til the yeare 1366. more then two hundreth Citizens were admonished By this mean the Captaines faction of Guelfi were become mightie because euery man fearing to be admonished honoured them The chief of them were Piero delli Albizi Lapo d◠Castiglionichio and Piero Strozzi And albeit this insolent order of proceeding displeased many yet the Ricci were of all other most discontented For they supposing themselues to be the occasion of this disorder saw the common weale ruined the Albizi their enemies contrary to expectation become of most authoritie Wherfore Vguccione de Ricci being one of the Senate desired to staie this mischiefe whereof he his friends were the beginners and by a new law he prouided that the six captains should be encreased to the number of nine of whom two should be of the smal misteries And ordeined moreouer that the detection of the Ghibilini should be by 24. Citizens of the sect of Guelfi confirmed This ordinance for the time qualified the authoritie of the Captaines so as the admonishment grew colde And if anie happened to be admonished they were not manie Notwithstanding the factions of Albizi and Ricci continued and the leagues practises and resolutions deuised in hatred one of the other did proceed In this vnquietnesse the citie liued from the yeare 1366. till 1371. In which time the Guelfi recouered their forces There was in the family of Buondelmonti one Gentleman called Benchi who for his merit in the warre against the Pisani was made one of the people and thereby become capable of the office of the Senate And when he looked to be chosen to that honour a lawe was made that no Gentleman become one of the people might exercise the office of the Senate This greatly offended Benchi wherefore consulting with Piero delli Albizi determined with the admonition to oppresse the meaner sort of the people and the rest alone to enioy the gouernment Then through the fauour which Benchi had with the olde Nobilitie and through the affection of manie of moste mightie people borne to Piero the faction of Guelfi recouered some force and with new reformation they handled the matter so that they might both of the Captaines and the twentie foure Cittizens dispose as themselues thought good Wherevppon they returned to admonish more boldlie then they were woont and the house of Albizi as head of this secte still encreased On the other side the Ricci failed not by their owne force and friendes to hinder their enterprises all they were able so that all men liued in suspition and euerie one mistrusted his owne ruine For which cause manie Cittizens mooued with the loue of their Countrey assembled themselues in Saint Pietro Sceraggio and reasoning of these disorders went to the Senators vnto whome one of most authoritie spake thus Wee haue my Lordes doubted although for a publique occasion to assemble our selues by priuate consent fearing to be noted for presumptuous or condemned as ambitious Yet considering that euerie day without respect manie Cittizens conferre both in the streetes and in their houses not for anie common commoditie but their owne ambition we do hope that as they haue come togithers for the ruine of the Common weale so it shall not be offensiue that we consult by what meane the same might be preserued Neither is there cause why we should regard them seeing they of vs make none estimation at all The loue my Lordes which we beare to our Countrey did first bring vs togither and the same also hath ledde vs hither to intreate of these inconueniences which are now great and daily encrease in this our Common weale In the redresse whereof we offer our selues to assist you And albeit the enterprise do seeme hard yet may it be performed if it shall like your Lordships to laie by all priuate respects and with publique forces imploy your authorities The common corruption of other Citties of Italy doth also corrupt ours For sith this Prouince was drawne vnder the Empire all Cities wanting Gouernours able to rule them haue gouerned themselues not as free but as townes into sects and faction diuided Out of this be sprung vp al other discords that are to be found First among the Citizens there is neither vnion nor friendship but onely among such as haue against their countrey or priuate persons conspired some lewde enterprise Also bicause religiō feare of God is in euery man almost extinguished othes and faith giuen are none obligations equall to profit which all men couet Yet do they stil vse both promising othes not to obserue them but the rather to deceiue those that trust them And the more easily safely they can deceiue the more they account their praise glory For this reason hurtfull men be commended as industrious good men blamed as foolish Yea I assure my selfe that all corruption or that can corrupt others is to be found in the cities of Italy The young men are idle old men wanton euery sects and euery age full of lewde conditions which good lawes being euil vsed do not amend Hereof the couetousnes which we see in Citizens and the desire not of true glory but of shamefull honors do proceed wherevpon depend hatred enmitie displeasures sects Also of them do follow murders banishments persecution of the good aduancement of the euill For good men trusting in their owne innocencie do not as euil men seeke extraordinary defence Whereby vnsupported and dishonoured they are suffered to sinke This example occasioneth loue of the factions and their forces because the worst sort for couetousnesse and ambition and the best for necessitie do follow them It is also worthie consideration as that which is more perillous to see how the leaders of these enterprises do colour their lewdnesse with some honest or godly tearme For albeit they are all enemies to libertie yet vnder the word Ottimacy or popularitie they cloake their euill intent Because the rewarde which they aspect of victorie is not glorie by hauing deliuered the Cittie but the satisfaction they take to be victorious and vsurpe the gouernment thereof Wherewith allured there is nothing so iniust nothing so cruell or couetous that they leaue vnattempted Hereof it proceedeth that lawes and statutes not for the common but the priuate profit be made Hereof it proceedeth that warre peace and leagues not for publike glory but for the pleasure of a few are contracted And albeit some other Cities be touched with these disorders yet none so fowly infected as ours Because the lawes the statutes and ciuil ordinances not according to a life in libertie but according to desire of the faction victorious haue bene and yet are ordeined which is the cause that euer one faction driuen out or one diuision extinquished sodeinly ariseth an other For that citie which is mainteined more by faction then law so soone as anie faction hath gotten the ouer hand is without opposition it must of force be that the same
neither was this gouernment lesse iniurious towards the Citizens nor more mild then was that of the multitude For so many of the populer Nobilitie were confined as had bene noted to be defenders thereof togither with a great number of the principall men of the multitude And among them Michele Lando whose former authoritie and good deserts could not in this time of populer furie saue him His country therfore for many good merits was to him vnthankfull Into which errour because many Princes and Common weales do fall is the cause that men vppon like examples terrified before they feele the smart of their gournours ingratitude do first offend them These exilements these slaughters did displease and euer had displeased Benedetto Alberti and he both publiquely and priuately blamed them For which cause the Lords of the state feared him as chiefe friend to the multitude and thought him consenting to the death of Georgio Scali not because his doings did offend him but to be alone in the gouernment Besides that his words and workes did encrease the suspition which made that side which gouerned to keepe eye vpon him and watch opportunitie to oppresse him The citie liuing in these tearmes the actions abroad were of no great importance For if any thing were done it proceeded of feare by reason that Lodouico di Angio came then into Italy to restore the kingdome of Napoli to the Quene Giouanna and remooue Carlo Durazzo The passage of this Prince greatly amazed the Florentines for Carlo according to the custome of old friends demaunded of them aide Lodouico like vnto him that seeketh new friends desired them to stand neutrall Whereupon the Florentines to seeme willing to content Lodouico and aide Carlo discharged Giouanni Aguto and procured Pope Vrbano to entertaine him which subtiltie was easily by Lodouico discouered and for the same held himselfe much iniured by the Florentines During the warre betwixt Lodouico and Carlo in Puglia new forces came from France in the fauoure of Lodouico who arriued in Toscana were by the banished men of Arezzo brought into that citie where they remoued the faction which gouerned for Carlo intending also to haue chaunged the state of Florence as they had altered Arezzo Then died Lodouico wherby the affaires of Puglia Toscana varied Fortune For Carlo assured himselfe on the kingdome which was well neare lost And the Florentines mistrusting the defence of Florence recouered Arezzo and bought it of those souldiers which kept it for Lodouico Carlo then being assured of Puglia went to take possession of Hungheria which was by inheritance descended vnto him leauing his wife in Puglia with Ladislao and Giouanna his children being but babes as hereafter shall be declared Carlo possessed Hungheria but shortly after there died For this conquest much tryumph was made in Florence and the magnificence thereof was no lesse both for publique and priuate expence then if the occasion therof had bene their owne For many families kept open feasts and the house of Alberti for pompe and magnificence exceeded the rest The expences charge of Armour that the Alberti vsed were not onely fit for priuate persons of the best degree but for the greatest Princes which gained them no small enuie Whereto adding the suspition which the state had of Benedetto was the cause of his ruine because those that gouerned could not endure him fearing euerie houre it might come to passe that through fauoure of his faction hee might recouer reputation and driue them from the citie These doubts remaining it happened that he being Gonfaloniere of companies Philippo Malagotti his sonne in lawe was chosen Gonfaloniere di Giustitia which doubled the mistrust of the Gouernours imagining that Benedetto encreased ouer fast in force and the state thereby in much perill For preuention of which inconueniences without tumult they encouraged Bese Magalotti his companion to signifie to the Senate that Philippo hauing passed his turne could not nor ought not exercise that office The cause was by the Senate examined some of them for hate some to take away occasion of slander iudged Philippo not capable of that dignitie and elected in his place Bardo Mancini a man to the plebeyan faction contrarie and mortall enemie to Benedetto In so much as hee beeing placed in office called a Balia for reformation of the state and therein confined Benedetto Alberti and admonished the rest of that family onely Antonio Alberti excepted Benedetto being readie to depart called vnto him all his friendes and seeing them sad said you see my good fathers and Lords in what sort Fortune hath oppressed me and threatned you whereof I maruell not neither ought you to maruell Because it euer commeth to passe that who so euer will be good among many euil or doth seek to hold vp that which many labour to pull downe must of force perish The loue of my Countrey made me to ioyne with Saluestro di Medici and after to depart from Georgio Scali The same did likewise perswade me to hate the maners of those that now gouerne who as they haue not had any to punish them so do they desire that none should finde fault with them For my part I am content with my banishment to acquite them of that feare which they had not of me onely but of euerie other man that knoweth their tyrannous and wicked dealings My punishment therefore doth threaten others of my selfe I take no pitie for those honors which my country being free hath giuen me now brought vnto seruitude cannot take from mee And the memorie of my passed life shall alwaies more comfort mee then mine hard fortune which brought mine exile shall discourage me It greeueth me much that my country should become a spoile for a fewe and be subiect to their pride and couetousnesse I am also right sorie to thinke that those euils which now ende in me will begin in you And I feare least those miseries wil persecute you with more hinderance then they haue persecuted me I would therefore counsell you to prepare your mindes against all misfortunes and beare your selues so as what aduersitie so euer happen for many will happen euery man may know you are faultlesse that without your guilt they be hapned After this leaue taken to giue as great a testimonie of his bountie abroad as hee had done in Florence he trauelled to the Sepulchre of Christ from whence returning in the Ile of Roda hee died His boanes were brought to Florence and therewith great honour buried by those who in his life with all slaunder and iniurie did molest him During these troubles the house of Alberti was not onely oppressed but many other Citizens also admonished and confined Among whom were Piero Benini Mattheo Alderotti Giouanni and Francesco del Bene Giouanni Benci Andrea Adimari and with them a great number of the lesse mysteries Among the admonished were the Couoni the Benini the Rinucci the Formiconi the Corbozi the
he did not with sword in hand rather die honourably then among his victorious enemies liue dishonored These that were banished sought by sundrie meanes to recouer the Citie they had lost Yet Agnolo Acciaiuoli being at Naples before hee attempted any thing thought good to feele the disposition of Piero and what hope remained of reconciliation writing vnto him as followeth I smile to see what sports fortune doth make her self and how at her pleasure she frameth of foes friends and of friends foes You can remember that at the banishment of your father esteeming more his iniury then mine own danger I lost my country was like to haue also lost my life Neither in al his time did I euer omit to honor and fauour your house nor after his death haue had any intent to offend you True it is that your own vnhealthie disposition the tender yeares of your children brought me into such feare as I thought it behoued me to take order that after your death our countrey should not be ruined For which cōsideratiō I haue done diuers things not against you but for the good of my country Wherein if I haue committed error the same ought be for my good intent and passed seruice pardoned Neither can I beleeue other but that in respect of ancient loue to your house I shal at this occasiō find mercy my manifold merits shal not be by one onely fault cancelled Piero hauing perused this letter aunswered thus Your laughing there you are is the occasion that I weep not here where I am for if you had laughed at Florence I should haue wept at Naples I denie not your well deseruing of my father sith your self wil confesse to haue tasted his liberalitie and by how much that deedes be esteemed aboue words by so much your obligation is more thē ours You then recompenced for your good may not maruell though for your euil you receiue deserued punishmēt Let not the loue of your country excuse you sith there is no man beleeueth that this citie hath bin lesse loued profitted by the Medici thē the Acciaiuoli I do therfore wish you with dishonor to remain there sith here in honor you knew not how to lead your life Agnolo thus dispairing of pardon went to Rome there conferred with the Archbishop other banished men of the mean wherby they might take reputation frō the house of Medici which Piero with difficultie notwithstanding the aide of his friendes could preuent Diotisalui and Nicholo Soderini likewise practised to make the Senate of Venice enemie to their countrey thinking thereby that if with anie new warre the Florentines were assailed the gouernment being new and hated they should not be able to defend themselues In those daies Giouan Francesco the sonne of Palla Strozzi liued in Farrara and had bene togither with his father banished in the alteration of the state the yeare 34. This Giouanni had great credit and was holden amongst other merchants a man of great riches The newe Rebelles declared vnto him the great facilitie they found to recouer their countrey if the Venetians would take the enterprise in hand which he thought they would be easily perswaded vnto if part of their charges might be borne Giouan Francesco who desired to reuenge himselfe of the iniuries receiued easily gaue credite to their counsaile and promised with all his wealth to furnish the enterprise Then went they all togither vnto the Duke complaining of the exile whereinto they saide themselues were fallen not for anie other fault but because they desired that their countrey might be gouerned with the lawes thereof and that the Magistrates and not a fewe others should be honoured For Piero de Medici with others his followers accustomed to liue tyrannically had by deceit taken armes and by deceit caused them to disarme themselues and afterwards by deceit expulsed them out of their Citie Neither were they so content but they would also therein pretend deuotion to God and by that colour oppresse others For at the assemblie of the Citizens and at publike and sacred ceremonies to the intent God should be partaker of their treasons they apprehended imprisoned and slewe manie Cittizens which was an example of great impietie and wickednesse For reuenge wherof they knew not whither to resort with more hope then to that Senate which hauing euer liued free could not but take compassion of those who had lost their liberties Then they perswaded all men that loued libertie to detest tirants those that were godly to abhorre impious people Putting them in mind that the house of Medici had taken from them the dominiō of Lombardy at such time as Cosimo without consent of the other citizens the Senate fauoured aided Francesco So that though they had no compassion of the Florentines yet the reuēge of the iniuries done to the Venetiās ought to moue thē These last words moued all the Senat to determine that Bartolomeo Coglione their General shuld assault the dominiō of Florence He with all speed possible assembled the army with him ioyned Hercole Este sent by Borso Marquesse of Farrara They at the first entrie the Florentines not being prepared burnt the Towne of Dauadola and spoyled some other places in the countrey thereabout But the Florentines hauing driuen out all the enemies to Piero made league with Galiazzo Duke of Milan and with the King Ferrando Then they enterteined Federigo Earle of Vrbino for their Generall and founde themselues so friended as they feared little the force of their enemies For Ferrando sent thither Alfonso his eldest sonne and Duke Galiazzo came in person either of them leading a conuenient number and they altogither made head at Castracaro a Castle belonging to the Florentines builded at the foot of those Alpes wherby men passe from Toscana to Romagna In the meane time the enemies were retired towards Imola and so between the one and the other army according to the custome of those daies some light skirmishes happened but no townes by either of them besieged nor any disposition in either of them to fight with their enemie but euerie man remaining within his Tent continued the wars with great cowardice This maner of proceedings greatly offended the Gouernors in Florence finding themselues charged by a warre wherein they spent much and could hope for litle And the Magistrates complained of those Cittizens who were made Commissaries in that enterprise They answered that Duke Galiazzo was occasion thereof for hee hauing most authoritie and least experience knewe not what was profitable nor would not beleeue others of more skill and that it was impossible so long as hee remained in the armie that anie thing should be done with honour and commoditie Wherefore the Florentines saide vnto the Duke albeit for their profit it was best he should be personally in their aide because the reputation of his presence was the fittest meane to terrifie the enemie notwithstanding for that they
follow the Councell of the Pope now they were inforced to pray his aide letting him vnderstand that Carlo was come to disunite and not to vnite the Citie Then the Pope sent againe his Legate Mattheo d'Acqua Sparta who perswaded a peace betweene the Circhi and the Donati confirming the same with new alliances and marriages Hee also laboured that the Bianchi might bee partakers of the Offices in gouernment whereto the Neri mistrusting the state should receiue thereby some hinderance would not consent The Legate thereuppon grew offended and departed from thence as discontented as hee had bene the time before leauing the Cittie disobedient and cursed Thus remained the one and the other part euill satisfied The Neri seeing their aduersaries at hand feared least with their ruine they should recouer the authoritie by them lost And the Bianchi seeing themselues depriued of authoritie and honour therewith being had in disdaine and suspition were offered new iniuries Nicholo de Circhi accompanied with diuerse his friendes and going towards his possessions passing the bridge Affrico was there assaulted by Simone sonne of Corso Donati This conflict was great and of either side verie bloodie for Nicholo was slaine and Simone so hurt as the next night hee died This chaunce troubled all the Cittie anew and albeit the part Nera was therein most culpable yet by those that gouerned they were defended Also before iudgement giuen was discouered that the Bianchi had entered a conspiracie with Pietro Feranti a Barron belonging to Carlo In which treason they practised to place themselues againe in the gouernment This matter came to light by Letters which the Circhi had written to the Barron yet some men held opinion that those Letters were not true but forged by the Donati to shadowe the infamie that by the death of Nicholo they had incurred Thereuppon all the Circhi were confined with all their followers of the parte Biancha amongest whome was Dante the Poet. Their goods were solde and their houses razed These banished men ioyned with many Ghibilini disposed them selues into manie places and hoping with new trauailes and troubles to finde new fortune and Carlo hauing done that in Florence for which hee came departed and returned to the Pope to go on his enterprise of Sicilia wherein hee shewed himselfe no wiser nor better then hee was in Florence So that with the losse of many of his hee returned into Fraunce dishonoured After the departure of Carlo the Cittie continued quiet Corso onely was enclined to trouble because hee thought himselfe not in that authoritie that hee ought to bee but sawe the gouernment in the hands of populer men farre his inferiours Hee then mooued with these passions thought to performe a dishonest intent by an honest occasion slaundering manie Cittizens who had the custodie of the publique treasure saying that they had imployed the same to their priuate commodities and therefore it were well done to examine their dooings and punish them for the same This his euill opinion was allowed by manie that were men of the like disposition with whome also manie others through ignorance ioyned because they thought Corso had beene indeede mooued thereunto with the loue of his Country On the other side the Cittizens slaundered hauing loue borne them of the people defended themselues In so much as this diuersitie of opinions after ciuill disputation brought them to Armes On the one part was Corso Donati and Lottieri Bishoppe of Florence with manie great men and some Commoners On the other part was the Senate with the greater number of the people so that the moste part of the Cittizens did fight The Senators seeing the daunger wherein they were to bee great prayed aide of the Lucchesi and suddeinly all the people of Lucca were in Florence by whose authoritie for that time all thinges were composed These tumultes appeased and asswaged the people continued in their authoritie and the libertie preserued without any other punishment of him that mooued the slaunder The Pope vnderstanding the troubles of Florence to pacifie the same sent thither his Legate called Nicholao de Prato who beeing a man for degree learning and good behauiour greatlie reputed obteyned easily so much fauour as to haue authoritie to dispose of the state as himselfe thought good and for that hee was in faction a Ghibilin hee intended to call home those that were banished yet first thought good to win fauour of the people To that end he renued the auncient companies which greatly strengthened him and weakened the Nobilitie The Legate then perswaded that the people were become all his practised to call home those that had bene banished For the compassing whereof he proued many meanes which did not onely take euill successe but also made himselfe thereby so much suspected among those that gouerned as he was therby enforced to depart and returne home to the Pope leauing Florence full of confusion and excommunicate In the citie at that time remained not only one humour but many to the disturbance thereof being there in the displeasure betwixt the people and the Nobilitie the Ghibilini and the Guelfi the Bianchi and Neri All the citie tooke Armes because many Cittizens who desired the returne of the banished men were euill content with the Legates departure The chiefe of those that moued the quarrell were the Medici and Guigni who togither with the Legate were discouered to fauour the Rebels In sundrie parts of the citie the people fought To which disorder there happened a fire first in Orto Sante Michele at the houses of the Abati from whence it passed to the houses of the Caponsacci and burnt them with the houses of Mazzi Amieri Toschi Cipriani Lamberti and Caualcanti and all the new market From thence it passed to the gate of S. Maria and burnt all that returning about Ponte Vecchio and consumed the houses of Gherardini Pulci Amidei and Luccardesi with many others that the number amounted to 1700. or more Some were of opinion that this fire happened by chance in the fury of the conflict Others affirme that one Neri Abbati Prior of S. Pietro Scaragio a man dissolute and desirous of mischiefe kindled the same For seeing euerie man occupied in the conflict knew he might do that displeasure which no other could remedie And to the end it might the rather haue successe hee set fire in the houses of his owne companions It was the yeare 1304. in the moneth of Iuly when the citie of Florence was with fire and sword in this sort afflicted Corso Donati was hee that of all others in these tumults armed not himselfe because hee hoped the rather to be Iudge and Vmpire betwixt the parties when being weary of fight they should be content to be perswaded Notwithstanding weapons were laide downe rather for very wearinesse and necessitie then through any pacification or perswasion of peace For this onely followed thereof that the Rebels should not returne and the faction that fauoured them remained with
and within a few daies after his arriuall the Castle was yeelded The winter now come the Captaines liked not to proceed further in the warre but attend the Spring and the rather bicause the Autumne past by meanes of euill aires sicknes was brought into the Camp wherewith many of the Captaines and leaders were diseased Among whome Antonio Pucci and Bongianni Gianfigliazzi were not onely sick but also dead to the great griefe of all the army so great was the honor and loue that Pucci had wonne in the exploite of Pietrasanta After the taking of Pietrasanta the Lucchesi sent Embassadors to Florence to demaund that towne as a thing belonging to their common-weale For they alleaged that among other things it was contracted betwixt them that the towne first wonne by any of them should be restored to the auncient owner The Florentines directlie denied not that couenant but answered that they doubted whether in the peace made betwixt them and the Genouesi it was meant the towne to be deliuered and therefore they could not till then determine and if it were restored then the Lucchesi ought of necessitie to pay the charge and make satisfaction for the losse of so many great Citizens which if they would do they might hope to haue it againe All that winter was spent in the communication of this peace betwixt the Genouesi and the Florentines And by reason the Pope was a doer therein the matter was handled at Rome but not being concluded the Florentines would the next Spring haue assaulted Serezana had they not bene by the sicknesse of Lorenzo di Medici and the warre which grew betwixt the Pope and the King Ferrando impeached For Lorenzo was not onely diseased of the gowt which infirmitie seemed to discend from his father but was also so grieuouslie tormented with griefe of the stomack that he went vnto the Bathes to be cured but the warre was the chiefe occasion of his sicknesse and the originall thereof The Citie of Aquila was subiect to the King of Naples yet the people therein liued as free In this Citie the Earle Montorio had great reputation The Duke of Calauria with his men of armes being neare vnto Tronto pretending to pacifie certaine tumults among the people of that countrey and intending to reduce Aquila wholie vnder the Kings obedience sent for the Earle Montorio as though he would imploy him in those matters he made shew of The Earle without suspition came and was presently by the Duke sent to Naples prisoner These newes being aduertised to Aquila altered the minde of the Cittie and the people populerly tooke armes and slewe Antonio Concinello Commissarie for the King and with him certaine other Citizens who were knowne affectionate to the King Also to the end the Aquilani might haue some friend to defend them in their rebellion they displaied the Ensigne of the Church and sent Embassadors to giue the Cittie to the Pope desiring him as his owne subiects to defend them from the tyrannie of the King The Pope manfully tooke in hand their defence as one that both for priuate and publique occasion hated the King And Roberto da Sanseuerino enemy to the State of Milan hapning to be out of pay the Pope enterteined him for Generall and caused him with great expedition to come vnto Rome and besides that sollicited all the friends and kinsmen of the Earle Montorio to become Rebels to the King in so much as the Princes of Altemura Salerno Bisignano tooke armes against him The King seeing himselfe by so sodeine a warre assaulted prayed aide of the Florentines and the Duke of Milan The Florentines stood doubtfull what to do bicause it seemed hard to leaue their owne enterprise for others and to take armes against the Church was perilous Notwithstanding being in league they preferred fidelitie before commoditie or perill and enterteined the Orsini and sent all their owne men towards Rome to the aide of the King vnder conduct of the Earle of Pitigliano Then the King made two camps and sent the one towards Rome vnder the Duke of Calauria who with the Florentines should incounter the Popes army The other camp himselfe did leade and marched toward the Barons that rebelled This warre with variable fortune was mannaged and at the end the King in all places hauing aduantage by mediation of the Embassadors of Spayne a peace was concluded in the moneth of August 1486. whereunto the Pope being beaten with euill fortune and loth to aduenture more consented Also all the Potentates of Italy were included onely the Genouesi as rebels to the State of Milan and vsurpers of the Florentines lands were left out Roberto da Sanseuerino the peace made hauing bene in this warre no faithfull friend to the Pope and nothing terrible to the enemy departed from Rome as driuen out by the Pope and being followed by the Dukes and Florentines souldiers so soone as he had passed Cesena seeing himselfe not followed fled away and with lesse then one hundred horse came to Rauenna Of the rest of his men some were receiued by the Duke and some by the countrey people were cut in pieces The King hauing made peace and reconciled his Barons put to death Giouanni Coppola and Antonello de Anuersa with his sonnes and those which had in the warre reuealed his secrets vnto the Pope By meanes of this warre the Pope knew what readinesse and care the Florentines had to keepe friendship and therefore albeit that for the loue of the Genouesi and the aiding of the King he before hated them yet now he began to loue them and shew more fauour vnto their Embassadors then he was wont Which disposition knowne to Lorenzo de Medici was by all honorable meanes increased for he thought it much for his reputation if to the fauour which the King bare him he might also ioyne the Popes friendship This Pope had one sonne called Francesco and being desirous to honor him with lands and friends wherewith he might after his death mainteine himselfe he knewe not any in Italy with whome he could more safely be matched then with Lorenzo and therefore so handled the matter that Lorenzo married a daughter of his vnto Francesco This marriage being made the Pope desired that the Genouesi might by composition deliuer Serezana to the Florentines perswading them that they should not hold that which Agostino had sold nor Agostino could giue vnto S. George that which was not his Notwithstanding this perswasion tooke no effect But the Genouesi while these matters were practising at Rome armed certaine of their Ships and before the Florentines knew any thing thereof set three thousand footmen a land and assaulted the Castle of Serezanello neare vnto Serezana belonging to the Florentines spoyling and burning the Towne which done they planted their Artillarie against the Castle and with all diligence battered the same This new assault was vnlooked for of the Florentines neuerthelesse presently they assaulted their