come all the Cittie was in Armes and the Nobilitie made head on this side Arno in three places At the houses of Cauicciulli neare to S. Giouanni at the houses of the Pazzi and Donati in S. Piero Maggiore and at the houses of the Caualcanti in the newe Market The others beyonde Arno fortified the bridges and streetes next to their houses The Nerli at the bridge Caraia The Frescobaldi and Mannelli at S. Trinita The Rossi and Bardi at the olde bridge and the bridge Rubaconte defended themselues The people on the other part vnder the Gonfaloniere della Iustitia the Ensignes of companies assembled themselues Being thus prepared the people thought good no longer to delaie the fight The first that gaue the charge were the Medici and the Rondinegli who assaulted the Cauicciulli in that way which leadeth from the Court before S. Giouanni to their houses There the conflict was great by reason that from the Towers stones were cast downe to the harme of many below others with Crosse-bowes were sore hurt This fight continued three houres and still the people encreased Then the Cauicciulli seeing themselues by the multitude ouermatched and wanting aide yeelded to the people who saued their houses and their goods and tooke from them onely their weapons commanding them to diuide themselues and remaine in the houses of such Commoners as were their kinsfolks and friends This first troupe vanquished the Donati the Pazzi who being of lesse force were easily subdued Then remained only on this side Arno the Caualcanti who by men and the seat of the place were strong Neuerthelesse seeing all the Gonfalonieri against them and knowing the others to haue bene by three Gonfaloni vanquished without any great resistance yeelded Thus were three parts of the Cittie in the hands of the people one part more remained to the Nobilitie which was hard to be wonne by reason of the strength of them which defended it and the seat of the place it being so fortified with the riuer of Arno that the bridges must first of force be surprised which were defended in that sort as is beforesaid The people then knowing that there they laboured in vaine assaied to passe the bridge Rubaconte where finding the like difficultie they left for guard of those two bridges foure Gonfaloni and with the rest assaulted the bridge Caraia Where albeit the Nerli manfully defended themselues yet could they not withstand the furie of the people Both because the bridge wanting towers of defence was weak the Capponi with other populer families also assailed them In so much as being on euery side distressed they retired and gaue place to the people who forthwith likewise vanquished the Rosci by reason that all the people on the farre side of Arno ioyned with the victorious Then the Bardi were onely left whom neither the ouerthrow of others nor the vniting of the people against them nor the small hope they had of rescue could any whit amaze for they did choose rather to die fighting see their houses burnt and their goods spoyled then voluntarily submit themselues to the mercie of their enemies They therefore defended themselues with so great resolution that the people many times in vaine assaulted them both vpon the old bridge and vpon Rubaconte and were with death of many and the hurting of more repulsed There was in times past a lane whereby men passed from the way that leadeth towardes Rome by the house of the Pitti to go vnto S. Giorgio By this way the people sent six Gonfalonieri with commandement to assault the back side of the house of Bardi That assault made the Bardi to loose their hope and occasioned the people to assure themselues of victorie for so soone as those who defended the streetes knew their houses were assaulted they abandoned the fight and ranne to saue them This was the cause that the chaine of the old bridge was lost and that the Bardi on euerie side fled who were by the Quaratesi Panzanesi and Mozzi encountred The people in the meane while chiefly those of basest qualitie being greedie of spoyle sacked their houses razed their Towers and burned them with so great furie that euen he that is most foe to the Florentine name would haue bene ashamed to behold so great a crueltie The Nobilitie thus oppressed the people ordeined a gouernment And because the Cittizens were diuided into three sorts that is to say great men meane men and base men It was ordered that of the great men there should be two Senators of the meane men three and of the basest men three Also the Gonfalonieri should sometime be of the one and sometime of the other sort Moreouer the ordinances of Iustice against the Nobilitie were confirmed And to make the Nobilitie weaker they tooke some of that number and mixed them with the populer multitude This ruine of the Nobilitie was great and so much weakened their faction as after that time they durst neuer take armes against the people but continually remained poore and abiect of minde which was the occasion that Florence became spoyled not onely of armes but also of all generositie After this ruine the citie continued quiet till the yeare 1353. In which time happened that memorable plague whereof Giouan Boccacio with great eloquence hath written Of which died in Florence 96. thousand persons The Florentines made then the first warre with the Visconti occasioned by the ambition of the Archbishop then Prince of Milan That warre being ended beganne suddeinly new factions within the Citie And albeit the Nobilitie was destroyed yet fortune found meanes to raise vp new diuisions and new troubles The ende of the second Booke THE THIRD BOOKE THE greeuous and naturall enimities betwixt the people and Nobilitie through desire of the one to commaund and the other not to obey are causes of all euils which happen in euerie citie For of the diuersitie of these humours all other things which disturbe Common weales doo take their nutriment This was that which held Rome disunited And this if we may compare small matters to great was that which continued Florence diuided Notwithstanding in those two cities the diuisions did bring forth two sundrie effects For the enimitie of the people and Nobilitie in Rome was at the beginning ended by disputation but the diuision of the people and Nobilitie of Florence was with sword and slaughter determined That of Rome by lawe but that of Florence by exile and death of many Citizens was ended That of Rome did alwaies encrease the vertue militarie but that of Florence vtterly extinguished the same That of Rome from an equalitie of the Citizens to a great disequalitie reduced the citie but that of Florence frō disequalitie to a maruellous equalitie was changed Which diuersitie of effects must of force be occasioned by the diuerse ends which these two people had For the people of Rome desired not more then to participate the soueraigne honours with the Nobilitie
Common weale And albeit he had with diligence trauelled in these matters and to his power preuented all inconueniences yet the sinister disposition of men so greatly opposed it selfe to his iust indeuour that the way of well doing was stopped and their intent was altered not onely from determining well but also from hearing thereof Wherefore seeing that he could not do aniething more for the state or the common commoditie he knew not to what end he should continue longer in that office which either he deserued not or as it was thought of others he would not hereafter deserue For these respects he intended to retire home to the end the people might put in his roome some other of more vertue or greater fortune This speech ended he departed from the Councell towards his house such as were in the Councell his friends with some others also desirous of Innouation began to murmure Then the Senators and Colledges drew neare and finding their Gonfalone departing by entreatie and authoritie staied him and into the Councell being full of tumult perswaded him to returne where many noble Citizens were with words most iniurious threatned Among whom Carlo Strozzi was by an Artificer taken by the bozome and had bene slaine if the standers by had not saued him But that which stirred the greatest tumult and put the citie in armes was the motion of Benedetto Alberti who from the window of the Pallace cried aloude to the people to take armes Wherupon sodeinly all the Court was full of armed men By that mean the Colledges were forced by threatnings and feare to do that which being desired they would not In the meane time the Captaines of the factions had assembled many Citizens and consulted how to defend them against the order of the Senators But so soone as they heard the rumour appeased and vnderstood what was by the Councell resolued euerie man fled to his owne house For there is no man that moueth any alteration in a Citie that knoweth how either to worke it at his owne wil or suppresse it at his pleasure It was the intent of Saluestro to create a law appease the Citie but the matter fell out contrarie For the humours moued had chaunged euerie man so much that the shoppes were shut vp Citizens were assailed at their houses many conueyed their goods to Monasteries and hid them in Churches as though euerie one looked for some miserie at hand The companies of misteries assembled and euerie misterie elected a Sindaco Then the Priori called their Colledges and the Sindachi consulted with them how the Citie might be made quiet but their opinions being diuerse nothing was determined The next day following the misteries drew forth their Ensignes which the Senators knowing doubting that which happened called the Councels to put order but ere they were all assembled a tumult was begun and presently the Ensignes were come out followed by armed men to the Pallace Thereupon the Councell to giue hope of contentation to the misteries and the people and take from them the occasion of suspition gaue generall authoritie to the Senate the Colledges the Eight the Captaines of parts and the Sindachi to reforme the Cittie for common commoditie thereof While these matters were in hand certaine of the Ensignes of misteries with others of lesse qualitie thereby moued by some that desired reuenge of the last iniuries receiued of the Guelfi shrunke away from the rest and went vnto the house of Lapo di Castiglionichio sacking and burning the same He hearing that the Senate had done an enterprise contrarie to order taken by the Guelfi and seeing the people in armes hauing no other remedie but either hide himselfe or flie first hid him in Santa Croce after in the habit of a Frier fled into Casentino where he was heard complaine of himselfe for consenting to Piero delli Albizi and of Piero for that he would needs deferre to assure the state till the feast of S. Giouanni But Piero and Carlo Strozzi at the beginning of the vprore hid themselues thinking that the brunt past their friends and kinsfolkes were of force sufficient to continue them secure in Florence The house of Lapo being sacked because mischiefes are hardly begunne and easily encreased many other houses some for hate vniuersall and others by priuate displeasure were also spoiled and burned And the ministers of these mischiefes to make their companie the more forcible for the spoyling of other mens goods brake the Gayles let forth the prisoners They also sacked the Monasterie of Agnoli and S. Spirito where many Citizens had bestowed their goods Neither had the publique chamber of Florence escaped the hands of these disordered spoylers if one of the Senators had not taken vpon him the defence thereof who on horsebacke followed with some armed men resisted the furie of the multitude This populer madnesse partly by mediation of the Senate and partly for that the night drew on was appeased The next day the Balia restored fauour to the Citizens admonished with condition that within the next three yeares they should not be capable to exercise any office They also disanulled the lawes made by the Guelfi in preiudice of the Citizens They proclaimed Lapo di Castiglionichio and his companions Rebels and with them diuerse others hated of the multitude After these resolutions they published new Senators among whom Luigi Guicciardini was Gonfaloniere whereby hope was conceiued that all tumults wold cease because they were holden quiet men and louers of peace Notwithstanding the shops were kept shut the Citizens still armed and great watches throughout the citie charged For which cause the Senators receiued not their office without the Pallace with the pompe accustomed but within not vsing any ceremonie at all These Senators thought nothing so necessarie to be done at their entry into office as to procure a peace in the citie and therfore caused al armes to be laide downe the shops to be opened and the people of the countrey called thither in the fauour of Citizens to be dispatched away They ordeined Guards in many places of the citie so as if the Citizens admonished could haue liued content the people had bene quiet But they not willing to abide three yeares from honour did finde meane that for their satisfaction the misteries againe assembled and demanded of the Senate that for the good of the citie and quiet thereof no Cittizen might any more be admonished as a Ghibilino either by the Senators the Colledge Captaine or Consull Moreouer they required new Imborsation to be made of the Guelfi and the old to be burned These demands were presently accepted both by the Senate and all other Councels because thereupon it was supposed all newe tumults would cease But mans nature doth not onely content it selfe with his owne but will also couet other mens and be reuenged Those that hoped in the disorder declared to the misteries that they should neuer be assured vnlesse many of their enemies were
much as the factions came to bloud and euerie wise man feared future mischiefes Because the great men who were vsed to respect could not endure to be laide hand vppon and others were not content that euerie man should equally be burthened Many of the chiefe Citizens therefore assembled themselues and concluded that it behoued them to take the gouernment into their hands because their small diligence had giuen head and suffered the publique proceedings to be reproued allowing ouermuch boldnesse in those that were wont to be heads of the multitude Hauing to this effect consulted they determined manie times to meete all togither and in the church of S. Steffano assembled more then 70. Citizens with the lycence and allowance of Lorenzo Ridolfi and Francesco Gianfi gliazzi who at that time were of the Senate To this conuention Giouanni de Medici came not either because he was as a suspect vncalled or that hee would not being of contrary opinion appeare But Rinaldo delli Albizi as mouth of that companie discoursed the estate of the citie how by their negligence it was come to the hand of the multitude from whome in the yeare 1381. by their auncestors it was taken putting them in minde of the iniquitie that raigned in that state from the yeare 77. till 81. And how sith that time till this present some had their fathers slaine some their grandfathers now were returned to the selfesame perils the citie fallen to the like disorders because the multitude had alreadie at their pleasure imposed Subsidies wold ere lōg if the same were not by a greater force or better order withstood appoint the Magistrates Which being brought to passe the multitude would vsurpe their places and ruine that state which had bene with much glorie of the cittie fortie and two yeares continued and Florence should be gouerned either casually vnder the will of the multitude so as one part should liue lycentiously the other daungerously or vnder the commandement of some one that shall make him selfe Prince of all Wherefore he assured them that euerie man that loued his country and his owne honour was constrained to beware and put them in minde of the vertue of Bardo Mancini who with the ruine of the Alberti saued the citie from those perils wherein it then was and that occasion of boldnesse in the multitude proceeded of the large Squittini which were by their negligence made which was the cause also that the Pallace was filled with new men and people of base condition He therefore concluded that the only remedie was to yeeld the gouernment to the great Citizens and remoue the lesse Artificers from their authoritie reducing them from 14. to 7. companies Which should be a meane that the multitude could haue in the Councels lesse authoritie as well in respect that the number of them were diminished as that the great men should haue most power who for the old enmity did disfauour the multitude affirming likewise that to know how to imploy men according to the time was great wisedom For as their ancestors vsed the multitude to oppresse the insolency of the great men who thereby became humble and the multitude insolent so it were now fit to bridle the insolencie thereof with the aide of the great men And for compassing of these matters they might resort either to subtiltie or force For some of them beeing of the Tenne by that colour might bring men secretly into the citie This counsell giuen by Rinaldo was by euery man allowed And Nicholo of Vzano among other said that all things alledged by Rinaldo were true and the remedies good and certaine if the same might be done without manifest diuision of the citie which would come to passe if Giouan de Medici were not perswaded from them For hee being on our side the multitude without head and force could not offend But if he wold not consent without armes it could not be And with armes it were daungerous for either they should not preuaile or not enioy the victory Also modestly he reduced to their memories his former admonitions how they refused to preuent these difficulties when they might But now the time serued not to do it without hazarding a greater mischiefe and therefore as the vttermost refuge it behoued to gaine his fauour Commissiō therfore was granted for Rinaldo to goe vnto Giouanni and perswade him to be of their minde This Gentleman performed his Commission and with the best reasons he was able perswaded him to enter with them into this action and that he would not for the loue of the multitude become insolent to the ruine of the state citie Wherto Giouanni answered that he thought it the office of a wise and good Citizen not to alter the accustomed orders of the citie because there was nothing that so much offended men as alteration sith thereby many be offended where many liue discontented some euill accident is daily to be looked for Also hee thought that this their resolution might worke two effects verie dangerous The one by giuing the honours to those who neuer before hauing them would not much esteeme them and should haue the lesse occasion to complaine if they neuer had them The other by taking the honours from those that were vsed to haue them should make them vnquiet till they were restored And so shall the iniurie done to the one part be greater then the benefit which the other part could thereby receiue Thus shall the authour of this change win few friends many enemies and these will be more ready to offend him thē the others to defend him For mē are more naturally inclined to reuēge an iniury thē be thankful for a good turne because this bringeth losse but that promiseth profit and pleasure Then turning his face towards Rinaldo saide And you sir if you remember matters passed with what subtilties men walk within this citie your self would be more lowe in these resolutions For the giuer of that counsell so soone as with your forces he hath taken away the authoritie of the people would againe take the same from you by the aide of those who by this meane of iniurie will become your foes And it will befall to you as it did to Benedetto Alberti who through the perswasions of him that loued him not cōsented to the ruine of Georgio Scali and Tomazo Strozzi and shortly after by the selfesame men that perswaded him was sent into exile Hee therefore wished him more naturally to thinke vpon matters be willing to follow his father who hauing loue of the multitude cared not to offend a fewe men euill disposed It was then ordained that whosoeuer had to paie halfe a Florine for Subsidie should paie it or not as himselfe pleased And besides all men indebted should for the day of the councell goe free with out molestation of his creditors In the end he concluded that for his owne part he would leaue the cittie in that
towards his friends then was by his father vsed In so much as those that reioyced at the death of Giouanni seeing the vertue of Cosimo became sorie This Cosimo was a man of excellent wisdom of presence graue and gratious greatly liberall curteous and such a one as neuer attempted any thing either against any faction or the state but sought by all meanes to pleasure euerie man and with his liberalitie to gaine the good wil of many Citizens So that his good deserts defaced those that gouerned brought himself to beleeue that he might by that meanes liue at Florence in sufficient strength and securitie And if the ambition of his aduersaries should moue any extraordinarie occasion to the contrarie hee hoped both by armes and fauoure of friendes to oppresse them The greatest instruments to worke his greatnesse were Auerardo de Medici Puccio Pucci Of them Auerardo with courage and Puccio with wisedome procured him great reputation For the counsell and wisedome of Puccio was so well knowne to euerie man that the faction of Cosimo was called not by his owne name but by the name of Puccio The citie notwithstanding thus diuided the enterprise of Lucca proceeded whereby the humours of the factions were rather encreased then extinguished And although the faction of Cosimo chiefly counfelled the warre yet many of the contrarie part were appointed officers therein as mē most reputed in the state which Auerardo and others not being able to remedie sought by all industrie and practise to slaunder them and if any losse happened as many did they imputed the same not to fortune or force of the enemie but want of wisedome in the officers This was the cause that the offences of Astor Gianni were esteemed so great This made Rinaldo delli Albizi offended and without lycence to depart from his charge This was the occasion that the deliuerie of Giouanni Guicciardini was required at the hand of the Captaine of the people And heereof proceeded all blames that had bene imputed to the Magistrates and ministers of the warre For the true slaunders were encreased and the vntrue were inuented and both the true and not true were of the people that loued them not beleeued These matters and manner of proceeding extraordinarie was well knowne to Nicholo di Vzano and others of his faction who had many times thought vpon remedie but found no meanes how to deale therein Because it seemed to them that the suffering thereof was dangerous and forcibly to helpe it was not easie Nicholo di Vzano was the first vnto whom this extraordinary way displeased Thus the warres continuing without the citie and these disorders within Nicholo Barbadori desirous to bring Nicholo di Vzano to consent to the oppression of Cosimo went vnto his house where he found him sadly set in his Closet and there with the best reasons he could perswaded him to ioyne with Rinaldo to driue Cosimo out of the Citie Vnto whome Nicholo di Vzano answered as followeth I thinke it were better for thy house and our Commonweale that all the rest whose opiniō thou herein followest had their beards as men saie rather of siluer then gold as thou hast For then their counsels proceeding from heads graie groūded in experiēce would be more aduised more profitable It seemeth to me that those which desire to banish Cosimo frō Florence had neede first of all to measure their forces with his This our side you haue called by the name of Nobilitie and the contrarie part you haue termed the plebeial partie If the truth answered to these names in euerie accident the victorie would proue doubtfull and we haue more cause to feare then to hope moued with the example of the auncient Nobilitie of this citie which hath ben by this plebeiall sort heretofore oppressed But the greatest cause of our feare is that our side is dismembred our aduersaries continue whole and entyre First you must consider that Neri di Gino and Nerone de Nigi two of our principall Citizens be not as you know more friends to vs then to them There be also many families among themselues diuided For diuerse through enuie of their brethrē or their kinsmen do disfauor vs fauor thē I wil resite vnto you the names of some few the rest you may the more easily remember with your self Of the house of Guicciardini and amōg the sonnes of Luigi Piero is enemy to Giouanni fauoureth our aduersaries Tomazo Nicholo Soderini for the hate they haue to Francesco their vncle are openly protested our enimies So that if we consider well what they are what we our selues be I know not for what reasō we shuld cal our or their partie more noble And if it be that we cal their part plebeial bicause they are by the multitude most followed their state therin is the better ours the worse For whēsoeuer we shal come to arms we cānot resist thē Also if we stād on our dignities they haue bin giuē to vs by the state by vertue therof we haue cōtinued thē these 50. veres Yet whēsoeuer we shal come to proofe our weaknes wil appear we shal lose our authority If you haply say that the iust occasiō which moueth vs to this enterprise shall encrease our credit and diminish theirs Thereto I answere that it behooueth this iust quarrel of ours to be knowne beleeued of others as wel as of our selues which falleth out cleane contrarie for the occasion alledged is altogither builded vpon the suspition we haue that he goeth about to make himselfe Prince of this cittie This is the mistrust we haue which others haue not but they rather accuse vs of that we accuse him The matters which make Cosimo suspected are that he imployeth his mony to serue euerie occasion not onely to priuate vses but also to the publike affaires and that as well to the Florentines as the Captaines and Leaders The cause why he doth fauoure this and that Cittizen hauing need of authoritie is for that his credit with the multitude hath aduaunced this and that friend to great honours Therefore it behoueth you to alledge the reasons why hee should be expulsed Because he is charitable friendly liberall and loued of all men And now tel me I pray you what lawe inhibiteth blameth or condemneth men for their charitie their liberalitie and their loue And albeit these be meanes for him to aspire yet are they not so taken neither are wee of credite inough to make them so to bee thought For our proceedings haue wrought our discredit and our cittie naturally disposed to diuision and liuing alwaies in corruption cannot giue eare to such accusations But admit you could expulse him which hauing a Senate for the purpose may easily come to passe yet how can ye deuise that he hauing in the citie so many friends studying for his reurne should not be reuoked This I think impossible because his friends being many and he hauing loue
the Duke Wherewith he being discontent voluntarily exiled himselfe to Gaietta and there chanced to be at such time as the fight by sea was performed against Alfonso In which exploit he serued so valiantly that he perswaded himselfe to haue deserued so well of the Duke as in respect of his seruice he might at the least liue in Genoua with securitie Yet perceiuing the Duke to continue in his suspition and fearing least he beleeued that a man who had not loued the liberty of his countrey could not loue him determined to try a new fortune and at one instant both to deliuer his countrey and win himselfe fame with securitie Being perswaded that by no meanes he might recouer the good will of the Cittizens better then to performe such an acte with his owne hand So as the same hand which had offended and hurt his countrey should also minister the medicine and heale it Then knowing the vniuersall hatred borne to the Duke by the deliuerie of the King thought the time to serue well for the execution of his intent Wherefore he imparted his mind to some whome he knew of his owne opinion Them he perswaded and prepared to followe him The feast of S. Iohn Baptist being come Arismino the new Gouernor sent by the Duke entred into Genoua accompanied with Opicino the old Gouernor and many other Cittizens Francesco Spinola thought then good no longer to deferre the matter but came out of his house with diuerse others all armed and priuie to his determination So soone as hee came to the market place where himselfe dwelled he proclaymed the name of libertie And it was a thing very maruellous to see with how great speed the people and Cittizens to that name assembled So as no man that loued the Duke either for his owne profit or other occasion had leisure to take armes or thinke how to saue himselfe Arismino with some other Genouesi fled into the Castle which he kept for the Duke Opicino presuming that if he fled to the Pallace hauing there two thousand Souldiers at his commaundement he should either saue himselfe or giue courage to his friends to defend him went thitherwards but before he came to the market place was slaine cut in pieces and drawne through euery streete of the Cittie The Genouesi hauing thus reduced the Cittie vnder their owne Magistrates and libertie within few dayes also surprized the Castle with the other places of strength possessed by the Duke and so clearely cast off the yoke of Philippo These matters thus handled as at the beginning the Princes of Italy was dismayd fearing that the Duke should become ouermightie so this gaue them hope seeing what end they had to be able to bridle him And notwithstanding the league lately made the Florentines and the Venetians made peace with the Genouesi whereupon Rinaldo delli Albizi and other leaders of the Florentines banished seeing things out of order and the world changed did hope to perswade the Duke to make open warre against the Florentines For which purpose they went to Milan and Rinaldo being come to the Dukes presence spake as followeth If we sometimes your enemies do now confidently desire ayde of you for the recouerie of our countrey neither you nor any other that consider worldly matters how they proceed and how variable fortune is ought to meruaile albeit neither of our passed or present actions nor of that we haue long since done either to you or to our countrey or that which now is in doing we can render a good and reasonable excuse There is no good man reprooueth another for defending his Countrey in what sort soeuer the same is defended Neither was it euer our meaning to iniure you but to defend our owne frō being iniured which was sufficiētly proued in the greatest victories of our league For so soone as we knew you inclined to a true peace we were thereof more desirous then you your selfe so that we need not feare to obteine any fauour at your hands Neither can our Countrey find fault although we now perswade you to take armes against it whome with so great resolution we haue withstood For that countrey deserueth to be loued of all men which indifferētly loueth them and not that countrey which disdaining the greatest number aduanceth a few There is no man also that ought to condemne men although for some causes they take armes a-against their countrey For albeit the Cities be bodies mixed yet haue they of bodies simple some resemblance And as in these many infirmities grow which without fire force cannot be cured so in the other many mischiefes arise which a godly and good Citizen should offend to leaue vncured notwithstanding that in the cure he doth as it behoueth him apply both fire force What sicknes in the bodie of a common-weale can be greater then seruitude And what medicine is more needfull then this in the cure of that disease Those warres be only iust which be necessarie and those armes most mercifull where other hope cannot be had then by thē I know not what necessitie is greater then ours or what compassion can be more then to deliuer a Countrey frō seruitude Most certainly we know our cause is to be pittied and iust which ought to be both by vs and you cōsidered For your part faile not to affoord this iustice sith the Florentines haue not bene ashamed after a peace with so great solemnitie concluded to make league with the Genouesi your rebels so that though our cause moue you not to cōpassion yet this dishonor offered vnto your selfe ought to perswade you and the rather that you see the enterprise easie Let not exampls passed discourage you hauing seen the power of that people and their obstinate defence of themselues Which two things might yet reasonably be feared were they of the same vertue which in those daies they haue bene But now you shall finde all contrarie For what force can you looke for in any Cittie which hath spoiled the greatest part of the riches and industrie thereof What resolution can be hoped of in a people by so diuers and new quarrels disunited Which disunion is cause that those riches there remaining in such sort as they were wont be imploied because mē do willingly spend their patrimony whē they see the same for their owne glory their owne honor and their owne Countrey imployed euer hoping to recouer that in peace which the warre hath consumed and not whē they see themselues both in war peace oppressed hauing in the one to suspect the iniurie of enemies and in the other the insolencie of them that command Also the people are more harmed by couetousnes of our own Citizens then the spoile of our enemies for of this some end may be hoped of but of that none at all In the warres passed you made warre to the whole Citie but now you are only to contend with a few Then you came to take the state from
where is abundance supply where want is that Country in short space must of force be ruined because the one part thereof through the small number of inhabitants becommeth desolate and the other being ouercharged oppressed with pouertie And for that nature could not reforme this disorder it is necessarie that industry should do it For vnwholesome Countries planted full of people comming thither all togither do make the same healthful by reason that the tilling of the earth doth alter the soyle and the fiers do greatly purge the aire which things nature by her selfe could not The experience thereof is seene by the Cittie of Venice seated in a place paludious and vnwholesome Notwithstanding the assemblie of many inhabitants come thither at one instant did make the same healthy inough Pisa likewise through the contagion of the aire was neuer replenished but when Genoua and the riuers thereto belonging were by the Sarasins destroyed it enforced the people driuen from their natiue countrey to flye thither and make that place well inhabited and strong This custome of sending Collonies being discontinued is the occasion that countreyes conquered are holden with more difficultie those that be emptie are not supplied and countreyes ouer full are not disburthened whereby manie parts of the world and chiefly Italy in respect of the ancient times are become desarts The reason thereof is that there hath not bene nor is not in Princes anie desire of true glorie nor in Common-weales anie ordinance that meriteth commendation In the old time we see that through vertue of these Collonies Citties were often made new and some others alreadie begun encreased of which number was the Cittie of Florence begunne by the people of Fiesole and inlarged by Collonies A thing most true it is as Dante and Iohn Villano haue written that the Cittie of Fiesole being set on the top of a mountaine to occasion their markets to bee the more frequented and giue commoditie to those that with their merchandize would resort thither did giue order that they should not clime vp the hill but stay in the plaine betwixt the foote of the mountaine the riuer Arno. These markets as I iudge were occasion of the first building in that place The merchants also being desirous to haue storehouses commodious for the receiuing of wares made buildings there which in time became houses of habitation Afterwards when the Romanes hauing vanquished the Carthaginesi had made Italy from forreine warres secure in great numbers there they multiplied for me◠doo neuer seeke the defence of themselues if by necessitie they are not incouraged and as feare of warre doth constraine them willingly to inhabit barren places and strong so that feare remooued allured with commoditie more willingly they couet to dwell in Countryes pleasant and profitable The securitie which grew in Italy by reputation of the Roman common-weale might occasion the number of the inhabitants to bee so great as made this place to become as it were in forme of a Towne and was at the beginning called Arnina After that time ciuill warres happened in Rome first betweene Mario and Silla then betwixt Cesare and Pompeio and at last betweene the murtherers of Caesar and those which sought to reuenge his death It seemeth therefore that first by Silla and next by those three Citizens of Rome that after the reuenge made for Caesar diuided the Empire Collonies were sent to Fiesole who either all or part did plant their dwellings in the plaine neare vnto the Towne alreadie begun insomuch as the same was much enlarged and so well replenished with buildings men and other things necessarie for ciuill life as it became to be numbred among the Citties of Italy Yet whence this name Firenze should be deriued diuers men do diuersly hold opinion Some suppose it so called of Florino one of the chiefe of the Colloni Others would not consent that it was called Florentia at the beginning but Fluentia because it was neare the riuer of Arno which floweth And they alledge the authoritie of Plinny where he saith that the people Fluentini be neare vnto Arno which may be false because Plinny maketh demōstration where the Florentines were seated not how they were called And that word Fluentini must needes be corrupted because Frontino and Cornelio Tacito who wrote almost in the time of Plinny do call the Towne Florentia and the people Florentini for that long since in the time of Tiberio they were gouerned according to the custome of other Cities in Italy Cornelio reporteth also that the Florentines had sent Embassadors to the Emperor praying that the waters of Chiane might not discend vppon their Countrie neither is it reasonable that the Citie should haue in one time two names I beleeue therefore it was alwaies called Florentia For what cause soeuer it was so named or for what cause soeuer it had the beginning most sure it is that vnder the Empire of Rome it had the foundation in the reigne of the first Emperours Writers did make mention thereof Moreouer at such time as the barbarous people did persecute the Empire Florence was by Tottila King of the Ostragotti defaced and after 250. yeares by Carlo Magno reedified from which time till the yeares after Christ 1215. it continued vnder that fortune which others did who then commanded in Italy In which time first gouerned there the posteritie of Carlo then Barengarii and last of all the Emperours of Germanie as hath bene in our vniuersall discourse before declared The Florentines could not in those times increase or do anie thing worthie memorie for the authoritie of them vnto whom it was subiect notwithstanding in the yeare 1010. and the day of S. Romolo a solemne Feast with the Fiesolane they surprized Fiesole and demolished the same which they did either with consent of the Emperours or else at such times as one Emperor being dead the other was not elected whereby euerie man for the present remained at libertie But since the Popes tooke vnto themselues more authoritie in Italy and the Germane Emperours grew weake euerie Towne in that Prouince with lesse reuerence to their Prince was gouerned Insomuch as in the yere 1080. in the time of Arrigo the third Italy was openly diuided into faction betwixt him and the Church notwithstanding the Florentines maintained themselues vnited all the yere 1215. yelding to the victorious without aspiring farther thā to saue themselues But as to the bodies of men the longer they bee healthie the more dangerous and mortall are the sicknesses when they happen so Florence the more slowlie it followed the factions the more speedily and greeuously it was by them afterwards afflicted The first occasion of diuision in that Citie is most publiquely knowen because it hath bene written by Dante and diuers others neuertheles I thinke good briefely to speake thereof There was in Fiorence among others of the mightie Families Buondelmonti and Vberti next vnto them were the Amidei and Donati In
libertie of them as with their owne Then sent they Embassadors to Arezzo to renounce all their gouernment and interest in that citie make a league with the Citizens there To this end that sith they could not haue their aide as subiects yet they might haue it as friends with other townes they likewise practised to continue them in friendship This counsell wisely taken had happie successe because Arezzo after a fewe yeares returned vnder the gouernment of Florence the other townes within a fewe moneths came to their auncient obedience Whereof may be conceiued that many times things fled or not desired are with lesse perill and smaller charge obteined then if the same had bene by extreame trauell great force followed All things thus setled abroad they turned their studie to deale with matters within and after some disputations betweene the great and populer Citizens they agreed that the great men should haue a third part in the Senate in the ther offices the halfe The citie as hath bene beforesaid was diuided into six parts so that one of the Senators was appointed to euery sixt part vnlesse vpon some accident twelue or thirteene were created but shortly after they were reduced againe to the number of sixe It was therefore thought good to reforme the gouernment in this point as well for the euill distribution of the parts as because they intended to deliuer charge of the gates to the great Cittizens it was necessarie to encrease the number of the Senators Therfore the citie was againe diuided into quarters allotting to euerie quarter three Senators leauing out the Gonfaloniere Della Iustitia and the Gonfalonieri of companies And in lieu of the twelue Buoni Homini they created eight Councellours of either sort foure This gouernment with this order setled would haue continued quiet if the great citizens had bene content to liue with that modestie that to a ciuill life apperteined but they followed a course cleane contrarie For when they were priuate they would no companions and being in authoritie ruled as Lordes So as euerie day some proofe of their insolencie and pride was seene which thing greatly displeased the people supposing that in place of one tyrant sent away there was growne vp a thousand The insolencie of the one part and the offence of the other grew to that greatnesse that the heads of the people did expostulate vnto the Bishop the dishonestie of the great men who were not by anie meanes content to liue like companions and neighbours And therefore perswaded him to finde meanes that the great Cittizens might be contented with the meane offices and that the Magistracie of the Senate should be onely left to them The Bishoppe was naturally good but easily perswaded to alter opinion which was the cause that by perswasion of his companions he first fauoured the Duke of Athene and shortly after by the counsell of other Citizens conspired against him So now he seemed in reformation of the state first to fauour the great men and after to allow better of the people moued by those reasons which the populer Citizens had tolde him He therefore supposing to find as small constancie in others as in himselfe perswaded betwixt them a composition Then he assembled the foureteene who yet continued in their authoritie perswaded them to yeeld the office of Senate to the people alleadging that would be the quiet of the citie and the deniall the ruine thereof These words did greatly chaunge the mindes of the great men and Ridolpho de Bardi with bitter words reproued the Bishop calling him a man not to be trusted laying before him the friendship which he entered with the Duke vnaduisedly and how he banished him afterwardes traiterously And in conclusion he said that those honours which they with their perill had gotten with their perill should be defended Thus being diuided from the Bishop he his companie tooke leaue and went vnto others of their consort imparting the matter to all the Noble houses in the Cittie The people likewise brake their mindes to such as were men of their condition While the great men prepared themselues to the defence of their Senators the people thought good to be also readie and suddeinly ranne vnto the Pallace armed crying aloud and requiring that the great Citizens should renounce the Magistracie The rumour and tumult was great and the Senators found themselues abandoned because all the people beeing armed the great Cittizens durst not take armes but euerie one remained in his owne house By meane whereof the new Senators appointed by the people first appeased the tumult and then gaue knowledge thereof saying that their companions were modest and good men and that they were faine for auoyding a worse inconuenience to take this course so sent home the other Senators safe to their houses The great Citizens thus remooued from the Pallace the office was also taken away from the foure great Counsellours In whose place they appointed twelue of the people with the eight Senators that remained They created one Gonfaloniere de Iustitia sixteene Gonfalonieri of the people They also reformed the Councels so as all the gouernment remained at the discretion of the people At such time as these things happened there was great dearth in the citie by meanes whereof both great Citizens and the basest sort of people became discontented These for hunger and those for hauing lost their authoritie which occasion made Andrea Strozzi to imagine that it were possible for him to vsurpe the libertie of the citie He perswaded with that imagination solde his corne much better cheape then others by meanes whereof many people resorted vnto his house And one morning hee mounted on horsebacke being followed by some of them tooke courage to call the people to armes which done within lesse then one houre foure thousand people were assembled with whom he went to the Senate desiring the Pallace might be opened for him But the Senators with threatnings and force sent him from thence and after with proclamations so terrified him that by litle and litle euerie man returned to his house So as Andrea being left alone could scantly flie and saue himselfe from the Magistrates This attempt although it were vnaduised and had such successe as commonly all others like thereunto haue yet did the same giue hope vnto the Nobilitie that they might easily oppresse the people seeing the poorest sort misliked them For not loosing this opportunitie they determined to arme themselues with all sorts of aide and recouer that reasonably which vniustly and by force had bene taken from them The assured hope they had conceiued of successe in this enterprise grew so great that openly they prouided armes fortified their houses and sent to their friends in Lombardy The people on the other side togither with the Senate made their prouision and arming them sent to the Sanesi and Perugini for aide The assistaunce of the one and the other beeing
gaue great reputation to the faction of Cosimo and much terror to the enemy that so mightie a Common weale refused not to sell their libertie to the Florentines Which was thought to be done not so much to gratifie Cosimo as to exasperate the factions in Florence make by meanes of bloud the diuision of our citie the more daungerous Because the Venetians found that there was nothing that so much hindred their greatnes as the vniting thereof Thus the citie being acquite both of the enemies persons suspected to the state the gouernours studying to pleasure other people make their own part the stronger restored the house of Alberti with all other Rebels All the great Citizens a few except were brought into the order of the people the possessions of the rebels at smal prices among them sold Moreouer with new lawes and orders they strengthened themselues making new Squittini taking out the names of their enemies putting in the names of their friends Also being warned by the ruine of their enemies and iudging that it sufficed not for the holding of the state to haue the Squittini full of their friends they also thought good that the Magistrates of life and death should be chosen of the chiefe of their faction It was therfore required that the makers of the new Squittini togither with the old Senate should haue authoritie to create the new They gaue vnto the Eight authoritie ouer life and death and prouided that those that were banished should not though their time were expired return vnlesse of the Senat and the Colledges being in number 37. were thereunto consenting or at the least thirtie foure of them To write vnto those that were confined or receiue any letters from them was forbidden Also euery word euery signe euery action that offended the Gouernours was greeuously punished And if in Florence remained any suspitiō it was the Impositions lately imposed so hauing driuē out their aduersaries or brought thē to great pouerty assured themselues of the state Also not to want forrein aid but preuent such as thereby determined to offend them they did confederate and make league with the Pope the Venetians and the Duke of Milan The state of Florence resting in these tearmes Giouanna Queene of Naples dyed making by her testament Rinieri de Angio heyre of her Kingdome At that time Alfonso King of Aragon happened to be in Sicilia and hauing the friendship of many Barrons there prepared himselfe to possesse that Kingdome The Napolitanes and many of the Lords fauoured Rinieri The Pope on the other side would neither that Rinieri nor Alfonso might possesse it but desired that himselfe should gouerne it by a Deputy of his owne Yet Alfonso being arriued in the Kingdome was by the Duke of Sessa receiued and there enterteined some other Princes hoping to surprize Capoua which the Prince of Tarranto in the name of Alfonso possessed and by that meane to constraine the Napolitanes to yeeld to his will For that purpose he sent his Nauie to assault Gaietta which was holden for the Neapolitanes The Napolitanes then prayed ayde of Philippo who perswaded the Genouesi to take that enterprise in hand They not onely to satisfie the Duke their Prince but also to saue the merchandize they had in Naples and Gaietta armed a mightie Nauie Alfonso on the contrary side vnderstanding thereof encreased his forces and went in person to encounter the Genouesi with whom he fought neere vnto the Island of Pontio and there his Nauie was vanquished himselfe with diuerse other Princes taken and sent by the Genouesi to Philippo This victorie dismayd all the Princes of Italy because thereby they thought he might become owner of all But he so diuerse are the opinions of men tooke a course cleane contrary to expectation This Alfonso being a man verie wise so soone as he could come to the speech of Philippo tolde how greatly he deceiued himselfe to fauour Rinieri and disfauour him because if Rinieri were King of Naples he would labour with all his force to bring the Dukedome of Milan to the hands of the French King by reason his ayde was at hand his furniture of all things necessarie and the way open for his reliefe Neither could he looke for better then his owne ruine if he made that state to become French But the contrarie would follow if himselfe might be Prince For he not fearing any other enemy then the French should be enforced to loue honour and obey him who had the onely power to open the way to his enemies So that although the Kingdome should rest with Alfonso yet the authoritie and power thereof would remaine in the hands of Philippo Wherefore it would much more import him then himselfe to consider the perill of the one and the profit of the other vnlesse he desired more to satisfie his fantesie then assure the state Because in doing the one he should be Prince and free by the other in the middest of two mightie enemies either sure to lose the state vtterly liue alwayes in suspition or as a subiect obey them These words wrought so deepe in the Dukes mind that changing his intent he deliuered Alfonso honorably returned him to Genoua and from thence to the Kingdome There he imbarked againe and being arriued at Gaietta his deliuery was knowne and that Countrey sodeinly surprized by certaine Lords his followers The Genouesi seeing that without respect to them the Duke had deliuered the King and that he whome they with their charge and perill had honoured did not make them aswell partakers of the honor in the Kings inlargement as of the iniurie to him done and his ouerthrow grew greatly offended In the Cittie of Genoua when it liueth in libertie there is created one head whome they call Doge not to be a Prince absolute nor to determine alone but as chiefe to propound those matters whereof the Magistrates and Councels should consult Within that Towne be many noble Families which are so mightie that with difficultie they yeeld to the authoritie of Magistrates And of them the houses of Fregosa and Adorna be of greatest force From these the diuisions of that Cittie and the causes of ciuill disorders did proceed For they many times contending for gouernment not onely ciuilly but also by armes it falleth out that euer the one faction is afflicted and the other gouerneth It also happeneth many times that those who are deposed from authoritie do pray ayde of forreine armes and yeeld that gouernment to others which they themselues could not enioy Hereof it proceedeth that those who gouerned in Lombardy do for the most part commaund in Genoua as it happened at such time as Alfonso was taken Among the chiefe of the Genouesi that caused the Cittie to be giuen into the hands of Philippo was Francesco Spinola who not long after he had brought his countrey in bondage as in like cases it euer happeneth became suspected to
reasons according to their owne desire perswaded the Duke Nicholo tolde him that himselfe might be sent into Toscana and Brescia might neuerthelesse be still besieged for the Duke was Lorde of the Lage and had the strong places belonging to the Towne well furnished the Captaines there remaining and men inough to encounter the Earle whensoeuer he should attempt any other enterprise which without the rescue of Brescia hee could not and to rescue it was impossible So that he might make war in Toscana and yet not leaue the enterprise in Lombardy Hee told him moreouer that the Florentines were enforced so soone as he came into Toscana to reuoke the Earle or else lose it so that if any of these two things came to passe the victorie would follow The banished men alledged that if Nicholo with his Army did drawe neare to Florence it was impossible but that the people being wearie of charges and the insolency of the great men would take Armes against the Gouernours They shewed also how easie it was to approach Florence promising to make the way open through Casentino by meanes of the friendship which Rinaldo had with that Earle Thus the Duke first disposed of himselfe and after confirmed by perswasions of these men resolued vpon this enterprise The Venetians on the other part notwithstanding the bitternesse of the winter failed not to call vpon the Earle with all his forces to succor Brescia Which the Earle answered could not be in that time done but of force it must tarrie the spring of the yeare and in the mean time prepare an Army by water so as both by water and land it might at time conuenient be releeued Hereupon the Venetians became sorie and slow in all their prouisions which was the cause that in their Army many people died Of all these things the Florentines being aduertised began to mistrust seeing the warre at hand and no great good done in Lombardy The suspition also which they had of the Popes souldiers did greatly perplex them not because the Pope was their enemie but for that they sawe those souldiers more obedient to the Patriarke their mortall foe more then to the Pope himselfe Giouanni Vittelleschi Cornetano was first Notarie Apostolicall after Bishop of Ricanati then Patriark of Alessandria and at length after all these dignities become Cardinall was called the Cardinall of Florence This Cardinall being a man both couragious and craftie such a one as was by the Pope so greatly beloued as thereby he became Generall of all the forces belonging to the Church and was Captaine in all enterprises that the Pope tooke in hand either in Toscana Romagna the Kingdome or the Citie of Rome Whereby he wonne such reputation among the people and so great authoritie vnder the Pope that the Pope himselfe stood in doubt how to commaund him and the people did onely obey him and no other At such time as the newes came that Nicholo would passe into Toscana this Cardinall with his company happened to be at Rome whereby the Florentines feare was doubled because that Cardinall after the banishment of Rinaldo had euer bene enemie to Florence for that the pacification among the factions of Florence made by his meanes were not obserued but all things done to the preiudice of Rinaldo who had bene the occasion that Armes were laid down which gaue his enemies good means to banish him Then the Gouernors of the state imagined the time come to restore Rinaldo of his losses if with Nicholo being come into Toscana they ioyned their forces but therof they doubted the more by the vntimely departure of Nicholo from Lombardy who left there an enterprise halfe wonne to begin an other more doubtfull which he would not do without some new intelligence and secret subtiltie Of this their mistrust they had enformed the Pope who knew his owne errour in giuing to an other ouermuch authoritie But when the Florentines stood thus doubtfull what to do Fortune found then a meane whereby to assure the Patriarke That state in those times mainteined diligent espials to discouer what Letters were brought too and fro and thereby conceiued if any thing were practised to the preiudice thereof It happened that at Monte Pulliciano some Letters were taken which the Patriarke without consent of the Pope wrote vnto Nicholo Piccinino Those Letters by the Generall of the warre were presently sent vnto the Pope And although they were written in Carects vnused so as no certaine sence could be made of them yet this obscuritie togither with the practise of the enemie bred so great suspition in the Pope as he determined to assure himselfe The charge of this action he committed to Antonio Rido of Padoua being then Captaine of the Castle in Rome Rido hauing receiued this Commission was readie to obey the Popes commandement aspecting an opportunitie to performe the same The Patriarke being determined to goe into Toscana and minding the next day to depart from Rome desired the Captaine Rido to attend for him in the morning vpon the Castle Bridge at such time as hee should passe that way Antonio Rido thought then a good occasion was presented and gaue order to his men what to do tarrying for the comming of the Patriarke vppon the Bridge which way of necessitie he must passe hard by the Castle So soone as hee was arriued vppon that part which vsed to be drawne vp Rido gaue his men a signe to drawe the Bridge and shut the Patriarke into the Castle which was performed So as of a Generall to the Armie the Patriarke was become a prisoner in the Castle The people that followed him at the first murmured but vnderstanding the Popes pleasure pacified themselues The Captaine did comfort him with curteous wordes and perswaded him to hope well To whome the Patriarke aunswered that great personages were not wont first to be apprehended and after set at libertie For those that deserue imprisonment did not merite to bee enlarged and so shortly after died in prison After his death the Pope appointed Generall of his Armie Lodouico Patriarke of Aquilea Who albeit before that time would not intermeddle with the warre betwixt the League and the Duke yet was then content to take the same in hande promising to be readie to defende Toscana with foure thousande Horse and two thousande footemen The Florentines deliuered of this feare stood yet in doubt of Nicholo and mistrusted the confusion of matters in Lombardy by reason of the diuersitie of opinions betwixt the Venetians and the Earle Wherefore to bee more fullie aduertised of their mindes they sent Neri the sonne of Gino Capponi and Guiliano de Auanzati to Venice Whom they gaue in Commission to determine in what sorte the Warre shoulde bee made the next yeare following Commaunding Neri that so soone as hee vnderstoode the mindes and opinions of the Venetians hee shoulde goe vnto the Earle to knowe his and perswade him to those thinges which for
men of mean cōditiō were near to the new gate talking of the calamities of the city their misery deuising what means might be wroght for redres therof Others drew vnto them till they were a good number Therby a brute was blowne through Milan that the inhabitants neare to the new gate were alreadie in Armes Then all the multitude which aspected onely occasion tooke Armes and created Gasparo da Vicomercato their Captain went to the place where the magistrates were assembled whom they so terrified that so many as could did flee the rest were slain Among whom Leonardo Veniero the Venetian Embassador was murthered who had before that time reioyced at their miserie and was thought to haue bene the occasion of the mischiefe and famine Thus the multitude as Lords of the Citie among themselues consulted what was to be done to deliuer them from so manifold sorrowes wherinto they were entred And euery man thought good to yeeld the citie sith the libertie could not be preserued to some Prince that were able to defend it Some said to the king Alfonso some to the Duke of Sauóia some to the French king Of the Earle no mā made mentiō so great was yet the offence of the people towards him Notwithstanding seeing they could not resolue vpon any Gasparo Vicomercato was the first that named the Earle declaring at large that if they would be discharged of the warre there was no other way but to chuse him because the people of Milan had necessitie of certain present peace could not tarry long in hope of future relief Moreouer he excused the actions of the Earle accusing the Venetians and all the other Princes of Italy because they would not some for ambition some for couetise that Milan should continue free And therfore being forced to depart with libertie it was best to yeeld to such a one as could would defend it So as by that seruitude they might at the least gain peace without further losse or war more dangerous This speech was with great attentiō hearkned vnto euery man with one voice cōsented that the Earle should be chosen and Gasparo was made Embassador to call him who by commandement of the people went vnto the Earle to present him this pleasant happie newes The Earle willingly accepted the same entered into Milan as Prince the 26. of February in the yere 1450. And was there with exceeding gladnes receiued euē by those who not lōg before had hated defamed him The newes of this victory being brought to Florence order was taken with the Embassadors sent frō thence and were already vpon the way towards the Earle that in stead of entreaty of peace with him as Earle they shuld cōgratulate the victory as Duke These Embassadors were by the Duke honorably receiued bountifully enterteined For he knew wel that against the power of the Venetians he could not find in all Italy more faithful nor more mighty friends then the Florentins Who hauing remoued feare of the Visconti thought they should be forced to fight with Aragon Venice Because the house of Aragon then Kings of Naples was their enemie in respect of the friendship by them borne to the house of France and the Venetians knew that the auncient feare of the Visconti was fresh and that carefully they had persecuted them wherefore doubting the like persecution sought their ruine These matters were the occasion that the new Duke was easily induced to friend the Florentines and that the Venetians and the King Alfonso agreed to ioyne against their common enemie binding themselues at one selfe time to take armes that the King should assault the Florentines and the Venetians set vpon the Duke Who being new in the state was not as they thought neither able with his owne forces to withstand them nor with the aide of others could be defended Yet because the league betwixt the Florentines and Venetians continued and that the King after the warres of Piombino had made peace with them they thought not good to breake that peace till such time as they had some colour to make warre Wherefore both the one the other sent Embassadors to Florēce to signifie in the behalf of their Lords that the league was made not to offend any man but to defend their Countries And moreouer the Venetians complained that the Florentines had giuen passage to Alisandro brother to the Duke of Lunigiana whereby he with his forces passed into Lombardy and that they were also the Authors and Councellours to make the agreement betwixt the Duke and the Marquesse of Mantoua All which things they said were preiudiciall to their state and the friendship betwixt them Wheresore friendly wished thē to remember that who so offendeth an other wrongfully doth giue occasion to him that is offended iustly to seek reuenge and he that breaketh the peace must euer looke to find war The answer of this Embassage was by the Senate committed to Cosimo who in a long and wise Oration laid before them all the benifits which his citie had bestowed vpon the Venetian common-weale Declaring how great dominion they had wonne by means of the mony the men counsel of the Florentines And assured them that sith the Florentines did occasion the friendship no cause of warre should euer proceed from them For they hauing bene euer louers of peace commended greatly the agreement betwixt them so as for peace and not for war the same were made But he maruelled much of the Venetian complaints that of so small vain matters so great a common-weale wold make account But if they had bene worthie consideration yet was it knowne to the world that the Florentine country was free and open to all men and the Duke was such a one as to win friendship with Mantoua had no need either of counsel or fauour Wherfore he doubted that these complaints had vnder them hidden some secret poison not yet perceiued Which so being euery man should easily vnderstand that as the Florentines friendship did profit them so their displeasure could hinder them Thus for that time the matter was lightly passed ouer the Embassadors seemed to depart wel inough cōtented Notwithstanding the league being made the maner of the Venetians and the Kings proceedings did occasiō the Florentines the Duke rather to looke for some new war then hope of firme peace Therefore the Florentines ioyned in league with the Duke in the mean while the euil disposition of the Venetians was discouered because they made league with the Sanesi banished all the Florentines with euery other person subiect to the state of Florēce Shortly after the king Alfonso did the like without any respect to the peace made the yeare before without iust cause or coloured occasion The Venetians laboured to gain the possession of Bologna for that purpose aided the banished men of that Citie who with many others found
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
their religion their tounge their apparrell and their names All which things nay any one of them considered vnseene would moue the hardest heart to cōpassion At that time many cities were ouerthrowen many begun many enlarged Among those that were ruined were Aquilegia Luni Chiusi Popolonia Fiesole and others Of those which were buylt new were Vinegia Siena Ferrara Aquila and other townes and castels which for breuitie I omit Those which of small Cities became great were Fiorenza Genoua Pisa Milan Napoli and Bologna to the which may be ioyned the ruine and repaire of Rome with diuerse others Citties in like sort defaced and after amended Among these ruines and these new people there grewe vp new languages since that time vsed in France Spaine and Italy which mixed with the ancient tongues of those Countries and the Romane speech haue framed languages neuer before time knowen The names also of those Prouinces riuers lakes seas and men were vtterly changed For France Italy and Spayne be full of new names from the olde farre differing as appeareth omitting many others The riuers of Po Garda and the Archipelago which are names diuers from those of auncient time vsed Men likewise commonly in those dayes called Caesari Pompei and such like are new baptized Peter Mathew and so forth But among so many variations the chaunge of Religion was not the least for those of the ancient faith contending with the miracles of the new wrought among men occasion of great discord but had the christian Religion bene vnited the disorders had not bene so great For the Greeke church the Romane church and the church of Rauenna contended one against the other Besides them many other differents arose among the christian people into many opinions diuided the world An example whereof was Affrica which suffered more affliction by reason of the opinion of Arius which the Vandoli beleeued then by any other cause either of their couetousnes or naturall crueltie During the multitudes of these miseries euerie man beare as it were in his face the markes of his discontented mind For besides the manifold mischiefes by them endured the greater number wanted the knowledge of God by whome all creatures hope to be comforted For the most of those people being ignorant of the true God wanting helpe and hope most miserably dyed Thus it appeareth that Theodorico deserued no small commendation being the first that appeased so many troubles For within these 28. yeares which he reigned in Italy he reduced it to so great order and honour as the markes of miserie were scantly perceiued But he being dead and leauing Atalarico for king who was the sonne of Amalasciunta his daughter Italy in short space returned to the former disorders For Attalarico shortly after his graundfather died left the gouernment to his mother and she making Theodato her minister in the gouernment was by him betraied Theodato by this meane made King became odious to the Ostrogotti and Iustiniano the Emperour hoped the rather to driue him from Italy To performe that enterprise he deputed Bellisario to be his Lieftenaunt who had alreadie conquered Affrica and chasing from thence the Vandoli reduced the same to obedience of the Empyre Bellisario also conquered Sicilia from thence passed into Italy where he surprized Napoli and Rome The Gotti receiuing these ouerthrowes killed their king Theodato as the cheife occasion of their misaduenture In his place was chosen Vitigete who after a few conflicts was by Bellisario besieged and in Rauenna takē Then was Bellisario before he had performed the whole victorie by Iustiniano reuoked to his charge were appointed Giouanni and Vitale men both for vertue and conuersation farre inferiour wherfore the Gotti tooke heart and created a king called Ildouado who was at that time Gouernour of Verona After him being within a few daies slaine Totila aspired to the kingdome and distressed the Emperours armie recouered Toscana and Napoli and brought vnder his obedience well neare all those states which Bellisario had gotten Wherfore Iustiniano thought good to send him again into Italy who being come thither with smal forces rather lost the reputation he had gotten before then encreased the same For Totila as it were before the face of Bellisario who was then with his armie at Hostia besieged Rome and tooke it Then considering with him selfe that he could neither hold it nor leaue it without daunger he razed the greatest part of the Citie driuing the people from thence and leading away the Senatours as prisoners which Bellisario little regarding marched with his armie vnto Calauria to meete there with souldiers sent in his aide from Greece Thus Bellisario seeing Rome abandoned determined with him selfe an honourable enterprise and entering into the ruines of Rome with what speed he possibly could repaired the walles of the citie called home the inhabitants But fortune as it seemeth enemie to so laudable an atempt apposed her selfe For Iustiniano the Emperour at the same time happened to be assaulted by the Parthi and for that cause called home Bellisario hee to obey his master lest Italy at the discretion of Tottila who anew possessed Rome but not with so great crueltie as he had before time there vsed For being entreated by S. Benedetto of whome in those daies there was holden a great opinion of holines he endeuoured him selfe rather to amend then marre that citie In this meane while Iustiniano had concluded a peace with the Parthi intending to send a new supply into Italy was empeached to performe that intent by a new people of the North called Sclaui who hauing passed Danubio assailed Illiria and Thracia so as by that meanes Tottila got into his hands all Italy But so soone as Iustiniano had suppressed the Sclaui he sent thither his armie conducted by Narsete an Eunuch who distressed the forces of Tottila slew him with the remaine of the Gotti After that ouerthrow retired to Pauia where they created Teia for their King Narsete on the other side after this victorie surprized Rome and at the last fought with Teia not farre from the cittie of Nocera slew him and vanquished his armie By meane of which victorie the name of Gotti in Italy was clearely extirped hauing there remained from the reigne of Theodorico vnto Teia their Kings threescore and ten yeares But so soone as Italy was deliuered from the Gotti Iustiniano died leauing Iustino his sonne to succeed him who through counsell of Sophia his mother reuoked Narsete from Italy in his place sent Longino his sonne thither This Longino following the order of his predecessors inhabited Rauenna setled in Italy a new fourme of gouernment appointing no Gouernours of Prouinces as did the Gotti but created in euerie cittie and towne of importance a Chieftaine whome he called Duke In which diuision he allotted no more honour to Rome then to other townes because he tooke from thence the Consuls and Senate which names till
Pope distraught of his vvits died This Bonifacio vvas he that ordeined the Iubilie in the yeare 1300. and commanded that euery hundreth yeare the same should be so solemnized After that time happened many troubles betvveene the factions of Guelfi Ghibellini And by reason that Italy vvas abandoned by the Emperors many towns became free and many others by tyrants possessed Pope Benedetto restored the Hat to the Cardinals Colonesi and absolued Philippo the French King To him succeeded Clemente quinto vvho being a French man remoued his court into France in the year 1306. In the meane space Carlo the second King of Napoli died To that kingdom succeeded Robarto his sonne and to the Empire Arrigo of Lucemburgh who notwithstanding the absence of the Pope from Rome vvent thither to be crowned By meane of that iourney grevv many troubles in Lombardy because all those that had bene banished either Guelfi or Ghibellini vvere admitted to returne to their townes and there being made so great quarrels among themselues as the Emperour vvith all his power could not appease The Emperour then departed from Lombardy to Genoua and so to Pisa vvhere he practised to take Toscana from the king Robarto But hauing no successe vvent on to Rome where he remained not long being driuen out by the Orsini and the friends of king Robarto Then returned he to Pisa vvhere he deuised for his better proceeding in the vvars of Toscana and the rather also to remooue king Robarto from his gouernment that Frederigo king of Sicilia should assault those countries But at such time as hee hoped at one instant to performe both those enterprises he died and Lodouico of Bauiera was chosen Emperour In this meane space was created Giouanni 22. In whose dayes the Emperour ceased not to persecute the Guelfi and the church which vvas chiefly defended by king Robarto and the Florentines Wherof grew great vvarre in Lombardy by the Visconti against the Guelfi and in Toscana by Castruccio of Lucca against the Florentines And because the family of Visconti vvas that vvhich beganne the Dukedome of Milan one of the fiue principallities that gouerned Italy I thinke good more at large hereafter to intreate of them After that the league of the cities of Lombardy vvas concluded as hath bene beforesaid and they resolued to defend themselues from Federigo Barbarossa Milan also being repaired of the ruines conspired vvith those cities of the league to be reuenged of former iniuries Which league brideled Barbarossa and for a time gaue countenance to the faction of the church then in Lombardy During these vvarres the house of Torre grevv to great reputation so long as the Emperours had in that country small authoritie But vvhen Federigo the second vvas come into Italy and the Ghibellini through the helpe of Ezelino became strong the humour of Ghibilini sprung vp in euery citie and the house of Visconti taking part with that factiō chased out of Milan the family of Torre yet were they not long out but by meane of a peace concluded betwixt the Emperour and the Pope hee with his Court beeing in France and Arrigo of Lucimburg going to Rome for the Crowne was receiued into Milan by Maffeo Visconti and Guido della Torre who at that time were chiefe of those houses yet Maffeo intending by helpe of the Emperour to driue Guido out of the Citie and supposing that enterprise the more likely because Guido was in faction contrary to the Empire hee tooke occasion vpon the complaints of the people against the euil demeanor of the Germains slily perswading and encouraging euery man to take Armes and deliuer themselues from the seruitude of that barbarous nation And when all things were made ready he caused a secret minister of his to mooue a tumult Whereat all the people tooke Armes against the name of Germany and Maffeo with his sonnes and followers suddeinly armed went to Arrigo letting him vnderstand that this tumult proceeded frō those of the house of Torre who not contented to liue priuate in Milan tooke occasion to spoyle him gratifie the Guelfi of Italy and make themselues princes of that citie Notwithstanding hee perswaded the Emperour to be of good cheare for they and their followers would in euery respect saue and defend him Arrigo beleeued all that which Maffeo had spoken ioyning his forces with the Visconti assailed those Della Torre Who beeing dispersed in diuerse places of the Cittie to appease the tumult so many of them as could be found were slaine and the rest spoyled sent into Italy Maffeo Visconti thus made as it were prince of Milan had diuerse sonnes the chiefe of them were called Galiazzo and Azo and after them Luchino Giouanni Giouanni became Archbishop of that Citie and of Luchino who died before him remained Barnabo and Galiazzo called Conte de Vertu He after the death of the Archbishop killed Barnabo his vncle and so became onely prince of Milan and was the first that had the title of Duke Of him descended Philippo Giouan Mariangilo who being slaine by the people of Milan the state remained onely to Philippo and he hauing no heires male the Dukedome was translated from the house of Visconti to the Sforzi as shall be hereafter declared But to returne to our matter Lodouico the Emperour to giue reputation to his faction and take the Crowne came into Italy and being arriued at Milan to the end he might leauy mony of the Milanesi offred to make them free and for proofe thereof imprisoned the Visconti Afterwards by mediation of Castruccio of Lucca deliuered them and went to Rome Then the more easily to disturbe Italy he made Piero de la Coruara Antipope by whose authoritie and the force of Visconti he hoped to keepe downe the contrary faction both in Toscana and Lombardy But Castruccio then died which was the cause of his ruine for Pisa and Lucca presently rebelled And the Pisani sent the Antipope prisoner to the Pope thē remaining in France Whereupon the Emperour dispairing of his enterprise in Italy returned to Germany So soone as he was gone Giouanni king of Bohemia came into Italy called thither by the Ghibilini of Brescia and possessed that Citie with one other called Bergamo And forasmuch as the comming of this king was with consent of the Pope although hee fained the contrarie the Legate of Bologna fauoured him imagining for that cause the Emperour would no more returne into Italy by whose departure thence the country was greatly altered The Florentines and the king Robarto seeing that the Legate fauoured the enterprise of the Ghibilini became enemies to all those that the Legate and the king of Bohemia fauoured against whom without respect of Guelfi or Ghibilini many princes ioyned Among them were the Visconti the family of La Scala Filippino Gonzaga of Mantoua the house of Carrara and Este wherupon the Pope did excommunicate them all The king for feare of this league went home to
in the Castle of Napoli Suspitions thus growing in the minds of the one and the other they came to fight and the Queene with the helpe of Sforza who was returned to her seruice vanquished Alfonso draue him out of Naples depriued him of his adoption and adopted Lodouico de Angio whereof grew a great warre betwixt Braccio who had folowed Alfonso Sforza that fauoured the Queen In the proceeding of these wars Sforza occasioned to passe the riuer of Pescara was there drowned wherby the Queene became again disarmed should haue bene driuen out of the kingdom if Philippo Visconti Duke of Milā had not enforced Alfonso proceeding on in his iourney against the Queen to be staied For hauing besieged Aquila the Pope supposing the greatnes of Braccio not to be good for the church enterteined Frācesco the sonne of Sforza against Braccio at Aquila slew him ouerthrew his army On the part of Braccio Oddo his son was saued frō whō the Pope tooke Perugia left to him Montone yet shortlie after fighting for the Florentines in Romagna was there slaine So then of all these that serued with Braccio Nicholo Piccinino remained of most reputation Now because we are come with our history neare to that time which I determined and that the rest which remaineth vnspoken importeth for the most part nothing else but the wars which the Florentines Venetians had with Philippo Duke of Milan which shall also be discoursed hereafter when particulerly we entreate of Florence I will not speak more therof but briefly reduce to memorie in what termes Italy with the Princes and the souldiers of those daies remained Among the principall states Queene Giouanni 2. held the kingdom of Napoli La Marca Patrimonio and Romagna Part of the townes to these belonging obeyed the church part of them were vsurped by tirants or their ministers as Farrara Modena Reggio by the house of Este. Faenza by Manfredi Imola by the Alidosi Furli by the Ordelaffi Rimino and Pesaro by the Malatesti and Camerino by the house of Varano The Prouinces of Lombardy were partly gouerned by Philippo Duke of Milan and partly by the Venetians For all those that had therin any particuler states were extirped except the house of Gonzaga which gouerned stil at Mantoua In Toscana the greatest princes that gouerned were the Florentines onely Lucca and Siena liued with their lawes Lucca vnder Guinici Siena as absolutely free The Genouesi sometimes in libertie and sometime in seruitude to the house of France or Visconti were without reputation and among the meaner Potentates accounted For all the principall Lords and Potentates were at that time of their owne subiectes vtterly disarmed The Duke Philippo liuing at home and not suffering himselfe to be seene his warres were altogither directed by ministers The Venetians so soone as they began to make warres by land lost all that glorie which before vpon the sea they had gotten And following the custome of other Italians by the direction of strangers gouerned their warres The Pope being a man of religion and the Queene Giouanna a woman did laie by their Armes doing that for necessitie which others had done by election The Florentines also to like necessitie yeelded for their sundry ciuil diuisions among themselues had clearly extirped the Nobilitie and left the Common weale to be gouerned by those that had bene brought vp in marchandise and were therby enforced to abide the fortune of others The discipline of warre then remained only in the poore Princes Gentlemen that wanted liuing and they not moued by any desire of glorie but rather to become rich and assured armed themselues They then being wel practised in the warres not hauing any other trade to liue sought by the wars to make themselues strong and honourable Among this number for their value most renowned were Carmignuola Frācesco Sforza Nicholo Piccinino brought vp by Braccio Agnolo della Pergola Lorenzo and Michelletto Attenduly Tartaglia Giacopaccio Cecolino da Parugia Nicholo di Tolentino Guido Torello Antonio dal Ponte ad Hera and others Besides them were those great Lordes of whom I haue alreadie spoken And with them may be numbred the Orsini and Calonnesi Barrons of Rome with some other Gentlemen of the kingdome and of Lombardy who making a misterie or art of the warre had among themselues a secret league and intelligence whereby they protracted the seruice for their profit And so the Princes for whom they serued were on both sides loosers In conclusion the warres became so cowardlie that anie ordinarie Captaine hauing in him but a shadow of the auncient vertue might to the admiration of all Italy haue vanquished those souldiers who through small wisedome and want of iudgement were much honoured Of these idle Princes and of these most base and cowardlie souldiers this my Historie shall at large entreate But first as in the beginning I promised it seemeth necessarie for me to returne backe and tell the originall of Florence letting euerie man to vnderstand fully what was the state of that Cittie in those dayes and by what meanes amongst so many troubles happened in Italy during the space of a thousand yeares the same hath still continued The ende of the first Booke ⧠THE SECOND BOOKE AMONG other great and maruellous orders of the auncient common weales principallities at this time decaied was that wherby new Townes and Citties were from time to time builded For there is nothing more worthie an excellent Prince or well gouerued common weale nor more profitable to any Country then the building vp of new Townes where men may with commoditie for defence and tilladge assemble themselues which thing those people might easily do hauing in custome to send dwellers into such Countries as were either vnpeopled or conquered which people were in those dayes called Collonies For besides that this order occasioned new Townes to be built the same also did make the Country conquered to be more assured to the Conquerers thereof It also replenished the voyd places and mainteined the people in such orders as they were planted which wrought this effect that men most commodiously inhabiting did most multiply They were also in the offence of others the more readie and in defence of themselues more assured That custome being through negligence of common weales and Princes of this time discontinued doth occasion the weakenesse and ruine of their Countries because that only maketh euery gouernment assured and euery Country as is beforesaid plentifully inhabited The assurance groweth because Collonies planted in any prouince newly conquered is as it were a castle and gard to hold the same in obedience Besides that no country wel inhabited can maintaine the inhabitants thereof nor continue them as they be planted without that rule and order for all places are not plentifull or wholesome which is the cause that the people in the one do abound and want in the other So as if no meane be to take away
without respect oppressed whereunto the Nobilitie at the beginning consented for they vnwilling to bee vnited with the people and desiring to haue all the state into their hands and the people hauing like desire became both loosers Then they appointed a pallace for their office where by auncient custome the Magistrates and Counsellours assembled who were in honourable fort by Serieants and other Ministers there attended albeit at the erection of this office the officers were called Priori yet afterwards for more magnificence was ioyned therunto the name of Signory The Florentines for a space among themselues remained quiet during which time they made warre vppon the Aretini because they had banished the Guelfi and in Campaldino most fortunately wonne the victory The cittie then encreasing in men and riches thought good to encrease also the wals therof and therefore inlarged the circuit of the same to that compasse which now wee see for before that time the Diametre thereof was onely that space which is from the old bridge to S. Lorenzo The wars abroad and peace at home had as it were worne out of Florence the factions of Guelfi and Ghibilini Then remained only those humors which naturally were wont to be in euerie cittie betwixt the Nobilitie and the people For the people desirous to liue according to law and the great men studying to command them becommeth a thing impossible they should accord togither This humour so long as the Ghibilini held the citie in awe was not discouered but so soone as they were vanquished it shewed the force thereof for euerie day some popular man was iniured and Magistrates knew not by what meanes to punish the same because euerie Gentleman with the force of his friends defended himselfe The Magistrates of the misterie studying to remedie so great a mischiefe prouided that euerie Senate in the beginning of their authoritie should create one Gonfaloniere di Giustitia a man elected in the number of Commoners vnto whom was appointed one thousand men vnder twentie Ensignes readie at all occasions to maintaine iustice whensoeuer they were by their Gonfalone or their Captaine commanded The first chosen was Vbaldo Ruffoli he drew forth the Gonfalone and razed the houses of the Galetti because one of that Family had in France slaine a popular man It was an easie thing for the misteries to make this order by reason of the great hatred among the Nobilitie who considered not of any prouision against them till such time as they felt the bitter execution thereof which at the first gaue them great terror neuerthelesse afterwards they returned to their wonted insolencie For alwaies some one of the Nobilitie being an Officer had therby meanes to hinder the Gonfaloniere in execution of his office Moreouer for that euerie accuser must produce his witnesse to proue the offence offered and no man for feare of the Nobilitie durst giue witnesse the citie in short space returned to the former discord and the people iniured in the same sort as they were wont to bee because iudgement was slow and execution thereof wanted The populer sort then not knowing what course to take Giano della Bella a Gentleman of auncient race yet therewith one that loued the libertie of his Country encouraged the chiefe of the misteries to reforme the disorders of the citie By this Councell it was ordeined that the Gonfaloniere should remaine with the Priori and haue foure thousand men at his commandement They likewise made all the Nobilitie vncapable of the Senate and euery man that was accessarie in anie offence to be as subiect to punishment as the principall They decreed moreouer that publique fame should suffice to receiue condemnation by the lawes which they called Ordinamenti della Giustitia By this mean the people gained great reputation and Giano della Bella much hated because thereby he became euill thought of by the Nobilitie and reputed one that oppressed their authoritie The rich Commoners did also enuie him for that they imagined his credit ouermuch which at the first occasion was so proued For it shortly after happened that in a fraie one of the people chanced to be slaine at which conflict diuerse Gentlemen were present and among the rest Corso Donati vnto whom as the most quarrelsome of the companie the fault was laid and by the Captaine of the people apprehended Howsoeuer it were either that Corso had not offended or that the Captaine feared to commit him he was presently set at libertie Which deliuerie so greatly offended the people that they tooke Armes and ranne to the house of Giano della Bella desiring him to be a meane that those lawes might be obserued whereof he had bene the inuentor Giano willing that Corso should be punished did not as many thought he would do cause the people to laie down their Armes but perswaded them to go vnto the Senate and praie them to looke vnto the matter The people in the meane while much moued and supposing the Captaine to haue offered iniurie and also that Giano had forsaken them went not to the Senat but vnto the Captaines pallace which they tooke and sacked That fact greatly displeased all the Citizens and those that desired the fall of Giano accused him laying all the fault to his charge Amongst the Lords of the Senate one of his enemies happened to be who accused him to the Captaine for hauing stirred the people to sedition During the time that this cause was in debating the people armed went againe to the house of Giano and offered him defence against the Senators his enemies But Giano would neither make proofe of this populer fauour nor yet commit his life to the Magistrates because he feared the lewdnesse of these and the inconstancie of those so as to take occasion from his foes to offend him and from his friendes to harme their countrey he determined to depart and so giuing place to enuie and to deliuer the Citizens from that feare they had of him went into voluntarie exile notwithstanding he had with his great perill deliuered the citie from seruitude of the Nobilitie After his departure the Nobilitie hoped greatly to recouer their dignities and iudging that all their euill was by his mean procured they assembled themselues togither and sent two of them to the Senate which they thought did fauour them much to entreate that by the same the seuere lawes made to their preiudice might in something be quallified which request being knowne troubled much the people fearing that the Senators would grant the same Insomuch as the desire of the Nobilitie the suspitiō of the people drew them to the sword The Nobilitie made head in three places at S. Giouanni in the new market place and in the Piazza di Mozzi Their Captaines were Forese Adimari Vanni di Mozzi and Geri Spini The people on the other side with their Ensigne in great numbers assembled at the Senators pallace who at that time dwelt neare vnto
Florentines hearing those newes resolued and determining to rescue that towne shut vp their shops and went confusedly togither to the number of twentie thousand footmen and fifteene hundreth horse Also to diminish the strength of Castruccio and encrease their owne the Senators by proclamation gaue notice that whatsoeuer Rebell of the faction of Guelfi would come to the rescue of Prato should be after the enterprise restored to his country Vpon this proclamation more then foure thousand Rebels came presently thither This great Army in haste conducted to Prato so much terrified Castruccio that without triall of his fortune by fight he retired to Lucca Then grew great controuersie within the Campe of the Florentines betwixt the Nobilitie and the people for these would haue followed the enemie hoping by fight to haue ouerthrowne him and those would returne backe saying it sufficed that they had hazarded Florence to succour Prato Which was well done being constrained by necessitie but sith the cause was now remooued no wisedome would where litle was to be gotten and much to be lost that fortune should be further tempted This matter the people not agreeing was referred to the Senators who found among themselues the same diuersitie of opinions that was betweene the people and the Nobilitie which being knowne much company assembled in the Market place vsing great words of threatnings to the Nobilitie In so much that they for feare gaue place to the will of the people but all too late because in the meane while the enemy was with safetie retired to Lucca This disorder brought the people into so great indignation of the Nobilitie that the Senators would not performe the promise by their consent giuen to the Rebels which the Rebels vnderstanding and hoping to preuent the Senate before the Campe arriued at Florence offered to enter the gates But their intent being discouered by those in the Citie were repulsed Then they sought to compasse that by perswasion which by force they could not and sent eight Ambassadours to put the Senators in remembrance of their promise and the perill they had vnder the same aduentured hoping of that reward which was by them offered The Nobilitie thereby put in mind knowing themselues by promise bound laboured greatly in the fauour of the Rebels Notwithstāding by reason the people were offended for not following the enterprise of Castruccio nothing was obteined which afterward proued the great shame dishonour of the citie For many of the Nobilitie therewith displeased did assaie to win that by force which by entreatie they could not For which purpose they conspired with the rebelles to enter the Cittie armed and they would take armes also for their aide This appointment before the day of execution was discouered whereby the banished men at their comming found the cittie armed and order giuen to apprehend them abroad and keepe downe those that were within Thus this enterprise was in euerie respect without successe After the departure of the rebels the citizens desired to punish those by whose meanes they did come thither And albeit euerie man knew who were the offenders yet no man durst name them much lesse accuse them Therefore to vnderstand the troth without respect it was ordered that secretly the names of the offenders should bee written and priuilie deliuered to the Captaine In this accusation were named Amerigo Donati Teghiaio Frescobaldi Lotteringo Gerardini who hauing Iudges more fauourable then perhaps they deserued were onely condemned in pecuniall punishment The tumults which grew in Florence by comming of the Rebels to the gate made triall that one Chieftaine for all the companies of the people did not suffice and therefore they required after that to euerie company might be appointed three or foure Leaders and to euerie Gonfaloniere two or three others whom they would haue called Pennonieri To the end that in time of necessitie all the companie not assembling part of them vnder one head might be imployed Moreouer as it happeneth in all common weales after any accident some old lawes be disanulled some others are made new so the Senate before appointed from time to time the Senators with the Collegii which then were to the end their force might be the greater had authority giuen them and their successors to continue in office during the space of fortie moneths And because many Citizens feared their names not to be put into the bagge they procured a new Imborsation Of this beginning grew the election of Magistrates as well within as without the Citie which election was in those dayes called Imborsation Afterwards the same was called Squittini And for that euerie three or at the most fiue yeares this order was taken the occasion of tumults in the Citie at the choice of Magistrats was remooued yet were they ignorant of such discommodities as vnder this small commoditie was hidden The yeare 1315. being come and Castruccio hauing surprised Pistoia was growne to that greatnesse that the Florentines fearing the same determined before such time as he was setled in his Principallitie to assault him and bring him vnder their obedience For which purpose they leuied twentie thousand foote men and three thousand horse With these forces they besieged Altopassio in hope by hauing of that Towne to impeach the passage of those that would come to the succour of Pistoia The Florentines preuailed in this enterprise and hauing taken the place marched towards Lucca spoiling the country where they went Notwithstanding through the small wisedome of the Generall or rather his infidelitie little good ensued thereof This Captaine was called Ramondo de Cardona Hee seeing the Florentines to haue bene liberall of their libertie giuing the same somtimes to Kings and sometimes to the Legates of Popes and men of meane qualitie thought it possible to bring himselfe to be a Prince if first he could lead them into some great necessitie He gaue them therefore to vnderstand that for his better reputation it was meete for him to haue the same authoritie within the Citie that he had in the Army otherwise he should not haue that obedience of his souldiers which belonged vnto a Generall Whereto the Florentines not consenting the Army proceeded slowly or rather euerie day losing somewhat and Castruccio continually gained Because by that time were come vnto him diuerse supplies sent by the Visconti and other tirants of Lombardy Castruccio by this meane growne strong and Ramondo hauing neglected his seruice as for want of fidelitie he did not prosper at the first so he could not after saue himselfe for whilest he lingered with his Camp Castruccio did assault him and ouerthrew him neare vnto Altopassio In which conflict many Citizens were slaine and with them Ramondo himselfe who thereby found the punishment of fortune which his infidelitie and euill seruice to the Florentines deserued The displeasures which Castruccio did after the victorie by spoyling distroying burning imprisoning killing cannot be told Because without any resistance he
those that were iniured was Piero de Bardi and Bardo Frescobaldi They being gent. and naturally proud could not endure that a stranger wrongfully and in the presence of some Magistrates had done them iniurie which both against him and those that gouerned they conspired to reuenge Into that conspiracie entered many Noble families and some of the people whom the tyrannie of him that gouerned did offend The order of execution agreed vpon was that euery man shuld assemble into his house as many armed men as he could and in the morning of All Saints day when euerie bodie was in the church to take armes and kill the Captaine Which done they determined to place new Senators and with new orders to reforme the state But because enterprises of perill the more they be thought vpon the more vnwillingly be performed It alwaies happeneth that cōspiracies not suddenly executed are for the most part discouered There was among the conspirators one called Andrea de Bardi in whom the consideration of punishment could do more then the hope of reuenge reuealed all to Iacamo Alberti his brother in law Then Iacamo enformed the Priori and the Priori enformed the Gouernours And because the day of danger grew neare which was the feast of All Saints manie citizens consulted in the Pallace and thinking it dangerous to deferre the time iudged it best that the Senators should cause the bell to be rung and thereby call the people to armes Taldo Valori was Gonfaloniere and Francesco Saluiati one of the Senate They being to the Bardi kinsmen would not haue the Bell rung saying it were not well done vpon euerie light occasion to arme the people For authority being giuē to a loose multitude could worke no good effect It was also easie to moue tumults but to appease them hard It were therfore much better first to examin the troth of the cause punish the same by law thē correct it disorderly with ruine of the citie which words were not willingly heard For the Senators with many iniurious and presumptuous speeches were enforced to ring the Bell vpon hearing wherof all the people ran sodeinly into the market place armed On the other side the Bardi Frescobaldi seeing themselues discouered intending to winne their purpose with glory or die without shame tooke armes hoping to defend that part of the citie where their own houses were and on the other side of the riuer fortified the bridges trusting to be succoured by the nobility of the country other their friends Which purpose was disappointed by the people that inhabited where their houses were who tooke armes in fauour of the Senat so that finding themselues disapointed they abādoned the bridges retired to the street where the Bardi dwelt as a place of more strength then any other that very valiantly they defēded Iacobo de Agobio knowing all this conspiracy to be against him fearful of death amazed at the pallace of the Senators in the midst of the armed men placed himself But there was more courage in the Rettori who had lesse offended and most of all in the Podesta called Maffeo de Maradi For he presented himself to those that fought as a mā senceles without al feare passing the bridge Rubaconte entred in amōg the swords of the Bardi making signes to speak with thē Wherupon they cōsidering the reueuerence of the man his vertue other his good great qualities staied their weapons quietly heard him He then with modest graue words blamed their cōspiracy laying before them the perils wherto they were subiect if they gaue not ouer this populer enterprise giuing thē also hope that they should be fauourably heard and mercifully iudged And promised moreouer to be the mean wherby their reasonable offences should find compassion Then he returned back to the Senators and persuaded thē not to be victorious with the bloud of their own citizens neither to iudge before the cause were heard And his persuasion preuailed so much as by cōsent of the Senate the Bardi Frescobaldi with their friends were suffered to abandō the citie return to their castles They being gone and the people disarmed the Senators proceeded onely against the families of Bardi and Frescobaldi who had taken armes And to spoile them of some part of their power they bought of the Bardi the Castle of Mangona and the Castle of Varina and made a lawe that no Cittizen might possesse a Castle within twentie miles of Florence Within fewe monethes after Stiatta Frescobaldi was beheaded and many others of that familie proclaimed Rebelles It sufficed not the Gouernours to haue oppressed the Bardi and Frescobaldi but they did as men commonly doo the more authoritie they haue the worse they vse it and the more insolent they become so where was before one Captaine of the Guard who oppressed the Cittizens within Florence they also chose an other in the Countrey to the ende that men to them suspected should neither within the Cittie nor without haue anie dwelling So earnestly were they bent against the Nobilitie that they forced not to sell the Cittie to be reuenged aspecting onely occasion which came well and they better vsed the same By meanes of many troubles which hapned in Lombardy Toscana the possession of the citie of Lucca was come into the hāds of Mastino della Scalla Lord of Verona who notwithstanding hee was bounde to deliuer the same to the Florentines did not because he thought himselfe able to hold it the rather by being Lord of Parma and therefore of his promise he made none account at all which moued the Florentines to offence For reuenge whereof they ioyned against him with the Venetians and made so hotte warres vpon him as thereby he was inforced almost to abandon his country Notwithstanding therof followed nothing but some satisfaction of mind to haue oppressed Mastino For the Venetians as all other doe that ioyne in league with such as be weaker then themselues after they had surprised Triuigi and Vuensa without respect of the Florentines made peace with Mastino Shortly after the Visconti Princes of Milan hauing taken Parma from Mastino and hee fearing for that cause that Lucca could not be kept determined to sell it Those that desired to buy that citie were the Florentines and the Pisani In beating the bargaine the Pisani perceiued that the Florentines richer then they would obteine it Therefore they sought to winne it by force and with the aide of Visconti besieged it The Florentines notwithstanding proceeded and bargained with Mastino paying part of the money in hand and for payment of the rest deliuered hostages Naldo Ruccelai Giouanni the sonne of Barnardino de Medici and Rosso de Rici and then by order of Mastino the possession of the Citie was deliuered The Pisani notwithstanding pursued their enterprise and by all meanes possible laboured to get the Cittie by force yet went the Florentines to rescue the Cittie
til the yeare 1366. more then two hundreth Citizens were admonished By this mean the Captaines faction of Guelfi were become mightie because euery man fearing to be admonished honoured them The chief of them were Piero delli Albizi Lapo d◠Castiglionichio and Piero Strozzi And albeit this insolent order of proceeding displeased many yet the Ricci were of all other most discontented For they supposing themselues to be the occasion of this disorder saw the common weale ruined the Albizi their enemies contrary to expectation become of most authoritie Wherfore Vguccione de Ricci being one of the Senate desired to staie this mischiefe whereof he his friends were the beginners and by a new law he prouided that the six captains should be encreased to the number of nine of whom two should be of the smal misteries And ordeined moreouer that the detection of the Ghibilini should be by 24. Citizens of the sect of Guelfi confirmed This ordinance for the time qualified the authoritie of the Captaines so as the admonishment grew colde And if anie happened to be admonished they were not manie Notwithstanding the factions of Albizi and Ricci continued and the leagues practises and resolutions deuised in hatred one of the other did proceed In this vnquietnesse the citie liued from the yeare 1366. till 1371. In which time the Guelfi recouered their forces There was in the family of Buondelmonti one Gentleman called Benchi who for his merit in the warre against the Pisani was made one of the people and thereby become capable of the office of the Senate And when he looked to be chosen to that honour a lawe was made that no Gentleman become one of the people might exercise the office of the Senate This greatly offended Benchi wherefore consulting with Piero delli Albizi determined with the admonition to oppresse the meaner sort of the people and the rest alone to enioy the gouernment Then through the fauour which Benchi had with the olde Nobilitie and through the affection of manie of moste mightie people borne to Piero the faction of Guelfi recouered some force and with new reformation they handled the matter so that they might both of the Captaines and the twentie foure Cittizens dispose as themselues thought good Wherevppon they returned to admonish more boldlie then they were woont and the house of Albizi as head of this secte still encreased On the other side the Ricci failed not by their owne force and friendes to hinder their enterprises all they were able so that all men liued in suspition and euerie one mistrusted his owne ruine For which cause manie Cittizens mooued with the loue of their Countrey assembled themselues in Saint Pietro Sceraggio and reasoning of these disorders went to the Senators vnto whome one of most authoritie spake thus Wee haue my Lordes doubted although for a publique occasion to assemble our selues by priuate consent fearing to be noted for presumptuous or condemned as ambitious Yet considering that euerie day without respect manie Cittizens conferre both in the streetes and in their houses not for anie common commoditie but their owne ambition we do hope that as they haue come togithers for the ruine of the Common weale so it shall not be offensiue that we consult by what meane the same might be preserued Neither is there cause why we should regard them seeing they of vs make none estimation at all The loue my Lordes which we beare to our Countrey did first bring vs togither and the same also hath ledde vs hither to intreate of these inconueniences which are now great and daily encrease in this our Common weale In the redresse whereof we offer our selues to assist you And albeit the enterprise do seeme hard yet may it be performed if it shall like your Lordships to laie by all priuate respects and with publique forces imploy your authorities The common corruption of other Citties of Italy doth also corrupt ours For sith this Prouince was drawne vnder the Empire all Cities wanting Gouernours able to rule them haue gouerned themselues not as free but as townes into sects and faction diuided Out of this be sprung vp al other discords that are to be found First among the Citizens there is neither vnion nor friendship but onely among such as haue against their countrey or priuate persons conspired some lewde enterprise Also bicause religiō feare of God is in euery man almost extinguished othes and faith giuen are none obligations equall to profit which all men couet Yet do they stil vse both promising othes not to obserue them but the rather to deceiue those that trust them And the more easily safely they can deceiue the more they account their praise glory For this reason hurtfull men be commended as industrious good men blamed as foolish Yea I assure my selfe that all corruption or that can corrupt others is to be found in the cities of Italy The young men are idle old men wanton euery sects and euery age full of lewde conditions which good lawes being euil vsed do not amend Hereof the couetousnes which we see in Citizens and the desire not of true glory but of shamefull honors do proceed wherevpon depend hatred enmitie displeasures sects Also of them do follow murders banishments persecution of the good aduancement of the euill For good men trusting in their owne innocencie do not as euil men seeke extraordinary defence Whereby vnsupported and dishonoured they are suffered to sinke This example occasioneth loue of the factions and their forces because the worst sort for couetousnesse and ambition and the best for necessitie do follow them It is also worthie consideration as that which is more perillous to see how the leaders of these enterprises do colour their lewdnesse with some honest or godly tearme For albeit they are all enemies to libertie yet vnder the word Ottimacy or popularitie they cloake their euill intent Because the rewarde which they aspect of victorie is not glorie by hauing deliuered the Cittie but the satisfaction they take to be victorious and vsurpe the gouernment thereof Wherewith allured there is nothing so iniust nothing so cruell or couetous that they leaue vnattempted Hereof it proceedeth that lawes and statutes not for the common but the priuate profit be made Hereof it proceedeth that warre peace and leagues not for publike glory but for the pleasure of a few are contracted And albeit some other Cities be touched with these disorders yet none so fowly infected as ours Because the lawes the statutes and ciuil ordinances not according to a life in libertie but according to desire of the faction victorious haue bene and yet are ordeined which is the cause that euer one faction driuen out or one diuision extinquished sodeinly ariseth an other For that citie which is mainteined more by faction then law so soone as anie faction hath gotten the ouer hand is without opposition it must of force be that the same
becommeth in it selfe diuided For by those priuate meanes which were made for preseruation therof it cannot be defended which to be true the ancient and moderne diuisions of our citie do make triall Euerie man thought that the Ghibilini extirped the Guelfi should euer haue continued in honour Notwithstanding within short time the Bianchi and Neri arose The Bianchi vanquished our citie continued not long without partes but was sometimes troubled with fauouring those that were banished and somtimes with the enmitie betwixt the people nobilitie Yea at length giuing that to others which by accord either we would not or could not possesse our selues sometimes to the King Roberto sometimes to his brother last of all to the Duke of Athene we yeelded our libertie And in troth we neuer setled our selues in any estate as men that could not consent to liue free nor be willing to obey neither feared we liuing vnder a King so greatly are our orders disposed to diuision to preferre before his maiestie a man of most base condition born in Agobio The Duke of Athene may not without shame of this citie be remembred whose bitter and cruel mind might make vs wise and instruct vs how to liue But he being sent away we suddeinly tooke armes in hand and with more malice and fury fought among our selues til all our auncient nobilitie were oppressed and left at the peoples discretion Then was it thought by many that neuer for any occasiō it were possible to stir vp new troubles or factions in Florence they being cast down whose pride vnsupportable ambition was the cause thereof Yet is it now seene by experience how easily the opinion of men is deceiued For the ambition and pride of the nobilitie was not quenched but remoued into the people who now according to the custome of ambitious men hope to aspire to the most soueraigne offices And not wanting other meane to vsurpe the same they moued new discords new diuisions in the citie raising vp the name of Guelfi Ghibilini which had they neuer bene knowne should haue made our country the more happie Besides that to the end in this world should be nothing in continuance or quietnes Fortune hath prouided that in euery state there should be certaine fatall families borne and destined to the destruction thereof Of these our Common weale hath bene more then anie other replenished For not one but many of them haue disturbed the quiet therof As first of all the Buondelmonti and Vberti then the Donati and Circhi And euen now a shamefull and ridiculous matter the Ricci and Albizi do trouble and diuide our Citie We haue not remembred you of those corrupt customes and our continuall diuision to dismay you but call to your minds the occasions of them and enforme you that the example of those should not make you to dispaire the reformation of these Because the power of these auncient houses was so great and the fauour that Princes did beare towards them so much that the lawes and ciuill ordinances were not of force sufficient to hold them in quiet and due obedience But now the Empire hauing no force the Pope not feared and that all Italy this Citie also is reduced to so great equalitie as may by it self be gouerned the difficultie cannot be much And this our common weale notwithstanding the ancient examples to the cōtrary may not only be brought to vniō but also in good customs ciuil orders be reformed if your lordships be disposed to do it Wherunto we moued with the loue of our coūtry no priuate passiō do persuade you And albeit the corruptiō thereof be great yet allaie that disease which infecteth that furie which consumeth that poyson that killeth and impute the auncient disorders not to the nature of men but the time which being changed it may hope that by meane of new orders new fortune will follow whose frowardnesse may be by wisedome gouerned in putting a bridle vpon the ambitious disanulling such ordinances as were nourishers of factions and vsing those that to a ciuill life and libertie are agreeable Be ye also pleased to do this by vertue of lawe rather now then deferre the same till such time as by armes you shall be enforced thereunto The Senators moued with these reasons which themselues had before considered and thereunto adding the authoritie and comfort of the men gaue commission to fiftie sixe Citizens to prouide for the safetie of the Common weale True it is that the counsell of many is more fit to conserue a good order then to inuent it These Citizens then studied rather to extirpate the present factions then take away the occasion of future diuision In so much as neither the one or the other was brought to passe because not remouing the occasions of new diuision and the one part of those sects which were present being of greater force then the other became the more perillous to the state Wherefore out of euerie office excepting those that were in the handes of the Guelfi for three yeares they depriued three men of the families of Albizi and three of the house of Ricci amongst whom were Piero delli Albizi Vguccione dei Ricci They prohibited all Citizens to come into the Pallace sauing at such times as the Magistrates sate there They prouided that who euer was striken or letted to possesse his owne might call his aduersarie to the Counsels protest him for one of the Nobilitie These ordinances discouraged the Ricci and incouraged the Albizi For although they were equally noted yet the Ricci were the more iniured And albeit the Pallace of the Senate was forbidden to Piero yet the counsell house of the Guelfi where he had great authoritie was open for him Therefore if he and his followers were at the first earnest in admonishing now after this iniurie they became much more earnest and to that euil disposition new occasions were ioyned At this time Gregorio 11. was aspired to the Papacie who liuing at Auignion did as his predecessors gouerne Italy by Legates They being men inclined to pride and couetousnesse had thereby greatly afflicted many Cities One of these Legates being in Bologna taking occasion of the dearth which happened that yeare in Florence determined to make himselfe Lord of Toscana And therefore he not onely withheld from the Florentines present reliefe but also to remoue all hope of future prouision at the beginning of the next spring with a great Army entered their Countrey imagining the people disarmed and famished might be easily conquered And happily the enterprise had taken effect if the souldiers that serued him had bene faithfull and not corruptible For the Florentines not hauing other remedie gaue vnto them 130. thousand Florins and for that mony the souldiers abandoned the enterprise To begin a warre is in the power of euerie man but to end a warre no man can when himselfe so liketh This warre by the ambition of the Legate begun
could not be vtterly quenched True it is that the often contentions persecutions of the chief captains frō the 1381. til the 1400. brought the factions wel near to nothing The families most persecuted were the Albizi Ricci and Medici Those houses were diuerse times spoyled both of their men and substance and if any of them remained in the citie their honours and offices were taken from them Which oppression made that part base minded and as it were vtterly trodden downe Notwithstanding there remained in many men a certaine memorie of iniuries receiued and a desire to reuenge them Yet wanting power to performe their will they kept that desire within their breasts secretly hidden Those of the populer Nobilitie who peaceably gouerned the citie committed two errors which were the causes of their ruine The one through their insolency which grew by continuall authoritie and being in office The other through enuie among themselues the long holding the state in their hands they did not preuent those that might offend them but daily renuing the vniuersall hatred by their sinister proceedings not remoouing the matter that might hurt and was to be feared were the causes that the house of Medici recouered authoritie The first of them that begun to stand vp was Giouanni the sonne of Bicci He become exceeding rich and being of nature curteous affable was with the allowance of those that gouerned ascended to the highest office Whereat the multitude so greatly reioyced supposing to haue gotten a protector that the wiser sort conceiued some iust cause of suspition because thereby they found all the old humors begun to arise And Nicholo di Vsano failed not to aduertise the other Citizens how daungerous a thing it was to aduance one who had among the multitude so much reputation saying it was easie to oppresse any inconuenience at the first but letting it growe the remedie was hardly found For hee knew well that in Giouanni there were many more excellent partes then in Saluestro Nicholo could not be heard of his companions because they enuied his reputation and sought for assistance to oppresse him Men thus liuing in Florence beset with contrary humours which secretly began to boyle within their breasts Philippo Visconti second sonne of Giouan Galiazzo being by the death of his brother become Lord of all Lombardy and deuising vpon some enterprise desired greatly to be againe owner of Genoua which at that present vnder Tomazo Frogolo liued in libertie Yet feared he could neither compasse that nor any other thing vnlesse first hee published a new accord with the Florentines the reputation whereof as hee thought might bring him to satisfaction For which purpose hee sent Embassadours to Florence who beeing there and perswading the league it was by many Cittizens thought vnfit to ioyne with him and yet they wished that the peace which had many yeares continued should still endure For they knewe what fauoure and reputation the league would doo him and how small profit the citie should receiue thereof To others it was thought good that the league should be made thereby to procure the Duke to enter conditions and bondes which if he passed euery man might discouer his euill intent and should if he brake the peace the more iustly make warre vpon him Thus the matter being throughly debated the peace was concluded Wherein Philippo promised that hee would not entermedle with anie thing on this side the Riuers of Magra and Panaro After this conclusion Philippo surprized Brescia and shortly after Genoua contrary to the opinion of those that had perswaded the peace For they beleeued that Brescia had bene defended by the Venetians and Genoua could haue defended it selfe And because in the league which Philippo had made with the Doge of Genoua he had reserued Serezana and other Townes on this sides Magra with condition that if he solde them hee then to sell them to the Genouesi the league was broken Besides this hee made peace with the Legate of Bologna Which things altered the mindes of our Citizens and made them doubting newe mischiefes to looke for newe remedies These suspitions come to the eare of Filippo either to gratifie or feele the disposition of the Florentines or else to abuse them sent Ambassadours vnto Florence and by them signified how he maruelled much at the suspition conceiued and therewith offered to renounce euerie thing by him done whereof anie mistrust might grow which Ambassadours wrought none other effect then diuision of the citie For the one part and those that were most reputed in the gouernment thought good to arme and preuent the enemie Notwithstanding if Filippo stood quiet there should be no war at all and in the meane time that prouision was an occasion of peace Many others either enuying those that gouerned or fearing the warre iudged that it was no wisedome lightly to become suspitious neither were things by Philippo done worthie to be suspected But they knew wel that to elect the Ten and to hire souldiers promised warre which being taken in hand against so great a Prince should be the ruine of the citie without hope of any profit For of his victories hauing Romagna in the midst we could not receiue good nor become Princes of that country And of Romagna it self by reason of the neernesse of the church they could not think to become owners Notwithstanding the authoritie of those that would make preparation for war preuailed before the other that desired peace And therefore they created the Ten hired souldiers imposed Subsidies Which proceedings because they burthened more the lesse then greater Cittizens filled the cittie with sorrow and euery man blamed the ambition authoritie of the great men accusing them that to fulfill their appetites and oppresse the people they would make a warre not necessary Yet was not the Duke come to manifest breach but euery thing was full of suspition For Philippo at the request of the Legate of Bologna who feared Antonio Bentiuogli banished and remaining at the Castle Bolognese had sent men to that citie which beeing neare the dominion of Florence held the state in mistrust But that which most amazed euerie man and gaue much cause to discouer the warre was the enterprise of the Duke at Furli Georgio Ordilaffi was Lord of Furli who dying left Tibaldo his sonne vnder protection of Philippo And albeit the mother supposing the Duke to be a Tutor vnfit and therefore sent her childe to Lodouico Alidossi her father Lord of Imola yet was she forced by the people to obserue her husbands testament and commit him to the Dukes hands Then Philippo to make himselfe the lesse suspected and the rather also to couer his intent deuised that the Marquesse of Farrara should send Guido Torello with some forces to be his deputie and take the gouernment of Furli Thus came that towne into the possession of Philippo which being knowne in Florence togither with the newes of the souldiers come to
Senate then if from the mouth of some Oracle the same had proceeded For by his words all the audience was so mooued that they would not suffer the Prince as is the custome to make any answere But euerie man stood vp and many of them weeping for ioy held vp their hands thanking the Florentines for so friendly an offer and him for hauing with so great diligence and speede performed the same Promising moreouer neuer to forget that fauoure nor that any time either in themselues or in their posterie should cancell the memorie of this merite And that their Common-weale should be as much at the Florentines commandement as their owne These curtesies and congratulations ended they consulted what way the Earle might martch to the end that the bridges and passages should be prepared Foure waies were then thought vpon whereby he might passe The one from Rauenna by the sea side which being narrow and full of marishes was not liked An other was by the direct way which being impeached by a Fortresse called Vccellino kept for the Duke the same ought to be surprized before the Armie should march further which was heard to do in so short a time vnlesse the occasion of the enterprise were omitted the same requiring great diligence and speede The third was by the wood of Lago where because the Riuer of Po was ouerflowed to passe that way seemed not onely hard but also impossible The fourth was by the Champion of Bologna from thence to Ponte Pulidrano to Cento through Finale and Bondeno and so to Farrara From whence by water and land they might be conueyed into Padouana there to ioyne with the Venetian forces In this way albeit there was manie difficulties and might by the enemie in some places be impeached yet was it thought the best of all others Whereof the Earle aduertised with great speed began his iourney and on the twentith of Iune arriued in Padouana The comming of this Captaine into Lombardy made Venice and all the countrie thereto belonging in great hope For as they seemed before to dispaire now they began to hope not onely to hold their owne but also to win from others The Earle first of all went to the rescue of Verona and the rather to meete with Nicholo and his Armie he marched to Soaue a Castle builded betwixt Vicentino Veronesi and inuironed by a diche which reached from Soaue to the marish of Adice The Earle seeing his passage by the plaine stopped thought to passe by the mountaines and by that way to come neare to Verona Supposing Nicholo did not thinke that he would take that way being vnpleasant mountanous or if he did he could not in time come thither to impeach him Wherefore being prouided of victuals for eight daies hee and his men passed the mountaine and arriued vnder Soaue in the plaine Where albeit some bulwarks had bene made by Nicholo yet were they not such as staied his passage Nicholo then seeing the enemie aboue his expectation come thither fearing to fight vpon disaduantage retired himselfe on the other side of Adice and the Earle without anie obstacle entred into Verona Thus the Earle hauing performed the first enterprise which was to remoue the siege the second yet remained to rescue Brescia This Citie is so seated vpon the riuer of Garda the scite wherof is such that though it be besieged by land yet may it be victualled by water which was the cause why the Duke put so great forces vpon that Lage and in the beginning of his victories had surprized all those townes which by the Lage could relieue Brescia The Venetians had also Gallies vppon the Lage but they were not of power inough to fight with the Dukes forces The Earle therefore thought fit with some more souldiers to strengthen the Nauie and win those townes which with held the vittails from Brescia He therfore brought his Campe before Bandolino a Castle vpon the Lage hoping if that were wonne the rest would presently yeeld In that enterprise fortune disfauoured the Earle for the greatest number of his men fell sicke so as leauing the enterprise hee went vnto Zeno a castle belonging to Verona where the country is plentiful the aire wholesome Nicholo seeing the Earle retired not to omit occasion to possesse himselfe of the Lage left his Campe at Vegatio and with some choise men went vnto the Lage There with great furie he assaulted the Venetian Armie tooke welneare all their Gallies After this victory almost al the Castles vpon the Lage yeelded vnto Nicholo The Venetians dismaid at this his losse and fearing therby that they of Brescia would yeeld also sollicited the Earle both by Letters and Messengers to make speed to succour it But the Earle seeing that by the Lage there was no hope to relieue it by land it was impossible by reason of ditches bulwarkes and trenches made by Nicholo so as whosoeuer should enter must go to present destruction determined to proue the way of the mountains wherby as he had before saued Verona so he hoped perhaps to rescue Brescia The Earle for the atchiuing thereof departed from Zeno and by the Vale of Acrine marched to the Lage of S. Andrea and came to Torboli and Penda vpon the Lage of Garda From thence he went to Tenna and there pitched his Campe because to passe from thence to Brescia it behooued him to surprise that Castle Nicholo vnderstanding the intent of the Earle brought his Armie to Pischiera and after with the Marquesse of Mantoua and some of his owne choise souldiers marched towards the Earle and fighting togither Nicholo was ouerthrowne Some part of his men were taken prisoners an other part retired to the Armie the third part fled to the Nauie Nicholo then retired himselfe into Tenna and the night being come imagined he could not escape from thence if he tarried til the next day Wherfore to eschue that perill certaine he aduentured a daunger doubtfull Nicholo had amongst many his seruants one Almaine a man of great strength and to him aboue others euer most faithfull Nicholo perswaded this man that if hee would put him into a sacke he might vpon his shoulders as though he were some other thing carry him to some place from whence he might escape At this time the Campe yet remained about Tenna Neuerthelesse by meanes of the victorie the day before no great order or watch was taken so that this Almaine the more easily might conuey his maister Wherefore taking him vpon his shoulders as though he were some other burthen himselfe being apparelled like a Porter he passed through the Camp without any let and so saued his maister This victorie if it had bene well vsed as it was happily wonne had much better releeued Brescia and the Venetians thereby should haue proued more happie But the same being euill vsed the ioy thereof was the lesse and Brescia remained in the same distresse that it was before For Nicholo hauing
the Cittie which was the cause he failed to performe that enterprise for he knew not that the parts do more willingly follow the head then the head doth follow them After this ouerthrow the King Ferrando being fled into Naples thither resorted vnto him diuerse of his subiects who were driuen from their countreys then by all curteous meanes he leuied men and money to make a new Camp sending againe for aide to the Pope and Duke From the one and the other of whome he was aided more speedily and abundantly then before time he had bene bicause they greatly feared he should otherwise lose his Kingdome King Ferrando in this sort growne strong marched out of Naples and hauing gotten some reputation recouered also part of his lost townes During these warres in the Kingdome a chance happened that vtterly depriued Giouanni de Angio of reputation and meane to haue victorie in that enterprise The Genouesi being wearie of the French insolent and couetous gouernment tooke armes against the Kings Gouernour there and forced him to flee to the little Castle of Genoua The Fregosi and the Adorni were content to ioyne in that action and by the Duke of Milan they became furnished of money and men both for the winning and keeping the Cittie So that the King Rinato with his nauie came to the succour of his sonne and hoping to recouer Genoua by meane of the small Castle in landing his souldiers was ouerthrowne and forced with shame to returne vnto Prouenza These newes being carried to the Kingdome of Naples greatly dismaied Giouanni de Angio notwithstanding he still followed his enterprise and continued the warre being serued by those Barons who were rebelled and could not looke for fauour of Ferrando In the end after many accidents those two royall armies ioyned battell wherein neare vnto the Cittie of Troia Giouanni was vanquished the yeare 1463. This ouerthrow did not so much hinder the successe of the King Giouanni as did the reuolt of Giacopo Piccinino who left him and ioyned with King Ferrando whereby being spoiled of his forces he retired into Histria and from thence to Fraunce This warre continued foure yeares and was in the end lost by his owne negligence for it was many times in good way of victorie by the vertue of his souldiers Therein the Florentines intermedled not apparantly yet were they desired by Embassadors of the King Giouanni of Arragon newly come to that Kingdome by the death of Alfonso to assist the enterprise of Ferrando his nephew as they had bound themselues by the league lately made with Alfonso his father To whome by the Florentines it was answered that they were not by any obligation bound to aide the sonne in that warre which was begun by the father for as the same had bene without their counsell or knowledge taken in hand so without their assistance it should be performed and ended The Embassadors being thus to the request of their King answered protested the execution of their band and the Kings preiudice so in great displeasure with that Cittie departed The Florentines during these warres continued in peace abroad but within they rested not as in the next Booke shall be particulerly declared The ende of the sixt Booke THE SEVENTH BOOKE TO those that haue read the former Booke it may seeme in writing of Florence and the proceedings of the Florentines we haue ouermuch spoken of such accidents as hapned in Lombardy and the Kingdome Neuerthelesse as heretofore I haue so am I hereafter to continue with the like discourses For albeit I did not promise to write of matters concerning Italy yet haue I thought good to speake of those that were in that countrey most notable For if I should not make mention of them our historie would be with more difficultie vnderstood and to the Readers lesse pleasing Chiefely bicause the actions of other people and Princes of Italy did occasion the warres wherein the Florentines were forced to intermeddle as of the warre of Giouanni de Angio and King Ferrando great enimitie grew which was after betwixt Ferrando and the Florentines and particulerly with the house of Medici continued For the King complained that the Florentines did not onely leaue him in that warre vnaided but also that his enemies were by them fauoured which anger was the occasion of exceeding many inconuenients as shall be hereafter declared And for as much as I haue written at large those matters which happened without the Cittie till the yeare 1463. it behoueth me for the declaration of such troubles as happened in those daies within to looke back many yeares passed Yet first by way of discourse as is my custome I say that whosoeuer doth thinke that any Common-weale can continue vnited he greatlie deceiueth himselfe But true it is that some diuisions be preiudiciall to Common-weales and some others be profitable Those be preiudiciall which are with factions and followers accompanied And those are profitable which without factions and followers bee mainteined Seeing then it is a thing impossible for that man who frameth a Common-weale to prouide that no enimitie shall therein arise he ought at the least foresee that no factions be permitted It is then to be considered that the Citizens in euerie state do win reputation either by publike or priuate meanes Publike reputation is gotten by victorie in the field by surprizing of townes by wise and discreet performing of Embassages or by counsailing the State grauely and fortunately By priuate meanes men attain to reputatiō by pleasuring particuler citizēs by sauing them frō punishments by relieuing them with money by aduancing thē vnworthily to honors and offices and by enterteining the common people with sports publike gifts From these causes faction following and partaking do proceed And as reputation thus gotten is hurtful so the other not being intermedled with faction is the occasion of great good bicause it is grounded vpon no priuate but common commoditie And albeit among such Citizens so great displeasures wil grow as the wisdome of man is not able to preuēt yet wāting partakers to follow thē for proper profit they cannot by any way hinder the common-weale but shal rather help it for in aspiring to that they would come vnto it behoueth them to indeuor the aduancement of the state and particularly one to respect the other so much as the lawes ciuil orders be not infringed The enimities of Florēce were alwaies followed with factions and therfore hurtfull to the state neither was any victorious faction longer vnited then the contrary part continued in force for so soone as the enemies were extinguished the faction remaining no more in awe of the enemy nor hauing order to bridle it selfe became diuided The faction of Cosimo de Medici in the yeare 1434. remained with victorie Neuerthelesse bicause the partie oppressed was stil great and full of mightie men it continued vnited and tollerable so long as among those of the factiō no error was cōmitted and the people
being ended it were best to finde meanes that the same might not be reuiued for if the Councels and Magistrates did gouerne the Cittie the authoritie of Piero would be in short space extinguished and with losse of his reputation in the state he should also lose his credit in merchandize For being no more in place where he might imploy the publique treasure he should of necessitie grow weake which being brought to passe there would not be after any cause to feare him and all this practise might bee performed without banishment of anie man and the libertie without bloud recouered which euery good Cittizen ought to desire But if they proceeded by force many perils might be incurred for whosoeuer is readie to fall alone if he be forced by others will labour to staie himself vp Moreouer when nothing is done extraordinarily against him he shall not haue any occasion to Arme himselfe or seeke friends or if he should the same would turne to his great reproach and breede suspition in euerie man so as his ouerthrow shall be the more easie and others take occasion the rather to oppresse him Many others of that assembly liked not this delaie affirming the time fauoured him not them For if they were contented with ordinary proceedings Piero was in no danger at all and they in great perill Because the Magistrates notwithstanding they were his enemies would suffer him in the Citie and his friends with their ruine as it happened in the yeare 58. would make him Prince and as the former counsell proceeded from good men so this was the opinion of wise men It was therefore necessary that while men be displeased to make him sure The meane to bring the same to effect was to be armed both within and without and also to enterteine the Marquesse of Farrara to be the better defended Which done when a Senate happened to be for the purpose then to make all assured In this resolution they staied till the next Senate and proceeded according to the quallitie thereof Among the conspirators was Nicholo Fedini whom they imployed as Chauncellor he perswaded with a hope more certaine reuealed to Piero all the practise agreed vpon by his enemies and deliuered him a note of all their names which Piero perused and seeing the number and quallitie of the Citizens who had conspired against him tooke counsell of his friends and made a note likewise of them Then he committed this rolle of friends to be made by one whom he most trusted who considering therof found so great varietie and instabilitie in the mindes of the Citizens that many who had bene written for his enemies were also inrolled among the rest who were accounted his friends During the space that these matters with these alteratiōs were handled the time was come to chuse two supreame Officers and Nicholo Soderini was elected Gonfaloniere de Giustitia It was a maruellous thing to see with what concourse not onely of honourable Citizens but of all sorts of people he was accompanied to the Pallace and passing vppon the waie they set on his head a garland of Oliffe to shewe that of him depended the welfare and libertie of the Countrey By this and many like experiences it is proued that men should not take vppon them any Office or principallitie with extraordinarie opinion For not being able to performe such expectation men desiring more then can be doth in time breed his own dishonour and infamie Thomaso and Nicholo Soderini were brethren Nicholo was the bolder and more couragious but Thomaso the wiser and friend to Piero. Who knowing his brothers humour that he desired onely the libertie of the Cittie and that the state might be setled without harme of any perswaded Nicholo to make new Squittini whereby the Borsi might be filled with such Cittizens as loued to liue in libertie By doing whereof the state should be at his will setled without tumult or iniury to anie Nicholo gaue credit to the counsell of his brother and in these vaine imaginations consumed the time of his office till by the chiefe of the conspirators his friends he was suffered to sincke as they that would not for enuie that the gouernment should be with the authoritie of Nicholo renued and hoping euer they might in time vnder some other Gonfaloniere worke the same effect The end of the magistracie of Nicholo come and many things by him begun but nothing ended he yeelded vp his authoritie with more dishonour then with honour he had entered the same This matter made the faction of Piero glad and confirmed his friendes in the hope they had of his good successe And those that before stood neutrall ioyned with Piero and matters being thus in a readinesse for diuerse months without other tumult they temporized Notwithstāding the part of Piero stil encreased in strength wherof the enemies tooke knowledge and ioyned themselues togither to performe that by force which by meane of the Magistrates they might easily haue done before and so concluded to kill Piero lying sicke at Careggi for which purpose they sent to the Marquesse of Farrara to come vnto the Citie with his forces and Piero being slaine they determined to march armed into the Market place and cause the Senate to settle the gouernment according to their will For albeit all the Citizens were not their friends yet they that were their enemies would for feare giue place Diotisalui the rather to cloake his intent oftentimes visited Piero and reasoned with him of the vniting of the Citie All these practises had bene reuealed to Piero and Domenico Martegli also gaue him intelligence that Francesco Neroni brother to Diotisalui had perswaded him to be of his conspiracie alleaging the victorie was certain and assured Thereupon Piero determined to be the first that should take armes and fained an occasion vppon the practises of his enemies with the Marquesse of Farrara He pretended therefore to haue receiued a Letter from Giouanni Bentiuogli Prince in Bologna whereby he was aduertised that the Marquesse of Farrara was with his forces marched to the Riuer of Albo and as was commonly thought intended to come to Florence Vpon these aduertisements Piero tooke armes and with a great multitude of men armed came to Florence where all others that followed him armed themselues The contrary partie did the like but Piero his followers were the better prepared because the others had not so great warning therof Diotisalui dwelling neare vnto Piero thought not himselfe assured at home but sometimes he went to the Pallace to perswade the Senate to cause Piero to laie downe his armes sometimes he resorted to Lucca to intreate him to stand firme to his faction But of all others Nicholo Soderini shewed himself of most courage for he presently tooke arms and being followed of all the common people of his quarter went vnto the house of Lucca desiring him to mount on horsebacke and come to the Market place in fauour of the Senate which
fauoured them and therefore might hope of victorie certaine But if he remained in his house hee should be either by the armed men oppressed or by those that were disarmed shamefully deceiued Or if he should after repent that he did not take armes that repentance were too late But if he wold with the warre oppresse Piero he might easily do it and after if he liked to make peace it was better for him to giue then to receiue the conditions therof These words moued not Lucca hauing alreadie setled his mind and promised to Piero new alliances and new conditions For he had alreadie married vnto Giouanni Tornabuoni one of his neeces and therefore perswaded Nicholo to laie downe armes and returne to his house For it ought to suffice him that the Cittie should be gouerned by the Magistrates and it would come to passe that euerie man would laie downe armes and the Senators being the stronger partie should be Iudge of the controuersie Nicholo then seeing he could not otherwise perswade him returned home But first said vnto Lucca I cannot alone worke the well doing of our Citie but I alone can prognosticate the euil whereinto it is falling This resolution you haue made will breed losse of libertie to our country your depriuation of gouernment and wealth and my banishment The Senate in this tumult shut vp the Pallace and the Magistrates kept themselues therin not seeming to sauour any part The Citizens and chiefly those who had followed Lucca seeing Piero armed and his aduersaries disarmed began to deuise not how to offend Piero but how to become his frends Wherupon the chief citizens leaders of the factions went to the Pallace in the presence of the Senate debated many things touching the state of the Cittie and pacification thereof And for that Piero by reason of his infirmitie could not come thither they determined by consent to go all vnto him Nicholo Soderini except who hauing first recommended his children familie to Tomaso went to his owne house in the country aspecting there the euent of these matters accounting himselfe vnhappie and for his countrey infortunate The other Cittizens being come to the presence of Piero one of them appointed to speake complained of the tumults in the Cittie declaring that they who first tooke armes were most too blame they not knowing what Piero who indeed did first take armes would doo They were come therefore to vnderstand what was his intent which being for good of the Cittie they would follow the same Whereunto Piero answered that hee who taketh armes first is not euer the cause of disorder but he that giueth first occasion and if they would consider what their behauiours had bene towards him they should maruaile lesse at that he had done for his own safetie For therby they should see that their assemblies in the night their subscriptions their practises to take from him his gouernment life were the occasions why he tooke armes which not vsed but in the defence of his owne house and not the offence of them sufficiently proued his intent was to defend himselfe and not to harme others Neither would he any thing or desired more then his own securitie quiet nor had giuē cause that they shuld think he sought for other For the authoritie of Balia discontinued he neuer laboured by extraordinarie meane to reuiue it and was well content that the Magistrates should gouern the citie if they so pleased assuring them that Cosimo and his children could liue in Florence honorably both with and without the Balia and that the yeare 58. the same had bene not by his house but by them renued and if now they wold not haue it more he should also be so contented But this sufficed not for them for he found that his aduersaries beleeued they could not dwell in Florence if he also there dwelled A thing which he neuer thought that the friends of his father him wold feare to liue in Florence with him hauing euer born himselfe among them as a quiet and peaceable man Then turning his speech to Diotisalui his brethren there present he reproued them with words of much grauitie offence putting thē in mind what benifits they had receiued of Cosimo how much he had trusted thē how vnthankfully they had vsed him Which words wrought such effect in some that were present that if Piero had not staied them they sodenly wold haue striken Diotisalui In conclusion Piero said he wold maintein euery thing that they the Senat had determined And that he desired nothing but to liue quiet assured After this speech was ended many matters were cōmoned of yet nothing don but in general was cōcluded that it was necessary to reunite the citie reform the state At that time Barnardo Lotti was Gonfaloniere d'Giustitia a man not trusted by Piero wherefore thought not good to attempt any thing during his Magistracy but the end of his authority drawing neare election was made by the Senators of a Gonfaloniere to sit in September and October 1466. And they elected Roberto Lioni who was no sooner in office all other thinges beeing prepared but hee assembled the people in the Market place and made a new Balia all of the faction of Piero which shortly created the Magistrates according to the will of the new gouernment which terrified the heads of the enemies and Agnolo Acciaiuoli fled to Naples Diotisalui Neroni and Nicholo Soderini to Venice and Lucca Pitti remained in Florence trusting to the promises of Piero and the newe alliance with his house All the fugitiues were proclaimed Rebels and all the familie of Neroni dispersed Also Giouanni Neroni then Bishop of Florence to auoide a worse mischiefe voluntarily confined himselfe to Rome Many other likewise banished themselues to diuers places neither did this suffice but a publike procession was ordeined to giue God thanks for the preseruation and vniting the state In the solemnization wherof some citizens were apprehended tormented Afterwards part of them put to death the rest confined In this variation of fortune there was nothing so notable as the example of Lucca Pitti who sodeinly saw the difference of victorie and losse of honor and dishonor For his house whereunto was wont be great repaire became vnfrequented himself that had bin accustomed to passe the streets folowed with many friends kinsfolks could neither be accompanied nor scarcely saluted because some of them had lost their offices some their goods al the rest threatned His stately houses in building were by the workmen abandoned Those that were wont to present him did now offer him iniury despite Some who had giuē him presents of great value did now demand them again as things lent Others that were wont with praises to extoll him to the skies did as a person vngratefull and violent blame him So that ouerlate he repented his not giuing credit to Nicholo Soderini and that
the matter in their councels saying it was not conuenient that a commoditie found in the common lands should be conuerted to a priuate vse Thereupon they sent vnto Florence certaine Embassadors The cause was committed to a few Cittizens who either bicause they were corrupted or for that they so thought best gaue sentence that the request of the people of Volterra was not reasonable bicause they desired to depriue the Cittizens of their labour and industrie and therefore iudged that those Alums apperteined to priuate men and not to the Citie Yet was it conuenient that those priuate persons should giue yearly vnto the people certaine money in signe they acknowledged them for superiors This answere did nothing diminish but augment the tumults and displeasures in Volterra so that nothing was spoken of so much in their councels and in euerie other place in the Cittie as the request of the multitude which was to recouer that which they thought lost The priuate men on the other side still laboured to continue that which they had gotten and had bene confirmed by iudgement of the Florentines This matter remained so long in disputation that one Cittizen a man of estimation in that Cittie called Pecorino with diuerse others that tooke part with him was slaine their houses spoiled and burnt In that furie also the Rettori for the Florentines with difficultie escaped This first tumult being passed they determined in all haste to send Embassadors to Florence who informed the Senators that if they would obserue their auncient conditions they would also continue in their auncient obedience The answere of these messengers was long disputed Tomaso Soderini was of opinion that it behoued to receiue the Volterani with what condition so euer thinking the time serued not to kindle a fire so neare hand that might burne their owne house for he feared the disposition of the Pope the power of the King and mistrusted the Venetians friendship and the Dukes not knowing what fidelitie was in the one nor what vertue in the other alleaging that prouerb which saith Better a leane peace then a fat victorie Of a contrarie minde was Lorenzo de Medici thinking he had now occasion to make shew of his wisedome and counsell and the rather being thereto perswaded by those that enuied the authoritie of Tomaso And therefore determined by armes to punish the insolencie of the Volterani affirming that if they were not corrected as a memorable example all others vpon euerie light occasion without reuerence or respect would dare to do the like This resolution made the Volterani were answered that they could not require the keeping of those conditions which they themselues had broken and therefore either they should referre themselues to the discretion of the Senate or presently looke for warre The Volterani returned with this answere prepared for the defence of their towne and sent to all Princes of Italy for aide but were aided by fewe for onely the Sanesi and the Lord of Piombino did promise to helpe them The Florentines on the other side iudging that the victorie would be gotten by making of speed assembled tenne thousand footemen and two thousand horse whome vnder the conduct of Federigo Lord of Vrbino they sent into the countrey of Volterra all which they easily possessed Then they brought their Camp before the Cittie which being builded vpon an hill could not be assaulted but on that side where the Church of S. Alisandro standeth The Volterani had for their defence enterteined a thousand souldiers or thereabouts who seeing how brauely the Florentines assailed them fearing they could not defend the towne were in the seruice slowe but in doing iniurie to the Volterani readie ynough so that those poore Cittizens were by the enemies assaulted without and by friends oppressed within In so much as dispairing to be saued thought good to make peace and forwant of better meane yeelded themselues to the Florentines Commissaries who caused them to open the gates and the greater part of the armie being entred they went vnto the Pallace where the Priori were whome they commanded to returne to their houses and by the way one of them was by a souldier reuiled and robbed Of this beginning for men be more readie to euill then good grew the destruction and sack of this Cittie which continued one whole day The houses were robbed and the people spoiled neither did the women and Churches escape but all souldiers aswell they that had cowardlie defended the towne as the others that fought were partakers of the spoiles The newes of this victorie was with much reioycing receiued at Florence for the same was wholie the enterprise of Lorenzo who thereby gained great reputation And thereupon one of his dearest friends reprooued Tomaso Soderini for his counsell saying vnto him What say you now that Volterra is taken To whome Tomaso answered me thinks it is lost for if you had taken it by composition you might haue made profit and suretie thereof but hauing it by force in time of warre it will weaken and trouble you and in time of peace charge and hinder you In those dayes the Pope desiring to hold in obedience the townes belonging to the Church caused Spoleto to be sacked which by meane of inward faction had rebelled After for the like offence he besieged the Cittie of Castello In that towne Nicholo Vitelli was Prince He being in great friendship with Lorenzo de Medici refused not in that necessitie to aide him yet was that aide not sufficient to defend Nicholo but ynough to sowe the first seeds of enimitie betwixt Sisto and the Medici which afterwards brought forth fruite of much mischiefe and the same should quickly haue shewed it selfe had not the death of Frier Piero Cardinall of Sisto happened For this Cardinall hauing trauelled about all Italy went also to Venice and Milan pretending to honor the marriage of Hercole Marquesse of Farrara to practise with the Princes and sound their disposition towards the Florentines But being returned to Rome he died not without suspition to haue bene poisoned by the Venetians who feared the greatnesse of Sisto so long as he might be counselled and incouraged by Frier Piero. For albeit nature had made this Frier of base bloud and was also bred vp basely in a Monasterie yet so soone as he had aspired to be Cardinall there appeared in him so great pride and ambition as might not onely become a Cardinall but also seeme fit ynough for any Pope For he feared not to make a feast in Rome with so great charge as seemed superfluous for any King for therein he spent more then twentie thousand Florins Pope Sisto bereft of this agent prosecuted his enterprises more coldly Notwithstanding the league being renewed betweene the Florentines the Duke and Venetians and place left for Pope Sisto and the King who made an other contract therein also leauing places for other Princes to enter if they would By this meane Italy became diuided in two
haue bene greater then the mind of man could haue conceiued But it pleased God by that small example to reuiue in mens mindes the memory of his power But now to returne to our matter The King Alfonso as is before said discontented with the peace and seeing that the warre which he caused Giacopo Piccinino to make vpon the Sanesi without any reasonable occasion had wrought no effect he thought to moue an other with the allowance of the league And in the yeare 1456. he assaulted the Genouesi both by sea and land as desirous to giue that state to the Adorni and depriue the Frigosi who then gouerned Besides that he caused Giacopo Piccinino to passe Tronto and assault Gismondo Malatesti who hauing well manned his townes regarded not much the assault of Giacopo so as the enterprise of the King on this side tooke no effect at all But that warre of Genoua occasioned more warre to him and his Kingdome then himselfe looked for At that time Pietro Fregoso was Duke of Genoua he fearing himselfe to be of force vnable to withstand the Kings assault determined to giue that to an other which himselfe could not hold and yeeld it into the hands of such a one that would at the least in that respect defend him so might he also hope in time to come to be reacquited Then sent he Embassadors to Carlo the seauenth King of France and offered him the dominion of Genoua Carlo accepted this offer and to take possession of that Cittie sent thither Giouanni de Angio sonne to King Rinato who not long before was departed from Florence and returned into Fraunce For Carlo was perswaded that Giouanni hauing bene before imployed in Italy knew how to gouerne that Cittie better then any other hoping also that being there he might deuise vpon the enterprise of Naples of which Kingdome Alfonso had dispossessed his father Rinato Then went Giouanni to Genoua and being there was receiued as Prince All the fortresses belonging to the Cittie with the whole gouernment were deliuered to his hand This accident displeased Alfonso thinking he had drawne in an enemy ouer mightie yet not dismayed therewith couragiously followed his enterprise and sayled on with his Nauie till he came vnder Villa Marina at Ponto Fino where taken with a sodeine disease he died By death of this King Giouanni and the Genouesi were deliuered of the warre and Ferrando who succeeded his father Alfonso in the Kingdome grew suspitious least an enemy of so great reputation in Italy might happily win the fauour of many his Barons whose fidelitie he doubted and whose mindes he knew desirous of Innouation for which respects they might percase be perswaded to ioyne with the French He also instructed the Pope whose ambitious mind as he thought aspired to take from him this new Kingdome His onely trust was in the Duke of Milan he being indeed no lesse carefull of the Kingdome then was Ferrando for he mistrusted that if the French did preuaile they would also labour to surprize his state which they had some colour to claime as to them apperteining That Duke therfore presently vpon the death of Alfonso determined to giue that Kingdome vnto Pietro Lodouico Borgia his nephew Also to make that enterprise seeme more honest and acceptable to the rest of the Italian Princes he published that his intent was to reduce that Kingdom vnder the Church of Rome perswading the Duke in that respect not to fauour Ferrando offering him those townes which of auncient time he possessed in the Kingdome But in the middest of these imaginations and new troubles Pope Calisto died and in his place was created Pio secundo borne in Siena and of the family of Piccolhuomini This Pope minding onely to benefite the Christians and honor the Church setting aside all priuate passion at the Duke of Milans request crowned the King Ferrando thinking he should better appease the warres by mainteining of him in possession then by fauouring the French to giue them the Kingdome or if he should as Calisto did challenge it for himselfe For this benefite Ferrando gaue vnto Antonio the Popes nephew the principallitie of Malfi and married him vnto his owne base daughter He restored also Beneuento and Terracina to the Church Then all men supposing that the armes of Italy were laid downe the Pope tooke order to mooue the Christians to make warre vpon the Turks as it was before deuised by Pope Calisto At which time there rose great dissention betwixt the Fregosi and Giouanni de Angio Lord of Genoua which dissention reuiued a warre of more importance then was the other alreadie passed At that time Pietrino Fregoso happened to be at a Castle of his in Riuiera He not holding himselfe according to his merits rewarded by Giouanni de Angio who by help of him and others of his house was made Prince became open enemy to Giouanni This discord pleased Ferrando as that which might onely be the meanes of his good speed Then sent he men and money to Pietrino hoping by his aide to driue Giouanni from that state Which he knowing sent into Fraunce to encounter Pietrino There finding much fauour he receiued a great supply and went against Pietrino who was become strong also so as Giouanni retired into the Cittie where also in the night Pietrino entred and possessed some places thereof but the next morning was by the souldiers of Giouanni assaulted and slaine and all his men likewise either slaine or taken This victorie encouraged Giouanni to set vpon the Kingdome and in October 1459. with a mightie nauie he departed from Genoua And landing at Baia marched from thence to Sessa where he was by the Duke of that countrey receiued Then came vnto Giouanni the Prince of Tarranto the Cittizens of Aquila with many other townes and Princes in so much as that Kingdome was almost ruined Ferrando seeing that desired aide of the Pope and the Duke Also to haue the fewer foes made peace with Gismondo Malatesti wherewith Giacopo Piccinino being naturall enemy to Gismondo became so much displeased as he discharged himselfe from the seruice of Ferrando and ioyned with Giouanni Ferrando also sent money to enterteine Federigo Lord of Vrbino and within short space he assembled according vnto that time a great army Then marched he to the riuer of Sarni where he found the enemy and fought with him in which conflict the forces of King Ferrando were ouerthrowne and many of his principall Captaines taken But notwithstanding this ouerthrow the Cittie of Naples with a fewe other townes and some Princes continued faithfull to Ferrando though all the rest of the Realme and Nobilitie yeelded their obedience to Giouanni Giacopo Piccinino perswaded Giouanni to follow the victorie and presently to marche to Naples thereby to possesse himselfe of the chiefe Cittie of the Kingdome which Giouanni refused to do saying he would first spoile all the countrey and then it would be more easie to surprize