his men was neare to the riuer of Serchio And albeit he made shew to tarry for our mē yet did he not but retired into Lunigiana to those lodgings from whence he came when he entred into the country of Pisa After his departure all those towns were recouered by the Earle Carlo which the enimies had before taken in the country of Pisa The Florentines deliuered of the enemy towards Pisa caused all their forces to be brought betwixt Colle S. Gimiano But by reason of the Earle Carlo his cōming there were in that camp both the folowers Sforza Braccio which was the occasiō that moued with old enuy they begā to mutiny was feared that if they had bin long togither they would haue come to blows It was therfore thought fit for eschuing a worse mischief to diuide the soldiers send one part of thē into the country of Perugia vnder the Earle Carlo the other to stay at Piggibonzi there to entrench themselues strong procure that the enimy shuld not enter the Florentines land By this actiō they also hoped to cōstrain the enimies to diuide their forces for they thought either that the Earle Carlo shuld surprize Perugia where they supposed he had many partakers or that the Pope shuld be inforced to send great forces to defēd it They practised moreouer to bring the pope in more necessity that Nicolo Vitelli being come frō the city of Castello where Lorēzo his enimy was chief shuld with his mē approch the town remoue his aduersary take it frō the pope At the beginning it seemed as thogh fortune wold haue fauored the Florētine attempts bicause Earle Carlo proceded wel in the coūtry of Perugia Nicholo Vitelli also although he entred into Castello yet he and his were strongest in the field and without any resistance spoiled about the Citie at his pleasure Likewise the forces left at Poggibonzi went euery day to the walles of Siena Notwithstanding all these hopes became vaine First died the Earle Carlo in the chiefe hope of his victorie whose death had bettered the estate of the Florentines if the victorie which grew thereof had bene well vsed For so soone as the Earles death was knowne sodeinly the Popes souldiers who were altogither at Perugia hoped to ouerthrow the Florentines and comming forth into the field lodged themselues vpon the lage distant three miles from the enemie On the other side Giacopo Guicciardini who was Commissary of that camp with the counsel of Roberto da Rimino Chieftain after the death of the Earle Carlo knowing the occasion of the enemies pride determined to staie for them So as ioyning battle vppon that lage where in old time Anniball gaue that memorable ouerthrow to the Romanes the Popes forces were broken Which victory was in Florence receiued with commendation of the captaines comfort of all others And the same had proued the honor profit of the enterprise if the disorders which grew in the army at Poggibonzi had not vndone all And thus the good successe of the one camp was vtterly marred by the other For the souldiers of that army hauing gottē a bootie in the country of Siena in the diuisiō therof the Marques of Farrara Mantoua fell in debate Insomuch as they came to armes either iniuring the other by all meanes they could Whereby the Florentines finding they could no more imploy them togither were pleased that the Marques of Farrara with his men should be discharged That army thus weakned left without a gouernor proceeding in euery thing disorderly the Duke of Calauria who was with his camp near to Siena tooke courage to approach so did The Florentins seeing thēselues likely to be assailed neither trusted to their force nor their number which was greater then the enemies nor in their place where they were being of great force but without respect euē at sight of the enemy the dust fled leauing the munitiō the cariages artillary So beastly cowardly were those camps whē the charge or retire of one horse might make the losse or winning of an enterprise This discōfit filled the kings souldiers with spoile the Florentines with feare For their citie was not onely afflicted with war but also with pestilence which was so great that all the Cittizens to shun death were retired to their country houses This ouerthrow was the more terrible because those Cittizens who had land in the vales of Pisa Delsa being come thither the ouerthrow performed with all possible speed returned to Florence leading with them not only their children goods but also their labourers For euerie houre it was feared the enemy would present himself before the citie The officers for the war seeing this disorder commanded those forces which were victorious in the country of Perugia to surcease their enterprise against the Perugini come to the vale of Delsa to encounter the enemy there who after the victory did without resistance spoile the country And albeit they had so greatly distressed the citie of Perugia as they might euerie houre looke for victorie yet the Florentines resolued rather to defend their own thē take from others Thus that army remoued from the place of happy successe was brought to S. Cassiano a Castle distant frō Florence 8. miles thinking they could not staie in any other place till such time as the broken Camp were supplied The enemies on the other side at Perugia being free by the departure of the Florentine souldiers become audacious did daily take great booties in the countries of Arezzo Cortona and the others who had victory vnder Alfonso Duke of Calauria at Poggibonzi got the possessiō first of Poggibonzi then of Vico sacked Certaldo Hauing won these towns cōmitted these spoils they incamped before the castle of Colle which in those daies was accounted a place of great strength and the people of that country being faithfull to the Florentines were of force sufficient to hold the enemie off till the
Castle for the Pope and Nicholo remained a Prince thereof By these actions the Pope was greatlie distressed bicause Rome within the Cittie was troubled with factions and the countrey without spoiled by enemies Notwithstanding as a man of courage he would not giue place to the enemie but enterteined Roberto da Rimino and calling him to Rome where all his men of warre were assembled told him how great honor he might win if he could against the force of a King deliuer the Church from those troubles wherewith it was occupied and how great obligation he should thereby haue not onely of him but also of all other Popes his successors and that both God and men would reacquite the same Roberto first viewing the Popes men of armes and other his preparations perswaded him to make all the footmen he was able which with all speed and diligence was performed By this time the Duke of Calauria was neare vnto Rome and spoiled the countrey euen to the walls of the Cittie which offended the people so much as many of them voluntarily offered themselues to serue with Roberto and recouer the libertie of Rome who were all by that Lord thanked and receiued The Duke hearing of these preparations retired a little from the Cittie thinking that if he were further off Roberto would not seeke him and he also looked that Federigo his brother should come with fresh men sent from the King their father Roberto seeing himselfe equall with the Duke for men of armes and in footmen aboue him marched out of Rome without order and lodged his Camp within two miles of the enemie The Duke seeing his enemies at hand not looking for them thought it stood him vpon either to fight or flee Wherefore as constrained and for not doing a thing vnworthie the sonne of a King determined to fight and turning his face to the enemy either camp put their men in order and brought them to battell which continued from the morning till noone and the same was performed with more vertue then any had bene in Italy fiftie yeares before for therein were slaine on both sides more then a thousand men and the end was glorious to the Church For the great multitude of the Popes footmen so much offended the Dukes horsemen as they were forced to turne their backs and the Dukes person had bene taken prisoner had he not bene saued by many Turks who were left at Ottranto and serued vnder him Roberto hauing this victorie returned to Rome with triumph which he enioyed not long for that by drinking of much water at the day of battell he fell into a flixe which within fewe dayes brought him to death His bodie was by the Pope with great honor buried The Pope hauing this victorie sent the Earle presently towards the Cittie of Castello to see that towne restored vnto Lorenzo and besides to prooue how the Cittie of Rimino was enclined For after the death of Roberto who had onely one yong sonne and the Cittie left to the gouernment of his mother the Pope imagined it was easie for him to surprize it And in deed it would haue so come to passe had not that woman bene by the Florentines defended who tooke her part with such forces as the enemie could not worke his will either against Castello or Rimino While these matters were a doing in Romagna and Rome the Venetians had surprized Figarolo and with their men had passed the Riuer of Po and in the Duke of Milan his campe and the Marquesse also there was disorder bicause Federigo Earle of Vrbino being sick caused himselfe to be carried to take phisick at Bologna and there died whereby the affaires of the Marquesse proceeded slowlie and the Venetians hoped dailie more and more to surprize Farrara On the other side the King and the Florentines laboured to make the Pope of their side which not brought to passe by armes they threatned by a Generall Councell to make him yeeld which Councell was by the Emperours commaundement appointed at Baselia whereupon by perswasion of the Emperours Embassador at Rome and the chiefe Cardinals who desired peace the Pope was perswaded and constrained to allow of peace and the vniting of Italy Then the Pope for feare and also for that he found the greatnesse of the Venetians to be the ruine of the Church and all Italy resolued to come into the league and sent his Nuncii to Naples where a league was concluded for fiue yeares betwixt the Pope the King the Duke of Milan and the Florentines reseruing a place for the Venetians if they were pleased to enter This done the Pope commaunded the Venetians to surcease the warre of Farrara which they not onely refused to do but also made the preparation greater and hauing alreadie broken the Dukes and Marquesse forces at Argenta they at Farrara were so neare distressed as the Dukes forces were lodged in the Marquesse Park Then the League thought good no longer to deferre the aiding of that Prince and caused the Duke of Calauria with his and the Popes men to goe to Farrara The Florentines likewise sent all their forces thither and for the better ordering of the warre the League appointed a Councell to be holden at Cremona where the Popes Legat the Earle Girolamo the Duke of Calauria the Lord Lodouico Lorenzo de Medici with many other Princes of Italy met In this Councell the Princes deuised the order of the future warre And bicause they iudged that Farrara could not be better relieued any way then by some braue assault they ordered that Lodouico should begin a warre vpon the Venetians for the countreys belonging to the Duke of Milan But thereunto that Lord would not consent fearing to begin a warre which he could not end at his pleasure Wherefore it was determined they should go with all their footmen to Farrara and with foure thousand men of armes and eight thousand footmen assault the Venetians who had two thousand and two hundred men of armes and sixe thousand footmen And the League thought good first to assaile the nauie which the Venetians had lying vpon the riuer of Po and the same being assaulted was broken at Bondeno with the losse of two hundred vessels and Antonio Iustiniano the Proueditor of the nauie was taken Then the Venetians seeing all Italy vnited against them to win some reputation enterteined the Duke of the Rhene with two thousand men of armes But hauing receiued this ouerthrow of their nauie they sent this Duke with part of their armie to frunt the enemie and commaunded Roberto de Sanseuerino with the rest of their camp to passe the riuer of Adda and approching to Milan to proclaime the name of the Duke and of the Ladie Bona his mother for by that meanes they hoped to make some Innouation in the Cittie supposing that the Lord Lodouico and his gouernment was hated This assault at the beginning brought therewith some terror and moued all the Cittie to take armes but in
peace quiet The peace being concluded betweene the Duke of Milan and those of the League in the yeare 1433. the souldiers desiring still to exercise the warre made an enterprise against the Church There were at that time in Italy two sorts of souldiers the one trained vnder Braccio the other vnder Sforza Of these the chiefe Captain was the Earle Francesco sonne of Sforza Of the other Nicholo Piccinino and Nicholo Fortibraccio were the Leaders To these two Sects all the other Italian souldiers ioyned themselues Yet were the followers of Sforza of most reputation as well for the vertue of the Earle as the promise to him made by the Duke of Bianca his naturall daughter which alliance gained him exceeding estimation Both these Sects of souldiers after the peace of Lombardy for diuerse occasions assaulted the Pope Eugenio Nicholo Fortibraccio was thereto moued by the old displeasure borne to the Church by Braccio And the Earle by his own ambitioÌ„ Insomuch as Nicholo assaulted Rome the Earle possessed himselfe of La Marca The Romanes to eschue the warres banished Eugenio from Rome who with perill and difficultie escaped came vnto Florence Where considering of the danger wherin he was and seeing himselfe by those Princes abandoned and that they refused to take armes in hand for him by whose meane at their owne desire they had bene lately disarmed compounded with the Earle and granted him the principallitie of La Marca notwithstanding that hee had not onely before taken that countrey from him but also vsed contempt in the letters which hee wrote to his Agents for the diuision of the land writing thus Girifalco nostro Firmiano Inuito Petro Paulo Neither was he contented with the graunt of these townes but hee would be also Gonfaloniere of the Church All which was graunted So much did Pope Eugenio feare more a daungerous warre then a dishonourable peace Thus the Earle become friend to the Pope did persecute Nicholo Fortibraccio and between them in the territorie of the Church in diuers moneths many accidents happened more to the preiudice of the Pope and his subiects then of them that made the war In so much as by the Duke of Milan his mediation it was concluded that the one and the other of them should remaine Princes in the Townes belonging to the Church This warre quenched at Rome was kindled in Romagna by Babtista Canneto who in Bologna had slaine certaine of the house of Grifoni driuen from thence the Popes Gouernour with some other enemies Then to hold that state by force hee desired aide of Philippo And the Pope to be reuenged of this iniurie required helpe of the Venetians and Florentines The one and the other of them were ayded So that within short space two great Armies were come into Romagna The Generall for Philippo was Nicholo Piccinino The Venetian Forces and the Florentines were ledde by Gatamelata and Nicholo de Tolentino Neare vnto Imola they ioyned battaile wherein the Venetians and Florentines were ouerthrowne and Nicholo de Tolentino sent prisoner vnto the Duke where either by poyson or his owne sorrow for the losse receiued within fewe dayes hee died The Duke after this victorie either because hee was weake or beleeued that the league after this ouerthrâ—w would stande quiet followed no further his fortune but gaue the Pope and his confederates time to vnite themselues anew who elected for their Captaine the Earle Francesco with determination to remoue Nicholo Fortibraccio from the Townes belonging to the Church and by that meanes and the warres which in fauoure of the Pope they had begunne The Romanes seeing the Pope strong in the field sought his friendship and receiued a Gouernour from him Nicholo Fortibraccio among other townes possessed Tibali Montifiasconi the Cittie of Castello and Ascesi Into this towne Nicholo not being able to keepe the field fled There the Earle besieged him and the siege continuing long for Nicholo manfully defended himselfe the Duke thought necessarie either to impeach the League of that victorie or else after the same to take order for the defence of his owne He therefore to remoue the Earle from the siege commaunded Nicholo Piccinino to goe into Toscana by the way of Romagna Whereupon the League iudging it more necessarie to defend Toscana then surprize Ascesi gaue order to the Earle not to suffer the passage of Nicholo who was alreadie with his Armie arriued at Furli The Earle on the other side maâ—ched with his souldiers and came to Secena recommending vnto Lione his brother the warre of La Marca and his other lands during the time that Piccinino should passe And while Piccinino laboured to passe and the Earle impeached him Nicholo Fortibraccio assaulted Lione with great honour tooke him and spoyled his souldiers Also following this victorie he surprized many townes in La Marca This proceeding greatly greeued the Earle and supposing all his Countries to be lost hee left part of his armie to make warre vpon Piccinino with the rest he marched towardes Fortibraccio whom he assaulted and vanquished In that ouerthrow Fortibraccio remained a prisoner and was so sore hurt that thereof he died This victorie restored vnto the Pope all those townes which by Fortibraccio had bene taken from him and brought the Duke of Milan to demaund peace which by the mediation of Nicholo de Este Marquesse of Farrara was concluded Whereby the townes surprized by the Duke in Romagna were restored to the church and the souldiers belonging to the Duke returned to Lombardy Also Baptista de Canneto as it happeneth to all others who by force or vertue of other men possesse any state so soone as the Dukes souldiers were departed from Romagna his own power and vertue not being able to defend him in Bologna fled away Whither Antonio Benteuogli chiefe of the contrarie faction presently returned All these things chanced during the exile of Cosimo after whose returne these who had sought his reuocation with diuerse other Cittizens before iniured thought without respect to assure themselues of the gouernment And the Senate which succeeded in the moneths of Nouember and December not contented with that which their predecessours had done in fauour of their faction prolonged changed the time and places of those that were banished and confined many others anew Also diuerse Citizens were in that time hindered not only by the humour of faction but also in respect of their riches their parentage and priuate friendship And if this proscription of bloud had bene continued it would haue bin like vnto that of Octauiano or Silla being partly also imbrued in bloud For Antonio sonne of Barnardo Guadagni was beheaded and foure other Citizens among whome was Zanoby Belfrategli and Cosimo Barbadori These two Cittizens for hauing passed their confines and remaining at Venegia were by the Venetians who esteemed more the loue of Cosimo then their own honor sent home prisoners were most cruelly put to death Which thing
and beganne to deuise rather how hee might winne him for a friend then continue him an enemie Notwithstanding for diuerse causes hee enterteined him from December till Marche not onelie to make the more triall of him but also of his Cittie For Lorenzo wanted not enemies in Florence who desired that the King would haue holden him and enterteined Giacopo Piccinino and vnder colour of lamenting they speake their mindes Also in publique Councelles they opposed their opinions against Lorenzo By these deuises It was bruted that if the King woulde keepe Lorenzo long at Naples the gouernment in Florence should be chaunged Whiche was the onely cause that the King deferred his dispatch so long hoping there might some tumult arise in Florence But seeing that all thinges passed quietly on the sixt day of March in the yeare 1479. he had leaue to depart and before his departure was by the King so bountifully presented louingly vsed that betwixt Lorenzo the King their grew a perpetual amity preseruation of both their states Thus Lorenzo returned to Florence with greater reputation honor then he went thence was with so great ioy of the citie receiued as his great vertues new merits deserued hauing put his own life in hazard to recouer peace to his country For within two daies after his arriuall the treaty betwixt the common weale of Florence the King was proclaimed wherby they were both both bound to defend one the others country that the townes taken frō the Florentines in the war shuld be by the King restored And that the Pazzi imprisoned in the town of Volterra shuld be deliuered And that mony should be for a certaine time paide vnto the Duke of Calauria This peace being published did much offend the Pope the Venetians because the Pope thought he was litle esteemed of the King the Venetians as litle regarded of the Florentines who being their companions in the war thought themselues il vsed not to be partakers of the peace This indignation vnderstood and beleeued at Florence did sodeinly breed suspition in euerie man that of the peace wold arise a greater war Wherupon the Magistrates of the state determined to restraine the gouernment and that the affaires of most importance should be reduced into the hands of a lesse number and so ordeined a Councell of 70. Citizens with authoritie that they might proceed in matters of most importance This new ordinance staied the minds of those that desired innouation and to giue thereto countenance first of all they accepted the peace which Lorenzo had made with the King and sent vnto the Pope Antonio Ridolphi and Piero Nasi Neuertheles Alfonso Duke of Calauria did not remoue his army from Siena saying he was staied by the discord of the citizens there which was so great that he being lodged without the citie was called in and made iudge of their differents The Duke taking these occasions punished many of those citizens in mony imprisoning banishing others and some also were iudged to death In so much as by this meanes he became suspected not only to the Sanesi but the Florentines also mistrusted he would make himself Prince of that citie Wherof they knew no remedy cōsidering the new friendship of Florence with the King the enmitie of the Pope King Which suspition not only in the people of Florence generally who mistrustfully cōsider of all things but in the chief gouernors of the state appeared euery man imagining that our citie had neuer bin in so great danger to lose the liberty therof But God who had euer a particuler care therof caused an accident to happē vnlooked for which made the King the Pope the Venetians to think of greater matters thē these of Toscana Mahumetto great Turk was with a mighty army gone to the Isle of Rodi had many months assaulted it But notwithstanding his forces were great and his resolution to win the town greater yet was the vertue of those that defended the same greatest of all For Mahumetto notwithstanding his furious assaults was forced to depart with shame Thus the Turk being departed frō Rodi part of his army cōducted by Saccometto Bascia went towards Velona by the way either for that he saw the enterprise easie or because the Turk had so commanded passed by the coast of Italy sodeinly set 4000. men on land who assaulted the citie of Ottranto tooke it sacked it slew all the inhabitants therof which done by all the best means he could fortified both the citie the hauen Thē sent he for horsmen with them he forraged spoiled the coūtry round about The king seeing this assault knowing how great a prince had takē that enterprise in hād sent vnto al places to signify the same desired aid of thē al against the cōmon enimy Also speedily reuoked the Duke of Calauria with his forces frō Siena This assault thogh it grieued the duke the rest of Italy yet did the same cōfort Florēce Siena One hoping therby to recouer liberty th'other trusting the rather to shun those perils which made them to feare the losse of their libertie Which opinion was encreased by the vnwilling departure and lamentation of the Duke at his going from Siena accusing fortune that she by an vnlooked for and vnreasonable accident had taken frō him the dominion of Toscana The selfsame chance did alter the Popes mind for where before he refused to giue audience to all Florentines he was now become so curteous as he refused not to hear any that wold speak vnto him of the vniuersal peace Whereupon the Florentines were aduertised that if they would desire pardon of the Pope they might obteine it It was then thought good not to omit this occasion and 12. Embassadors were sent to the Pope who being arriued at Rome were by his holinesse before they had audience enterteined with diuers practises In the end it was betweene the parties concluded how either of them should afterwards liue in what sort either of them both in peace and war were to make contribution After this conclusion the Embassadors were admitted to present themselues at the Popes feete and he sitting in the midst of his Cardinals with exceeding great pomp receiued them These Embassadors excused all matters passed sometimes blaming necessitie sometimes the euil disposition of others sometimes the populer furie and the iust offence thereof saying they were most vnhappie being forced either to fight or die And because all things are endured to eschue death they had suffred war excommunicatiōs all other troubles which the matters passed had brought with thē And all to the end that their common weale might auoyd bondage which is the death of all free Cities Neuertheles if any error or enforced fault were committed they were ready to make satisfaction euer hoping in his goodnes who following the examples of the almightie Redeemer he would receiue them
rather for his mercie then their merits To which excuses the Pope answered with great pride and anger reprouing them of all things done against the church notwithstāding for Gods sake he was pleased to grant them the pardō they desired yet therwith affirming they were to obey him if they shal faile of obedience their libertie which now should haue bin lost shall then be iustly taken from thē For they deserue libertie who take in hand good actions not they that in euil enterprises employ themselues Because libertie abused offendeth it self and others Also to esteem God litle the church lesse is not the office of good mē but of vain persons enclined to euil The correction of whō apperteineth not onely to Princes but to euery christian so as they were for matters passed to blame their own euil doings which was the first occasion of war by their worse doings it was norished But all anger was now extinguished rather by the goodnes of others thē their own deserts After publication of the peace the Popes blessing was read Whereunto his holinesse by word of mouth added that if they would enioy the benifit of his benediction they should during the Turks war in the kingdom maintein at their charge 15. gallies wel paid The Embassadors complained much of this burdē imposed ouer and aboue the contract Yet by no meanes they could make or by any lamentation they vsed the Pope would diminish any part of that penance But the Embassadors being returned to Florence the Senate for confirmation of this peace sent Embassador to the Pope Guidantonio Vespucci who was lately ariued frō France He by his wisdom brought all matters vnto reasonable termes obteined many fauours of the Pope which was a token of greater reconciliatiō The Florentines hauing ended their busines with the Pope and Siena with themselues being deliuered from feare of the King by the departure of the Duke of Calauria and the Turkes warre continuing constrained the King to restore all the Castles which the Duke of Calauria at his departure left in the handes of the Sanesi Wherby that King hoped that the Florentines in so great necessitie would not shrincke from him or by moouing of warre against the Sanesi impeach the aide which hee hoped of from the Pope and other Italian Princes And therefore was content that the Castles should bee restored and bound the Florentines by a new obligation So as thereby we see that force and necessitie but not writings or obligations do make Princes to obserue their faith The Castles thus receiued and the new confederacie made Lorenzo di Medici recouered that reputation which the warre first and after the peace when the King was feared had taken from him For there wanted not those that openly slaundered him and said that for sauing himselfe he had sould his countrey and that by the warre they lost their townes and by the peace they should lose their libertie But the townes recouered an honorable peace made with the King and the Cittie returned to the auncient reputation For in Florence a Cittie free of speech and therein matters iudged by their successe and not by counsell the case was altered and Lorenzo commended to the skies euerie man saying that he with his wisedome had found meanes to recouer that by peace which euill fortune had taken from them in warre and that his counsell and iudgement had preuailed more then the enemies armes or their money The assault of the Turks had deferred that warre which by offence of the Pope and Venetians would haue bene moued But as the beginning of that assault was vnlooked for and occasion of much good so was the end thereof vnlooked for and the cause of much euill for Mahumetto great Turke beyond all expectation died and discord growing betwixt his sonnes those Turks that were in Puglia being abandoned of their Lord by composition yeelded Ottranto to the King This feare remoued which held the Pope and Venetians firme euery man doubted new tumults On the one side the Pope and the Venetians were in league and with them the Genouesi Sanesi and other lesse Potentates On the other were the Florentines the King and the Duke with whome the Bolognesi and many other Lords ioyned The Venetians desired to become Lords of Farrara supposing they had reasonable occasion to begin that enterprise and certaine hope to performe it The occasion was bicause the Marquesse affirmed he was no longer bound to receiue the Visdomine and their salte bicause the contract was that after seauentie yeares the Cittie should be disburthened of those charges The Venetians to the contrarie answered that so long as he did hold the Polesine so long he ought to receiue the Visdomine and the salte But the Marquesse not consenting thereto the Venetians thought they had iust occasion to take armes and time fit for the same seeing the Pope much offended with the Florentines and the King whose fauour they hoped the rather to haue bicause the Earle Girolamo being at Venice was there receiued most honorablie and the Venetians bestowed on him the title of a Gentleman of that state which is the greatest token of honor which they will or can giue They had also for preparation of the warres imposed a new Subsidie and chosen Roberto de Sanseuerino for their Generall who being offended with Lodouico Gouernour of Milan was fled to Tortona and there hauing made some tumults went to Genoua from thence he was called by the Venetians and made Chiefetaine of their armie These preparations and new motions being knowne to those of the contrarie league was the cause that they also prepared for the warre The Duke of Milan made Federigo Lord of Vrbino his Generall and the Florentines Costanzo de Pesaro Also to sound the disposition of the Pope and to discouer whether the Venetians with his consent did make the warre against Farrara the King Ferrando sent Alfonso Duke of Calauria with his armie to the riuer of Tronto and there desired leaue of the Pope to passe into Lombardy to aide the Marquesse which was by the Pope vtterly denied Whereupon the King and the Florentines being resolued thought to constraine him by force so as thereby he should either become their friend or at the least they would so trouble him as he could not be able to aide the Venetians for they were in the field and had alreadie begun the warre with the Marquesse spoyled his countreys and besieged Figarolo a Castle of much importance for the countrey of that Prince Thus the King and the Florentines determined to assaile the Pope Alfonso Duke of Calauria spoiled the countrey towards Rome and with aide of the Colonni who were on his side bicause the Orsini were ioyned with the Pope did great dammage to that countrey on the other side of Rome The Florentines on the other side vnder Nicholo Vitelli assaulted the Cittie of Castello surprized it and draue out Lorenzo who kept that