resolutely executed The cause of their destruction was that they were not followed and defended of them to whome they trusted Let Princes therefore learne to make themselues so much honored and loued as no man can hope to hurt them and saue himselfe And let all priuate persons know how vaine it is to thinke that the multitude notwithstanding it be discontented will in their perils follow or accompanie them This accident amazed all Italy but much more trouble proceeded of other chances that shortly after happened in Florence For thereby the peace which had continued in Italy the space of twelue yeares was broken as in the Booke following shall be declared Which Booke as it beginneth with bloud and terror so doth it end with sorrow and miserie The ende of the seuenth Booke THE EIGHT BOOKE THE beginning of this Booke placed amidst two conspiracies the one in Milan alreadie declared the other happened in Florence and to be spoken of it may be thought fit that according to my custome I should somewhat saie touching the quallitie of conspiracies and of what importance they are Which willingly I would do had I not in other places discoursed thereof or that such a matter might be briefelie passed ouer But seeing it requireth great consideration and is alreadie spoken of we will proceed and tell how the Medici hauing ouercome all enemies that openly opposed themselues being desirous their house alone might haue authoritie in the Cittie it behoued them to oppresse all others that secretly practised against them For so long as they contended against other families but with equall authoritie the Cittizens enuying their greatnesse might openly and without feare affront them Bicause the Magistrates being free neither partie before losse of victorie had any occasion to feare it selfe But after the victorie in the yeare 66. the State became so much in the hand and power of the Medici as all men discontented were inforced either patiētly to abide the condition wherein they liued or else by way of conspiracie and secret practise to amend their fortune But sith cōspiracies are with difficultie performed for the most part they procure the ruine of the conspirators and the greatnes of him against whome they be conspired So that a Prince by conspiracie assaulted if he be not therein slaine as was the Duke of Milan which seldome hapneth becommeth thereby the stronger and being before good becommeth euill Bicause conspiracies do giue him occasion to feare feare counsaileth him to seeke assurance and in seeking assurance he doth iniure others whereby he gaineth hatred and many times procureth his own destruction So as in cōclusion treasons do sodeinly ouerthrow those who attempt them and trouble him many times against whome they be attempted Italy was as hath bene before declared diuided into two factions the Pope and the King on the one side and the Venetians the Duke and Florentines on the other side And albeit there was not betwixt them any warre moued yet was there dailie occasion giuen thereof and the Pope chiefelie in all his actions studied to offend the state of Florence Philippo de Medici Archbishop of Pisa then dying the Pope contrarie to the will of the Senate of Florence gaue that Bishopprick to Francesco Saluiati whome hee knewe to bee enemie to the house of Medici But the Senate denying to deliuer possession thereof there followed great displeasure betwixt the Pope and the Medici Besides that the Pope did great fauours in Rome to the familie of Pazzi and in euerie acte disfauoured the house of Medici In those daies the house of Pazzi liued aboue other the Florentine families in most riches and glorie The chiefe of them was called Giacopo who for his riches and Nobilitie was made Knight He hauing no children but one onely daughter had for heires diuerse nephews sonnes of Piero and Antonio his brethren The chiefe of whom were Guglielmo Francesco Rinato and Giouanni After them Andrea Nicholo and Galeotto Cosimo de Medici seeing their riches and nobilitie gaue his neece Biancha in marriage to Guglielmo hoping that alliance would make those houses more vnited and remoue all occasion of displeasures and suspitions which many times hapned betwixt them Notwithstāding so incertaine and fallible are the expectatiōs of men the matter came otherwise to passe for those that counselled Lorenzo told him it was perilous and contrary to his authoritie to suffer the Citizens to increase their riches and state which was the cause that those degrees of honor were not graunted to Giacopo and his nephews which as other Citizens thought they deserued Hereof grew the first displeasure of the Pazzi and the first feare of the Medici The increasing of the one was cause that the other also increased in so much as the Pazzi in all actions whereat other Citizens did meete were not to the Magistrates welcome Also the officers of eight men vpon a like occasion without such respect as was wont to be borne towards the great Citizens constrained Francesco de Pazzi being at Rome to returne to Florence Whereupon the Pazzi in all places with iniurious words and full of offence complained which doings caused others to suspect think thēselues to be iniured Giouanni de Pazzi had married the daughter of Giouanni Barromei a man of great riches which riches after his death for want of sonnes should come vnto her Neuertheles Carlo his nephew toke possession of part of those goods and therby the matter being brought to triall and sute an order was made by vertue wherof the wife of Giouanni de Pazzi was disinherited and the possessions giuen to Carlo which iniurie the Pazzi did altogither impute to the Medici Of this matter Giuliano de Medici did many times lament and complaine to his brother Lorenzo saying he feared least they desiring too much should lose all But Lorenzo being full of youth and authoritie would needs take all vpon him and make euery man know that all things were done by him The Pazzi being noble and rich could not indure so great iniuries but deuised by what means they might procure reuenge The first that moued speech against the Medici was Francesco He being of more courage and life then the others determined to get that which he wanted or lose that which he had And bicause the gouernment of Florence was hatefull vnto him he liued for the most part in Rome and there according to the custome of Florentine Merchants occupied great summes of money Being also of familier acquaintance with the Earle Girolamo one of them often complained to the other of the Medici In so much as after many consultations they concluded that to make the one of them assured of his lands and the other of his Cittie it was necessarie to alter the gouernment of Florence which they thought could not be done without the death of Giuliano and Lorenzo They also supposed that the Pope and the King would easily thereto consent if the facilitie of the enterprise
but the nobilitie thereof would not consent to the pope resoluing to yeelde their obedience to Tancredi At that time Celestino tertio was pope who desirous to take the kingdome from Tancredi sought meanes that Enrico sonne of Federigo should be made Emperour and promised him the kingdome of Naples vpon condition that he should restore vnto the church all those townes thereunto belonging And to make that action the more easie hee tooke out of a monastery Gostanza an olde woman daughter of Gulielmo and married her vnto Federigo Thus passed the kingdome of Naples to the Germaines from the Normands who were the auncient founders thereof So soone as Enrico the Emperour had setled all thinges in Germany hee came into Italy accompanied with Gostanza his wife and his sonne but foure yeares old called Federigo Where with some difficultie because Tancredi was dead leauing onely a litle sonne called Rogeri he possessed the kingdom Within a small time after in Sicilia died Enrico to whome Federigo succeeded in the kingdome and to the Empire was elected Ottone Duke of Sassonia through fauour of pope Innocentio quarto But so soone as he was crowned Emperour contrary to all expectation hee became enemie to the pope surprised Romagna and prepared to assault the kingdome For which dooing the pope did excommunicate him all other men left him and the electors created Federigo king of Napoli Then came Federigo to Rome for the crowne but the pope fearing his greatnesse denied him and sought to remooue him out of Italy as hee had done before to Ottone Therewith Federigo offended went into Germany and made much vvarre against Ottone and at length ouerthrevv him In the meane vvhile died Innocentio vvho besides other his notable vvorkes builded the Hospitall of Santo spirito in Rome After him succeeded Honorio tertio in vvhose time beganne the orders of Santo Dominico and Francisco the yeare 1218. This pope crovvned Federigo vnto vvhome Giouanni descended of Bauldouino king of Ierusalem vvho vvith the remaine of the Christians in Asia still possessed that title gaue his kingdome to his daughter in marriage Hereof it commeth that vvho so euer is King of Napoli is also intituled king of Ierusalem Italy in those dayes vvas thus gouerned The Romaynes made no more Consuls in Rome but in steed of them they created with the same authoritie sometimes one sometime more Senators The league which the cities of Lombardy had made against Federigo Barbarossa still continued The Cities confedered against the Emperour were Milano Brescia Mantoua with the greater part of Romagna and with them Verona Vicenza Padoua and Treuigi On the Emperours part were Cremona Bargamo Parma Reggio Modena Trento The other Cities and Castles of Lombardy Romagna and La Marca Treuigiana according to their necessitie fauoured somtimes the one and sometimes the other part In the time of Ottone the third came into Italy a man called Ezelino of whom remained one sonne who likewise begot an other Ezelino he being rich mightie folowed Federigo the secōd who was as hath bene before said enemy to the Pope This Emperour brought into Italy by the fauour of Ezelino tooke Verona and Mantoua razed Vicenza surprized Padoua vanquished the army of the townes confederate in the end marched towards Toscana Ezelino in the meane time surprized La Marca Triuigiana but he could not take Ferrara being defended by Azone of Este other soldiers sent by the Pope frō Lombardy The siege then leuied the Pope gaue that citie in Feudo to Azone of Este of whome be descended all those princes that till this day haue there gouerned Federigo staied at Pisa being desirous to become Lord of Toscana the rather to possesse the same discouer those that fauoured him from the other that were his enemies practised diuision among the people of the country which was afterwards the ruine of all Italy Because then the factions of Guelfi Ghibellini encreased calling them Guelfi that followed the Pope and Ghibellini that followed the Emperour In Pistoia these names of faction were first begun Federigo leauing Pisa by many meanes assaulted spoiled the townes belonging to the church Insomuch that the Pope not hauing other remedie proclaimed his Crociata against him as did his predecessours against the Saraseni Federigo then fearing to be abandoned by his souldiers as Federigo Barbarossa and other Emperours had bene enterteined great numbers of Sarasins and to make them more willing to serue knowing that they feared not the Popes curses he gaue them the citie of Nocera in the kingdome perswading himselfe that they hauing that refuge might serue him with the more securitie Innocentio quarto became Pope and mistrusting Federigo went to Genoua and from thence into France and called a Councell at the citie of Lions Whereunto Federigo determined to goe but was withholden by the rebellion of Parma from which enterprise repulsed he went into Toscana and thence into Sicilia where he died leauing in Sucuia his eldest sonne Corrado and in Puglia his other sonne being base borne called Manfredi whome hee had made Duke of Beneuento Corrado beeing come for possession of the kingdome arriued at Napoli and there died leauing one litle sonne called Curradino who at that time remained in Germany Then Manfredi first as gouernour to Curradino and after reporting that Curradino was dead against the Popes will the Neapolitans also whom he forced to consent made himselfe king During these troubles in the kingdome happened many quarrels betweene the factions of Guelfi and Ghibilini the one being fauoured by the Popes Legate and the other by Ezelino who possessed welneare all Lombardy on the other side of the riuer Po. And because in this warre the citie of Padoua rebelled Ezelino put to death twelue thousand Cittizens thereof and he himselfe before the end of the warre being then thirtie yeares of age was slaine After his death all the townes by him possessed became free Manfredi king of Napoli according to the custome of his auncestors continued enemie to the church holding the Pope called Vrbano quarto in continuall distresse in so much as the Pope proclaymed the Crociata against him which done hee went vnto Perugia where hee remained aspecting his souldiers Who comming thither slowly and in small numbers thought that to vanquish Manfredi those forces were not sufficient He therefore praied aide in France of Carlo Duke of Angio brother to king Lodouico creating him king of Sicilia and Napoli desiring him to come into Italy take possession of those kingdomes But before Carlo could come to Rome that Pope died and Clemente quarto elected In whose time Carlo with thirtie gallies came to Ostia appointing the rest of his army to march thither by land During his aboad in Rome the Romanes to honour him made him a Senator of Rome and the Pope inuested him in the kingdome with condition he should paie yearely fiftie thousand florines to the
Benedetto Alberti suspected and enuied The speech of Benedetto Alberti at his banishment The death of Benedetto Alberti Gâ—ouan Galiazzo becom prince of Lombardy 1393. The death of Galiazzo Veri di Medici The speech of Veri di Medici to the Senat of Florence Donati Acciaiuoli Donati Acciaiuoli with others confined Conspiracie in Florence against Masso Deili Albizi and others Conspiracy by the Duke of Milan against Florence The famely of Alberti confined An. 1402. The death of Ladislao king of Naples Error committed by the populer nobilitie Aduice of Nicolo Vzano against the Medici Leage betwixt the Florentins and the Duke of Milan Consultation in Florence The Florentines ouerthrowne The speech of Rinaldo de Albizi to appeaze the people Braccâ—o Piccinino Rinaldo di Albizi The answere of Giouanni di Medicito Rinaldo Biagio of Milan Zanobi Pino Piccinino reuolted from the league Carmignuola generall for the league Catasto Peace betwixt the League the Duke The speech of cosimo de Medici at his death Volterra rebelled Giusto vsurped Volterra Pagolo Guinigi Lord of Lucca Giusto slaine Volterra recouered by the Florentines A warre against Lucca perswaded by Ri. de Allâ—â—zi The perswation of Ni. de Vzano to the contrary The warre of Lucca resolued Cruelty of the Florentine Generall The complaint of the Sarauezesi Astore condemned and Rislandred The speech of Ri. in his purgation Filippo Brunelsco The Lucchesi pray aide of the Duke of Milan Francesco Sforsa sent to relieue Lucca Pagolo Lord of Lucca deposed The Florentines defeated Peace betweene the Florentines and Lucchesi Perswasion of Barbadori to Nicholo Vzano against Cosimo di Medici Answere of Nicholo Vzano to Barbadori Cosimo di Medici cited committed Cosimo di Medici banished Rinaldo and his friends armed against the Medici Pope Eugenio laboureth a Pacificatâ—on in Florence Cosimo reuoked and Rinaldo with others confined The words of Rinaldo at his banishment Two sorts of souldiers in Italy 1433. The Duke of MilaÌ„s daughter offered to Fran. Sforza The Pope assaulted by Fran. Sforza VVarre betweene the Pope and the Duke of Milan Fran. Sâ—oâ—za Generall of the League Peace betweene the League and the Duke New ordinances in FloreÌ„ce VVarre between Rinieri de Angio and King Alfonso of Aragon King Alfonso taken by the Genouesi King Alfonso deliuered Fregosi and Adorni Francesco Spinola The libertie of Genoua recouered The Oration of Ri. de Albizi to the Duke of Milan Genoua reuolted from the Duke Lucca distressed The Oration of the Lucchese to the other Cittizens The Lucchesi pray â—ide of the Duke Diffidence betweene the Venetians and the Earle Francesco The Venetians and Florentines of diuers opinions touching the pay of the Earle their Generall The Earle Francesco abandoneth the Venetians and Florentines The Earle of Poppi The Gretian Church submitteth to the Church of Rome New troubles in Lombardy and Toscana The Popes countrey spoyled by Ni. Piccinino Gatamelata Generall for the VenetiaÌ„s Perswasions of the Venetians and Florentines to the Earle not to abandon them The Oration of Neri Capponi to the Senate of Venice The Campe of Nicholo Piccinino defeated Nicholo Piccinino desirous to recouer his honor Verona surprized by Nicholo Piccinino Verona recouered by the Earle Francesco The Duke perswaded by Nicholo and the banished Florentines to assault Toscana The Patriarke of Alessandria Generall for the Pope The Pa. friend to Rinaldo de Albizi The pope seeketh to depose the Patriarke The Patriarke made prisoner Resolution of the League against the Duke The speech of the Earle FraÌ„cesco to the Senate of Venice The Venetians answer to the Earle Resolution of the Venetians with the Earle Francesco The Earle of Poppi rebelled from the Florentines Nicholo euill counselled by the Earle of Poppi Practise to surprise Cortona The siere of Brescia remoued The battle of Anghiari Nicholo Piccintino defeated VVant of discipline in the Florentines Campe. The death of Rinaldo de Aâ—bâ—zi Poppi besieged The speech of the Earle of Poppi to the Florentines commissaries The Earle answered by N. Capponi The Duke desireth peace The VenetiaÌ„s mistrust the Earle Francesco their Generall Ingratitude of the Venetians Micheletto Generall for the League A proude request of Nicholo Peace betweene the League and Duke and his daughter married to the Harle Francesco The warre betweene King Rinato and Alfonso reuiued The Cittie of Naples wonne by Alfonso Neri Capponi Cosimo de Medici Baldaccio Generall of the Florentine footmen Baldaccio murdâ—red by Bâ—rtholomeo Orlandini Florence reformed Ni. Piccinino discomfited Death of Ni. Piccinino Trouble in Bologna Santi Bentiuogli New warres in Lombardy The Earle his friendship desired both by the Duke and Venetians Death of Duke Philippo of Milan The Earle made Generall for the Milanesi The Venetians aspire to vsurpe the Duchie of Milan King Alfonso assaulteth the Florentines The Milanesi iealious of the Earle The Venetians defeated by the Earle Francefco The Venetians fortunate Peace betweene the Earle and Venetianâ— without consent of the Milanesi The Oration of the Milanesi to the Earle The Earles answere Expostulation of the Florentines to the Senate of Venice The Venetians desirous to abandon the Earle Cosimo de Medici friend to the Earle Francesco Neri Capponi against the Earle The Venetians aide the Mâ—lanesi against the Earle Gasparo Vicomercato his counsell The Earle Francesco become Duke of Milan 1450. League betwixt King Alfonso and the Venetians Embassadors from Venice to Florence The Embassador answered League betweene the Florentines and Duke Preparation for warre in Florence The Emperour Federigo in Florence The Duke of Milan assaulted Foiano assaulted by Ferrando Steffano Porcari Some do suppose this Canto to be written not vnto S. Porcari but to Nicholo di Renzo a gentleman Romane by Petrarche who therin serueth to diuine that in Rome shuld arise a Knight famous thorowout all Italy Steffano put to death The Vale of Bagno reuolted from the Florentines Rinato de Angio called into Italy by the Florentines Peace betweene the Venetians and the Duke Troubles moued by Giacopo Piccinino and supported by King Alfonso Pope Calisto perswadeth a generall war against the Turks A meruailous rempest in Toscana The Genouesi assaulted by King Alfonso Genoua in the possession of the French King The death of King Alfonso The death of Pope Calisto The Genouesi reuolted froÌ„ the french The kingdome of Naples assaulted by Giouanni de Aâ—gio King Ferrando defeated Giouanni de Angio vanquished in battell Cosimo de Medici Neri Capponi Lucca Pitti Girolamo Machiauelli Ordinances by Lucca â—â—tti The death of Cosimo di Medici The description of Cosimo his person and his wit The Duke of Milan Lord of Genoua Giacopo Piccinino supected to the Duke Giacopo Piccinino murthered The death of the Duke FraÌ„cesco Piero di Medici Dissimulation of Diotisalui Neroni A practise against Piero di Medici Offence between the Acciaiuoli and the Medici League betweene the Duke Galiiazzo and the Florentines Consultation to oppresse the Medici Perswasions of Nicholo Soderini against the Medici The speech of the Citizens to Piero di Medici The answerâ— of Piero. The enemies of the Medici vanquished The fall of Lucca Pitti The letter of Agnolo Acciaiuoli to Piero di Medici The answere of Piero. Complaint of the banished Florentines to the Senate of Venice The Florentines assaulted by the Venetians Marquesse of Farrara Peace betweene the Florentines and Venetians Pope Sisto The Oration of P. di Medici to the Florentines Death of Piero di Medici Tomaso Soderini Giuliano and Lorenzo di Medici Conspiracy of the Nardi The enterprise of Barnardo defeated The Duke of Milan in Florence Tumults in Volterra Volterra sacked Castello besieged by Pope Sisto Italy diuided into sactions Trouble in Toscana Conspiracie against the Duke of Milan The Duke murdered Displeasure betweene the Pope and the Medici Enimitie betweene the Pazzi and Medici Conspiracie against Giuliano and Lorenzo di Medici The euent of this conspiracie The Pope and King moue warre against the Florentiâ—es The speâ—ch of Lorenzo de Medici to the Florentines The Florentines carelesse of the Popes curse The Pope and King assault the Florentines Genoua rebelled from the Duke of Milan The Florentines gratefull to their seruants The Popes forces discomfired by the Florentines The Florentines seeke the King Ferrando his fauour Lorenzo de Medici Embassador for the Florentines Antonio Tassino Lodouico Sforza Gouernor of the Duke of Milan Lorenzo de Medici arriued at Naples Peace and league betweene the King the Florentines The Isle of Rodi assaulted by the Turkes The Turks landed in Italy The speech of the FloreÌ„tine Embassadors to the Pope The Popes answere New leagues in Italy The Duke of Calauria discomfited by the Pope New leagues in Italy Castello besieged by the Pope The Coâ—onnâ—â—i oppâ—essed by the Pope The first erection of S. George in Genoua Warre betweene the Genouâ—si and the Fâ—orentines Pietrasanta taken Aquila rebelled from the K. of Naples The Pope defendeth the rebels of Aquila Peace betweene the K. of Naples and the Pope 1486. Lorenzo di Medici his daughter married vnto the Popes sonne The Genouesi assaulted by the Florentines The Genouesi discomfited The Venetians broken and their Generall slaine Tumults in Romagna The Earle Girolamo murdered The Earles wife reuenged Galeotto Lord of Faenza murdered Lorenzo de Medici Lorenzo in marchandize infortunato LoreÌ„zo magnificent Lorenzo a louer of learning Lorenzo vniuersally loued Lorenzo honored of princes The death of Lorenzo di Medici
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
the Bracci naturall enemies to his house and growne vp in great reputation vnder Giacopo Piccinino who was the chiefest Captaine in all Italy and such a one as euerie Prince ought to beware of chiefly the Duke who could not account his dominion assured nor leaue the same to his sonnes if Giacopo did still liue The King therfore by all meanes sought to make peace with his Barons handling the matter cunningly to assure him selfe of them which fell out very happily Because the Barons did thinke that in continuing the warre against their King the same would be in the end their vndoubted ruine and yeelding to the peace they should stand at the kings discretion But because men do most willingly eschue that euill which is most certaine it commeth to passe that Princes may easily deceiue others of lesse power and so these Lords gaue credit to the King For they seeing the manifest danger of the warre yeelded themselues into his hands and were vppon sundrie occasions by him oppressed which greatly dismaied Giacopo Piccinino at that time remaining with his forces at Salmona And to remoue occasion whereby the King might oppresse him he practised by his friends to be reconciled to the Duke Francesco who hauing made him great and honourable offers Giacopo resolued to put himselfe into his hands and being accompanied with one hundreth horse went to Milan to present himselfe vnto the Duke Giacapo had long serued his father and with his brother first for the Duke Philippo and after for the people of Milan Whereby he gained great acquaintance in that Citie and the good will of the multitude which was encreased by the present condition of the Citie For the good fortune and great power of the house of Sforza had kindled great enuie And Giacopo for his aduersitie and long absence was greatly by the people pitied who desired much to see him All which things appeared at his comming For welneare all the Nobilitie went to meet him and the streets were full of those which desired to see him Besides that great honour was spoken of him and his souldiers All which things did hasten his destruction because they encreased suspition and the Dukes desire to oppresse him For the more couert performance thereof the Duke deuised that the marriage with his daughter Drusiana who had bene long before contracted vnto him should now be solemnized Then he practised with Ferrando to entertaine him for Generall of his Army and promised him a hundreth thousand Florins in prest After this conclusion Giacopo accompanied with the Dukes Embassador and Drusiana his wife went vnto Naples where he was ioyfully and honourably receiued and for diuerse dayes enterteined with all sorts of triumph and feasting But at length desiring to go vnto his Campe which he left at Salmona he was by the King conuited to dinner in the Castle The dinner being ended both he and his sonne were imprisoned and shortly after put to death Whereby may be perceiued that our Italian Princes haue feared that vertue in others which was not to be found in themselues and did smother the same so long as no vertue at all being left our country became shortly after afflicted and ruined In these dayes the Pope Pio hauing setled all things in Romagna thought the time serued well in respect of the vniuersall peace to moue the Christians to make warre against the Turke according to the plot set downe by his predecessors To the performance of this exployt all Princes did contribute mony or men And in particuler Mathia King of Hungary and Carlo Duke of Borgogna promising to go in person were by the Pope made Captaines generall of that iourney The Pope had so great hope of proceeding in this enterprise that he went from Rome to Ancona where all the Armie were appointed to assemble and the Venetians did promise to send vessels to passe the souldiers into Schiauonia After the Popes arriual in that Citie the concourse of people there was so great that within fewe dayes all the victuall of that citie and that could be brought thither from other places thereabouts did not suffice In so much as euerie man began to taste of famine Moreouer there wanted mony to furnish the souldiers of things needfull and arme those that were disarmed Mathia and Carlo appeared not and the Venetians sent thither one onely Captaine with a fewe Gallies rather to shewe their pompe and seeme to haue kept promise then to passe the Armie So as the Pope being old and sicke in the middest of these businesses and disorders died After whose death euerie man returned home This Pope being dead the yeare 1465. Paulo secundo borne in the Cittie of Venice aspired to the Papacie About that time many other states of Italy chaunged their gouernment For the same yeare following died Francesco Sforza Duke of Milan hauing vsurped that Dukedome sixteene yeares And Galiazzo his sonne was proclaimed Duke The death of this Prince was the occasion that the diuisions of Florence became of more force and wrought their effects with the more speed After the death of Cosimo di Medici Piero his sonne being left in possession of the goods and lands of his father called vnto him Diotisalui Neroni a man of great authoritie amōg the other citizens of most reputation and one in whom Cosimo reposed so great trust as at his death he willed Piero both in his substance state to be by his counsel gouerned Piero accordingly declared vnto Diotisalui the trust which Cosimo had in him And because he would shewe himselfe as obedient to his father after death as he was in his life he desired Diotisalui to assist him with his counsell both for the order of his patrimonie and the gouernment of the Citie and to begin with his own priuate businesse he commaunded all his Officers to resort vnto him with their accounts and leaue the same with Diotisalui to the end that he might finde out the order and disorder of their doings and so counsell him what was best afterwards to be done Diotisalui promised to vse diligence and performe the trust in him reposed The Officers being come and examined were found to haue committed many disorders And thereupon as a man that more respected his owne ambition then the loue he bare to Piero or the benefits he had receiued of Cosimo imagined it was easie to deceiue Piero of the reputation and liuings left him by his father Diotisalui came vnto Piero offering him counsaile which seemed verie honest and reasonable yet vnder the same laie hidden the destruction of Piero. Hee told him what disorder he found in his affaires and how it behoued him to prouide great summes of mony for the holding of his credit and reputation in the state and therfore said he could not more honestly repaire his disorders and losses then by calling in those debtes which many straungers and Citizens did owe vnto his father For Cosimo to gaine