Emperour Charles call'd away his Governour and the Pope sent his Cardinal Nephew to take possession of it for the Emperour to recompense that Kindness the Emperour restor'd Romania to the Church which had been usurp'd by his Predecessors and the Pope made Bartaldo Orsino Duke of Romagnia growing more powerfull by degrees and believing himself strong enough to look Charles in the face he began to expostulate turn'd him out of his Senatorship and publish'd a Decree that no person for the future of Royal Extraction should ever be Senator in Rome Not contented with this he carri'd his Designs farther and was in the mind to have droven Charles out of Sicily to which end he held secret intelligence with the King of Arragon who effected it alterwards in the time of his Successor He design'd likewise to have made two Kings out of his Family one of Lombardy the other of Tuscany by whose power and assistance the Church might be defended from the incursions of the Germans abroad and the oppression of the French at home But he dying before any thing could be done was the first Pope that gave so manifest demonstration of Ambition or that under pretence of advancing the Church design'd only to exalt and magnifie his own Family and though from this time backward no mention is to be found of Nephew or any other of his Holiness Kindred yet forward all History is full of them and as formerly the Popes have endeavour'd to leave them Princes they would leave them Popes now adays if they could and make the Papacy hereditary But the Principalities they erected have been hitherto short-liv'd for the Popes seldom living long the first gust of wind shakes them for want of their Authority and Courage to sustain them This Pope being dead Martin X. succeeded who being born a French-man was a friend to the French and Charles in the Rebellion of Romania sent an Army to his Assistance who having besieg'd Furli Guido Bonatti an Astrologer being in the Town appointed the Garrison a certain time to sally upon them and following his direction they did it with such success that the whole French Army was either taken or kill'd About this time the practices betwixt Pope Nicholas and Peter King of Arragon were put in execution the Sicilians by that means kill'd all the French they found in that Island and Peter made himself Lord of it upon pretence it belonged to Constansa Manfreds Daughter whom he had married but Charles in his preparation for its recovery died left Charles II. his Son at that time a Prisoner in Sicily who for his enlargement promis'd to surrender himself again if in three years time he prevail'd not with the Pope to invest the House of Arragon with the Kingdom of Sicily Ridolfus the Emperour in stead of coming into Italy himself to recover the reputation of the Empire sent an Embassadour thither with full power to enfranchize such Cities as would buy out their Freedom Upon which many Cities redeem'd themselves and chang'd their Laws with their Liberty Adulfus Duke of Saxony succeeded in the Empire and in the Popedom Piero del Murone by the Name of Pope Celestine but having been a Hermit and exceedingly devout in six months time he renounced and Boniface VIII was chosen in his room The Heavens foreseeing the time would come Italy should be deliver'd both from the Germans and French and remain intirely in the hands of its Natives that the Pope though freed from forreign impedidiments might not be able to usurp and establish himself in the Power which he exercised then rais'd up two great Families in Rome the Colonni and the Ursini that by their Authority and Allyance they might be able to circumscribe his Holiness and keep him within his bounds Pope Boniface was sensible of them and apply'd himself very zealously to have extirpated the Colonni excommunicating them first and then proclaiming the Crociata against them which though it might be some prejudice to them was more to the Church For those Swords which had been drawn in vindication of the Gospel and done honourable things when for private ambition they were unsheath'd against Christians they lost their first sharpness and would not cut at all and so it came to pass their immoderate desire of satiating their Appetite by degrees lessened the Popes power and disarm'd them Two of that House which were Cardinals he degraded Sciarra the chief of them escaping in disguise being discover'd was taken by the Spanish Privateers and clap'd to an Oar but being known at Marsellis he was rescu'd and sent away to the King of France who by Boniface was Excommunicated thereupon and depriv'd of his Kingdom Philip King of France considering very well that in all open Wars with the Popes he had either run some eminent danger or come home by the loss began to look about for some Artifice and at length pretending great readiness to comply and counterfeiting a Treaty he sent Sciarra privately into Italy who being arriv'd at Anagnia where at that time the Pope had his Residence gathering his Friends together in the night he seiz'd upon his Holiness who tho inlarg'd afterwards by the people of the Town died shortly in a Dilirium with meer sense and indigation This Boniface was the first Pope which ordain'd Jubilees in the year M.CCC and decreed they should be celebrated every hundred years These times produc'd many troubles betwixt the Guelfs and the Gibilin's and Italy being forsaken by the Emperours many Towns recover'd their liberties and many were usurp'd Pope Benedict restor'd their Caps to the Cardinals of the House of Colonni absolv'd King Philip and gave him his Blessing Benedict was succeeded by Clement V. who being a French-man remov'd his Court into France Anno MCCCVI During these Transactions Charles II. King of Naples died and left the Succession to Robert his Son The Empire was in the mean time fallen to Arrigo of Luxemburg who came to Rome to be Crown'd though the Pope was not there upon whose arrival many commotions followed in Lombardy and all banished persons whether Guelfs or Gibilins being restor'd to their former Habitations conspiring to supplant one another they fill'd the whole Province with the Calamities of War notwithstanding the Emperour imploy'd his utmost power to prevent it Arrigo removing out of Lombardy by the way of Genova return'd to Pisa with design to have driven King Râ—bâ—rt out of Tascany but not succeeding in that he march'd to Rome but continued there a few dayes only for the Ursini by the help of King Robert forc'd him to remove and he march'd back again to Pisa where for his more secure Warring upon Tuscany and supplanting that King he caus'd it to be assaulted on the other side by Frederick King of Sicily But in the height of his Designs when he thought himself sure both of Tuscany and its King he died and the succession went to Lodovick of Bavaria About this
the Adriatick Sea which were not inhabited they escap'd after them themselves The Padouans seeing the fire so near them concluding when Aquilegia was taken his next visit would be to them sent away their Goods Wives Children and unserviceable people to a place in the same Sea call'd Rivo Alto leaving the young men and such as were able to bear Arms for the defence of the Town The Inhabitants of Montfelice and the Hills about it fearing the same destiny remov'd to the same Islands Aquilegia being taken and Padoua Montfelice Vicenza and Verona overcome and sack'd by Aâ—tila's Army those which remain'd of the Padouans and the most considerable of the rest setled their Habitations in certain Fenns and Marshes about the aforesaid Rivo Alto and all the people about that Province which was anciently call'd Venetia being driven out of their Countrey by the same Calamities joyn'd themselves with them changing by necessity their pleasant and plentiful Habitations for rude and barren places void of all Commodity and Convenience But their number being great and their Quarter but small in a short time they made it not only habitable but delightful framing such Laws and Orders to themselves as secur'd them against miseries of their Neighbours and in a short time made them considerable both for reputation and force So that besidâ—â— their first inhabitants many people resorting to them from the Cities of Lombardy upon occasion of the Cruelty of Clefi King of the Lombards they multiply'd so fast that when Pepin King of France at the solicitation of the Pope undertooke to drive the Lombards out of Italy in the Treaties betwixt him and the Emperour of Greece it was agreed that the Duke of Benevento and the Venetians should be subject neither to the one nor the other but injoy their Liberty to themselves Moreover Necessity having determin'd their Habitations among the Waters having no Land to supply them it forc'd them to look about which way they might live and applying to Navigation they began to trade about the World and not only furnish'd themselves with necessary Provisions but by degrees brought thither such variety of Merchandize that other people which had need of them came to them to be supply'd At first having no thoughts of Dominion they were wholly intent upon what might facilitate their Trade and in order thereunto they acquir'd several Ports both in Greece and Syria and in their passage into Asia the French making use of their Ships they gave them by way of Recompence the Island of Candia While they lived at this rate their Name was grown formidable at Sea and so venerable at Land that in most Controversies betwixt their Neighbours they were the only Arbitrators as it happen'd in the difference betwixt the Confederates upon the division of the Towns where the cause being referred to them they awarded Bergamo and Brescia to the Visconti But having afterwards in process of time conquer'd Padoua Vicenza Trivegi and after them Verona Bergamo and Brescia besides several Towns in Romagna and else where their power began to be so considerable that not only the Princes of Italy but the greatest and most remote Kings were afraid to provoke them Whereupon entring into a Conspiracy against them the Venetians lost all in one day that in so many Years and with so vast Expence they had been gaining and though in our times they may have recover'd it in part yet not having regain'd their Reputation and Power they live at the mercy of other people as indeed all the Princes of Italy do Benedict XII being Pope looking upon Italy as lost and fearing that Lodovic the Emperour should make himself Master of it he resolv'd to enter into strict Amity with all those who held any Lands that belong'd formerly to the Empire presuming their fear to be dispossess'd would make them faithful in the defence of Italy and zealous to keep him out accordingly he publish'd a Decree to confirm all the usurp'd Titles in Lombardy and to continue their Possession But that Pope died before his Promise could be made good and Clement VI. succeeded him The Emperour observing with what libâ—rality the Pope had dispos'd of the Lands belonging to the Empire that he might not be behind him in so generous a point he gave all Lands that had been usurp'd from the Church to such persons as had usurp'd them to hold them of the Empire as the other of the Pope By which Donation Galeotto Maletesti and his Brothers became Lords of Rimini Pesaro and Fano Antonio da Montefeltro of la Marca and Urbin Gentil da Varano of Camerino Giovanni Manfredi of Faenza Guido di Polenta of Ravenna Sinebaldo Or delaffi of Furli and Cesena Lodovico Aledosi of Imola besides many others in other places so that of all the Lands which belong'd to the Church there was scarce any left without an interloper by which means till the time of Alexander VI. the Church was very weak but he recover'd its Authority in our days with the destruction of most of their Posterity At the time of this Concession the Emperour was at Taranto where he gave out his Design was for Italy which was the occasion of great Wars in Lombardy in which the Visconti made themselves Lords of Parma About this time Robert King of Naples died and left two Grand Children by his Son Charles who died not long before leaving his eldest Daughter Giovanna Heir to the Crown with injunction to marry Andrâ—a Son to the King of Hungary who was his Nephew But they liv'd not long together before Andrea was poison'd by her and she married again to Lodovic Prince of Taranto her near Kins-man But Lewis King of Hungary Brother to Andrea to revenge his death came into Italy with an Army and drave Giovanna and her Husband out of the Kingdom About these times there happen'd a very memorable passage in Rome One Nicholas di Lorenzo Chancellor in the Capitol having forc'd the Senate out of Rome under the Title of Tribune made himself head of that Common-wealth reducing it into its ancient form with so much Justice and Virtue that not only the neighbouring Provinces but all Italy sent Embassadours to him The ancient Provinces seeing that City so strangely reviv'd began to lift up their Heads and pay it a respect some out of fear and some out of hopes But Nicholas notwithstanding the greatness of his Reputation not able to comport with so great an Authority deserted it himself for being overburthen'd with the weight of it he left it in the very beginning and without any constraint stole privately away to the King of Bohemia who by the Popes Order in affront to Lewis of Bavaria was made Emperour and to gratifie his Patron he secur'd Nicholas and Clapt him in prison Not long after as it had been in imitation of Nicholas one Francesco Baroncegli possest himself of the Tribuneship and turn'd the Senators out of Rome so that the Pope
he escap'd Among the rest who had seiz'd the Cities which belong'd formerly to Iohn Galeazzo William della Scala was one who having been banish'd and retiring to Francesco de Carrara Lord of Padua by his means he recover'd the State of Verona but he enjoy'd it a short time for Francesco caus'd him to be poison'd and assum'd the Government himself The Vicentini hereupon having till then liv'd quietly under the protection of the Visconti growing jealous of the greatness of the Lord of Padua submitted themselves to the Venetians who at their instigation made War upon him and beat him first out of Verona and at length out of Padua By this time Pope Boniface died and Innocent VII was elected in his place The people of Rome made a solemn Address to him for the Restitution of their Liberty and Forts and being deny'd they call'd in Ladislans King of Naples to their Assistance but their differences being afterwards compos'd the Pope return'd to Rome from whence for fear of the people he fled to Viterbo where he had made his Nephew Lodovic Conte della Marca after which he died and Gregory XII succeeded upon Condition he should resign when ever the Anti-Pope should be persuaded to do the same At the intercession of the Cardinals to try whether it was possible to accommodate their differences and reunite the Church Benedict the Anti-Pope came to Porto Veneri and Gregory to Lucca where many Expedients were propos'd but nothing concluded whereupon the Cardinals forsook them both of one side and the other Benedict retired into Spain and Gregory to Rimini The Cardinals by the favour of Baldassare Cossa Cardinal and Legat of Bologna call'd a Counsel at Pisa in which they created Alexander V. who immediately excommunicated King Ladislaus invested Luigid ' Augio with his Kingdom and by the assistance of the Florentines Genoueses Venetians and Baldassare Cossa the Legat they assaulted Ladislaus and drove him out of Rome But in the heat of the War Alexander died and Baldassare Cossa was created Pope with the name of Iohn XXIII Iohn was created at Bologna but remov'd to Rome where he found Luigi d' Angio with the Forces of Provence having joyn'd himself with him they march'd out against King Ladislaus fought with him and routed his Army but for want of good Conduct not persuing their Victory King Ladislaus rally'd recover'd Rome and forc'd the Pope away to Bologna and Luigi to Provence The Pope casting about with himself which way he might restrain and lessen the power of King Ladislaus caus'd Sigismund King of Hungary to be chosen Emperour invited him into Italy to which purpose they had a Conference at Mantua where it was concluded a General Council should be call'd for uniting the Church upon the accomplishment of which it was presum'd they should be better able to defend themselves against the incroachments of their Enemies At this time there were three Popes in being at once Gregory Benedict and Iohn which kept the Church very low both in force and reputation The place appointed for their Convention was Constance a City in Germany contrary to the intention of Pope Iohn and though by the death of King Ladislaus the great Reason was taken away that mov'd the Pope to that proposition nevertheless things being gone so far and he under an obligation he could not handsomly come off but was forc'd to go to it Being arriv'd at Constance it was not many months before he found his Error and endeavoured to have escap'd but being discovered and taken he was put in Prison and compell'd to renounce Gregory one of the Anti-Popes renounced by Proxy but Benedict the other Anti-Pope refus'd and was condemned for a Heretick at last finding himself abandon'd by all the Cardinals he renounc'd likewise and the Counsel created a new Pope Viz. Oddo of the House of Coloâ—ma who took the name of Martin V. upon which the Schisms were compos'd and the Church united after it had been divided fourty years and several Popes living at one and the same time As we said before Philip Visconti was at this time in the Castle of Pavâ—a But upon the death of Fantino Care who in the troubles of Lombardy had made himself Lord of Vercelli Alexandria Novara and Tortona and contracted great wealth having no Sons he bequeath'd his Dominions to his Wife Beatrix injoyning his Friends to use their utmost endeavour to Marry her to Philip by which Marriage Philip being much strengthen'd he recover'd Milan and all the whole Province of Lombardy after which to recompense her great Benefits according to the example of other Princes he accus'd his Wife Beatrix of Adultery and put her to death Being arriv'd at that height both of Power and Grandeur he began to contrive against Toscany and pursue the designs of his Father Iohn Galeazzo Ladislaus King of Naples at his death had left to his Sister Giovanna besides his Kingdom a formidable Army Commanded by the chief Captains in Italy and among the rest by Sforza da Contignuolo a person of particular repute for his Valour in those Wars The Queen to clear her self of an aspersion of too much intimacy with one Panâ—olfello which she advanc'd took to her Husband Giacopa della Marcia a Frenchman of Royal Extraction but upon condition he should content himself to be call'd Prince of Taranâ—o and leave the Title and Government of the Kingdom to her But the Soldiers as soon as he was arrived in Naples called him King which occasioned great differences betwixt him and the Queen sometimes one prevailing and sometimes the other But at length the Government rested in the Queen and she became a severe Enemy to the Pope Whereupon Sforza to drive her into a necessity and force her to his own terms laid down his Commission and refused to serve her against him by which means being as it were disarmed in a moment having no other remedy she applyed her self to Alphonso King of Arragon and Sicily adopted him her Son and to Command her Army she entertained Braccio da Montone as Eminent a Soldier as Sforza and an Adversary of the Popes upon accompt of certain Towns as Perugia and others which he had usurped from the Church After this a Peace was concluded betwixt her and the Pope but Alphonso suspecting least she should serve him as she had done her Husband began privately to contrive how he might possess himself of the Forts But the Queen was cunning and prevented him by fortifying her self in the Castle of Naples Jealousies increasing in this manner and no-body interposing they came to an Ingagement and the Queen by the help of Sforza who was returned to her Service overcame Alphonso drove him out of Naples abdicated him and adopted Lodovic d' Angio in his place Hereupon new Wars ensued betwixt Braccio who was of Alphonso's party and Sforza who was for the Queen In the process of the War Sforza passing the River Pescara was by
had Conquer'd Africa driven out the Vandals and reduc'd it under that Empire again Having first possessed himself of Sicily and from thence passed his Army into Italy Bellisarius recovered Naples and Rome The Goths foreseeing their destruction kill'd Theodate their King as the occasion of all and elected Vitegetes in his place who after several Skirmishes was at length besieged and taken in Ravenna by Bellisarius who not prosecuting his Victory as was expected was call'd back by Iustinian and his Command given to Iohannes and Vitalis who were much short of him both in Virtue and Conversation so that the Goths took heart and created Ildovado their King who was at that time Governour of Verona and being kill'd shortly after the Kingship fell to Totila who beat the Emperours forces recover'd Tuscany and subdu'd the Governours of all those Provinces which Bellisarius had reduc'd Upon which misfortune Iustinianus thought it necessary to send him again into Italy but returning with small Force he rather lost what he had gained before than acquir'd any new Reputation For Totila whilst Bellisarius lay incamped with his Army at Hostia besieg'd Rome and took it as it were under his Nose and then upon consideration that he could neither well keep nor relinquish it he demolish'd the greatest part of it forcing away the people and carrying the Senators as Prisoners along with him and taking no notice of Bellisarius he advanc'd with his Army into Calabria to encounter and cut off certain supplies which were sent out of Greece to reinforce him Bellisarius seeing Rome abandon'd in this manner addressed himself to a very honourable Enterprise and entring the City repair'd the Walls withall possible Celerity and re-invited the Inhabitants when he had done But Fortune concurr'd not to the nobleness of his design for Iustinianus being at that time invaded by the Parthi Bellisarius was call'd back to repell the Invasion In obedience to his Master he marched his Army out of Italy and left that Province to the discretion of the Enemy who seized again upon Rome but us'd it not so barbarously as before being wrought upon by the prayers of Saint Benedict a person very eminent in those times for his Sanctity he apply'd himself rather to repair than destroy it In the mean time Iustinian had made a Peace with the Parthi and resolving to send new Supplies into Italy he was diverted by a new Alarm from the Sclavi another Northern people who had pass'd the Danube and fallen upon Illyria and Thrace So that Totila had his full swing and was in a manner in possession of all Italy As soon as Iustinian had Conquer'd the Sclavi and setled the Countreys which they had invaded he sent a new Army into Italy under the Conduct of Narsetes an Eunuch a brave Captain and of great experience in the Wars Being arrived in Italy he fought beat and kill'd Totila after whose death the remainder of the Goths retir'd into Pavia and made Teia their King On the other side Narsetes after his Victory took Rome and than marching against Teia he ingaged him about Nocera defeated his Army and slew him among the rest By which disaster the very Name of the Goths was well near extinguish'd in Italy where they had reigned from the time of Theodorick to this Teia full seventy years But Italy was scarce warm in its Liberty when Iustinianus dy'd and left his Son Iustinus to succeed who by the Counsel of his Wife Sophia recall'd Narsetes out of Italy and sent Longinus in his place Longinus according to the Example of his Predecessors kept his Residence at Ravenna in other things he digress'd and particularly by introducing a new form of Government in Italy not constituting Governours in every Province as the Goths had done before but deputing a Captain in every City or other Town of importance with the Title of Duke Nor in this distribution did he show any greater favour to Rome than to the rest for removing the Consuls and Senate Names which to that time had been sacred among them he constituted a Duke which he sent every year from Ravenna and his Government was call'd the Dukedom of Rome But lie that more immediately represented the Emperour at Ravenna and had the Universal Government of Italy was call'd Esarco This division not only facilitated the ruine of Italy but hasten'd it exceedingly by giving the Lombards opportunity to possess it Narsetes was much disgusted with the Emperour for calling him off from the Command of those Provinces which by his own Vertue and effusion of his bloud he had acquir'd And Sophia not thinking it injury sufficient to get him recall'd had given out contumelious words as if she would make him Spin among the rest of the Eunuchs Whereupon in great disdain Narsetes incourag'd Alboino King of the Lombards who at that time Govern'd in Pannonia to invade Italy and possess it As was shown before the Lombards were enter'd and had taken possession of such places upon the Danube as had been deserted by the Eruli and Turingi when Odoacres their King conducted them into Italy They had continued there some time till their Kingdom fell to Alboino for a daring and couragious man under whom passing the Danube they encounter'd with Commodus King of the Zepidi a People planted in Pannonia and overcame him Among the rest Rosmunda one of Commodus Daughters was taken Prisoner whom Alboinus took for his Wife made himself Lord of her Countrey and mov'd by the barbarousness of his nature he caus'd a Cup to be made of her Father's Skull and in memory of that Victory drank out of it very often But being call'd into Italy by Narsetes with whom he had retain'd a Friendship in his Wars with the Goths he left Pannonia to the Hunni who as we said before return'd into their own Countrey after the death of Attila march'd into Italy and finding it so strangly Cantoniz'd and divided he possessed or rather surpriz'd Pavia Milan Verona Vicenza all Tuscany and the great part of Flaminia call'd now Romagnia So that presuming from the greatness and suddenness of his Conquests all Italy was his own he made a solemn Feast at Verona where much drinking having exalted his Spirits and Commodus his Skull being full of Wine he caus'd it to be presented to Rosmunda the Queen who sat over against him at the Table declaring and that so loud she could not but hear that at a time of such hearty and extraordinary Mirth it was fit she should drink one Cup with her Father Which expression touching the Lady to the quick she resolv'd to be reveng'd and knowing that Almachilde a young and valiant Lombard had an intrigue with one of her Maids she prevail'd that she might personate her one night and lie with him her self Accordingly Almachilde being introduc'd upon a time into a very dark place he injoy'd Rosmunda instead of her Maid The Business being done Rosmunda discover'd her self
as the readiest way to suppress him was glad to discharge Nicholas of his imprisonment and sent him to Rome to resume his old Office whereupon Nicholas undertook the Government once more and caus'd Francesco to be executed But the Colonnesi becoming his Enemies by degrees he himself was put to death by them and the Senate restor'd to the Exercise of its former Authority In the mean time of the King of Hungary having depos'd Queen Giovanna return'd to his own Kingdom But the Pope desir'd to have the Queen his Neighbour rather than that King and order'd things so that the Kingdom was restor'd upon Condition her Husband Lewis renouncing the Title of King should content himself with that of Taranto The Year MCCCL. being come his Holiness thought fit that the Jubilee appointed by Pope Boniface VIII to be kept every hundred years should be reduc'd to fifty and having pass'd a Decree to that purpose in gratitude for so great a Benefit the Romans were contented he should send four Cardinals to Rome to reform their City and create what Senators he pleas'd After which the Pope declar'd Lodovic of Taranto King of Naples again and Giovanna highly oblig'd by that favour gave the Church Avignon which was part of her Patrimony By this time Luchïno Visconti being dead Iohn Arch-Bishop of Milan remain'd sole Lord and making several Wars upon Tuscany and his Neighbours became very considerable After his death the Government fell to his two Nephews Bernardo and Galeazzo but Galeazzo dying a while after he left his Son Iohn Galeazzo to share with his Unkle in the State In these dayes Charles King of Bohemia was created Emperour and Innocent VI. Pope who having sent Cardinal Giles a Spaniard into Italy by his Virtue and the excellence of his Conduct he recover'd the reputation of the Church not only in Rome and Romagna but all Italy over He recover'd Bologna that had been usurp'd by the Arch-Bishop of Milan He constrain'd the Romans to admit a forreign Senator every year of the Popes nomination He made an honourable Agreement with the Visconti He fought and took Prisoner Iohn Aguto an English-man who with four thousand English was entertain'd in Tuscany upon the Ghibilin accompt After these Successes Urban V. being Pope he resolv'd to visit both Italy and Rome where Charles the Emperour came to meet him and having continued together several Months Charles return'd into his Kingdom and the Pope to Avignon Urban died and Gregory XII suceeded and because Cardinal Egidio was dead Italy relaps'd into its former distractions occasion'd by the Caballing of the people against the Visconti Whereupon the Pope at first sent a Legat into Italy with six thousand Britans after whom he follow'd in Person and re-establish'd his Residence at Rome in the year MCCCLXXVI after it had been kept in France LXXI years After the death of this Pope Urban VI. was created Not long after at Fondi ten Cardinals quarrelling with his Election and pretending it was not fair created Clement VII The Genoveses in the mean time who for several years had lived quietly under the Government of the Visconti rebell'd Betwixt them and the Venetian there happen'd great Wars about the Island of Tenedos in which War by Degrees all Italy became concern'd and there it was that great Guns were first us'd they being a German Invention Though for a while the Genoveses were predominant and held Venice blockt up for several Months together yet in the conclusion the Venetian had the better and made an advantagious Peace by the assistance of the Pope In the year 1381 as we have said before there was a Schism in the Church and Giovanna the Queen favour'd the Anti-Pope Whereupon Pope Urban practis'd against her and sent Carlo Durazzo who was of the Royal House of Naples with an Army into her Kingdom who possest himself of her Countrey and drove her away into France The King of France undertaking her quarrel sent Lodovic d' Angio to repossess the Queen and force Urban out of Rome and set up the Anti-Pope But Lodovic dying in the middle of the Enterprize his Army broke up and return'd into France Urban thereupon goes over to Naples and claps nine Cardinals in Prison for having sided with France and the Anti-Pope After that he took it ill of the King that he refus'd to make one of his Nephews Prince of Capua but concealing his disgust he desir'd Nocera of him for his Habitation which as soon as he was possess'd of he fortified and began to cast about which way to deprive him of his Kingdom The King taking the Alarm advanc'd against Nocera and besieg'd it but the Pope escap'd to Genoua where he put the Cardinals which were his Prisoners to death From thence he went to Rome and created 28 new Cardinals In the mean time Charles King of Naples went into Hungary was proclaim'd King there and not long after kill'd He left the Kingdom of Naples to his Wife and two Children he had by her one call'd Ladislao and the other Giovanna Iohn Galeazzo Visconti in the mean time had kill'd his Unkle Bernardo and possess'd himself of Milan and not content to have made himself Duke of Milan he attempted upon Tuscany but when he was in a fair way to have conquer'd it and to have made himself King of all Italy he died Urban VI. died also and was succeeded by Boniface IX Clâ—ment VII the Anti-Pope died likewise at Avignon and Benedict XIII was created in his room Italy all this while was full of Soldiers of Fortune English Dutch and Britans some of them Commanded by Princes which upon several occasions had been invited thither and some of them which had been sent by the Popes when their residence was at Avignon With this medly of Nations the Princes of Italy maintain'd their Wars many times till at length Lodovico da Conio Romagnuolo having train'd up a Party of Italians call'd the Soldiers of Saint George by his Valour and Discipline lessen'd the Reputation of the Forreigners and made them afterwards more useful and considerable in the Italian Wars The Pope upon certain differences which arose betwixt him and the Romans remov'd to Scesi where he remain'd till the Jubilee in the year 1400. at which time to invite him back again for the benâ—fit of their City the Romans condescended that he should have the annual nomination of a forreign Senator and be permitted to fortifie the Castle of St. Angelo upon which Conditions being return'd to inrich the Church he ordain'd That in every Vacancy each Benefice should pay an Annat into the Chamber Ecclesiastical After the death of Iohn Galeazzo Duke of Milan though he left two Sons Giovan-Mari-Angelo and Philip the State was divided into many Factions In the troubles which followed Giovan-Mari-Angelo was slain and Philip for some time kept Prisoner in the Castle of Pavia but by the Valour and Allegiance of the Governour
One was in their insolence upon the long time of their Government The other that by reason of emulations among themselves contracted by long possession of the State they had not preserv'd that inspection which they ought to have done over those who were able to disturb them Whereby dayly running themselves deeper in the displeasure of the People and either not regarding new Plots because they did not apprehend them or else encouraging them to supplant one another the house of Medici recover'd its Authority The first of them which began to rise was Giovanni the Son of Bicci who being grown very wealthy of a benign and courteous nature by concession of those who Govern'd was made Supream Magistrate and his advancement celebrated with so universal satisfaction and joy the People believing they had now got a Protector that the graver sort began to suspect it and observing all the old humors reviving again And Nicolo Uzano fail'd not to advertise the other Citizens and to remonstrate how dangerous it was to promote one of so general a reputation that disorders were easily suppress'd in the beginning but when grown to any height they were hardly to be remedy'd and that he knew Giovanni to be a man in parts much superiour to Salvestro But Nicolo was not reguarded by his Brethren who envy'd his reputation and desir'd more company to take him down Florence being in this manner infested with these humors which began privately to ferment Philippo Visconti second Son to Iohn Galeazo becoming Lord of Lombardy by the death of his Brother supposing himself in a condition for some great enterprize was very ambitious to recover the Soveraignty of Genoua which was then free under the administration and conduct of Tomaso da Campo Tregoso but he durst not be too confident of success either in that or any other design till he had enter'd into an alliance with the Florentines the reputation of which he concluded would carry him thorow all To that purpose he sent two Embassadors to Florence to propose it Many Citizens advis'd to the contrary though they were contented the amity which had been betwixt them for many years should be continu'd yet they had no mind to a League as knowing what reputation and advantage would accrue to him thereby and how unprofitable it would be to their City Others were for the League by vertue of which they might put such termes upon him as if he transgress'd should discover his ill intentions to the World and justifie any War they should make upon him for the breach of his agreement after great debate a Peace was concluded and Philip oblig'd himself not to meddle with any thing on this side the Rivers Magra and Panaro Having settled his alliance Philip fell upon Brescia and took it and after that upon Genoua and took that contrary to the opinion of Florence who had promoted the peace they having been confident that Brescia by the help of the Venetian and Genoua by its own proper strength would have been able to have held out And because in his Treaty with the Doge of Genoua Philip had reserv'd Serezana and other Towns on this side the Magra with condition when ever he would part with them that the Genoeses should have the refusal having broke his promise the whole League was violated Besides he had made an agreement with the Legat of Bologna All which things consider'd together alter'd the affections of the Florentines towards him and being jealous of new troubles made them look out for new remedies Philip having intelligence of their apprehensions to justifie himself and feel the inclinations of the Citizens or else to lull and delude them he sent Embassadors to Florence to let them know he was much surpriz'd at the suspicion he understood they had conceiv'd against him and was ready to renounce any thing that might give them the least occasion of displeasure The effect this Embassy produc'd in the City was only to divide it part and that the most considerable in the Government was of opinion they should Arm and put themselves into a Posture against the designs of their Enemies If preparations were made and Philip was quiet no War would ensue and they might contribute to a Peace Others out of envy to the Government or apprehension of the War concluded it no Wisdom to be suspicious of a friend without great provocation and that what he had done was not Worthy in their judgments of such rigid proceeding They knew well enough to create the Ten and to raise Men was the same thing as declaring of War which if done with so Potent a Prince would be certain ruine to the City without any prospect of advantage for if they prosper'd and got the Victory they could not make themselves Masters of any thing considerable Romagna being betwixt nor could they attempt any thing aginst Romagna by reason of its vicinity to the Church However their opinion prevail'd who were for preparations they created the Ten they rais'd Souldiers and laid new Taxes upon the people which lying more heavily upon the Common than the better sort of Citizens fill'd the City with complaints all people crying out of the oppression of the great people who to satiate their Ambition and inlarge their Authority had ingag'd them in an expensive and unnecessary War they were not yet come to an absolute rupture with the Duke but all things were full of suspition For Philip at the request of the Legate of Bologna who was fearful of Antonio Bentivogli a banish'd man and at that time in the Castle Bolognese had sent new forces into that City to secure it which Forces being near the Dominions of Florence created no little jealousie in that State But that which gave the strongest alarm to all people and made the greatest discovery of the War was the Dukes practices at Furli The Lord of Furli at that time was Giorgio Ordelassi who dying left his Son Tibaldo to the Tutelage of Philip. The Mother suspecting the integrity of his Tutor would have sent him to her Father Lodovico Alidossi Lord of Imola but the people of Furli constrain'd her to deliver him up to Philip in pursuance of the Testament of Ordelaffi Philip to disguise his designs and give less occasion of jealousie order'd the Marquess of Ferrara to send Guido Torelli with certain Souldiers to take possession of Furli in his Name and as his Lieutenant and so that Town fell into the hands of Philip. Which intillegence coming to Florence at the same time with the news of the arrival of forces at Bologna facilitated the resolution for War though before there had been strong opposition and Giovanni de Medici did publickly dissuade it alleadging that though they were certain enough of the Dukes inclinations yet it was better to expect him and receive his attack than to prevent it by advancing against him for it was the beginning of the War must Justifie the prosecution
convenient preparations were made for the Wedding when of a sudden some new scruple or cavil was found to protract it however to make the Conte more secure he added some deeds to his promises and sent him thirty thousand Florens to which the Duke had engaged himself by the articles of marriage But this transaction hindered not the proceeding of the War in Lombardy Every day the Venetian lost some Town or other the Boats they sent to secure the Rivers were sunk and dispers'd by the Dukes forces the Country of Bresca and Verona harassed and possess'd and those Cities both of them so straightly block'd up the common opinion was they could not hold out the Marquess of Mantua who for many years had been their General left them and went over to the Duke so what their pride would not suffer them to do in the beginning in the process of War they were driven to by their fear for finding now they had no remedy but in the friendship of the Conte and the Florentines they demanded it of themselves but not without much diffidence and suspition least the Florentines should make them the same answer which in the enterprize of Lucca they had received from them about the affairs of the Conte but they found them more tractable than they expected and indeed more than their carriage towards them had deserved So much more prevalent in the Florentines was their old quarrel to their Enemies than their new pick and exceptions to their friends And having long before prefaged the distress into which the Venetians of necessity would fall they had represented to the Conte how inseparable his ruine would be from theirs and that he would find himself deceiv'd if he expected the Duke would esteem him more in his good than his adverse fortune for it was fear of him whilst his affairs were uncertain and nothing else had moved him to that treaty about his Daughter and forasmuch as the same thing which necessity constrains people to promise it constrains them to perform it was necessary to continue the Duke in the same distress which could not be done but by preserving the Grandeur of the Venetians He ought therefore to consider that if the Venetians should be forced to quit their territory upon the land he would not only be deprived of the conveniences he might have from them but of all that he might reasonably expect from other People who were afraid of them and if he reflected upon other states of Italy he would find some of them poor and some of them Enemies and alone as they had often inculcated the Florentines were not able to maintain him so that in all respects it was his interest to sustain the Dominion of the Venetians upon the Terra firma These persuasions added to the hatred the Conte had conceived against the Duke for his jugling about his Daughter dispos'd him to the agreement yet not so as to oblige himself to pass the Po. The Articles were agreed in February 1438 in which the Venetians engag'd to defray two thirds of the Charge of the War the Florentines one each of them obliging themselves at their own expences to defend the Conte's lands in la Marca in the mean time Nor was the League contented with these forces and allies for they joyned to them the Lord of Faenza the Sons of Pandolfo Malatesta da Rimino and Piero Giampagolo Ursino they tryed the Marquess of Mantoua likewise but they could not remove him from the Duke to whom the Lord of Faenza revolted upon better conditions though he had enter'd the League which put them into great fear they should not be able to execute their designs in Romagna so readily as they propos'd at this time Lombardy was in such distress that Brescia was besieged by the Dukes forces and reduced into such a condition it was daily expected when by famine it should be constrained to surrender Verona was in the same condition and if either of them was taken it was concluded all farther opposition would be in vain and all their expences hitherto lost against this there was no visible remedy but to send the Conte into Lombardy and in that there were three difficulties One was to persuade the Conte to pass the Po and carry on the War in all places the second was that the Florentines seemed to be exposed thereby and left to the discretion of the Duke who retiring into his own fastnesses might divide his forces and facing the Conte with one party joyn with their rebels with the other and march into Tuscany which was a course they were not a little afraid of The third was to resolve which way the Conte might pass most securely into the Contry of Padua to the Venetian Army Of these three difficulties the second relating to the Florentines took up the greatest debate but knowing the necessity and tired with the Venetians who press'd for the Conte with all imaginable opportunity and protested that without him they would give over all they prefer'd the necessity of their associate before any danger of their own However the difficulty of the way was refer'd to be secured by the Venetians and because for the managing of this Treaty and inclining the Conte to pass into Lombardy it was thought fit that Neri the Son of Gino Capponi should be dispatched to him the Senate concluded to send for him to Venice to make the imployment the more grateful and instruct him the more commodiously about the way the Conte was to march Upon this invitation Neri departed from Cesena and came by water to Venice where never any Prince was received with more honour and acclamation than he was by the Senate for upon his coming and the resolutions which thereupon they were to take they believed the whole happiness and safety of their Government did depend Neri being introduced into the Senate spake to them in this manner Most Serene Prince MY Masters were always of Opinion that the greatness of the Duke would be the destruction of your Commonwealth and their own and that if any thing prevented it it must be the Grandeur and prosperity of both Had this been credited in time by your Lordships our condition had been better than it is and your state secure from many dangers wherewith it is now infested but you not having given us either assistance or credit when our necessities required we could not make such haste to your relief nor you desire it so readily as you might have done had you known us better either in prosperity or adversity or understood that where we love once our love is inextinguishable and where we hate once our hatred is immortal the love and respect we have always retained to this illustrious Senate you your selves do know having many times seen Lombardy full of our forces which was sent in to your relief our animosity to Philip is known to all the World and we shall continue it to his family for
conquered had time to recruit and the Conqueror had none to pursue This disorder and perversness in the Souldier was the reason that Nicolo was recruited and on Horse back again before his defeat was known thorow Italy and sharper war he made upon his Enemies afterwards than he had â—ver done before This it was that after his rout before Brescia enabled him to surprize Verona this it was that after he was worsted at Verona gave him opportunity to invade Tuscany this it was that after his loss at Anghiari recruited him again and made him stronger in the field ere he got to Romagna than he was before which gave the Duke new hopes of defending Lombardy though by means of his absence he had looked upon it as lost for whilst Nicolo was giving the Enemy an alarm at Tuscany the Duke of Milan was reduced to a condition of hazarding all and therefore apprehending he might be undone before Nicolo who was sent for would come to his rescue to stop the Career of the Count and temper his fortune by industry which he could not do by force he had recourse to those remedies which in the like case he had many times used and sent Nicolo da Esti Prince of Ferrara to Peschiera to the Count to persuade him in his name to a Peace and to remonstrate to him that the prosecution of the War could not turn to his advantage for if the Duke should be distressed and unable to maintain his â—eputation the Count would be the first which would suffer by it by reason the Venetians and Florentines would have no farther occasion and by consequence no farther esteem for him and as a testimony of the sincerity of his proposal the Duke offered to coâ—â—mmate his Marriage and send his Daughter to Ferrara to be delivered to him as soon as the peace was concluded to which the Count replied that if the Duke did truly desire peace he might easily have it for the Venetians and Florentines were as much inclined to it as he but the difficulty would be to persuade them he was in earnest as knowing he would never have proposed any such thing had not some necessity constrained him and as soon as that should be removed he would make War upon them again As to the business of his Marriage he could not repose any confidence in his promise having been so often baffled by him before nevertheless if every thing else were agreed he should proceed in it as his friends should advise The Venetians who are jealous of their Souldiers where they have no reason to be so had reason enough to be suspicious here which the Count being desirous to remove prosecuted the War with all diligence imaginable but his mind was so inflamed with ambition and the Venetians so slack and intepidated with jealousie little more was done that Summer so that when Nicolo Piccinino returned into Lombardy Winter came on and the Armies were sent to their Winter quarters The Count to Verona the Duke to Cremona the Florentines into Tuscany and the Popes Army to Romagna which after the Battle of Anghiari assaulted Furli and Bologna in hopes to have taken them from Francesco Piccinino who kept them from his Father and defended them so well they could not get them out of his hands nevertheless their coming into those parts so terrified the people of Ravenna that to avoid the domination of the Church by consent of Osâ—asio di Potenta their Lord they submitted to the Venetian who in recompence of his kindness that he might never recover by force what he had given them with so little discretion sent Ostasio with his only Son to spend their days in Candia where they died in which expedition his Holiness wanting Mony notwithstanding the Victory at Anghiari he was glad to sell the Castle of Borgâ— a San Sepulcro to the Florentines for 25000 Ducats Things being in this posture and all sides thinking themselves safe as long as it was Winter all thoughts of peace were laid aside especially by the Duke who thought himself doubly safe both in the season of the year and the arrival of Nicolo had therefore broke of his Treaty with the Count a little abruptly and in great haste rigged out Nicolo again with all provisions and accoutrements that were necessary for the War the Count having notice of his preparations went to Venice to consult the Senate how affairs were to be ordered the next Summer When Nicolo was ready perceiving the Enemy out of order he never staid for the spring but in the coldest of the Winter he passed the Adda and Acri surprized 2000 Horse and took most of them prisoners but that which touched the Count nearest and startled the Venetians was the defection of Ciarpellone one of his principal officers who went over to the Duke the Count had no sooner the news but he left Venice and coming with all possible speed to Brescia he found Nicolo retired and gone back to his former station the Count had no mind finding the Enemy gone to follow him at that time but chose rather to defer till some advantage should tempt him and give him opportunity to revenge himself he prevailed therefore with the Venetians to recal the forces they had in the Florentine service in Tuscany and to confer the command of them upon Micheletto Attendulo Gattamelata being dead The spring being come Nicolo Piccinino was first in the field and beseiged Cignano a Castle some twelve miles distant from Brescia to the relief of which the Count addressed himself and betwixt these two Generals the War was managed as formerly The Count being fearful of Bergamo went with his Army and encamped before Martinengo a Castle which if taken lay very convenient for the succouring of Bergaino which City was by Nicolo greatly distressed who finding he could not easily be disturbed but by the way of Martinengo had supplied it plentifully with all things so as the Count was forced to besiege it with all his Army whereupon Nicolo marched with his forces where he might most conveniently incommode him and intrenched himself so strangely the Count could not without manifest danger assail him so that thereby he brought things to that pass that the besieger was in more distress than the besieged and the Count than the Castle For the Count could neither keep the siege for want of provisions nor rise for fear of Nicolo's Army and every body expected victory for the Duke and destruction for his Enemy but fortune which never wants ways of favoring her friends and disobliging her Enemies brought it about that Nicolo in confidence of his Victory was grown so insolent haughty that without respect to the Duke or himself he sent him word that he had served him a long time and as yet not gained so much ground as would bury him when he died he desired therefore to know what recompence he was to expect for all his dangers and fatigues for it being
was at that time Duke of Genoa This Piero finding himself unable to bear up against so powerful a King upon consideration of his own weakness resolv'd at lest to surrender that State to one that should be able to defend it and perhaps sometime or other give him a reasonable reward he sent Embassadors therefore to Charles 7 of France to desire his protection and tender him the Government Charles accepted the offer and to take possession of the City he sent Giovanni d' Angio King Rinato's Son who not long before was returned from Florence into France for Charles was persuaded that Giovanni being acquainted with the humors and customs of the Italians was properer for that Government than any Man he could send besides from thence he believ'd he might prosecute his designs against Naples with more ease and covenience his Father Rinato having been expel'd that Kingdom by Alfonso of Aragon Hereupon Giovanni departed for Genoa was receiv'd honorably by the Town and invested with the whole power both of the City and State This accident was not at all pleasing to Alfonso he found now he had pull'd an old house over his head however he carried it bravely went on with his enterprize and was advanc'd with his Fleet under Villa Marina at Porto Fino when surpriz'd with a sudden distemper he died The death of Alfonso put an end to the Wars against Giovanni and the Genoeses and Ferrando succeeded his Father Alfonso in the Kingdom was in no little trouble having an Enemy upon his hands of such reputation in Italy and a jealousie of several of his Barons who being inclin'd to new changes he was afraid might side with the French besides he was acquainted with the ambition of the Pope and being scarce setled in his Kingdom was fearful lest he should attempt something to supplant him his only hopes were in the Duke of Milan who was no less solicitous for the affairs of that Kingdom than himself apprehending that if ever the French came to be Masters of Naples their next enterprize of course would be against him for he knew they might pretend to Milan as an appendix to that Crown For these reasons as soon as Alfonso was dead Francesco sent letters and Men to Ferrando the first to keep up his heart the other his reputation Upon the death of Alfonso the Pope designed to give his Nephew Piero Lodovico Borgia the Government of that Kingdom and to gloss over the business and make it more plausible to the Princes of Italy he gave out that that Kingdom belonging formerly to the Church his intention was only to reduce it to that condition and therefore he desired the Duke of Milan would not give any assistance to Ferrando and offer'd him such Towns as he had possess'd formerly in that Kingdom But in the midst of his contrivances Calisto died and Pius 2. succeeded him who was a Siâ—nnesi of the Family of the Piccol Huomini and his Name Aeneas This Pope imploying his thoughts wholly for the benefit of Christendom and the Honour of the Church and laying aside all private passion and advantage at the intreaty of the Duke of Milan crown'd Ferrando King of Naples judging it a readier and safer way to compose the differences of Italy by confirming him that was already in possession than by assisting the pretences of the French or setting up as Calisto did for himself However Ferrando took it for a favour and to requite it he made Antonio the Popes Nephew Prince of Malfi married him to his natural Daughter and besides this restor'd Benevento and Ferracina to the Church And now all the Arms in Italy were visibly laid down and Pius as Calisto had begun before was moving all Christendom against the Turk when a new quarrel sprung up betwixt the Fregosi and Giovanni the Lord of Genoa which produc'd a greater and more important War than the last Petrino Fregosi was retir'd to a Castle of his in Riveria much discontented that Giovanni d' Angio having been prefer'd to his dignity in Genoa by him and his Family had not gratified them as they deserved so that by degrees it was come to a feud Ferrando was very well pleas'd with the difference as being the only way to secure him in his Kingdom and therefore he sent Pietrino supplies both of men and mony hoping thereby Giovanni might be expuls'd out of the State of Genoa Giovanni having notice of their intelligence sent for relief into France which having received he march'd out against Pietrino but Pietrino by the access of more supplies from sundry places being grown too strong Giovanni retreated and applyed himself to securing the City which he did not do so carefully but Pietrino in one night surprized several Posts in it but was beaten the next morning himself and most of his Men slain this victory elevated Giovanni so far that he resolv'd to attempt upon Ferrando departing from Genoa in October 1459 with a great Fleet he sail'd to Baia and from thence to Sessa where he was honorably received by that Duke There had joyn'd themselves with Giovanni the Prince of Taranto and the Citizens of Aquila besides several other Princes and Cities so that already that Kingdom was more than half lost Upon which Ferrando desir'd aid of the Pope and the Duke of Milan and to lessen the number of his Enemies made peace with Gismondo Malatesti which peace disgusted Giacopo Piccinino so highly Gismondo being his natural Enemy that he deserted Ferrando and took up Arms under Giovanni Ferrando sent mony likewise to Federigo Lord of Urbin and as soon as could be expected got together a considerable Army according to those times with which he march'd against the Enemy and finding them upon the River Sarni he engaged them but was defeated and his most considerable officers taken after this victory most of the Towns and Castles surrendred to Giovanni only Naples some few neighbouring Towns and Princes adher'd still to Ferrando Giacopo Piccinino advis'd to march directly for Naples and make himself Master of the chief City but Giovanni replyed he would first ruine the Country and then the City would come with more ease but his rejecting the Counsel of Piccinino was the loss of that design for he did not know that the members follow the head more naturally than the head the members Ferrando was fled into Naples and there resorted to him diverse of his Subjects who were driven from their homes whom he receiv'd and having with all possible gentleness gained some monies of the Citizens he got a small body of an Army together he sent new Embassies to the Pope and Duke for supplies and was reliev'd with more plenty and speed than before for they were both of them afraid that the loss of that Kingdom would turn to their prejudice Much strengthened by their supplies Ferrando march'd out of Naples and having recover'd his reputation in part he recover'd some
and fia il combatter Corto Che l' antico valore Ne ' gl' Italici curr ' non e ancor morto Virtue shall arm 'gainst rage and in short sight Prove th' Roman Valour 's not extinguish'd quite The Original of the words Guelf and Ghibilin so much mentioned in History THese two Factions so famous in History were eminent in Italy two ages before Castruccio was born Machiavel in his Treatise of the Wars of that Country affirms that Pistoia was the first place where those names of distinction were used but the account wherewith the publick Libraries supply me runs thus These two words Guelf and Ghibilin deduce their original from a schism which molested the Church in the year 1130. by the competition of two Popes Innocent 11. and Anaclet the greatest part of Christendom acknowledged Innocent who was particularly supported by the Emperors of the West Anaclet the anti-Pope had persuaded into his interests Roger Comte de Naples and Sicily a martial Prince and descended from the Normans who had conquered that Country The pretence of this double Election having kept a War on foot eight years together which was still favourable to Roger the Emperor Conrad the third march'd himself at the head of an Army of Germans into Italy leaving his Grand-son Prince Henry to come after Roger to oppose him with men of his own Nation allured to the defence of his Countries Guelf Duke of Bavaria During the course of this War which began in the year 1139. it hapned sometimes that the Emperors Army was commanded by the said Prince Herny who was brought up in a Village in Germany called Ghibilin whose situation being very pleasant made the very name of it â—ear to him One day the Armies being drawn up and ready to engage the Bavarians to encourage their Comrades cryed out in their language a Guelf a Guelf and the Emperors Troops being at the same time as well disposed to their General to comply with the kindness he had for that place cryed out on the other side a Ghibilin a Ghibilin These words seemed barbarous to the Italians that were with Roger who came to Guelf to know what they meant He told them the Pope's Party were intended by the word Guelf and the Emperors by the word Ghibilin from that time those names grew so common in both Armies that by them they answered their Who goes there and they were given to the Italians according to their several sides 'T is true at first they were used to discriminate only Anaclet's Party from the Emperors but afterwards Roger having vanquished and taken prisoner Pope Innocent as the price of his liberty he oblig'd him to erect the Countries of Naples and Sicily into Kingdoms by which treaty Roger being taken off from the interest of the anti-Pope and engaging entirely with the Church he affix'd the name of Guelf to the Pope's Party and confirm'd the name Ghibilin to the Faction of the Emperor The Italians would fain have the credit of the Etymology themselves and by a certain gingling of words and that mightily strain'd would have Guelf deriv'd from Guardatori di fe because forsooth 't is they who defend the Faith of the Church and that by corruption the word Ghibilin was form'd from Guida belli that is Guidatori di Bataglia a great Title and sutable to the Majesty of the Empire Be it which way it will these two Factions were in the height of their emulation two hundred years after that is to say about the year 1320. which was very near the time that Castruccio was in his prosperity And in Europe the face of affairs stood thus The Popes driven from Rome by the violence of the Emperors of the West had transferred the Holy Chair to Avignon in France In the year 1320. it was possessed by Iohn XXII a Prince of himself firm and entire but one who by the precipitate counsels of other people had excommunicated the Emperor Lewis of the house of Bavaria and been too busie with his fulminations against five more Princes of Italy who being treated by him like Tyrants confederated against him their names were Castruccio Sovereign of Lucca Scaliger Lord of Verona the Marquess d' Esti Lord of Ferrara and Visconti and Gonzague the first Sovereign of Milan and the other of Mantoua which created troubles to Italy The Empire of the East was at that time torn and distracted by the ambition of the Paliologi and others whilst in the mean time the Sultan Orchan son of Ottoman swept away Lycaonia Phrygia and all the Coast of the Hellespont from the Greeks The Empire of the West was then in dispute betwixt Frederick of Austria and Lewis of Bavaria whom Machiavel by mistake or inadvertency has called Frederick Lewis after long and bloody Wars overcome his Competitor and made several Voyages into Italy to invigorate and reinforce Castruccio and the Ghibilins France was governed by Philip le Long who at the solicitation of Pope Iohn passed an Army into Italy to the relief of the Guelfs which Army was commanded by Philip de Valois afterwards King but his Expedition did not answer expectation for either the cunning or bribes of the Ghibilins had dispelled the storm which our preparations threatned upon Lombardy or our Forces were recalled upon some secret apprehension of a fourth War with the English or by the vast projects of a fifth Expedition to the Holy Land Spain was divided into five Kingdoms each of which had its peculiar King four of them were Christians and one a Mahumetan Navar had the same King with France Philip the Long found a way to extend the Salick Law into that Country and defeat his Niece Iane of France Daughter of Lewis Hutin of both Kingdoms at once Alphonso XI as Mariana calls him the XII as Garibay had at that time the Scepter of Castile but his minority transferr'd the Conduct of Affairs into the hands of the two Infanti Don Pedro and Don Iohn insomuch as by the jealousie and division betwixt the two Regents that Kingdom was exposed to such disorders as are inseparable from the minority of a Prince At length the two Infanti were slain in the year 1320. in a Fight which their rashness caused them to lose to the Mores under the walls of Granada Arragon was in obedience to Don Iacques the second of that name He was Brother to Fredrick who reigned in Sicily to the prejudice of Robert a Prince of the House of Anjou This Robert was King of Naples sided with the Guelfs and leagued himself sundry times with the Florentines against Castruccio Iames King of Aragon designing to establish himself in Italy and judging that the Conquests which he mediated upon the Isles of Corsica and Sardinia depended much upon the Concord of his Subjects at home He caused a General Assembly of his Estates to be held in the year 1320. in which was concluded the Union of the Kingdoms of Aragon and Valentia with the Principality
apprehended of all those that accused Castruccio with that abominable ambition Opizi was of opinion that the death of Francesco Guinigi head of the adverse party would leave him Master of the Town but he quickly found that the single reputation oâ— Castruccio would be a new impediment to his usurpation so that thinking to rob him of the affections of the people he spread false reports and aspersed him where-ever he came At first these calumniations troubled Castruccio but little but at length they alarm'd him to the purpose for he suspected that Opizi would not fail to set him at odds with the Lieutenant which Robert King of Naples had settled in Lucca and that if that Governor was his enemy he should in a short time be turned out of the Town And against so great danger his provision was this The Town of Pisa was then under the Government of Huguccione de Fagivola originally of the Town of Arrezzo being chosen Captain by the Pisans he had made himself their Soveraign and having given protection to certain Ghibilins who were banished from Lucca Castruccio entred into secret intelligence by the privity of Huguccione and being assured of his assistance he resolved the poor Exiles should be restored To this effect he agreed with his friends in Lucca who were of his Counsel and jealous as himself of the power of the Opizi All necessary measures were taken by the Conspirators Castruccio had the care of fortifying privately a Tower in the City called the Tower of Honour He furnished it with ammunition in case he should be forced to defend it and having appointed the night for the execution of their design Huguccione failed not at the precise hour to be at the Rendezvous betwixt Lucca and the neighbouring Mountains Upon a signal given to Castruccio he advanced towards the Gate of St. Peter and set fire to the Antiport next the â—ields whilst Castruccio broke down another on the other side of the Town In the mean time his associates cryed out To your Arms to excite the people to rise and thereby put all things into confusion Huguccione entred with his Troops and having seized upon the Town he caused all the Opizi to be murdered and all the rest of their party which fell into their hands The Governor for the King of Naples was turned out and the Government of the Town altered as Huguccione directed who to compleat the desolations of Lucca banished no less than a hundred of the best Families that belonged to it The miserable Exiles fled part to Florence and part to Pistoia two Towns of the Faction of the Guelfs and for that reason enemies to Huguccione and the prevailing party in Lucca The Florentines and whole Faction of the Guelfs apprehending this great success would hazard to re-establish the power of the Ghibilins in Tuscany they entred into consultation which way those Exiles might be restored They set out a considerable Army and encamped at Monte Carlo to open themselves a passage to Lucca Huguccione on his side drew the Lucca Troops together and put them under the Command of Castruccio and then joyning them with his own from Pisa and reinforcing them with a Squadron of German Horse which he got out of Lombardy he marched out to encounter the Florentines Whereupon the Florentines quitted their Post at Monte Carlo and entrenching betwixt Monte-Catino and Pescia Huguccione possessed himself of the quarter which they had left Their Armies being within two miles distance one from the other their Horse met daily and skirmished and they had come certainly to a peremptory Battel had not Huguccione fallen ill just in the nick His disposition forcing him from the Camp to look out for better accommodation in Monte-carlo he left the Command of the Army to Castruccio his retirement which discouraged his own men and made them think of protracting the Battel animated the Florentines but brought no great advantage to their affairs In short the Florentines perceiving their Enemies without a General began to despise them and Castruccio observing how much they were elated endeavoured to augment it He pretended great Consternation and to make his fear the more credible he gave Orders that his Troops should be drawn up within the Lines but with positive inhibition for any of them to go forth though not a moment passed but the Florentines provoked them but all to no purpose Besides that this pretended terror in Castruccio redoubled the rashness of the Enemy and perfectly blinded them he drew another advantage from it which was to discover exactly the disposition of their Army and the Order of their March When he had well observed them and tempted their temerity as much as he thought fit he resolved to fight them the next Bravado they made and omitting nothing that might encourage his Soldiers he assured them of Victory if they followed his Commands He had observed that the weakest and worst arm'd of their Soldiers were disposed still in their wings and their best placed in the Body Castruccio drew up in the same Order but distributed his Soldiers quite contrary for the worst and most unserviceable he placed in the Body and his best men in the wings In this posture he drew out of the Trenches and had scarce form'd his Battalia before the Enemy appeared and with his usual insolence Castruccio Commanded that the Body should march slowly but the two wings were to advance as fast as they could so that when they came to engage there was only the wings that could fight for Castruccio's Body having lagged by Command the Florentine Body had too far to march before they could charge them so as they remained idle being neither able to do any thing against the Main Body that was design'd to oppose them nor sustain those who were engaged in the wings so it hapned that the Florentine wings composed of the refuse of their Soldiers were easily broken by Castruccio's which consisted of his best and when the wings of the Enemy which were drawn up before their Body so as the whole Army was ranged in the figure of a half Moon were routed they turn'd tail ran among their own Body which was marching behind them and put all into Confusion The loss was very great to the Florentines they left above 10000 men dead upon the place Their best Officers and the bravest of the Guelfs perished there unfortunately and to make the defeat the more lamentable there were several Reformades which died there of extraodinary quality Among the rest Piero Brother to Robert King of Naples Carlo Nephew to the said King Philip Lord of Tarentum who were all come in Gallantry to make that Compania with the Florentines But that which made all the more wonderful was that Castruccio lost not above 300 men though unhappily one of Hugucciones Sons were of that Number his Name was Francesco who sighting briskly at the head of the Voluntiers for want of good Conduct was slain at the very first