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
Nicholo di Lorenzo Chancellor in the Campidoll draue the Senators out of Rome made himself vnder title of Tribuno chiefe of the Romane Common vveale reducing the same into the ancient forme of gouernment vvith so great reputation of iustice vertue as not only the tovvnes nere hand but also al Italy sent Embassadors vnto him Whereby the ancient prouinces seeing Rome restored looked vp and some of them moued vvith feare and some vvith hope honoured him But Nicholo notvvithstanding so great authoritie in the beginning of this action abandoned himselfe and dispairing as it seemeth to performe so great an enterprise not being inforced by any man secretly fled and vvent to King Carlo of Bohemia vvho by order of the pope in despite of Lodouico of Bauieria elected Emperour apprehended Nicholo sent him to the Pope prisoner A vvhile after as it vvere to imitate this Nicholo another man called Francesco Barocegli surprized the Tribunate and draue thence the Senators Vpon vvhich accident the Pope the rather to represse that disorder tooke Nicholo out of prison restored him to the Tribuneship sent him to Rome Nicholo there arriued exercised the office and put Francesco to death But the Colonnesi beeing enemies to Nicholo shortly after killed him also restored the Senators to their places In the meanetime the King of Vngaria hauing deposed the Queene Giouanna returned to his Kingdome The Pope liking better the neighborhood of the Queene than of that King found meanes that he vvas pleased to restore the Kingdome vpon condition that the Queenes husband should content himselfe vvith the title of Tarranto and not be called King The yeare 1350. being come the Pope thought good that the Giubileo erected by Pope Bonifacio octauo at the end of euerie hundred yeare might be reduced to fiftie yeare and made a Decree that aftervvards so it should be The Romanes receauing the same as a benefit vvere content the pope should send to Rome foure Cardinalls to reforme the state of that Cittie make Senators there those whom himselfe thought good The Pope also proclaymed Lodouico of Tarranto King of Napoli for which fauor the Queen Giouanna gaue vnto the Church the Citie of Auignion which was her patrimony By this time Luchino Visconti was dead wherby Giouanni Archbishop of Millan remained only Lord of that state who made many warres vpon Toscana other countries his neighbors and therby became exceeding mightie After his death succeeded Barnabo Galiazzo his nephewes but within short space Galiazzo died leauing one sonne called Giouan Galiazzo who diuided that State with Barnabo At this time Carlo K. of Bohemia was Emperor and Innocentio 6. Pope who sent into Italy Cardinall Egidio by Nation a Spaniard who with his vertue recouered great reputation to the Church not onely in Romagna Rome but also throughout al Italy He restored Bologna vsurped by the Archbishop of Millan he constrained the Romanes to receaue one Stranger to bee a Senator who yearely should be sent by the Pope he made honourable composition with the Visconti he vanquished and tooke prisoner Iohn Aguto an English-man who with foure thousand of his owne Nation serued in Toscana to the ayde of the Ghibelini Vrbano quinto being come to the Papacie and vnderstanding of so manie Victories determined to visite Italy and Rome whether also came Carlo the Emperour who after a few months went to the Kingdome and the Pope to Auignion Vrbano being dead Gregorio duodecimo was created and because then died the Cardinall Egidio Italy was returned to trouble occasioned by the Townes confederate against the Visconti Wherevpon the Pope sent first a Legate into Italy with sixe thousand Brittaines after in person followed himselfe and setled the Court in Rome in the yeare 1376. which had continued from thence in Fraunce 71. yeares After the death of this Pope was created Vrbano sexto Shortly after at Fondi ten Cardinals who said Vrbano was not well chosen elected Clemente octauo Then the Genouesi who diuers yeares had liued vnder gouernment of the Visconti rebelled Betwixt them and the Venetians for the Iland called Tenedo grew Warres of great importance and deuided all Italy In these Warres was great Shot and Artillarie first seene as Instruments then newly deuised by the Almaines And albeit the Genouesi had for a time in this Warre the aduantage and diuers moneths besieged Venice yet in the end the Venetians had the better and by mediation of the Pope made peace in the yeare 1381. Then chaunced a schisme in the Church and Queene Giouanna fauored the Antipope for which cause Vrbano practised an enterprise against her and sent Carlo Durezzo descended of the Kings of Napoli into the Kingdome who there arriued possessed himselfe and forced the Queene to flye vnto â—â—aunce The French King therewith offended sent Lodouico de Angio into Italy to recouer the Kingdome for the Queene remooue the Pope Vrbano and put the Antipope into possession but Lodouico in the midst of this enterprice died and his Souldiers returned into Fraunce The Pope in the meane while went vnto Napoli where hee imprisoned nine Cardinals for hauing followed the faction of France and the Antipope That done he quarelled vvith the king for not hauing made a nephew of his Prince of Capoua yet faining not to force much thereof desired to haue Nocera for his dvvelling vvhere aftervvards he assembled great forces and practised to depriue the king The king then marching tovvards him the Pope tarried not but fled to Genoua vvhere he executed those Cardinals vvhom he had before imprisoned From thence he vvent to Rome and there to giue himselfe reputation created 28. Cardinals At this time vvent Carlo king of Napoli to Vngaria and vvas created king and shortly after slaine hauing left in Napoli his vvife vvith tvvo children Ladislao and Giouanna At this time also Giouanni Galiazzo Visconti had murdered Barnabo his vncle taken into his hands the state of Milan And not content vvith the Dukedome of all Lombardy he sought to be also Lord of Toscana But vvhen he hoped to haue taken the possession and be crovvned king of Italy died Next vnto Vrbano sexto succeeded Bonifacio nono Then died also in Auignion the Antipope Clemente septimo And in his place vvas elected Benedetto 13. In these dayes liued in Italy many souldiers of forreine nations English men Almains and Britaines brought thither partly by those Princes vvho many times had serued in Italy and partly sent by the Popes vvhen they remained at Auignion Against these people the princes of Italy long time made vvarre and at length Lodouico da Conio arose vvho making a company of Italians calling the same S. Giorgio their vertue discipline tooke from the straungers all reputation and brought the same to the Italians of vvhom euer after the princes of Italy in all their vvars vvere serued The Pope by reason of the controuersie betwixt him and the
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
Attila being arriued in Italy besieged Aquilegia where without resistance hee continued two yeares and during the siege spoyled the country thereabouts and dispersed the inhabitants of the same which as hereafter shalbe declared was the beginning of the citie of Vinegia After the taking ruine of Aquilegia and many other cities he marched towards Rome from the spoyle whereof at the request of the Bishop he refrained The reuerence respect which Attila did bear towards this Bishop was such as perswaded him to leaue Italy and retire himselfe to Austria where he died After his death Velamer king of the Ostrogotti and other the leaders of forraine nations tooke Armes against Tenrico and Eurie his sonnes the one of them they slew and constrained the other with the Vnni to returne ouer Danubio into their owne countrey The Ostrogotti and the Tepedi were setled in Pannonia the Eruli and Turingi vpon the shoare on the other side of Danubio King Attila thus departed from Italy Valentiniano the Emperour in the West imagining to repaire the countrey and hoping with more commoditie to defend the same from the barbarous people abandoned Rome and setled himselfe in Rauenna These aduersities happened to the Empyre in the West occasioned the Emperours who then dwelt at Constantinople many times to graunt the possession thereof to others as a thing full of perils and expence And the Romanes otherwhiles seeing themselues abandoned without leaue created an other Emperour or some deputie to performe that office as did Massimo the Romane after the death of Valentiniano who constrained Eudossa lately wife to the Emperour to take him to her husband This woman beeing borne of Emperiall blood desirous to reuenge so great an iniurie and disdaining to bee married with a priuate Citizen secretly perswaded Genserico King of the Vandali and Lord of Affrica to come into Italy shewing him the facilitie and profit of that enterprise Hee enticed with hope of so great a spoyle came speedily thither and finding Rome abandoned sacked the Towne and there remained foureteene dayes Hee also tooke and spoyled diuerse other Townes in Italy and fraughting himselfe and his Army with spoyle returned into Affrica The Romanes came home to Rome and finding Massimo dead elected Auito a Romane for Emperour After the death of diuerse other Emperours the Empire of Constantinople came to the hands of Zenone and that of Rome to Oreste and his sonne Augustolo who through subtiltie had vsurped that Empyre While these men thus possessed and determined to holde the Empyre by force the Eruli and Turingi who as is aforesayd after the death of Attila remained vppon the shoare on the other side of Danubio conspired togither vnder the conduct of their Captaine Odoacre came into Italy and possessed such places as were by them left voyd Then the Longobardi people also toward the North entered Italy ledde thither by Godolio their King who were as heereafter shall be declared the greatest plague of that countrey Odoacre arriued in Italy conquered the same and neare vnto Pauia slew Oreste forcing Augustolo to flie away After which victorie to the ende that Rome varying in gouernment the gouernour might receiue a new title Odoacre leauing the name of the Empire caused himselfe to be called King of Rome and was the first Captaine of all the forraine people that inuaded Italy to inhabit there Because all the others either for feare not to enioy that they had gotten or else doubting to be driuen out by the Emperour in the East either else for some other hidden occasion onely spoyled the country and that done sought to plant their habitation elsewhere Thus we see that in those dayes the ancient Romane Empire was reduced to the gouernment of these Princes Zenone remaining in Constantinople commaunded all the Empire in the East The Ostrogotti gouerned Mesia and Pannonia The Visigotti Sueui and Alani possessed Guascognia and Spaine The Vandoli ruled Affrica The Franchi and Burgundi liued in France The Eruli and Turingi remained in Italy The kingdome of Ostrogotti came to the handes of Theodorico Nephewe of Velamer beeing in league with Zenone Emperour in the East wrote vnto him that it seemed a thing vniust to his people the Ostrogotti that they beeing in vertue superiours to all others should be inferiours in Empyre And therfore he could not by any meanes hold them within the consines of Pannonia It seemed therefore necessarie to suffer them to take armes and seeke new Countries But first hee thought good to let him vnderstand thereof to the intent hee might graunt them some country where with his good fauour and their greater commoditie they might inhabite The Emperour Zenone partly for feare and partly for the desire hee had to haue Odoacre driuen out of Italy graunted that Theodorico might come against Odoacre and take the possession thereof Then Theodorico departed from Pannonia leauing there the Zepedi his friends and being arriued in Italy slew Odoacre and his sonne by whose example hee tooke vnto him the title of King of Italy making Rauenna his royall seate moued by the same reasōs that induced Valentiniano there to dwell Theodorico was a man both for warre and peace moste excellent for in the one hee was alwaies victorious and in the other generally profited the cities and people to him subiect Hee diuided the Ostrogotti with their Captaines into sundry townes to the end that in the warre hee might commaund them and in the peace correct them hee enlarged the Citie of Rauenna and restored Rome in all thinges the discipline of warre except giuing to the Romanes euerie other honour with his only authoritie kept in awe all the barbarous Kings vsurpers of the Empyre Hee built townes and sortresses betweene the Alpes and the point of the sea Adriatico the rather to empeach the passage of other barbarous people that should assaile Italy And had not his great vertue bene in the end of his life blotted with some cruelties committed vppon suspition of his kingdome as the death of Simmaco and Boetio men of most godly life he had bene in all respects worthy of honour and memorie For the vertue and bountie of him did not only repaire Rome and Italy of the afliction committed by the barbarous nations but also reduced them into an order and gouernment moste fortunate And surely if any times were euer in Italy and the other Prouinces there-abouts by reason of barbarous oppression miserable they were those which happened from the time of Arcadio and Onorio till his dayes For who so shall consider the great mischiefs which happen to cōmon weales by the variatiō of gouernment or change of the Prince without any dissention and diuision shall finde the same alone of force inough to ruine any state or kingdome how mightie soeuer It may therefore be imagined how great miseries the Romane Prouinces endured for they did not only alter their gouernment but also their lawes their customes their maner of life
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
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
assault him and in the night kill him determined forthwith to flie and so saue himselfe So as contrarie to the counsell of the gouernours and others of his faction he presently fled with his men to the Citie of Prato So soone as hee came thither finding himselfe out of feare being in a place of securitie remembred how great an errour he had committed and desirous to amend the same the next morning earely marched with his men towards Florence offering to enter the Citie by force which by cowardise hee had abandoned but that attempt tooke no successe for the people which with difficultie might haue driuen him away with facilitie could hold him out So that with great sorow and shame he went vnto Casentino and the Ghibilini to their vilages Thus the people remained with victorie and for the comfort of those which loued the common wealth determined to reunite the citie and call home all citizens as well Ghibilini as Guelfi by meanes whereof the Guelfi after sixe yeares absence from the citie were returned And the Ghibilini notwithstanding the memorie of their late iniurie were pardoned and put in their country yet much hated both of the people and the Guelfi for these could not forget their exile and those remembred too much the tyrannie which was vsed during their authoritie which things caused that neither the one nor the other were contented While in this forme the Florentines liued it was reported that Corradino nephew to Manfredi should come with forces from Germany to the conquest of Napoli Whereupon the Ghibilini tooke heart and hope thereby to recouer their authoritie And the Guelfi began to thinke how they might assure themselues of their enemies for which purpose they praied king Carlo to defend them in the time of Corradino his passage The souldiers of Carlo being in march made the Guelfi insolent and amazed the Ghibilini so much that two dayes before they arriued without any violence offered they fled The Ghibilini thus departed the Florentines reordeined the state of their citie elected twelue chiefe men to be magistrates and gouerne their citie for two moneths whom they called not Antiani but Buoni Homini Next vnto them they appointed a Councell of fourescore Citizens which they called La Credenza After them were an hundreth and fourescore Commoners who with the Credenza and the twelue Buoni Homini were called the Councell generall They ordeined moreouer one other Councell of a hundreth and twentie Citizens of the Comonaltie and Nobilitie mixed which should giue perfection confirmation to al things determined in the other Councels This gouernment thus setled the faction of the Guelfi togither with the Magistrates fortified the citie to the end they might the better defend themselues from the Ghibilini whose goods they diuided into three parts the one they imployed to publike vses the second was giuen to the Captaines the third diuided amongst the Guelfi in recompence of their losses The pope also to maintain the Guelfi in Toscana ordeined the King Carlo to bee Lieftenant Emperiall of that countrey The Florentines thus holding themselues in reputation by vertue of these new orders gouerned all things well with their lawes at home and with their armes abroad Then died the Pope and after long disputation in the end of two yeares Gregorio decimo was elected who hauing bene long time in Soria and was at the time of his election did not make so great account of the factions as his predecessors had done But returning home towards France being arriued at Florence to performe the office of a good Pastor sought to vnite that citie wherein he preuailed so farre with the Florentines as they were content that Commissioners for the Ghibilini might be receiued into Florence to solicit the return of their faction which was concluded Notwithstanding the Ghibilini were so terrified as they durst not come home The Pope laid the fault thereof to the citie and being offended did excommunicate the same In which displeasure the Florentines continued all the life of that Pope but after his death the citie was absolued by Pope Innocentio quinto to whom succeeded Nicholao tertio descended of the house of Orsini And because the Popes had alwaies in suspition those that aspired to greatnes in Italy although by the fauour of the church they were thereunto atteined sought alwaies to put them backe Therof grew many tumults and often variations for the feare of him that was become strong occasioned the aduancement of an other that was weake who beeing likewise growne vp was forthwith feared and being feared cast downe This was the cause that ocsioned the kingdome to be taken from Manfredi and giuen to Carlo This was also that which caused the Pope to mistrust Carlo and seek his distruction Nicholao tertio then for the reasons beforesaid sound meanes through the helpe of the Emperour that the gouernment of Toscana was taken from Carlo and in his place hee sent thither Latino his Legate At that time Florence remained in verie hard estate because the Nobilitie of the Guelfi were become insolent and feared not the Magistrates so as euerie of them committed murthers and other violences without any iustice or punishment of those that committed the same because they were alwaies by one or other great person fauoured To bridle this great insolencie it was by the chiefe of the people thought good to reuoke such as were banished which gaue opportunitie to the Legate to reunite the citie and the Ghibilini returned home In the place of twelue gouernours there were foureteene made for euerie part seuen to gouerne the cittie during one yeare and they to be elected by the Pope Florence continued in this order of gouernment two yeares Then Pope Martino aspired to the Papacie who being a French man restored vnto king Carlo all that authoritie which the Pope Nicholao had taken from him wherby the factions in Toscana were suddeinly reuiued For the Florentines tooke Armes against the Emperours Gouernour to depriue the Ghibilini of the gouernment therewith also to hold the great men in awe they ordeined a new forme of gouernment The yeare 1282. beeing come the companies of the Misteries hauing receiued their Magistrates Ensigns became greatly esteemed They among themselues elected in the place of the fourteene three Citizens to remaine two moneths gouernours of the common-weale and called them Priori who might be either Commoners or Gentlemen so that they were Merchants of some Misterie Afterwards the chiefe Magistracie was reduced to sixe men so as in euery part of the citie there might be one which order continued till the yeare 1342. At which time the cittie was diuided into quarters and the number of Priori encreased to nine and diuerse times in that meane while by reason of some accident they were in number twelue This Office was the meane as shall hereafter appeare that the Nobilitie was ruined for then by many occasions they were excluded and afterwards
helpe him for not hurting himselfe returned backe Corso thus ending his life which happened in the yeare 1308. was the cause that all tumults ceased and the citie continued quiet till such time as intelligence was giuen that Arrigo the Emperour who fauoured by the Florentine Rebelles was come into Italy followed by them and intending to put them againe in possession of their country For preuenting of which mischiefe the Magistrates of the citie thought good to call home all those that had not bene by speciall name banished whereby the number of their enemies should be the lesse The greater number that remained in exile were Ghibilini and some fewe of the faction Bianca among whom were Dante Alighieri the sonnes of Veri de Cerchi and Giano della Bella. They sent also for aide to Roberto King of Napoli which not obteined at his hand as their friend they were enforced to giue him the citie for fiue yeares to the end he might defend them as his subiects Then the Emperour passed into Italy and by the way of Pisa went to Rome there to be crowned in the yeare 1312. Afterwards determining to reforme Florence hee returned thither by Perugia and Arezzo and lodged his Campe at the Monastery of S. Salui distant one myle from the citie where he remained fiftie dayes without any good done and therfore as desperate of successe remoued to Pisa where he agreed with Federigo King of Sicilia to assault the kingdom of Napoli Being with his Army there arriued in great hope of victorie and the King Roberto in great feare of his distruction at Buouconuento he died It happened shortly after that Vguccione di Faggiola became Prince of Pisa and not long after of Lucca brought thither by the faction of Ghibilini with whose aide he greatly iniured his neighbours Amongst whom the Florentines to be deliuered gaue vnto the brother of King Roberto the gouernment of their Army Vguccione on the other side for the encreasing of his power laboured continually till by force and subtiltie he had gotten many Castles in the vale of Arno and Nieuole Then marching towards Monte Catini with intent to besiege the same the Florentines thought it necessarie to rescue that place least the losse thereof might disturbe the whole countrey Then assembling a great Army they passed into the vale Nieuole where they fought with Vguccione and in the end of their battaile two thousand or more of their men were slaine with Piero the Kings brother their Generall whose bodie afterwards was neuer found neither was this victorie without losse to Vguccione whose sonne was also killed with many Captaines and Leaders of his Armie The Florentines after this ouerthrow fortified the townes about them and the King Roberto sent them a new Generall called Andrea Earle Nouello By whose gouernment or rather by the naturall inclination of the Florentines discontented with euerie state and diuided by euerie accident notwithstanding the warres they lately had with Vguccione fell to faction The one part whereof called themselues the Kings friends the other the Kings enemies The chiefe of the Kings enemies were Simon della Tosa the house of Magalotti with certaine other populer men in whom rested the chiefe of the gouernment These men found meanes to send into France and Germany to leauie Captaines and souldiers to remoue the Earle Andrea Gouernour for the King But their fortune was such as could not bring to passe that they desired yet did they not abandon the enterprise but beeing disappointed both by France and Germany they found out a Gouernour in Agobio and before his comming remoued Andrea Lando de Agobio being come was made their minister or rather their hangman hauing receiued absolute authoritie ouerall the citizens He being a man couetous and cruell accompanied with his souldiers all armed visited euerie streete murthering euerie man whom those that elected him would require Yea such was his insolencie that he caused false mony to be quoined with the stampe of Florence and no man durst gainsay the doing therof so great was the authoritie whereunto the discord of the citie had brought him Great and lamentable was the estate of this towne which neither the memorie of passed diuision neither the feare of Vguccione nor the authoritie of the King could reforme In most miserable plight it then remained when the country abroad was spoyled by Vguccione and the citie within by Lando of Agobio sacked The Kings friends were all contrary to Lando and his followers Likewise all Noble houses the chiefe of the people al the Guelfi Notwithstanding because the aduerse party had the gouernment they could not without perill to themselues be discouered Yet resoluing to be deliuered from so dishonest a tyrannie they wrote secretly vnto the King Roberto to make the Earle Guido Buttifolle his Lieftenant in Florence which the King presently did and the aduerse part notwithstanding that the Senators were contrarie to the King durst not for the respect they bare to the Earle finde fault But the Earle had not therby much authoritie because the Senators the Gonfaloniere were by Lando and his partie fauoured During the continuance of these troubles in Florence the daughter of King Alberto comming from Germany passed that way in her iourny towards Carlo the sonne of Roberto her husband She was greatly honoured by the Kings friends and they imparted vnto her the state of the citie and the tyrannie of Lando with his followers In so much as by the fauour of her before her departure the citie was pacified Lando remoued from his authoritie and with riches blood and spoile sent home to Agobio The gouernment also of the King ouer the citie for three yeares was continued And whereas there had bene before seuen Senators elected by Lando six more were chosen for the King so the Magistrates were for a time thirteene After they were reduced to the auncient number of seuen About this time Vguccione was depriued of his authoritie in Lucca Pisa and Castruccio Castracani from a priuate Cittizen aspired to be Lord of Lucca for hee being a yoong man of great courage in euerie enterprise fortunate became in short space the principall Leader of all the Chibilini in Toscana For which respect the Florentines setting aside priuate discord deuised with themselues by what meanes Castruccio might be kept downe and how his forces alreadie growne might be resisted And to the end that the Senators might with better counsell be aduised with more authoritie execute the same they elected twelue Cittizens whome they called Boni Homini without whose consent and counsell the Senators might not do any thing of importance In this mean while the gouernment of king Roberto was expired the citie became Prince ouer it selfe with the auncient Magistrates and gouernors therof Also the great feare they had of Castruccio did hold the same vnited hee hauing done many things against the Lords of Lunigiana and assembled Prato The
and remooue the siege But after a long warre the Florentines were forced with losse of their money and honour to depart and the Pisani became Lords of the Citie The losse of this Towne as in like cases it euer happeneth made the people of Florence greatly offended with those that gouerned whome in euerie Market place they defamed accusing them of couetousnesse and vnaduised counsell At the beginning of this warre the authoritie thereof was giuen to twentie Citizens who elected Malatesta of Rimini for their Generall He gouerned the same with small courage and lesse wisedome They also praied aide of Roberto King of Napoli who sent vnto them Gualtieri Duke of Athene and as fortune would prepairing all things for future mischiefe arriued in Florence at the same instant when the enterprise of Lucca was vtterly lost Whereupon the twentie seeing the people displeased thought by chusing a new Captaine to bring them into new hope And to the end that the Duke of Athene might with more authoritie defende them they created him first their Defender and after gaue him the title of Captaine Generall ouer their men at Armes The great Cittizens who for the occasions beforesaid liued discontent and many of them hauing also acquaintance with Gualtieri at such time as they gouerned Florence in the name of Carlo Duke of Calauria thought the time was come to alter the state oppresse the people who had so long oppressed thē For the bringing of that to passe they thought good to reduce the gouernment vnder one Prince who knowing their vertue the insolencie of the people might reward the one and punish the other They might also hope the more of the Princes fauour if he by their meanes aspired to that dignitie To compasse this intention they manie times met in secret perswaded the Duke to take the gouernment offering to aide him to the vttermost of their powers With these Gentlemen ioyned some populer families as the Perussi Acciaiuoli Antellesi and Buonacorsi who being greatly indebted and not able to paie of their owne desired with the seruitude of their country and the goods of others to deliuer themselues from the daunger of their creditors Those perswasions mooued the ambitious minde of the Duke to great desire of gouernment and the rather to make himselfe beloued and accounted vpright therewith also to winne the fauoure of the people hee persecuted those that had gouerned the warres of Lucca and put to death Giouan de Medici Naddo Ruccellati and Guglielmo Altouiti many also were banished and manie in money condemned These executions amazed much those of the meane sort onelie the Gentlemen and basest people were therewith satisfied These because their nature is to reioyce at euill and those for that thereby their iniuries receiued of the people were reuenged When so euer the Duke passed the streetes his fauourers would publiquely speake to his honour and wish that the fraude of the Citizens might be by him examined and punished The office of the twentie thus became disesteemed the reputation of the Duke growne great and all men for feare or affection seemed to honour him And in token thereof set the Dukes Armes vpon their houses In so much as this Duke wanted nothing that belonged to absolute authoritie sauing the title of Prince Then he perswaded himselfe that whatsoeuer he attempted might be safely done and therefore sent vnto the Senators letting them vnderstand that for the better gouernment of the citie it behoued him to haue the full absolute authoritie gouernment and seeing that all the rest of the Citizens were therto consenting he desired that therwith they would be also pleased The Senators albeit that long before they had foreseene the ruine of their Countrey yet were they all with this request greatly troubled And though they knew also the perill yet not to omit the dutie to their Countrey they boldly denied the Duke This Duke to make himselfe be thought the more religious and well disposed did choose for his dwelling the Monasterie of Saint Croce and being desirous to execute his euill intent hee caused to be published by proclamation that his pleasure was the people should resort vnto him at the gate of the saide Monasterie This proclamation amazed the Senate much more then the message deliuered them by word Wherefore they thought good to ioyne with those Cittizens whome they knew to be louers of their Countrey Neither did they thinke knowing the Dukes forces that there was other remedie to diuert the Duke from the enterprise then to entreate him and so make proofe what effect faire words might worke to perswade him to vse himselfe in the gouernment more mildly Then went certaine of the Senators vnto the Duke and one of them spake as followeth My Lord we are come hither first moued by your Graces request and next by your commandement to assemble the people For it seemeth a thing certaine that you intend to obteine that extraordinarily whereunto by ordinarie meanes wee haue not consented Our meaning is not by force to hinder your designes but onely laie before you how greeuous a burthen you put vpon vs and how perillous an action you take in hand To the end you may hereafter remember our Councels and waigh the same with theirs who not for your profit but for the execution of their owne furie haue counselled you You labour to bring this citie in bondage which hath euer liued in libertie For that authoritie which we haue graunted to the Princes of Napoli was companie and not subiection Haue you considered of what importaunce and how ioyfull a thing the name of libertie is in euerie Cittie like vnto this The vertue whereof no force can subdue no time can consume nor no merite can deserue Consider my Lord how great forces it behoueth you to haue to hold so great a Citie in seruitude Those straungers whome you haue enterteined bee not of force sufficient and these that be within the walles are not to be trusted For such as be now your friends haue counselled you to this enterprise so soone as they haue with your authoritie beaten down their enemies wil seek also by what means they may to oppresse you make themselues Princes The base multitude also in whom you trust vpon euery accident be it neuer so litle do chaunge their opiniō So that in short time you may looke to find this citie your foe which shall be the ruine thereof and yours also Neither can you find remedie for such a mischief sith those Princes onely can gouern securely who haue few enemies because those few either by death or exile may easily be remoued But against vniuersall hatred no assurance can be found because you know not where the mischiefe groweth And who so feareth euery man cannot assure himselfe of any man Also if you seeke to be assured of others you enuiron your selfe with perils because those that remain do hate you the more and are the more readie to
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
vpon Notwithstanding Gherardo being still sollicited by the King at length consented to the practise And hauing concluded the same the King sent to the Vale of Bagno a Knight of Ierusalem called Puccio and with him diuerse bands of souldiers to take possession of the Castles and Townes belonging to Gherardo But those people of Bagno being affectionate to the Florentines verie vnwillinglie promised their obedience to the Kings Commissaries Puccio hauing taken possession of all that state wanted onely to possesse himselfe of the fortresse of Corzano When Gherardo deliuered this possession there was present among many others one called Antonio Gualandi of Pisa a yong man verie valiant and such a one as was with the treason of Gherardo greatly discontented He considering the scite of the fortresses and finding by the countenance of those souldiers who guarded it that they were likewise displeased While Gherardo stood at the gate to let in the Kings souldiers Antonio came betwixt him and the Castle and with both his hands forcibly thrust him out commaunding the Guard to shut the gates against so wicked a Traytor and keepe the same to the vse of the Florentines This rumor being heard in the Vale of Bagno and other places neare vnto it all the people tooke armes against the King and followed the Florentines ensigne This matter aduertised to Florence the Florentines caused the sonne of Gherardo remaining with them in hostage to be put in prison and sent souldiers to Bagno to defend the countrey for them changing that gouernment from a principalitie into a Vicariato But Gherardo hauing thus betraied both his Lords and his owne sonne with great difficultie fled leauing his wife his daughter and his substance at the discretion of the enemy This accident stood the Florentines greatly in stead For if the King had possessed that Countrey he might with small charge and easily haue gotten the Vale of Teueri and spoiled Casentino whereby he should haue so much troubled the state that the Florentines could not haue bene able to encounter the forces of Arragon which remained at Siena The Florentines besides their owne preparation in Italy the rather to oppresse their enemies had sent Agnolo Acciaiuoili Embassador to the French King to perswade him to licence Rinato de Angio to come in the aide of the Duke and them By which meanes he should defend his friends and afterwards being in Italy attend the surprizing of the Kingdome whereunto they offered him aide both of men and money During the warres in Lombardy and in Toscana as is before said the Embassador concluded with King Rinato of Angio that before the end of Iune he should come into Italy with two thousand and foure hundred horse and that at his arriuall in Alessandria the League should giue him thirtie thousand Florins readie paiment and euery moneth after during the warres tenne thousand The King then by vertue of this league comming into Italy was by the Duke of Sauoia and the Marquesse of Monferato impeached for they being friends to the Venetians would not permit him to passe Whereupon the King was perswaded by the Embassador of Florence to returne to Prouenza with certaine of his army and from thence to passe into Italy by sea And on the other side to perswade with the French King to procure so much fauour of that Duke that the rest of his souldiers might come through Sauoia According to this counsell the matter was handled and the King Rinato went by Sea into Italy conueying the rest of his Army through Sauoia by the French Kings mediation The King Rinato was by the Duke Francesco most honorably receiued and hauing ioyned the Italian forces with the Kings they assaulted the Venetians with so great furie that within short space they recouered all those Townes in Cremonesi which they had before lost and not so content they surprized almost all the countrey of Brescia The Venetian army fearing to tarry in the field retired to the walles of Brescia But the winter being come the Duke thought good to withdraw his souldiers to their lodgings appointing for the Kings aboad the Cittie of Piacenza where he remained all that winter in the yeare 1453. without any other action performed So soone as the time of yeare serued and that the Duke was going to the field in hope to dispossesse the Venetians of the rest of their Countries vpon the firme land the King Rinato signified vnto him that of necessitie he was to returne into Fraunce This intention of the Kings seemed to the Duke not onely strange but also vnlooked for and therefore greatly offended him and albeit he went in person presently to disswade him yet neither his intreatie nor promises could take effect but onely promised to leaue behinde him part of his forces and to send his sonne Giouanni to supplie his place in seruice of the League This resolution grieued not the Florentines for they hauing recouered their Castles feared not the King any longer And on the other side they desired that the Duke should not recouer more then the townes in Lombrdy to him belonging The King Rinato being gone sent according to promise his sonne into Italy who stayed not in Lombardy but went presently vnto Florence where he was very honorably receiued The matter thus handled by the King did occasion the Duke to be content with peace and the Venetians Alfonso and the Florentines being likewise wearied desired the same The Pope also by all meanes laboured to bring it to passe bicause the same yeare Mahumetto the great Turk had taken Constantinople and made himselfe Lord of all Greece which victorie terrified greatly all Christians but chiefely the Venetians and the Pope who thought Italy was thereby in great danger The Pope therefore desired the Potentates of Italy to send Embassadors vnto him with authoritie to establish an vniuersall peace which commission was performed and notwithstanding that altogither they ioyned and seemed all to allow of the motion they found neuerthelesse therein great difficultie The King required that the Florentines should pay his charges in the warre past and the Florentines would be paid themselues The Venetians demaunded Cremona of the Duke and the Duke asked of them Bergamo Brescia and Crema so that these difficulties seemed impossible to be remoued notwithstanding that which at Rome seemed hard to be concluded at Milan and Venice prooued easie For when at Rome the peace vniuersall was practised the Duke and the Venetians betwixt themselues made an agreement on the ninth of Aprill in the yeare 1451. By vertue whereof euery of them should repossesse those townes which were theirs before the warre And it was graunted to the Duke that he might recouer his townes taken from him by the Lords of Monferato and Sauoia And to the other Princes of Italy one moneth was allowed to ratifie the same The Pope the Florētines the Sanesi and the lesser Potentates within the time appointed made their ratification
were laid before them They then thus minded imparted all their intent to Francesco Saluiati Archbishop of Pisa who being ambitious and lately iniured by the Medici willinglie condiscended And examining among themselues what was to be done they agreed for the more speedie performing of the action to drawe thereinto Giacopo de Pazzi without whome they thought nothing could be performed It was then supposed good that for this purpose Francesco de Pazzi should goe to Florence and the Archbishop and the Earle remaine at Rome to sollicite the Pope when need required Francesco being come to Giacopo found him more respectiue and hard to be perswaded then they would haue him and aduertising the same to Rome it was thought fit to draw him with more authoritie Whereupon the Archbishop and the Earle opened all the matter to Giouanbattista da Montesecco one of the Popes Captaines He being a man of warre well esteemed was also beholding to the Pope and the King Neuerthelesse he iudged the matter hard full of danger and difficulties which the Archbishop laboured to remoue by telling him what aide the Pope and King would giue to the enterprise Also he alleaged that the Citizens of Florence did hate the Medici and the Saluiati and Pazzi would help to kill them which was the more easie to do by reason they walked in the Cittie vnaccompanied and without suspect Therefore if Giuliano and Lorenzo were dead the State might easily be changed All which reasons Giouanbattista beleeued not hearing many Florentines affirme the contrarie While these matters were in consideration it happened Carlo of Faenza fell so sick as euerie man feared his death It was then thought good to the Archbishop and the Earle to take occasion to send Giouanbattista to Florence and from thence to Romagna vnder pretence to recouer certaine Townes which the Lord of Faenza had taken from them The Earle therfore commaunded Giouanbattista to speake with Lorenzo and in his name desire counsell how the matters of Romagna might be handled after to deale with Francesco de Pazzi and then they togither to perswade Giacopo di Pazzi to be of their mind And bicause he should carrie with him the authoritie of the Pope they procured him to speake with his holinesse who offered to further the enterprise with all his power Giouanbattista arriued at Florence went vnto Lorenzo of whome he was curteously receiued and in all his demaunds wisely and friendly counselled Whereof Giouanbattista meruailed finding him an other man then he was reported to be for he perceiued him to be curteous wise and a friend to the Earle notwithstanding he thought fit to talke with Francesco but he being gone to Lucca communed with Giacopo whome at the first he found farre from the matter yet before they parted with the authoritie of the Pope somewhat moued and said to Giouanbattista that he should goe into Romagna and in the meane space Francesco would become home and then more particulerly they would reason how all things should be handled Giouanbattista went and returned and still coÌ„tinued to enterteine Lorenzo with his dissimuled busines for the Earle and after conferred with Giacopo and Francesco de Pazzi with whom he perswaded so farre that they consented to the enterprise Then they reasoned of the manner how to performe it and Giacopo thought it vnpossible both the brethren being in Florence and therfore thought best to tarry til Lorenzo went to Rome which was thought he would and then to execute the matter Francesco liked well that Lorenzo should goe to Rome but if he did not go thither yet either at some wedding in the Church or at the time of some sport they might be both slaine And touching forreine aide he thought the Pope might assemble forces pretending the enterprise of the Castle of Montone hauing iust occasion to take it froÌ„ Carlo bicause he had moued rebellion in the countries belonging to Siena and Perugia Yet was nothing fully concluded but that Francesco de Pazzi and Giouanbattista should go to Rome and there with the Earle and the Pope determine all things This matter was againe practised in Rome and in the end a resolution set downe the enterprise of Montone being determined that Ciouan Francesco da Tolentino the Popes souldier should goe to Romagna and Lorenzo di Castello to his countrey and either of them with their men be readie to do whatsoeuer by the Archbishop Saluiati Francesco de Pazzi should be coÌ„maunded who with Giouanbattista de Montesecco should go to FloreÌ„ce and make prouisioÌ„ of all things for the execution of the enterprise whereunto the king Ferrando by his Embassador promised some aide The Archbishop and Francesco de Pazzi arriued at Florence perswaded vnto the conspiracie Giacopo di Poggio a yong man well learned but ambitious delighting in change They perswaded also the two Giacopi Saluiati one was brother the other nephew to the Archbishop They perswaded likewise Barnardo Bandini and Napolione two valiant yong men borne in Fraunce yet affectionat to the family of Pazzi Of strangers besides those we haue named they perswaded Antonio di Volterra and one other called Steffano a Priest who taught the latin toong to the daughter of Giacopo Rinato de Pazzi being a wise and graue man and such a one as knew the inconuenients that followed like enterprises would not consent to the conspiracie but by all honest meanes he could impeached the same The Pope had in the Vniuersitie of Pisa mainteined Raffaello de Riario nephew to the Earle Girolamo to learne the Cannon lawes where he continued till the Pope aduanced him to the dignitie of Cardinall The conspirators thought fit to bring this Cardinall to Florence whose coÌ„ming should couer the conspiracie hoping to harbour in his house those conspirators whom they had need of and thereby take occasion to performe their inteÌ„t The Cardinall being desired came and was by Giacopo de Pazzi receiued at Montughi his towne neare vnto FloreÌ„ce The conspirators desired by his occasion to assemble Lorenzo and Giuliano and so to kill them They found meanes then that they should feast the Cardinall at their towne of Fiesole whither Giuliano either by hap or purpose came not so as that appointment failed Then determined they to conuite them in Florence whither of necessitie they must come and so they tooke order to make the feast on Sundâ—y the 26. of Aprill 1478. The conspirators thus determined to murther them at the feast on Saterday night they met togither to take order for the execution of the murther the next day The day being come Francesco was aduertised that Giuliano would not be there For which consideration the conspirators met againe and concluded that it stood them vpon to bring the matter to execution bicause it was impossible being knowne to so many but it would be reuealed wherefore they determined to kill him in the Cathedrall Church of S. Reparata where the Cardinall being both the bretheren according to their custome
and beganne to deuise rather how hee might winne him for a friend then continue him an enemie Notwithstanding for diuerse causes hee enterteined him from December till Marche not onelie to make the more triall of him but also of his Cittie For Lorenzo wanted not enemies in Florence who desired that the King would haue holden him and enterteined Giacopo Piccinino and vnder colour of lamenting they speake their mindes Also in publique Councelles they opposed their opinions against Lorenzo By these deuises It was bruted that if the King woulde keepe Lorenzo long at Naples the gouernment in Florence should be chaunged Whiche was the onely cause that the King deferred his dispatch so long hoping there might some tumult arise in Florence But seeing that all thinges passed quietly on the sixt day of March in the yeare 1479. he had leaue to depart and before his departure was by the King so bountifully presented louingly vsed that betwixt Lorenzo the King their grew a perpetual amity preseruation of both their states Thus Lorenzo returned to Florence with greater reputation honor then he went thence was with so great ioy of the citie receiued as his great vertues new merits deserued hauing put his own life in hazard to recouer peace to his country For within two daies after his arriuall the treaty betwixt the common weale of Florence the King was proclaimed wherby they were both both bound to defend one the others country that the townes taken frō the Florentines in the war shuld be by the King restored And that the Pazzi imprisoned in the town of Volterra shuld be deliuered And that mony should be for a certaine time paide vnto the Duke of Calauria This peace being published did much offend the Pope the Venetians because the Pope thought he was litle esteemed of the King the Venetians as litle regarded of the Florentines who being their companions in the war thought themselues il vsed not to be partakers of the peace This indignation vnderstood and beleeued at Florence did sodeinly breed suspition in euerie man that of the peace wold arise a greater war Wherupon the Magistrates of the state determined to restraine the gouernment and that the affaires of most importance should be reduced into the hands of a lesse number and so ordeined a Councell of 70. Citizens with authoritie that they might proceed in matters of most importance This new ordinance staied the minds of those that desired innouation and to giue thereto countenance first of all they accepted the peace which Lorenzo had made with the King and sent vnto the Pope Antonio Ridolphi and Piero Nasi Neuertheles Alfonso Duke of Calauria did not remoue his army from Siena saying he was staied by the discord of the citizens there which was so great that he being lodged without the citie was called in and made iudge of their differents The Duke taking these occasions punished many of those citizens in mony imprisoning banishing others and some also were iudged to death In so much as by this meanes he became suspected not only to the Sanesi but the Florentines also mistrusted he would make himself Prince of that citie Wherof they knew no remedy cōsidering the new friendship of Florence with the King the enmitie of the Pope King Which suspition not only in the people of Florence generally who mistrustfully cōsider of all things but in the chief gouernors of the state appeared euery man imagining that our citie had neuer bin in so great danger to lose the liberty therof But God who had euer a particuler care therof caused an accident to happē vnlooked for which made the King the Pope the Venetians to think of greater matters thē these of Toscana Mahumetto great Turk was with a mighty army gone to the Isle of Rodi had many months assaulted it But notwithstanding his forces were great and his resolution to win the town greater yet was the vertue of those that defended the same greatest of all For Mahumetto notwithstanding his furious assaults was forced to depart with shame Thus the Turk being departed frō Rodi part of his army cōducted by Saccometto Bascia went towards Velona by the way either for that he saw the enterprise easie or because the Turk had so commanded passed by the coast of Italy sodeinly set 4000. men on land who assaulted the citie of Ottranto tooke it sacked it slew all the inhabitants therof which done by all the best means he could fortified both the citie the hauen Thē sent he for horsmen with them he forraged spoiled the coūtry round about The king seeing this assault knowing how great a prince had takē that enterprise in hād sent vnto al places to signify the same desired aid of thē al against the cōmon enimy Also speedily reuoked the Duke of Calauria with his forces frō Siena This assault thogh it grieued the duke the rest of Italy yet did the same cōfort Florēce Siena One hoping therby to recouer liberty th'other trusting the rather to shun those perils which made them to feare the losse of their libertie Which opinion was encreased by the vnwilling departure and lamentation of the Duke at his going from Siena accusing fortune that she by an vnlooked for and vnreasonable accident had taken frō him the dominion of Toscana The selfsame chance did alter the Popes mind for where before he refused to giue audience to all Florentines he was now become so curteous as he refused not to hear any that wold speak vnto him of the vniuersal peace Whereupon the Florentines were aduertised that if they would desire pardon of the Pope they might obteine it It was then thought good not to omit this occasion and 12. Embassadors were sent to the Pope who being arriued at Rome were by his holinesse before they had audience enterteined with diuers practises In the end it was betweene the parties concluded how either of them should afterwards liue in what sort either of them both in peace and war were to make contribution After this conclusion the Embassadors were admitted to present themselues at the Popes feete and he sitting in the midst of his Cardinals with exceeding great pomp receiued them These Embassadors excused all matters passed sometimes blaming necessitie sometimes the euil disposition of others sometimes the populer furie and the iust offence thereof saying they were most vnhappie being forced either to fight or die And because all things are endured to eschue death they had suffred war excommunicatiōs all other troubles which the matters passed had brought with thē And all to the end that their common weale might auoyd bondage which is the death of all free Cities Neuertheles if any error or enforced fault were committed they were ready to make satisfaction euer hoping in his goodnes who following the examples of the almightie Redeemer he would receiue them
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