whan thei perceiued an outwarde ennemie than were they inwardly soone agreed and assoone as they were sure of peace abroade incontinently thei warred againe within them selfes Neuerthelesse thei vsed the emperour so well with giftes and fayre woordes that he not onely suffred theim to continue in theyr libertee but also encreased theyr common wealth with a noumbre of priuileges and was occasion that after long contencion with them of Pisa the Genowaies at length enioied quietely the one halfe of Sardegnia whiche before the Pisani had wholly to theim selfes ¶ About this tyme the Souldan of Aegypt gotte Ierusalem and dyuers other citees in Soria out of the Christians handes Wherfore kynge Richarde of Englande and kynge Phillip of Fraunce made their viage into those parties and kynge Richarde arriued at Genoa with .xv. galleys where he taried but one daie After whom the Genowaies sente .80 saile with men and municion to the assiege of Acon or Ptholemaida To the succours of whiche citie the Souldan sent a ship charged with vittaillê and armure and amongest other a cage full of fleeyng serpentes purposely sent to be seâ— foorth in the Christian army that with theyr venim thei might plage it But it was mette by the englishe nauie and taken And the emperour Federike comyng towardes the same enterprise beyng alreadie entred into Soria by mishappe was drowned in a riuer ¶ After whose death his sonne Henrie nexte emperour came to Genoa in his owne person requiring their helpe to the conquest of Sicilia promisyng theim the profite so that he myght haue the honour Whiche so muche enflambed the hertes of the people that they made out a great number of galleis and other vesselles and dyd so muche seruice that the emperour in maner by their power gatte the whole ile of Sicilia whiche he vnthankefully considered For whan they had done theyr best for hym he rewarded theim with all the spite he coulde threatnyng to oppresse their libertee and to make theim his subiectes insomuche that the Pisani through coumforte thereof molested the Genowaies of newe and fortifiyng Poggio di Bonifacio fell to spoilyng and riâ—lyng of the Genowaies goodes by sea But at length the losse tourned to theim selfes For the Genowaies armed theim and takyng Bonifacio by force not onely sacked and munited it for theim selfes but also toke a number of Pisane shippes as thei coulde finde theim Wherupon it folowed that the Pisani made out their power and so fought diuers times with the Genowaies with diuers fortune ¶ The inhabitauntes of Vintimiglia breakyng the articles of accorde betweene the Genowaies and theim were faine to come barefoote with crosses in theyr handes to Genoa and aske pardon for feare of the preparacion that the citee made against theim And the yeere folowyng the Genowaies purchased the dominion of Gaui of the enheritours therof and the inhabitauntes of the vale of Arocia submitted their countrey to the Genowaies dominion ¶ And because the Pisani prepared to assayle certaine Genowaie ships comyng out of Soria laded with riche merchandise the citee armed certain galleis and shippes to conducte theim safely whiche metyng togethers in the mouthe of the Adriatike sea determined to attempt to wynne the citee of Saragosa in Sicile lately gotten by the Pisani In the enterprise wherof they take certaine Pisane shippes and without great feight wonne the citee leauyng it fortified and gouerned for the common welth of Genoa Than the Pisani made out a newe armie and besieged it and of lykelyhod shoulde haue put it to great afterdele if Henry erle of Malea in Greece with certayne galleys of his owne and other shippes of the Genowaies that came from be easte had not comen to the succours who fought with the Pisane armie and with helpe of theim that were within the towne obteined the victory to the great slaughter and losse of theim of Pisa. ¶ And because the erle Henrie of Malea had done the Genowaies great seruice diuers waies therfore they aided hym to their great charge with galleis shippes men and horses to defende Candia whiche he had vsurped vpon the Uenetians so that the Uenetians beyng therwith agreued immediatelie publyshed the Genowaies to be their ennemies wherupon folowed sharpe warres betwene theim many yeres after ¶ Here is to be vnderstand that froÌ„ the yere .1080 vnto the yere .1190 the citee was gouerned freely by the citesins vnder the name of Consulles without entermedling of straunge rulers and so in maner to this tyme though for the space of .26 yeres some straungers had ben now and than brought in as Potestates the consules neuerthelesse remainyng after the olde maner but from this tyme forewarde the Consulles ceased and straunge Potestates bare the rule a great tyme after ¶ The generall armie of the Christians liyng at the siege of Damiata in Aegypte was relieued with .10 galleis sente by the Genowaies through whose helpe the citee was gotten with wonderfull richesse and an infinite number of slaues besides the multitude of infidelles that were slaine howbeit the christians kepte not the citee longe for the yere folowyng the Sarasines recouered it againe ¶ Thei of Vintimiglia reâ—elled against the Genowaies so that after many light bickeringê at last an army was sente out against them whiche laie longe at siege before the towne and could not preuaile so that the Potestate to be assured of that enterprise edified an other towne betwene theim and the sea and with a garryson helde theim so streight that at last thei yelded wherupon the towne beyng recouered the Genowaies builded there two fortresses for the more suretee of the same ¶ In lyke maner thei of Sauona and of Albenga rebelled and were to their despite reduced to theyr former obedience But the warre that happened betwene Alexandria in Lumbardy and Genoa for the dominion of Capriata and other townes in the confynes betwene them was not so sone appeased though in effect the Genowaies at length preuailed ¶ Gregorie the .ix. bishop of Rome trauailyng to sende an armie into the holy lande agreed the Uenetians and Genowaies togethers for .ix. yeres and bounde theim to kepe peace on payne of cursyng But lyke as his enterprise came to naughte so his curse coulde not kepe those two astates from renewyng of their malyce as by their ofte fightyng with variable fortune appered after And beyng than in contencion with the emperour Federike and calling a counsail in Rome against themperour he sente to the Genowaies praiyng theim to conueyghe in saufetee the legates and prelates that came out of the west partes towardes that counsaill Wherfore they armed .27 galleis and receiuyng two Cardinalles and other prelates to the numbre of .40 at Niza in Prouance broughte theim solemnely to Genoa and goyng from thense with theim towardes Rome mette with Ansaldo admirall of the emperours nauie who foughte with them and toke .22 of those galleis withall those goodly prelates and diuers of the chiefe
confyrmed in the same as vicare of the empire ¶ Within two yeres after Ramondo Torrigiani bishop of Como and Patriarke of Aquileia retourned with a great armie to dryue Ottone out and did muche hurte in the Milanese territory But at laste he receiued a sore discomfiture by Ottone through helpe of the families of Duarosi and Palauisini whiche houses together with those of Lampugnani descended of the Goti and those of Pietrasanta comen out of Tuscane those of Porri of Caimi of Bossi of Marliani and of Triulsi were all at that time most noble and puissaunte in Millaine ¶ After the death of Ottone his brother Iacopo hauyng a sonne named Tibaldo and Tibaldo a sonne named Matteo who for his lusty courage and deedes was surnamed Magno the reputacion and state of the Visconti beganne to grow more and more For this Matteo gatte Alexandria Pauia Tortona and manie other townes ¶ Finally this Matteo puttyng Pietro Visconti in pryson whom after he deliuered beyng aduertised howe the same Pietro conspyred with the chiefe of the Torrigiani to driue him out of his astate and mistrustyng his owne power to defend the same committed the whole to Alberto Scoto lorde of Piacenza and fledde hym selfe into the marishes of the lake of Garda where he lyued longe time of his onely labour of fishyng He had .iiii. soonnes by his wife Bona Cosa the fyrste named Galeazo so called because in the nighte of his birthe the cockes crowed more than thei were wonte the secounde Giouanni the .iii. Stefano and the .iiii. Lucchino ¶ This Galeazo succeded his father and goyng afterwardes with Henrie the emperour to Rome was there made capitaine of the light horsemen and about that tyme begatte two sonnes the one called Azone and the other Marco His courage was so great that whan the emperour Lodouico di Bauiera requyred a certaine summe of money of the Mylanese Galeazo withstode it Upon displeasure wherof Lodouico toke hym prisoner and banished his sonnes Azone and Marco But at length at the instaunce of Castruccio Lucchese Galeazo was deliuered And finally beyng in company of the same Castruccio at the siege of Pistoia sickened and died in the towne of Pestia ¶ After whose death Azone and Marco for a certaine summe of money paied before hand obteined of the emperour Lodouico the restitucion of the state of Myllaine And so Azone as elder brother hauyng the dominion Marco in his name gatte the citee of Lucca and his vncle Lucchino the citees of Bergamo Bressa and Pauia wherby Azone became great and so high of stomacke that remembryng the iniuries doen to hym by the emperour Lodouico whan he wold haue passed through Myllaine as lorde of all Italy he closed the gates against hym refusyng to accepte him for his better Therfore not without good cause was he bothe feared and esteemed specially for his approued valiautnesse for beyng sent of his father to helpe Castruccio he fought with the Florentines neere to Fucecchio discomfited and pursued theim euin to the gates of Florence and laiyng siege to the citee remaigned there idell certaine daies for no man durst issue out to meddle with hym Whiche was the fyrst enterprise of the Visconti against the Florentines ¶ After whiche Azone through helpe of Castruccio became lorde of the Alco Pascio and of Bologna and as some saie beyng in campe on a daie after he had broken his fast puttyng his sallette on his head whiche before had lien on the earth there issued out an adder that glyded downe alongest his face without dooyng hym any hurte wherof it folowed that the Visconti vsed the adder in theyr armes And thoughe it so maie well be true yet this seconde opinion of the adder dooeth not so muche satisfie me as the fyrst ¶ Finally Azone diyng without issue his vncles Lucchino and Giouanni rested in his place and were confirmed in the astate by Benedetto the .xi. bishop of Rome as vicares of the churche with condicion that after the death of the emperour Lodouico di Bauiera the state of Myllaine shoulde be holden of the dominion of the churche ¶ Lucchino as elder brother toke vpon hym to gouerne and proued a veray rightuous and mercifull man He granted reconcilement vnto many of the citesins before tyme confyned by Azone and builded many deuoute places in Myllaine He gatte many townes part by force and part with loue and in maner renued the walles of Bergamo at his owne coste He reformed many thynges in Bressa and so finally died ¶ After him his brother Giouanni succeded who incontinently called home Matteo Bernabo and Galeazo sonnes of his brother Stefano before time banisshed by Lucchino ¶ And all be it that this Giouanni was an archebishop yet beyng more geuen to armes than to the churche thorough the valiantnesse of Galeazo he gatte Parma Lodi Cremona Bergamo Genoua Sauona and many other townes and finally died leauyng his astate diuided betwene Bernabo and Galeazo ¶ This Bernabo helde warre longe tyme with the bishoppe of Rome for the citee of Bologna that together with Genoua had rebelled against hym and finally toke for Bologna a great summe of money and forbare Genoa because it had been before redeemed at his handes for the summe of .600000 duckates But some saie he was enforced to lette it alone by reason that in one selfe tyme he was troubled of the Romish legate of Philippino di Gonzaga and of Cane della Scala for the thynges of Bressa where he had been ones discoumfited ¶ He had to wyfe one of the daughters of Mastino della Scala a woman that for hir vnreasonable pride was surnamed La Reina the Queene And had by hir .14 children wherof .iiii. were sonnes To Lodouico the eldest he gaue the citee of Cremona To Carlo Parma To Ridolfo Bergamo and to Mastino Lodi ¶ The rest beyng daughters he maried on this wyse La Verde vnto Leâ—poldo Duke of Austria graundfather to the emperour Federico the thyrde La Taddea to the Duke of Bauiera La Valentina to Peter kyng of Cyprus La Catherina to Giangaleazo Visconti his nephew L' Antonia to Federico kynge of Sicilia La Maddalena to the Duke of Bauiera againe L' Agnesa to Francesco Gonzaga La Lisabetta to Ernesco Duke of Monaco in Bauiera L' Angiolella to Federico the younger And La Lucia to Lodouico Duke of Angiers eldest sonne to the Frenche kynge And after to Baldasar Marques of Misna and finally to Edmonde Erle of Kent sonne to the kynge of Englande And with the mariage of euerie of these daughters he paied all .100000 duckatê ¶ Besides these he had .iiii. bastarde daughters Bernarda Ricciarda Lisaberta and Margherita And fiue bastarde sonnes Ambrosio Nestore Lancilotto Galeotto and Sagramoro ¶ On the other syde Galeazo begatte on his wyfe Bianca daughter of Amone Duke of Sauoie a sonne named Giangaleazo and a daughter named La Violante whiche afterwardes was maried to Lionell Duke of Clarence and sonne to the
kynge of Englande At the sumptuouse feaste of whose mariage Petrarcha hapned to be present How be it some haue written that she was maried to the Frenche kynges sonne with the dower of an .100000 crownes But how so euer it were hir husbande lyued not passyng fiue monethes after the mariage and shortly thervpon the father Galeazo also died ¶ After whose death his sonne Giangaleazo growen to sufficient yeres diuided the state with his vncle Bernabo on this maner He kept to hym selfe Pauia Tortona Alexandria Nouara and the other townes neere vnto the Alpes with the one halfe of Myllaine and gaue vnto Bernabo Parma Pâ—accuza Cremona Lodi Crema Bergamâ— Como and the other halfe of Myllaine with this aduauntage that for as muche as Bernabo was the more aunciente he should dwell in Myllaine and Giangaleazo in Pauia Thus beyng agreed after a certaine tyme Giangaleazo was aduertised by his wife howe Bernabo hir father and his vncle had diuers tymes sought his death to ridde hym out of the state so that Giangaleazo incontinentely determined to preuente hym and goyng vnto Millaine vnder pretence of pastyme or of some other busynesse Bernabo to honour hym the more issued out against him and so was taken died in prison and parte of his sonnes slayne parte banished Whiche acte onely excepted though it was not yet all against reason this Giangaleazo in all his doynges was accompted so worthy noble and valiaunt a prince that of the people he was called II Conte di Virtu that is to say The Eâ—le of vertue For he was not onely beautifull of personage but also lerned eloquent wise hardy and lyberall And was the fyrst that euer was inuested Duke of Millaine paiyng therfore to the emperour Vinceslao an .10000 duckates After the obteinyng of this honour he encreased his astate by the gettyng of Verona Vicenza Padoa and Bologna ¶ He discomfited the armies of the leage made betwene the Florentines and Bologniese with other their confederates at Casalecchio and broughte the Florentines at length to that takyng that had he not died the rather they muste nedes haue yelded to benne his subiectes ¶ He ouercame Antonio della Scala and buylded the fayre palayce in Pauia with that goodly librarie that yet is seen there walled the parke about beyng of a great circuite and edified the Charterhouse that to this houre amongest the beautifull buildynges of the worlde may be rekened one of the rarest ¶ He brought Italy into suche feare that the Pisani the Senesi the Perugini the Ascesiani and the Lucchesi willyngly became his men so that he founde him selfe lorde ouer .29 citees and thought to haue ben kynge of Italy if death had not so soone taken him ¶ He had two wifes the one called Lisabetta doughter to the kynge of Boeme by whom he had a doughter named La Valentina maried afterwardes to the Duke of Orliens with the dower of the Erledome of Aste that hath ben cause of no small trouble in Italie and the other wife named Caterina de Visconti by whom he had two sonnes Giouanni and Philippo Maria. ¶ He had one bastarde called Gabriello who afterwardes solde Pisa to the Florentines ¶ Finally this notable prince at Marignano died and accordyng to his owne order was from thense caried to the saied Charterhouse besides Pauia and there buried ¶ Than succeded in the astate Giaâ—maâ—â—a the eldest sonne whose dealynges were so greuouse to the Milanese without any their deseruyng that hearyng masse on a daie in the churche through the fury of the people and of his owne men together he was slayne firste causyng his mother to die in prison for ofte warnyng him of that that happened in dede ¶ He was wonte to say many times in excusyng of his errours that in a great house it was necessary there shoulde growe men of diuers sortes and that he therfore vsed the contrary of his fathers doinges so that through his crueltee and his death together many citees rebelled in suche wiâ—e that the Milanese were constreigned to call the sonnes of Bernabo to the Douchy who enioied the same vntill that Philippo maria recouered the dominion and driuing them out mette with one of them called Nestore in a skirmish and slew him ¶ This Philippo was first lorde of Pauia and had maried Beatrice the doughter or as other say sometime wife of Fazino Cane della Scala for none intente but because she was enheritour of many fayre lordeshippes beyonde the Pò and had also verie muche money By meane wherof sleayng Crabrino lorde of Verona he gatte that citee to him selfe ¶ He was constreigned to yelde Bologna Furli and Imola to the bishop of Rome Neuerthelesse he gatte Genoa though afterwardes he loste it againe ¶ He lykewyse toke Bressa whyche beyng recouered against him by the Uenetians caused betwene them verie longe and cruell warre Wherin on the Uenetian side were capitaines Francesco Carmignuola Giouanni Malauolta Gianfrancesco Gonzaga and Nanni Strozzi a Florentine knight And on the side of Philippo against the Uenetians were Francesco Sforza Agnola da Pergoletto the one and other Nicolo Guerriero and Piccinino and one Fierauante da Perugia with the helpe also of Alfonso kynge of Naples who beyng before tyme brought prisoner to Philippo by the Genowaies and by hym restored to libertee lyke a faythfull friende for a great whyle after succoured hym in all his businesse ¶ Thus whan Philippo had finyshed the enterprise againste the Uenetians and by meane of those his capitaines gotten Piacenza Como and Lodi he made the Marques of Monferrato so afearde of hym that wyllyngly he yelded vnto Philippo's handê Vercelli Alexandria and Aste And Nicolo da Este of Ferrara came to visite hym renderyng Parma that before had ben taken from Ottone and knowlageyng hym selfe to holde the citee of Reggio in fee of Philippo ¶ The citeee of Florence fearyng the power of this man entred in leage with the Uenetians whose two armies vnited togethers were foughten withall by certaine of Philippo's capitaines in the Countie of Faenza and there ouercomen ¶ Notwithstanding that the same victory was of much lesse importaunce than that whiche the noble Florentine Cosmo di Medici obteigned in the plaine of Anghiari against the army of Philippo ledde by Nicolo Piccinino towardes the Florentine damage for the whiche victory Cosmo at his retourne to Florence was called father of his countrey ¶ But for all that those warres had neuer ende as long as Philippo liued who finally fell out with the forenamed Alfonse kyng of Naples and by force restored the Queene Giouanna to hir possession ¶ He receiued into Myllaine Martine the .v. bishoppe of Rome as he retourned from the counsaile of Constance and maried his daughter Bianca vnto Francesco Sforza ¶ Finally findyng hym selfe fallen in great aduersitee what thoroughe blindenesse that toke hym in his age what through the losse of Genoa and what through the discoumfiture of his armie at Casale Maggiore