that day had bene euer there mainteined reducing all vnder one Duke who was yearely sent thither from Rauenna and his gouernment called the Romane Dukedome but the generall Gouernour who continually remained at Rauenna by the Emperours commaundement and gouerned all Italy vnder him was called Esarco This diuision made the ruine of Italy to be more easie and gaue opportunitie to the Longobardi to vsurpe the same The gouernment of that country gotten by the vertue and blood of Narsete thus taken from him he being also by Sophia iniured reuiled threatned to be called home and spinne with women moued him so greatly to chollor and offence that he perswaded Alboino King of the Lombardi who at that time reigned in Pannonia to come into Italy conquere it The Longobardi beeing as is aforesaid entered into those countries neare Danubio who had lately bene abandoned by the Heruli and Turingi when by their King Odoacre they were led into Italy for a time they there remained But the kingdome being come to Alboino a man couragious cruel they passed the riuer Danubio and fought with Comundo King of the Zepedi and ouerthrew him in Pannonia which hee then possessed Alboino in this victorie amongst others happened to take prisoner the daughter of Comundo called Rosmundo married her and thereby became Lord of Pannonia Then mooued by the crueltie of his nature hee made a cup of her fathers hed whereof in memorie of the victorie he vsed to drinke But then called into Italy by Narsete with whome in the warres of the Gotti hee had acquaintance and friendship left Pannonia to the Vuni who after the death of Attila as is aforesaid were returned into their countrey Then he came againe into Italy where finding the same into many partes diuided sodenly wan Pania Millan Verona Vicenza all Toscana and the more part of Flamminia now called Romagna So that perswading himselfe through so many and so speedie successes to haue already as it were gotten the victorie of all Italy hee celebrated a solemne feast in Verona whereat being by drinking much become very merry and seeing the skull of Comundo full of wine hee caused the same to be presented to the Queene Rosmunda who sat ouer against him at the table saying vnto her with so loude a voice that euerie one might heare him that she should now at this feast drinke with her father which speech pearced the Lady to the heart and she forthwith determined to reuenge the same Then knowing that Almachilde a valiant young gentleman of Lombardi loued a maiden of hers of whome hee obtained to lie with her and the Queene beeing priuy to that consent did her selfe tarry in the place of their meeting which beeing without light Almachilde came thither and supposing to haue lien with the mayden enioyed the Queene her mistresse which done the Queene discouered her selfe and said vnto him that it was in his power to kill Alboino and possesse her with her kingdome foreuer but if hee refused so to do shee would procure that Alboino should kill him as one that had abused his wife To this motion and murther of Alboino Almachilde consented After the murther performed finding that he could not according to his expectation enioy the kingdome and fearing to be slaine of the Lombardes for the loue they bare to Alboino the Queene and hee taking their princely treasure and iewels fled to Longino at Rauenna who honorably there receiued them During these troubles Iustiniano the Emperour died and in his place was elected Tiberio who beeing occupied in the warres against the Parthi could not go to the reliefe of Italy Whereby Longino hoped that time would well serue him with the countenance of Rosmunda and helpe of her treasure to become King of Lombardy and all Italy And conferring his intent with the Queene perswaded her to kill Almachilde and take him for her husband shee accepted and agreed vnto that which hee perswaded preparing a cup of wine poisoned and with her owne hand shee offered the same to Almachilde comming from a bath hote and thriftie hee hauing drunke halfe the wine and finding his bodie thereby greatly mooued mistrusting the poison enforced Rosmunda to drinke the rest whereof both the one and the other within fewe houres died and Longino bereft of his expectation to become King The Longobardi in the meane while assembling themselues in Pauia which was the chiefe Cittie of their kingdome elected there Clefi their King who reedified Imola which had bene ruinated by Narsete hee wan Rimino and almost euerie place from thence to Rome but in the midst of these his victories hee died This Clefi was so cruell not onely to strangers but also to his owne subiects the Longobardi as they were so terrified with his kingly authoritie that after his daies they determined no more to make anie King but elected amongst them selues thirtie persons whome they called Dukes giuing them iurisdiction ouer the rest which was the cause that the Longobardi did not proceed in the conquest of all Italy and that their kingdome did not extend further then Beneuento and that Rome Rauenna Cremona Mantoua Padoua Monselice Parma Bologna Faenza Furli and Cesena some of them defended them selues a time and some other were neuer taken Because the Lombardi wanting a King their warres proceeded the more slowlie and after the election of a new King by reason of their libertie were lesse obedient and more apt to mutinie among them selues which thing first hindered the victorie and in the end draue them out of Italy The Longobardi being come to this estate the Romanes and Longino made with them an agreement The effect thereof was that euerie one of them should lay downe their armes and enioy so much as they possessed In that time the Bishops of Rome began to aspire vnto more authoritie then they had in times past for by meane of the holy life of S. Peter and some other Bishops with their godly examples and the miracles by them done they became much reuerenced amongst men and greatly encreased the christian Religion In so much as Princes were occasioned the more easily thereby to appease the great disorder and confusion of the world to obey them The Emperour then being become a Christian and remooued from Rome to Constantinople it came to passe as is aforesaid that the Romane Empyre decaied and the Church of Rome the rather thereby encreased notwithstanding till the comming of the Longobardi Italy being subiect either to Emperours or Kings the Empyre still prospered and the Bishops of Rome had no greater authoritie then their learning and good life did deserue For in all other thinges either by the Kings or by the Emperours they were commaunded and as their ministers imploied and sometimes put to death But he that made the Bishops to become of greatest authoritie in Italy was Theodorico King of the Gotti when he remoued his royall seate to Rauenna For thereby Rome
remaining without a Prince the Romanes were enforced to yeeld their obedience to the Pope Yet did not his authoritie thereby greatly encrease because he could not procure to him selfe more preheminence then that the Church of Rome should haue precedence before the Church of Rauenna But the Longobardi being come and Italy diuided into diuerse parts occasioned the Pope to take the more vppon him for he then beeing as it were chiefe of Rome the Emperour of Conctantinople and the Longobardi did respect him so much as the Romanes by his meanes not as subiects but as companions with the Longobardi and with Longino ioyned Thus the Popes sometimes by the fauour of the Longobardi and sometime with the countenance of the Grecians encreased their dignitie But after the destruction of the Empyre in the East which happened in the time of the Emperour Eracleo because the people called Sclaui assaulted conquered againe Iliria calling the same by their owne name Sclauonia the other partes of the Empyre were assailed first by the Persians and after by the Sarasins who came from Arabia conducted by Mahomet and last of all by the Turkes These people amongst them possessed Soria Affrica and Egipt So that the Empyre weakened the Pope dispaired to haue succour there in time of his necessitie On the other side the power of the Longobardi encreasing it behooued him to seeke some new friendship and for the same resorted to the Kinges of France So as after that time all the warres made vppon Italy by forraine people were by the Bishops of Rome occasioned and all the barbarous nations who repaired in so great multitudes to Italy were for the moste part by them called thither which manner of proceeding continueth in our dayes and hath heretofore kept and yet dooth keepe Italy weake and impotent Therefore in discourse of such thinges as haue happened since those to these our daies more shall not be said of the distruction of the Empyre which is altogither cast downe and ruined But wee will heerafter discourse by what meanes the Popes and those other Potentates which till the comming of Carlo the eight gouerned Italy haue atteined to their greatnes whereby we shal conceiue how the Popes first by their censures after with them and their armes mixed with indulgences became terrible venerable and how by euill vsing the one the other they haue altogither lost the vse of their armes in the other they stand at discretion But returning to the order of our matter I say that Gregorio the third beeing atteined to the Papacy Aistulpho to the kingdome of Lombardy contrarie to the agreement afore made surprized Rauenna and made warre against the Pope Gregorio who for the occasions aforesaid not trusting any more to the Emperour of Constantinople beeing then weake neither reposing trust in the Longobardi who had diuerse times distressed him fled for ayde to Pipino the second who from beeing Lord of Austracia and Brabancia was become King of France not so much for his owne vertue as his fathers Carlo Martello and his graundfathers Pipino because Carlo Martello beeing Gouernour of that Kingdome wonne that memorable victorie against the Sarasins neare vnto Torsci vpon the riuer of Era wherein were slaine two hundred thousand Sarasins For which cause Pipino his sonne for the reputation of his father and his owne vertue became after king in that kingdome vnto whome Pope Gregorio as is beforesaid sent for ayde against the Longobardi Pipino answered that hee was very willing to performe his request but first desired to see him and in his presence to honour him For which purpose Gregorio trauailed into France and without any let passed the townes of the Longobardi his enemies so great reuerence was then borne to that Religion Gregorio arriued in France was there greatly honoured by the King and sent back accompanied with the Kings forces who in Pauia besieged the Longobardi wherby Aistulpho was enforced to make peace with the Frenchmen which hee did at the request of the Pope who desired not the death of his enemie but that hee should conuert and liue In which peace Aistulpho promised to render vnto the Church all those townes thereto belonging and by him vsurped But the French souldiers returned home Aistulpho obserued not the conditions of the peace which beeing knowen to the Pope hee prayed ayde a new of Pipino who sent againe into Italy where hee ouerthrew the Lombardy tooke Rauenna and contrarie to the will of the Grecian Emperour gaue the same vnto the Pope with all other townes vnder his Esarcato adding also to them the countrie of Vrbino and La Marca during the time that these townes were in bestowing Aistulpho died and Desiderio a Lombard and Duke of Tuscan tooke armes to vsurpe the kingdome and praied ayde of the Pope to whome hee promised his friendship which request was graunted and the other Princes gaue place Desiderio at the beginning kept his promise and according to the conditions made with Pipino rendred the townes allotted vnto the Pope neither did the Esarco of Constantinople after that time come any more in Rauenna but all things were gouerned according to the pleasure and direction of the Pope Then died the King Pipino to whome succeeded his sonne called Carlo who for the great and memorable exploites by him done was called Magno To the Papacy was at that time aspired Theodoro Primo He falling into contention with Disiderio was by Disiderio besieged in Rome and constrained to craue ayde of Carlo who speedily passed the mountaines besieged Desiderio in Pauia and tooke him with all his Children And hauing sent them prisoners into France went in person to visit the Pope at Rome where hee pronounced this sentence That the Pope beeing Vicar of God could not be iudged of men For the which the Pope with the people of Rome created him Emperour In this manner Rome beganne to haue an Emperour againe in the West And where the Popes were woont to take their instaulation from the Emperours after this time the Emperours in their election would needes take their authoritie from the Pope wherby the reputation of the Empire decreased and the Church gained the same By these meanes the Popes grew great and kept downe the authoritie of temporall Princes The Longobardi hauing then bene in Italy 232. yeares there was of them none other marke of straungers then the name and Carlo being desirous to reforme that Countrey in the time of Pope Leo the third was pleased they should inhabit those places where they were borne and called that prouince of their name Lombardia But forasmuch as they had the name of Rome in great reuerence hee commaunded that all the next Countrey to it adioyning then in the obedience of the Esarcato of Rauenna should bee called Romagna Moreouer he created Pipino his sonne King of Italy the iurisdiction whereof extended to Beneuento the rest remained to the Emperour in Greece with
the inhabitants of Florence and all the Princes of Italy lamented his death and made manifest shewe thereof For there was not any of them that sent not Embassadors to condole the death of Lorenzo And for triall that they had iust cause to lament the effect following prooued For Italy being depriued of his counsell had not any man left therein whose wisedome could preuent or bridle the ambition of Lodouico Sforza Gouernour of the yoong Duke of Milan Wherefore Lorenzo being dead those euill seedes beganne to grow which shortly after wanting such a one to roote them out did ruine and yet doth ruine all Italy FINIS LONDON Printed by Thomas Creede for William Ponsonby 1595. The subiect of this Historie Mediocritie the scope of Aristocracie Gouernment Aristocracie imperfit Equalitie the scope of Democracie Democracie imperfit Monarchie the most excellent Gouernment The order of the Northren people The Northren people oppressed the Romane Empire The Empire diuided into three gouernments Rome sacked by the Visigotti Bonifacio gouernor of Affrica How Gallia became named Francia How Hungaria became so named Votigerio king of the Angli How the name of England was giuen to that Iland The antient English people now inhabitants of Bretagna Attila his comming into Italy The cause of the election of an Emperour in the VVest The coÌ„ming of the Longobardi into Italy How the ancient Empyre became diuided Theodorico king of Ostrogotti a most vertuous Prince The death of Theodorico The acts of Bellisario The acts of Totila The acts of Narsete The acts of Longino The acts of Alboino The acts of Clefi The Lombardi refused to be gouerned by Kings At what time the Bishops of Rome aspired to authoritie The remooue of the Emperiall seat from Rome the cause of the Popes greatnes The East Empyre suppressed in the reigne of Eracleo The troubles of Italy caused by the ambition of Popes By what meanes the preseÌ„t Princes of Italy aspired Gregorio tertio Pope Theodoro primo Great honour dore to the pope by Carlo magno with indignitie to the Emperors Pope Pascale 1. Originall of Cardinals by Pope Pascale 1. The first occasion why the Popes did take new names at ther election At what time the Empire was taken froÌ„ the house of France The kingdom of Italy giuen to Beringario How Italy was gouerned Anno. 931. The election of the Emperour giuen to the Germans Ann. 1002. Three Popes deposed by Enrico 2. The Romans auncient enemies to the Pope The creation of the Pope taken froÌ„ the Romanes The originall of the Guelfi and Gibellini An. 1080. Rome sacked The discent of the kings of Napoli Pope Vrbano 2. La Crociata The originall of knights of Ierusalem Pope Pascale 2. Pope Alessandro 3. The King of England put to penance by Pope Alissandro The death of Federigo the Emperor Pope Celestino 3. Pope Innocentio 4. Pope Honorio 3. erector of the order of S. Francisco Anno 1218. Ezelino Azone de Este first Duke of Farrara The Emperor forced to entertaine Sarasins Pope Innocent 4. The death of Ezelino Pope Vrbano 4. Pope Clement 4. Pope Adriano 5. The ambition of Popes a ruyne to Italy Pope Adriano 3. Pope Martino 3. Pope Celestino and Bonifacio 8. Pope Bonifacio inuentor of the Guibileo Pope Clements 5. Pope Iohn 22. A practise of Ma. Visconts against the house of Torre The meane how the Visconti aspired to be Dukes of Milan The king of Boemia called into Italy The originall of Vinegia The decree of Pope Benedetto 12. against the Emperour The Emperours decree to the Popes preiudice Giouanna Q of Naples Nicholo di Lorenzo Francesco Barocegli Q. Giouanna deposed Pope Innocentio sexto Pope Vrbano 5. The Papall court returnâ—d to Rome An. 1376. Great artillery first vsed in Italy 1376. Pope Benedetto 13. The first frutes of Benefices taken by the Pope Pope Innocentio 7. K. Ladislao deposed by pope Alissandro 5. Three popes at one time The Curch after fortie yeares diuision was vnited VVarre betwixt Queene Giouanna and her husband Lodouico de Angio adopted king of Naples How Italy was gouerned and diuided VVhereof the name of Florence is deriued The first deuision of Florence By what means the factioÌ„s of Guelfi and Ghibilini arose in Florence An vnion and policie setled in Florence King Manfredi a chiefe of the Ghibilini Farinata Vberti The Duke of Angio called into Italy by the Pope King Manfre dislaine New ordinances in FloreÌ„ce New ordinances in FloreÌ„ce by the Guelfi Fâ—orence excomunicate The Pope euer suspitious New ordinances in Florence Florence reformed Priori Discord between the nobility and the people New ordinances in fauour of the people Giano della Bella. Diuision betwixt the Nobilitie and people Perswasions to the Nobilitie to laie downe armes Perswasions vsed to the people New reformation in Florence 1298. New diuision of the Bianchi Carlo di valloys made Gouernor of Horence New troubles by Corso Donati Medici and Guini New reformation in Florence Corso Donati Corso condemned The death of Corso Donati 1308. The Emperor Arrigo called into Italy 1312. The death of Arrigo. New diuition in Florence Lando de Agebio made Gouernor of Florence Castruccio castracani Ramondo di Cardona Generall for the Florents The Florentines ouerthrowne by Castruccio The Duke of Athene Gouernour of Florence The Emperour Lodouico called into Italy The death of castruccio carlo Duke of calauria New reformation in Florence The death of Lodouico The troubles and war in Florence all ceased Conspiracy against Iacomo Gabrieli of Agobio Taldo Valori Maffeo de Maradi The Bardi and Frescobaldi condemned The Duke of Athene The Dukes answere to the Senate Ordinaunces made by the Duke of Athene in Florence Matteo di Moroso Conspiracy against the Duke of Athene The Duke of Athene banished by the Florentines Discription of the Duke and his disposition Florence againe reformed The people of Florence offended with the nobilitie The autoritie of the nobilitie taken from them Andrea Strozzi The nobilitie assaie to recouer their honours The People armed against the nobilitie The Nobilitie oppressed The enimitie betweene the people and the multitude The faction or diuision of Albizi and Ricci A new lawe against the Ghibilini occationed by a priuie respect Ammoniti The Oration of the cittizens touching factions New reformation in Florence Pope Gregorio A new Commission for the gouernment of war New tumults in Florence The Conspiracy reuealed The speech of Saluestro di Medici New reformation in Florence The Oration of Luigi Guicciardini New tumult in Florence A seditious persuation of one of the multitude Demaunds of the People The Gouerment gained by the multitude Michele Lando Ordinaunces of Michele Lando The multitud offended with Michele Lando his lawes Michele Lando victorious New diuision in Florence Diuers great Cittizens accused The Queene of Napoli taken prisoner Benedetto Alberti Georgio Scali beheaded New reformation in Florence Michele Lando confined Carlo di Angio come into Italy The death of Carlo di Angio
footmen After that time in the warre against Filippo Visconti Duke of Milan hauing rather to proue industrie then their owne proper Armes for at that time they were decayed we see in fiue yeares which that warre continued the Florentines spent three Milions and fiue hundreth thousand Florins And that warre being ended as not pleased with peace to shew more of their greatnesse they besieged the Cittie of Lucca I cannot therefore conceiue any cause why these diuisions should not be particulerly written And if those notable writers before named were withholden by feare to offend the posteritie of such as they should haue made mention of they greatly deceiued themselues and seeme to know little the ambition of men with the desire they haue to make the names of their Ancestors and themselues to continue perpetuall Neyther do they remember that many men wanting occasion to win themselues fame by some laudable deede by some impious acte haue laboured to aspire thereunto And they considered not that the actions of men which haue in them greatnesse as gouernments and authorities howsoeuer they be handled or what end soeuer they haue do seeme alwayes to giue men more honor then blame VVhich I hauing thought vpon did determine to change my meaning and resolued to begin my Historie at the beginning of our Cittie And sith my intent is not to vsurp the place of others I will particulerly set downe what chanced onely within the Cittie till the yeare 1334. and of such things as hapned without I will not say more then that which for the vnderstanding of the other shall be necessarie The yeare 1434. being passed I will particulerly write the one and the other Moreouer to the end this Historie may be the better vnderstood before I intreate of Florence I shall discourse by what meanes Italy became subiect to such Potentates as in those dayes there gouerned The first Booke shall briefly recite all accidents hapned in Italy from the declination of the Romayne Empire till the yeare 1434. The second will shew what things hapned from the beginning of Florence till the warre which the Florentines made against the Pope after expulcion of the Duke of Athene The third doth end with the death of King Ladislao of Naples Anno 1434. In the fourth Booke we wil intreate what other things chanced till the yeare abouesaid And from thencefoorth discourse particulerly of such accidents as befell within Florence till this our time To the Reader NOT by my suite though by my consent this Historie is now become publike The translation thereof was diuerse yeares past desired by an honorable personage not now liuing yet for loyaltie to his Prince loue to his Countrey and vertuous deseruing of all men worthie a longer life had not God in his diuine prouidence otherwise ordeyned Loth I was to medle with matter of so much waight in regard of mine owne insufficiencie being neither learned nor making profession of learning and lother it should be published for that the Author in some other his works hath not as is thought written with due respect to pietie Howsoeuer that be in this Booke being a meere relation of the Florentines fortune when they were gouerned Aristocraticallie appeareth not any thing vnfit to be knowne or that may receiue euill construction The first part sheweth the occasions of ruyne in the Romaine Empire and how the Prouinces of Italy became diuided into diuerse gouernments with their often variations Secondly by what meanes the Pope the Venetians the King of Naples and the Duke of Milan possessed the greatest parts of Italy Lastly how that the Florentines abandoning obedience to the Emperour liued almost continually in faction and ciuill partialitie vntill the house of Medici by the great vertue of Giouanni Cosimo Piero and Lorenzo atteyned to a singuler reputation in that State where now and some yeares past they gouerne as Princes with great honor iustice and integritie which happinesse they could not finde in their Aristocraticall pollicie Yet diuerse notable Polititians and wise law-makers haue not onely allowed but also highlie commended it aboue others Affirming that as mediocritie is in all things most praiseable and extremities reproueable so the Aristocracie being the meane betweene the multitude and one Prince is speciallie to be preferred Also for that the authoritie to commaund is due to the most worthie and worthinesse consisteth either in honor in vertue in riches or in them altogither the state Aristocraticall must needs be most allowed bicause the noble the riche and vertuous men are in all places the fewest number and they onely in that kinde of gouernment haue authoritie They alleage also how the rich men onely as they that haue most interest in the State do bestowe most in publike seruices and therefore to them the Gouernment ought be allotted so was it in Rome after the Kings were deposed likewise in Athens in Carthage and at this day in Venice Genoua and Lucca For answere of these reasons in fauour of Aristocracie wherein mediocritie seemeth to be speciallie sought for who so shall duely examine thereof may finde that to diuide things in the midst and thereby to marke out the vertue which consisteth in reason were impossible as all Philosophers haue determined True it is that the meane betweene all and one is perfit yet no where to be found sith in some Cities there are not one thousand Citizens and in some other more then an hundreth thousand which maketh the Aristocracie alwayes incertaine by the incertaintie of the numbers And where the Gouernors be many there are also factions many the resolutions slowe and the secrets of State often discouered For by experience is seene how those Aristocracies which haue in them fewest Gouernors are most durable As that of the Lacedemonians gouerned by thirtie persons and that of the Pharsalians by twentie It is not therefore the meane betweene one and all which causeth mediocritie Now for bestowing Soueraigntie vpon the most worthie true it is so it ought be yet that argument maketh more for the Monarchie For among the noble rich and wise some one doth euer excell the rest and to him by that reason the authoritie ought be giuen seeing it is not possible to find all those things equally in all men If it be alleaged that among the greatest number are found most vertuous and good men that reason serueth not either in that state or the Democracie seeing in them both as in all Corporations the most voices are preferred before the wise and better To conclude I say that in all States wherein are most Gouernors there are fewest resolutions and most disputations The Venetians therefore to meete with those inconuenients do commit the mannaging of their ordinarie affaires to the Senate which consisteth of seuen persons onely as knowing that the fewer be made priuie the more secretly they shall be handled and no Aristocracie haue had so long continuance Thus much touching Aristocraticall gouernment of which
whom Carlo had concluded a league About this time Pascale the first was become Pope and the priestes of the parishes in Rome by reason of their nearenesse to the Popes person and their presence at his election to honour their authoritie with a more venorable title beganne to bee called Cardinals taking vnto them great reputation chiefly after they had excluded the Romanes from the election of the Pope who almost euer before that time was some Citizen of Rome Pascale beeing dead Eugenio secundo of the order of Santa Sabina was elected Pope And Italy beeing then in the handes of French men did partly alter the order of gouernment and the more for that the Popes had in the temporalities thereof gained greater authoritie and made Earles and Marqueses as before time Longino Esarco of Rauenna had created Dukes After a fewe other Bishops Osporco a Romane aspired to the Papacy who for the homelinesse of his name caused himselfe to be called Sergio which was the beginning why the names of Popes was chaunged at their elections By this time Carlo the Emperour was dead to whome succeded Lodouico his sonne After his death there grew so great contention amongst his sonnes that in the time of his graund-children the Empire was taken from the house of France and brought into Germany where the first Emperour of that nation was called Ainolfo and by meanes of these disorders the family of Carlo did loose not onely the Empire but also the kingdome of Italy because the Lombardi recouered their strength and offended the Pope and Romanes so much as the Pope not knowing how to bee helped for necessitie gaue the Kingdome of Italy to Berengario Duke of Erieoli These accidents encouraged the Vnni who then remained in Pannonia to assault Italy But beeing come to triall of battle with Berengario they were vanquished and forced to returne into Pannonia now called Vngaria which countrey hath euer since reteyned their name At that time Romano Chieftaine of the Emperiall Armie deposed his maister Constantino and made himselfe Emperour in Greece By reason whereof Puglia and Calauria rebelled from the obedience of the Empire and suffered the Sarasins to come thither who beeing there and possessing the Countries attempted to besiege Rome But the Romaines because Beringario was occupied in the warres against the Vnni made Albarigo Duke of Tuscan their Captaine by whose vertue Rome was saued from the Sarasins They beeing departed from the siege builded a Castle vppon the mountaine called Gargano and from thence they commaunded Puglia and Calauria and disturbed the rest of Italy Thus in those dayes Italy was maruellously afflicted towardes the Alpes assaulted by the Vnni and towards Naples by the Sarasins In these miseries Italy many yeares remained vnder three Kings of the Beringarii one succeeding an other In which time the Pope and the Church were continually molested and by meanes of diuision of the princes in the West and the weakenesse of the Emperour in the Easte knewe not where to bee succoured The Cittie of Genoua with all the Riuers thereto belonging werein those dayes by the Sarasins destroyed whereof came the greatnesse of the Cittie of Pisa for thither manie people fled for refuge This happened in the yeare of the Christian religion nine hundreth thirtie and one But Ottone sonne of Enrico and Matilda Duke of Saxony a man exceeding wise of great reputation being become Emperour Agabito then Pope praied him to come into Italy and saue him from the tyrannie of the Berengarii The states of Italy were in those daies thus disposed Lombardy was vnder Berengario the third and his sonne Alberto Toscana and Romagna were gouerned by the deputies of the Emperour in the West Puglia Calauria partly to the Emperour in Greece and partly to the Sarasins obeyed In Rome were elected yearly of the nobilitie two Consuls who according to the auncient custome ruled that Citie Vnder them was appointed a Iudge to minister iustice to the people There was also a councell of twelue men which gaue gouernours to the townes subiect vnto Rome The Pope had in Rome more or lesse authoritie according to the fauour hee found with the Emperours or others that were there most mightie Then came the Emperour Ottone into Italy and tooke the kingdome thereof from the Berengarii who therein had raigned fiftie fiue yeares and therewith had restored the Pope to his dignitie This Emperour had one sonne and one nephew both also named Ottoni the one and the other of them succeeded in the Empire In the raigne of Ottone the third Pope Gregorio quinto was by the Romanes driuen out and Ottone came into Italy to put him again into the possession of Rome The Pope then to be reuenged of the Romans tooke frō them the authoritie of creatiō of the Emperour gaue the same to the Germaines appointing three Bishops of Maguntia Treueri Colonia three secular Princes the Marques of Brandenburge the Earle Palatine of the Rhein the Duke of Sassonia to be electors which constitution was made in the yeare 1002. After the death of Ottone the third Enrico Duke of Bauiera was by these electors made Emperour and after twelue yeares by Pope Stephano the eight crowned This Enrico and Simionda his wife were persons of most godly life as appeareth by diuerse churches by them builded and endowed Amongst which number was the temple of S. Miniato neare to the Citie of Florence Enrico died in the yeare 1023. After whom raigned Currado of Sueuia and after him Enrico the secōd who came into Italy the church thē being in schisme foūd there three Popes all whom he deposed caused Clemente secundo to be elected of him was he crowned Emperour In those dayes Italy was gouerned partly by the people partly by the Princes partly by the ministers of the Emperour of whō the chiefe was called Chancelor Amōg the Princes Gotfredi the Countesse Matilda his wife borne of Beatrice sister to Enrico the second were most potent for she and her husband possessed Lucca Parma Reggio and Mantoua with all that countrey at this day called Patrimonio The ambition of the people of Rome did at that time make much warre with the Popes for they hauing helped the Pope to driue out the Emperors and reformed the Cittie as to them seemed good sodeinly became enemies to him And the Popes receiued more iniuries at their hands thē at any other Christian Princes And euen in those dayes when the censure of the Popes made all the West of the world to tremble yet euen then the people of Rome rebelled And both the Popes and the people studied for nothing so much as how one of them might ouerthrow the authoritie and estimation of the other Nicholao secundo being aspired to the Papacy tooke from the Romanes the creation of the Pope as his predecessour Gregorio quinto had before taken from them the
election of the Emperour hee made also a constitution that the election of the Popes should from thencefoorth appertaine to the Cardinals Neither was he so contented but compounding with some Princes that then gouerned Calauria and Puglia for such reasons as shall be hereafter declared constrained all the officers appointed by the Romanes to yeeld their obedience to the Popes and remooued some of them from their offices After the death of Nicholao there happened a schisme in the church because the Clergie of Lombardy would not obey Alexander the second elected at Rome but created Gadalo of Parma Antipope Enrico hating the greatnesse of these Bishops sent vnto the Pope Alessandro requiring him to resigne the Papacy command the Cardinals to go into Germany there to elect a new Pope This Enrico was the first Prince that felt the force of spirituall displeasure For the Pope called a new counsaile in Rome whereat he depriued him from the empire and kingdome After that time some people of Italy followed the Pope and some the Emperour which was the beginning of the factions who called themselues Guelfi and Gibellini Thus Italy deliuered from forreine inuasion by ciuill discord began to be tormented Enrico being excommunicate was by his owne people constrained to come to Rome on barefoote and kneele to the Pope for pardon Which happened in the yeare 1080. Notwithstanding shortly after there happened a new discord betwixt the Pope Enrico Wherupon the Pope again did excommunicate the Emperour who sent forthwith his son also called Enrico with an army to Rome He with the helpe of the Romanes who hated the Pope besieged him in his castle till Roberto Guiscardo came from Puglia to the rescue Enrico tarried not his comming but returned alone into Germany The Romanes persisted in their obstinacie so that Rome was againe by Roberto sacked and brought vnto the former ruine notwithstanding it had bene lately by diuerse Popes repaired And because of this Roberto the kings of Naples be descended it seemeth not superfluous particulerly to set downe his actions and discent After the disunion happened among the heires of Carlo Magno as haue bene before declared the same occasioned a new people of the North called Normandi to assaile France and conquered that country which is called of them Normandia of those people some part came into Italy in the time that the Berengarii Saraseni and Vnni troubled the same They also tooke some townes in Romagna which warres they vertuously performed Of those Normaine princes one called Tancredi begot diuerse sonnes amongst whom was Guglielmo surnamed Terabar and Roberto called Guiscardo The principalitie being come to Guglielmo and the tumults of Italy somewhat ceased the Saraseni did notwithstanding still hold Sicilia and continually made rodes vpō the land of Italy For which cause Guglielmo agreed with the prince of Capoua and Salerno and with Melorco the Greeke who gouerned Puglia and Calauria for the Emperour of Greece to assault Sicilia and after victorie it was condescended amongst them to diuide the places victored by foure parts This enterprise had fortunate successe and the Saraseni driuen out they possessed Sicilia After which victorie Melorco secretly caused men to come from Grecia and for the Emperour tooke possession of the whole Iland not diuiding the spoyle but tooke all to his owne share wherewith Guglielmo became discontented yet hiding his offence till a time more conuenient departed from Sicilia with the princes of Salerno and Capoua who being departed vpon the way homewards Guglielmo returned not to Romagna but with his souldiers marched towards Puglia where he wonne Melfi And shortly after notwithstanding the forces of the Grecian Emperour he possessed well neare all Puglia and Calauria In which prouinces he gouerned in the time of Nicholao secundo Roberto Guiscardo his brother hauing many differents with his nephewes for the inheritance of land vsed the authoritie of the Pope to compound them And the Pope did willingly fauour him being desirous to haue the friendship of Roberto to the end that against the Emperours of Germany and the people of Rome he might be defended as in effect it fell after out and hath bene alreadie declared how at the request of Gregorio septimo he draue Enrico from the siege of Rome subdued the people therein To Roberto succeeded Ruggeri and Guglielmo his sonnes To their possessions he annexed Napoli and all those lands which lie betweene Napoli and Rome He gaue also Sicilia vnto Ruggero But Guglielmo going afterwards to Constantinople to marry the Emperours daughter was by Ruggero depriued of his Country Ruggero after this victorie became insolent and called himselfe king of Italy yet after contented with the title of King of Puglia and Sicilia was the first that gaue name and lawe to that kingdome which to this day within the auncient boundes thereof is mainteined Notwithstanding it hath many times exchaunged both blood and Nation Because the race of Normandie beeing worne out the Kingdome came to the handes of the Germaines from them to the French men from the French to the Aragonesi and at this day it is possessed by the Flemmings Now was Vrbano the second become Pope who being hated in Rome and fearing through the disuniting of Italy he could not in securitie there remaine determined a glorious enterprise First hee went into France accompanied with all his Clergie and in the citie of Anuersa he assembled many people to whom he made a solemne Oration wherin he persuaded an enterprise against the Saraseni which tooke so great effect as the people were desirous to performe the same which enterprise with all others to that purpose were called Crociata For all those men that went in that iourney weare vppon their Armours and garments a redde Crosse The princes and chiefe leaders of that enterprise were Gotfredi Eustachio and Alduino di Bulgo Earle of Bologna with one Pietro an Hermit who for his godlie life and wisedome was greatly respected To this iourney manie Kinges contributed treasure and manie priuate men without paie therein personally serued So great effectes did the religion worke in those dayes to perswade the mindes of men moued with the example of such as were their heads This enterprise had in the beginning glorious successe for all Asia minor Soria and part of Egipt were therein conquered by the Christians At which time beganne the order of Knighthood of Ierusalem which to this day continueth and is the chiefe obstacle to the Turkes About that time also grew the order of the Knights Templarii which for their euil life was shortly after suppressed In diuerse times following diuerse accidents happened wherin many nations and many particuler men were aduaunced For the furnishing of this enterprise the Kinges of Fraunce and England the Pisani Venetians and Genouesi passed the sea and gained great reputation fighting in fortune variable till the time of Saladino the Sarasine whose vertue the rather through discord of the
Christians did in the ende recouer all that before had bene gotten So were the Christians after foure scorce and tenne yeares driuen out of those Countries which with great honour and happinesse they had wonne and defended After the death of Vrbano Pascale secundo was created Pope and Enrico the fourth became Emperour who went to Rome pretending friendship to the Pope but beeing arriued there by force hee tooke the Pope prisoner and put him with all his Clergie in prison from whence they could not bee discharged till the Pope had graunted that the Emperour might dispose of the Churches in Germany as himselfe thought good Then died the Countesse Matilda and made the Church heire of all her Countrey After the death of Pascale and Enrico the fourth succeeded diuerse Popes and diuerse Emperours till at length to the Papacie was elected Alissandro tertio and to the Empire Federigo Sueuo called Barbarossa The popes in that time had manie quarrelles with the people of Rome and the Emperours which were encreased in the raigne of Barbarossa Federigo was a man of warre most excellent but therewith so haughtie of minde and courage as hee disdained to giue place to the pope notwithstanding hee came to Rome to bee Crowned Emperour and peaceably returned into Germanie though hee remayned there not very long contented For shortly after he came againe into Italy to reforme some Towns in Lombardy which would not obey him At that time it happened the Cardinal of S. Clement by Nation a Romane deuided himselfe from the Pope Alissandro found meanes by fauour of some Cardinalls to be also chosen Pope At that instant Federigo the Emperour was with his Armie before the Citie of Crema to whom Alissandro complained of the Antipope the Emperour answered that both he and the Antipope should come vnto him and then he would decide their controuersie and iudge which of them were true Pope This answere displeased Alissandro who conceauing thereby that the Emperour was inclined to fauour the Antipope did excommunicate him and fled to Phillip King of Fraunce Federigo in the meane while proceeding in the Warres of Lombardy tooke Millan and razed it which was the cause that Verona Padoua and Vicenza by common consent determined to resist him Then died the Antipope in whose place Federigo created Guido of Cremona The Romanes by meanes of the Popes absence and the busines of the Emperour in Lombardy had recouered a little authoritie in Rome began to command some Townes vnder them and because the Tusculani would not yeeld to their authoritie they went popularly to assaile them who being aided by Federigo the Romanes were ouerthrowne with so great slaughter as after that Ouerthrow Rome was neuer well peopled nor rich In this meane space Pope Alissandro was returned to Rome perswading himselfe that through the enmitie of the Romanes and Federigo he might there safely remaine and the rather by reason of the Enemies which the Emperour had in Lombardy Neuertheles Federigo setting aside all respectes besieged Rome where Alissandro tarried not his comming but fled to Gulielmo King of Puglia who after the death of Ruggiero remained Heire of that Kingdome Federigo driuen thence by the Plague left the Siege and returned into Germany The Townes of Lombardy which were rebelled to the end they might the rather recouer Pauia Tortona which stood for the Emperor built a new Cittie to be the refuge of that Warre calling the same Alissandria in honour of the Pope Alissandro and in despite of the Emperour Federigo Then died Guidone Antipope in whose place Giouanni of Fermo was created He through the fauour of the Emperours Faction in Montefiascone there dwelled Pope Alissandro in the meane time was gone into Tuscolo called thether by that People hoping that with his authoritie he might defend them from the Romanes Thither came Embassadors from Enrico King of England to declare vnto the Pope that their King was not culpable in the murther of Thomas Bishop of Canterbury as he had bene publiquely slandered For triall whereof the Pope sent two Cardinals into England to examine the truth of that matter who found the King not guiltie Neuertheles in respect of the infamie and that he had not honoured that holy Man according to his desert they enioyned the King for penance to assemble his Nobilitie and in their presence to sweare and protest his innocencie and was moreouer commanded that with all speed he should at his proper charge send two hundred Souldiers to Ierusalem and there paye them for one yeare and himselfe within three yeares to goe thither in person and lead with him an Armie the greatest that hee could possibly make besides that hee should disanull all things done within his Kingdome to the preiudice of the Libertie Ecclesiasticall and consent that all and euerie Subiect of his might appeale to Rome All which things Enrico graunted and notwithstanding hee were a mightie King submitted himselfe to that Iudgement which at this day euerie priuate man would be ashamed to yeeld vnto But notwithstanding the Popes great power ouer Princes farre off yet could he not make himselfe obeyed of the Romanes by whom hee was not suffered to dwell at Rome though he promised not to intermeddle in anie thing saue only the Ecclesiasticall gouernment Hereby may be noted that things vvhich seeme to bee and be not are dreaded more farre of then feared neare at hand By this time Federigo vvas returned to Italy and being prepared to make nevv vvarres vvith the Pope all his prelates and Barons gaue him to vnderstand that they intended to leaue him vnlesse he reconciled himselfe to the church vvhereby this Emperour vvas constrained to go vnto Venice and there to adore the pope vvhereof ensued a full pacification In this peace the pope depriued the Emperor of all his authoritie in Rome and named Gulielmo king of Sicilia and Puglia for his confederate Federigo not content to liue in peace but louing the warres determined to enterprise Asia so gain glory against Mahomet which against the Pope he could not But being arriued at the riuer Cidno enticed with the excellencie of that water hee washed himself therin sodenly died Wherby may be imagined that water did more good to the Mahumetans then the popes excōmunicatiō to the Christians because the excōmunicatiō did only allay the Emperors ambitiō but this water did vtterly quench it Federigo being dead it remained onely for the pope to reforme the disobedience of the Romans after many disputations touching the creation of the Consuls it was agreed that according to the ancient custom they shuld be elected by the Romans yet before they tooke their office vppon them they should sweare fidelitie to the church which agreement caused Giouanni the Antipope to flie to Monte Albano where shortly after hee died Then died also Gulielmo king of Napoli who hauing one onely sonne called Tancredi the pope determined to take that kingdome from him
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
inclined rather to learning then apt to encounter a faction or oppose himselfe to ciuill disorder said that enterprises hauing in them either craft or courage do seeme at the beginning easie but afterwards they prooue hard in their proceeding and in the end daungerous Hee also beleeued that the feare of new warres abroad begun by the Duke in Romagna neare to our confines should be a meane that the Senators would be more mindfull of them then of these discords at home But if it were seene that they would change the gouernment the same could not be with such speed but armes might be taken and all things done necessarie for defence of the publike state And this being performed vpon necessitie and not sooner should be the lesse maruelled at of the people and with lesse reproach to themselues For these reasons it was concluded that the new Senators should be suffered to enter and heede be taken to their proceedings to the end that if any thing were attempted contrarie to the faction that then euerie man should take Armes and resort to S. Pulinare a place neare to the Pallace from whence they might go to performe whatsoeuer should be thought necessary This conclusion made euerie man returned home The new Senators entered their offices and the Gonfaloniere to giue himselfe reputation and terrifie the contrarie partie condemned to prison Donato Velluti his predecessor for hauing imploied the publike treasure After these things were done he sounded the minds of his companions touching the returne of Cosimo finding them well disposed consulted with all those whom he thought to be chiefe heads of the faction of Medici By them he was greatly incouraged And thereupon commanded that Rinaldo as principall man of the contrary faction should be sent for After this commandement giuen Rinaldo thought good no longer to protract time but came from his house followed with many armed men with him ioyned presently Ridolpho Peruzzi Nicholo Barbadori Amongst them were also diuerse other Citizens and many souldiers who at that time hapned to be in Florence without pay All which company according to the order takē resorted to S. Pulinare there staied Palla Strozzi had also assembled much company but came not out the like did also Giouanni Guicciardini For which so doing Rinaldo sent to sollicite them reproue them of their delaie Giouanni answered that hee made warre inough to the enemie if by his tarrying at home he could holde Piero his brother from going out to rescue the Pallace Palla after manie messages sent vnto him came on horse backe to S. Pulinare with two onely foote men and himselfe vnarmed And Rinaldo seeing him went towards him and reproued him greatly of negligence saying that hee shewed himselfe thereby a man either of small troth or little courage Both which reproachfull faultes a man of that sort whereof he was holden ought to eschue And if happily he beleeued for not performing his promise that the enemie hauing victorie would pardon either his life or his exile therein he was deceiued As for himselfe if any misfortune happened yet this content of minde should remaine that before the perill hee was not dismaid and the perill being come hee was not afraid But he and such others as he was should double their owne discontentments knowing they had three times betraied their Countrey First when they saued Cosimo next when they refused his counsell and last for not comming in Armes according to appointment To these speeches Palla answered not any thing that was heard of those that were there but murmuring turned his horse and went home The Senators hearing that Rinaldo and his followers were in Armes and seeing themselues abandoned shut the Pallace gates and as amazed knew not what to doo But Rinaldo delaying his going thither attending for forces which came not lost the occasion of victorie and gaue courage to the Senators to make prouision and to other Cittizens to goe vnto them and aduise them how matters might bee appeased Then some friendes to the Senators least suspected went vnto Rinaldo and saide that the Senate knew no cause of these motions and that they had no intent to offend him or if it were for Cosimo there was no meaning of his reuocation If therefore these were the occasions of their suspition they might assure themselues come to their Pallace be welcome and haue their demaunds graunted These words could not alter the resolution of Rinaldo but said that hee would make the Senators priuate men and by that meanes bee assured which done reforme the Cittie to the benefite of all men But it euer commeth to passe that amongst those whose authoritie is equall and their opinions diuerse for the moste parte nothing is well resolued Ridolpho Peruzzi moued with the words of those Citizens said that for his owne part hee sought not further then that Cosimo might no more return which being granted he thought the victorie sufficient Neither desired he in hope of more to fill the Citie with bloud and therefore he would obey the Senate Then went he to the Pallace where he was ioyfully receiued Thus the staie of Rinaldo at S. Pullinare the fainte heart of Palla and the departure of Ridolpho had vtterly ouerthrowne the enterprise and the mindes of those Cittizens that followed Rinaldo beganne to faile of their wonted courage whereunto the authoritie of the Pope was ioyned For at this time Pope Eugenio being expulsed Rome happened to be in Florence where he heard of these tumults and thought it his office to be a meane to pacifie the Cittie And therefore sent Giouanni Vittelleschi Patriarke and friend to Rinaldo to desire that hee would come vnto him for hee intended to imploy all his credite and authoritie to the Senate to make him contented and assured without bloud or daunger to the Cittie Rinaldo perswaded by the message of his friend went to Santa Maria Nouella where the Pope laie and was followed with all those whome hee had armed To him the Pope declared what credite the Senate had giuen him which was to determine all controuersies and order all matters as should by him bee thought good Rinaldo hauing made proofe of the coldnesse of Palla and the inconstancie of Ridolpho Peruzzi and wanting a better shift yeelded himselfe into the Popes hands hoping his authoritie should haue continued Thereuppon the Pope caused knowledge to be giuen to Nicholo Barbadori and the rest who attended without that they should laie downe their Armes because Rinaldo remained with him for the concluding a peace with the Senatours Which wordes resolued euerie man and they disarmed themselues The Senators seeing their aduersaries disarmed practised a peace by mediation of the Pope and in the meane time sent secretly to Pistoia for certaine bandes of foote men whome accompanied with all their men at Armes they suffered in the night to enter the Cittie and possessing the strongest places and calling the people to the Market place created
reasons according to their owne desire perswaded the Duke Nicholo tolde him that himselfe might be sent into Toscana and Brescia might neuerthelesse be still besieged for the Duke was Lorde of the Lage and had the strong places belonging to the Towne well furnished the Captaines there remaining and men inough to encounter the Earle whensoeuer he should attempt any other enterprise which without the rescue of Brescia hee could not and to rescue it was impossible So that he might make war in Toscana and yet not leaue the enterprise in Lombardy Hee told him moreouer that the Florentines were enforced so soone as he came into Toscana to reuoke the Earle or else lose it so that if any of these two things came to passe the victorie would follow The banished men alledged that if Nicholo with his Army did drawe neare to Florence it was impossible but that the people being wearie of charges and the insolency of the great men would take Armes against the Gouernours They shewed also how easie it was to approach Florence promising to make the way open through Casentino by meanes of the friendship which Rinaldo had with that Earle Thus the Duke first disposed of himselfe and after confirmed by perswasions of these men resolued vpon this enterprise The Venetians on the other part notwithstanding the bitternesse of the winter failed not to call vpon the Earle with all his forces to succor Brescia Which the Earle answered could not be in that time done but of force it must tarrie the spring of the yeare and in the mean time prepare an Army by water so as both by water and land it might at time conuenient be releeued Hereupon the Venetians became sorie and slow in all their prouisions which was the cause that in their Army many people died Of all these things the Florentines being aduertised began to mistrust seeing the warre at hand and no great good done in Lombardy The suspition also which they had of the Popes souldiers did greatly perplex them not because the Pope was their enemie but for that they sawe those souldiers more obedient to the Patriarke their mortall foe more then to the Pope himselfe Giouanni Vittelleschi Cornetano was first Notarie Apostolicall after Bishop of Ricanati then Patriark of Alessandria and at length after all these dignities become Cardinall was called the Cardinall of Florence This Cardinall being a man both couragious and craftie such a one as was by the Pope so greatly beloued as thereby he became Generall of all the forces belonging to the Church and was Captaine in all enterprises that the Pope tooke in hand either in Toscana Romagna the Kingdome or the Citie of Rome Whereby he wonne such reputation among the people and so great authoritie vnder the Pope that the Pope himselfe stood in doubt how to commaund him and the people did onely obey him and no other At such time as the newes came that Nicholo would passe into Toscana this Cardinall with his company happened to be at Rome whereby the Florentines feare was doubled because that Cardinall after the banishment of Rinaldo had euer bene enemie to Florence for that the pacification among the factions of Florence made by his meanes were not obserued but all things done to the preiudice of Rinaldo who had bene the occasion that Armes were laid down which gaue his enemies good means to banish him Then the Gouernors of the state imagined the time come to restore Rinaldo of his losses if with Nicholo being come into Toscana they ioyned their forces but therof they doubted the more by the vntimely departure of Nicholo from Lombardy who left there an enterprise halfe wonne to begin an other more doubtfull which he would not do without some new intelligence and secret subtiltie Of this their mistrust they had enformed the Pope who knew his owne errour in giuing to an other ouermuch authoritie But when the Florentines stood thus doubtfull what to do Fortune found then a meane whereby to assure the Patriarke That state in those times mainteined diligent espials to discouer what Letters were brought too and fro and thereby conceiued if any thing were practised to the preiudice thereof It happened that at Monte Pulliciano some Letters were taken which the Patriarke without consent of the Pope wrote vnto Nicholo Piccinino Those Letters by the Generall of the warre were presently sent vnto the Pope And although they were written in Carects vnused so as no certaine sence could be made of them yet this obscuritie togither with the practise of the enemie bred so great suspition in the Pope as he determined to assure himselfe The charge of this action he committed to Antonio Rido of Padoua being then Captaine of the Castle in Rome Rido hauing receiued this Commission was readie to obey the Popes commandement aspecting an opportunitie to performe the same The Patriarke being determined to goe into Toscana and minding the next day to depart from Rome desired the Captaine Rido to attend for him in the morning vpon the Castle Bridge at such time as hee should passe that way Antonio Rido thought then a good occasion was presented and gaue order to his men what to do tarrying for the comming of the Patriarke vppon the Bridge which way of necessitie he must passe hard by the Castle So soone as hee was arriued vppon that part which vsed to be drawne vp Rido gaue his men a signe to drawe the Bridge and shut the Patriarke into the Castle which was performed So as of a Generall to the Armie the Patriarke was become a prisoner in the Castle The people that followed him at the first murmured but vnderstanding the Popes pleasure pacified themselues The Captaine did comfort him with curteous wordes and perswaded him to hope well To whome the Patriarke aunswered that great personages were not wont first to be apprehended and after set at libertie For those that deserue imprisonment did not merite to bee enlarged and so shortly after died in prison After his death the Pope appointed Generall of his Armie Lodouico Patriarke of Aquilea Who albeit before that time would not intermeddle with the warre betwixt the League and the Duke yet was then content to take the same in hande promising to be readie to defende Toscana with foure thousande Horse and two thousande footemen The Florentines deliuered of this feare stood yet in doubt of Nicholo and mistrusted the confusion of matters in Lombardy by reason of the diuersitie of opinions betwixt the Venetians and the Earle Wherefore to bee more fullie aduertised of their mindes they sent Neri the sonne of Gino Capponi and Guiliano de Auanzati to Venice Whom they gaue in Commission to determine in what sorte the Warre shoulde bee made the next yeare following Commaunding Neri that so soone as hee vnderstoode the mindes and opinions of the Venetians hee shoulde goe vnto the Earle to knowe his and perswade him to those thinges which for