Anno Christi 1347 their affection to their new Master strengthened his Title by chusing him anew but after some time the Marquess perceiving how Visconti and Gonzaga both lay in wait for it how uneasie a thing it would be for him to keep it there being no Communication betwixt this and his other Cities and how at best he must resolve to entail a War upon his Posterity with these Princes was perswaded to part with it upon the same terms that he bought it Opizo past the rest of his time in great tranquillity and having out-lived all his Brothers left at his death seven Sons very young this encouraged his Nephew Francis that was supported by Visconti whose Niece he had married to make an attempt upon Ferrara but Aldobrandin the second though he was not then above seventeen years of age and had none of his Family fit to advise him yet behaved himself so well and found the Nobility so faithfull that Francis seeing no likelihood of compassing what he designed retired to Milan and never afterwards offered to give him the least disturbance The Wars betwixt the Republicks of Venice and Genoua engaged most of the Princes of Lombardy in their quarrel Visconti declared for Genoua and contributed largely towards the charge Aldobrandin Scaliger and Carrara of Padoua were for the Venetians Visconti not knowing well how to come at the Venetians resolved to set upon their Confederates and by the help of Bologna laid siege to Modena which was looked upon as the easiest enterprize but young Aldobrandin with thirty thousand Anno Christi 1356 men entering into Visconti's Territories call'd him home to defend his own Countrey before he could take the City His grief for being thus treated by so young a Captain hastened his death and soon after him died Aldobrandin the most hopefull Prince of Italy being but in the flower of his age When Nicolaus Aldobrandin's younger Brother found Barnabas Visconti like to be as troublesome as his Father he offered to the Legate of Bologna to Gonzaga to Scaliger whose Daughter he married to concur in keeping a standing Army as the best expedient to bridle his ambition by which Barnabas was so highly provoked that the first thing he undertook was to invade the Marquesses Countrey Nicolaus having secret advice of his design made himself ready and gave Barnabas such a brisk reception that many of his men being killed and several of the Nobility of Milan taken prisoners he with the rest made a shamefull retreat Barnabas then seemed willing to hearken to a Peace offering to refer all their differences to the Emperour Charles the fourth nor could he have wished for a more favourable Umpire than him whose Grand-father had first set up the Visconti at Milan who had himself made his Father Visconti Vicar of Italy and who had lately expressed great kindness for himself yet upon second thoughts Barnabas concluded it not so well for him to make Peace with Nicolaus till his lost honour were in some measure repaired which made him prepare another Army against the Marquess but the Emperour taking it ill to have the business first referred to him and then to have Barnabas think of revenging himself deprived him of the Title of Vicar and of all other Imperial Priviledges forbidding any of the Vassals of the Anno Christi 1365 Empire to assist or countenance him Barnabas to wave this storm accepted of what terms were proposed him This Peace it was hoped might have lasted a long time but Barnabas still in his heart hated Nicolaus as the occasion of the Emperours being displeased with him and Nicolaus could never be well reconciled to Barnabas while he kept Regio which of right belonged to him so that no wonder if both parties watched only for an opportunity of falling out After many and great disputes too tedious to be set down Nicolaus recovered Regio that had long been Anno Christi 1374 out of the Family and then was he contented to stand upon his own defence The most he did was to ballance all Parties when either of them grew too strong but he chiefly employed himself in deciding their differences by which he got a great Name and never wanted business the Venetians and Carrara of Padoua the Cities of Bologna and Florence with several others freely submitted themselves to his arbitration When Nicolaus had spent many years in this desirable station Galleazo Visconti fell upon the Scaligers chased away the Father killed the Son and took Verona It troubled Nicolaus to see the Family out of which he had married a Wife ruined in an instant and to see Visconti for whom of all other he had the least kindness so great a gainer by it he solicited hotly the Princes and Free Cities of Lombardy to take Arms against Galleazo and brought them almost to a resolution but his sudden Anno Christi 1387 death and the fate of the House of Scaliger made all endeavours to save it ineffectual Nicolaus left but one Son who entering into a Religious Order resigned all to his Cousin Albertus Galleazo was now too great for Albertus to oppose w ch made him side with Galleazo that so if he got nothing by the ruine of Scaliger he might at least save himself that was most likely to suffer next This League they termed everlasting though as the motives upon which it was made seemed to promise no such thing so neither did it prove such in the issue for as soon as Galleazo was engaged in a War with Florence his new Subjects of Verona and Padoua revolted and threatened to fall upon the Marquess unless he would joyn with them Albertus being afterwards at leisure founded the University of Ferrara whither his bounty drew some of the chief Professors in all Arts and Sciences amongst others Salicetus that most famed Civilian but when he thought to have dedicated the rest of his time and no small part of his Revenue to the Muses his sudden death deprived the Learned of the best Patron of that age By his Will he recommended his Son Nicolaus being yet a Child to the tuition and care of the chief Families of Ferrara ordering that by turns they should have the administration of Affairs till he came of age that so all having some share in the Government they might the more heartily espouse their young Princes interest Most thought it a thing not practicable for so many persons sometimes to sit at the Helm and then to return to their private stations and to own the Superiority of those whom they had lately commanded But for several years this course did wonderfully succeed none while in Authority shewing any other ambition than that of discharging their trust faithfully and in compliance to the Orders left by Albertus giving up their Commissions at the time limited with the same chearfulness that at first they received them During the Princes minority Azo the Son of Francis and a Grand-child of the Family of Visconti did by open
Dukes Interest at that Court yet to no effect for when Charles the fifth came to Bologna the Duke did fully satisfie him of the Justice of his proceedings with Clement and the Popes pretensions upon Modena with the Anno Christi 1530 Dukes Title being referr'd by both parties to the Emperour sentence was afterwards past in the Dukes favour and Orders sent to the Imperial Governour there to deliver him up the City much to the grief of Clement who taxed the Emperour with great partiality for one of the justest decisions that ever Prince made Some time after the restitution of Modena the Princess Renata was brought to bed of Alphonsus the second the fifth and last Duke of Ferrara and Clement the seventh died who had made it the whole business of his reign to create himself and others trouble in heaping up riches for the House of Medici Upon the Election of Paul the third Prince Hercules designed to go in person to complement him but while things were preparing for his journey the Duke his Father fell ill and died Alphonsus was a just and a valiant Prince He had been hardly dealt with by three several Popes Iulius the second Leo the tenth and Clement the seventh Yet neither threatnings nor promises could ever make him break his word or abandon the French though this constancy was several times like to have cost him his Dutchy In all his troubles he countenanced men that were Eminent in any profession and none more than his Subject and Citizen the great Ariosto who at the Dukes instance was by Charles the fifth solemnly Crowned with Bayes at Mantoua as a second Virgil for his Orlando Furioso Before his death he dis-intangled himself from all his troubles and left things in good order to Hercules the second having likewise provided the Sons of the last Dutchess with large Revenues and independent Jurisdictions CHAP. XIII The Life of Hercules the second the fourth Duke of Ferrara HErcules considering how welcome an Ambassador he had been from his Father to Adrian the sixth resolved still to pay that respect in person to Paul the third which he was to have done in his Fathers name When he came to Rome the Pope received him with much kindness absolved him and his Territories from all manner of Censures renounced what pretensions the late Popes made to Modena and granted him the Investiture of the Dutchy of Ferrara from thence he went to Naples to see the Emperour and to thank him for the Justice done in his Fathers differences with Clement at his return he found his Dutchess safely delivered of a young Princess named Lucretia who afterwards married the brave Francis Maria Duke of Vrbin and the next year she brought him a second Son called Lewis after his Grandfather the King of France Amidst all these blessings he narrowly escaped being assasinated by a Gentleman of his Court who had of late born him a grudge the design being discovered the Gentleman fled to Venice where by the Senates Order he was taken put in chains and sent to Ferrara to be beheaded for his villanous intention but the Duke in remembrance of their ancient friendship remitted the punishment being satisfied only to secure himself by condemning the Criminal to a perpetual imprisonment His Brother Hippolytus being already Arch-bishop of Milan and one of the richest Abbots of France had a Cardinals Cap given him his promotion was welcome to those that remembred the late Cardinal his Uncle so celebrated in the Court of Rome for his profuse liberality nor did the Nephew disappoint their expectations Anno Christi 1540 for as in riches he was equal to the former so was he also in that greatness of mind which put no restraint to his bounty And as his Uncles Palace had been in Leo the tenth Adrian the sixth and Clement the seventh's reigns so now his was the sanctuary of all distressed Gentlemen and poor Virtuoso's And to compleat the parallel the same imputation lay upon both of having no deep impressions of Religion for that cursed leaven of Atheism that poisoned Leo the tenth's Court had not a little infected these two Princes whose irreverent and light expressions in matters of the highest importance are not yet forgot The Duke behav'd himself much better in making rigid Laws against all such as were convicted of blasphemous words or of scoffing at things sacred proposing rewards to the discoverers The Pope going to Parma to put his Son Peter in possession of that Dutchy came to visit the Duke at Ferrara where nothing was left undone that could express his respect towards a Pope who had shewed so much kindness to the Family I have seen a long description of the manner of his Reception of his Entertainment of the Balls and Comedies acted by the young Princes and the Chief Ladies of the Court with the mutual presents that past at their departure which though in themselves truly great yet can have no place in so compendious a relation That which seems more remarkable is the honour the Duke did to Alphonsus his younger Brother by his Fathers last Dutchess who being married to the Duke of Vrbin's Sister the Duke with a great part of his Court accompanied him to Pesaro to bring home his Princess and she was received at Ferrara as if she had been his own Dutchess Paul being dead and Julius the third chosen in several places of Italy they discovered some inclinations to the Reformed Religion and no where more than at the Court of Anno Christi 1550 Ferrara especially among those who attended on the Dutchess and there were shrewd suspicions that the Dutchess did inwardly favour that perswasion for professing her self a great lover of Learned Men and all such being welcome to her under this mask several Eminent Protestants among the rest Calvin had free access and opportunity to confirm her in her favourable Opinion of them the Duke being informed of these things was advised to bring in the Jesuits who then began to have a vogue for their zeal and subtilty in supporting the declining Religion and no sooner were they setled but great alterations followed at Court the former freedom in Conversation could no longer be allow'd the French servants were on a sudden dismist strangers were forbid coming thither the poor Dutchess was confined to a few rooms in the Castle and had new Servants put about her and the young Princesses as if in great danger with their Mother were sent to a Monastery there to be instructed anew by the Nuns who were to receive directions from these good Fathers After Julius the third Paul the fourth whom Hippolytus by his Interest advanced falling out with Philip the second of Spain engaged France in his quarrel the Duke of Ferrara was declared General of the French Arms in Italy as likewise of the Church but he declining the Employment it was given to his Son Alphonsus who was well known at the Court of France and high in the
settlement of the Imperial Crown upon Otho the first p. 22 CHAP. IV. The most Remarkable Actions of the Counts of Esté from Otho the Great to Henry the third p. 41 CHAP. V. The most material passages of the Life of Azo the fifth and of Matildis Countess of Esté p. 58 CHAP. VI. An Account of what past as well in the German as in the Italian branch of the Family from the death of Matildis till Otho of Esté Duke of Brunswick was chosen Emperour p. 87 CHAP. VII The irreconcilable differences of the Guelphs and Gibellins with the Marquess of Esté's getting Ferrara and the death of the most infamous Tyrant Actiolin and of his Brother Albericus p. 118 CHAP. VIII A continuation of the differences betwixt the Guelphs and Gibellins until the death of Rinaldus the second p. 141 CHAP. IX A brief account of what past in Lombardy from Opizo's advancement till that of Borsius the first Duke of Ferrara and of the Council held at Ferrara to unite the Greek and Latine Churches under Eugenius the fourth with several other memorable transactions p. 161 CHAP. X. The Life of Borsius the first Duke of Ferrara and Modena p. 189 CHAP. XI The Life of Hercules the first the second Duke of Ferrara c. p. 201 CHAP. XII The Life of Alphonsus the first the third Duke of Ferrara p. 213 CHAP. XIII The Life of Hercules the second the fourth Duke of Ferrara p. 226 CHAP. XIV The Life of Alphonsus the second the fifth and last Duke of Ferrara p. 233 CHAP. XV. The pretended devolution of the Dutchy of Ferrara Clement the Eights manner of proceeding with Duke Caesar and his retirement to Modena p. 247 Ristretto delle Ragioni che la Serenissima Casa d'Esté c. p. 267 An Abstract of the Rights of the most Serene House of Esté against the Apostolical Chamber in the time of Urban the 8 th by which it will appear that Clement the Eights pretence for seizing upon Duke Caesars Territories was most weak and unreasonable p. 279 ERRATA PAge 26. line 1. read could have been p. 35. l. 19. r. Gisela p. 43. l. 8. r. Otho p. 44. l. 8. r. Almericus p. 47. l. 23. r. form'd so strong p. 75. l. 18. r. afterwards have enjoy'd p. 93. l. 22. for and r. while p. 96. l. 1. r. affecting p. 103. l. 21. r. he having p. 104. l. 22. for standing r. stood p. 111. l. 19. r. to declare for p. 124. l. 4. r. but that the p. 124. l. 5. r. should not p. 127. l. 28. r. his own ruine p. 128. l. 8. r. Legat and Count Boniface p. 129. l. 4. r. Marquess p. 132. l. 17. r. to form p. 138. l. 23. r. but being p. 139. l. 20. for that r. until l. 26. after injured r. was so great that p. 139. l. 25. r. done to satisfie the vengeance p. 160. l. 10. r. this as necessary to p. 165. l. 25. for himself r. him p. 168. l. 4. r. who was p. 170. l. 13. r. Belluno p. 170. l. 23. for coming r. came p. 170. l. 25. r. and turned p. 170. l. 26. for and put r. putting p. 173. l. 17. r. Sforza p. 184. l. 9. r. Saluzzo's p. 191. l. 25. r. sate upon p. 192. l. 1. r. who were placed p. 200. l. 3. r. sick persons p. 207. l. 23. r. King at Alexandria p. 209. l. 25. r. Francis Rangoni p. 214. l. 18. r. so prevented p. 246. l. 14. after Court put a full point l. 18. after Court dele p. 258. l. 26. for decreed r. desired THE HISTORY OF THE House of Esté CHAP. I. The rise of the House of Esté and the share it bore in the great Occurrences of Italy during the Invasions of the Huns Vandals Alains Herules and Ostrogoths NEAR the Euganean Hills betwixt Verona and Padoua lyes Esté a place of some account with the Romans but better known since their times for giving the denomination to the most illustrious Family of which I am now to treat The Atii if we give credit to antient Records retired from Rome while yet a Republick and setling here laid the foundation of their future Greatness under the Emperours long before the barbarous Nations attempted the Conquest of Italy But lest by going too far back we be apt to mistake the way where so few footsteps remain to direct us I shall begin only about the middle of the fifth Century whence the prospect downward is clearer and do judge this sufficient to assert the antiquity of the House of Esté without borrowing the help of doubtful conjectures to raise it higher Anno Christi 452 The News of Atila's March towards Italy made those who were most in danger think of putting themselves in some posture of defence and the general rendezvous being appointed at Padoua the first man that appeared there with any considerable Train was Forestus of Esté whose forwardness we find rewarded with the Command of the Forces sent to relieve Aquileia In his March thither he put sixteen thousand Huns to flight by whom Atila having notice of his approach and guessing at his Design did what he could to prevent him But Forestus animated by his former success forced his passage through some part of the Army and got safe into the City with the choicest of his Troops His courage and vigilance at first disappointed Atila in all his attempts till in a Sally by the treachery of some of his Souldiers he was drawn into an ambush where it is believed he fell by Atila's own hand His Son Acarinus equally concerned to defend his Countrey and revenge Forestus's death brought such supplies to the besieged as help'd to delay the Fate of the City but famine and the Besiegers obstinacy cutting off at length all hopes of deliverance after a long and vigorous resistance they retired by night to Grado where they were scarce well arrived when the flames began to appear that in a few hours buried Aquileia in its Ashes as a lasting Monument of Atila's cruelty The next place of importance after Aquileia was Altinum built upon the Brink of the Adriatick which Atila presently gave order to block up yet his great expedition could not keep Acarinus from supplying it with men and provision nor from going thither in person to see that nothing were wanting for its defence but finding all endeavours prove ineffectual he got together what Boats and Shallops the neighbouring Villages afforded and conveyed the Inhabitants safe to the Islands of Boran Mazorbo and Torcello leaving the bare Walls to the mercy of the Conquerour who treated Altinum as he had done Aquileia Those of Treviso Padoua and Vicenza not willing to trust Atila's clemency nor yet in a condition to resist him were advised by Acarinus to shelter themselves at Malamoco and several other little Islands near enough to be furnished with necessaries from the Land and yet secure from the Huns attacks and he himself perceiving how
took their Husbands upon their backs declaring as they past through the Camp that these were the only Jewels they desired to secure from Conrard and his Army this generous act of the Princess and her Ladies did so surprize and please the Emperour that he would see his word made good and thereupon not only pardon'd but was reconciled to Gwelfo giving him back some part of his Brothers inheritance Gwelfo afterwards accompanied Conrard in his expedition to the Holy Land which the treachery of the Greeks rendered insuccessfull at his return he made ready an Army to go into Italy to receive the Imperial Crown and designed to carry Gwelfo with him of whose company he seem'd to be very fond because he durst not leave him behind but his journey being put off by his sickness he lived not to receive that honour and though he left a Son yet his Nephew Frederick Barbarossa succeeded him Frederick's first work was to cement all the breaches of Germany which he did with so much equity and discretion that he gave satisfaction to all parties His Mother was of the House of Bavaria and this made him willing to restore that Dutchy to the Son of Henry and to his Uncle Gwelfo he gave all that the Emperours had recovered of Matildis Estate which I confess was a doing right in some measure to the house of Esté but not to that part of it that had suffered most by her This brings us back to Italy which we shall now find the chief Scene of Affairs and Rinaldus of Esté of age to be the chief Actor for whose sake we must give a more particular account of things as they then stood when Frederick came thither The long absence of an Emperour had brought Affairs into great disorder especially in Lombardy where every City form'd it self into a sort of Republick and dissensions naturally arising betwixt them there was no person that had either Authority to determine their differences or power to see his determinations received The City of Milan affected the Dominion over all the rest had already made some submit and was every day encroaching upon others with an insupportable insolence Many complaints were brought to the Emperour from most of the neighbour Cities declaring that they must submit to the Queen of Lombardy for so Milan stiled her self unless they had his protection The Emperour promised to make what hast he could towards them and to put an end to all their quarrels When he came to the Lago di Garda near Verona he received the complements of the Italian Princes amongst others were Boniface Fulco Opizo and Albertus of Esté his Kinsmen by his Mother who had all conferred on them special marks of his favour But we find nothing of Rinaldus the Chief of the Family who it is thought absented himself being highly disgusted that Matildis Estate should be setled by Frederick upon the German Line The Emperour having rebuked those of Milan and Tortona for their late carriage and required them to make reparation for the injuries done their neighbours went towards Rome and being Anno Christi 1155 Crowned Emperour by Adrian the fourth he returned into Germany Fresh troubles in Italy called him soon back but as his presence converted all their Rebellion into Humility and Duty so his being reconciled upon too easie terms to Milan and Brescia the authors of discord encouraged them to renew their practices when he was gone and for Adrian if we honour him for his Countrey as being of our neighbour-nation of England we must condemn him for his malice against this great Emperour in fomenting their Rebellion When Frederick came to Italy the third time Milan and Brescia had several other Towns joyn'd to them and stood out a long siege yet before he left them they were made to accept of what conditions he pleased to impose which yet were much more gentle than they especially Milan did deserve after having twice abused his clemency About this time Adrian the fourth dying the Election of two Popes Alexander the third and Victor the fourth occasioned a new Schism more dangerous than any of the former both writ to the Emperour then besieging Crema to confirm their Election but he out of pure zeal for the peace of the Church refusing to declare for either called a Council at Pavia where they were summoned to appear to have their Cause heard and determined by their Brethren the Bishops Victor came thither at the day appointed but Alexander continued at Rome whereupon the Council offended at his contempt and judging his not appearance to flow from a diffidence in his Cause gave it in favour of Victor whom the Emperour did then confirm and sent Letters to the Kings of France England and Spain to give an account of what was there concluded Alexander was excommunicated by Victor at Pavia Frederick and Victor by Alexander at Rome and the parties being now irreconcilable Alexander sent a Legat to those of Milan to declare them absolved from the Oaths they had lately sworn and not obliged to make good the Articles which necessity had extorted from them Milan and the Confederate Cities took Arms immediately and resolving to carry on a formed War against the Emperour invited Rinaldus Marquess of Esté to be their General who thinking himself injured and neglected by Frederick did too readily undertake the Patronage of so unjust a Cause The Emperour judging his Army too weak to deal with so many gave order for New Levies in Germany which were finished and sent with great expedition to Italy the Kings likewise of Bohemia Denmark and Norway came in person to his assistance with their choicest troops so that when all his forces were united he had no less than seventy thousand Foot and forty thousand Horse the Confederates likewise had made great preparations Rinaldus of Esté their General brought six thousand Foot and four thousand Horse Brescia Bergamo Piacenza Verona Vicenza Padoua and Bologna sent the numbers agreed on the general review was made at Milan where according to most of the Italian Writers they were fifty thousand men well armed the very first night the Emperour sate down before Milan Rinaldus ordered a sally at four several gates which put the Imperial Army into such confusion that the enemy was like to have dispossest them of their Camp Rinaldus perceiving the Confederate Army to dwindle away insensibly partly by Famine and partly by Sickness occasion'd by their being shut up so close in the hottest season of the year called a Council of War where it was resolved That all should be in readiness next morning to bring the business to an issue the whole Army being accordingly assembled in the great Market place Rinaldus led them out into the Imperial Camp a little before noon where falling in upon the Danes and Norvegians that were secure and unfit for action by reason of the great heat he did so great execution that no perswasion could make them continue
occasion to express it One day it happened that the Governour in his anger gave a blow to a Gentleman of Ferrara of which he died whereupon in an instant all were in Arms and he with the Garrison with much ado got to the Castle which was ill provided to hold out long The news came immediately to Rovigo where Azo the Son of Francis and his Cousin German Rinaldus Aldobrandin's Son then lived who while they were resolving with their friends what course to take a solemn invitation from the City of Ferrara removed the fears of their not being welcome and determined them in their resolutions so that they began their journey thither next morning Upon advice of their approach all besides those who were actually employed in the siege of the Castle went out to meet them accompanying them first to the Church then to the Palace without the least disturbance the Garrison in a day or two came to capitulate and were dismist with their Governour and the City in a gratefull remembrance of so unexpected a delivery kept every fifth of August a day of Thanksgiving so long as there was a Marquess or Duke of Anno Christi 1317 Ferrara The joy for the Princes Restauration was doubly allay'd first by the death of Azo to whom Rinaldus Aldobrandin's Son succeeded then by the Popes procedure which could not have been more violent if Rinaldus had been accessary to his Uncles death whom the Legate murdered or had been guilty of Usurpation in accepting his own he was presently excommunicated and his Subjects commanded in thirty dayes under the like pain to cast off Rinaldus and his Ministers and receive the Popes But neither in Prince nor People did the Pope meet with that compliance he expected for Rinaldus could not be so easily frighted from what he was sure he had so good a right to and the Citizens instead of rejecting him did by an humble Address entreat him that he would not abandon nor give them up who had been so faithfull to his Ancestors and so ready to shake off the Churches yoke to return to their Allegiance assuring him that no threats nor allurements should ever debauch them from their Duty to their Natural Prince Immediately Ambassadors were dispatched to their Neighbours with an account of the Popes dealings and the resolutions of Rinaldus and Galleazo of Milan Canis Scaliger of Verona with the great Castrucius of Luca and the banished Florentins enter into a League for the defence of the Marquess of Ferrara in case the Pope should proceed any further in his unjust pretences But after many attempts for several years to little purpose the Pope took off the sentence which he had so rashly and unjustly pronounced against Rinaldus and confirmed whatever was done at Ferrara during the interdict Anno Christi 1327 A short time discovered the Popes Peace with the Marquess of Ferrara and his Brothers was intended only to disarm them that so he might the better fall upon the City In order to it the Legate of Bologna made great preparations and notice being given to the adjacent places of Romagna to be in readiness the whole business was carried on so closely that the Legate invested Ferrara with an Army of thirty thousand men before the Marquess suspected his design Every Gentleman of Ferrara shewed as much concern as the Marquess could to disappoint the Pope who had so treacherously surprized them and the place though ill provided held out by this means beyond expectation till the thing being blaz'd abroad Visconti from Milan Gonzaga from Mantoua Scaliger from Verona without exception of Guelphs or Gibellins in this common danger sent Forces to relieve it The Marquess having private information of their approach went out by night leaving the place to his Brother Opizo with Order to make a Salley at such a time as he with the Confederates should advance towards the Enemies Camp which being accordingly performed the Popes Army was unexpectedly beset upon all hands and received such a total overthrow that very few escaped being killed or taken prisoners The Marquess upon his return according to the custom of that age after any signal military performance was solemnly Knighted with his Brothers by Taurisanus the most reputed Captain of the City This sort of Knighthood they judged so honourable that the greatest Princes were willing to receive it from the hands of their own Subjects an instance of this we meet with in Francis the first who thought it worth the while to send for the compleat Chevalier de Bayon one of his Generals in Italy to be Knighted by him as if he looked upon this to make him somewhat more a Gentleman than the Crown of France did Not long after died Rinaldus and Modena which he had besieged many months fell into his Brother Opizo's hands To grace his first entry upon the Government this City having deprived it self for above thirty years of the protection of the House of Esté tost from one Master to another could never find rest till it took sanctuary there again CHAP. IX A brief account of what past in Lombardy from Opizo's advancement till that of Borsius the first Duke of Ferrara and of the Council held at Ferrara to unite the Greek and Latine Churches under Eugenius the fourth with several other memorable transactions NOthing is more entertaining than the History of the ebbings and flowings of the Ruling Families of Lombardy in those dayes when any one of them grew too Great the rest combined to level it Thus it had lately fared with the Families of Esté and Visconti as I observed and now Scaliger was to have his turn being the only object of their jealousie for besides Verona he had ten more Cities under him kept five thousand Germans constantly in pay affected the Title of King of Lombardy and was grown intolerably insolent The first that began with him were the two Republicks of Venice and Florence afterwards Visconti the Marquess of Ferrara and Gonzaga agreed to enter into the League both that they might be sharers in the Conquest and thereby keep the Republicks from enriching themselves too much and likewise when they thought fit might stop the current before Scaliger were utterly ruined In a short time Scaliger lost seven of his Cities which were divided among the Conquerours But the Florentins for all their subtilty and contempt of the Lombards were outwitted by the Venetians and Visconti and had scarce enough allowed them to defray the charges of the War the Hostages for performance of the Articles of the Peace were consigned by all Parties into the hands of the Marquess who towards the latter end behaved himself more like a Mediator than an Enemy to Scaliger Azo of Correggio not being able to keep Parma sold it to Opizo and the City it self willingly came under a Prince of Esté having found it self so happy when Governed by that Family four hundred years before the people at Opizo's arrival to express
himself to the Duke of Savoy much repented him of his change but could not a-again be restored to his Countrey or to the favour of his Prince who thought himself affronted by his departure The loss of Guarini was sufficiently repaired in the great Torquato Tasso a Neapolitan born who in his distress as he himself owns found shelter at Ferrara There it was that he composed his Gierusalemme Liberata esteemed to be absolutely the best Heroick Poem of all the Moderns The happy influence a Virtuous Court has upon all near it was here apparent for the whole City resembled a great University Academics being erected for Painting Musick Poetry Mathematicks and the like in every corner the very Monasteries and Nunneries turned Seminaries of Virtue and most Citizens consulting the capacity and genius of their Children spared no charge in breeding them to what one day they hoped might advance their fortunes in the Court they little imagined this envied felicity was so near a period that Alphonsus the second was to be the last Duke of Ferrara or that the Court of Esté was to be removed to another City while they having no Prince either to reward their Virtue or redress their grievances were to be left to the mercy of Ministers that bought their places at Rome and came thither only to reimburse themselves at Ferrara's cost CHAP. XV. The pretended devolution of the Dutchy of Ferrara Clement the eighths manner of proceeding with Duke Caesar and his retirement to Modena WHen the death of Alphonsus was known at Rome it was presently given out there that the Dutchy of Ferrara came by devolution to the Pope because the present Dukes Father the Son of Alphonsus the first was not as they falsely pretended at Rome begot in lawfull wedlock nor Laura Eustochia whom we upon good grounds call Alphonsus's third Dutchess ever married to him That which gave the rise to this report was the familiarity observed betwixt the Duke and this Lady before they owned a marriage and their having been married privately without any of the formalities observed by Princes upon such occasions This Alphonsus did to humour his Son Hercules by his former Dutchess who had no kindness for the Lady Laura and therefore he gave too much way afterwards to this false report being angry likewise with her Sons his younger Brothers because his greatness was impaired by the loss of the Lands and independent Jurisdictions bestowed upon them by Alphonsus But to clear a matter of such importance and to do Justice to one of the most Illustrious Races in the world I have at the end of this History set down in Italian and English what was offered in writing to Vrban the eighth by the present Duke of Modena's Grand-father Francis the first who if he had lived was likely enough to have made good his Title to Ferrara by his Sword as well as his Pen being the stoutest Prince and greatest Captain of Italy in our age To the Dukes own words then as of unquestionable Authority I refer the Impartial Reader not doubting but they will satisfie others as much as they did my self The death of Alphonsus the second being published and the whole Magistracy Nobility and Representatives of the People being assembled the Judge of the twelve Savii after having condoled the loss of the late Duke commanded his Will to be read openly and then according to the ancient custom of that City asked them if they were not willing to have Don Caesar of Esté the Grandchild of Alphonsus the first and the Testators Cousin German for their Prince to which all did answer in the affirmative and with great acclamations of joy declared Caesar Duke of Ferrara c. Next morning in a solemn manner they came to the Palace to pay their homage to their New Duke who sitting upon a Throne in his Ducal habit received them and the Judge of the Savii kneeling before the Throne did in the name of all the rest deliver him the Sword and Scepter Then Caesar with his Ducal Crown upon his head coming out of his Palace and taking Horse in the great Piazza having the Ambassador of Florence upon his right hand and the Judge of the Savii upon his left the Marquess of Bentivoglio carrying the naked Sword before him began his Cavalcade through the City all the streets as he past ecchoing with Long live Caesar Duke of Ferrara the Cavalcade ended at the great Church where after High Mass the Judge did administer him his Coronation Oath and then Te Deum being sung he returned to his Palace The solemnity being over the Duke resolved in Council to dispatch Ambassadors to the Pope the Emperour the Kings of France and Spain to the Republicks of Venice and Genoua and to the rest of the Princes of Italy with an account of what had past For these Embassies the Chief of the Nobility were designed but afterwards he found his mistake too late when that to complement foreign Princes he deprived himself of those persons who for their Loyalty and Interest could have done him better service at home in so critical a conjuncture Advice being brought to Rome of the Dukes Coronation Clement the eighth without expecting the Ambassadors arrival gave order for a Monitory to be immediately issued out requiring the Duke within fourteen dayes to render an account at Rome of the reasons of his proceedings The Duke by an express to his Ambassador endeavoured to divert the Pope from this violent course by suspending his Monitory or at least by granting him longer time in a matter of that consequence offering moreover to refer the whole difference betwixt him and the Pope either to the King of Spain or any other Prince whom Clement should think fit to pitch upon Most persons thought the Pope would readily have complyed with so reasonable a proposal which yet he could by no means be brought to hearken to but dismist the Ambassador without any hopes of an accommodation After the Ambassadors departure the Pope called a Consistory that he might have the advice of his Cardinals before he proceeded further in what concerned the Apostolical Sea so near there the Cardinals did much differ in their Opinions some by a faint compliance with what they judged the Pope enelined to were for his going on immediately both with his spiritual and temporal arms against the Duke others looked upon this as a method not so suitable to the Apostolical See where nothing of precipitancy ought to take place and therefore gave their judgment that his Holiness was never to have recourse to such severe remedies till such time as it appeared the Duke was not to be wrought upon by gentler means But those who understood what fair proffers were made by the Ambassador of Ferrara did disapprove of violent courses at any rate being of opinion that the Pope had better wave his pretensions to Ferrara than by excommunicating the Duke to enter into a War and so kindle a fire in
where every person who entered was to be examined and searched lest it should be brought to Ferrara and affixed by night upon the great Church and people being now in a general consternation betwixt the news of the Sentence which was exprest in the most dreadfull terms and of the Popes Army which was advancing towards them Father Palma a Jesuit with the wonted assurance of those of his Order demanded Audience of the Duke and after having made a grave discourse like a Divine of the great danger of being cut off from the Communion of the Church and of forfeiting all those priviledges that Christians enjoy he put on the person of a Statesman and shewed the Duke how unreasonable it was for him to think of resisting the Papal Power with which few Kings were able to graple he put him in mind that he had not to do with him who bore S t Peters Keyes only but also his Sword that the Pope was no inconsiderable Prince in what immediately belonged to the Church and that besides this he had a party in all other Princes Dominions and Courts and could never be supposed to want assistance from abroad more than other Princes could reasonably promise themselves and therefore upon the whole matter after great protestations of kindness for his Highness and his most serene Family he conjured him not to stand out concluding that the circumstances in which the Duke then was obliged him to follow his advice because those whom he most trusted were ready upon occasion to betray him that there was a design also upon his other Dominions and that he was sure the Pope wanted not friends at Ferrara who if the business were not soon accommodated would at length compass their ends in the Dukes ruine When Palma was gone the Duke began to reflect upon what he had said especially upon the latter part of his discourse which he thought was not to be slighted having reason to believe that none knew more of the designs afoot against him than that good Father and the rest of his Order Whereupon growing jealous lest Modena and Regio might be lost while he laboured in vain to preserve Ferrara a sudden resolution was taken to part with it and the Dutchess of Vrbin was forthwith employ'd to go and treat with the Popes Nephew Cardinal Aldobrandin The Articles were too soon agreed on but might have been much more for the Dukes advantage had he pitched upon another Plenipotentiary than the Dutchess who most palpably sacrificed his concerns to secure her own The Duke having according to the agreement resign'd the Government into the hands of the Magistrates and sent the Prince his Son hostage to Bologna for the performance of the other Articles made what hast he could to retire to Modena for he now began to hate Ferrara and that upon good grounds Don Mario Farnese sent thither by the Cardinal having plainly shew'd him that all his secrets had been revealed and the manner of seizing on his Dominions concerted by many of those about him as Letters there produced under their hands and seals did testifie and that the City was to have been delivered to the Popes Army within a few dayes had not the Duke prevented them by a voluntary surrender Nothing can excuse Caesar's parting with his Dutchy upon so easie terms but the evident danger he saw himself in of being betray'd by his own Subjects who expected great things under a New Government Yet we must not brand all of them with this black mark of perfidy as is too common upon such occasions A few traytors may bring an undeserved blot upon the Nobility and Gentry of a whole Nation which in general abhors such hellish practices of which we had too signal an instance in the never enough detested delivery of our late Soveraign of blessed memory where the crime of a few was charged on our whole Nation And the same harsh opinion might we have of those of Ferrara that others have rashly entertained of us did not our unjust sufferings put me in mind to vindicate them the most considerable then among the Nobility and indeed the greatest part did behave themselves both dutifully and faithfully towards the Duke and foreseeing the misery which was like to ensue upon the loss of their Prince took their leave of him with unfeigned expressions of sorrow and most them out of love to the injured House of Esté would have forsaken with a good heart their Native Countrey and setled at Modena could they have carried their Estates along with them After this manner was the flourishing City of Ferrara lost I may almost say ruined that very night Duke Caesar departed five thousand of the Inhabitants who depended upon the Court wanted bread in a few months many of the shops were shut up and the Tradesmen forced to go into other Cities not being longer able to maintain their Families there the Nobility found their condition very comfortless and those who had betrayed the Duke in hopes of preferment were justly disappointed of their expectations the New Government with new Customs and heavy Taxes brought in strangers into most of the good Offices which the Natives enjoyed under their Dukes so that even those who were most for a change if they had foreseen what was to come would all as one man have sacrificed their lives in the Dukes defence Modena upon the other hand growing every day more populous and rich became soon sensible of the benefit of a Court for what was raised by Taxes seemed rather lent being repay'd oftentimes with interest by the Dukes expences among them besides the Nobility who formerly gave their attendance at Ferrara spent all their Rents now at home so that in a few years the Inhabitants were double in number to what they had been before the Courts coming thither But it was observed that of sixty thousand persons whom the Duke left at Ferrara after some years there was scarce half the number to be found there and at present as I was credibly informed upon the place they cannot reckon twelve thousand and of these no inconsiderable parts are Jews some Lanes of that melancholy City are utterly forsaken most of the Palaces are ruinous and the chief street so little frequented that grass appears in many places In a word there are few instances of Cities which without suffering by any long siege or extraordinary casualty have decayed faster than Ferrara has done in little more than fourscore years since its Union to the Church Ristretto delle Ragioni che la Serenissima Casa d'Esté ha colla Camera Apostolica fatto al tempo d'Urbano 8 vo dove si mostrera che fosse insufficiente è Lontano della Ragione il pretesto di Clemente 8 vo d'occupare li stati del Duca Caesare IL pretesto del occupazione hebbe per fondamento la morte del Duca Alfonso 2 do pretendendosi che lo stato di Ferrara fosse devoluto alla sede Apostolica
Italy which would not easily be quenched they urged that the City of Ferrara was well fortified and peopled and that no Princes were ever more beloved of their Subjects than those of Esté whom undoubtedly they would not easily be brought to part with Besides they had reason to believe the Duke had made sure of his Allies and of all those who were already jealous of the Popes greatness whereas on the contrary they could think of none among all the Princes of Italy that would declare in favour of the Pope The Pope seeing the Cardinals so much divided broke up the Consistory without coming to any resolution but while he was doubtfull within himself whether it were better to proceed in his undertaking or to give it quite over one of the Cardinals having obtained a private Audience told him that notwithstanding all the difficulties proposed in the Consistory yet if his Holiness would vouchsafe to follow his advice Ferrara should undoubtedly fall into his hands without putting him to much expence either of money or of blood I confess sayes he the City of Ferrara is strong and well peopled and that the Prince is there generally beloved more than any where else in Italy which perhaps may discourage your Holiness from making good your Title yet I question not but by the discreet management of some person of credit and interest at that Court in whom you may confide many of the Dukes friends may be gained his most secret Councils revealed and the City it self made glad to receive your Holiness We know sayes the Cardinal how Ferrara abounds with Nobility whose Fortunes are narrower than their minds and who cannot all expect preferment at that Court besides there are questionless some there as about all Courts who are angry with the Government not thinking themselves considered according to their merits Vpon such ambitious and discontented spirits large promises made in your Holinesses name will be sure to work such must be made sensible of the happy exchange from a private Prince to a Pope in whose power it is to reward the Virtuous and those who deserve his favour with the highest dignities subjects are capable of and how those who are immediately under the Church have much the advantage of all others in their pretensions at Rome And when the person sayes the Cardinal thus employed can shew his Authority for what he promises under your Holinesses hand and seal they will strive to out-do one another in their zeal to promote your service The Pope did heartily approve of this project and as soon as the Cardinal was gone the French Ambassador came to assure the Pope in his Masters Name That he was resolved to declare for him and to fall upon those who should appear in the behalf of the Duke of Ferrara Henry the fourth renouncing the Reformed Religion had reconciled himself to Rome some time before and thought this a fit occasion to express his unfeigned zeal for the Church which many still questioned But truly his abandoning thus the House of Esté which had for many ages adhered so stedfastly to the Interests of France did little raise his reputation any where except at Rome nor doth this deserve to be recorded by Posterity among those Heroick Actions which have got him the Name of Henry the Great In short the Cardinals subtile advice seconded by the hopes of assistance from France confirmed Clement in his former resolution of setting all expedients a foot to turn Duke Caesar out of Ferrara The Duke renew'd his instances either to have the matter in contest referr'd to the King of Spain or at least to have a competent time allow'd him to sum up his reasons in which he was confident not only to satisfie all indifferent persons but even the Pope himself but at Rome it was resolved that neither reference nor reasons should now take place and that the Duke for not complying with the Monitory though it required of him things impossible was forthwith to be excommunicated That the excommunication might give the smarter blow Colonels and Officers were named and Forces raised to go against the Duke there was also a great deal of money coin'd with the Arms of Aldobrandin upon the one side and upon the other was a small ship tost by the waves and S t Peter sitting at the Helm with this Motto in Latine Non praevalebunt They shall not prevail The Duke being inform'd of all that past publickly but ignorant of the secret practices against him dispatched immediately a famous Civilian to Rome who undertook to satisfie such as the Pope should appoint to hear him First that the Princes of Esté never held Ferrara of the Church as a feudal City by proving which he removed one of the chief pillars of its pretended devolution Secondly that Alphonsus the first Duke Caesars Grand-father was married to the Lady Laura Eustochia of which he brought most unquestionable testimonies and this removed the other objection against the Dukes person but the Excommunication being now drawn up and the Forces already upon their march there was nothing more to be done by way of Treaty so that the Duke was at length forced to have recourse to his Arms for maintaining the Justice of his Cause having therefore called the Magistrates and the Chief of the Nobility together he gave them an account what endeavours he had used though unsuccessfully to sweeten the Pope and prevent a rupture that now being necessitated to take Arms in his own defence he hoped all of them would concur and not suffer the Princes of Esté under whose auspicious Government they and their Ancestors had for many ages enjoy'd so great priviledges to be violently and unjustly thrust out of their Native Countrey then the method of carrying on the War being set down every one seemed chearfully to undertake some part of the charge and danger tho' in effect the Popes Emissaries had already laid the train according to the Cardinals project and the Duke had now no greater Enemies than some of those who were most in his confidence Upon the news of the Excommunications being published at Rome and sent by the Army towards Lombardy the Duke sent once more to Clement expostulating about his ill usage and entreating him to consider how hard it was to hasten so severe a sentence without first allowing time and appointing Judges as he had most earnestly decreed to hear his reasons And last of all he modestly laid before him how little it would be for the honour of the Apostolical See for his Holiness to proceed after this manner in an affair wholly temporal wherein he himself was both Judge and Party which made the Duke still hope that upon cooler thoughts he would think fit to put a stop to the Sentence before it were published in Lombardy The Excommunication notwithstanding all the Dukes endeavours being published at Bologna and elsewhere order was given to keep strict watch at all the Gates of the City