and all the people hearing the name of libertie armed themselues and euerie man in his quarter prepared him vnder the Ensigne of the peoples armes which the conspirators had secretly caused to be made And the chiefe as well of the Noble houses as of the populer families came forth and sware both their owne defence and the Dukes death excepting some of the Buondelmonti and Caualcanti with those foure families of the people which procured him to be made Prince They togither with the Butchers people of basest condition came armed to the Market place in defence of the Duke At this vproare the Duke armed all his Court and his seruants in sundrie places lodged mounted on horsebacke to come to the Market place But in many streetes they were beaten downe and slaine and onely three hundred horses came vnto him The Duke in the mean while stood doubtfull whether he were better to come out and fight with his enemies or defend himselfe within the Pallace On the other side the Medici Cauicculi Ruccellai and other families most iniured did feare that if the Duke would come out manie that had taken armes against him might happily become his friends And therefore to remoue the occasion of his comming forth and encreasing his forces made head and went vp to the market place At whose arriual those populer families that stood there for the Duke seeing the Cittizens couragiously to charge them chaunged their mindes After the Duke had thus altered his fortune and euerie man reuolted to the Citizens sauing Vguccione Buondelmonti who went into the Pallace and Giannozzo Caualcanti with part of his men retired vnto the new Market and there stood vp desiring the people to arme themselues to defend the Duke Also the rather to terrifie the people he threatned them that if obstinately they followed the enterprise against the Prince they should be all slaine But finding no man to follow him nor yet any that pursued him and seeing himselfe to haue laboured in vain tempting fortune no further retired vnto his owne house The conflict in the meane while betwixt the people and the Dukes souldiers was great and though the Dukes forces defended the Pallace yet were they in the end vanquished some of them yeelded to their enemies and some leauing their horses folowed into the Pallace While in the Market place the fight continued Corso and Amerigo Donati with part of the people brake the prisons burnt the Records of the Podesta of the publique chamber sacked the Rettori and their houses and slew all the officers of the Duke that they could laie hand vpon The Duke on the other side seeing the Market place lost and all the citie against him not hoping of any helpe made proofe whether by any curtuous act the people might be appeased Therfore he called vnto him the prisoners with gentle words deliuered thē made Antonio Adimari though nothing to his owne contentment a Knight Hee caused also his owne armes to be rased out of the Pallace set the peoples armes in the same place Which things being done too late and out of time by enforcement and without order helped litle Thus as a man discontented besieged he remained in the Pallace and found by experience that by coueting too much he lost all and therefore looked within fewe dayes either to die by famine or sword The Citizens intending some forme of gouernment assembled themselues in Santa Reparata and created there foureteene Citizens halfe of them great and the other halfe populer who with the Bishop should haue full authoritie to reforme the state of Florence They chused also sixe to haue the authoritie of the Podesta till hee were come There were in Florence at that time diuerse straungers come thither to aide the people amongst whom were some Sanesi sent from Siena with sixe Embassadours men in their country much honoured They betwixt the people and the Duke practised reconsiliation but the people refused to common of any agreement vntill Guglielmo da Scesi and his sonne with Cirretieri Bisdomini were deliuered into their hands The Duke would not thereunto consent till being threatned by those that were shut in with him suffered himselfe to be inforced Certainly the furie is greater and the harmes more when libertie is in recouering then when the same is recouered This Guglielmo and his sonne being brought among thousands of enemies the yoong man not being eighteene yeares of age could neither by his youth nor innocencie be saued from the furie of the multitude And those that could not strike him aliue would needs wound him being dead Yea not being satisfied by cutting him in peeces with swords with their nailes and teeth they also tare his flesh And to the end al their sences might haue part in the reuenge hauing alreadie heard him lament seene his wounds and touched their torne flesh would also that their taste should take part so that all sences both without within might be pleased This terrible furie though it were greeuous to Guglielmo and his sonne yet was it profitable to Cirretieri Because the multitude being weary with the crueltie executed vpon those two did clearly forget him remaining still within the Pallace not called for Then the night following by certaine of his friends hee was conueyed away and saued The multitude being appeased with blood of these two A conclusion was made wherin was let downe that the Duke and his should safely depart with bagge and baggage and renounce all his authoritie ouer Florence And afterwards so soone as he should come to Casentino vpon the confines ratifie the same After this composition the sixt day of August he departed from Florence accompanied with many Citizens And arriued in Casentino he ratified though vnwillingly the resignation of his authoritie for had he not bene by the Earle Simone threatened to be brought backe to Florence he would not haue performed his promise This Duke as his proceedings do shew was couetous and cruell no willing hearer of complaints and in his answeres haughtie hee looked for seruice of all men and esteemed the loue of no man yet desired he to be beloued more then feared His person and presence did deserue to be hated no lesse then his conditions his bodie was small his face blacke and hard fauoured his beard long and thin so as both in appearance and being hee merited the loue of no man Thus within the tearme of ten moneths his euill behauiour lost him that gouernment which foolish Councell of others had giuen him These accidents being happened within the citie gaue encouragement to all the townes which had bene subiect to the Florentines to returne also to their libertie whereby Arezzo Castiglione Pistoia Volterra Colle and S. Gimignano rebelled After the Duke was thus driuen away the foureteene Cittizens togither with the Bishop thought better to please their subiects with peace then make them enemies by warre And therfore seemed as much content with the
verie holily liued and died Her house in memorie of her was after made a Monasterie by the name of S. Annalena as at this present it is and euer shall be This action somewhat decreased the power of Neri and tooke from him reputation and friends Neither did that onely content the Cittizens in authoritie For the tenne yeares of their office being passed and their authoritie in the Balia ended diuerse men both by word and deedes tooke courage to complaine against the continuance of those officers and therfore the Gouernors thought for the holding of their authoritie it was necessarie to haue their offices prolonged giuing new commission to friends oppressing their foes For which consideration in the yeare 1444. by their councels a new Balia was created which reestablished officers giuing authoritie to a few to create the Senate reuiuing the Chancelorship of reformation remouing Ser. Philippo Peruzzi and in his place appointing one other to gouerne according to the pleasure of the great men putting in prison Giouan the sonne of Simone Vespucci The gouernment thus setled the offices of state taken anew they turned their minds to matters abroad Nicholo Piccinino being as hath bene beforesaid abandoned by the King Alfonso and the Earle with the helpe he had of the Florētines became strong assailed Nicholo neare vnto Fermo and there gaue him so great an ouerthrow that Nicholo lost wel-neare all his souldiers and with a fewe fled into Montecchio Nicholo tarried there all the winter to increase his army and therein was helped by the Pope king Alfonso In so much as the spring time being come and the other Captaines returned to the field Nicholo was the strōger and the Earle brought to extreame necessitie and had bene vtterly defeated if the intent of Nicholo had not bene by the Duke altered Philippo sent for Nicholo pretēding to haue occasion by mouth to impart vnto him matters of great importance Which Nicholo being desirous to heare abandoned a certaine victorie for an incertaine pleasure and leauing Francesco his sonne to gouerne the army went vnto Milan The Earle vnderstāding of his departure frō the Camp would not lose the opportunitie to fight in the absence of Nicholo and assaulting the army of Nicholo neare vnto the Castle of Monte Loro ouerthrew it and tooke Francesco prisoner Nicholo at his arriuall in Milan seeing himself abused by Philippo vnderstāding his camp to be brokē his son prisoner with sorow died the yere 1445. being of the age of 64. yeares hauing bene a Captaine more vertuous then happie Of him there remained two sonnes Francesco and Giacopo who as they were of lesse vertue then the father so had they worse fortune By which meane the souldiers bred by Braccio were almost worne out and the discipline of Sforza alwaies holpen by fortune became more glorious The Pope seeing the army of Nicholo suppressed and him dead nor much hoping in the aide of Arragon sought to make peace with the Earle which by mediation of the Florentines was concluded The peace made in La Marca all Italy had liued in quiet if the Bolognesi had not disturbed the same There was in Bologna two mightie Families Channeschi and Bentiuogli of the one Annibale and of the other Battista was chiefe These to be the rather assured one of the others friendship contracted a marriage But betweene men which aspire to one greatnesse though alliance may easily be made yet friendship cannot Bolognia was in league with the Florentines and Venetians which league had bene concluded by meane of Annibale Bentiuogli after they had driuen out Francesco Piccinino Battista knowing that the Duke desired greatly to haue the fauour of that Cittie practised with him to kill Annibale and bring that Cittie vnder his ensigne The order of this murther agreed vpon the 24 of Iune 1445. Battista with his men assaulted Annibale slew him which done he proclaimed the Dukes name throughout the towne At that time the Commissaries for the Venetians and the Florentines were in Bologna and at the first rumor retired vnto their houses but afterwards perceiuing that the murtherers were not fauoured by the people who were in great numbers armed and assembled lamenting the death of Annibale they tooke courage went towards them assailed the Canneschi whom in lesse then one houre they ouerthrew slaying some and forcing the rest to flie the Cittie Battista not fleeing in time nor slaine remained at his house and hid himself in a vessell made for the keeping of corne His enemies hauing all the day sought him and assured he was not gone out of the towne threatned his seruants so much as one of them at length discouered where he was From thence he was taken out and slaine then drawne through the streets and at last burned so as the victorie of the Duke was of force sufficient to perswade Annibale to the enterprise but not of power ynough to saue him from death Thus by the death of Battista and the fleeing of the Canneschi these tumuls were appeased The Bolognesi remained in great confusion bicause there was not left of the house of Bentiuogli any man fit for gouernmēt And for that there remained one sonne onely of Annibale but six yeares old who was called Giouanni the Bolognesi feared least among the friends of the Bentiuogli some diuision would grow which might perhaps occasion the returne of the Canneschi with the ruine of their countrey and faction While the Bolognesi continued in this doubtfull imagination Francesco late Earle of Poppi being in Bologna informed the chiefe Cittizens that if they had desire to be gouerned by one descended of the bloud of Annibale he could informe them of such a one Declaring that about 20. yeares past Hercole the Cosen of Annibale happened to be at Poppi and had there carnall knowledge of a yong woman in that Castle who was after deliuered of a sonne called Santi whom Hercole diuerse times affirmed to be his And it seemed to be a thing likely for that the child so much resembled Hercole as liker it could not be His words were belieued by those Cittizens and they deserred no time to send vnto Florence to find out the yong man and perswade with Cosimo di Medici and Neri Capponi that they might haue him The supposed father of this Santi was dead and the yong man liued vnder the tuition of an Vncle of his called Antonio Cascese This Antonio was rich without children and friend to Neri The matter being vnderstood Neri thought fit neither to reiect the motion nor imbrace it but commaunded that Santi in the presence of Cosimo and those that were sent frō Bologna should speake with him Then order being taken for their meeting Santi was by the Bolognesi not only honored but also as it were adored Then Cosimo calling Santi aside said vnto him there is none that in this matter can better counsell thee then thy selfe for thou art to take
his treasure in euerie place of Europe did perticipate of his felicitie Also many excessiue rich houses in Florence had their beginning from him as Tornabuoni Benchi Portinari and Sassetti Besides all these euerie man depending vppon his counsell and fortune became wealthie And albeit that his building of Temples and giuing of almes was knowne throughout the world yet would he to his friends many times lament that he had not spent and bestowed so much to the honor of God but that he found himselfe still in his booke a debtor He was of meane stature in complexion browne and of presence venerable vnlearned yet eloquent and full of naturall wisedome friendlie to his friends and pittifull to the poore In conuersation he was frugall in counsell aduised in execution speedie in speech and answering wittie and graue Rinaldo de gli Albizi in the beginning of his exile sent him a message saying that the hen did sit whereunto Cosimo answered that she could neuer hatch being farre from her nest To other Rebels who sent him word they slept not he answered that he beleeued the same bicause there sleepe was taken from them Vnto the Pope Pio perswading Princes to take Armes against the Turke Cosimo said An old man taketh in hand a yong enterprise To the Embassadors of Venice who came with the messengers of Alfonso to complaine of the Florentines he shewed his head bare and asked of what colour it was they answered white Then he replying said that ere it belong your Senators will also haue white heads like vnto mine His wife a few houres before his death seeing him shut his eyes asked him for what cause he so did He answered to bring them in vse Some Citizens saying vnto him after his returne from exile that he hindered the Cittie and offended God in banishing so many honest men To them hee answered It was better to haue a Cittie hindered then lost and that the State was not defended with beades in mens hands Which words gaue his enemyes matter to speake euill of him as a man that loued himselfe more then his Countrey and that esteemed more this world then the world to come Many other sayings as things not necessarie I omit Cosimo was also a louer and preferrer of learned men for he brought vnto Florence Argiropolo a Grecian borne and in that time of singuler learning to the end that the youth of Florence might be by him instructed in the Greeke toong and other his good learnings He enterteyned in his house Marsilio Ficino a second father of the Philosophie of Plato and him he entirely loued Also to the end he might with commoditie exercise the studie of learning and more aptly vse his help therein he gaue him certaine land neare vnto his house of Careggi This his wisedome these his riches this manner of life and this fortune were the causes that in Florence he was both feared and loued and of the Princes not onely of Italy but also of all Europe esteemed so as he left vnto his posteritie such a foundation as they might with vertue equall him and in fortune farre excell him Whatsoeuer authoritie Cosimo had either in Florence or elsewhere in Christendome he deserued the same notwithstanding in the end of his life he had great sorrowes For of two onely sonnes Pietro and Giouanni the one of whome he had most hope dyed the other was continually sick and therefore vnable either for publique or priuate function In so much as his sonne being dead he caused him to be carried about the house and he following the Coarse sighed and saide this house is ouer great for so small a familie It also offended the greatnesse of his minde that he had not in his owne opinion inlarged the Florentine dominion with some honorable conquest And it grieued him the more knowing that Francesco Sforza had deceiued him who being but Earle promised that so soone as hee was possessed of Milan hee would winne the Cittie of Lucca for the Florentines Which was not performed bicause the Earle with his fortune changed his minde and being become Duke determined to enioy that state with peace which he had gotten by warre Therefore he would neither keepe touch with Cosimo nor any other neither would he after he was Duke make anie more warres then those that for his owne defence hee was enforced vnto Which grieued Cosimo greatly finding that he had endured great paines and spent much to aduance a man vnthankfull and perfidious Moreouer by the weaknesse of his bodie he found himselfe vnfit to follow either priuate or publique affaires whereby the one and the other miscarried Because the Citie was destroyed by the Citizens and his owne substance by his confidents and children consumed All these things in the later end of his age did greatly disquiet his minde Notwithstanding he died with glorie And all the principall Citizens and all the Christian Princes did condole his death with Pietro his sonne and accompanied his coarse to the Temple of S. Lorenzo where with great pompe it was buried and by publique consent was written vpon his Tombe Pater Patriae If in this discourse of Cosimo I haue imitated those which haue written the liues of Princes and not those which write vniuersall histories let no man marueile thereat For hee being a rare man in our Citie deserued I should affoard him extraordinary commendation In those dayes that Florence and Italy stood in the conditions aforesaide Lewes King of France was with greeuous warres assaulted For the Lords of his owne Countrey assisted by the Dukes of Bretagne and Burgogne made the war so great vpon the King that he had no meane to aide the Duke Giouanni de Angio in his enterprise of Genoua and the kingdome But iudging that he had neede of ayd whatsoeuer he gaue the Citie of Sauona then in his hand and kept by French men to Francesco Duke of Milan letting him vnderstand that if he so pleased he might also with his fauour assault Genoua Which offer was accepted by Francesco and either through the reputation of the Kings friendship or the fauour of the Adorni he became Lord of Genoua Then to declare himselfe thankfull for the benefit receiued of the King he sent into France to the Kings aide a thousand fiue hundreth horse conducted by Galiazzo his eldest sonne Thus Ferrando of Aragon and Francesco Sforza were become the one Duke of Lombardy and Prince of Genoua the other King of all the kingdome of Naples And hauing married their children the one to the other they deuised by what meanes they might during their liues maintaine their countries with securitie and after their deaths so leaue the same to their heires For which purpose they thought it necessarie that the King should assure himselfe of those Barons which in the war of Giouanni de Angio had disobeyed him and that the Duke should endeuour himselfe to extinguish those that had bene brought vp in the warres by
why do you take life from it If it hath made you victorious why should we destroy it If it hath honored vs why haue we disdained it I promise you by that faith which ought to be giuē and receiued amōg good mē that if you behaue your selues so as I shal repent me of my victory I wil so do as you shal also repēt that you haue abused it Those citizens according to the time answered resonably Notwitstāding they continued still in their insolēt doings Inso much as Piero sent secretly to Agnolo Acciaiuoli who came vnto him at Cafaggiuolo and there they reasoned at length touching the estate of the Cittie And surely had he not bene by death preuented he would haue called home all the banished men to bridle the insolencie and oppression of those that liued in the Citie But death suffered him not to performe so honest an intent for diseases of bodie and trouble of minde so greeuously handled him that hee died the fiftie and three yeare of his age His vertue and bountie could not be to his Countrey so well knowne as they deserued partly because his father liued welneare as long and partly for that those fewe yeares hee ouerliued him were in ciuill contentions and sicknesse consumed This Piero was buried in the Church of S. Lorenzo neare vnto his father and his funerall performed with honour and pompe worthie so great a Cittizen Of him there remained two sonnes Lorenzo and Giuliano of whome there was good hope that they would prooue men fit for the state yet their youth was such as made all men doubt thereof Amongst other chiefe Cittizens in the gouernment of Florence there was one farre excelling the rest called Tomaso Soderini whose wisedome and authoritie not onely to Florence but also to all the Princes in Italy was knowne Hee after the death of Piero was of all the Cittie reuerenced and manie Cittizens did dailie visite him as chiefe man of the state Also diuerse Princes did write vnto him Neuerthelesse being wise and knowing what fortune followed him and his house hee would neuer answere the Princes Letters and perswaded the Citizens they should not resort to his house but to the houses of the Medici Also to shewe in deedes that which by words was by him perswaded hee assembled all the chiefe Gentlemen of euerie family at the Monastery of S. Antonio whither hee procured that Lorenzo and Giuliano di Medici should come and there after a long and graue Oration by him made they disputed the estate both of that Cittie of all Italy and of the humours of the Princes Therein concluding that to continue Florence vnited in peace assured from diuision within and from warre without it behooued them to honor those two yoong men and mainteine the reputation of their house Because men do not repine to do such things as they haue bene accustomed vnto but new houses as they are easily honored so are they quickly abandoned For it hath bene euer more easie to maintaine that reputation where length of time hath extingnished enuy then to raise a new estimation which by many occasiōs may be oppressed After him spake Lorenzo who notwithstanding his youth vttered words with so great grauitie modestie as gaue euery man hope he would become such a one as indeed afterwards he proued And before they departed that place the Citizens praied the brethren to receiue them as children they offring to honor them as fathers This conclusion set downe Giuliano and Lorenzo were honoured as Princes of the Citie and those that were of counsell with Tomaso did not intermeddle Thus the Florentines liued both within without so peaceably as nothing disturbed the Common quiet till a trouble not looked for arose which did prognosticate future mischiefe Among other families which Lucca Pitti ruined was that of Nardi For Saluestro and his brethren being heads of that house were first sent into exile and after by the warre which Bartolomeo Coglione moued made Rebels Of these Barnardo brother of Saluestro was a yoong man of great spirit and courage Hee being poore could not endure banishment and finding that the peace made had not prouided for his returne determined to make proofe of somewhat whereby might grow occasion of warre For many times of a small beginning great effects doe followe Because men bee more willing to prosecute then beginne anie enterprise This Barnardo had much acquaintance in Prato and muche more in the Countrey about Pistoia chiefely with the the house of Palandra who albeit they were but countrey people yet was their number great and the men according to the manner of that countrey practised in armes and much vsed to bloud He knew likewise they liued discontented and by reason that some of their enemies were Magistrates in Florence they had bene euill handled He knew moreouer the humor of the Pratesi who accounted themselues proudly and hardly gouerned and had particuler knowledge of the euill disposition of some towards the State All which things brought him in hope to kindle fire in Toscana by making Prato to rebell whereto so many would put hands as they that would quench it should not be able Then he imparted this matter to Diotisalui Neroni and asked of him what aide might be by his meanes procured among the Princes if he should happen to surprize Prato Diotisalui thought the enterprise dangerous and as impossible to take effect notwithstanding considering he might thereby with the perill of others make new proofe of fortune perswaded him to proceed and promised to bring him assured aide from Bologna and Farrara so that he were able to defend Prato at the least fifteene dayes Barnardo then incouraged with this promise and conceiuing great hope of happie proceeding went to Prato and there communicating the matter to diuerse found them verie willing The like disposition he perceiued in the familie of Palandra and hauing agreed togithers of the time and manner of the enterprise Barnardo imparted all to Diotisalui At that time was Cesare Petrucci Podesta of Prato for the Florentines The custome was that the Podesta should haue the keies of the towne brought vnto him And whensoeuer any of the towne chiefely in times of no suspition desired to goe out or come in by night that fauour was graunted Barnardo knowing this custome being accompanied with those of the house of Palandra and 100. others armed men in the morning when the gate towards Pistoia should open presented himselfe and those whome he had made priuie within did likewise arme One of them went to the Podesta saying a friend of his desired to come into the towne The Podesta not doubting any such accident sent with him a seruant of his to carrie the keies from whome being a little on the way the keies were taken the gates opened and Barnardo with his followers came in Then they diuided themselues in two parts The one led by Saluestro of Prato tooke possession of the Cittadell
the end it wrought an effect contrarie to the Venetians expectation Bicause Lodouico in respect of this iniurie was content to allow of that which before he would not And therefore leauing the Marquesse of Farrara to the defence of his owne countrey he with foure thousand horse and two thousand footmen and the Duke of Calauria with twelue thousand horse and fiue thousand footmen entred the countrey of Pergamo Brescia and Verona spoiling almost all the countrey belonging to those three Citties before the Venetians knew thereof for the Lord Roberto with his souldiers could scarcely defend that Cittie On the other side the Marquesse of Farrara had recouered a great part of his possessions by meane whereof the Duke of the Rhene who came against him was not able to make head hauing onely two thousand horse and one thousand footemen Thus all that summer in the yeare 1483. the League proceeded in their warres most prosperouslie The next Spring being come for in all the winter was nothing done the armies were againe brought to the field and the League to the end it might the more speedily oppresse the Venetians had ioined all the whole army togither but if they had proceeded as they did the yeare before they should assuredly haue taken from the Venetians all the lands in Lombardy to them belonging for they had not left vnto them more then sixe thousand horse and fiue thousand footmen And on the other side were twelue thousand horse and sixe thousand footmen Also the Duke of the Rhene hauing ended the yeare of his enterteinement was returned home Notwithstanding as it often happeneth where diuerse Gouernours be of equall authoritie there groweth diuision and the enemie winneth victorie so Federigo Gonzaga Marquesse of Mantoua being dead who with his authoritie continued the Duke of Calauria and the Lord Lodouico vnited betwixt them grew diuersitie of opinions and ielousie For Giouangaliazzo Duke of Milan being atteined to age and abilitie to gouerne his owne state and hauing also married the daughter of the Duke of Calauria the Duke desired that his sonne in lawe and not Lodouico might gouerne the state This suspition of Lodouico being knowne to the Venetians was made by them an occasion supposing they might as they had euer done recouer by peace that which they had lost by warre and secretly they practised a pacification betwixt them and Lodouico which was concluded in August the yeare 1484. That being knowne to the other confederates displeased them much chiefely when they knew that all the townes taken from the Venetians should be restored and they still to inioy also Rouigo and Policene which townes they had taken from the Marquesse of Farrara And moreouer that they should haue againe all those prerogatiues which in times passed they had Euerie man then thought they had made a warre with great charge and as therein they had gained small honor so in the end it was compounded with shame bicause the townes taken were restored and the townes lost were not recouered Yet were the confederates forced to accept the peace being wearie of charges and fearing the ambition and defects of others would make no more triall of their fortune While in Lombardy matters were in this manner handled the Pope by meane of Lorenzo besieged the Cittie of Castello to driue from thence Nicholo Vitelli who to drawe the Pope into the league had forsaken him In this siege those that within the towne were partarkers with Nicholo came forth to fight with the enemies and did vanquish them whereupon the Pope reuoked the Earle Girolamo from Lombardy to repaire his force at Rome that done to returne to his enterprise But afterwards thinking it better to gaine the good will of Nicholo by peace then to assaile him with a new warre grew to agreement with him and by all meanes reconciled him to Lorenzo his aduersarie whereupon he was allured rather by suspition of new tumults then by the loue he bare his countrey For betwixt the Colonnesi and Orsini there appeared much displeasure bicause the King of Naples in the warre betwixt him and the Pope had taken from Orsini the Earledome of Tagliacozzo and giuen it to the Colonnesi his followers Afterwards the peace being made betwixt the King and the Pope the Orsini by vertue thereof demaunded restitution The Pope often signified to the Colonnesi that they ought to make restitution but they neither at the intreatie of the Orsini nor for the threatning of the Pope would agree thereunto but still with iniuries and spoiling of the Orsini did displeasure them which the Pope could not indure and therefore assembled all his forces and ioyning with them the Orsini sacked all the houses of the Colonni in Rome slaying and taking all those that made resistance and razing the most part of all their Castles so that those tumults were ended not by peace but by oppressing one of the parties Also Genoua and Toscana were somewhat disquieted for the Florentines did keepe the Earle Antonio de Marciano with his souldiers vpon the confines of Serezana who during the warre of Lombardy with foraging and small skirmishes molested the Serezanesi And in Genoua Battistino Fregoso Duke of that Cittie trusting vnto Pagolo Frigoso Archbishop was by him taken with his wife and children and the Archbishop made Duke Likewise the Venetian nauie had assaulted the Kingdome surprized Galipoli and molested other places thereabouts But the peace of Lombardy concluded all tumults did cease saue onely in Toscana and Rome for the Pope within fiue daies after the peace was proclaimed died either bicause the end of his life was come or for sorrow that a peace was made to his disaduantage This Pope at his death left Italy in peace though during his life he had alwaies therein made warre and the Romanes presentlie after his departure tooke armes The Earle Girolamo with his souldiers retired vnder the Castle and the Orsini did feare least the Colonnesi would be reuenged of the fresh iniuries done them Then the Colonnesi demaunded againe their houses and Castles Vpon these occasions within few daies there followed many murthers robberies and burnings in diuerse parts of the Cittie But the Cardinals hauing perswaded the Earle to yeeld that Castle vnto the College and returne home to his owne land and also remoue his souldiers out of Rome he being desirous to gratifie the next Pope gaue vp the Castle to the College and went himselfe vnto Imola Whereupon the Cardinals deliuered of this feare and the Barons out of hope to be aided by the Earle in their quarrels went to the creation of a new Pope After some disputation and diuersitie of opinions Giouanbattista Cibo borne in Genoua and Cardinall of Malfetta was chosen Pope by the name of Innocentio octauo He through the curtesie of his nature being a quiet and peaceable man procured all armes to be laid downe and for the present pacified Rome The Florentines after the peace could not content themselues with rest
her the murtherers came foorth and without anie mercie there presentlie slew him So soone as the murther was knowne great tumults arose His wife with one little sonne called Astore fled to the Castle The people tooke armes and Giouan Bentiuogli togither with a Captaine of Milan called Bergamino prepared for the purpose with many armed men entred into Faenza where was also Antonio Bascoli a Florentine Commissarie All these leaders assembled and reasoning of the gouernment of that towne The men of the Vale of Lamona who were come populerly to the rumor assaulted Giouanni and Bergamino sleying the one and taking the other prisoner Then they proclaymed the name of Astore and the Florentines reacommending the Cittie to the Florentine Commisaries This chance knowne at Florence grieued euery man much notwithstanding they caused Giouanni and his daughter to be set at libertie and the tuition of Astore by consent of the people was giuen vnto them Besides these diuerse other tumults happened in Romagna la Marca and Siena after the warres were compounded betwixt the greater Princes which being of lesse importance I iudge superfluous to report True it is that the troubles of Siena after the departure of the Duke of Calauria in the yeare 88. were more in number and after many alterations sometimes the people gouerned and sometimes the nobilitie but in the end the nobilitie was victorious Among whom Pandolfo and Giacopo Petruccio were of most authoritie The one for his wisedom the other for courage became as Lords of that Citie But the Florentines after the warre of Serezana till the yeare 1492. at which time Lorenzo de Medici died did liue in great felicitie For Lorenzo hauing by his wisdome appeased the armes of Italy endeuoured to make himselfe and his Citie great and married his eldest sonne Piero to Alfonsina the daughter of Cauallier Orsino and Giouanni his second sonne was aduanced to the dignitie of Cardinall Which honor was the more notable because at the time of his calling to that honour he passed not the age of foureteene yeares which was the way to make his house as after it came to passe to be exalted to the skies For Giuliano his third sonne by reason of his yong age and the small time Lorenzo liued he could not prouide anie extraordinarie fortune Of his daughters he married one to Giacopo Saluiati an other to Francesco Cibo the third to Piero Ridolfi the fourth whom he bestowed to hold his house vnited was wedded to Giouan di Medici but she died In his other priuate affaires and chiefly in marchandize he was verie infortunate For by the disorder of his ministers who liued liker Princes then priuate men a great part of his substance in sundrie places was consumed enforced thereby to borrow great summes of his countrey Afterwards not to runne in daunger of like fortune leauing marchandize he employed himselfe in the purchase of lands as riches of more assurance In the countries of Pisa Prato and in the vale of Pesa he compassed possessions both for profit and magnificence of houses more fit for a King then a priuate person After that time he enlarged and bewtified his owne Cittie to the end he might liue therein with the more quiet and securitie And therefore in many voide places hee built newe houses and streetes whereby the Citie became more bewtifull and large Also to the end hee might rest the more assured at home and encounter his enemies farre of towards Bologna in the midsts of the Alpes he fortified the Castle of Firenzuola Towards Siena he began to reedifie Poggio Imperiale and make it exceeding strong Towardes Genoua by winning of Pietrasanta and Serezana hee shut that passage vp against the enemies Moreouer by giuing pentions and prouisions he made friends the Baglioni in Perugia the Vitelli in the Citie of Castello and in Faenza he had particuler gouernment All which things were as Bulwarkes to defend Florence In times of peace he feasted the Citie making many times triumphs Iusts and publike shewes For his intent was to keepe the Citie plentifull the people vnited and the nobilitie in honour He greatly esteemed men that excelled in any Art He also fauoured learned men as Agnolo da Montepulciano Christofero Landini and Demetrio Greco can beare witnesse Insomuch as the Earle Giouanni de Mirandola a man accounted almost diuine forsaking all other parts of Europe which hee had traueiled moued by the magnificence of Lorenzo setled his habitation in Florence He maruellously delighted in Musick Architecture and Poetry as many of his owne verses and Commentaries yet extant do testifie Also to the end that the Florentine youth might be exercised in learning he erected an Vniuersitie in Pisa whither he brought the most excellent men of all Italy He likewise builded a Monastery neare vnto Florence chiefly for Friar Mariano da Chinazano of the order of S. Austen being accounted an excellent Preacher He was greatly loued both of God and fortune All his enterprises had good successe and his enemies misaduenture for besides the Pazzi Battista Frescobaldi and Baldinotto practized to sley him but either of them with others guiltie of the treason were rewarded with the paines of their merit This his manner of life this his wisedome and fortune caused the Princes not onely of Italy but others further of to know him and with admiration to esteeme him Mathia King of Hungary made many testimonies of the loue he bare him The Soldan by his Embassadors and presents did visit him The great Turke deliuered to his hand Barnardo Bandini that murthered his brother Which things made him highly honoured in Italy And that reputation was daily by his owne wisedome encreased For in discourse he was eloquent in councell wise in execution quicke and couragious neither was there in him any vices to blemish those vertues although he were greatly delighted with loue of women and tooke pleasure in iesting and taunting and would also plaie at childrens games vnseemly in so great a personage For so much he pleasured in children that he was often seene to plaie with his sonnes and litle daughters But whosoeuer would consider his lightnesse with his grauitie should thinke there were in him two persons of diuerse composition as it were by impossible coniunction coupled In the last end of his life he liued ful of sorrow caused by extreme sicknes for he was troubled with intollerable paines of the stomacke and died in Aprill the yeare 1492. and the three and fortie yeare of his age neither was there anie man that died either in Florence or elsewhere in Italy so famous for his wisedome or so much lamented of his countrey In so much as the heauens made euident signes of great misaduentures that should follow Amongst others the Temple of Santa Reparata was with so much furie striken by thunder that the greater part of the steeple was throwne downe to the admiration and terrour of all men All