the inhabitants of Florence and all the Princes of Italy lamented his death and made manifest shewe thereof For there was not any of them that sent not Embassadors to condole the death of Lorenzo And for triall that they had iust cause to lament the effect following prooued For Italy being depriued of his counsell had not any man left therein whose wisedome could preuent or bridle the ambition of Lodouico Sforza Gouernour of the yoong Duke of Milan Wherefore Lorenzo being dead those euill seedes beganne to grow which shortly after wanting such a one to roote them out did ruine and yet doth ruine all Italy FINIS LONDON Printed by Thomas Creede for William Ponsonby 1595. The subiect of this Historie Mediocritie the scope of Aristocracie Gouernment Aristocracie imperfit Equalitie the scope of Democracie Democracie imperfit Monarchie the most excellent Gouernment The order of the Northren people The Northren people oppressed the Romane Empire The Empire diuided into three gouernments Rome sacked by the Visigotti Bonifacio gouernor of Affrica How Gallia became named Francia How Hungaria became so named Votigerio king of the Angli How the name of England was giuen to that Iland The antient English people now inhabitants of Bretagna Attila his comming into Italy The cause of the election of an Emperour in the VVest The coÌ„ming of the Longobardi into Italy How the ancient Empyre became diuided Theodorico king of Ostrogotti a most vertuous Prince The death of Theodorico The acts of Bellisario The acts of Totila The acts of Narsete The acts of Longino The acts of Alboino The acts of Clefi The Lombardi refused to be gouerned by Kings At what time the Bishops of Rome aspired to authoritie The remooue of the Emperiall seat from Rome the cause of the Popes greatnes The East Empyre suppressed in the reigne of Eracleo The troubles of Italy caused by the ambition of Popes By what meanes the preseÌ„t Princes of Italy aspired Gregorio tertio Pope Theodoro primo Great honour dore to the pope by Carlo magno with indignitie to the Emperors Pope Pascale 1. Originall of Cardinals by Pope Pascale 1. The first occasion why the Popes did take new names at ther election At what time the Empire was taken froÌ„ the house of France The kingdom of Italy giuen to Beringario How Italy was gouerned Anno. 931. The election of the Emperour giuen to the Germans Ann. 1002. Three Popes deposed by Enrico 2. The Romans auncient enemies to the Pope The creation of the Pope taken froÌ„ the Romanes The originall of the Guelfi and Gibellini An. 1080. Rome sacked The discent of the kings of Napoli Pope Vrbano 2. La Crociata The originall of knights of Ierusalem Pope Pascale 2. Pope Alessandro 3. The King of England put to penance by Pope Alissandro The death of Federigo the Emperor Pope Celestino 3. Pope Innocentio 4. Pope Honorio 3. erector of the order of S. Francisco Anno 1218. Ezelino Azone de Este first Duke of Farrara The Emperor forced to entertaine Sarasins Pope Innocent 4. The death of Ezelino Pope Vrbano 4. Pope Clement 4. Pope Adriano 5. The ambition of Popes a ruyne to Italy Pope Adriano 3. Pope Martino 3. Pope Celestino and Bonifacio 8. Pope Bonifacio inuentor of the Guibileo Pope Clements 5. Pope Iohn 22. A practise of Ma. Visconts against the house of Torre The meane how the Visconti aspired to be Dukes of Milan The king of Boemia called into Italy The originall of Vinegia The decree of Pope Benedetto 12. against the Emperour The Emperours decree to the Popes preiudice Giouanna Q of Naples Nicholo di Lorenzo Francesco Barocegli Q. Giouanna deposed Pope Innocentio sexto Pope Vrbano 5. The Papall court returnâ—d to Rome An. 1376. Great artillery first vsed in Italy 1376. Pope Benedetto 13. The first frutes of Benefices taken by the Pope Pope Innocentio 7. K. Ladislao deposed by pope Alissandro 5. Three popes at one time The Curch after fortie yeares diuision was vnited VVarre betwixt Queene Giouanna and her husband Lodouico de Angio adopted king of Naples How Italy was gouerned and diuided VVhereof the name of Florence is deriued The first deuision of Florence By what means the factioÌ„s of Guelfi and Ghibilini arose in Florence An vnion and policie setled in Florence King Manfredi a chiefe of the Ghibilini Farinata Vberti The Duke of Angio called into Italy by the Pope King Manfre dislaine New ordinances in FloreÌ„ce New ordinances in FloreÌ„ce by the Guelfi Fâ—orence excomunicate The Pope euer suspitious New ordinances in Florence Florence reformed Priori Discord between the nobility and the people New ordinances in fauour of the people Giano della Bella. Diuision betwixt the Nobilitie and people Perswasions to the Nobilitie to laie downe armes Perswasions vsed to the people New reformation in Florence 1298. New diuision of the Bianchi Carlo di valloys made Gouernor of Horence New troubles by Corso Donati Medici and Guini New reformation in Florence Corso Donati Corso condemned The death of Corso Donati 1308. The Emperor Arrigo called into Italy 1312. The death of Arrigo. New diuition in Florence Lando de Agebio made Gouernor of Florence Castruccio castracani Ramondo di Cardona Generall for the Florents The Florentines ouerthrowne by Castruccio The Duke of Athene Gouernour of Florence The Emperour Lodouico called into Italy The death of castruccio carlo Duke of calauria New reformation in Florence The death of Lodouico The troubles and war in Florence all ceased Conspiracy against Iacomo Gabrieli of Agobio Taldo Valori Maffeo de Maradi The Bardi and Frescobaldi condemned The Duke of Athene The Dukes answere to the Senate Ordinaunces made by the Duke of Athene in Florence Matteo di Moroso Conspiracy against the Duke of Athene The Duke of Athene banished by the Florentines Discription of the Duke and his disposition Florence againe reformed The people of Florence offended with the nobilitie The autoritie of the nobilitie taken from them Andrea Strozzi The nobilitie assaie to recouer their honours The People armed against the nobilitie The Nobilitie oppressed The enimitie betweene the people and the multitude The faction or diuision of Albizi and Ricci A new lawe against the Ghibilini occationed by a priuie respect Ammoniti The Oration of the cittizens touching factions New reformation in Florence Pope Gregorio A new Commission for the gouernment of war New tumults in Florence The Conspiracy reuealed The speech of Saluestro di Medici New reformation in Florence The Oration of Luigi Guicciardini New tumult in Florence A seditious persuation of one of the multitude Demaunds of the People The Gouerment gained by the multitude Michele Lando Ordinaunces of Michele Lando The multitud offended with Michele Lando his lawes Michele Lando victorious New diuision in Florence Diuers great Cittizens accused The Queene of Napoli taken prisoner Benedetto Alberti Georgio Scali beheaded New reformation in Florence Michele Lando confined Carlo di Angio come into Italy The death of Carlo di Angio
Romanes went vnto Scesi where he remained till the Iubileo in the yeare 1400. At which time the Romanes for their profit were content he should returne to Rome and also place there one Senator at his election and therewith also to fortifie the Castle of S. Angelo With these conditions the Pope returned and the rather to enrich the Church he ordained that euerie Benefice falling void should pay the first frutes into the treasure house After the death of Gicuan Galiazzo Duke of Milan albeit he left two sonnes called Giouanniariangelo and Philippo yet his Countrey became diuided into manie parts And in the troubles which thereby happened Giouanniariangelo was slaine and Philippo for a time remained prisoner in the Castle of Pauia yet by good fortune and fauour of the Captaine was set at libertie Among others that vsurped the possessions of this Duke was Gulielmo Della Scalla who being a banished man remained in the hands of Francesco de Carrara Lord of Padoua through whom he recouered the State of Verona which hee enioyed not long because Francesco procured him to be poisoned and surprized the Cittie Thereuppon the Vicentini hauing liued quietly vnder the ensigne of the Visconti and fearing the greatnes of Francesco yeelded their obedience to the Venetians who presently tooke armes against the Lord of Padoua and first depriued him of Verona and afterwards wan the Cittie of Padoua In the meane space died Bonifacio and Innocentio septimo was elected Pope to whom the people of Rome presented an humble request desiring it might please his Holines to deliuer into theyr hands the Fortresses and restore them to their libertie which sute the Pope denied The people then praied aid of Ladislao King of Napoli yet afterwards falling to agreement the Pope returned to Rome being fled from thence for feare of the people and remained at Viterbo where he had created a nephew of his to bee Earle of La Marca which done hee shortly after died and Gregorio duodecimo was created Pope with condition that hee should resigne the Papacie whensoeuer the Antipope did the like By perswasion of the Cardinals intending to make proofe whether the Church could bee reunited or not Benedetto Antipope came to Porto Venere and Gregorio to Luca where they practised manie matters but nothing tooke effect so that the Cardinals both of the one and the other Pope did forsake them Pope Benedetto went into Spaine and Gregorio to Rimini The Cardinals on the other part with the fauour of Baldasarre Cossa Cardinall and Legate of Bologna ordained a Councell at Pisa where they created Alissandro quinto who did excommunicate Ladislao giuing that Kingdome to Luigi de Angio and then with the aide of the Florentines Genouesi and Venetians togither with Baldaser Cossa Legate assaulted Ladislao and tooke from him Rome But in the heate of this warre died Alissandro and Baldaser Cossa was elected calling himselfe Giouanni vicessimo tertio He departing from Bologna beeing there made Pope went from thence to Rome and there met Luigi deâ— Angio come thither with a Nauie from Prouenza Then presently they assaulted Ladislao and ouerthrew him yet through the default of their Leaders the victorie was not followed by meanes whereof within short space after the King recouered an Armie and againe surprized Rome The Pope then fled to Bologna and Luigi to the prouince The Pope imagining how he might diminish the greatnes of Ladislao found meanes that Sigismondo King of Vngaria should be chosen Emperour perswading him to come into Italy which he did and met with the Pope at Mantoua There they agreed to call a Councell generall and therein to reunite the Church the rather to become able to withstand the force of their enemies At that time were three Popes Gregorio Benedetto and Giouanni who made the Church exceeding weake and without reputation The place elected for this Councell was Costanza a Citie of Germanie But contrarie to the expectation of Giouanni the death of Ladislao remoued the occasion of Councell notwithstanding being alreadie bound by promise hee could not refuse to goe thither Being arriued at Costanza ouerlate knowing this errour he practised to flie thence but was there staied put in prison and constrained to resigne the Papacie Gregorio also the other Antipope by his messenger resigned Benedetto the third Antipope refusing to resigne was condemned for an heriticke and being abandoned by his Cardinals was in the end enforced to resigne The Councell then created Oddo Colonna who was called Pope Martino quarto And so the Church after fortie yeares of diuision was vnited hauing bene all that time in the hands of diuerse Popes In those dayes as hath bene beforesaid Philippo Visconti remained in the Castle of Pauia But Fantino Cane who during the troubles of Lombardy possessed himselfe of Vercelli Allisandria Nouara Tortona and had also gathered great riches then died And not hauing anie heire bequeathed his possessions to Beatrice his wife desiring his friendes to procure she might be married to Philippo By which marriage Philippo became potent and recouered Milan with all the state of Lombardy Afterwards to declare himselfe thankfull for so great a benefit he accused Beatrice of adulterie and put her to death Thus atteined to be a Prince most mightie he beganne to thinke vpon the warres of Toscana before entended by his father Giouan Galiazzo Ladislao King of Napoli at his death left vnto his sister Giouanna not onely the kingdome but also a a great Armie gouerned by the principall Leaders of all Italy Among the chiefe of whom was Sforza di Contignuola in those dayes a man of warre of singular reputation The Queene the rather to eschue a slaunder by one Pandolfello a man brought vp by her selfe tooke to husband Iacobo Della Marchia who was descended from the French Kings vpon condition that hee would content himselfe to be called Prince of Tarranto and suffer her to enioy the kingdome with the gouernment thereof Notwithstanding so soone as he arriued at Naples the souldiers called him King whereof great warres followed betwixt the wife and the husband and sometimes the one sometimes the other had the vpper hand But in the end the Queene remained gouernour of the state and afterwards became enemie to the Pope Thereupon Sforza intending to driue her to a disaduantage and inforce her to be glad of him contrarie to all expectation gaue vp his enterteinment by which meanes she remained vtterly disarmed and not hauing other fled for aide to Alfonso King of Arragon and Sicilia adopting him her sonne and enterteined Braccio di Montone who was in Armes no lesse esteemed then was Sforza therwithall enemy to the Pope for hauing surprized Perugia with some other townes belonging to the church Afterwards a peace was taken betweene her and the Pope Then the King Alfonso doubting least she wold entreat him as she had intreated her husband sought secretly to possesse the Fortresses But she being subtil fortified her self
and beganne to deuise rather how hee might winne him for a friend then continue him an enemie Notwithstanding for diuerse causes hee enterteined him from December till Marche not onelie to make the more triall of him but also of his Cittie For Lorenzo wanted not enemies in Florence who desired that the King would haue holden him and enterteined Giacopo Piccinino and vnder colour of lamenting they speake their mindes Also in publique Councelles they opposed their opinions against Lorenzo By these deuises It was bruted that if the King woulde keepe Lorenzo long at Naples the gouernment in Florence should be chaunged Whiche was the onely cause that the King deferred his dispatch so long hoping there might some tumult arise in Florence But seeing that all thinges passed quietly on the sixt day of March in the yeare 1479. he had leaue to depart and before his departure was by the King so bountifully presented louingly vsed that betwixt Lorenzo the King their grew a perpetual amity preseruation of both their states Thus Lorenzo returned to Florence with greater reputation honor then he went thence was with so great ioy of the citie receiued as his great vertues new merits deserued hauing put his own life in hazard to recouer peace to his country For within two daies after his arriuall the treaty betwixt the common weale of Florence the King was proclaimed wherby they were both both bound to defend one the others country that the townes taken frō the Florentines in the war shuld be by the King restored And that the Pazzi imprisoned in the town of Volterra shuld be deliuered And that mony should be for a certaine time paide vnto the Duke of Calauria This peace being published did much offend the Pope the Venetians because the Pope thought he was litle esteemed of the King the Venetians as litle regarded of the Florentines who being their companions in the war thought themselues il vsed not to be partakers of the peace This indignation vnderstood and beleeued at Florence did sodeinly breed suspition in euerie man that of the peace wold arise a greater war Wherupon the Magistrates of the state determined to restraine the gouernment and that the affaires of most importance should be reduced into the hands of a lesse number and so ordeined a Councell of 70. Citizens with authoritie that they might proceed in matters of most importance This new ordinance staied the minds of those that desired innouation and to giue thereto countenance first of all they accepted the peace which Lorenzo had made with the King and sent vnto the Pope Antonio Ridolphi and Piero Nasi Neuertheles Alfonso Duke of Calauria did not remoue his army from Siena saying he was staied by the discord of the citizens there which was so great that he being lodged without the citie was called in and made iudge of their differents The Duke taking these occasions punished many of those citizens in mony imprisoning banishing others and some also were iudged to death In so much as by this meanes he became suspected not only to the Sanesi but the Florentines also mistrusted he would make himself Prince of that citie Wherof they knew no remedy cōsidering the new friendship of Florence with the King the enmitie of the Pope King Which suspition not only in the people of Florence generally who mistrustfully cōsider of all things but in the chief gouernors of the state appeared euery man imagining that our citie had neuer bin in so great danger to lose the liberty therof But God who had euer a particuler care therof caused an accident to happē vnlooked for which made the King the Pope the Venetians to think of greater matters thē these of Toscana Mahumetto great Turk was with a mighty army gone to the Isle of Rodi had many months assaulted it But notwithstanding his forces were great and his resolution to win the town greater yet was the vertue of those that defended the same greatest of all For Mahumetto notwithstanding his furious assaults was forced to depart with shame Thus the Turk being departed frō Rodi part of his army cōducted by Saccometto Bascia went towards Velona by the way either for that he saw the enterprise easie or because the Turk had so commanded passed by the coast of Italy sodeinly set 4000. men on land who assaulted the citie of Ottranto tooke it sacked it slew all the inhabitants therof which done by all the best means he could fortified both the citie the hauen Thē sent he for horsmen with them he forraged spoiled the coūtry round about The king seeing this assault knowing how great a prince had takē that enterprise in hād sent vnto al places to signify the same desired aid of thē al against the cōmon enimy Also speedily reuoked the Duke of Calauria with his forces frō Siena This assault thogh it grieued the duke the rest of Italy yet did the same cōfort Florēce Siena One hoping therby to recouer liberty th'other trusting the rather to shun those perils which made them to feare the losse of their libertie Which opinion was encreased by the vnwilling departure and lamentation of the Duke at his going from Siena accusing fortune that she by an vnlooked for and vnreasonable accident had taken frō him the dominion of Toscana The selfsame chance did alter the Popes mind for where before he refused to giue audience to all Florentines he was now become so curteous as he refused not to hear any that wold speak vnto him of the vniuersal peace Whereupon the Florentines were aduertised that if they would desire pardon of the Pope they might obteine it It was then thought good not to omit this occasion and 12. Embassadors were sent to the Pope who being arriued at Rome were by his holinesse before they had audience enterteined with diuers practises In the end it was betweene the parties concluded how either of them should afterwards liue in what sort either of them both in peace and war were to make contribution After this conclusion the Embassadors were admitted to present themselues at the Popes feete and he sitting in the midst of his Cardinals with exceeding great pomp receiued them These Embassadors excused all matters passed sometimes blaming necessitie sometimes the euil disposition of others sometimes the populer furie and the iust offence thereof saying they were most vnhappie being forced either to fight or die And because all things are endured to eschue death they had suffred war excommunicatiōs all other troubles which the matters passed had brought with thē And all to the end that their common weale might auoyd bondage which is the death of all free Cities Neuertheles if any error or enforced fault were committed they were ready to make satisfaction euer hoping in his goodnes who following the examples of the almightie Redeemer he would receiue them
Pope and King make war vpō the Florētines The death of Lorenzo di Medici 1492. FINIS AA ⧠THE FIRST BOOKE OF the Florentine Historie THE people inhabiting the North beyond the Riuers of Reyne and Danubio being borne in a cold Region yet wholesome apt to generation do many times encrease and become so populous that part of them are cōstrained to abandon their natiue countries and seeke new places where to remaine The order which those people hold in dispersing the inhabitants is to diuide themselues into three parts yet so as in euerie one may be some of the nobilitie and some of the people some of the rich and some of the poore equallie diuided which done the one part whose lot falleth so out leaueth that country and seeketh fortune elsewhere to abide The other two parts of the people there remaining doo possesse and enioy the landes of them that are departed These people were those which destroyed the Romane Empire whereunto the Emperours themselues gaue some occasion by forsaking Rome the antient Emperiall seate and setling themselues at Constantinople For thereby the West part of the Empire became weake lesse regarded more easie to be harmed both of their owne ministers and others their enemies Surely the destruction of so great an Empire builded vpon the blood of so many vertuous men could not be lost without the sloath of Princes infidelitie of ministers great forces and much obstinacie in them who assaulted the same for not onely one sort of people but many multitudes in that action conspired The first enemies which came to the destruction of the Roman Empire after the Cimbri vanquished by Marius the Romane were the Visigotti which name in our language may bee called Gotti of the West These people after some conflicts in the Empire and through the sufferance of the Emperours long time continued their dwellings vpon the Riuer of Danubio And although at sundrie occasions and sundrie times they assaulted the prouinces belonging to the Empire yet were they by the power of the Emperours from time to time impeached and at last by Theodotio gloriously vanquished So that thereby being brought vnder his obedience they could not againe make any King ouer them but contented with the Emperours paie vnder his gouernment and ensigne they liued and serued But Theodotio being dead and leauing Arcadio and Honorio his sonnes heires of the Empire but not of his vertue and fortune the time with the Prince clearly altered and chaunged Theodotio authorized vnto three parts of the Empire three gouernours In the East Ruffino in the West Stillicone and in Affrica Gildonio Euerie one of these determined after the death of their Prince not to gouerne as ministers but to possesse the countries as Princes Of these three Gildonio and Ruffino were at their beginnings oppressed but Stillicone better dissembling his intent sought to winne himselfe credit with the new Emperours neuerthelesse disturbe the quietnesse of their state Then to the end he might the rather atteine the possession thereof and procure the Visigotti to become enemies to the Empire he counselled the Emperour no more to paie them Besides that Stillicone imagining these enemies were not of force sufficient to disturbe the Empire found meanes that the Burgundi Fraunchi Vandali and Alani all people of the North and appointed to seeke themselues a new habitation assailed the Romane countries The Visigotti then being discharged from their paie determined as of an iniury to be reuenged creating Alarico their King assaulted the Empire destroyed Italy and sacked Rome After which victory Alarico died and to him succeeded Ataulfo who tooke to wife Placidia sister to the Emperours and through that alliance agreed with them to succour France and Spaine which countries wereby the Vandali Burgundi Alani and Fraunchi thereto moued by the occasions aforesayd assailed Whereof ensued that the Vandali who had alreadie conquered that part of Spaine which is called Betica were sore molested by the Visigotti and not hauing other helpe were forced to accept the offer of Bonifacio at that time gouerning Affrica for the Emperour who required them to take in hand the conquest thereof being by his meane in Rebellion and he fearing least his fault should be to the Emperour detected For these reasons aforesaid the Vandali most willingly tooke the enterprise in hand vnder Genserico their King possessed Affrica By this time Theodotio sonne to Archadio was become Emperour who litle regarding the affaires of the Empire in the West gaue great hope to these forrein people to enioy those things they had conquered So that the Vandali possessed Affrica the Alani and Visigotti gouerned Spaine the Fraunchi and Burgundi did not onely conquere Gallia but also vnto the parts thereof by them conquered gaue their owne names calling the one Francia the other Burgogna The happie successe of those encouraged new people to the destructiō of the Empire For at that time the people called Vnni assailed and possessed Pannonia a prouince adioyning to the Riuer Danubio which at this day hauing taken the name of these Vnni is called Vngheria Vpon consideration of these disorders the Emperour seeing himselfe on euerie side assailed to the end he might haue the fewer foes beganne to take truce sometimes with the Vandali and sometimes with the Franchi which did greatly encrease the reputatiō and power of the barbarous people disgracing and diminishing the credit of the Empire Neither was in those dayes the Iland of Bretagna at this day called England assured from such inuasion for the Bertoni fearing these people which had possessed France and not finding how the Emperour could defend them called to aide them the Angli a people of Germany so named These Angli vnder Votigerio their King tooke the enterprise in hand ouerthrew the enemy and in the end draue them out of the Iland themselues there remaining inhabiting By the name of which Angli that country was and yet is called Anglia The inhabitants whereof being thus spoiled and driuen from their country became desperate perswading themselues that although they could not defend their own country yet was it possible for them to conquere an other Whereupon they with their families passed the seas and planted them on the other side neare the shoare and called that country by their owne name Bretagna The people called Vnni who as is aforesaid had conquered Pannonia assembling themselues with other people called Zepedi Eruli Turinghi and Ostrogotti which word signifieth in that language Gotti of the East prepared themselues to seeke new countries but not being of force sufficient to enter France being defended by other barbarous forces they came vnto Italy conducted by Attila their king who not long before to gouerne alone in his kingdome had slaine Bleda his brother Thus Attila became mightie Andarico king of Zebedi and Velamer king of the Ostrogotti were made as it were his subiects
that day had bene euer there mainteined reducing all vnder one Duke who was yearely sent thither from Rauenna and his gouernment called the Romane Dukedome but the generall Gouernour who continually remained at Rauenna by the Emperours commaundement and gouerned all Italy vnder him was called Esarco This diuision made the ruine of Italy to be more easie and gaue opportunitie to the Longobardi to vsurpe the same The gouernment of that country gotten by the vertue and blood of Narsete thus taken from him he being also by Sophia iniured reuiled threatned to be called home and spinne with women moued him so greatly to chollor and offence that he perswaded Alboino King of the Lombardi who at that time reigned in Pannonia to come into Italy conquere it The Longobardi beeing as is aforesaid entered into those countries neare Danubio who had lately bene abandoned by the Heruli and Turingi when by their King Odoacre they were led into Italy for a time they there remained But the kingdome being come to Alboino a man couragious cruel they passed the riuer Danubio and fought with Comundo King of the Zepedi and ouerthrew him in Pannonia which hee then possessed Alboino in this victorie amongst others happened to take prisoner the daughter of Comundo called Rosmundo married her and thereby became Lord of Pannonia Then mooued by the crueltie of his nature hee made a cup of her fathers hed whereof in memorie of the victorie he vsed to drinke But then called into Italy by Narsete with whome in the warres of the Gotti hee had acquaintance and friendship left Pannonia to the Vuni who after the death of Attila as is aforesaid were returned into their countrey Then he came againe into Italy where finding the same into many partes diuided sodenly wan Pania Millan Verona Vicenza all Toscana and the more part of Flamminia now called Romagna So that perswading himselfe through so many and so speedie successes to haue already as it were gotten the victorie of all Italy hee celebrated a solemne feast in Verona whereat being by drinking much become very merry and seeing the skull of Comundo full of wine hee caused the same to be presented to the Queene Rosmunda who sat ouer against him at the table saying vnto her with so loude a voice that euerie one might heare him that she should now at this feast drinke with her father which speech pearced the Lady to the heart and she forthwith determined to reuenge the same Then knowing that Almachilde a valiant young gentleman of Lombardi loued a maiden of hers of whome hee obtained to lie with her and the Queene beeing priuy to that consent did her selfe tarry in the place of their meeting which beeing without light Almachilde came thither and supposing to haue lien with the mayden enioyed the Queene her mistresse which done the Queene discouered her selfe and said vnto him that it was in his power to kill Alboino and possesse her with her kingdome foreuer but if hee refused so to do shee would procure that Alboino should kill him as one that had abused his wife To this motion and murther of Alboino Almachilde consented After the murther performed finding that he could not according to his expectation enioy the kingdome and fearing to be slaine of the Lombardes for the loue they bare to Alboino the Queene and hee taking their princely treasure and iewels fled to Longino at Rauenna who honorably there receiued them During these troubles Iustiniano the Emperour died and in his place was elected Tiberio who beeing occupied in the warres against the Parthi could not go to the reliefe of Italy Whereby Longino hoped that time would well serue him with the countenance of Rosmunda and helpe of her treasure to become King of Lombardy and all Italy And conferring his intent with the Queene perswaded her to kill Almachilde and take him for her husband shee accepted and agreed vnto that which hee perswaded preparing a cup of wine poisoned and with her owne hand shee offered the same to Almachilde comming from a bath hote and thriftie hee hauing drunke halfe the wine and finding his bodie thereby greatly mooued mistrusting the poison enforced Rosmunda to drinke the rest whereof both the one and the other within fewe houres died and Longino bereft of his expectation to become King The Longobardi in the meane while assembling themselues in Pauia which was the chiefe Cittie of their kingdome elected there Clefi their King who reedified Imola which had bene ruinated by Narsete hee wan Rimino and almost euerie place from thence to Rome but in the midst of these his victories hee died This Clefi was so cruell not onely to strangers but also to his owne subiects the Longobardi as they were so terrified with his kingly authoritie that after his daies they determined no more to make anie King but elected amongst them selues thirtie persons whome they called Dukes giuing them iurisdiction ouer the rest which was the cause that the Longobardi did not proceed in the conquest of all Italy and that their kingdome did not extend further then Beneuento and that Rome Rauenna Cremona Mantoua Padoua Monselice Parma Bologna Faenza Furli and Cesena some of them defended them selues a time and some other were neuer taken Because the Lombardi wanting a King their warres proceeded the more slowlie and after the election of a new King by reason of their libertie were lesse obedient and more apt to mutinie among them selues which thing first hindered the victorie and in the end draue them out of Italy The Longobardi being come to this estate the Romanes and Longino made with them an agreement The effect thereof was that euerie one of them should lay downe their armes and enioy so much as they possessed In that time the Bishops of Rome began to aspire vnto more authoritie then they had in times past for by meane of the holy life of S. Peter and some other Bishops with their godly examples and the miracles by them done they became much reuerenced amongst men and greatly encreased the christian Religion In so much as Princes were occasioned the more easily thereby to appease the great disorder and confusion of the world to obey them The Emperour then being become a Christian and remooued from Rome to Constantinople it came to passe as is aforesaid that the Romane Empyre decaied and the Church of Rome the rather thereby encreased notwithstanding till the comming of the Longobardi Italy being subiect either to Emperours or Kings the Empyre still prospered and the Bishops of Rome had no greater authoritie then their learning and good life did deserue For in all other thinges either by the Kings or by the Emperours they were commaunded and as their ministers imploied and sometimes put to death But he that made the Bishops to become of greatest authoritie in Italy was Theodorico King of the Gotti when he remoued his royall seate to Rauenna For thereby Rome
Pope distraught of his vvits died This Bonifacio vvas he that ordeined the Iubilie in the yeare 1300. and commanded that euery hundreth yeare the same should be so solemnized After that time happened many troubles betvveene the factions of Guelfi Ghibellini And by reason that Italy vvas abandoned by the Emperors many towns became free and many others by tyrants possessed Pope Benedetto restored the Hat to the Cardinals Colonesi and absolued Philippo the French King To him succeeded Clemente quinto vvho being a French man remoued his court into France in the year 1306. In the meane space Carlo the second King of Napoli died To that kingdom succeeded Robarto his sonne and to the Empire Arrigo of Lucemburgh who notwithstanding the absence of the Pope from Rome vvent thither to be crowned By meane of that iourney grevv many troubles in Lombardy because all those that had bene banished either Guelfi or Ghibellini vvere admitted to returne to their townes and there being made so great quarrels among themselues as the Emperour vvith all his power could not appease The Emperour then departed from Lombardy to Genoua and so to Pisa vvhere he practised to take Toscana from the king Robarto But hauing no successe vvent on to Rome where he remained not long being driuen out by the Orsini and the friends of king Robarto Then returned he to Pisa vvhere he deuised for his better proceeding in the vvars of Toscana and the rather also to remooue king Robarto from his gouernment that Frederigo king of Sicilia should assault those countries But at such time as hee hoped at one instant to performe both those enterprises he died and Lodouico of Bauiera was chosen Emperour In this meane space was created Giouanni 22. In whose dayes the Emperour ceased not to persecute the Guelfi and the church which vvas chiefly defended by king Robarto and the Florentines Wherof grew great vvarre in Lombardy by the Visconti against the Guelfi and in Toscana by Castruccio of Lucca against the Florentines And because the family of Visconti vvas that vvhich beganne the Dukedome of Milan one of the fiue principallities that gouerned Italy I thinke good more at large hereafter to intreate of them After that the league of the cities of Lombardy vvas concluded as hath bene beforesaid and they resolued to defend themselues from Federigo Barbarossa Milan also being repaired of the ruines conspired vvith those cities of the league to be reuenged of former iniuries Which league brideled Barbarossa and for a time gaue countenance to the faction of the church then in Lombardy During these vvarres the house of Torre grevv to great reputation so long as the Emperours had in that country small authoritie But vvhen Federigo the second vvas come into Italy and the Ghibellini through the helpe of Ezelino became strong the humour of Ghibilini sprung vp in euery citie and the house of Visconti taking part with that factiō chased out of Milan the family of Torre yet were they not long out but by meane of a peace concluded betwixt the Emperour and the Pope hee with his Court beeing in France and Arrigo of Lucimburg going to Rome for the Crowne was receiued into Milan by Maffeo Visconti and Guido della Torre who at that time were chiefe of those houses yet Maffeo intending by helpe of the Emperour to driue Guido out of the Citie and supposing that enterprise the more likely because Guido was in faction contrary to the Empire hee tooke occasion vpon the complaints of the people against the euil demeanor of the Germains slily perswading and encouraging euery man to take Armes and deliuer themselues from the seruitude of that barbarous nation And when all things were made ready he caused a secret minister of his to mooue a tumult Whereat all the people tooke Armes against the name of Germany and Maffeo with his sonnes and followers suddeinly armed went to Arrigo letting him vnderstand that this tumult proceeded frō those of the house of Torre who not contented to liue priuate in Milan tooke occasion to spoyle him gratifie the Guelfi of Italy and make themselues princes of that citie Notwithstanding hee perswaded the Emperour to be of good cheare for they and their followers would in euery respect saue and defend him Arrigo beleeued all that which Maffeo had spoken ioyning his forces with the Visconti assailed those Della Torre Who beeing dispersed in diuerse places of the Cittie to appease the tumult so many of them as could be found were slaine and the rest spoyled sent into Italy Maffeo Visconti thus made as it were prince of Milan had diuerse sonnes the chiefe of them were called Galiazzo and Azo and after them Luchino Giouanni Giouanni became Archbishop of that Citie and of Luchino who died before him remained Barnabo and Galiazzo called Conte de Vertu He after the death of the Archbishop killed Barnabo his vncle and so became onely prince of Milan and was the first that had the title of Duke Of him descended Philippo Giouan Mariangilo who being slaine by the people of Milan the state remained onely to Philippo and he hauing no heires male the Dukedome was translated from the house of Visconti to the Sforzi as shall be hereafter declared But to returne to our matter Lodouico the Emperour to giue reputation to his faction and take the Crowne came into Italy and being arriued at Milan to the end he might leauy mony of the Milanesi offred to make them free and for proofe thereof imprisoned the Visconti Afterwards by mediation of Castruccio of Lucca deliuered them and went to Rome Then the more easily to disturbe Italy he made Piero de la Coruara Antipope by whose authoritie and the force of Visconti he hoped to keepe downe the contrary faction both in Toscana and Lombardy But Castruccio then died which was the cause of his ruine for Pisa and Lucca presently rebelled And the Pisani sent the Antipope prisoner to the Pope thē remaining in France Whereupon the Emperour dispairing of his enterprise in Italy returned to Germany So soone as he was gone Giouanni king of Bohemia came into Italy called thither by the Ghibilini of Brescia and possessed that Citie with one other called Bergamo And forasmuch as the comming of this king was with consent of the Pope although hee fained the contrarie the Legate of Bologna fauoured him imagining for that cause the Emperour would no more returne into Italy by whose departure thence the country was greatly altered The Florentines and the king Robarto seeing that the Legate fauoured the enterprise of the Ghibilini became enemies to all those that the Legate and the king of Bohemia fauoured against whom without respect of Guelfi or Ghibilini many princes ioyned Among them were the Visconti the family of La Scala Filippino Gonzaga of Mantoua the house of Carrara and Este wherupon the Pope did excommunicate them all The king for feare of this league went home to
and all the people hearing the name of libertie armed themselues and euerie man in his quarter prepared him vnder the Ensigne of the peoples armes which the conspirators had secretly caused to be made And the chiefe as well of the Noble houses as of the populer families came forth and sware both their owne defence and the Dukes death excepting some of the Buondelmonti and Caualcanti with those foure families of the people which procured him to be made Prince They togither with the Butchers people of basest condition came armed to the Market place in defence of the Duke At this vproare the Duke armed all his Court and his seruants in sundrie places lodged mounted on horsebacke to come to the Market place But in many streetes they were beaten downe and slaine and onely three hundred horses came vnto him The Duke in the mean while stood doubtfull whether he were better to come out and fight with his enemies or defend himselfe within the Pallace On the other side the Medici Cauicculi Ruccellai and other families most iniured did feare that if the Duke would come out manie that had taken armes against him might happily become his friends And therefore to remoue the occasion of his comming forth and encreasing his forces made head and went vp to the market place At whose arriual those populer families that stood there for the Duke seeing the Cittizens couragiously to charge them chaunged their mindes After the Duke had thus altered his fortune and euerie man reuolted to the Citizens sauing Vguccione Buondelmonti who went into the Pallace and Giannozzo Caualcanti with part of his men retired vnto the new Market and there stood vp desiring the people to arme themselues to defend the Duke Also the rather to terrifie the people he threatned them that if obstinately they followed the enterprise against the Prince they should be all slaine But finding no man to follow him nor yet any that pursued him and seeing himselfe to haue laboured in vain tempting fortune no further retired vnto his owne house The conflict in the meane while betwixt the people and the Dukes souldiers was great and though the Dukes forces defended the Pallace yet were they in the end vanquished some of them yeelded to their enemies and some leauing their horses folowed into the Pallace While in the Market place the fight continued Corso and Amerigo Donati with part of the people brake the prisons burnt the Records of the Podesta of the publique chamber sacked the Rettori and their houses and slew all the officers of the Duke that they could laie hand vpon The Duke on the other side seeing the Market place lost and all the citie against him not hoping of any helpe made proofe whether by any curtuous act the people might be appeased Therfore he called vnto him the prisoners with gentle words deliuered thē made Antonio Adimari though nothing to his owne contentment a Knight Hee caused also his owne armes to be rased out of the Pallace set the peoples armes in the same place Which things being done too late and out of time by enforcement and without order helped litle Thus as a man discontented besieged he remained in the Pallace and found by experience that by coueting too much he lost all and therefore looked within fewe dayes either to die by famine or sword The Citizens intending some forme of gouernment assembled themselues in Santa Reparata and created there foureteene Citizens halfe of them great and the other halfe populer who with the Bishop should haue full authoritie to reforme the state of Florence They chused also sixe to haue the authoritie of the Podesta till hee were come There were in Florence at that time diuerse straungers come thither to aide the people amongst whom were some Sanesi sent from Siena with sixe Embassadours men in their country much honoured They betwixt the people and the Duke practised reconsiliation but the people refused to common of any agreement vntill Guglielmo da Scesi and his sonne with Cirretieri Bisdomini were deliuered into their hands The Duke would not thereunto consent till being threatned by those that were shut in with him suffered himselfe to be inforced Certainly the furie is greater and the harmes more when libertie is in recouering then when the same is recouered This Guglielmo and his sonne being brought among thousands of enemies the yoong man not being eighteene yeares of age could neither by his youth nor innocencie be saued from the furie of the multitude And those that could not strike him aliue would needs wound him being dead Yea not being satisfied by cutting him in peeces with swords with their nailes and teeth they also tare his flesh And to the end al their sences might haue part in the reuenge hauing alreadie heard him lament seene his wounds and touched their torne flesh would also that their taste should take part so that all sences both without within might be pleased This terrible furie though it were greeuous to Guglielmo and his sonne yet was it profitable to Cirretieri Because the multitude being weary with the crueltie executed vpon those two did clearly forget him remaining still within the Pallace not called for Then the night following by certaine of his friends hee was conueyed away and saued The multitude being appeased with blood of these two A conclusion was made wherin was let downe that the Duke and his should safely depart with bagge and baggage and renounce all his authoritie ouer Florence And afterwards so soone as he should come to Casentino vpon the confines ratifie the same After this composition the sixt day of August he departed from Florence accompanied with many Citizens And arriued in Casentino he ratified though vnwillingly the resignation of his authoritie for had he not bene by the Earle Simone threatened to be brought backe to Florence he would not haue performed his promise This Duke as his proceedings do shew was couetous and cruell no willing hearer of complaints and in his answeres haughtie hee looked for seruice of all men and esteemed the loue of no man yet desired he to be beloued more then feared His person and presence did deserue to be hated no lesse then his conditions his bodie was small his face blacke and hard fauoured his beard long and thin so as both in appearance and being hee merited the loue of no man Thus within the tearme of ten moneths his euill behauiour lost him that gouernment which foolish Councell of others had giuen him These accidents being happened within the citie gaue encouragement to all the townes which had bene subiect to the Florentines to returne also to their libertie whereby Arezzo Castiglione Pistoia Volterra Colle and S. Gimignano rebelled After the Duke was thus driuen away the foureteene Cittizens togither with the Bishop thought better to please their subiects with peace then make them enemies by warre And therfore seemed as much content with the
libertie and some others were contented to receiue a Prince Of those which desired a Prince some would haue the Earle and some the King Alfonso whereby those that loued libertie being more vnited became the stronger part and framed after their faction a state and gouernment which was neuerthelesse disobeyed by many Citties of the Dukedome imagining that they might also as Milan did enioy their libertie And others also which aspired not thereunto did likewise refuse to yeeld vnto the Milanesi The Citties of Lodi Piacenza gaue themselues to the Venetians Pauia Parma would be free The Earle vnderstanding these confusions went vnto Cremona whither his Embassadors and the Embassadors of Milan came with this cōclusiō that he should remain Captain general of the Milanesi with those conditions last set down by the Duke Philippo adding thereunto that the Earle should haue Brescia till he surprised Verona And being possessed therof to yeeld vp Brescia Before the death of this Duke Pope Nicholo at his assumptiō sought to make peace amongst all the Italian Princes For the compassing whereof by Embassadors he practised that the Florentines should send vnto him at the time of his creation desiring him to appoint a Parliament at Farrara to procure therein either a long truce or a perfect peace Vpon which occasion in that Cittie assembled the Popes Legat the Embassadors for the Venetians Embassadors for the Duke Embassadors for the Florentines But those which were looked for from King Alfonso appeared not This King was then at Tiboli accompanied with many men of warre both on foote and horseback From thence he gaue countenance to the Duke and it was thought that so soone as they had drawne the Earle to their side they would openly assault the Venetians and Florentines In the meane time the Earles souldiers should remaine in Lombardy the peace to be enterteined at Farrara whither the King sent not saying he would ratifie all things the Duke would assent vnto This peace was many dayes consulted vpō and after much disputation cōcluded that either it should be perpetuall peace or a truce for 5. yeares at the election of the Duke whose Embassadors being returned to Milan to vnderstād his pleasure at their cōming thither found him dead The Milanesi notwithstanding his death would needs haue the conclusion of peace allowed But the Venetians did not consent hoping greatly to vsurpe that state And the rather bicause Lodi and Piacenza sodeinly after the Dukes death were yeelded vnto them whereby they hoped either by force or composition within short space to become Lords of all the territorie of Milan and in the end so distresse the Cittie as it should also be forced to yeeld before any man could rescue it And the rather they thus perswaded themselues for that they sawe the Florentines busied in warre with King Alfonso That King being at Tiboli and intending to follow the enterprise of Toscana as he had determined with Philippo thinking therewith that the warre alreadie begun in Lombardy would giue him time and commoditie desired to haue one foote into the state of Florence before such time as he would openly make the warre and for that purpose practised to win the Castle Cennina in the vpper vale of Arno and wan it The Florentines striken with this vnlooked for accidēt and seeing the King readie to march to their offence hired souldiers created the ten Magistrates and according to their custome prepared all things for the warre By this time the King with his Army was come to the countrey of Siena labouring by all meanes to bring that Cittie to fauour him Notwithstanding the Cittizens there stood firme in their friendship to the Florentines and refused to receiue the King either into Siena or any other of their townes yet did they prouide him victuall whereof the importunitie of the King and the force of the enemy might excuse them The King then thought not good to enter by the way of the vale of Arno as he first determined aswell for that he had spoiled Cennina as bicause the Florentines were partly furnished with souldiers and therefore marched towards Volterra surprized many Castles in the countrey thereto belonging From thence he marched into the countrey of Pisa where by the fauour of Arrigo and Fatio Earles of Chirardesca he tooke some Castles and assaulted Campilia which being defended by the Florentines and the cold winter he could not surprize Then the King leauing certaine of his owne souldiers to guard the townes by him taken and to defend the countrey retired with the rest of his Army to his lodgings in the countrey of Siena The Florentines fauoured by that season of the yeare carefully laboured to prouide souldiers Their chiefe leaders were Federigo Lord of Vrbino and Gismondo Malatesta of Rimino And albeit there was betwixt them two some disagreement yet by the wisedome of Neri and Barnardetto di Medici Commissaries for the Florentines they agreed so well that notwithstanding the hard winter continuing they marched and recouered those townes which were lost in the countrey of Pisa and the Ripomerancie in the territorie of Volterra They also bridled the Kings souldiers who before had spoyled the sea coast so as with difficultie they might defend the townes committed to their guard But the Spring time being come the Commissaries drew forth all their souldiers to the number of 5000. horse and 2000. footmen And the King came with his to the number of welneare fifteene thousand besides 3000. at Campiglia And when he intended to returne to the siege of that towne he went to Piombino hoping easily to win it bicause the towne was not well furnished he thought the hauing thereof profitable for him and disaduantagious for the Florentines bicause from thence he might protract the warres and consume them hauing meane to victuall himselfe by sea and disturbe the whole countrey of Pisa This assault greatly displeased the Florentines and cōsulting vpō the matter thought that if they might with their Army remaine in the bounds of Campiglia that the King should therby be inforced to depart either broken or dishonoured For which purpose they armed foure small Gallies at Liuorno and with them put into the towne of Piombino three hundred footemen placing them at the Galdani a place where with difficultie they might be assaulted For if they were lodged in the plaine vpon the Confines the same was thought dangerous The Florentines receiued their victuals from the Townes thereabouts which being but fewe and not much inhabited did scarcely furnish them So as the Armie suffered penurie and most chiefly of wine Because none being there made nor brought thither from other places it was impossible for euerie man to haue so much as should suffice him But the King notwithstanding he were by the Florentines straightly holden in yet had he abundance almost of euerie prouision by reason hee receiued it from the sea The Florentines therefore thought good likewise to make
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
his treasure in euerie place of Europe did perticipate of his felicitie Also many excessiue rich houses in Florence had their beginning from him as Tornabuoni Benchi Portinari and Sassetti Besides all these euerie man depending vppon his counsell and fortune became wealthie And albeit that his building of Temples and giuing of almes was knowne throughout the world yet would he to his friends many times lament that he had not spent and bestowed so much to the honor of God but that he found himselfe still in his booke a debtor He was of meane stature in complexion browne and of presence venerable vnlearned yet eloquent and full of naturall wisedome friendlie to his friends and pittifull to the poore In conuersation he was frugall in counsell aduised in execution speedie in speech and answering wittie and graue Rinaldo de gli Albizi in the beginning of his exile sent him a message saying that the hen did sit whereunto Cosimo answered that she could neuer hatch being farre from her nest To other Rebels who sent him word they slept not he answered that he beleeued the same bicause there sleepe was taken from them Vnto the Pope Pio perswading Princes to take Armes against the Turke Cosimo said An old man taketh in hand a yong enterprise To the Embassadors of Venice who came with the messengers of Alfonso to complaine of the Florentines he shewed his head bare and asked of what colour it was they answered white Then he replying said that ere it belong your Senators will also haue white heads like vnto mine His wife a few houres before his death seeing him shut his eyes asked him for what cause he so did He answered to bring them in vse Some Citizens saying vnto him after his returne from exile that he hindered the Cittie and offended God in banishing so many honest men To them hee answered It was better to haue a Cittie hindered then lost and that the State was not defended with beades in mens hands Which words gaue his enemyes matter to speake euill of him as a man that loued himselfe more then his Countrey and that esteemed more this world then the world to come Many other sayings as things not necessarie I omit Cosimo was also a louer and preferrer of learned men for he brought vnto Florence Argiropolo a Grecian borne and in that time of singuler learning to the end that the youth of Florence might be by him instructed in the Greeke toong and other his good learnings He enterteyned in his house Marsilio Ficino a second father of the Philosophie of Plato and him he entirely loued Also to the end he might with commoditie exercise the studie of learning and more aptly vse his help therein he gaue him certaine land neare vnto his house of Careggi This his wisedome these his riches this manner of life and this fortune were the causes that in Florence he was both feared and loued and of the Princes not onely of Italy but also of all Europe esteemed so as he left vnto his posteritie such a foundation as they might with vertue equall him and in fortune farre excell him Whatsoeuer authoritie Cosimo had either in Florence or elsewhere in Christendome he deserued the same notwithstanding in the end of his life he had great sorrowes For of two onely sonnes Pietro and Giouanni the one of whome he had most hope dyed the other was continually sick and therefore vnable either for publique or priuate function In so much as his sonne being dead he caused him to be carried about the house and he following the Coarse sighed and saide this house is ouer great for so small a familie It also offended the greatnesse of his minde that he had not in his owne opinion inlarged the Florentine dominion with some honorable conquest And it grieued him the more knowing that Francesco Sforza had deceiued him who being but Earle promised that so soone as hee was possessed of Milan hee would winne the Cittie of Lucca for the Florentines Which was not performed bicause the Earle with his fortune changed his minde and being become Duke determined to enioy that state with peace which he had gotten by warre Therefore he would neither keepe touch with Cosimo nor any other neither would he after he was Duke make anie more warres then those that for his owne defence hee was enforced vnto Which grieued Cosimo greatly finding that he had endured great paines and spent much to aduance a man vnthankfull and perfidious Moreouer by the weaknesse of his bodie he found himselfe vnfit to follow either priuate or publique affaires whereby the one and the other miscarried Because the Citie was destroyed by the Citizens and his owne substance by his confidents and children consumed All these things in the later end of his age did greatly disquiet his minde Notwithstanding he died with glorie And all the principall Citizens and all the Christian Princes did condole his death with Pietro his sonne and accompanied his coarse to the Temple of S. Lorenzo where with great pompe it was buried and by publique consent was written vpon his Tombe Pater Patriae If in this discourse of Cosimo I haue imitated those which haue written the liues of Princes and not those which write vniuersall histories let no man marueile thereat For hee being a rare man in our Citie deserued I should affoard him extraordinary commendation In those dayes that Florence and Italy stood in the conditions aforesaide Lewes King of France was with greeuous warres assaulted For the Lords of his owne Countrey assisted by the Dukes of Bretagne and Burgogne made the war so great vpon the King that he had no meane to aide the Duke Giouanni de Angio in his enterprise of Genoua and the kingdome But iudging that he had neede of ayd whatsoeuer he gaue the Citie of Sauona then in his hand and kept by French men to Francesco Duke of Milan letting him vnderstand that if he so pleased he might also with his fauour assault Genoua Which offer was accepted by Francesco and either through the reputation of the Kings friendship or the fauour of the Adorni he became Lord of Genoua Then to declare himselfe thankfull for the benefit receiued of the King he sent into France to the Kings aide a thousand fiue hundreth horse conducted by Galiazzo his eldest sonne Thus Ferrando of Aragon and Francesco Sforza were become the one Duke of Lombardy and Prince of Genoua the other King of all the kingdome of Naples And hauing married their children the one to the other they deuised by what meanes they might during their liues maintaine their countries with securitie and after their deaths so leaue the same to their heires For which purpose they thought it necessarie that the King should assure himselfe of those Barons which in the war of Giouanni de Angio had disobeyed him and that the Duke should endeuour himselfe to extinguish those that had bene brought vp in the warres by
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
why do you take life from it If it hath made you victorious why should we destroy it If it hath honored vs why haue we disdained it I promise you by that faith which ought to be giuē and receiued amōg good mē that if you behaue your selues so as I shal repent me of my victory I wil so do as you shal also repēt that you haue abused it Those citizens according to the time answered resonably Notwitstāding they continued still in their insolēt doings Inso much as Piero sent secretly to Agnolo Acciaiuoli who came vnto him at Cafaggiuolo and there they reasoned at length touching the estate of the Cittie And surely had he not bene by death preuented he would haue called home all the banished men to bridle the insolencie and oppression of those that liued in the Citie But death suffered him not to performe so honest an intent for diseases of bodie and trouble of minde so greeuously handled him that hee died the fiftie and three yeare of his age His vertue and bountie could not be to his Countrey so well knowne as they deserued partly because his father liued welneare as long and partly for that those fewe yeares hee ouerliued him were in ciuill contentions and sicknesse consumed This Piero was buried in the Church of S. Lorenzo neare vnto his father and his funerall performed with honour and pompe worthie so great a Cittizen Of him there remained two sonnes Lorenzo and Giuliano of whome there was good hope that they would prooue men fit for the state yet their youth was such as made all men doubt thereof Amongst other chiefe Cittizens in the gouernment of Florence there was one farre excelling the rest called Tomaso Soderini whose wisedome and authoritie not onely to Florence but also to all the Princes in Italy was knowne Hee after the death of Piero was of all the Cittie reuerenced and manie Cittizens did dailie visite him as chiefe man of the state Also diuerse Princes did write vnto him Neuerthelesse being wise and knowing what fortune followed him and his house hee would neuer answere the Princes Letters and perswaded the Citizens they should not resort to his house but to the houses of the Medici Also to shewe in deedes that which by words was by him perswaded hee assembled all the chiefe Gentlemen of euerie family at the Monastery of S. Antonio whither hee procured that Lorenzo and Giuliano di Medici should come and there after a long and graue Oration by him made they disputed the estate both of that Cittie of all Italy and of the humours of the Princes Therein concluding that to continue Florence vnited in peace assured from diuision within and from warre without it behooued them to honor those two yoong men and mainteine the reputation of their house Because men do not repine to do such things as they haue bene accustomed vnto but new houses as they are easily honored so are they quickly abandoned For it hath bene euer more easie to maintaine that reputation where length of time hath extingnished enuy then to raise a new estimation which by many occasiōs may be oppressed After him spake Lorenzo who notwithstanding his youth vttered words with so great grauitie modestie as gaue euery man hope he would become such a one as indeed afterwards he proued And before they departed that place the Citizens praied the brethren to receiue them as children they offring to honor them as fathers This conclusion set downe Giuliano and Lorenzo were honoured as Princes of the Citie and those that were of counsell with Tomaso did not intermeddle Thus the Florentines liued both within without so peaceably as nothing disturbed the Common quiet till a trouble not looked for arose which did prognosticate future mischiefe Among other families which Lucca Pitti ruined was that of Nardi For Saluestro and his brethren being heads of that house were first sent into exile and after by the warre which Bartolomeo Coglione moued made Rebels Of these Barnardo brother of Saluestro was a yoong man of great spirit and courage Hee being poore could not endure banishment and finding that the peace made had not prouided for his returne determined to make proofe of somewhat whereby might grow occasion of warre For many times of a small beginning great effects doe followe Because men bee more willing to prosecute then beginne anie enterprise This Barnardo had much acquaintance in Prato and muche more in the Countrey about Pistoia chiefely with the the house of Palandra who albeit they were but countrey people yet was their number great and the men according to the manner of that countrey practised in armes and much vsed to bloud He knew likewise they liued discontented and by reason that some of their enemies were Magistrates in Florence they had bene euill handled He knew moreouer the humor of the Pratesi who accounted themselues proudly and hardly gouerned and had particuler knowledge of the euill disposition of some towards the State All which things brought him in hope to kindle fire in Toscana by making Prato to rebell whereto so many would put hands as they that would quench it should not be able Then he imparted this matter to Diotisalui Neroni and asked of him what aide might be by his meanes procured among the Princes if he should happen to surprize Prato Diotisalui thought the enterprise dangerous and as impossible to take effect notwithstanding considering he might thereby with the perill of others make new proofe of fortune perswaded him to proceed and promised to bring him assured aide from Bologna and Farrara so that he were able to defend Prato at the least fifteene dayes Barnardo then incouraged with this promise and conceiuing great hope of happie proceeding went to Prato and there communicating the matter to diuerse found them verie willing The like disposition he perceiued in the familie of Palandra and hauing agreed togithers of the time and manner of the enterprise Barnardo imparted all to Diotisalui At that time was Cesare Petrucci Podesta of Prato for the Florentines The custome was that the Podesta should haue the keies of the towne brought vnto him And whensoeuer any of the towne chiefely in times of no suspition desired to goe out or come in by night that fauour was graunted Barnardo knowing this custome being accompanied with those of the house of Palandra and 100. others armed men in the morning when the gate towards Pistoia should open presented himselfe and those whome he had made priuie within did likewise arme One of them went to the Podesta saying a friend of his desired to come into the towne The Podesta not doubting any such accident sent with him a seruant of his to carrie the keies from whome being a little on the way the keies were taken the gates opened and Barnardo with his followers came in Then they diuided themselues in two parts The one led by Saluestro of Prato tooke possession of the Cittadell
the matter in their councels saying it was not conuenient that a commoditie found in the common lands should be conuerted to a priuate vse Thereupon they sent vnto Florence certaine Embassadors The cause was committed to a few Cittizens who either bicause they were corrupted or for that they so thought best gaue sentence that the request of the people of Volterra was not reasonable bicause they desired to depriue the Cittizens of their labour and industrie and therefore iudged that those Alums apperteined to priuate men and not to the Citie Yet was it conuenient that those priuate persons should giue yearly vnto the people certaine money in signe they acknowledged them for superiors This answere did nothing diminish but augment the tumults and displeasures in Volterra so that nothing was spoken of so much in their councels and in euerie other place in the Cittie as the request of the multitude which was to recouer that which they thought lost The priuate men on the other side still laboured to continue that which they had gotten and had bene confirmed by iudgement of the Florentines This matter remained so long in disputation that one Cittizen a man of estimation in that Cittie called Pecorino with diuerse others that tooke part with him was slaine their houses spoiled and burnt In that furie also the Rettori for the Florentines with difficultie escaped This first tumult being passed they determined in all haste to send Embassadors to Florence who informed the Senators that if they would obserue their auncient conditions they would also continue in their auncient obedience The answere of these messengers was long disputed Tomaso Soderini was of opinion that it behoued to receiue the Volterani with what condition so euer thinking the time serued not to kindle a fire so neare hand that might burne their owne house for he feared the disposition of the Pope the power of the King and mistrusted the Venetians friendship and the Dukes not knowing what fidelitie was in the one nor what vertue in the other alleaging that prouerb which saith Better a leane peace then a fat victorie Of a contrarie minde was Lorenzo de Medici thinking he had now occasion to make shew of his wisedome and counsell and the rather being thereto perswaded by those that enuied the authoritie of Tomaso And therefore determined by armes to punish the insolencie of the Volterani affirming that if they were not corrected as a memorable example all others vpon euerie light occasion without reuerence or respect would dare to do the like This resolution made the Volterani were answered that they could not require the keeping of those conditions which they themselues had broken and therefore either they should referre themselues to the discretion of the Senate or presently looke for warre The Volterani returned with this answere prepared for the defence of their towne and sent to all Princes of Italy for aide but were aided by fewe for onely the Sanesi and the Lord of Piombino did promise to helpe them The Florentines on the other side iudging that the victorie would be gotten by making of speed assembled tenne thousand footemen and two thousand horse whome vnder the conduct of Federigo Lord of Vrbino they sent into the countrey of Volterra all which they easily possessed Then they brought their Camp before the Cittie which being builded vpon an hill could not be assaulted but on that side where the Church of S. Alisandro standeth The Volterani had for their defence enterteined a thousand souldiers or thereabouts who seeing how brauely the Florentines assailed them fearing they could not defend the towne were in the seruice slowe but in doing iniurie to the Volterani readie ynough so that those poore Cittizens were by the enemies assaulted without and by friends oppressed within In so much as dispairing to be saued thought good to make peace and forwant of better meane yeelded themselues to the Florentines Commissaries who caused them to open the gates and the greater part of the armie being entred they went vnto the Pallace where the Priori were whome they commanded to returne to their houses and by the way one of them was by a souldier reuiled and robbed Of this beginning for men be more readie to euill then good grew the destruction and sack of this Cittie which continued one whole day The houses were robbed and the people spoiled neither did the women and Churches escape but all souldiers aswell they that had cowardlie defended the towne as the others that fought were partakers of the spoiles The newes of this victorie was with much reioycing receiued at Florence for the same was wholie the enterprise of Lorenzo who thereby gained great reputation And thereupon one of his dearest friends reprooued Tomaso Soderini for his counsell saying vnto him What say you now that Volterra is taken To whome Tomaso answered me thinks it is lost for if you had taken it by composition you might haue made profit and suretie thereof but hauing it by force in time of warre it will weaken and trouble you and in time of peace charge and hinder you In those dayes the Pope desiring to hold in obedience the townes belonging to the Church caused Spoleto to be sacked which by meane of inward faction had rebelled After for the like offence he besieged the Cittie of Castello In that towne Nicholo Vitelli was Prince He being in great friendship with Lorenzo de Medici refused not in that necessitie to aide him yet was that aide not sufficient to defend Nicholo but ynough to sowe the first seeds of enimitie betwixt Sisto and the Medici which afterwards brought forth fruite of much mischiefe and the same should quickly haue shewed it selfe had not the death of Frier Piero Cardinall of Sisto happened For this Cardinall hauing trauelled about all Italy went also to Venice and Milan pretending to honor the marriage of Hercole Marquesse of Farrara to practise with the Princes and sound their disposition towards the Florentines But being returned to Rome he died not without suspition to haue bene poisoned by the Venetians who feared the greatnesse of Sisto so long as he might be counselled and incouraged by Frier Piero. For albeit nature had made this Frier of base bloud and was also bred vp basely in a Monasterie yet so soone as he had aspired to be Cardinall there appeared in him so great pride and ambition as might not onely become a Cardinall but also seeme fit ynough for any Pope For he feared not to make a feast in Rome with so great charge as seemed superfluous for any King for therein he spent more then twentie thousand Florins Pope Sisto bereft of this agent prosecuted his enterprises more coldly Notwithstanding the league being renewed betweene the Florentines the Duke and Venetians and place left for Pope Sisto and the King who made an other contract therein also leauing places for other Princes to enter if they would By this meane Italy became diuided in two
factions for daily betwixt these two leagues there grew displeasure as it happened touching the Ile of Cipres which the King Ferrando challenged and the Venetians vsurped whereupon the Pope and the King became more willing one of the others friendship In those daies Federigo Prince of Vrbino was accounted the most excellent Captaine of Italy and had long serued for the Florentines The King and the Pope to the end our league should not haue the seruice of such a leader determined to win the good will of Federigo To that end both the Pope and the King desired him to come vnto Naples Federigo performed their desire to the great admiration and displeasure of the Florentines beleeuing it would become of him as it did to Giacopo Piccinino Yet the contrarie came to passe for Federigo returned from Naples and Romagna with great honor and still Generall for their league Neuerthelesse the King and Pope ceased not to sound the disposition of the Lords in Romagna and the Sanesi hoping to make them his friends and by their meanes be able to offend the Florentines whome they perceiued by all conuenient waies armed to incounter their ambition and hauing lost Federigo of Vrbino they enterteined Roberto of Rimini They also renewed the league with the Perugini and drew thereunto the Lord of Faenza The Pope and King alleaged that their displeasure to the Florentines was bicause they sought to drawe the Venetians from them and the Pope thought that the Church could not mainteine the reputation thereof nor the Earle Girolamo his state in Romagna if the Florentines and Venetians were vnited On the other side the Florentines feared they would be enemies to the Venetians not to win their friendship but the rather thereby to iniurie them so as Italy liued two yeares in these suspitions and diuersities of humors before any tumults were moued But the first although but small happened in Toscana Braccio of Perugia a man as hath heretofore bene often said of great reputation in the warre had two sonnes called Oddo and Carlo This Carlo was a child and Oddo was by the inhabitants of the Vale of Lamona slaine as hath bene declared Carlo being atteined to age and able for armes was for the memorie of his father and the good hope of himselfe enterteined by the Venetians and made among others a leader for that state The time of his conduct ended he refused to serue longer determining to make proofe if with his owne fame and the reputation of his father he could recouer his owne countrey of Perugia Whereto the Venetians easily consented as they that were wont in alterations to increase their dominion Carlo then came into Toscana and found the enterprise of Perugia hard by reason that the Perugini were in league with the Florentines yet desirous that this motion might take some effect worthie memorie he assaulted the Sanesi alleaging they were debtors of money due to his father for seruice done to that state whereof he required satisfaction and vpon that demaund assaulted them with so great furie as that dominion became disordered The Cittizens of Siena seeing themselues so furiously charged being readie to suspect the worst of the Florentines thought all was done by their consent They also complained much to the Pope and the King and sent Embassadors vnto Florence to expostulate the iniurie and couertlie alleaged that without assistance Carlo could not with so great securitie haue offended them The Florentines excused themselues promising in what sort the Embassadors thought good they would commaund Carlo no more to offend the Sanesi Whereof Carlo complained that they by not aiding him should lose a great conquest and he misse the meane to aspire to much glorie For in short space he promised them possession of that Cittie where he found so great cowardice and disorder as with possibilitie it could not be defended Then Carlo departed from thence and returned to his old enterteinement of the Venetians Albeit the Sanesi were by the Florentines deliuered from so great danger yet remained they towards them offended and iudged their obligacion not to be any thing hauing saued them from an euill whereof they had bene the occasion During that these matters betwixt the King and Pope were handled in Toscana there happened in Lombardy an accident of much more moment and did prognosticate greater euils There was in Milan a Scholemaister called Cola of Mantoua a man well learned but ambitious and such a one as instructed the chiefe children of the Cittie This Cola either bicause he hated the life and manners of the Duke or for some other occasion in all his speeches seemed to disdaine those men that liued vnder an euill prince calling others glorious and happie whome nature and fortune graunted to be borne and liue in common-weales Declaring how all famous men had bene brought vp in common-weales and not vnder Princes For the common-weales said he did nourish vertuous men but Princes did oppresse them for the one doth cherish vertue the other doth feare it The yong men with whome he had gained most familiaritie were Giouandrea Lampugnano Carlo Visconti and Girolamo Olgeato with them he oftentimes reasoned of the euill nature of the Duke and their owne misfortune being gouerned vnder such a one and at length hee began to be in so great confidence of these yong men that hee brought them to sweare that so soone as they atteined to mans estate they would deliuer their countrey from the tirannie of that Prince These youths perswaded to performe what they had promised waying therewith all the Dukes behauiour and the particuler iniuries he had done did hasten their intent to put the matter in execution The Duke Galiazzo was in his disposition lasciuious and cruell which two things had made him odious for it sufficed him not to entice Ladies to dishonor but he would also take pleasure in publishing the same Neither was he content to put men to death but he would also execute them with some cruell manner of torment He was moreouer slandered or truely suspected to haue murthered his owne mother for hee perswading himselfe not to be Prince she being present found meanes to remoue her to Cremona which was the place of her dowrie and in that iourney she became sodeinly sick and died and many men iudged her sonne was cause of her death This Duke had in matter touching women dishonored Carlo and Gerolamo and denied Giouandrea to haue the possession of the Abbey of Miramondo being graunted vnto him of the Pope vpon resignation of a kinsman of his These priuate iniuries increased the desire of the yong men by reuenge to deliuer their countrey of so great mischiefes hoping that if they might murther the Duke they should be not onely esteemed of the nobilitie but also of the people followed Thus determined of the enterprise they oftentimes met together and by reason of their auncient familiaritie no meruaile made of their meeting Being togithers to make their
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
remaining without a Prince the Romanes were enforced to yeeld their obedience to the Pope Yet did not his authoritie thereby greatly encrease because he could not procure to him selfe more preheminence then that the Church of Rome should haue precedence before the Church of Rauenna But the Longobardi being come and Italy diuided into diuerse parts occasioned the Pope to take the more vppon him for he then beeing as it were chiefe of Rome the Emperour of Conctantinople and the Longobardi did respect him so much as the Romanes by his meanes not as subiects but as companions with the Longobardi and with Longino ioyned Thus the Popes sometimes by the fauour of the Longobardi and sometime with the countenance of the Grecians encreased their dignitie But after the destruction of the Empyre in the East which happened in the time of the Emperour Eracleo because the people called Sclaui assaulted conquered againe Iliria calling the same by their owne name Sclauonia the other partes of the Empyre were assailed first by the Persians and after by the Sarasins who came from Arabia conducted by Mahomet and last of all by the Turkes These people amongst them possessed Soria Affrica and Egipt So that the Empyre weakened the Pope dispaired to haue succour there in time of his necessitie On the other side the power of the Longobardi encreasing it behooued him to seeke some new friendship and for the same resorted to the Kinges of France So as after that time all the warres made vppon Italy by forraine people were by the Bishops of Rome occasioned and all the barbarous nations who repaired in so great multitudes to Italy were for the moste part by them called thither which manner of proceeding continueth in our dayes and hath heretofore kept and yet dooth keepe Italy weake and impotent Therefore in discourse of such thinges as haue happened since those to these our daies more shall not be said of the distruction of the Empyre which is altogither cast downe and ruined But wee will heerafter discourse by what meanes the Popes and those other Potentates which till the comming of Carlo the eight gouerned Italy haue atteined to their greatnes whereby we shal conceiue how the Popes first by their censures after with them and their armes mixed with indulgences became terrible venerable and how by euill vsing the one the other they haue altogither lost the vse of their armes in the other they stand at discretion But returning to the order of our matter I say that Gregorio the third beeing atteined to the Papacy Aistulpho to the kingdome of Lombardy contrarie to the agreement afore made surprized Rauenna and made warre against the Pope Gregorio who for the occasions aforesaid not trusting any more to the Emperour of Constantinople beeing then weake neither reposing trust in the Longobardi who had diuerse times distressed him fled for ayde to Pipino the second who from beeing Lord of Austracia and Brabancia was become King of France not so much for his owne vertue as his fathers Carlo Martello and his graundfathers Pipino because Carlo Martello beeing Gouernour of that Kingdome wonne that memorable victorie against the Sarasins neare vnto Torsci vpon the riuer of Era wherein were slaine two hundred thousand Sarasins For which cause Pipino his sonne for the reputation of his father and his owne vertue became after king in that kingdome vnto whome Pope Gregorio as is beforesaid sent for ayde against the Longobardi Pipino answered that hee was very willing to performe his request but first desired to see him and in his presence to honour him For which purpose Gregorio trauailed into France and without any let passed the townes of the Longobardi his enemies so great reuerence was then borne to that Religion Gregorio arriued in France was there greatly honoured by the King and sent back accompanied with the Kings forces who in Pauia besieged the Longobardi wherby Aistulpho was enforced to make peace with the Frenchmen which hee did at the request of the Pope who desired not the death of his enemie but that hee should conuert and liue In which peace Aistulpho promised to render vnto the Church all those townes thereto belonging and by him vsurped But the French souldiers returned home Aistulpho obserued not the conditions of the peace which beeing knowen to the Pope hee prayed ayde a new of Pipino who sent againe into Italy where hee ouerthrew the Lombardy tooke Rauenna and contrarie to the will of the Grecian Emperour gaue the same vnto the Pope with all other townes vnder his Esarcato adding also to them the countrie of Vrbino and La Marca during the time that these townes were in bestowing Aistulpho died and Desiderio a Lombard and Duke of Tuscan tooke armes to vsurpe the kingdome and praied ayde of the Pope to whome hee promised his friendship which request was graunted and the other Princes gaue place Desiderio at the beginning kept his promise and according to the conditions made with Pipino rendred the townes allotted vnto the Pope neither did the Esarco of Constantinople after that time come any more in Rauenna but all things were gouerned according to the pleasure and direction of the Pope Then died the King Pipino to whome succeeded his sonne called Carlo who for the great and memorable exploites by him done was called Magno To the Papacy was at that time aspired Theodoro Primo He falling into contention with Disiderio was by Disiderio besieged in Rome and constrained to craue ayde of Carlo who speedily passed the mountaines besieged Desiderio in Pauia and tooke him with all his Children And hauing sent them prisoners into France went in person to visit the Pope at Rome where hee pronounced this sentence That the Pope beeing Vicar of God could not be iudged of men For the which the Pope with the people of Rome created him Emperour In this manner Rome beganne to haue an Emperour againe in the West And where the Popes were woont to take their instaulation from the Emperours after this time the Emperours in their election would needes take their authoritie from the Pope wherby the reputation of the Empire decreased and the Church gained the same By these meanes the Popes grew great and kept downe the authoritie of temporall Princes The Longobardi hauing then bene in Italy 232. yeares there was of them none other marke of straungers then the name and Carlo being desirous to reforme that Countrey in the time of Pope Leo the third was pleased they should inhabit those places where they were borne and called that prouince of their name Lombardia But forasmuch as they had the name of Rome in great reuerence hee commaunded that all the next Countrey to it adioyning then in the obedience of the Esarcato of Rauenna should bee called Romagna Moreouer he created Pipino his sonne King of Italy the iurisdiction whereof extended to Beneuento the rest remained to the Emperour in Greece with