meanes the mattier was remedied and within shorte space after died Guido and his sonne Francesco bothe ¶ And than came the astate clerely to Luigi who builded the palaice wherin all his successours to this daie haue dwelled He begatte on his wife Alda a sonne named Francesco whom he maried verie yonge vnto Agnesa doughter of Bernabo Visconti and at last beyng knowen openly to haue committed auoutrie the people arose and cruelly slew hym ¶ After whose death the astate descended to his sonne Francesco than beyng of the age of .xiiii. yeres But growen afterwardes to more tyme he so muche loued peace that he refused to entre in confederacion with Giangaleazo Duke of Myllaine And vpon displeasure therfore folowyng betwene theim Francesco caused the adder that for the great amitee and aliaunce betwene those two houses had in tyme past been ioygned to the armes of Mantua to be cleane taken out therof For whiche despite Giangaleazo besieged Mantua and laie before the same an whole yere in whiche meane tyme there perisshed many notable men on bothe sydes and specially of the house of Gonzaga .4 that is to wete Guido Torello Bartolino and Galeazo Whiche Galeazo Gonzaga amongest all other was reputed the strongest and hardiest man of his daies hauing fought oftentymes bodie to bodie and remained euermore vainquisher namely against Buccialdo a notable stronge man than gouernour for the Frenche kynge in Genoa These businesses at length beeyng pacified and Francesco somewhat awakened in armes he enterprised warre in the name of Giangaleazo against the Bologniese and against Giouanni Bentiuogli in the thicke wherof he toke Iacopo Carraro of Padoa prisoner and ledde hym to Mantua geuyng him suche curteyse libertee there that yeldyng vnkyndnesse for kyndnesse Iacopo escaped awaie wherof folowed muche a dooe afterwardes For assoone as the Duke of Myllaine was dead the Uenetians consideryng the prouoked displeasure before rehersed elected the saied Francesco to be their generall in thenterprise against the Carrari and were so well serued of hym that after he had chased the Carrari out of Padoa and Verona he reduced bothe those citees to the Uenetian obedience And so after a gloriouse life died ¶ Leauyng after hym his sonne Gianfrancesco in the dominion of the age of .14 yeeres who by his wyfe Paola daughter of Malatesta lorde of Rimini had .4 sonnes Luigi Carlo Lucido and Alexandro To the fyrst wherof he obteined for wyfe Barbera daughter of the Marques of Brandenburgh and kynneswoman vnto the emperour Edmonde who at his comyng into Italie and passyng through Mantua was there honourablie receiued by Gianfrancesco insomuche that before his departure he made hym Marques and gaue hym in his armes the ensigne of the empyre ¶ After the atteignyng of whiche honours he was thre seuerall tymes made generall of the Uenetians and in euery enterprise gatte the vpper hand And at last forsakyng theim he was waged against theim by Philippo Duke of Myllaine and in that seruice in company of Niccolo Piccinino was parte of the occasion that the Uenetians than lost the citee of Verona with many other townes of the Bressane and Uicentine so he died leauyng his dominion diuided in .iiii. partes vnto his foure sonnes To Luigi as eldest the citee of Mantua with those other townes that he had about Verona to Carlo who was an excedyng stronge man Luceâ—a with the reste of those landes that he helde on the Cremonese territorie To Lucido yll shapen and weake of person Capriana La Volta and Ciregiaia and finally to Alexandro who was crokebacked and becomen religiouse Canneto with that lande that he hadde on the Bressane ¶ Thus Luigi the eldest toke the astate vpon hym and continued not longe in the same vnuexed of his brother Carlo whose mightinesse and force of body was coupled with suche an haultenesse of minde that for desire of atteignyng his elder brothers astate he coulde not be contented to liue in peace ¶ And albeit that in the warres betwene Francesco Sforza and the Milanese he fledde from one part to an other and backe again yet by his brothers meanes he recouered the fauour of Sforza at whose handes he receiued diuers benefites But Luigi seeyng now the yll disposicion of his vnquiete mynde finally toke from hym all the landes that his father lefte hym so that Carlo fledde to the Uenetians and became their captaine so longe till at lengthe through their helpe he assembled a power of men wente againste his brother and foughte with him to the ieopardy of the losse of the Mantuan astate But in conclusion the right of Luigi preuailed againste the force of Carlo who beyng discomfited and fledde died afterwardes verie poorely in exile ¶ This enterpryse beeynge thus ouercomen and the thynges of the astate quieted Luigi triumphantly receiued the emperour Federico the thyrde as he passed through Mantua to Rome and beyng than a wydower by the death of his first wife maried Margarite doughter of the Duke of Bauiera and cousen to the forenamed emperour ¶ He was so great of body that he was commonly called the Turke so well exercysed in armes and so beloued specially of the Dukes of Millaine that Duke Philippo called him sonne Francesco called him brother and Galeazo called him father ¶ He was noble of courage fine of witte and somewhat learned whiche thinges together with his liberall and courteise life made him beloued of all men ¶ Finally through some disorder in liuyng as he that loued to liue in pleasure he died somewhat before the full course of his naturall terme Leauyng by his first wife Barbara .v. sonnes Federico Francesco made Cardinall Luigi Gianfrancesco and Rodolfo all notable and vertuouse persons ¶ Federico as eldest succeded in the astate and was afterwardes generall to the Duke of Millaine and maried La Margerita Tedesca on whom he begatte a sonne named Francesco and in the Uenetian warres againste the Duke of Ferrara hauyng gotten Asola whiche afterwardes he was constreigned by force to restore sickened for sorow and died ¶ By reason wherof his sonne Francesco of the age of 18. yeres entred into the astate and at the age of .38 was made generall of the Uenetians in whose seruice he did wonders specially againste Charles the eighte Frenche kyng nere vnto the riuer of Taro besides Parma as the same kynge retournyng from the conquest of the realme of Naples laden with great richesse was goyng into Fraunce In whiche enterprise Francesco so behaued him selfe that he ledde many noble men prisoners with hym at his retourne insomuche that the Frenche kynge made verie great offers to haue had his seruice but all in vaine For continuyng his ennemie he afterwardes fought with the Frenche men in Puglia and so discomfited theim that he restored the kynge Ferrandino vnto his astate And leauyng three sonnes by his wife Beatrice doughter of Ercole Duke of Ferrara that is to wete Federico that next succeded him Ercole
Calimaco a simple man And further that one Luca Totio a banished Romaine had ben seen with a noumbre of banisshed men in the wooddes there by Upon whiche enformacions he caused diuers men of reputacion to be taken aswell courtiers as other and without any matter or good grounde of suspicion put theim to suche terrible tourmentê that it wold greeue and gentill hert to heare it ¶ He attempted the winnyng of Tolfa fyrst by treason than by siege and lastly whan he could not so get it he purchased it for .7000 dukates ¶ Likewyse he assaulted the citee of Rimino to haue taken it from the familie of Malaâ—esta but he failed of that enterprise ¶ He vsed verie great Symonie and whan any bishoprike fell he would translate the bishops from one see to an other for the gaine of theyr fyrst fruites by reason wherof he gathered a great treasure and delited verie muche in iewelles ¶ Finally he persuaded all men to kepe their children at schole till thei could write and reade and no longer and died sodeinly ¶ Sixtus the .iiii. was bothe learned and eloquent and contrarie to his predecessours nature delited in learned men ¶ He did his beste to succour the princes that were driuen out of theyr countreis by the Turke as the quene of Bossina the Paleologi the Despoti and diuers other And yet did he vniustly bothe reise warres him selfe and also cause other princes to dooe the lyke ¶ Fyrst he beganne with the Florentines because they had emprisoned his nephiew a Cardinall and had hanged the archebishop of Pisa for killyng of Iuliano di Medici ¶ He made warre to Ferdinando kyng of Naples because he had not ayded the Duke of Ferrara against the Uenetians ¶ He made warre also to the Uenetians and gathered all the astates of Italie into a leage against theim leauyng theim excommunicate whan he died ¶ He leuied many dismes and subsidies of the clergie through all Christendome and was verie beneficiall to his owne kynne and friendes ¶ Finally by his tyme Macomet the .ii. emperour of the Turkes had taken Otronto in Puglia and prepared hym selfe to the conquest of Italie Wherfore the bishop made hym readie to flee into France and had fledde in deede if God by preuentyng of that enterprise had not set a staie to the Turkisshe furie with Macometes death ¶ Innocence the .iiii. assoyled the Uenetians and trauailed muche to agree the Christian princes together Neuerthelesse because his last predecessour had released to the kyng of Naples certaine pretended duties of the churche therfore procuryng fyrste certaine astates of the realme to rebell he moued warre against Ferdinando and at length constreigned him to agree at his owne appoinctment ¶ He pacified also a great contencion betweene the families of Colonna and Orsina whose variaunce had been cause of no small fyre bloudde and spoyle He had a sonne and a daughter whom he left verie riche and was neuerthelesse reputed bothe liberall pitifull ¶ Alexander the .vi. was a Spaniarde borne and a great philosophier He entred in league with Alfonse king of Naples against Charles the .viii. Frenche kynge who than prepared hym selfe to come into Italie Neuerthelesse Charles power was suche that the bishop not onely gaue hym passage but also receiued hym in Rome honourablie And yet mistrustyng the frenche kynges hygh courage seyng he feared but little the ecclesiasticall power the bishop withdrew hym selfe into Castel Sant ' Angelo though by fayre entreatie he came out againe and yelded all his dominion at the kynges will and besides that deliuered hym Zizimo brother to the great Turke that before was the bishoppes prisoner ¶ But ere euer Charles retourned out of the realme of Naples which was within lesse than halfe a yere after the bishop had wrought a new league against him wherin the emperour Maximilian the kyng of Aragone the Uenetians and the Duke of Mylaine were his collegê So that Charles in his retourne towardes France was fought withall and sore handled ¶ Finally Charles beyng thus departed this bishop beganne to waxe hygh and imaginyng how to extoll his owne name he created his son Valentino Borgia Duke causyng hym fyrst to renounce his cardinall hatte whiche at his fathers creacion was geuen hym and than made he hym capitaine of an armie sent into Romagnia where fyrst he warred against Katherine ladie of Imola and Furli and not onely toke hir iust possessions from hir but also sent hir prisoner to Rome and than proceded further against the other lordes theraboutes So that hauyng chased awaie the families of Manfredi Ordelaffi Malateste Feltrani Veranei and diuers other in maner of no lesse astate than princes he gatte into his possession the countreis of Romagnia and Marca d' Ancona with the dukedomes of Vrbino Camerino and Spoleti Of all the whiche his father entitled hym Duke and entred into so great a pride with his sonnes prosperitee that he woulde saie to hym eyther a Caesar or nothyng ¶ Through coumfort wherof beyng geuen to ouermuche couetousenesse in hope of empyre he poysoned diuers riche Cardinallê to haue theyr goodes and amongest his other practises he appoincted poysoned coumfettes for a Cardinall that dined with his father but the father hym selfe was serued of the wronge boxe and died And the sonne not longe after slaine in the middest of all his glorie notwithstandyng that by his fathers tyme he was coupled in mariage with the daughter of the Duke of Ferrara ¶ Pius the .iii. died within a moneth not without suspicion of venim ¶ Iulie the .ii. beyng a man more geuen to armes than to praier more like Iulius Caesar than Symon Peter was wont to saie that Maximilian had been meete to be bishop and he emperour ¶ Fyrst he procured suche a league against the Uenetians that they had neuer a foote of grounde lefte theim on the maine lande so that he had for his parte Rauenna with the other citees of Romagnia ¶ He destroied the familie of Borgia and quieted muche the ciuile sedicion that had longe time reigned in the Romaine nobilitee ¶ He made warre against the Bentiuogli that thaÌ„ were lordes of Bononia and hauyng chased theim awaie entred into that citee with lyke triumph as the auncient Romaine conquerours were wont to dooe into Rome ¶ Many tymes he woulde goe armed hym selfe specially in the enterprise against Lodouicus Picus of Mirandula ¶ Finally fearyng the frenche kyngê to muche prosperitee he entred in league with the Uenetians and the kyng of Spaine against the Frenche kyng whiche was occasion of the notable battaile of Rauenna fought on Easter daie where on bothe sides were slaine aboute 30000. men For as I haue been crediblie enformed whaÌ„ both battailê were ioigned Spaniardes on the one syde and frenchemen on the other the Duke of Ferrara that came on the frenche parte shotte of his artillerie amongest the thickest and slewe a multitude aswell of his friendes as enemies but thei were
foresaied realme And so folowyng that title the emperour besieged Naples but by reason of a great plage in his armie he was faine to leaue his siege and retourne into Almaine Before whose retourne whiche was .iiii. yeres after Tancredi dyed not reignyng fully .ix. yeres ¶ Immediately after his wife Sibile caused William their sonne to be crowned But the forenamed emperour pretendyng title in the right of his wyfe with a puissaunt army entred the realme and in maner without resistence obteined the whole driuing the Quene and hir son William from place to place so long that at length he besieged theim in a stronge holde where fallyng to composicion it was agreed that William should enioie the principate of Taranto with the Erledome of Leccio yeldyng therefore due obedience to the emperour who was sworen to obserue this couenaunt But contrary to his promyse the emperour assoone as he had the mother and sonne in his handes sent theim bothe into Almaine and made William to be gelded to the entente there should folow no more issue of that bloudde And so ended that noble house of the Normaines miserablie that about the space of .200 yeres had prospered and at length reigned in Italy Sicile as you haue heard ¶ After Henrie the .vi. emperour of Almaine borne of the house of Sueuia had thus extinguisshed the dominion and power of the Normaine bloudde in Italie he obteined the realme of Naples and Sicile and reigned ouer them well neere .iiii. yeres and died Leauyng the realme by testament vnto his sonne Federike whom his wife Constance bare after she was .50 yeres olde whiche being but a baabe he committed to the protection of his mother Constance of Innocent the .iii. than bishop of Rome and of his brother Phillip Duke of Sueuia ¶ So Federike not fully .iii. yeres olde was crowned kyng in Palermo shortly after whose Coronacion his mother Constance died commendyng the tuicion of the astate wholly to the bishop of Rome that accordyngly mainteigned the same to his power notwithstandyng that duryng the noâ—eage of Federike diuers businesses hapned in the realme Fyrst by Marquarde an Almain made Marques of Ancona by Henry the .vi. after by Gualtiero di Brenna a Frencheman who in the right of his wyfe one of the systers of the last kyng William the Normain pretended title to the realme Finally by Ottho Duke of Saxonie whiche after he had obteined the imperiall crowne at Rome disposed hym selfe wholly to conquere Naples and Sicile till the forenamed Innocent by waie of excommunicacion had made so many of his nobles and prelates to forsake hym that he was faine to leaue his enterprise At last Federike beyng grewen sufficiently in yeres was called into Almaine and there elected emperour after the deathe of Ottho so that returnyng to Rome he was triumphantly crowned by Honorius the .iii. than bishop in recompence wherof he gaue the Erledome of Fondi with certaine other landes to the churche but shortly after Honorius excommunicated Federike the cause why I find not so that Federike to annoy the landes of the church gathered together a noumbre of disperpled Sarasines placyng theim in Luceria and did so muche hurte that neither Honorius nor yet Gregorie the .ix. that was bishop after hym .xiiii. yeres had in maner any good daies rest Some holde opinion that Gregorie died onely for sorow Neuerthelesse this Federike was a woorthy man He had .iii. wyfes the fyrst named Constance syster to the kyng of Castile by whom he had a sonne named Henry that afterwardes for rebellyng against his father died in prison the seconde was Iolante daughter of Iohn di Brenna kyng of Ierusalem with whose maryage the tytle of the realme of Ierusalem was geuen him whiche title all the Napolitane kynges haue kepte euer sens as the emperour doth at this daie the thyrde was Isabell daughter to the kynge of Englande This Federike went into the holy lande with a puissaunt armie and there behaued hym selfe so valiauntly that the Soldane sued to hym for truce and vpon agrement deliuered to him the citee of Ierusalem with the whole realme thereunto belongyng a fewe small fortresses onely excepted insomuche that in the myddest of Lent he was in Ierusalem crowned and before his retourne reedified the citee of Ioppa now called Zaffo And after a notable victorie had againste the Milanese with other their confederates of Lumbardie he entred into Cremona in maner of a triumphe leadyng after hym a noumbre of prisoners with theyr Carroccio on the whiche Piero Tiepolo Potestate of Myllaine was hanged by one of the armes with an halter about his necke This Carroccio was a carte drawen by certeine oxen trimmed about with greeces or steppes in maner of a kyngly seate and decked with ornamentes of tapestrie and silkes of the beste sorte with the standardes and baners of all the confederate citees and nobles Unto whiche as to the principall place of iudgement or of audience all men vsed to resort And whan so euer the Carroccio in any battaile was loste than was the fielde wonne for about it was alwaies the strength of the battaile ¶ Of this battaile and triumph one wrote these wordes Hae occisis non sufficiunt sepulturae nec Cremonae palatia multitudinem non capiunt captiuorum whiche is as much to saie To theim that are slaine sepultures suffise not nor the palaices of Cremona are not able to receiue the multitude of prisoners ¶ Than Gregorie lette crie the Croisie against him and so muche prouoked hym that all the priestes he toke he caused their shauen crownes to be cutte a crosse with a number of other despites And beyng at siege before the citee of Faenza whiche he toke at last by composition wantyng money to paie his souldiours he coygned leather and valewed it whiche for the tyme serued as well as siluer or golde Afterwardes beyng returned into the realme he receiued the lether and gaue the valewe in golde for it again ¶ Entio kyng of Sardegna and sonne of this emperour Federike by his fathers commaundement fought with the Genowaies by sea and ouercame .40 saile of theim in whiche .iii. of the bishop of Romes legates with a numbre of other prelates goyng to the counsayle at Rome made against Federike were taken prisoners And Entio writing to his father to know what he should doe with theim was aunswered thus in two verses Omnes praelati papâ—mandante vocati Et tres legati Veniant huc vsque ligati Whiche is as muche to saie Sende me those prelates called by the pope With their .iii. legates bounde in a rope ¶ Finally Gregory the .ix. as I sayd before seyng he coulde by no meane preuaile against Federike sickened for sorowe and died ¶ Than succeded Innocent the .iiii. who before beyng a Cardinall was faste friende to the emperour But assoone as he was bishop he became his mortall enemy as Federike him selfe saied whan
so euer thei founde them they left not in all Sicile one frencheman on liue nor one woman that was knowen to be with childe of a frencheman Wherof yet vnto this daie the Sicilians euensonge is vsed as a prouerbe in Italie ¶ And than by accorde came the kynge of Aragone and receiued Sicile vnto his dominion the rather because he had a certaine title thervnto as in the right of his wyfe Constance daughter to the late kyng Manfredo Unto whom also the bishop of Rome graunted his consent and in deede inuested hym kyng therof by his ecclesiasticall power ¶ Many thynges happened betwene kyng Charles and kyng Peter amongest other a defiance to feight hand to hand with the place appoincted at Burdeaux before our prince Edwarde than ruler of Gascoygne where bothe kynges kepte theyr daie but nother mette nor fought And ere euer kynge Charles retourned Roger di Loria admyrall to kyng Peter had foughten by sea with Charles prince of Salâ—rn onely sonne of king Charles before Naples and taken hym prisoner with a numbre of the Neapolitane barons and gentilmen that were all sent except Charles with .ix. of the chiefest into Sicile and there for a reuengement of Corradinos death .200 of those nobles and gentilmen were beheaded on a daie ¶ Finally kyng Charles vpon his reiourne made excedyng great preparacion to inuade Sicile but er he could bringe it to passe he died for anger and melancolie after he had reigned .xix. yeres ¶ And for as muche as some holde opinion that this Charles was the fyrst Neapolitane kyng that obteined the title of kynge of Ierusalem it is necessarie to declare by what meane ¶ The ladie Marie doughter of the prince of Antioche resigned into the handes of this kynge Charles all hir tytle to the realme of Ierusalem whervpon be caused him selfe to be crowned kynge of Ierusalem and with helpe of the Uenetians sente Roger Di San Seuerino to be gouernour to receiue feaultee and homage of the christen barons there Thus and not by the interest of Federike the kynges of Naples vsed the title of Ierusalem though I fynde not who was Maries father by name nor yet by what reason that realme shoulde apperteine to hir ¶ Whan kynge Charles was deade his onely soonne and heire Charles prince of Salerne remained prisoner in Sicile vnder the kepyng of quene Constance wife to kyng Peter of Aragone and was by consente of the barons condemned to die as it were for a full reuengement of Corradinos death but the noble hert of Constance woulde not suffre it Excusyng the mattier that before she knew hir housbandes mynde she would not attempt so great a thyng Wherefore she sent hym into Aragone where he continued prisoner till kyng Peter died and than by procurement of prince Edwarde lorde of Gascoygne he was deliuered and restored to his realme of Naples Who was raunsomed at .30000 markes and for perfourmance of couenauntes .iii. of his sonnes and .100 gentilmen laie in hostage ¶ Here is to be noted that within the space of one yere died .iii. kynges and a bishop of Rome that is to weâ—e Phillip kyng of Fraunce Charles kyng of Naples Peter kyng of Aragon and Martine the .4 bishop of Rome ¶ After Peter succeded in the realme of Aragon his eldest sonne Aufus in Sicile his sonne Iames that helde in prison the forenamed Charles the secounde ¶ Finallie Aufus the elder brother beyng dead Iames to haue the kyngdome of Aragon in peace sore vexed at that time by the Frenche kyng fell at composicion with Charles to renounce Sicile vnto hym and so did But Federike yonger brother to Iames assoone as he heard therof gotte a certain power went into Sicile and gatte it to hym selfe by reason wherof betwene Charles and Federike was continuall warre manie yeres till at last Charles to haue Calabria in peace the most parte wherof Federike had gotten by force consented that Federike duryng his life shoulde quetlie enioy Sicile ¶ So Charles bringing all his thinges to a quiet reigned .24 yeres and died leauyng issue by his wife Mary doughter of kyng Stephen of Hungarie ix sonnes and v. doughters The eldeste named Charles Martell afterwardes kynge of Hungarie by the mothers title Lewis the secounde sonne bishop of Tolouse in Spaine Robert the thirde sonne kynge of Naples As for the reste though they were princes Quenes and princesses yet I passe theim ouer and will onely speake of Lewys Duke of Durazzo because Charles Da Durazzo who was next kyng after the firste quene Iohan descended of him ¶ At the death of Charles Robert his .iii. sonne beyng in Auignion was called from thens to the dominion of Naples and confirmed kyng by Clemente the .v. than bishop of Rome howebeit not longe after Caronumberto kynge of Hungarie and sonne of his elder brother Charles pretended title thervnto but after longe debatyng therof the lawiers finallie determined that Robert shoulde continue and Caronumberto shoulde contente hym with the realme of Hungarie And though Robert was muche troubled by the comyng of the emperour Henry the .vii. into Italie yet after the emperour was poisoned by a blacke frier in ministryng hym the sacrament of communion at Bonconuento besides Siena by order as thei saie of the Romish legate king Robert prospered so well in Italie by reason he was taken as heade of the Guelfi that he subdued Genoa and the Florentines with their whole astate submitted them selfes vnto him and accepted his sonne Carlo senza terra to be their lorde Whiche Charles not longe after his establishment in that dominion retourned to Naples and died ¶ Finally Robert hym selfe sickened and died without heyres males And so the inheritance remained in the iii. daughters of his forenamed sonne Charles Unto the eldest named Iohan he by his testament lefte the realme vpon condicion that she shoulde marie with his nephew Andrew younger son of the abouenamed Caronumberto In whose tyme liued Petrarcha and Bocchacio the one for verse and the other for prose famouse in theyr Italian tongue and for theyr vertues muche cherisshed of this kynge Robert ¶ Accordyng to the testament of kyng Robert his nephiew Andrew came out of Hungarie and maried Quene Iohan with whom he reigned scarcely .iii. yeeres but that she caused hym to bee hanged out at hir chambre wyndow because as the same wente he was not cockie enough to satisfie hir appetite ¶ Than maried she Lewys prince of Taranto an excellent beautifull man But Lewys kyng of Hungarie elder brother to Andrew to reuenge his brothers deathe came with a puissaunt armie into the realme insomuch that the Queene and hir husband bothe fledde to Auignion in Prouance leauyng Charles da Durazzo sonne of Lewys da Durazzo beforenamed theyr lieuetenant to defende but the Hungarien so muche prospered that in short space he gatte the whole realme and toke this Charles da
disposed theim all at his pleasure causyng him selfe openlie to be called Duke ¶ Than died Clemente the Bishop whervpon the Cardinalles Di Medici and Saluiati with the principall of the other banished Florentines couetyng the recouerie of their citees libertee sent ambassadours to the emperour besechyng hym to consider the tyrannie of Duke Alexandre who than newly had builded the Cittadella and to regarde the condicions of peace Whiche ambassadours arriued at Barcelona euen as the emperour was takyng shippe towardes the enterprise of Tunise so that beyng returned to Rome the Cardinall Hippolito di Medici disposed hym selfe to goe vnto Tunise therfore And takyng his iourney towardes Naples died at Itri by the waie poysoned as the voice wente by procurement of Duke Alexander ¶ This Duke Alexander was yet but yonge who by bishop Clementes procurement had maried the emperours bastarde doughter he was so stoute that without any respecte he wolde haue his will in all thynges and namely in feates of loue and chaunge of women was his speciall delite And amongest all other he delited more in the company of Laurence di Medici that should succede him in the astate than of any other man But Laurence in steede of that loue hated the Duke and had longe time determined to slea him whan he might finde occasion whether he did it in hope the rather to atteigne to the dominion him selfe or to restore to the citee hir auncient libertee be diuers opinions ¶ In effecte without makyng any man priuie to his entent other than a seruante of his owne the Duke beyng on a nighte all alone in Laurences house and slepyng on a bedde Laurence and his man slewe him and thervpon counsailyng with certayne of his friendes and seeyng no man disposed to stande with him in pursuyng of his purpose the selfe same nighte he fledde and went straight to Uenice where in company of the Sâ—â—ozzi he liued till of laâ—e certaine persons in hope of the Taglia a rewardâ— prâ—claimed for the kyllyng of notable offenders he was also slayne ¶ Immediately vpon knowlage of the death of Duke Alexander the three Florentine Cardinalles that were than in Rome departed thense and makyng all the men they coulde by the waie come with an armie towarde Florence Wherfore the Medici with their friendes in Florence to make their party good that the banished men shoulde not preuayle to their destruction elâ—cted Cosmo di Medici to be their Duke a yonge man of .20 yeres of age whâ—se father Iohn Di Medici had ben a man righte valiaunt in armes And therupon senâ—e to the Cardinalles praiyng theim to state their armie by the waie and to come them selfes priuately to Florence where they shoulde finde so muche reason offered them that they shoulde neede to vse no force So thei staied their power besides Cortona and beyng come to Florence were entreated with so faire promises that thei licenced theyr men to depart By reason wherof the Duke that nâ—we is with his friendes had time to make theim selfes stronge and than wolde consent to nothing that the Cardinalles loked for so that with a playne mocke they departed lamentyng their folie that they had chaunged the suretee of their force for the vnsuretee of fayre wordes ¶ This chaunge in Florence and the mocke that the Cardinalles receiued so muche encreased their malice that they with the helpe of Phillip Strozzi and Bartholomew Valori assembled and waged the number of 4000. men whiche by Peter Strozzi that yet liueth and serueth the Frenche kynge shoulde haue be conducted to Monte Murlo and from thense to Florence had not Phillip and Bartholomew who with a smalle companie came before to Monte Murlo ben sette vpon by Alexander Vitelli taken and ledde awaie prâ—soners to Florence where the whole conspiracy of those confederates that were in the towne was discouered and diuers taken and put to execucion and so the whole enterprise broken and destroied Amongest the rest onely Phillip Strozzi was preserued from deathe notwithstandyng he was kepte in prysâ—n in the Cittadella and there died Some saie he killed him selfe rather than he woâ—â—e vndoe his children by paiyng the raunsome that was required of him beyng in dede one of the rychest priuate men that was in his time as it dothe well appeare by the wealth of his sonne Peter and of his other children whiche beyng banished men and hauyng nothyng in their owne countrey doe neuerthelesse lyue abroade in so muche reaputacion that fewe brethern of christendome vnder the degree of prynces doe the like ¶ I haue spoken before of Cittadella buylded by Duke Alexander for the more suretee of his dominion whiche at his deathe remaigned in the kepynge of one of the Dukes capitaines But assoone as Alexander Vitelli one that had serued well the emperour in his warres hearde of the Dukes deathe he came to Florence and entred into the castell to speake with the capitaine where he handled the mattâ—er so well that he excluded the capitaine and kepte it him selfe And thoughe he made many faire promises to Duke Cosmo yet at length he deliuered it to the emperour who therfore rewarded hym with fayre possessions in the realme of Naples ¶ This Duke Cosmo sued first to marrie with the wife of Duke Alexander the emperours doughter but the bishop of Rome that nowe is purchaced hir to his no small coste for his sonnes sonne Duke Octauio For the whiche there hath ben mortall hate betwene Duke Cosmo and the bishop And beyng thus preuented the Duke to obteigne the more stay towardes the emperour maried the doughter of Don Diego di Tolledo Uice Re of Naples by whose meane he hath redeemed the Cittadella of the emperour for the summe of .400000 duckates and is nowe absolute lorde and kynge within him selfe ¶ He hath diuers faier children by his wyfe and loueth hir so well that in maner he neuer goeth abrode vnlesse it be to churche without hir and is reputed to be a very chaste man He is learned and wyse he vseth fewe wordes and is neuerthelesse in his owne tounge eloquente In the administracion of iustice he is so sincere that syns the tyme of his reigne whiche is nowe aboue .x. yeres I haue not hearde that he hath pardoned any person condemned to die He hath restreigned the Uice of Sodomie which heretofore reigned more in Florence than elswhere in Italy with paine of death and hath broughte his astate to suche quietnesse as it hath not ben this .300 yeres past so that Florence may well saie that in hym she hath founde hir longe desired libertee For though he absolutely hath the whole reuenewes to his owne vse yet the suretee that the Florentynes haue in their owne thynges whiche heretofore they neuer had is muche more worthe to theym than the common reuenew was beneficiall to the citee ¶ Finally the vertue of this Duke Cosmo besides the woorthinesse of his dominion hath brought hym in suche reputacion that
house ¶ This Cecco was borne in Calabria of verie lowe degree But through his wisedome he became noble and of so good credite with Francesco Sforza that he gouerned most thynges in Millaine ¶ Finally whan Galeazo was deade to the entente that Giouanni might the more quietly enioy the dominion he sente away his other brethern into exile But at length Lodouico Moro vncle to Giouanni was reuoked by the people and ineontinently vpon his retourne Cecco beheaded and Bianca the mother exiled ¶ After whiche time Giouanni remayned in the astate aboutes .xii. yeres But his proufe was so simple that in maner by force he committed the rule of all thynges to Lodouico By whose meanes as he that was not yet contented some say Giouanni at length was poisoned and died in Pauia leauyng issue a sonne called Francesco Sforza begotten on his wife Isabella doughter of Alfonso kyng of Naples ¶ Now incontinently as Giouanni was deade this Lodouico Moro bothe of the people and also by consent of the emperour Maximilian was proclaymed Duke and shortely after maried his neece Bianca doughter of his brother Galeazo vnto the same Maximilian takyng also vpon him the protection of his nephew the yonge Francesco Sforza and of his mother Isabella ¶ Than maried he Beatrice the doughter of Ercole Duke of Ferrara and begatte on hir Francesco Sforza with a secounde sonne in whose birth the mother died ¶ This Moro was a wittie man of veray gooo disposicion and one that delited muche in the administracion of iustice in peintyng and in cunnyng men ¶ In the beginnyng of his astate he entred in amytee with the Florentines the Senese the Bologniese with Ercole da Este with the Marques of Mantua with Lewis kyng of Fraunce and with Alfonso kyng of Naples But lyke as he was easy to enter into frendeship so for a trifle wolde he sodeinly breake with the best of theim ¶ He helped Charles Duke of Sauoy against Lodouico Marques of Saluzzo and confined his brother the Cardinall Ascanio because in Ferrara he had practised diuers new thynges against him ¶ He toke Boccalino by siege that had rebelled against the Romayne churche and therby gratyfied the bishop of Rome ¶ With his great policie he recouered Genoa that before had rebelled against him He founde the meanes to bryng Charles the .viii. Frenche kyng into Italy to expulse kyng Alfonso out of Naples because he had before taken him for his ennemie for sekyng to mainteigne the astate of Giouanni the sonne of Galeazo againste him ¶ This comyng of the Frenche kynge not onely annoied Alfonso but also troubled all Italy ¶ Finally he made warre against the Uenetians which dured till that after the death of kynge Charles Lewys succeded in the realme of Fraunce who hated so muche this Duke Moro that beyng entred in leage with the Uenetians Moro was constreigned to flee into Almaine where he remained whilest the Frenchemen toke Millaine and the Uenetians Cremona and Gieradadda How be it not longe after the Frenchemen through their yll gouernaunce were driuen from Millaine and Lodouico reuoked home out of Douchelande who after his arriuall takyng Neuara and trauaylyng to chace the Frenche men out of Italy was betraied of the Douchemen and bothe he and Ascanio taken and ledde into Fraunce where finally he died ¶ This Lodouico reignyng in his dominion vsed to answere them that counsailed him to encrease his treasure with taxes and tallages that the office of a good shepeherde was to shere his sheepe and not to flaie theim ¶ Thus Lodouico Moro taken and deade as is beforesaied his sonne Francesco shortely after the battaill of Rauenna beyng than but tender of yeres was astablished Duke of Millaine by the emperours meanes and continued in the astate till the comyng of Fraunces the Frenche kynge into Italy who with the helpe of the Uenetians chaced him away and gatte the state of Millaine by force leauyng Mounser de Lautrech gouernour of the same so that Francesco Sforza withdrew him to Trent and there remained till the Frenche men through their tyranny and yll gouernaunce became so hated of the Milanese that at length they were chased away and Francesco reuoked home though in effect he enioyed it not longe For the Frenche kynge shortly after with a great power came in his owne person into Italy and so chaced Francesco againe out of the state of Millaine and prospered muche in his warres there vntill the iourney of Pauia where he with many of his nobles were taken prisoners After whiche discomfiture Francesco Sforza by the emperours fauour was ones again restored to the Douchie of Millaine and continued in the same till through enuy and malyce of some piâ—â—ethankes the emperour was vniustly persuaded that the saied Francesco was not so faithfull towardes his maiestee as his goodnesse had merited so that the emperour conceiuyng an vnkyndenesse and a mistrust in hym constreigned him by force not onely to habandone Millaine but also for his saufegarde to flee into the castell whiche after a verie longe siege he yelded vnto the imperialles to departe freely with bagge and baggage ¶ And so beyng letted of the imperialles from goyng to Como where he entended to sodgiourne tyll he might cleere his innocency towardes the emperour in maneâ— halfe desperate he agreed with the Frenche men drew to the campe of the leage that than was made against the emperour ¶ Finally he went vnto Cremona till after the taking of sainct Polo the Frenchemens dooynges in Italie went all to wracke Wherfore seeyng the emperour Charles the .v. that nowe is come to Bologna to bee crowned he went simplie thither vnto hym and there submittyng hym selfe with iust excuses recouered his magistees fauour with restitucion of the astate of Myllaine vpon these condicions folowyng That the Duke shoulde marie the emperours neece daughter of the kynge of Denmarke and of the emperours syster that he shoulde paie the emperour nine hundreth thousande duckates in tenne yeres by equall porcions And finally that diyng without issue he should leaue his astate of inheritaunce to the emperour ¶ Incontinently vpon which agrement Alexandro Bentiuogli as vice Duke with diuers other officers were sent to Myllaine to leauey the fyrste paiemente of this money whiche was easily gathered vp For the Mylanese couetyng the retourne of theyr Duke whom for his gentill and temperate gouernance in tymes past thei hertilie loued sticked not to streigne them selfes for his reliefe in suche wyse that thoughe theyr customes and taxes were doubled by reason of these paiementes yet theyr hope of better life to come vnder their Duke made theim not to esteeme theyr present charges ¶ Than came themperours neece the daughter of Denmarke to Myllaine and there was most solemnely receiued with infinite triumphes and finally maried to the Duke in presence of the Cardinall of Mantua with suche feastes and plaies afterwardes as so great a mariage requyred ¶ But ere a yere went about the Duke through
of the same and was of so good a nature that he wolde offer no man wronge but rather forgettyng those that were done vnto him he was wonte to saie That sooner and with more ease should a man ouercome his enemy by benefites and curtesie than by swordâ— or vengeaunce ¶ He delited muche in cunnyng men and kept diuers about him as well of learned as of others And finally was so worthy a man that the emperour Federico passyng through his dominion of his owne mocion created him Duke ¶ After the death of Borso Nicolo the sonne of Lionello accordyng to the couenaunt made betwene Borso and his father succeded in the astate ¶ He ruled not longe but the right heyre Ercole before named with helpe of the Uenetians by force expulsed hym in suchewyse that for succour he â—ledde to his vncle to Mantua where after the terme of thre yeres assemblyng about an .800 banished men he attempted to recouer Ferrara and watchyng his time whilest Ercole was foorth of the citee by night skaled the wallê â–ª and came to the market place criyng Vela Vela which was his enseigne but there was none of his friendes so hardy as to aryse to succour him so that Gismondo brother to Ercole seeyng the weakenesse of Niccolo's succours gathered together suche power as that hastie rumour allowed and not onely discoumfited Niccolo's companie but also toke hym with .xx. of his men prisoners and brought hym vnto Lionora the wife of Ercole doughter to Ferrando kynge of Naples who sent for the Duke vnto Bellosguardo And so within .iii. daies after the Duke beyng retourned vnto Ferrara Nicolo lost his head and was neuerthelesse honourablie buried amongest his auncestours ¶ Not longe after the Florentines at that tyme troubled by the bishop of Rome and the kynge of Naples elected this Duke Ercole for theyr generall who accordyngly serued theim verie honourablie ¶ Finally fallyng out with the Uenetians for the breache of certaine articles betwene them what with warre and with hunger he was so oppressed that had he not obteyned the bishop of Romes fauour he myght easily haue lost his astate After whiche enterprises beyng generall of the Uenetians and of the Mylanese bothe and vtterly suppressing his aduersaries the Erles of saincte Bonifacio at last he disposed hym selfe altogethers to religiouse woorkes and amongest all other with his owne handes he daiely distributed to .13 poore men for goddes sake two poundes of flesshe a measure of wyne three loues of bread and a little peece of money vnto euery one of theim and than died ¶ Leauyng his astate vnto his sonne Alfonso who proued so woorthy a man that notwithstandyng he had maried Lucretia daughter of Alexandro bishop of Rome yet whan the same bishoppe by force offeâ—ed to take from hym the countrey of Romagna he resisted so valiantly that the bishop was faine to forgoe his enterprise ¶ The lyke wherof he did vnto bishop Leon the .x. that purposed to haue taken Ferrara from hym ¶ And thus hauyng by Lucretia his fyrste wyfe three sonnes Ercole Hippolito now Cardinall and Don Francesco and by Laura his secounde wyfe two sonnes Alfonso and Alfonsino he died ¶ After whose death Ercole as eldest sonne entred into the astate and at this daie enioyeth the same ¶ And albeit that hitherto there hath happened no notable occasion to trie his woorthinesse yet can he not chose but proue well For he is a goodly man of personage hygh of stature stronge and well proporcionate in all his membres balde on the crowne of the head and amiable enough of countenance He hath a good witte and is somewhat learned and indifferent in the administracion of iustice And one thyng speciall I remembre of hym worthy to be recited Themperour at his beyng in Italie borowed money of all handes And demaundyng amongest the rest .100000 crownes in loâ—e of this Duke he brought hym a bagge of .50000 crownes excusyng hym selfe that to lende .100000 crownes he was not hable but to geue his maiestee those .50000 he could be contended with all his hert and by this shifte kepte the other .50000 crownes in his purse ¶ Finally of religion he is no more earnest than moste princes are and in his life he foloweth the court of loue to lose no tyme of pleasure ¶ He is friendly to faire women and cherisheth change By his fathers daies he maried madame Renea daughter vnto Lewys the .xii. frenche kyng a verie graciouse ladie By whom he hath two sonnes Alfonso and Luigi Hitherto he hath mainteined his dominion in peace and is therfore thought as I haue saied to be very riche He is well furnisshed of artillerie and municion and of deuocion is altogether Frenche So that if there should happen any businesse in Italie betwene the emperour and frenche kyng his part is like to be therin The astate of Placentia and Parma ¶ PLacentia and Parma ar two notable citees of Lumbardie liyng betwene the Appepine hilles and the riuer of Pò whose territory and pastures are so fatte and sweete that it is thought no place of all Europe hable to compare with it for the excellent cheeses it maketh which by the name of Parmesanes are right well knowen ouer all ¶ These two citees of late apperteined vnto the churche of Rome But Paule the thyrde now bishop of the same â–ª a Romaine of nacion of the house of Farnesi to encrease his owne familie founde the meane to separate these two citees with theyr territories from the churches dominion and to geue it vnto his owne sonne named Peter Aluigi creatyng hym Duke therof And in recompence annexed vnto the churche the Duchie of Camerino that he before had taken by force from the Duke of Urbine ¶ This Pietro Aluigi beeyng the yeere of our lorde 1546. entred into the astate beganne to beare hym selfe ouerstoutely against the nobilitie of the same and specially towardê the Signor Ieronimo Pallauicini di Corte Maggiore who rather disdeigning then enuiyng this mans dominion was faine at last to flee and to habandone wyfe and children gooddes and landes Insomuche that this new Duke toke all vnto him selfe and furnished the castell of Corte maggiore beyng a veraie stronge holde with his owne men toke all the rentes beyng .12000 duckates a yere to his owne purse excepte a small porcion assigned to the ladie wife of Ieronimo for hir liuyng with condicion neuerthelesse that if she reliued hir husbande with any part therof she should lose the whole Besides this he oppressed his subiectes causyng theim to bie harneis and to furnishe them selfes for the warre on theyr owne cost But most of all he occupied a great noumbre of labourers in his woorkes beginnyng the foundacion of a stronge castell in the place where the Abbey of S. Bennettes in Placentia stode The monkes wherof he appoincted vnto a spittle hous called sainct Lazares in Champaine And these labourers were taken vp by force from all partes of the Parmesane and
Ferdinando his sonne Alphonse than Duke of Calabria with consente of all the barons and nobles was admitted kynge and sendyng to Rome to Alexander than bishop for his confirmacion the Cardinall Borgia with a numbre of prelates was sente to Naples where by auctoritee of the Romish bulles he inuested and crowned the kyng ¶ Than the kyng fell at variance with Lodouico Sforza Duke of Myllaine because he vsurped the astate that of right apperteined to his nephiewe Giangaleazzo sonne in law to kyng Alfonse so that Lodouico mistrustyng the kynges power that in deede was bent against hym founde the meane to bringe Charles the viii Frenche kynge into Italie who pretendyng to goe against the Turkê founde no resistence by reason wherof he not onely ouerronne Tuscane and toke thastate of Rome from the bishoppe but also conquered the whole realme of Naples although he enioyed it not long For all the princes of Italie immediately so colleged theim selfes against hym that he was faine to retyre with spede and was neuerthelesse ouertaken and fought with besides Parma where he lost the greatest parte of his câ—tâ—ages and dyuers of his nobilitee were taken prisoners ¶ Now assoone as kyng Alfonse heard that the frenche kynge was arriued in Lumbardy consideryng him selfe to be hated of his barons and his son Ferrandino contrariwise welbeloued incontinently renounced the astate vnto his soonne toke his treasure with hym and sayled into Sicile where for the tyme of his shorte life that dured scarce one yere he disposed hym selfe to studie solitarinesse and religion ¶ Than Ferrandino was embraced of all men in suche wyse that he was thought hable to resist the Frenche kyng Yet notwithstandyng that the streictes and passages were kept and the Neapolitanes armie great in the fielde the frenche men preuailed not onely in the conquest of the realme but also in the gettyng of that disease that for euer shall be a memorie vnto theyr name ¶ In effect kyng Ferrandino seeyng his owne debilitee in respecte of Charles force determined with pacience to ouercome his aduerse fortune and so with .vii. galleis departed out of the realme and went into the I le of Procida where he remained till he heard of the Frenche kynges departure and than beyng reuoked by the Neapolitanes not onely Naples but also diuers other citees theraboutes expulsed the Frenchemen and raysed theyr owne kynges standardes ¶ Upon this Ferrandino sent for succours to the Uenecians offeryng theim Brundusio and .iii. other hauen townes in Puglia to helpe hym to expell the Frenchemen out of the realme Whiche offer was accepted and Frauncesco Gonzaga Marques of Mantua with an armie sent thither who together with the Neapolitane power within the space of one yere draue the frenchemen cleane awaie Not longe after recouerey of his whole astate Ferrandino without issue died of the fluxe Leauyng his vncle Federike inheritour to the realme ¶ Note here that within the space of .xvi. monethes were .iiii â–ª seueralle kynges of Naples that is to wete Ferdinando Alphonso Ferrandino and Charles ¶ Finally Federike brother to the laste Alfonse succeded to the crowne but er he had fully reigned .iiii. yeres hearyng of the Frenche kynges comyng Lewys the .xii. and consideryng hym selfe destitute of money friendship and abilitee to resist he solde his armures and municion for .30000 duckates to the Duke Valentino Borgia sonne to the bishop of Rome and with the rest of his treasure and implementes went into France and there yelded bothe hym selfe and his realme into the Frenche kynges handes who receiued hym and appoinctyng hym an honourable prouision kepte hym in Fraunce till he died And thus ended the reigne of the house of Aragone in the realme of Naples ¶ And though vpon the surrendre of this Federike whoÌ„ many charge with cowardise for the vile submittyng of him selfe without any proufe of force the frenche king obteined the whole realme yet he died not loÌ„ge enioiyng it either by reason of the intollerable proude behauiour of the Frenche gouernours or els through the inconstant nature of the Neapolitanes Ferdinando king of Spaine commonly called Il Re Catholico coumforted therevnto vnto by many of the barons and specially by the citesins of Naples sent a puissaunt armie into the realme against the Frenchemen Who within lesse than two yeres partly by force and partly by treatie were cleane expulsed so that in fine the realme rested wholly in peasable possession of the Spanishe kyng ¶ Ferdinando the .v. of that name kynge of Spaine chasyng awaie the Frenchemen enioyed quietely the realme of Naples vnto his death and easily recouered of the Uenetians the foure portes in Puglia that Ferrandino had geuen theim By reason that whan all the Christian princes were entred into a league at Cambray against the Uenetians thei at that time made none offer of resistence but rather consented vnto the renderyng of theim lyke as in hope of peace they graunted vnto all the other princes what they woulde axe Uenice onely excepted ¶ Finally Ferdinando deceasyng Charles the .v. now emperour of Almaine sonne and heyre of Phillip Duke of Burgoyne and of Iohan his wyfe eldest daughter and heyre of the forenamed kyng Ferdinando suceeded in the realme of Naples as he did in all the other realmes and dominions that Ferdinando had and hitherto enioyeth the same ¶ It is true that the Frenche kynge sente Mounser de Lautrech his generall with a puissaunte armie to conquere the realme Where betwene the parties Frenche and Spanish were done manie worthy deedes of armes Naples it selfe was besieged by sea and lande vntill Andrea Doria generall of the frenche kynges armie by sea reuolted from the Frenche kyng to the seruice of the emperour From whiche tyme the hope of the Frenche armies prosperitee began to abate and fortune so much to goe againste theim that what through extreme plage and through the hardinesse of the imperialles that began to take courage the Frenchemen were constreigned to reise their assiâ—ge Mounser de Lautrech with many other of the best Frenche capitaines beyng deade some of the plage and some of the sworde so that of .60000 whiche vnder the Frenche standarde came thither to the siege escaped not fullie .2000 on liue From whiche tyme hitherwardes the emperour hath had no notable trouble there sauyng that now of late is begonne a little striefe betwene the Vicere Don Diego di Tolledo and the barons of the realme for makyng of certain lawes and some bicketing and slaughter hath hapned betwene the Spaniardes and theim and manie gentilmen are fledde to Rome and other places for feare of punishmente But because the thyng is not of suche importaunce as should seeme to moue warre I shall not nede to make further rehersall The descripcion of Florence Florence an excellent faire citee standeth at the foote of the Appenine hilles in a little valey named Arno of the riuer Arno that renneth through it
the astate of Urbine to his nephiew Francesco Maria Prefettino della Rouere whom he created Duke there ¶ This Francesco Maria was a verie wise and valiant prince nothing inferiour to Federike beforenamed who reigned not fully .x. yeres but Leo the x. that succeded Iulie the .ii. made a puissaunt armie and expulsed him out of his astate and rased the walles of the citee euen to the earth Whervpon he established his nephiew Iuliano di Medici Duke in his place and after his death for he liued but a while his brother Laurence di Medici who continued in the same till Adrian the .vi. that succeded Leo expulsed him and restored the astate vnto Francesco Maria that enioyed it till he died the space of .xvi. yeres in so great reputacion that all princes and astates of Italie loued and honored him and the greatest of them were glad to enterteine hym for their generall in the warres Wherin he gatte infinite summes of money But he was so great a builder and so liberall vnto his souldiours that whan he died he lefte no kynde of money in his coffers ¶ By his life tyme he builded the palaice besides Pesaro called Imperiale and fortified the citee of Pesaro and the castel there with diuers other goodly buildyngê and gatte Katherine daughter and heyre to the Duke of Camerine to be maried vnto his sonne Guido Vbaldo that now liueth In whose right he enioyed that astate duryng the fathers lyfe ¶ Assoone as Francesco Maria was dead Paule the iii. now bishop of Rome seyng this Duke that now lyueth a younge man without money or great friendes made so great a power against him that for feare to lose the whole he was contente for a little money and some other small recompences to yelde to the bishoppe the astate of Camerine whiche the bishop hitherto enioyeth And yet for all this the same bishoppe hath founde the meanes to marie his neece to the same Duke wherat many men meruaile not a little ¶ Finally this Duke Guido Vbaldo is generall ouer all the Uenetians landes townes and fortresses and hath of theim .10000 crownes annuitee But hitherto he hath had none occasion of triall in the warres He is meane of strature hard of fauour and very graue in countinaunce And though he be well learned his wysedome hath had no great triall as yet but men trust he woll proue as vertuouse as his predecessours ¶ The conclusion ¶ THere be dyuers other astates in Italy specially the common wealthes of Siena and Lucca the byshoprike of Trent called Tridentum in latine Piombino Mirandula Castell Geffroie and suche like but because they are not of suche reputacion either for dominion power or continuaunce of yeres that they shoulde be numbred amongest the principall I haue forborne to speake particulerly of theim though some in deede deserue notable praise besechyng all gentill readers to accept my trauaile and deligence vsed in this behalfe as a thyng done for their commoditees And thoughe I want learnyng and eloquence to accomplishe so high an enterprise as to descriue pithily the astates of countreis and commom wealthes yet sens I spared no paine nor labour to doe profite I wolde at the leaste wise for my rewarde craue good report JMPRINTED AT LONDON IN FLETESTRETE IN THE HOVSE OF THOmas Berthelet Cum priuilegio as imprimendum solum ANNO. M. D. XLIX ¶ The table of this present boke by letter AEbrigement of the astate of Italy froÌ„ the begynnyng vntill the Romain empire was vtterly diuided folâ—o 8. Abbrigement of the lyues of the Romaine bishops fo 41. Abbrigement of the Uenecian histories from the edificacion of the citee to this daie 85. Academie in Florence 139. Adoaldus 18. Adrianus 12. Agilulphus 18. Agostino Barbarico 110. Agrippa 9. Alaricus kyng of Gothes 15. Alba Siluius 8. Alboinus 18. Alberto 210. Aldeprandus 20. Aldobrandino 208. Alfonse kyng of Naples 66. Alfons adopted heire to quene Iohan. 131. Alfonse the seconde 134. Alfonso 212. Alexander Seuerus 12. Amalasuntha 17. Amulius 9. Ancus Martius 10. Andrea Dandolo 102. Andrea Contarini 104. Andrea Uendramino 109. Andrea â—ritti 111. Andrea â—oria 185.186.187 Angelo Particiaco 90. Annates 63. Antonio Ueniero 105. Antonio Grimani 111. Antonio di Leua 200. Antonius Pius 12 â–ª Antonius Caracalla 12. Antharis Flauius 18. Arches of Triumphe 29. Archadius 14. Arrigo Dandolo 96. Arno the riuer 137. Artificers of Italie 5. Arioldus 18. Aristolphus 20. Arithpertus 19.20 Ascanius 8. Asprandus 20. Astate of Mantua 200. Astate of Ferrara 207. Astate of Placentia Parma 212. Athalphus 16. Athis or Egyptus Siluius 9 Attila 10. and 190. Auentinus 9. Augustus 50. Auogadori 91. Aurelianus 13. Azone 191. Azo the fyrste and secounde 208. Azo the .iii. 209. B. BAgelardo 117. Bartholomeo Gradenico 101. Beginning and successe of the astate of Myllaine 189. Belles 91. Berengarius 48. Bernabo 191. Bishoppes palaice with Beluedere 4â— Bishoppe of Rome besieged 118. Biorgus 16. Boccatius 127. Borso 211. Bouâ—iquart 177. Bridges in Rome 23. Brâ—dges in Florence 137. Buildynges in Rome 41. Buildynges of Uenice 74. Buildyng of Genoa 163. C. Caesar. fol. 50. Cains Caligula 11. Caesar Fregoso 188. Capi Siluins 9. Cardinall hattes 56. Cardinalles sacked and baked 62. Cardinall Sauli 185. Carlo duca de Angio. 125. Carlo ii 126. Carlo iii. 129. Carpentus 9. Carus 13. Castell Cantâ— Angelo 41. Castell â—ouo 113. Caroccio 122. Castell of Millaine 189. Cercles 31. Charles Martell 45. Charles sonne taken prisoner 126. Charles the .v. emperour 136. Chilperike deposed 45. Christoforo Moro. 108. Circuite of Italie 1. Citee of Florence 137. Citee of Naples gotten by the Normaines 120. Citee of Urbine 214. Citta della 159. Claudius 11.13 Colosses and images 34. Comodus 12. Commoditees of Italie 1. Common prouision and charitable deedes in Uenice 82. Common people 149. Conrade 124. Constantius 14. Constantinus eodem Consules 10. Conduites of water in Rome 27. Counsaile of Uenice 78. Corradino .124 beheaded 125 Cortogoâ—â— 184. Cosino di Medici 152. Couetousnesse 134. Crueltee 96 98.124.125.12â—.208.209 Customes in theyr liuyng in Uenice 8â— Cyprus wonne 109. D. DApho fol. 18. Decius 13. Deâ—dato 89. DescripcioÌ„ of Italy 1. Descripcion of Rome 22. Descripcion of Naples 11â— Descripcion of Florence 137 Descripcion of Millaine 187 Desyderius 18.20 Didius Iulius 12. Dignitees and offyces in Uenice 77. Dioclesianus 11. Diuidyng of the empire 15. Diuision 141. Discorde 131. Dominion of Uenice 7â— Domenico â—â—one 89. Domenico Menicaccio eo Domenico Orseolo 9â— Domenico Flabenico eodem Domenico Contarini eod Domenico Siluâ—o eod Domenico Michele 94. Domenico Morosini 45. Dominion and gouernaunce of Genoa 161. Domitianus 11. Don Ferrando Gonzaga 188.200.213 Donacion of Constantine 14.43 Douchemens haull in Uenice 111. Drogone 116. Duke of Florence dominion and reuenew 139. Duke Cosmo. 159. E. EDificacion of Rome 9. Edificacion and successe of the citee of Florence 140. Edifices in Florence 137. Election of the emperour whan and by whom it was